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Ask 10 people in a room who will win the national championship in 2013, and most likely eight or nine are going pick a team from the SEC. When you win seven straight titles and finish with five teams in the Top 10 of the final AP Poll, you begin to build a reputation of being the big boys on campus.

But even with that said, there are teams that have a shot to dethrone the kings of college football. Will the conqueror come from the Pac-12 or Big Ten? Well, if you had to pick between those two conferences to produce a national championship winner, your best bet would be to roll the dice with the conference out west.

The Pac-12 has more contenders in that conference by far than the Big Ten does. This debate really should be Pac-12 versus Ohio State. Seriously, can you pick any team in the Big Ten besides the Buckeyes that has a legitimate shot to win the national championship this season?

Even making the big game would seem a little far-fetched. Beating an Alabama, Texas A&M or Georgia? Forget about it.

The Buckeyes were the only Big Ten team that finished in the Top 15 of last year's AP Poll. Northwestern was a respectable team at No. 17, but don't confuse progress with being a contender coming off a 10-win season. The other two Big Ten squads that finished the season ranked were Michigan and Nebraska. Two teams that finished with a combined nine losses were only included because they were less subpar than the rest of the pack.

Nebraska finished the final two games allowing a combined 1,229 total yards on defense. Michigan would be a respectable contender but has a lot of questions entering the new season. Will the offense truly take a step forward with Devin Gardner? How will the defense respond without Jake Ryan? Where in the world is the pass rush?

In order to dethrone the SEC, you are going to need an elite football team. A squad that limps across the finish line will not cut it. Right now, the only team that has a real chance to knockoff an SEC powerhouse in the big dance would be Ohio State, but even head coach Urban Meyer said his team has a ways to go, according to Sports Illustrated.

"For me to say we have to get there next year, that's like me talking about we have to go fly to the moon," he said. "We're nowhere near even having that conversation."

Then what are we talking about? Of course that is coach talk, but the Buckeyes did have plenty of close calls against mediocre teams. Let's also not forget that the entire defensive line needs to be replaced, as well as most of the secondary.

As for the Pac-12, teams such as Stanford and Oregon are almost guaranteed to begin the season ranked in the top 10 of all major polls. This doesn't include an Oregon State team that returns seven starters on defense, a rising UCLA program and USC will always receive love from the voters, regardless. In order to even have a shot, you have to begin the season in a nice position poll-wise. There aren't many teams that are going to pull off what Notre Dame did last year and climb out of the cellar to the top.

Oregon nearly knocked off Auburn in the 2010 national championship. Although there was a coaching change, when you have an offense that can score at the speed of light and have elite quickness on both sides of the ball, you have a chance. The Ducks have been in national title conversations the last three years and that won't change with 15 starters coming back.

Stanford finished last season ranked 20th in total defense and has seven of those starters returning. Really an elite club defensively, the Cardinal was only a bounce or two away from finishing the season undefeated and giving an SEC team a run for its money. The offense should also drastically improve with dual-threat quarterback Kevin Hogan now taking over.

While those are the two Pac-12 teams that will remain in the conversation until proven otherwise, you would be foolish to count out a loaded roster such as USC. There is also a defensive-minded team in Oregon State that forced 31 turnovers.

The Big Ten was brutal last season and while improvement should be made, it is hard to find a team that is truly capable of knocking down a giant besides Ohio State. It would be a daunting task even for a Pac-12 program, but there are a handful of teams you could realistically see playing for a national title. In order to even give yourself a chance, you have to at least make the big game.

The Pac-12 has the momentum and depth in its favor, while the Big Ten has some work to do before even thinking about hoisting a crystal football.

 

Follow @Randy_Chambers

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Regardless of your thoughts on the Wes Lunt situation, the controversy surrounding the quarterback's transfer speaks to the pressing need for a standardized means of handling transfer scenarios.

Friday, news broke that former 4-star quarterback Wes Lunt would see his transfer efforts greatly hindered by Oklahoma State. The Tulsa World reported that Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy is barring the rising sophomore, who was asked to redshirt this season, from transferring to any school in the SEC, Pac-12 and Southern Mississippi. That is, of course, in addition to the standard blocking of in-conference schools and teams on future schedules.

Hence, Central Michigan showing up on the list of places the Pokes will not release Lunt.

Gundy's actions certainly set the criticism world ablaze. ESPN's David Ubben commented on the specifics of the story. Yahoo!'s Frank Schwab also had thoughts on the petty nature of the decision by Gundy. As did Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel.

Personally, as a guy who is largely pro player in most situations, this stinks to high heavens for me. However, the real issue here, regardless of where you fall in the spectrum of opinions, is that if everyone knew the rules coming into things, everyone would be playing the same game.

In the last few seasons, just on the football side of the collegiate landscape, we have seen several coaches put the squeeze on transferring athletes. Randy Shannon at Miami with quarterback Robert Marve. Randy Edsall at Maryland with quarterback Danny O'Brien. Derrick Dooley with wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett.

Sometimes the coaches fumble early and then grant the normal release late. Other times the coaches maintain their tough approach and the player ends up buckling to the terms.

Instead of this dance of hurt feelings, spite and paranoia, what the sport needs is a clear rule on transferring that makes it less painful for all the parties involved. Less pain for the player having to jump through hoops because a coach is upset that he's leaving. Less pain for the coaches who get raked over the coals for outlandish restrictions.

The standard? The exact same policy that most schools already use, just written on the books so that all parties, coaches, players and parents, know the exact terms. No release to schools in the same conference or programs on future schedules during the player's career span.

Pretty simple.

Regardless of how a coach feels about a player, he understands where that guy can or cannot go. Players understand where they have access to, as well. No more barring a kid from going to a school in the same state that your program does not even play. No more blocking a player from big schools near his home because you worry he might star for a better program.

If a guy is willing to sit out a year to head to another conference, have at it. If a guy wants to play for the coach who recruited him and then got a head coaching gig, and he's willing to take that year off to do it, then let him go.

For a system that has pages upon pages of codified rules to manage mundane minutiae, here is where a rule that could help the system. Mark Emmert's talked about trying to cut through the red tape and streamline things on the NCAA's end; a standardized transfer release policy would certainly aid in that process.

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Markell Pack, a 4-star wide receiver, is a speedy wideout with great potential, and he's the latest recruit to commit to Florida State.

Pack is ranked as the No. 4 player from the state of Mississippi, and he's the No. 25 wideout in the 2014 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He's commitment No. 10 for Florida State and the Seminoles' third wide receiver commitment.

He joins 3-star wide receiver C.J. Worton and 4-star "soft commit" J.C. Jackson. Athlete recruit Jojo Robinson, a 4-star, could also play receiver. 

Corey Dowlar of ESPN.com reported on the commitment:

Markell Pack (Purvis, Miss./Purvis) has been high on the Seminoles board for quite a while. So when he committed to Florida State late Saturday night, it was not a surprise that the Florida State coaches were a happy group. 

New assistant coach Tim Brewster was the first to get the news Sunday morning. 

"I decided to do it last night and when we talked this morning, they were pretty fired up," Pack said. 

Pack is 6'2'', 180 pounds, so he has ideal height, but he also runs a 4.43 40, according to 247Sports. With his combination of size and speed, he projects to be a pure deep threat who can stretch the zone with his speed and go up and get the ball because of his height.

With that said, Pack will be comfortable all over the field.

He's adept at taking short routes and making something happen after the catch. He has quick feet, great vision, a good cut move and he's a strong runner. He can be physical because of his size, and he's also elusive.

Pack can also run a deep route though and beat a defender vertically, and he displays good vision when the ball is in the air and instincts to adjust to the throw and make a play on it—even in a crowd. He has good hands and displays good concentration, so he'll be a reliable receiver.

For Florida State, he's a big out-of-state commitment who also projects to be extremely talented. In fact, Pack could end up being a star wide receiver for the Seminoles, in time.

 

Note: All scouting and analysis of Pack done via tape study of the film provided on is 247Sports profile page.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

It’s time to meet one of Brooklyn’s finest, 4-Star athlete Curtis Samuel. Samuel is one of the top athletes in the class of 2014 and has over a dozen offers from some of the top programs in the nation.

Bleacher Report traveled to Samuel’s high school (Erasmus Hall) to get a better look at the top prospect. Samuel rushed for 1,047 yards and 13 touchdowns in his junior season, while registering 33 tackles and one interception on defense.

Watch the video to meet a great kid off the field and learn what programs are on his radar at the next level.

Highlights courtesy of Prepforce.com

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It’s time to check out the top five beast-mode running backs of the 2014 class. All of these backs have amazing skills out of the backfield and are able to break a run on any given carry.

247Sports national recruiting director JC Shurburtt breaks down these prospects and what it takes to be part of this selective group.

Jalen Hurd, a 5-star recruit, has impressive size at 6’3”, 230 pounds. His exceptional ability to break tackles led to 43 touchdowns during the 2012 season. Where will he land on the list?

Who's the No.1 beast-mode running back in the 2014 class? Watch the video to see who tops the 2014 class.

Highlights courtesy of 247Sports.com and Prepforce.com

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Michigan has the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, according to ESPN, Nick Saban has sent a lot of players to the NFL and Missouri was the standout recruiting program this past week in the SEC.

Welcome to this week's edition of the weekly recruiting roundup, now released on Monday morning to help you get through that terrible "case of the Mondays."

This is your one-stop shop for everything that has happened in the recruiting world during the past week. We'll touch on the biggest news, provide you with all of the latest commitments and even watch a highlight clip or two.

If you're a recruiting fan, this is the only place you want to be on a Monday morning. If it happened between 12:01 a.m. last Monday and midnight Sunday night, we'll have it covered.

Even during a relatively slow week, news in the recruiting world is abundant and exciting. 

Let's take a look.

 

Note: Information in this roundup is courtesy of 247Sports.com and the 247Sports Composite Rankings. "Recruit of the Week" scouting report done via tape study and analysis of film provided on recruit's 247Sports profile page.

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As the old saying goes, "Football is a religion in the SEC."

While that may not be entirely accurate, SEC fans routinely make Internet waves with creative tattoos, wedding cakes and even music videos—most of which fail miserably (looking at you, Missouri)—that demonstrate their obsession with the sport.

But Alabama fans have taken it to the next level.

According to Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News, the broken coaches' trophy Alabama won in January 2012 signifying the 2011 national championship netted quite the haul at the Alabama Celebrity Golf Tournament on Sunday.

Alabama auctions off the broken 2011 BCS Champonship Trophy at its UA Celebrity Golf Tournament on Sunday. It brought a reported $105,000.

— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) May 20, 2013

Think about that for a second. That's $105,000 for broken pieces of crystal. What on Earth can you do with broken pieces of crystal?

Practice walking on it in an effort to become a street performer? Toughen up your grip by squeezing it? Please don't say "glue it back together."

Oh, wait. Scratch that. Please DO glue it back together. The Internet needs pictures.

If you recall, the trophy was shattered in April 2011 by the father of former Crimson Tide long snapper Carson Tinker. According to ESPN.com, the eight-pound Waterford crystal football is valued at around  $30,000—$75,000 less than it was auctioned off for on Sunday.

Adam Kramer at Your Best 11 wrote an ode to the trophy when it met its demise last season.

It's all in good fun.

Fans take pride in a variety of different things, and that's what makes college football great. But now that's it's brought in $105,000, whether it's for charity or not, the future of the shattered coaches' trophy is now more intriguing than its past.

 

Follow @BarrettSallee

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Michigan State recruit Jay Harris recently ate up the headlines when he announced that he will turn down a scholarship for the slim chance of becoming a successful rapper. Georgia commit Sony Michel may have similar goals, but those will follow after school and a chance to make something of himself on the football field.

The 5-star running back, who committed to the Bulldogs in April, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that football comes first and his music is second.

“Football is my first love, and then music is right after it,” Michel told the AJC. “I will finish out football before I think about that (a music career).”

This seems like a wise decision considering Michel is an extremely talented football player and has a possible future at the next level. As for a rapper, well, there is one on every street corner and you can count on one hand how many actually make it. Get in line if you want a music career.

But this is still a serious hobby for Michel, who goes by the stage name "2Stackz," which ironically came from a goal he plans to accomplish with football.

“That name actually came from football. ‘2Stackz’ means 2,000. My goal is to rush for 2,000 yards in a year.”

Michel made people look silly on the football field, blowing past defenders with his speed and making guys miss in the open field.

While he has a bright future in the sport, he has also included 10 songs on his Youtube page. You can hear one of the songs below. Warning: lyrics are NSFW material.

According the report, Michel says that he writes the majority of his songs and has been working with a producer. He has also made appearances at a party and his high school, which has drawn positive feedback. 

Actually, I have a good friend who is a producer, said Michel. (My friend) makes beats. I let him listen to my stuff. He makes beats for professional artists. He is actually trying to help me understand the business more before I jump into it. I’m just leaning right now before I get into it.

If Michel does everything right and fulfills exceptions on the gridiron, that music career could be on hold for quite some time.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

When Urban Meyer was hired as head coach in November of 2011, Ohio State fans everywhere were excited to see the spread offense the Buckeyes would be implementing in 2012.

Carlos Hyde, Ohio State's 6'0", 240-pound running back, was concerned.

The Buckeyes' bruising running back had watched film of the offense Meyer orchestrated at Florida and didn't see too many players with his build lining up in the backfield. At least, he didn't see any big guys at running back.

"I was like, I don't see no big dude running around, except for Tim Tebow, and he's the quarterback," Hyde said, according to BuckeyeGrove.com. "I don't play quarterback." 

In the end, Hyde's concerns would prove unnecessary as he finished Meyer's first year in Columbus with 1,021 total yards and 17 touchdowns (16 rushing, one receiving).

He was the workhorse of the Ohio State offense down the stretch, averaging over 21 carries per game over the Buckeyes' last seven games. Those seven games included some of the most physical matchups on the Ohio State schedule, and it's no coincidence that Meyer turned to his most physical runner to produce the tough yards.

As Hyde's production increased, so did his draft stock. After Ohio State capped its perfect season with a 26-21 win over Michigan last November, Hyde was one of the few underclassmen who had a decision to ponder.

A number of NFL teams could have used Hyde's services and selected him in the later rounds, but Ohio State's soon-to-be senior running back opted to stay in school for his final year.

In Hyde's mind, there was one major aspect of his game he wanted to work on before going pro.

The big, physical running back wants to make more big plays in 2013.

Hyde didn't notch a single rush of more than 30 yards last year, a surprising stat for a back who totaled 970 rushing yards in nine-and-a-half games. Hyde suffered an early-season MCL sprain in Week 2, and when he returned three weeks later, the coaching staff wanted him to avoid dancing around defenders to prevent further injury.

Ohio State running backs coach Stan Drayton just wanted Hyde to hit the holes his offensive line created for him.

"We had to really enhance the skill of attacking defenders, getting north-south yards, and not really putting as much strain on that knee considering how it was at that time," Drayton said, according to TheOzone.net.

Because of that, Hyde didn't break away too many times when he hit the second level last year. Instead, he would lower his shoulder and get as many yards as he could when he reached the secondary. That should change next year.

"I want to be better at making the safety miss," Hyde said. 

If Ohio State's bruising running back can add that element to his game, the Buckeyes' offense will be much harder to stop in 2013.

 

David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report.
Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412. 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Virginia native Jalyn Holmes is a terror on the defensive line and is one of the best defensive ends in the 2014 class.

The 6'5", 225-pound defensive end is uncommitted at the moment but is considering Florida State, Clemson, Florida, Maryland and many more. Holmes was selected to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and can bring some serious talent to the next level.

Watch the video to see Holmes' great technique, athleticism and speed on the line.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Clifton Garrett, a 5-star linebacker, is one of the most anticipated players coming out of the 2014 class.

The Illinois native has many schools still on his radar including LSU, Alabama, Florida and Ohio State. The 6'2", 228-pound beast will be a great addition to any of these programs in the coming years.

Watch the video to see Garrett attack ball-carriers and shut down offenses.

Highlights courtesy of 247Sports.com.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Four-star safety Laurence Jones is a force to be reckoned with out of Monroe, Louisiana.

The 6'2", 200 lb beast is definitely a player you stay away from on the field. Still uncommitted, he has many schools on his radar, including LSU, Alabama and Ohio State.

Watch the video to see why Jones makes receivers quiver and is among the best safeties in the country.

 

Highlights courtesy of 247Sports.com

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Bo Scarbrough, a 5-star athlete, has all the attributes to become a big-time weapon at the next level.

The Tuscaloosa native has been committed to Alabama since the beginning of his junior season. At 6'2", 225 pounds, his size accompanying a 4.59 40-yard time puts him in a very elite group of athletes in the 2014 class.

Watch the video to see Scarbrough's explosive speed burn defenders on his way to the end zone. 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have provided more than a few unforgettable plays over the years.

There have been long touchdowns that have brought the crowd to their feet, unthinkable mistakes that haunt the memory of even the most optimistic fans and one-of-a-kind plays that no one could have predicted.

No matter whether the memory induces a cringe or a reminiscent grin, here are the 20 plays that were so unique and extraordinary that they will not soon be forgotten.

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Boise State is heading into the 2013 college football season with some momentum, several key returning starters and, as usual, high expectations. 

The 2013 season looks to be a good one for the Broncos, and it could be another BCS year. However, before the Broncos can go bowling they are going to have to overcome a few obstacles in their path.

Let's look at three big challenges that head coach Chris Petersen will have to lead his team through in 2013.

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Over the last decade, the SEC has solidified its status as the superior conference in college football. 

Not only has the league been home to the last seven BCS national champions, but it’s also routinely produced some of the sport’s biggest stars and some of the most coveted NFL prospects.

The 2012 season was yet another banner year for the SEC.

Alabama kept the conference’s unprecedented championship streak alive by bringing home another national title; Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel became the fourth SEC player in the last six years to win the Heisman Trophy; and once the NFL Draft rolled around, the conference kept its reputation as a pro-producing powerhouse alive and well by setting a new record with 63 total players selected, including 12 first-round picks, which is also a new record.

The league has waved goodbye to standouts such as Jarvis Jones, Luke Joeckel, Dee Milliner and Barkevious Mingo. However, there’s a whole new wave of stars returning for the 2013 season.

South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney and Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel are the two SEC players who will receive the most publicity this offseason, but there are plenty of other impact players who are worthy of praise as well.

Here’s a look at the SEC’s top 50 players for the 2013 season.

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Losing Kyron Watson could have a domino effect on Michigan Wolverines coach Brady Hoke’s future recruiting plans.

And a lot of that could potentially hinge on a St. Louis-area connection and what Watson, a 3-star-rated linebacker out of East St. Louis High (Ill.), has to say about why he chose Kansas over Michigan.

Harsh words could spread like wildfire to other recruits. A positive report could help open the door for other talent to make its way to Ann Arbor.

As Tim Sullivan of TheWolverine.com recently reported (subscription required), Watson has quite the history with 2014 Wolverines target Adoree’ Jackson, a 5-star-rated corner out of Junipero Serra High (Gardena, Calif.). Jackson grew up near East St. Louis in Belleville, just a few miles from Watson’s home, and is a close friend of Watson’s.

Now that we’ve covered those bases, we’ll get into the who, what, where and why of the whole St. Louis push that could produce up to three signees (2014 and 2015).

 

Who is Dwight Williams—and How Does He Fit With Michigan?

Dwight Williams has become a person of interest for Wolverines tight end coach Dan Ferrigno, who is also recruiting Jackson, a teammate of Williams at Junipero Serra.

A 6’1”, 205-pound, 4-star-rated outside linebacker, Williams is the type of player that Wolverines defensive coordinator Greg Mattison could most definitely find a use for during the coming years.

Williams is the No. 5 OLB, according to Rivals, and the No. 7 OLB of the 2014 class, according to 247Sports.com.

Now, think of this: If Jackson gets negative feedback about Michigan from Watson, he would only be doing his friendly duty by letting Williams know about it, making Williams a suitor or casualty of the St. Louis-Watson relationship.

Ferrigno flipped Drake Harris to Michigan from Michigan State. Jackson is a heavy USC-lean, according to his 247Sports profile—matter of fact, the profile states that Jackson has a likelihood of 92 percent of committing to USC and an eight percent chance of giving a pledge to Florida.

Ferrigno may have the most challenging undertaking of any Wolverines recruiter during this phase of the game. He’s already shown the ability to sell the Michigan brand to a kid who’s bound and determined to attend another school. A healthy dose of why-you-should-choose-Michigan could reset the table for Jackson.

 

Introducing Terry Beckner Jr.

Terry Beckner Jr., an unrated 2015 defensive end, is a teammate of Watson’s at East St. Louis, and the same scenario applies in his case.

And since he’s presumably around Watson on at least a somewhat regular basis, stories about why Watson backed down from Michigan and chose Kansas could play a bigger role in his recruitment than in the case of Jackson and Williams.

At 6’4” and 260 pounds, Williams is similar in size to 2014 prize strong-side defensive end Da’Shawn Hand of Woodbridge (Va.), another sought-after Wolverines target. Should Michigan miss the boat on Hand, going after Beckner may be the next step. In fact, Beckner could be the backup plan. That’s not entirely clear at the moment, but it’s a logical connection.

 

The Twists and Turns

The aforementioned connection between Jackson, Williams, Watson and Beckner isn’t new. For years, recruits have communicated with one another, influencing decisions along the way. Winners want to play with winners, and as 2014 linebacker commit Michael Ferns showed with “Project 135,” internal recruiting is becoming all the more popular.

Ferns helped get 4-star offensive lineman Mason Cole (East Lake High, Tarpon Springs, Fla.) to choose the Maize and Blue. Derrick Green, a 2013 prize running back, was also subject to internal efforts via Cass Tech superstar David Dawson.

With social media at its peak, all it takes is a direct message, tweet-at or a line dropped on Facebook for these guys to get together behind the scenes and make things happen. Hoke is battling other coaches for the top players, but he also contends with technology. Making sure each and every recruit has a proper visit to Ann Arbor becomes increasingly important each step of the way. All it takes is a tweet or Facebook status for a prospect to express his joy or displeasure.

The St. Louis effect will impact Michigan at two key positions—linebacker and defensive end. The offensive line will probably be the bread and butter of Michigan’s success this year, but a developing defense always has something to do when it comes to championship runs, whether they’re conference or national title tilts.

Getting Jackson could be the deal-sealer in this situation. But first securing the pair of East St. Louis standouts—Williams and Beckner—could be the road less traveled and backdoor to Jackson’s commitment.

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

The Ohio State Buckeyes are certainly among the favorites to win the national championship this season, and Urban Meyer is a big reason why.

He guided the Buckeyes to a 12-0 season in his first year with a team that had only won six games the year before.

Now with a more veteran club better versed in his explosive offense, the Buckeyes appear poised to reassert themselves on the national stage.

But the Buckeyes are by no means a perfect football team, and Meyer has a few challenges in front of him.

Here are three of those biggest challenges.

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The middle of the offseason has reached a midpoint, and that means summer college football previews are right around the corner. Phil Steele and many others will be hitting local bookshelves in stores within the next month, which feels like the unofficial kickoff to football season.

Before those other experts give us their opinions, let's get things started with the Bleacher Report Big Ten Football 2013 Preseason All-Conference teams.

Following a spring filled with story lines off the field, including the notable lack of Big Ten players taken in high rounds in the NFL draft, it is nice to begin focusing on those who will shine on the field in the fall. Thankfully there is not a massive power loss at the top of the conference in talented players.

Will your favorite player make the cut? Let's take a look!

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College football is still some time away, but at least we have things like Instagram to help us pass the time.

True, not everyone has an Instagram account, and many don't post nearly often enough. However, there are some that have a lot of fun sharing pictures with us fans as we all wait for the 2013 season together.

So, what are the best Instagram pictures of the offseason? Read on.

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