NCAA Football News

Everybody has an opinion on Tim Tebow, and "Johnny Football" is no exception.

The 2012 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for the Texas A&M Aggies dropped in on the set of ESPN's First Take on Monday while they were on-location in San Antonio for the NBA Finals and talked about Tebow signing with the New England Patriots.

The topic wasn't shocking, but Manziel's response was.

When asked by Skip Bayless if he's a better passer than Tebow, Manziel was quite candid.

"I would hope I'm a better passer than Tim Tebow," Manziel says at the 2:45 mark of the video below. "Hopefully I wouldn't have to go into an offseason and work on mechanics, because as a freshman and as a redshirt freshman, I tried to work on that before I even got into position to be questioned about that."

From a mechanics standpoint, Manziel has a point.

Tebow's mechanics—and his slow delivery in particular—are a reason he has bounced around in the NFL. That's something that can be fixed early in college and something that Tebow probably should have done.

While Tebow did make efforts to fix his mechanics in college—specifically before his senior season—it wasn't really needed for the Gators. In fact, according to the Orlando Sentinel, Florida coaches took him into a digital laboratory early in his career to configure a throwing motion specifically to alleviate shoulder pain.

His primary goal in Gainesville was to win games. He did that at a high level, so why mess with success at that time?

Manziel chose to fix things early. He made the world tour this offseason, but one of his trips took him to San Diego to visit with quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr., with the goal of becoming a better pocket passer in mind. 

But when it comes to statistics, using Tebow's 47.9 percent completion percentage in the NFL as a jumping-off point is useless.

If you compare their career college numbers, the two are actually very similar.

Manziel completed 68 percent of his passes with a passing efficiency of 155.32 during his redshirt freshman season in College Station, which are remarkably similar to Tebow's career 66.4 percent completion percentage and passing efficiency of 170.8.

A better passer? Statistically, it's up for debate. 

But that wasn't Manziel's point. He was talking about the specific styles and career progression of the two while in college.

Florida fans probably don't care, because they got two BCS National Championships out of the deal. But Florida ran a system that fit Tebow's strengths and hid his weaknesses, which is a big reason why he finds himself in the journeyman position he's currently in at the next level.

So was Manziel taking a shot at Tebow?

Not really.

It seems like everyone has an opinion on Tebow, so why should Manziel be an exception?

Manziel wasn't saying he's better than Tebow; he was saying that Tebow hurt himself by not focusing on his future as much as he probably should have when he was in Gainesville.

That's the truth.

Good for Manziel for being honest when asked a question that is, quite honestly, impossible to answer. Statistically, the two players are similar as college quarterbacks but different in terms of the way they approached the early portions of their college careers.

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We are only in June, yet the start time for all of Michigan's October games have already been announced.

We knew for a while that the Minnesota and Penn State games would kick off at 3:30 and 5:00, respectively, but the third and final game in October was also recently announced.

The Indiana game in Ann Arbor on Oct. 19 will also feature a 3:30 kickoff time.

A 5:00 start time for the game in Happy Valley seems like an appropriate decision, as that will certainly be a huge game with a raucous environment.

However, 3:30 kicks for both the Minnesota and Indiana games seem a little odd. Needless to say, neither of those are likely to be big games, as Michigan should be a heavy favorite in each. In fact, both are ideal for a noon kickoff.

Instead, Michigan will not be playing a noon game for a second straight October. Heck, it actually didn't play a noon game in September last year either, but that's bound to change this year.

The home contest with Akron on September 14 has "noon start" written all over it; the Connecticut and Central Michigan games could also be noon contests.

Brady Hoke has said countless times since he's been at Michigan that he prefers noon kicks, but it's no secret that those are a dying breed.

So seldom do we see huge noon matchups anymore, as the TV ratings and a lack of early attendance are the main reasons why.

As recently as 2011, eight of Michigan's twelve regular season games featured noon kickoffs. That number dropped all the way to four last season.

It looks like it'll be right around four once again here in 2013.

It's a shame that these start times have dropped so much in popularity; when some of the old timers reminisce about old school Michigan football, those early noon kicks always seem to be a key ingredient.

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The quarterback recruits that make up the Elite 11 are without a doubt the best signal-callers in the nation on a yearly basis.

This is quarterback competition at the highest level. Many entered, and through the process of camps, the experts whittled the field down to 18.

Only 11 will last to the end, though. Only 11 will be able to call themselves elite.

Under the tutelage of Trent Dilfer and others, these 18 quarterbacks will work and train themselves to be named among the best of the best.

Bleacher Report will have the whole thing covered, right here.

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With the BCS format set to become a thing of the past after the 2014 season, and with tweaks being made to the playoff system, new bowls and locations are being discussed.

Brett McMurphy of ESPN reports:

As many as nine locations are under consideration to begin bowl games in 2014, according to sources: Miami, Orlando, Little Rock, Ark.; Boca Raton, Fla.; Montgomery, Ala.; Los Angeles; Ireland; Dubai and either Toronto or Nassau, Bahamas.

The Bahamas? Dubai? Ireland? Miami? Forget participating in the playoffs and playing in the same boring locations, sign me up for a trip to paradise. A week in the Bahamas sure beats playing in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, where last year's game was covered in snow. That's not exactly a reward for regular-season accomplishments.

Per the report, these new bowl possibilities would be for teams in leagues outside the power conferences. Those are the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt. Watch out Boise State, you may finally be rewarded for being everybody's favorite underdog.

A source told McMurphy that these ongoing discussions are taking place because of the way the system is being built to keep the little guy out of the big game. Per the source:

The smaller 'Group of Five' conferences are exploring adding bowl games because they are being locked out by the big boys. They're looking to create bowl games so their teams will have bowls for their bowl-eligible teams.

This year's bowl lineup consists of 35  games, with 16 of those spots being occupied by power conferences (Big Ten, SEC, Pac-12, Big 12, ACC), giving non-BCS programs little chance to appear on the big stage. Per the report, that number could top 19 next season when the playoff format is installed.

Yikes.

While adding more bowls makes sense if you are a fan of non-BCS schools, the problem lies in how many teams would actually be bowl eligible (minimum of six victories). The last two seasons have only produced 72 bowl-eligible teams for 70 spots, which is cutting things dangerously close. Adding more bowls could force requirements to be tweaked, which then opens up another can of worms.

Either way, this would be a nice consolation prize if some of these locations stick.

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Jim Delany is sticking around for a little while longer.

Adam Rittenberg reports that ESPN has confirmed with the Big Ten that the longtime commissioner had his contract extended in 2011, which will carry through June 30, 2018. Way to keep things quiet for so long in this media-crazed world we live in.

According to the report, the league's Council of Presidents/Chancellors approved the extension, but the conference decided not to make a public announcement.

His contract was scheduled to come to an end on June 30 of this year.

This is huge news for the Big Ten.

Delany has been the commissioner of the conference since 1989 and has played a key role in the success of the Big Ten since then. He helped create the Big Ten Network, which reportedly is largely responsible for each team receiving more than $25 million in one years' worth of revenue.

He also helped implement college football's first replay system and is one of the most influential members of the BCS system, which will come to an end after this season.

But even with all of the success, his days ahead will be the most challenging.

Delany will now have the task of negotiating a new contract for the Big Ten Network, which has proven to be very profitable for the conference. It is set to expire after the 2016-17 athletics season, per the report. He will also be around when the new playoff format kicks off in 2014, which is a big year for the conference with the additions of Maryland and Rutgers.Rand

Sticking with familiarity is a smart move for the Big Ten, especially with Mike Slive's future as SEC commissioner up in the air.

Delany is only the fifth commissioner in Big Ten history and has spent the longest time at the position, recently surpassing Major John L. Griffith, who spent 22 years as commissioner.

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The next chapter of the Harvey Updyke saga is now being written.

Updyke, the 64-year-old Alabama fan who served a total of 76 days in jail for poisoning Auburn's iconic Toomer's Corner oaks in December 2010, was released from jail Monday, according to AL.com.

Updyke, who pleaded guilty to unlawful damage of an animal or crop facility in March, will return to Louisiana and serve five years of probation as a result of his plea agreement.

His release turns the page on the saga, but it doesn't close the book.

For Auburn, the story is ongoing.

Tiger fans flooded downtown Auburn following the 2013 A-Day game on April 20 for one last roll of the iconic oaks, which were torn down three days later. In their place, concrete poles and wires will be erected to provide a place for fans to celebrate wins while the soil recovers from the damage done by the heavy dose of Spike 80DF, according to ESPN.com.

The temporary and permanent solutions to replacing the trees are still part of the story. But even when the new oaks are planted and fans flood the corner of College and Magnolia streets like nothing has changed, the Updyke saga will continue to be part of the story.

Adults will remember the times before one crazy fan stepped way over the line and make a concerted effort to instill in their children the same joy and pride those trees gave them.

That's what makes what Updyke did to Toomer's Corner so egregious.

He didn't just poison trees. He robbed families of memories. 

Kids don't care who won or lost the game, even if it's the Iron Bowl between Auburn and Alabama. Hanging out with friends and family in the street and throwing toilet paper into the trees may seem silly to some, but that doesn't make it OK to rob families of those memories.

But there could be more tangible parts of the saga still to come.

Paul Finebaum—the radio host who was on the other end of the line when "Al from Dadeville" (Updyke) first made his confession in January 2011—visited with Updyke one day before his release, according to AL.com.

Lee County (Ala.) Sheriff Jay Jones allowed Finebaum to meet with Updyke despite a judge reportedly banning him from talking to the media, according to the Associated Press.

"It was just person to person,” Jones told AL.com. “If he had been (representing a media organization), we would not have allowed him to make contact.”

While technically Finebaum isn't a member of the media at the moment, he will become an employee of ESPN and the SEC Network later this summer. Does that technicality fly?

Considering Finebaum will host a syndicated radio show and make television appearances in his new gig, has been a successful columnist and is writing a book chronicling his radio show, the answer is no.

Updyke is out of jail, the trees have been torn down and the wheels are in motion to replace them. But just because they're gone doesn't mean they should be forgotten. 

The Updyke saga is now part of the rivalry. The silver lining is that it should become a cautionary tale about how not to act and serve in that capacity for generations. Rivalries are heated in college football, especially in the SEC. But even if your school throws away a 24-0 lead in the biggest game of the year, it is just a game.

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Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly is a made man.

The 22-year-old redshirt junior can no longer hide in obscurity after passing for 3,040 yards, 29 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season. 

He now has 13 starts and a few school records, including a 67.1 passing completion percentage.

Yet despite such a fantastic debut, Kelly seems unfazed.  

"I'm quiet," he said. "I'm not very outgoing."

The studious Kelly does have a wild hair that makes a lot of noise. He drag races in the offseason to "get that adrenaline rush." Last year, Kelly "posted the fourth-fastest time (129.83 mph) in the Sport Compact Qualifiers at a track near his hometown," according to AzCentral.com. 

So much for flying under the radar. 

The Pac-12 Network filmed Kelly racing at Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho. Racing red BMWs, Nissans and Toyotas with the Sun Devil logo and his jersey No. 10 on his car, Kelly sticks out. 

"Racing was a little hobby of mine," he says. "Do something new and go fast."

That little hobby did not escape the notice of new Sun Devil head coach, Todd Graham, and offensive coordinator, Mike Norvell, last year. 

"They were like, 'hey man, stop racing,'" Kelly recalled from a coach's text.

"It looks a lot more dangerous than what it really it is," he added. "I'm not doing it too much...I'm only doing once a year now. I'm going to be settling down as my career grows. Once I'm done with football and whatever else, I'm just going to start that hobby back up again."

He is not a daredevil. "I don't like roller coasters," he candidly admitted. "I like having control. Me driving a car, I like. But if I'm in the passenger's seat with someone driving like that, I wouldn't trust him."

Perhaps that is why he is thriving so well at Arizona State, a program that was going in the wrong direction when head coach Dennis Erickson was dismissed before the 2012 season. Kelly likes being in control. He is a field general. But Tempe's army was not running smoothly in 2011.

"Coach Dennis Erickson was a great coach and still is a great coach but he would kind of let a few little details [go] by," Kelly said.

"Coach Graham is on that. Absolutely no drugs in his program...no earrings, no hats in the building. It's just the little things. Wearing the same dress code during lifting...paying more attention to the little things and our guys have adapted to that very quickly and are doing a great job of it."

Not everyone adapted to the change. From the time Graham arrived in Tempe to early May last year, four players were dismissed from the team. The iron fist was laid down on a program in need of more discipline on and off the field. 

Graham explained his stance on drugs to me in a FOXSports interview last year:

It's an ongoing problem, probably more prevalent than people think. I'll give kids a second chance, but I'm not giving them a third. 

We drug test every player in our program every two months. I probably drug test more than anybody else. We choose to do that—I choose to do that.

Graham also chose to tap the potential in the kid from Eagle, Idaho who is an exceptional student-athlete and role model. As an example, he carries a 3.3 GPA.

Kelly rose out of nowhere after spring camp last year. Phil Steele's 2012 preseason magazine listed Kelly behind Michael Eubank and Mike Bercovici on the quarterback depth chart. The 6' 2", 200-pound quarterback had only thrown four passes in his collegiate career. 

"Coming out of spring I was third on the depth chart," Kelly said. He calls the summer of 2012 "the biggest summer of my life." 

"I watched a ton of film, worked on my feet, arm strength, just got to know the guys. Just outwork everybody. It paid off in fall camp and that's when I won the job and just took off from there."

Kelly has always played quarterback, ever since he was nine years old. But getting noticed in a town in Idaho, with a population of around 20,000, is difficult.

"We have a lot of athletes in Idaho, in Boise," he said. "They just don't get the attention, they don't have the resources to get their name out. Coaches aren't going to go there, especially high-profile programs. They would rather waste their time going to California or Florida or Texas."

Kelly has some advice. 

"For the kids who live in small towns like that, go to camps and get your name out. That's what I did. I had coaches who I was fortunate enough to have, who know a few people that got my name out, and I went to camps and did really well. Never stop the dream." 

Kelly is grateful for the mentoring he received from Paul Peterson, his coach at Eagle High School, and Scott Criner, the school's then-offensive coordinator. Criner is now the head coach at Idaho's Rocky Mountain High School.

Kelly may even pay it forward. 

Although he would like to go on to the pros, if that does not work out, he has his life planned out.  

His degree in educational studies offers him the opportunity "to coach later on, work with kids, kind of give back to the community," he explained.

"I'm going to try and get my master's [degree] because I graduate early. I graduate in December. And then I'll have a year and a half left on my scholarship to get my master's—I want to get some business background in it. You only have four years at the college level so you have to make the best of it."

Kelly said the happiest day of his life was when he graduated high school and "got my scholarship to get my education paid for and get the opportunity to play the game I love." 

This year may eclipse that. He and the team's goal is "to get to the Rose Bowl [game] or that national championship," he said firmly.

"We have the schedule to get to the national championship. We have one of the hardest, toughest schedules anyone has this season."

After opening with Sacramento State, Arizona State's next four games are not for the faint of heart: Wisconsin, at Stanford, USC and Notre Dame in Arlington, Texas.  

"I want to lead Arizona State to its first national championship," Kelly said. "Once that happens, that's gonna help this program a lot and will take us to the next step to those elite colleges that are doing that right now."

Pac-12 Network analyst Rick Neuheisel said Kelly has what it takes, according to Pros2Preps.com. 

“I think Taylor Kelly is going to be one of the top quarterbacks in the country,” Neuheisel told Brad Cesmat on a ‘Big Guy on Sports’ radio interview. 

And Arizona State may have another year of Kelly after this season. He used the word "definitely" when asked if he would come back for another year. For a program that seemingly has had an unsettled quarterback situation every spring, that is goods news.  

With mid-4.5 40-yard dash speed, a lively arm and a need for speed, Kelly's message is clear.

Catch me if you can. 

Kelly's racing videos can be viewed here. 

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The sky isn't falling after all for Florida recruiting.

After missing out on a few recruits and having one recruit bad mouth one of the Gators assistant coaches, the school has landed a massive recruit for the 2014 class.

According to Blake Alderman of Rivals, Florida has snagged 3-star recruit, via 247Sports, Taven Bryan.

Where did they find this kid? In Wyoming, of all places. The Gators pulled out all of the stops to land the only player worth mentioning from the state, according to 247Sports. Impressive.

He took to his Facebook account and updated his pictures and cover photo with the Gators logo. He also posted a status update writing, "I have committed to play for the Florida Gators. Go Gators!!!!!"

Bryan is the 10th commitment for the 2014 Florida class and is a positive sign for a class that was falling behind in the SEC. According to 247Sports, Florida is ranked seventh in the conference with four of the 10 recruits rated as 4-stars or higher. 

Bryan isn't the most elite player in the class, but he does bring terrific upside and size to the conversation.

At 6'5", 250 pounds, he has the wide frame and height to continue to develop into a monster wherever he lines up. He also has versatility, as he can stick to playing offensive line or eventually make the switch and become a defensive lineman.

According to Luke Stampini of 247Sports, the Florida coaching staff is open to him playing a number of positions.

"He said he's going to come get me," Bryan said of Muschamp. "They want me for defensive end, [offensive] tackle, tight end and I want to play defensive end."

Bryan also mentioned to Stampini that he loves smashmouth football, which would make him a perfect fit playing in the SEC. Regardless of how many stars he may have next to his name, it is always great for a program to pick up a recruit who is capable of playing multiple positions.

The latest Florida commitment had offers from Oregon, Tennessee, Nebraska and Washington, among others. He visited Washington, Oklahoma and Nebraska before announcing his decision.

As for why he picked Florida, Bryan told Stampini that it simply stood out among the rest.

"Florida," Bryan stated. "I think they have the best people -- best people, best education, best fit for me."

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"When Connor [Shaw] is healthy, Connor is our starting quarterback."

With that, South Carolina quarterback coach G.A. Mangus brought the South Carolina quarterback battle into focus.

Shaw missed all of spring practice recovering from offseason foot surgery, opening the door for Dylan Thompson to enter his name into the race for the top spot on the Gamecock depth chart.

Shaw, a 6'1", 209-pound senior from Flowery Branch, Ga., boasts a gleaming 17-3 career record as a starter in Columbia, but the dual-threat star has had trouble staying on the field.

He injured his shoulder in last season's opener versus Vanderbilt, forcing him to miss South Carolina's Week 2 win over East Carolina. His sprained foot forced him out of the Gamecocks' regular-season finale against Clemson and ultimately led to his absence from spring practice.

That's not a concern for Mangus, who knows what kind of quarterback he has when Shaw is healthy.

"He's earned that right," Mangus said. "The record speaks for itself. Obviously this spring, Dylan got all the reps, and that was really a blessing in disguise. I don't know if Connor really needed those 15 practices. That's not when he's going to get himself ready to play."

With the SEC being a quarterback-driven conference in 2013, it's easy for Shaw's success to get lost in the rather large shadows cast by three-time BCS National Champion AJ McCarron and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.

"It's easy to get overlooked," Mangus said. "But that's fine and plays into his personality. It doesn't really bother him, it fuels him. I like those guys to have a little chip on their shoulders."

But Thompson will get his chances.

In two games as starter in 2012, the more traditional drop-back quarterback performed well, throwing for 640 yards, six touchdowns and only one interception, giving the coaches confidence that he can be successful if and when he's called upon this season.

Shaw and Thompson successfully shared time under center in South Carolina's 33-28 win over Michigan in the Outback Bowl, creating a "rich man's problem" in Columbia.

"Spring worked out in our favor getting the reps for the younger guys," Mangus said. "We got more more experience with Dylan and, most importantly, we built more confidence with Dylan that he can get the job done when called upon."

How will Thompson fit into the game plan if Shaw is healthy? That part of the equation is still up in the air.

"If both are playing, I think it makes our team better," Mangus said. "There are some things that we can do [with both], and we'll talk about that over the summer. A lot of that depends on how Connor progresses with his foot."

Despite the differences in style, the playbook won't change all that much depending on who's taking the snaps.

"On the surface everybody thinks that Dylan is a passer and Connor is a runner," Mangus said. "The reality is that Connor is a lot better passer than anybody gives him credit for and Dylan is a lot better runner than anybody gives him credit for. They're both good at both, and give us the chance to call very similar offenses. We won't have to alter the game plan."

It's going to be Shaw's show this fall if he can stay healthy, but Thompson showed last season and this spring that he has what it takes to lead the team at a high level. That's a coach's dream.

Both are going to play. Ideally for the Gamecocks, though, Shaw will close out his career building on his already sparkling legacy.

"He is 17-3 as a starter at South Carolina, and the school record is 24 wins." Mangus said. "When all is said and done down the road 20 years from now, I think people will look back fondly at Connor Shaw."

*Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.

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Kentucky recruiting is on a hot streak right now, and no, this article is not about Wildcats' basketball. Believe it or not, it's the football program that is making some major splashes in the world of recruiting.

Yesterday, the Wildcats received the commitments of two more recruits, and that brought their total to 14 in the early going of the 2014 recruiting cycle.

3-star safety Mike Edwards out of Cincinnati, OH committed to Kentucky, as did 4-star safety Darius West from Lima, OH.

The commitments are noteworthy, but it's also worth mentioning that, with the addition of Edwards and West, Mark Stoops' program has jumped all the way up to No. 5 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings.

JC Shurburtt of 247Sports tweeted out the big news for Kentucky:

These are early rankings and they will change often, but this is just a small testament to the job coach Stoops and his staff are doing on the recruiting trail.

Four of Kentucky's 14 commitments are 4-star recruits now that West has committed. He joins weak-side defensive end Denzel Ware, pro-style quarterback Drew Barker and receiver Thaddeus Snodgrass as 4-stars representing Kentucky's class.

Ware, in particular, is a marquee commitment for Kentucky. He's the No. 5 weak-side defensive end in the country according to the 247Sports composite. Barker is another big-time commitment, as well. He's the No. 7 pro-style quarterback, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Kentucky isn't just recruiting for quantity, it's recruiting for quality as well, and that's the reason the Wildcats currently hold the No. 5 spot in 247Sports' recruiting rankings.

Keep in mind that it's the rankings in February that matter the most, so Stoops and his staff still have plenty of work left to do to remain a top recruiting program. Keeping these highly-ranked commitments will be a must, and winning on the field is arguably the most important factor in regard to maintaining recruiting momentum.

With programs like Notre Dame, LSU, Alabama, Florida State, Florida and Ohio State ranked below Kentucky, it may be unrealistic to predict a top-five finish.

Finishing the cycle with a great class that will help propel Kentucky football forward with momentum?

Now that's completely realistic.

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When Urban Meyer capped his first year at Ohio State with a 26-21 victory over Michigan last November, he secured just the sixth undefeated season in school history and sent Buckeyes fans into a frenzied celebration.

If history really does repeat itself, that was just a preview of the brilliance to come.

Throughout Meyer's coaching career, his teams have consistently performed at a higher level during the second year of his tenure. This wasn't just true at Florida, where he took a 9-3 team in 2005 and turned them into national champions a year later. Bowling Green and Utah also fielded more successful teams in Meyer's second year, both statistically and in overall victories.

Will the Buckeyes experience similar growth? 

Naturally, this question won't be answered until the end of the season. Oddly enough, though, Meyer has the pieces in place to improve on the perfection Ohio State achieved last year.

There are certain similarities that link the teams Meyer has coached over the years. They're typically mad about something, they consistently score a ton of points and they're almost always led by outstanding quarterbacks.

Meyer won't struggle getting the Buckeyes angry. In a rare look inside Ohio State's fall camp last year, Meyer delivered this message to his team (via news-herald.com):

"I want an angry team. I want a pissed-off football team," Meyer said to his attentive players. "I want a team that has a chip on their shoulders. Maybe something's been taken from you. Are you a team that's gonna go get it? You're the Ohio State Buckeyes. You have an angry football team. You have an angry staff."

Ohio State, of course, went on to win all of its games, but the Buckeyes couldn't compete for a championship while serving a postseason ban due to NCAA violations.

It's not hard to imagine Meyer using that to get his team riled up.

The Buckeyes also return nine starters to an offense that led the Big Ten in scoring (37.2 points per game). Ohio State gets four of its five offensive linemen back, its entire backfield and last year's top two receivers.

That experience will only help an already explosive offense. At his previous coaching stops, Meyer's second-year teams have averaged almost 10 points per game more than they did the year before.

Does that mean Ohio State will average nearly 50 points per game? Not necessarily, but Meyer's teams have never taken a step back in their second years together.

Heisman Trophy candidate Braxton Miller should keep the Buckeyes moving forward.

The dual-threat quarterback dazzled spectators with his tailor-made ability to orchestrate Meyer's spread offense, and with another offseason to perfect his craft, Ohio State should be even more lethal offensively.

And just as his teams improve, Meyer's quarterbacks also show a tremendous amount of growth. Miller showed flashes of that during Ohio State's spring game, completing 64 percent of his passes and throwing two touchdowns against no interceptions.

Again, none of this guarantees that the Buckeyes will be better than they were last year.

But if the past is an indicator for what's to come, Ohio State could be on the verge of a special season.

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

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Rutgers is moving to the Big Ten in a year, but right now, the university is still mired in the Julie Hermann scandal.

It is a scandal that, as Tom Canavan of the Associated Press points out, could very well cost the Scarlet Knights some money.

Between the mismanagement of the Mike Rice situation, leading to Tom Pernetti's resignation as the school's athletic director and the botched hiring of Hermann as the new athletic director, Rutgers has displayed some clear ineptitude. In the short term, that will likely lead to some donors backing out as a means of voicing their displeasure with the administration.

Penn State, a school saddled with a scandal of much larger proportions, experienced that funding drop recently, as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. However, it must be noted that the drop in total donations, came with a twist. Penn State also experienced a rise in football-specific donations during that same time period.

Thus, as general donors decided to tighten their purse strings in the case of the Nittany Lions, the football-specific gift-givers did just the opposite. Rutgers' donors are going to be faced with a similar decision—whether to flex their muscles of discontent by withholding money or to give more now, when the athletic department needs them. 

Rutgers is not Penn State. The Nittany Lions have a more robust donor base, more football history and a scandal that, in many ways, put the community's collective back against the wall.

The NCAA came down hard on Penn State. The national media came down hard on Penn State. For those people who support the program, donations to support the kids caught in the center of all of this was a fitting response.

With Rutgers, we shall find out just how boosters view the situation from a cash perspective. Do they show up with the dollars to fund an administration that dropped the ball on multiple occasions with the Rice situation, unceremoniously forced the resignation of Pernetti and then botched the Hermann hire?

Or do they show their discontent by slowing the funding and hoping the administration gets the message?

Rutgers needs all the cash it can get and that means donations. The Hermann situation has put that in jeopardy at a time when the school needs the generosity of its boosters.

Over the next few months this story will write itself, and it will largely be based upon whether wallets are opening or closing for the Scarlet Knights.

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While Matthew Thomas continues to try to find a way out of his Florida State scholarship, it appears he has already decided what school he would play for if that wish is granted. According to Joe Schad of ESPN, the father of Matthew Thomas, Billy Thomas, says that his son wants to head west and play for USC.

"He made a decision for himself. It's USC," Billy Thomas said.

Per the report, Thomas's dad also indicates that the 5-star recruit's (247Sports) mother refused to sign the paperwork for him to play for USC but would do so if he went to Florida State.

This is lining up with what Matthew Thomas told Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald, when he announced that he would like to be released from his scholarship with Florida State. Thomas indicated that he just wanted to make his mother happy and didn't make the decision he wanted.

Thomas's father also reiterated that his son was making the decision his mother wanted, which is why he has had the sudden change of heart, per the report. 

"On signing day he didn't want to hurt his mom. But he's more excited now. It's about tradition. And surroundings. And excitement," he said.

In order to become a member of the Trojans, Florida State would have to allow it, similar to what recently happened with Eddie Vanderdoes, who was granted permission to leave Notre Dame for UCLA. Unfortunately for Thomas, Florida State athletic director Randy Spetman showed no signs of budging just last month, according to Tallahassee.com.

But if the Seminoles have a change of heart, Thomas would be forced to sit out a year, per NCAA rules for breaking his commitment. This is a consequence Thomas is willing to deal with, according to his father and the Schad report.

"No disrespect to Florida State but Matthew is willing to take the punishment if there is one," Billy Thomas said. "He's hoping Jimbo will let him go."

The waiting game continues. But at least Thomas has discovered the school he would truly like to play for, which is half the battle at this point.

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The 2014 Class has some hard-hitting players, but Raekwon McMillan may top the list. 

The 5-Star linebacker is a stud on the field and creates havoc for offensive linemen. McMillan is the No. 1 ILB in the 2014 class, according to 247Sports.com. 

The 6'2", 242-pound beast is currently uncommitted, but has offers from several top schools, including Ohio State, Alabama, USC and more. 

Watch the video to see who we compare McMIllan to in the NFL. 

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The University of Miami Hurricanes have a plethora of talent coming back on the offensive side of the football this fall. The only offensive starter missing from last year's 7-5 team will be running back Mike James.

Miami welcomed a new offensive coordinator in Florida State's James Coley in January and he is expected to help the 'Canes improve an already-gifted offensive unit.

However, even with all of their returning players on offense, there are still some challenges Coley will endure this season. Here are five such hurdles that could make or break the Hurricanes' season.

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Following on the heels of defensive tackle Delvon Simmons' transfer to USC, now comes what could be even bigger news for the Trojans.

After weeks of speculation, it now appears that 5-star 2012 linebacker Matthew Thomas could be the next to venture west to play football for the Cardinal and Gold.

According to ESPN's Joe Schad, Thomas' father Billy has said that his son wants to play for the Trojans and if he has to sit a year to do it, he will.

Said the elder Thomas, "No disrespect to Florida State but Matthew is willing to take the punishment if there is one, he's hoping Jimbo (Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher) will let him go."

Recently, former Notre Dame Commit Eddie Vanderdoes was released from his letter of intent to join UCLA but will have to sit a year before he can play for the Bruins and will lose a year of eligibility.

There has been conjecture for a couple of months that Thomas wanted out of his letter of intent that he signed with Florida State but that the university was reluctant to release him.

After meetings between the coaching staff and Thomas, it appeared that things had been settled and that the young linebacker from Booker T. Washington High School (Miami, FL) would stay a Seminole.

So why now is transfer talk being rekindled?

Schad quotes Billy Thomas as saying, "On signing day he didn't want to hurt his mom. But he's more excited now. It's about tradition. And surroundings. And excitement."

If USC can actually get Thomas in their fold then it will be Trojan fans who will be excited.

Thomas was a consensus 5-star prospect who was widely considered a top-10 player in last year's class.

At 6' 3", 220 pounds, Thomas in an extremely athletic linebacker whose sideline-to-sideline abilities make him a guy the opposing offense has to account for on every play.

To be certain, if USC can pull this off, it will be the coup of the class of 2012—a move that will rival the aforementioned Vanderdoes' transfer to UCLA.

One word of caution though. This news is coming via Thomas' father and has yet to be confirmed by Matthew Thomas himself.

But if true, this is a day for fans of the program to celebrate for sure.

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With Big 12 teams less than 80 days away from kicking off the 2013 football season, predictions for each team's Week 1 matchups are already coming in. 

Some of the marquee games in the opening week in the Big 12 include TCU's game against the LSU Tigers at Cowboys Stadium and Oklahoma State's matchup against Mississippi State at Reliant Stadium in Houston. 

Kansas State and Texas Tech also start their seasons on a Friday. 

Every team except the Kansas Jayhawks have a game slated for college football's opening week. Here are the predictions for those nine games. 

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This time one year ago, nobody believed that Texas A&M would be competitive in its new home in the brutal SEC West. At 2012 SEC media days, members of the media picked the Aggies to finish fifth in their division. Even Auburn got a first-place vote, while the Aggies got none.

Head coach Kevin Sumlin had other ideas.

The Aggies won 11 games, including one against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl. Quarterback Johnny Manziel rose from a relative unknown to a Heisman Trophy winner. Now, ESPN projects A&M second in the SEC behind defending national champion Alabama.

My, what a difference a year makes.

Speaking of Alabama, there's no doubt that Nick Saban has made the Crimson Tide the most dominant program of the BCS era. No other team has won back-to-back national championships during this time, let alone three championships within four years.

But as dominant as the Tide are now, every dynasty has to come to an end sometime. Even the great and mighty BCS is giving way to the new college football playoffs.

So, could we see the fall of Alabama and the rise of the Aggies as college football's superpower as we move into the playoff era?

In a word: No.

Sure, Texas A&M has many of the elements needed to build a great program for years to come. Kevin Sumlin has shown that he's able to compete even against the likes of Nick Saban.

Well, for one game at least...

As far as recruiting goes, Texas is one of the most fertile recruiting states. Furthermore, A&M has a unique selling point over all other Texas schools—it's the only Lone Star State school in the SEC.

Also, the Aggies have deep pockets supporting their school as well as rich tradition. Both of these things are necessary to build a dynasty like Alabama has.

Yes, the basic elements are there, but A&M just doesn't have the perfect combination of these elements like Alabama does now.

There are three main reason why Saban has won three of the last four national championships. First, Saban always gets the best recruits. Alabama has ranked No. 1 in recruiting for the last three seasons in a row and five of the last six years, according to Rivals. This is why the Tide can send a ton of talent to the NFL year after year and not fall out of national championship contention.

A&M, on the other hand, finished No. 11 in recruiting last season. That's good, but that's not up to Alabama's level.

Sure, A&M currently leads in recruiting for the 2014 class, but there's still a lot of time between now and national signing day. We'll see Alabama rocket back to the top, no doubt about it.

Second, Nick Saban is, well, Nick Saban. No coach develops and motivates players like Saban does. Yes, Sumlin beat Saban in 2012 head-to-head, but Sumlin's just not Saban yet. 

Third, Alabama has unprecedented tradition and support from the school and community. Texas A&M may have three national championships, but Alabama has claimed 15. True, some of those national championship claims are bogus (1941 comes readily to mind—the Tide finished No. 3 in the SEC that year), but the Tide really do have double-digit legitimate national championships.

Which is a lot more than three.

Also, Alabama has shown that it will spend whatever money it needs to in order to win national championships. Saban will receive a $5.6 million base salary next season with a ton of incentives to win SEC and national championships. Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart makes $1.15 million himself.

Sumlin, on the other hand, makes $3.1 million. No, that's not chicken feed, but it's not in the same league as Saban's massive contract.

Now, I don't see Texas A&M as a one-hit wonder. The Aggies should be a top-three program in the SEC West with Alabama and LSU for years to come. They'll probably win a national title sometime in the new playoff system.

But are they going to be able to put together a dynasty like Alabama has? No.

Don't despair, A&M fans. We may never see another dynasty like Saban and the Tide, and one day it will fall.

A&M will probably win a national title before too long, but becoming the Alabama of the playoff era is just an unrealistic expectation.

And honestly, college football is better off without dynasties. 

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The Big Ten previews continue as the month of June rolls on, bringing long days and hot stormy weather (and the Phil Steele magazine, at long last). Week 1 usually provides no more than one or two big games for the conference to focus on, and 2013 is no exception.

However, an undefeated season must start with a first step, and the directional schools of Michigan, Illinois and New York will be those first steps this August. There may be no game with the flash of Michigan State—Boise State, or the star power of Alabama—Michigan, but that does not mean there will be all easy games on the schedule.

In fact, the Big Ten might just lose more than the two games that the conference lost in the opening weekend last year (Penn State to Ohio, Michigan to Alabama). Let's take an early look at how the teams will fare in the opening weekend to close the month of August and bring back college football.

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There isn’t a game the 2013 Ohio State Buckeyes will enter the field as underdogs in, at least before the start of the season.

CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson reports that the Golden Nugget, a Las Vegas casino, listed the Bucks in their early odds as one of five teams—Alabama, Oregon, Louisville, Georgia—favored in each of their regular-season matchups.

Ohio State will also enter the year as a 13-2 favorite to win a the BCS title, according to Bovada.

Last year, Urban Meyer led the team from a 6-7 finish in 2011 to an unbeaten 12-0 mark. As a result, the team’s expectations for 2013 are sky high.

Anything less than a Rose Bowl or BCS Champonship Game appearance will be a massive letdown.

With expectations come letdowns, though.

We’ll take a look at three trap games the Buckeyes must survive if they hope to realize the lofty expectations surrounding them this season.

San Diego State: Sept. 7

Don’t sleep on the San Diego State Aztecs. Brady Hoke’s former team was built tough defensively and is coming off of an excellent finish to their 2012 season. During their seven-game regular-season winning streak to end the year, SDSU knocked off top Mountain West schools Nevada and Boise State.

This is the type of game that could resemble last year’s near-miss against California. The Aztecs play tough, physical football. Their offensive line is solid and could challenge the new-look Buckeyes front seven throughout the contest. Junior running back Adam Muema went off last season behind that line, racking up 1,458 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The biggest question mark for the Aztecs is whether or not they can contain QB Braxton Miller with their 3-3-5 defense.

This one, albeit at Ohio Stadium, should be a lot closer than many think. If the Buckeyes buy into the hype they could be left scratching their heads and looking foolish early on in 2013.

At Northwestern: Oct. 5

Look out for the week after the Bucks battle the Wisconsin Badgers at Ohio Stadium. They head to Evanston to take on a Northwestern Wildcats team that is rapidly emerging as a credible threat in the Big Ten.

High off of a win or down following a loss against the Badgers, the Scarlet and Grey will need to avoid looking ahead to their week off following this contest. It’s going to be one of, if not the hardest games of their season.

While the conditions are certainly there for a “trap game” in Illinois, the nighttime venue at Ryan Field and recent success of the Wildcats should be enough to keep the Buckeyes from looking ahead during this one.

This is the type of game that may come down to whoever has the ball last.

At Purdue: Nov. 16

The Buckeyes will have a second off-week in 2013. A matchup preceding that second open week against Purdue, a team that nearly blemished their perfect season in 2012, is somewhat concerning.

If the Bucks head into Ross-Ade Stadium undefeated, they will face a formidable threat to that mark in the Boilermakers.

Last year, Braxton Miller was sent to the hospital and Kenny Guiton stepped in to save the game and the team’s season. The Bucks escaped with an overtime win despite being out-gained in total yardage 347-to-342 and on the wrong side of a lopsided turnover battle—four to one.

In 2013, the Boilermakers return eight starters on defense and seven more on the offensive side of the ball.

Added to the mix is head coach Darrell Hazell. If you remember, Hazell did great things at Kent State a season ago, nearly leading the Golden Flashes to their first BCS Bowl bid in school history.

Hopefully Meyer keys in on the two teams' 2012 matchup and utilizes it as motivation to propel his team onward.

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