2016 College Football Predictions From The Big Lead
By Ty Duffy
The college football season begins in earnest tonight (yeah, we know there was one game in Australia). Here are our staff picks on some of the bigger topics.
Four Playoff Teams
Duffy: Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State, Washington
Koster: Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Michigan State
Shamburger: Alabama, Clemson, Michigan State, Stanford
McIntyre: Michigan, Clemson, Tennessee, LSU
Glasspiegel: Ohio State, Alabama, Florida State, Stanford
Phillips: Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Stanford
Lisk: Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, Stanford
Power 5 Conference Champions
Duffy: Florida State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Washington, Alabama
Koster: Clemson, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Alabama
Shamburger: Clemson, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Stanford, Alabama
McIntyre: Clemson, Michigan, Oklahoma, Stanford, Tennessee
Glasspiegel: Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, LSU
Phillips: Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Stanford, Alabama
Lisk: Florida State, Michigan, Oklahoma, Stanford, Alabama
Heisman Trophy Winner
Duffy: Dalvin Cook
Koster: Baker Mayfield
Shamburger: Deshaun Watson
McIntyre: Christian McCaffrey
Glasspiegel: Deshaun Watson
Phillips: Christian McCaffrey
Lisk: Christian McCaffrey
Biggest Surprise Team
Duffy: Washington
Koster: Michigan State, UCLA
Shamburger: Florida
McIntyre: Louisville, Iowa
Glasspiegel: Wisconsin
Phillips: Michigan State
Lisk: Oregon
Biggest Disappointment
Duffy: UCLA
Koster: Tennessee
Shamburger: Texas
McIntyre: Alabama
Glasspiegel: Michigan
Phillips: Tennessee
Lisk: Notre Dame
First Power 5 Coach Fired
Duffy: Kevin Sumlin
Koster: Steve Addazio
Shamburger: Charlie Strong
McIntyre: Kevin Sumlin
Glasspiegel: Kevin Sumlin
Phillips: Kevin Sumlin
Lisk: Darrell Hazell
Best Job Available After 2016
Duffy: LSU
Koster: Auburn
Shamburger: Texas
McIntyre: Auburn
Glasspiegel: Texas A&M
Phillips: Texas
Lisk: LSU
Coach On The Hot Seat After 2016
Duffy: Jim Mora
Koster: Bret Bielema
Shamburger: Les Miles
McIntyre: Brian Kelly
Glasspiegel: Bret Bielema
Phillips: Les Miles
Lisk: Gus Malzahn
Tom Herman Will Be The Head Coach of X in 2017
Duffy: Texas A&M
Koster: Houston
Shamburger: Houston
McIntyre: Texas A&M
Glasspiegel: Texas A&M
Phillips: Texas A&M
Lisk: LSU
Biggest Upset of the 2016 College Football Season
Duffy: NDSU over Iowa
Koster: Georgia Tech over Clemson
Shamburger: Miami over Florida State
McIntyre: Florida over Florida State
Glasspiegel: Wisconsin over Ohio State
Phillips: USC over Alabama
Lisk: Nebraska over Ohio State