NCAA Football News

A key catalyst of the current renaissance period Notre Dame undeniably finds itself in has been the development of a nationally renowned defensive line, though that attribute may receive a damaging body blow in the coming days. 

It appears as if Eddie Vanderdoes, a 5-star defensive tackle who signed with the Irish on national signing day, may not be enrolling at Notre Dame.

The outlook of the situation is grim if you're a Notre Dame supporter, as neither the university nor the Vanderdoes family have given any official statements to either confirm or deny the rumors.

However, Sacramento Bee reporter Joe Davidson—the closest source to the Vanderdoes family—provided some meaningful insight on Monday evening.

I did get this from Vanderdoes family: grades, eligibility or conduct/character "is not and has never been an issue."

If indeed those areas of concern are not hangups in Vanderdoes' ability to enroll at Notre Dame, then the writing is on the wall: Vanderdoes has likely experienced a change of heart surrounding his collegiate destination.

Should that be the case, "surprise" shouldn't be a term that comes to mind.

On the morning of national signing day, Vanderdoes' parents informed Notre Dame of their son's decision but instructed officials to keep quiet on the matter, as to allow Vanderdoes the opportunity to enjoy his signing ceremony, which transpired in the evening hours.

Unfortunately, Notre Dame officials botched that request, as Vanderdoes was listed on the commitment list that afternoon during a media session on campus.

While that snafu surely was received unfavorably in the Vanderdoes household, it's unlikely that it was the singular reason for Vanderdoes' apparent change of heart. Yet it appears as if the rocky start to Vanderdoes' official relationship with Notre Dame may have been simply the beginning of what appears to be a rather complex situation.

Because the 6'2", 310-pound defensive lineman signed a letter of intent, he would need to be granted a release by Notre Dame to enroll at another school of his choice, and that's where the situation becomes murky.

There's no telling what decision the university would make in that regard, though if it were to deny Vanderdoes a release, Notre Dame would be viewed in a negative light in recruiting circles. And if that's the case, the Irish's recruiting abilities would likely suffer as a consequence.

The consequences wouldn't be limited to just recruiting, though.

On the field, the Irish would be significantly undermanned along the defensive line in 2014 without Vanderdoes.

It is widely expected that both nose guard Louis Nix and defensive end Stephon Tuitt will enter the 2014 NFL draft despite each having one more season of eligibility remaining following the 2013 season.

In fact, the guys over at WalterFootball.com have Tuitt (10th overall) and Nix (22nd overall) pegged as first-round selections.

That would leave the Irish with defensive ends Sheldon Day, Tony Springmann, Jarron Jones, Isaac Rochell and Jacob Matuska as the only available defensive linemen currently on the roster. Thus, the Irish coaching staff would be hard at work to add pieces along the defensive line in the 2014 class, which already includes end Andrew Trumbetti and tackle Jay Hayes.

What's even more alarming is the nose guard position.

Reserves Kona Schwenke and Tyler Stockton will each see their eligibility clocks expire after the 2013 season, leaving the cupboard bare assuming Nix enters the NFL draft. Because Vanderdoes was widely expected to assume the vacancy left behind by Nix, questions abound as to who will fill that role.

Clearly, the Vanderdoes situation has initiated a tidal wave of concerns to which answers are simply far and few between.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Alabama football produces top NFL draft picks year in and year out—some of which go on to have stellar careers at the next level. 

Three members of last year's national championship team were selected in Round 1 of this past draft—Dee Milliner, Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker. They went No. 9, No. 10 and No. 11, respectively, and all three will be asked to play big roles for their new teams as rookies.

This year's team features a handful players who certainly have first-round talent. Here are the players from the 2013 Alabama football program who have the best chance to be selected in Round 1 of the 2014 NFL draft.

Cyrus Kouandjio, Offensive Tackle

I know what you're all thinking.

Alabama producing first-round offensive linemen? Surely you jest!

In all seriousness, however, Kouandjio may end up becoming a better professional offensive lineman than Fluker and Warmack.

Blessed with prototypical size, the 6'6", 311-pound Kouandjio was phenomenal as a sophomore last season as Alabama's starting left tackle. He allowed only 3.5 sacks in 2012 (h/t rolltide.com) and is still developing his technique.

NFL Network's Albert Breer listed him as one of his top players to watch this upcoming season:

It'll be interesting to see if Kouandjio ends up becoming the first offensive tackle to be taken off the board in 2014. He'll likely be contending with Jake Matthews out of Texas A&M and Taylor Lewan out of Michigan.

C.J. Mosley, Outside Linebacker

Mosley will be a highly coveted linebacker heading into the 2014 NFL draft. 

His ability to play in any scheme makes him extremely valuable, as more and more NFL teams have been moving to what they call "multiple" schemes on the defensive side of the ball. 

A strong pass-rusher off the edge, Mosley is already a skilled 3-4 outside linebacker adept at dropping back into coverage—a rarity for prospects heading into the NFL. 

Bleacher Report NFL draft Featured Columnist Wes Stueve was impressed when he took a closer look at Mosley's tape recently:

All his natural talent combined with the intelligence Stueve mentioned will surely earn him a first-round selection in the 2014 NFL draft.

Adrian Hubbard, Outside Linebacker

Hubbard has shown flashes of brilliance in his first two seasons at Alabama, and he'll really have a chance to shine this year as a featured player for Nick Saban's defense.

At 6'6" and 248 pounds, Hubbard possesses more of a prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker frame than Mosley.

He showed the speed and power last year to get to the quarterback, registering seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles. 

NFL teams will fall in love with Hubbard's strength at the point of attack. He's not just a flashy edge-rusher who will run himself out of plays upfield. Instead, given proper coaching, Hubbard has the ability to turn into an elite pass-rusher in the NFL.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

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The Stanford Cardinal are coming off a third consecutive BCS bowl game appearance and their first conference title since 1999.

Coach David Shaw has proven to be the perfect successor to Jim Harbaugh. Plus, Stanford didn't miss a step last season even though Andrew Luck was gone.

As for the 2013 campaign, Shaw brings in the No. 57 (Scout.com) and No. 63 (Rivals.com) ranked recruiting class. Even though that's not on par with conference foes Oregon, USC and UCLA, don't expect Stanford to just slide back this season.

To that end, let's check out how Shaw's crew can repeat as Pac-12 champs.

Note: Full view of Stanford's depth chart courtesy of GoStanford.com.

Rely on a dynamic ground game

With Stepfan Taylor out of the equation, Stanford has to keep its rushing attack moving.

Anthony Wilkerson must take the reins and simply attack the line of scrimmage. After averaging 4.5 yards per rush in 2012, Wilkerson briefly brought back the potential displayed in 2010. The Cardinal will need him to consistently produce as the season unfolds.

Elsewhere, Tyler Gaffney is back.

According to Kyle Kensing of SaturdayBlitz.com via Sports Illustrated, Gaffney was playing minor league baseball in 2012. Nevertheless, the guy accounted for 704 rushing yards and 11 scores between 2010 and 2011.

Feeding a sound mixture of Wilkerson and Gaffney allows the Cardinal to run a variety of plays geared toward controlling the trenches.

Defense...and more defense

There are three guys coach Shaw and Co. can always count on heading into the 2013 campaign.

First is linebacker Shayne Skov.

He logged 146 tackles through his first two college seasons, but then missed most of 2011 due to injury. Fortunately Skov returned nicely in 2012, recording 81 tackles, and Kevin Gemmell of ESPN.com believes he is Stanford's most important player:

There is no debate, however, about what Skov means to this team. Before his season-ending knee injury at Arizona in 2011, he was slotted as a potential first-round draft pick. He returned in 2012 and was very good. But not quite back to where he was pre-injury. 

He is now. And that bodes very well for one of the top defensive units in the country.

The next guy that must keep producing is Ben Gardner.

Between 2011 and 2012 Gardner racked up 24.5 tackles for loss, 12 of which were sacks, and defended seven passes. His knack for disrupting the backfield is a great complement to Skov in the front seven.

Finally, there is safety Ed Reynolds, whose ability to change the field position on turnovers creates a huge competitive advantage.

Reynolds picked off six passes last season and returned them for 301 yards and three touchdowns. This ability to swing the momentum and instantly change any game gives Stanford a chance regardless of the second-half situation.

Turnover Minimization

Winning the turnover battle is one primary aspect that allowed Stanford to take the Pac-12 title.

Finishing the year at plus-nine, the Cardinal ranked No. 26 in turnover margin. Quarterback Kevin Hogan only tossed three picks the six games where he contributed the most, not to mention putting up a 71.7 completion percentage.

Provided Hogan continues to develop and set up the play-action, Stanford gains a favorable edge by establishing balance.

The pass rush will get pressure to force fumbles, and the coverage will make plays on the ball for interceptions. As a result, Hogan and Co. must capitalize accordingly or simply reduce turnovers to play the field-position game.

Regardless, sticking to a physical philosophy on each side of the line of scrimmage will propel Stanford ahead of its conference competition.

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Penn State football has a rich tradition that stretches through past years and generations.

Fathers, sons, grandfathers and all different families that flock to Beaver Stadium can agree on at least one thing: Penn State.

Over the years the football program has seen many memorable moments, plays and milestones.

Even with the dark cloud still hovering near Happy Valley as the dust settles from the Sandusky scandal that stunned the nation, those memorable plays and moments on the field still remain.

So as the college football world sits in limbo between spring practices and summer minicamps, let’s take a look into the past.

Here is a list of the most memorable plays in Penn State football history, ranked by impact and significance.

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The SEC is loaded with rising stars throughout the freshman ranks with 20 of last year’s Top 50 signing with conference schools.

The No. 1 player Robert Nkemdiche is preparing to build a masterful career at Ole Miss, and O.J. Howard is expected to change the way that the Alabama offense pushes the football down the field.

The next few years will bring a lot of quality football with these five freshmen lining up on Saturdays.

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Despite what you may hear through the grapevine, there are elite recruits that decide to take their talents to the Big Ten. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer made it known he isn't impressed with the recruiting classes overall, but there are top recruits that have turned down offers from the SEC to play in this conference.

A lot of these guys are from the 2013 recruiting class who will have a chance to make an impact as early as this season. Whether it is a star running back, hard-nosed defensive player or a future star quarterback, the Big Ten is a conference you want to pay attention to for the next couple of years.

Here are the Big Ten freshmen who have the brightest future.

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The eyes of the college football world will be on ESPNU Sunday afternoon when Paramus, New Jersey 5-star cornerback Jabrill Peppers announces his college destination.

Not only is Peppers looked at as a 5-star by every major recruiting site, but also as one of the two or three best players in the country regardless of position.

Simply put, Peppers is one of those freakish athletes that comes along only once every few years, versatile enough to play a number of positions in college and excel.

His 6'1", 210-pound body frame allows perfectly for that versatility; he plays both running back and corner at Paramus Catholic. He definitely projects as primarily a cornerback in college, though.

So which school will he announce to play for Sunday afternoon? Nobody knows for sure, but there's no question who the front-runner is: the Michigan Wolverines.

Michigan has been in front for about a month now, ever since Peppers canceled his Stanford trip and took a visit to Ohio State that he wasn't exactly thrilled about.

In fact, for a while the Bucks were considered to be Peppers' leader, and not only did they fall from that perch after the visit, but out of his top five altogether. Sorry, Urban, but not every recruit is going to fall for your sweet-talking antics.

That's about the time when Stanford looked to be Michigan's biggest competitor, but the canceled visit looks to have dropped the Cardinal out of the equation.

Then, as recently as two weeks ago, it was announced that Peppers planned to take a trip to Happy Valley to visit Penn State.

While some believe he may have legit interest in the Nittany Lions, others think he is only taking the trip out of courtesy to his high school coach and to garner some interest for his teammates. I'm going with the latter on this one.

Then there was even talk of a surprise visit in the coming days, likely to home state Rutgers. While there may be actual interest in newcomers Penn State and Rutgers, most people agree that these schools have only been thrown into the equation to create excitement and suspense for Sunday's announcement. Again, I'm going with the latter.

I think Michigan is the clear cut favorite here and would be downright shocked if he picked anybody else. Recruiting experts on the major outlets seem to agree.

Just as so many elite athletes do, Peppers simply fell in love with the university when he visited, also forming a close connection with this amazing coaching staff. While some expected that excitement to fade, it never did.

The fact that he wants to get the recruiting process over with so he can focus on his senior year of high school shows what kind of kid he really is—this is not about him. Academics also are very important to him, evidenced by his flirtations with Stanford.

Should he choose Michigan on Sunday, there's no doubt he'll fit right in. In fact, comparisons have already began popping up comparing him to Charles Woodson. That may be a bit premature, but it does go to show you the kind of potential this kid has.

There's no doubt Sunday afternoon will be filled with plenty of suspense and excitement, but hopefully it will be well worth it in the end.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

South Carolina has picked up a major 2015 commitment, as weak-side defensive end Shameik Blackshear from Bluffton, S.C. has committed to the Gamecocks.

Kipp Adams of ESPN.com reports on the commitment:

The Gameccks picked up their second commitment for the 2015 class Tuesday and it comes from one of the most coveted prospects in the Palmetto State. 

"I have verbally committed to South Carolina," Shameik Blackshear said. 

Blackshear goes on to explain why he chose the Gamecocks, per Adams:

"I chose South Carolina because I know I can guide and lead the program when it is my turn," Blackshear said. "South Carolina is a great place to be and I am LOVED all over Columbia." 

Blackshear is 6'4'', 235 pounds and he's only a rising junior. Those measurables alone are enough to see great potential in him, but check out this tweet from Tony Morrell of TheBigSpur.com that sets the bar quite high for the 2015 recruit:

He has already garnered offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Clemson and Tennessee amongst others, so it's quite obvious that other programs can see the immense potential that Blackshear possesses as well.

Comparing anybody to Jadeveon Clowney is high praise, let alone a recruit who has yet to play his junior season in high school. Even if Blackshear was to become half as good as Clowney though, the Gamecocks would still have a great player on their hands. There should be plenty of excitement amongst South Carolina fans about this commitment. 

Blackshear joins Dexter Neal as the second commitment to South Carolina's 2015 class.

Is Blackshear "the next Clowney" for South Carolina? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

You can't coach experience, and the SEC will have plenty of experience at the most important position on the field in 2013—quarterback.

Eleven of the 14 SEC teams return a quarterback or quarterbacks who started the majority of the 2012 season.

That group is headlined by reigning Heisman Trophy-winner Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M, Georgia signal-caller Aaron Murray and two-time BCS National Champion AJ McCarron at Alabama.

Manziel has the sizzle. He was a permanent fixture on highlight reels last season thanks to his 1,410 rushing yards; but he was marvelously efficient, completing 68 percent of his passes for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns. 

Murray set the single-season Georgia record with 35 touchdowns passes in 2011, and then broke his own record with 36 last season. Not only has he performed like an All-SEC player in each of the last two seasons, he has virtually his entire supporting cast back in 2013 on offense. Not only can he draw on his own experience, but he can draw on his own experience with the same pieces.

That familiarity is invaluable.

McCarron is the most decorated but quite possibly the least appreciated of the trio of SEC superstar quarterbacks. The offensive MVP of the 2012 BCS National Championship Game following the 2011 season led the nation with a 175.28 passer rating a year ago, completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 2,933 yards, 30 touchdowns and only three picks.

All three of those players have proven during their respective careers that they have what it takes to be successful as individuals and lead a team to prosperity.

But it isn't just the stars in the SEC.

Bo Wallace was solid for Ole Miss as first-year head coach Hugh Freeze resurrected the program last season, Connor Shaw is in a battle at South Carolina but is a stud when healthy and Tyler Russell set Mississippi State single-season school records for passing yards (2,897) and touchdown passes (24) last season.

That's strong.

Even some teams with major quarterback questions this offseason, like Auburn, Kentucky and Missouri, have players who have started multiple games in the mix to win starting jobs.

That experience—even if it's largely negative—is important. 

Sure, there have been exceptions to the rule.

First-year starting quarterbacks won four of the SEC's five BCS National Championships between 2007-11. But having a quarterback who knows what to do, and—perhaps more importantly—what not to do, allows the rest of the pieces of the offense to fall into place.

In 2006, former Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford was wildly inconsistent, completing 52.7 percent of his passes (135-for-256) for 1,749 yards, seven touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The very next season—his first as the unquestioned starter—his completion percentage improved slightly (55.7 percent), but he was more reliable, throwing for 2,523 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

That Georgia team was perhaps the hottest team in America when the season ended, but was on the outside looking in as LSU went to and won the BCS National Championship Game over Ohio State.

Another somewhat recent example of a player succeeding after being written off is Jason Campbell at Auburn. He was remarkably average for the Tigers between 2001-03, but flourished in his first season under then-offensive coordinator Al Borges, completing 69.6 percent of his passes (188-of-270) for 2,700 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions en route to being named SEC Player of the Year by the Associated Press.

Sometimes quarterbacks get written off quicker than players at other positions. Just because players like Florida's Jeff Driskel and Auburn's Kiehl Frazier haven't lived up to the hype yet doesn't mean they will stay down forever. In fact, since they weren't successful right off the bat, it likely means the valleys won't be as deep if and when they do succeed.

The SEC is absolutely loaded with talent at quarterback this season.

When Missouri's James Franklin—a guy who two seasons ago was on the brink of a 3,000-yard passing/1,000-yard rushing season—is ranked eighth in our conference quarterback rankings and quite possibly could be ranked too HIGH by yours truly, it speaks to the depth of talent in the conference (as well as the fickle nature in which we evaluate players).

Positional strength goes in waves.

The SEC was top-heavy with running backs in 2010 and 2012, with eight running backs topping the 1,000-yard mark a year ago. With four of those players gone and so many talented quarterbacks returning, 2013 looks to be a year driven by veteran quarterbacks.

If you're looking for a reason why the SEC will continue to dominate in 2013, look no further than the quarterbacks. There's a solid group of signal-callers coming through this season with many potential stars still flying under the radar.

Follow @BarrettSallee

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The Texas A&M Football team is considered a legitimate Southeastern Conference and national title contender in 2013. The Aggies will face multiple teams during the conference season who they will struggle to match up with at the positional level. 

Sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel will lead one of the top offenses in the country. The defense should again be solid under second-year defensive coordinator Mark Snyder. 

On paper the Ags should be a good bet to win every game. On the field, the opposing coaches can take advantage of some positional mismatches in order to find a way to beat A&M.

This is a look at which teams are the worst mismatch for the Aggies on a position-by-position basis in the SEC. 

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The Big 12 is drastically improving before our eyes and producing quality players on both sides of the ball. What was once considered a battle between Texas and Oklahoma for the conference title has now provided us with a little more parity.

More teams are competing at the highest level and talented players are emerging at an alarming rate.

The season will soon begin and guys will fight to make a name for themselves, help their team win and bring home individual awards. One of the things star players shoot for is to be mentioned as a first-team All-Big 12 player. It shows that you were one of the top players at your position for an entire season.

Here is how things stack up for Bleacher Report's Big 12 preseason all-conference teams.

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LSU's 2014 recruiting class has taken a huge hit, as it's being reported that 5-star JUCO wide receiver D'haquille Williams has decommitted.

Per his Twitter account, Taylor Hamm of 247Sports cites a text he received from Williams saying that he'd decommited from the Tigers:

Williams has elite measurables, checking in at 6'3'', 213 pounds, running a 4.40 40, according to 247Sports. He's also ranked as the No. 1 JUCO wideout in the nation and the No. 1 JUCO recruit in the 2014 class, according to the 247Sports Composite.

As far as JUCO players are concerned, Williams is the best of the best, so losing his commitment is a massive blow to LSU's recruiting efforts in 2014.

He committed to LSU earlier in May, but apparently he's ready to re-open his process. Shea Dixon of Geaux247.com tweeted that Williams decommitted from LSU so he could "experience" the recruiting process:

If there's any good news for LSU here, it's that the Tigers still have a class of nine with incredible potential. They boast the commitment of 5-star safety Edward Paris, as well as 4-star offensive guard Garrett Brumfield.

LSU is also in the running for elite recruits such as 5-star running back Leonard Fournette. He's No. 1 player in the 2014 class, according to 247Sports Composite, and lists the Tigers as one of his top two choices. In addition, LSU is either the leading or second choice of  5-star offensive tackle Cameron Robinson (top two), 5-star cornerback Tony Brown (leader) and 5-star safety Laurence Jones (leader).

Les Miles and his staff still have the ability to bring in a class that still could be the best in the nation, so there's still plenty to look forward to if you're an LSU fan.

That doesn't take away from the magnitude of this recruiting loss, though.

Williams could have been a major deep threat in LSU's offense, so unless he was to re-commit (always a possibility), losing out on his commitment will go down as a major negativet during an otherwise positive recruiting cycle for the Tigers.

All player ratings courtesy of 247 Sports.

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Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott earned more than $3 million last year, making him the highest-paid "sitting college commissioner," according to the Wall Street Journal. 

Scott earned every cent of that paycheck.

His innovative and forward-thinking ideas launched the Pac-12 Networks. This is the "first time a U.S. collegiate conference or any other programmer has launched a collection of networks across a variety of platforms, rather than a sole network," according to the Pac-12's official website. More:

On the field, the Pac-12 rises above the rest, upholding its tradition as the “Conference of Champions” ®, claiming an incredible 121 NCAA team titles since 1999-2000, including nine in 2011-12. 

For the seventh consecutive year, the Pac-12 had the most NCAA titles or tied for the most of any conference in the country, winning at least six every year since 2000-01. No other conference has won double-digit NCAA crowns in a single year, the Pac-12 doing so six times, including a record 14 in 1996-97. 

Despite these accomplishments, the Pac-12 still manages to be viewed by many as a second-tier league. The Wall Street Journal's Rachel Bachman's article highlights this perception:

In his four years as commissioner, Larry Scott has transformed the sleepy Pacific-10 Conference into the big-business Pac-12, expanding the conference and quadrupling its annual television-rights revenue. 

Sleepy? 

No other conference comes close to the amount of team national championships the Pac-12 has won. The same was true under the league's former Pac-10 name. Yet it was called sleepy. 

There is no doubt the SEC has dominated football the last seven years. That league is wide awake and fired up. But there is also no doubt that college football is cyclical and another conference will dethrone it. Until that happens, we can all sit back and marvel at the awe of SEC football.   

A conference commissioner oversees all of its collegiate sports, and perhaps that's why the Pac-12 doesn't muster much respect east of the Mississippi River. College football is king in the South, and the Pac-12 hasn't crowned a football champion since USC's 2004 AP and BCS-vacated titles. The Pac-12's reputation is being judged solely on college football, it would appear.

Its recent football championships and attendance figures all make up the Pac-12's perception, and to the average fan in the South, the Pac-12 doesn't impress. The Pac-12 isn't the SEC, and they should never be compared.  

Most SEC schools are located in small cities where residents have lived their whole lives. The fandom is entrenched, the camaraderie deep. Birmingham is the most populated city in Alabama with a little over 200,000 residents.

USC and UCLA are located in the Greater Los Angeles area, which has a population of approximately 18 million—it's one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. The sports interests in L.A. are varied and represent every region in the U.S. due to its melting pot demographics. 

Broad comparisons are inevitable but not always warranted. There is one comparison that should be noted, and it has Larry Scott's fingerprints all over it.

The Pac-12 is raking in the dough from its media rights deals. From the Sports Business Daily:

The Pac-12’s deal at an average of $250 million per year is for a 12-team league. The Big 12 deal averages $200 million across 10 schools.

The Sporting News notes that "ESPN’s current arrangement with the SEC—negotiated in 2008—pays an average of $150 million a year over 15 years." More:

When the SEC did this deal with CBS and ESPN four years ago, it was considered a groundbreaking agreement. The deals reset the entire collegiate media rights market, at least until the Pac-12 negotiated its massive deal with ESPN and Fox last year.

Well done, commissioner Scott. You deserve your paycheck.  

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Every college football fan spends time looking at the upcoming fall schedule and dreams up a perfect scenario that has his or her team celebrating a national championship. For many fans in the SEC, this is not quite as much of a dream scenario as it is a realistic goal.

When the SEC has won seven straight BCS championships, you might say the odds are in your favor if you root for an SEC team. The conference could just be a little top-heavy but if you run down the best-case scenarios throughout the conference, there are six schools that could make a run for a BCS title and four legitimate Heisman Trophy contenders to watch throughout the season.

We ran through the entire conference and came up with a realistic best-case and worst-case scenario for each school. These best-case scenarios may not translate to an undefeated season for everybody, but we also avoid the talk of significant injuries derailing a season from the start as well.

Take a look to see how your favorite SEC team stacks up under both situations, and then share your thoughts on any team with your own best- and worst-case scenarios in the comments.

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Over the past 40 years, the Golic name has become synonymous with Notre Dame football. That era is now coming to an end as Cincinnati.com reports that Mike Golic’s son Jake will transfer for 2013 (h/t CFB Talk).

Jake was never able to crack the starting lineup at tight end for the Irish, playing behind Tyler Eifert and Kyle Rudolph. He is immediately eligible at Cincinnati and should have a shot at relevance.

He will look to help the Bearcats fill the void left at tight end by third-round draft pick Travis Kelce. His competition for the starting job will be Blake Annen, who only has three career receptions for 35 yards.

Mike Golic is a well-known alumnus thanks to his ESPN radio show “Mike and Mike” and his eight seasons in the NFL. Mike’s brother Bob was also a Notre Dame defensive tackle and former pro, and his eldest son Mike Jr. just departed the Irish program.

Mike Jr. recently signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers after five years at Notre Dame.

The Golic Notre Dame legacy is as legendary as any in college football, but it has now come to a screeching halt with the news of the transfer.

Golic marks the second former Irish player to transfer to Cincinnati this offseason. Quarterback Gunner Kiel announced his departure for the Bearcats in May.

The two former Irish players will not hit the field together as Kiel must sit out due to transfer rules, but having them both land in Cincinnati is a unique storyline in its own right.

While Golic may have been unable to make a mark on the Irish program, he has a new start and an open door with the Bearcats.

Follow @ShugJordanPkwy

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The Florida Gators have suffered two decommitments in five days, the latest coming from 4-star wide receiver Ryeshene Bronson. 

The loss of Bronson's commitment comes just days after 4-star outside linebacker Christian Miller decommited from Florida as well (Kipp Adams/ESPN).

It goes without saying that it has been a rough few days for the Gators.

Luke Stampini of 247Sports reports on Bronson's decision to leave Florida's 2014 class:

Fort Myers (Fla.) Dunbar wide receiver Ryeshene Bronson committed to Florida last June following a summer camp session with the Gators coaching staff. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound prospect was the first member in Florida’s 2014 class at the time.

247Sports’ has confirmed through sources at his school that the four-star prospect backed off that pledge Tuesday, joining Columbia (S.C.) Spring Valley outside linebacker Christian Miller as the second prospect to decommit from the Gators in the past week.

Bronson is 6'3'', 180 pounds and runs a 4.65 40, according to 247Sports. The 247Sports Composite rankings also list him as the No. 24 wideout in the nation and the No. 26 recruit from the state of Florida.

Considering how important in-state recruiting is, especially in the state of Florida, this is definitely a loss for the Gators.

Moving on though, Florida still has plenty of options.

Ermon Lane, a 5-star receiver, has Florida in his top three (247Sports), and he's undoubtedly become the must-have recruit for the Gators at this moment. Lane is ranked as the No. 1 wideout in the 2014 class according to the 247Sports Composite, so he was a big target anyhow. Now that Bronson is out, out-recruiting Miami and Alabama for Lane becomes even more important. 

Sticking with the wideout position, Florida is in the top eight for 4-star wideout Artavis Scott, out of Tarpon Springs, Fla., and in the top four for 4-star Johnnie Dixon from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Staying in state would be beneficial for Will Muschamp and his staff, because maintaining a huge recruiting presence in the state of Florida is a must. 

It's a win-win situation for Florida, but only if it can bring in at least one of those three. Lane would be the preferred target, but neither Scott or Dixon would be disappointing pickups. Landing two-of-three would be the best case scenario, as a clean sweep seems unrealistic. 

Losing out on Bronson's commitment should be a disappointment, but the real damage here will be from a PR perspective. Two decommitments in five days looks horrible on the recruiting trail, and negative momentum is a very real thing. 

Florida needs to get back on track and Landing Lane would be the best way to do so—but keep an eye on Scott and Dixon as well. 

Either way, Florida has plenty of options.

All player ratings courtesy of 247 sports.

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Only 102 days remain until the kickoff of the 2013 Fighting Illini football season, and Fighting Illini fans can anticipate another interesting season of Illinois football.

The Fighting Illini begin 2013 with an in-state matchup against the Southern Illinois Salukis (cough cough, my alma mater).  Fans have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming season including the "Chicago Homecoming" game at Soldier Field as well as their first trip to Lincoln to face the Cornhuskers since 1985.

Second-year coach Tim Beckman has many obstacles facing him and the team in 2013, including a very tough schedule.  Here we look at Tim Beckman's biggest challenges for 2013.

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Alabama and Georgia are the early leaders for 5-star defensive end Lorenzo Carter's commitment, but keep an eye on LSU—as the Tigers appear to be making a push.

William Weathers of TigerBait.com is reporting that LSU is stepping up its game on the recruiting trail for Carter:

It wasn't until last month some time when LSU threw its hat into the ring and the Tigers have ramped up their efforts for Carter of Norcross, Ga.

"LSU has come on as of late," Carter said. "I talked to coach Les Miles and we've started talking a lot after that."

That said, Weathers also reports that Georgia and Alabama have stood out the most with Carter so far:

Carter explained that multiple visits to Alabama and Georgia with his parents have given those two schools an edge at this point.

"I think those two will make the top five," Carter said. "I want to get my parents to as many schools as possible. How comfortable we are with the school will really affect whether that school makes our list."

Carter is ranked as the No. 1 player from Georgia and he's also the No. 1 weak-side defensive end in the 2014 class, both according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. It would make sense why Georgia is high on his leaderboard, and Alabama's presence on top is self-explanatory.

At both schools, he would fit in best as a 3-4 outside linebacker, checking in at 6'5'', 232 pounds. 247Sports has him running a 4.60 40, so he projects perfectly as an edge rush player in a two-point stance—either on the line or over-hanged. 

In LSU's 4-3 scheme, Carter would be best as a pure weak-side defensive end. Though he hasn't taken a visit yet, according to Weathers' report, he wants to do so:

"I have to get up there some time," Carter said. "Growing up, LSU's always been in the running for a national championship and Coach Miles is an enthusiastic coach to say the least. They look like a place where I can go and develop and be ready to go to the next level."

Les Miles is one of the best coaches in college football, and LSU does have a history of creating great defensive ends and sending them to the NFL. Defensive end Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery, Lavar Edwards, Lazarius Levingston and Tyson Jackson are all recent examples of LSU defensive ends that were drafted into the NFL (DraftHistory.com). 

LSU is also known to field an ultra-aggressive defense, and Carter would fit great with that mentality.

He has the speed and agility to be a pure pass rusher and cause some havoc in the backfield. The Tigers are behind in the running for Carter right now, but it's still early in the process, and LSU is a known powerhouse in the world of college football recruiting.

Any other program may not have a good chance when entering a race like this, especially considering what both Georgia and Alabama bring to the table for Carter. LSU seems to be coming on strong, though, and the Tigers are a strong recruiting force.

It shouldn't be surprising if LSU eventually joins Alabama and Georgia on top of Carter's interest list.

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Records are made to be broken.

This fall there are a number of them that will be on the chopping block as players like Johnny Manziel attempt to leave their mark on history.

Some records will be tough to tackle, but there are a few on this list that should fall with ease. Rushing yards by a quarterback is one that may be reset again this year and the record for career touchdowns on interception returns is close to being matched.

The books are waiting to be rewritten and these are the records that will need adjustments after 2013. 

Note: All stats confirmed with CFBStats.com; All records confirmed with NCAA.org.

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Every season in the SEC, players like T.J. Yeldon, Todd Gurley and Amari Cooper emerge as legitimate threats. In 2012, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel took it to the next level, becoming the first red-shirt freshman to take home the Heisman Trophy.

With seven SEC teams in the Top 13 of the final 247Sports.com composite rankings, and many more potential studs taking red-shirts last season, 2013 should see many new faces emerge as SEC stars.

Who are the top five impact freshmen in the SEC in 2013? SEC lead writer Barrett Sallee breaks it down in this edition of "Full Ride."

Highlights courtesy of Prepforce.com

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