ESPN's way too early Top 25

[Crimson's Ghost]

As usual, ESPN came out with an early top 25 for next season.  These are obviously just a guess, and for fun, but still worth reading. 

http://www.espn.com/college-football/st ... op-25-2017


Notable: #4 Penn State.
[font=BentonSans, -apple-system, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]4. Penn State[/font]


[font=BentonSans, -apple-system, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]2016 record: 11-3, 8-1 Big Ten[/font]
[font=BentonSans, -apple-system, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Returning starters: 9 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams[/font]

[font=BentonSans, -apple-system, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Key losses: C Brian Gaia, WR Chris Godwin, DE Evan Schwan, LB Brandon Bell, SS Malik Golden, OT Paris Palmer, DE Garrett Sickels[/font]

[font=BentonSans, -apple-system, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Outlook: The Nittany Lions' dramatic turnaround in 2016 -- they won their final eight regular-season games and beat Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game -- should serve as a big springboard to 2017. Leading receiver Chris Godwin opted to leave early for the NFL draft, but most of Penn State's starters on offense will return, including star tailback Saquon Barkley and quarterback Trace McSorley. Both will be top Heisman Trophy candidates. Plus, PSU will get back a few offensive linemen who were hurt for the stretch run. Four of the defense's most productive players are departing -- defensive ends Evan Schwan and Garrett Sickels, linebacker Brandon Bell and strong safety Malik Golden -- but everyone else is expected back. The Nittany Lions will have to navigate their way through a difficult Big Ten road schedule that includes trips to Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State and Michigan State.[/font]




[font=BentonSans, -apple-system, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]22. Pittsburgh[/font]


[font=BentonSans, -apple-system, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]2016 record: 8-5, 5-3 ACC[/font]
[font=BentonSans, -apple-system, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense, 1 special teams[/font]

[font=BentonSans, -apple-system, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Key losses: RB James Conner, OT Adam Bisnowaty, G Dorian Johnson, TE Scott Orndoff, QB Nathan Peterman, DT Shakir Soto, DE Ejuan Price, LB Matt Galambos, K Chris Blewitt[/font]

[font=BentonSans, -apple-system, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Outlook: The Panthers defeated both ACC champion Clemson and Big Ten champion Penn State, and four of their five losses came by a combined 18 points. Even with tailback James Conner and quarterback Nathan Peterman departing, Pitt might be poised for a breakthrough in coach Pat Narduzzi's third season. The Panthers have to eventually get better on defense, and Narduzzi is slowly upgrading the defensive talent. Pitt plays Penn State (road) and Oklahoma State (home) in nonconference games and doesn't play ACC foes Clemson, Florida State or Louisville during the regular season.[/font]

[Crimson's Ghost]

Penn State should be pretty loaded next season.  

Sept. 2 vs. Akron  - Easy Win
Sept. 9 vs. Pittsburgh - They should win, Pitt might keep it close for a 3 quarters. 
Sept. 16 vs. Georgia State - Easy Win
Sept. 30 vs. Indiana - Easy Win.
Oct. 7 at Northwestern - Easy Win.
Oct. 14 at Iowa - Tough Road Game.  Should win, but could lose.
Oct. 21 vs. Michigan - Win. 
Oct. 28 at Ohio State - I think this is an L. 
Nov. 4 at Michigan State - MSU won't be 3-9 next year, won't be as easy, but should win. 
Nov. 11 vs. Rutgers - Easy Win.
Nov. 18 vs. Nebraska - Win, but NU will be OK.
Nov. 25 at Maryland - Easy Win. 

I got them at 11-1. 



09/02 - Youngstown State - Easy Win 
09/09 - at Penn State - Probable Loss
09/16 - Oklahoma State - Toss-up, but OK State is really good. 
09/30 - Rice - Easy Win.

ACC Dates aren't out yet.

Home Games
NC State - Win
Virginia - Win
Miami - Loss, should be a good game. Miami has to replace a lot.
UNC - I think Pitt finally gets over the UNC hump, I'll say win. 
Away Games
Georgia Tech - Win
Virginia Tech - Toss up, I'll project a Loss for now. 
Syracuse - Win
Duke - Win

I'll give them 8-4 for now, but 9-3 seems doable.  Penn State seems like a certain loss, and Oklahoma State is going to be awfully difficult.  Miami and VT could really go either way. 

[Crimson's Ghost]

For fun, I'll say

(1) Alabama vs. (4) Oklahoma State
(2) Florida State vs. (3) Ohio State

[NBhooligan98]

Next Year Prediction
(1)USC vs. (4) Clemson
(2) Penn St. vs. (3)Oklahoma St.

[odoyelrules]

fyi Crimson, PSU's schedule is changed, @ Iowa occurs Sept 23rd, bye week is Oct. 14th.  I think that it helps both PSU and Iowa to have their bye week later in the season.

[Crimson's Ghost]

OK, yeah I grabbed it from an old Pennlive article, they had the Pitt game on the 16th, not the 9th.

[Crimson's Ghost]

14 Best Games of September...

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footba ... um=twitter

[odoyelrules]

Sporting news should drop USC vs. Texas to near the bottom of that list.

Washington nonconference schedule next year - @ Rutgers, Montana, Fresno State

I wish BigTen/PacTen would go back to 8 conference games and have more quality out of conference matchups. As things are almost everybody schedules at least 2 ooc patsies, so at most they have 1 quality ooc game.

[Wrasslerfan]

And why should USC Texas be dropped odoyel

[GoldenRamsFAN]

Caz Texas has been crap the last couple of years. The AP votes for them and ND every year, and for the last 5 or so years they both were mediocre. They get the votes for tradition only, and shouldn't be getting any.