2021 College Football Season Wrap-up
Analyzing how my 2021 CFB preview predictions fared + Rose Bowl Recap + A Way-Too-Early SB 2022 Top 25 Poll + Offseason Analysis
Let’s just say that I was wrong about a lot of things in my 2021 College Football Preview. I thought that Alabama and Ohio State would face-off in Indianapolis, but the Georgia Bulldogs had other plans. In an era where many recent national champions have rewritten the offensive record books, Kirby Smart did the unthinkable and won Georgia’s first national championship since 1980 by creating the most ferocious defense that the CFB world has ever seen. This is the last college football column of the 2021-22 season. I will analyze how this season went for a lot of teams and then I’ll preview what next season will probably look like
What I was Wrong About in the 2021 CFB Preview:
— I knew there would be a drop-off for Clemson after the Trevor Lawrence era, but I still expected them to be a top 10 team this season with DJ Uiagalelei. I had DJU as my preseason Heisman pick, boy was I wrong about that. I still don’t entirely know what I was thinking there, but in my defense, nearly everyone thought he was going to be the next great Clemson QB. He ended up finishing with 9 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. It was truly a colossal disappointment of a season for him, the lofty expectations were just too much to live up to. Luckily, Clemson still went 10-3 in its worst season in over a decade. I think DJU eventually ends up getting beat out by incoming freshman Cade Klubnik.
— I was in love with Casey Thompson after what I saw him do in the bowl game a year ago against Colorado. I looked at Texas’ schedule and thought Sark would have a really good first season, but then their season spiraled out of control. Who could’ve foreseen Texas losing to Kansas?? Not me. I thought they would only lose two or three games max, not six. The only player that really had a good season as a member of the Longhorns was former Michigan commit Xavier Worthy. Coach Sark recently said that his team would take up to 36 transfers, which is insane, but that’s sort of the reality of CFB now. Coaches like to have their guys, players that they can mold themselves. Casey Thompson is now at Nebraska (I love that move for Scott Frost). I am expecting Quinn Ewers to light it up for the Longhorns next year, but I still expect them to drop a few games just because it’s Texas. Getting Ewers is massive though, that changes the entire trajectory of their future.
— I really put Oklahoma at No. 4 in my preseason poll, which was warranted at the time. I had Spencer Rattler in my preseason Heisman top five. I am not proud of that prediction. Turns out Caleb Williams is that guy. The Sooners were still disappointing even when Williams was at the helm. Now, neither of them are on the Sooners. Who could’ve imagined that Bob Stoops would have to make a comeback and coach the Sooners in their bowl game all because the successor that he personally appointed decided to leave for USC?
— I thought the Buckeyes would be a lot better than they were, especially with having the nation’s most explosive WR room. I’ll just say that there were a lot of growing pains this season, which was expected with such a young team. I should’ve known the defense was in trouble when we were trotting out Steele Chambers at LB (granted, he was arguably our best LB this year). To lose in the same fashion twice is just heartbreaking. It’s actually insane that OSU was able to win the Rose Bowl and go 11-2 with how poorly the defense performed. Without CJ, GW5, Olave and JSN, this team probably would have lost three or four games, if not more. This season will be looked at as a huge disappointment with the loss to Michigan and all, but it could have and should have been much worse.
Where Sean Was Right:
— I was higher on Michigan than a lot of outlets were (ESPN didn’t even have them ranked in their preseason poll). Part of that is because I have a roommate who is a Michigan fan, so I am basically tuned into their program and their message boards. I had them ranked No. 20 at the start of the season, but quickly moved them up after their first game because I realized early on that they had the makings of a good team. I still didn’t think they had what it takes to beat the Buckeyes, but I knew this was likely going to be one of Jim Harbaugh’s better Michigan teams.
Here is what I said in my 2021 CFB Preview: “I am confident they will look much better than last year. Cade McNamara is probably going to look like the best QB of the Harbaugh era and that bodes well for them. If they beat Washington in week 2, which I think they will, then their hype train will start rolling.”
Jim Harbaugh was able to rewrite the narratives. He really won the B1G and made the CFP. Everyone has a different perception of the guy now, including NFL teams. It’s crazy the difference that a year makes. The future is bright for the Wolverines, but he has a tough QB decision to make coming up. Will he continue to run the dual-QB system or stick with Cade or abandon ship and go with the young talent in JJ McCarthy? I hope that there is a year in the future where OSU and Michigan can both make the CFP. I don’t expect Michigan to make the CFP again, but they will be a top 6 team again at the worst.
— Before the season started, I saw so many polls that had UNC in the top 10, I knew they were fool’s gold.. I had them at No. 16 and dropped them out after they lost early in the year.. I just can’t trust the ACC really with how bad they are compared to other conferences
— UCLA had a solid 2021 season, their best year under Chip Kelly. Knight is expected to get drafted. DTR had a really good year and is coming back to school for another. They beat LSU and that was a great way to build momentum to start off the year. Charbonnet had the year of his life. UCLA should be even better next year
Here is what I said: “They are on the come up. I am expecting a breakout year from Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The UCLA defense has some solid players that can make plays, they are led by Qwuantrezz Knight. I looked at their schedule and I expect 7 or 8 wins, which would be a great season. They do play LSU on September 4, but that game is very winnable with Myles Brennan being out. If they win that, then they will ride that momentum into 7+ wins. Fourth-year HC Chip Kelly has to make a bowl game this year and I think he will behind the play of DTR. They do have a very tough schedule as they play USC, LSU, Oregon and Washington.”
Way-Too-Early SB 2022 Top 25 Poll: (Sorry for releasing one but it’s better than ESPN’s)
1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Georgia
4. Michigan
5. Texas A&M
6. Notre Dame
7. USC
8. Clemson
9. Oklahoma
10. Utah
11. Penn State
12. Oregon
13. Texas
14. Michigan State
15. Baylor
16. Oklahoma State
17. Wisconsin
18. Cincinnati
19. LSU
20. Florida
21. Ole Miss
22. Iowa
23. Wake Forest
24. Coastal Carolina
25. South Carolina
Next Up: Houston, Arkansas, BYU, Tennessee, Auburn
— I think the 2022 Heisman Race comes down to CJ Stroud and Bryce Young
— I feel a little reluctant to put Clemson so high, but I am banking on Klubnik to beat out DJU, even with DJU they should still be better than this season
— Not too high on Texas A&M, but the recruiting class they got is nasty and I trust Jimbo.. Watch out if Connor Weigman starts early
Teams I am Excited to Watch in 2022:
— USC: Lincoln Riley is making sure that the Southern California kids aren’t leaving the state. I think the Trojans will be a top 10 team for most of next season, especially if they can land Caleb Williams. Riley is building something for sure
— South Carolina: They will be intriguing with the addition of Rattler. I expect them to be able to win 8 or 9 games
— Texas: If Quinn Ewers is as good as I think he is, Texas should win 10+ games
— LSU: They should be a much more stable program with Brian Kelly in charge. I still think they go 8-4 or 9-3 with Myles Brennan at QB
— Notre Dame: I am so excited to see how Marcus Freeman does. I can see them going 10-2 or 11-1 next year. Opening with Ohio State on the road and closing with USC on the road will be tough, but the rest of their schedule is so easy
— Nebraska: It’s hard to fathom how many one-score losses they had in 2021. They should be much better next year with Casey Thompson and not Adrian Martinez at QB
— Cincinnati: I expect there to be a huge drop-off, but I still have enough faith in Fickell for them to be a top 25 team
Why I Believe Ryan Day is Making the Necessary Changes to get the Buckeyes Back in National Title Contention:
Going 11-2 with a Rose Bowl win over Utah in what will be considered a “down year” is still a huge momentum builder going into next season for the Buckeyes. Although it’s not necessarily the outcome that Buckeye fans, players and coaches wanted, there’s still a lot to look forward to. The future with C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and TreVeyon Henderson is undoubtedly bright. The loss to Michigan was a wake up call for Coach Ryan Day, he has already revamped the entire defensive coaching staff. Kerry Coombs, Al Washington and Matt Barnes are gone. Day has tasked Jim Knowles with bringing the Silver Bullets back to prominence and he is off to a great start. Knowles brought over a few assistants with him from Oklahoma State and also one of his best defensive players in Safety Tanner McCalister. The Buckeyes had the most explosive offense in college football this season, but it didn’t matter with how poorly the Buckeye defense played at times. I’m confident that they will be a lot more balanced next season. I think the addition of UCLA OL coach Justin Frye will be huge, even if having him and Kevin Wilson on the same staff might seem a little redundant. Frye coached with Day at Boston College and his RB’s always go crazy in his run schemes. That bodes well for Henderson, who was already insane as a true freshman. Getting rid of coach Greg Studrawa will prove to be addition by subtraction, his recruiting was not up to par. It’s not far-fetched to say that this season will be the lowest point of Day’s OSU tenure.
Ohio State’s 2022 football schedule is a lot tougher than most previous seasons, but the B1G did them a solid earlier this week by making it so the Buckeyes don’t have to travel to take on Penn State and Michigan State in consecutive weeks. OSU now opens with five straight home games, including the opener against Notre Dame and Wisconsin in week four. The Buckeyes will welcome Iowa to the Shoe in week 8 and obviously will close the year hosting Michigan. Road matchups against Michigan State and Penn State will be tough, but the Buckeyes should still win those. I am expecting this OSU team to be a lot more well-rounded. The offense should be just as good, if not better. I think the run-game will be much improved, the run-blocking this year was atrocious at times and it hurt them. Stroud will likely finish Top 3 in the Heisman, I expect him to be the nation’s preseason Heisman favorite (He was the best QB in CFB this year and they probably won’t give the Heisman to Young twice). JSN as the No. 1 Wide Receiver will be scary. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka as the second and third options will be fun. OSU really just needs the defense to be competent again and they will be right back in the playoff picture.
Thank you for staying along for the ride. It was a joy to write the CFB column every week of the season, stay tuned for what my next career move will be.. This will probably the last CFB column until July or August, barring any unforeseen circumstances.. I plan on dropping as many feature stories on here as I can in the coming months.. Feel free to subscribe and/or leave a comment