NCAA Football News

Ford Field is expected to drop the Little Caesars Bowl beginning in 2014, which means the pizza bowl must find a new location to host its event. It would like to keep things as close to the Michigan area as possible with teams from the MAC participating.

Why not Comerica Park?

The home to the Detroit Tigers baseball team has never held a football game, but Little Caesars Pizza Bowl executive director Ken Hoffman told the Detroit Free Press that he could see this happening. 

It’s my feeling that Mr. (Mike) Ilitch and Little Caesars would entertain the idea of playing the game in Comerica Park, if we so chose, similar to what Yankee Stadium does for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Hoffman said today.

The New Era Pinstripe Bowl has been held in Yankee Stadium since 2010 and witnessed a sloppy and snowy game last season, but seeing a football game played on a baseball field is different and a nice change of pace. It would also keep the bowl close to where it started and not make things inconvenient for the locals. 

So what has to happen to get this plan done?

The first is of course putting together a television contract so people can see this awesomeness. The second would be to find a way to protect the field and not mess up the precious baseball diamond.

While this may sound difficult, considering a football game has never been played there before, Hoffman believes it will be rather easy. 

“We know what the dimensions need to be, we know what the problems were at Wrigley Field, so we don’t have that problem,” Hoffman said. “It’s a big enough stadium, for sure.”

The stadium holds a little more than 41,000 people, which should be more than enough for the folks who enjoy checking out this yearly matchup.

Let's hope the Little Caesars Bowl can find a new home and eventually play ball.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

There is a new playoff looming on the horizon, yet the American Athletic Conference is looking to add another bowl to the veritable smorgasbord of postseason destinations. And, folks, there is not a thing wrong with that.

Mike Aresco, commissioner of the AAC, formerly the Big East, told the Tampa Bay Times that his league was looking into carving out their own niche in the conference owned bowl landscape. The game, possibly to be held at the new Miami Marlins baseball stadium, would be a sort of Pinstripe Bowl South; football played at an outdoor baseball park.

Dr. Fan Huff'n'Puff and Cynical Media Guy won't like this. They think there are too many bowl games already. They think that there is no point to teams going to these meaningless bowl games that they swear they do not watch.

That is quite OK, they do not have to like it. They do not even have to watch.

That is all right, because this bowl game, like every other bowl game out there, is not for them. This is for the AAC and whatever conferences that it partners with to put on this bowl game. It is for those football players, those coaches, those schools and the fans of said schools.

In other words, if you don't like it, don't watch. But also, give us a break from the "too many bowl games" diatribe.

Recent years have seen deserving teams forced to sit at home because they did not have anywhere to go. Teams that, due to different circumstances, look forward to that "meaningless" bowl game. Perhaps they have been bad for awhile and that "meaningless" bowl game is a chance to taste a little sense of accomplishment. Or, maybe, they are one of the little guys and that "meaningless" bowl game is the only actual recognition they get for a solid season.

Whatever the reason may be, for a lot of teams, just getting to that point is a victory and having a little hardware and a chance to celebrate their season is nice.

Even if the cynic does not care to watch.

However, there are issues with bowl games. The act of taking teams with losing records and jumping more deserving teams with better records, in favor of theoretical bigger draws, is troublesome. More work has to be done to tweak the selection process to protect the little guys from exclusion.

Depending upon who the league partners with, this bowl could help out in giving teams somewhere to go.

The FBS ranks are swelling, and there are still more to come. The availability of teams for these "meaningless" bowls will be at an all-time high as the newcomers compete. For those who don't care, don't watch.

For those players, coaches and schools? It will be good that they have somewhere to land after a quality season.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

First-year Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn's motto heading into the 2013 season is that it's "a new day" at Auburn.

That new day features two returning quarterbacks—Kiehl Frazier and Jonathan Wallace—that didn't do an awful lot to inspire confidence last year and didn't separate from each other this spring. Because of that, Nick Marshall will have a shot to win the starting quarterback job once he enrolls at Auburn in June.

Marshall, a 6'2", 190-pound dual-threat quarterback who played defensive back for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2011, was dismissed from the program in February 2012 for a violation of team rules.

According to ESPN.com, Marshall and another teammate were involved in theft of money.

After a season playing quarterback for the Garden City (Kan.) Community College Broncbusters, he's headed back to the SEC, looking for a fresh start after choosing the Tigers over Kansas State and briefly flirting with Texas, according to AuburnSports.com.

Let's see, a junior college transfer quarterback with SEC roots coming to Auburn to take the snaps for a Malzahn-led offense.

Sound familiar?

Despite having a similar career path to former Tigers Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton, Marshall isn't Newton—at least, not yet.

Marshall threw for 3,142 yards and 18 touchdowns and added 1,095 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground last season for Garden City.

Cam-like? No doubt. But the 20 interceptions are troubling, especially now that he's joining an offense at Auburn that desperately needs consistency.

Developing consistency is right in Malzahn's wheelhouse. 

Former Arkansas State quarterback Ryan Aplin threw 19 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 2011 but tossed 24 touchdowns and only four picks in his one season with Malzahn in 2012.

Quite a turnaround.

But don't use Arkansas State's place in the Sun Belt as a criticism of Malzahn's success with quarterbacks. He's done it in the SEC, too.

In his first season with Malzahn as his offensive coordinator in 2009, former Tigers quarterback Chris Todd improved his completion percentage from 2008 by 5.3 percent, tossed 17 more touchdowns (22) and an equal number of interceptions (6) in 172 more passing attempts.

Reclamation projects are nothing new for Malzahn, and for the most part, he's been successful.

Despite Marshall's inconsistency passing at Garden City, he earned plenty of praise from his coaches. Former Kansas State quarterback and assistant coach Matt Miller installed the Broncbusters' spread attack when Marshall arrived and was impressed with what he brings to the table, according to AuburnSports.com:

From the beginning, it was a no-brainer: He is the most talented quarterback I've ever been around. I've been around some special, special dual-threat guys. What makes Nick different is that he's got the size and the strength. He's not a small guy. He throws off 300-pounders. He's just naturally strong. He has [former Kansas State quarterback] Michael Bishop's strength and arm strength.

Neither Frazier nor Wallace solidified the starting quarterback spot at Auburn this spring, leaving the door wide open for Marshall. 

It's clear from his time at junior college that he has the raw talent to be successful as a dual-threat quarterback as long as he continues to progress as a passer. He's stepping into a situation with a coach and a scheme that is perfectly designed to help him in that progression.

Marshall doesn't have to be Newton, and Malzahn doesn't need a dual-threat quarterback to be successful.

With Tre Mason, Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant lining up at running back, Auburn's offense will be a run-based attack out of the spread. Adding Marshall's ability as a runner only helps matters, especially if he can learn to take what defenses give him and not force passes into tight coverage. 

If he can do that, Marshall might beat out Frazier, Wallace and true freshman Jeremy Johnson and be the one taking snaps in Auburn's opener on Aug. 31 versus Washington State.

Follow @BarrettSallee

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Each Big 12 team has needs it must fulfill heading into the 2013 season, but early expectations are still being set nonetheless. 

The Kansas State Wildcats and Oklahoma Sooners won the conference last year, but both must find a new starting quarterback and replace over half their starting defense.

While the Baylor Bears finished near the middle of the pack in 2012, they finished as one of the hottest teams in the country and could keep up that momentum in the fall. 

And Charlie Weis is entering his second year of the rebuilding project in Lawrence, Kan. In 2013, he'll look to finally put a decent Kansas Jayhawks team on the field. 

Here are the power rankings for the Big 12 heading into the summer. 

Begin Slideshow

College football remains months away, but it's always a good time to stir up some Top 25 rankings before the season kicks off.

And what has unfolded since Alabama dismantled Notre Dame in the BCS title game is rather intriguing. From recruiting to spring ball and who lost key players to the 2013 NFL draft, this college season provides an abundance of questions.

To that end, let's dive in and check out a way early glimpse of the entire poll. 

Note: Highlighted schools in italics.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

With three BCS National Championships in the past four years, as well as a strong recruiting class, Alabama is the team to beat. Although Nick Saban lost key talent to pro football, the Crimson Tide have the overall personnel to remain on track.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

Just like Alabama, Ohio State brings in a great recruiting class. In addition, Urban Meyer comes off a 12-0 campaign and has plenty of talent ready for more. And Braxton Miller is arguably the top Heisman Trophy candidate.

3. Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M is fine. Johnny Manziel will continue to dazzle opponents and Jake Matthews is just as reliable as Luke Joeckel. There are also better playmakers on defense than at first glance.

4. Stanford Cardinal

The defending Pac-12 champions possess repeat potential. Stanford's offense will continue to punish the trenches, whereas the defense has the pass rush and instincts to generate turnovers. If there's one team that can match the SEC up front, the Cardinal are as good as anyone.

5. Oregon Ducks

Oregon's offense remains explosive to up the tempo, but also the personnel to sustain balance. Defensively, losing Dion Jordan and Kiko Alonso was tough. However, the Ducks have solid young talent and get to practice against one of college football's best offenses. In short, the defense will develop better than expected.

6. Louisville Cardinals

Louisville's victory over Florida was humongous in terms of 2013's implications. The Cardinals hardly lost any key players to the NFL, which helps regarding experience for this season. Even better, Teddy Bridgewater is still developing as a quarterback. 

7. South Carolina Gamecocks

For one, Steve Spurrier brings in the No. 24 (Scout.com) and No. 16 (Rivals.com) ranked recruiting class.

Second, there's a Heisman Trophy candidate in Jadeveon Clowney. In just two seasons for the Gamecocks, Clowney has racked up 35.5 tackles for loss and has forced eight fumbles. His presence coming off the edge will continue to be an extreme competitive advantage.

South Carolina also sports two dependable quarterbacks in Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson. The two combined for 27 touchdown passes to just nine picks in 2012.

Needing the passing game to remain technically sound, South Carolina has the defense to rely on consistently. The offense must simply match that level to reach the SEC title game.

8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Brian Kelly has some strong pieces together on each side of the ball. Everett Golson was a reliable decision-maker last season, and that only assists his development for 2013. The Irish also have more talent defensively than given credit, as evidence of playmakers such as Louis Nix, Stephon Tuitt and Bennett Jackson.

9. Georgia Bulldogs

Mark Richt lost a boatload of talent on defense to pro football. So, that puts more pressure on the offense. At least Aaron Murray is still under center, though, and he'll capitalize off the reliable running game. Still, getting past South Carolina will be challenging in the SEC East.

10. Clemson Tigers

With the offense to push the pace Clemson has the talent to compete for the ACC title. Tajh Boyd is among the best signal-callers around, which keeps the Tigers offense moving. Provided the defense plays all year like it did down the stretch in 2012 and Dabo Swinney's crew will make noise.

11. Michigan Wolverines

Expect Michigan's offense to be much more efficient in 2013. Devin Gardner knows how to spread the field, which will help set up the run. Controlling the tempo is what's needed, because the Wolverines lost some important defenders to pro football.

12. Florida Gators

Unless Jeff Driskel improves mechanics to stretch defenses downfield, Florida's offense will echo 2012's inconsistencies. As for the defense, it lost impressive talent but Dante Fowler and Ronald Powell are capable of leading.

13. TCU Horned Frogs

Don't sleep on Gary Patterson and the TCU Horned Frogs.

This team has excellent talent on defense to suffocate the line and blanket in coverage. With Jason Verrett (22 defended passes in 2012) to isolate half the field, his impact will resonate to the front seven.

There, Devonte Fields and Co. will take care of the extra pass rush time to control up front.

The offense is a minute concern, though. Quarterback Casey Pachall had 10 touchdowns to one pick before getting suspended (via Brett McMurphy and David Ubben ESPN.com) for a DWI. He has since returned but getting back to last season's early form won't be easy.

Still, TCU has the defense and potential in its running game to wreck havoc as the year progresses.

14. LSU Tigers

LSU lost immense defensive talent to pro football, but the Bayou Bengals still have players like Anthony Johnson to control the line of scrimmage. As long as Zach Mettenberger helps field a high-powered offense and Les Miles' team will contest for the SEC West title.

15. Northwestern Wildcats

Northwestern returns an abundance of talent for the 2013 campaign. The Wildcats are also coming off a 10-3 season that included wins over Syracuse, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. Getting to play Ohio State this season, though, will be the ultimate test for Pat Fitzgerald's squad.

16. Florida State Seminoles

The Seminoles appear to be in a rebuilding session. That said, Florida State will be able to move nicely courtesy of its reliable receivers. As a result, the ground game is set up to take pressure off the defense: A defense that lost an incredible amount of talent.

17. Michigan State Spartans

The 2012 season was a brief rebuilding period for Michigan State. The Spartans now are a year removed from the Kirk Cousins era, and Andrew Maxwell has that much more experience. Sparty also presents another sound defense with playmakers such as Darqueze Dennard and Denicos Allen.

18. Boise State Broncos

Joe Southwick developed better than anticipated last season, not to mention Boise State's offense returns dependable players in Jay Ajayi and Matt Miller. The Broncos defense also looks good. Demarcus Lawrence has a nose for the rock and Jeremy Ioane is solid for changing the field after turnovers.

19. Texas Longhorns

Even though two key playmakers in Kenny Vaccaro and Alex Okafor are gone, Texas still features Jackson Jeffcoat and Quandre Diggs to find the rock. Offensively, David Ash has the experience to dice up a defense, and the ground game exists to consistently slam the trenches.

20. UCLA Bruins

The passing game with quarterback Brett Hundley is there to press downfield. And with a faster pace that forces opponents to keep up: Meaning, more passing attempts, which leads to sack opportunities. Well, enter Anthony Barr who comes off a 13.5-sack season to continue disrupting behind the line.

21. Vanderbilt Commodores

Since James Franklin took over the program, Vanderbilt has drastically improved. Keep an eye on receiver Jordan Matthews as well, since he caught 94 passes a season ago. Include an underrated defense that gets off the field on third down, and the Commodores will surprise even more this fall.

22. Arizona State Sun Devils

One team to keep a close eye on in the Pac-12 South is Arizona State.

This offense has incredible potential with quarterback Taylor Kelly (29 passing scores to nine picks, 67.1 completion percentage) and running back Marion Grice (1,104 total yards, 19 scores).

This duo will be responsible for maintaining balance, setting up play action and converting on third down to assist the already strong defense.

And speaking of the defense, Will Sutton is an absolute monster. Recording 23.5 tackles for loss in 2012, Sutton's presence completely changes run-blocking schemes and pass protection.

Ultimately, expect the Sun Devils to make an impressive run at UCLA in 2013.

23. Oregon State Beavers

Losing receiver Markus Wheaton and corner Jordan Poyer really hurt Oregon State for 2013. Nevertheless, the offense needs to rely on ball-carrier Storm Woods for winning the possession battle. And the defense must continue generating turnovers to contest for the conference title.

24. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Oklahoma State allowed an average of 28.2 points per game last season. And six times did the Pokes allow above that average. Regardless of the offense's production, this defense must improve to become Big 12 title contenders.

25. Nebraska Cornhuskers

The Cornhuskers need to replenish defensively, and that puts more pressure on the offense. Fortunately, Taylor Martinez has kept improving and he's helped by Ameer Abdullah on the ground. If Nebraska develops a strong grasp of controlling the line of scrimmage offensively, Bo Pelini's team will make another Big Ten title run.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

The Michigan Wolverines come off an impressive season where they faced one of college football's most demanding schedules.

Taking on the two eventual BCS Championship Game participants in Notre Dame and Alabama, Michigan also squared off against Ohio State (12-0), Nebraska (10-4), Northwestern (10-3) and South Carolina (11-2).

As a result, that just prepared coach Brady Hoke's squad even more for the 2013 campaign.

Michigan also enters with the No. 2 (Scout.com) and No. 5 (Rivals.com) ranked recruiting class. Clearly the Maize and Blue have been back on the upswing, not to mention they were not significantly impacted by the 2013 NFL draft.

Although every school does lose some key talent, Michigan still possesses the personnel to challenge for the Big Ten title. The following players, however, will be the most important pieces to solving the puzzle.

Devin Gardner, QB

The development of Devin Gardner is crucial to Michigan's overall offensive production.

Fortunately, he transitioned rather well in 2012 by tossing 11 touchdowns to only five picks, including a 59.5 completion percentage. From an all encompassed perspective he drastically outplayed Denard Robinson when conducting the Wolverines' orchestra.

Gardner will also have ample time to survey when dropping back. Taylor Lewan and the offensive line allowed a mere 18 sacks in 2012, so that potential will help sustain balance.

In addition, KC Joyner of ESPN.com (subscription required) wrote of Gardner at the helm for this season:

Getting Gardner and his receivers a full offseason worth of work in this system should dovetail well with a schedule that, unlike 2012, doesn't include Alabama, has Notre Dame and Ohio State both visiting the Big House and includes a meeting against a Nebraska defense that is returning only four starters.

Provided he continues to spread the field that simply keeps a defense occupied enough to set up the run.

Fitzgerald Toussaint, RB

Fitzgerald Toussaint average 5.6 yards per rush when he notched 1,041 yards on the ground in 2011.

Obviously 2012 ended is unfortunate fashion, but according to ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein on March 28, Toussaint looks to be on track with his health:

Michigan running back Fitzgerald Toussaint said he is "85 to 90 percent" recovered from a broken left tibia and a fractured left fibula suffered in the first quarter against Iowa on Nov. 17.

The recovery for the redshirt senior, who had surgery to repair the broken bones that day, is ahead of schedule.

And that was in late March, which currently puts us now almost two months ahead of that time. Given that the season remains a summer away and it only helps regarding Toussaint's potential preparation.

The Wolverines have to establish a physical ground attack because that will keep play action relevant. Plus, it becomes as a competitive advantage inside the red zone and on any short-yard situation.

Toussaint's experience and prior production are evidence of his capabilities. This season, though, will require a greater impact.

Frank Clark, DE

Frank Clark offers the talent to really break out in 2013.

After recording nine tackles for a loss and defending three passes a season ago, Clark proved a knack for disrupting behind the line of scrimmage.

He has the acceleration and top gear to really shine with additional opportunities throughout the fall. What comes next is actually taking advantage and seizing those opportunities. Clark established that last year and has matured, as Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com writes, to take his game to another level:

"Playing last year and having a bigger role than my freshman year, it forced me to change my mindset," Clark said. "I've got a new set of goals. I've got things I know I've got to help my team out with a little bit more. I've got to be more of an impact player on the defense. I've got to help bring the defense together in the absence of one of our leaders, Jake Ryan."

Factor in Clark's athleticism and Michigan's pass rush will hit uncharted territory this season.

As a team the Wolverines managed only 22 sacks in 2012, so it's up to Clark to lead and improve this area. If anything, simply applying more pressure creates additional turnover opportunities. Whether it's forced fumbles or ill-advised throws, Clark must destroy backfields to complement the secondary.

Thomas Gordon, Safety

Thomas Gordon has been one reliable defender for Michigan the past two seasons.

With seven defended passes, three forced fumbles and 148 tackles between 2011 and 2012, 2013 has immense potential. Gordon's experience in the secondary is a favorable edge for the Wolverines as well, since he has contributed to multiple areas.

In an article by Kyle Meinke of MLive.com on March 26, Gordon knows how vital his leadership is to Michigan:

"I got to come in with my head right to get this team going no matter the circumstances," Gordon said.

"I feel like the guys tend to come to me for a lot of advice, and I'm just being natural (about leading)."

This is what any coach wants to see from a veteran playmaker. Gordon's instincts back deep and dependability will minimize the occurrence of blown coverage and big plays allowed.

Mesh that with the pass rush and his impact vaults for generating turnovers.

Include Michigan's offensive outlook and more possessions provided from the defense will enhance Coach Hoke's Big Ten championship odds.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Nick Saban and Alabama have won three BCS National Championships in four years, two of which are consecutive.

In other words, the Crimson Tide are an even strong point of emphasis for anyone facing them in 2013.

Alabama will once again receive the A-game from its competition regardless of the opponent. Therefore, specific keys will be required to run the [SEC] table.

Given that the Tide did fall to Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M a season ago, anything can obviously happen. To that end, let's analyze how Alabama can fend off everyone and solidify its 21st century dynasty even more.

Early emphasis of the ground game

Losing three offensive linemen—Chance Warmack, D.J. Fluker and Barrett Jones—to the 2013 NFL draft, and it's reasonable to be concerned about Saban's rushing attack.

Not to mention running back Eddie Lacy's departure to the pros.

Well, Alabama must establish this aspect right as the season kicks off. T.J. Yeldon ran for 1,108 yards and scored 12 times on the ground in 2012, so he has to get going immediately.

Expect defenses to stack the box as well because Alabama's ability to control the line of scrimmage has been a key to its recent dominance. Slamming with Yeldon, though, and forcing an opponent into making itself vulnerable in coverage is to the Tide's advantage.

As we see next, maintaining a strong and physical approach opens up the rest of the playbook.

Let A.J. McCarron rip it more often

With the establishment of the ground game, A.J. McCarron can take even more advantage of the play-action pass.

We saw glimpses of this last year, especially in the deep score to receiver Amari Cooper in the SEC title game. Having tossed 30 touchdowns to a mere three picks including a 67.2 completion percentage, McCarron's decision-making and accuracy is unquestioned.

Ripping it downfield more, however, requires an even stronger arm. As Duane Rankin of USA Today wrote on April 19, Saban commented on his quarterback:

"His arm is even stronger now than it was before, which is one of things that we wanted to work on with him," Tide coach Nick Saban said. "He's more consistently getting his lower body into his throws, which helps."

So, expect McCarron to receive the green light much more than he did a season ago. Despite his incredible marksmanship, McCarron attempted fewer passes last fall than in 2011.

Fortunately his yards per attempt (9.3) are quite high for not dropping back as much as most college quarterbacks. Ultimately, having more opportunities to shred a defense simply makes Alabama that much tougher to stop.

Increase the pass rush

Alabama had the best defense in 2012, and it's easy to anticipate that again this fall.

That said, Saban's crew can only get better with an upgraded pass rush. Recording 35 sacks last year, the Crimson Tide's non-dominant rush was partially why Manziel was able to dazzle Saban in Tuscaloosa.

Now Alabama remains stellar, courtesy of playmakers such as C.J. Mosley (107 tackles, four sacks) and Adrian Hubbard (seven sacks). But turning up the pressure on opposing quarterbacks just creates an extension of turnover opportunities and forces more punts.

Backed by an offense that possesses balance mixed with explosiveness, more production regarding backfield disruption will make Bama unimaginably dominant.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

There are plenty of familiar names running around college football fields today, but some are recognizable to more than just one age group of fans.

From the glory days to the modern era, some families have etched their name on each generation of college football. Some families simply have a lot of talent loaded into one generation.

While everyone on the list is definitely talented, here is the ranking of each of the top 10 families in college football history.

Begin Slideshow

The University of Alabama is on top of the college football world, after winning its third national championship is four years, and it will look to do the unthinkable and win a third consecutive title in the upcoming season.

But the Crimson Tide are not invincible to obstacles that every program faces during the offseason. No, Alabama must overcome the departures of several key contributors and groom inexperienced players into elite playmakers before the Tide's Aug. 31 matchup with Virginia Tech.

There are pieces already in place for Alabama to reach the same level it met in 2012, but there are still aspects of the game that need to be addressed before head coach Nick Saban and Co. can begin to think about the coveted three-peat.

Here, we break down the biggest keys for Alabama to obtain yet another national championship.

Begin Slideshow

Coach Brady Hoke and the Michigan Wolverines enter the 2013 with high expectations.

And rightfully so because there's the historical implication of tradition combined with Hoke having made Michigan a strong Big Ten contender since taking over. The Wolverines also have another excellent group of recruits coming in, as they ranked No. 2 on Scout.com and No. 5 on Rivals.com.

Mesh all that with the chance to realistically contend for the conference title, and let's check out some predictions for Maize and Blue this season.

Devin Gardner

Getting under center toward the back half of the 2012 campaign, Devin Gardner finished with 11 touchdowns to only five picks. He even reached 1,219 passing yards, which was only 100 fewer than Denard Robinson.

As for the 2013 season, Gardner will have a full offseason under his belt to develop and Taylor Lewan for continued pass protection.

Combine his mobility, potential pocket awareness and mechanics and Gardner is capable of a breakout season. It will, however, be difficult against Michigan's schedule with teams such as Notre Dame, Penn State (away), Michigan State (away), Northwestern (away) and Ohio State.

Prediction: 27 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, 3,400 passing yards and a 62.5 completion percentage

The Receiving Game

Last season Michigan had six different players record 10-plus catches (including Gardner).

That's a testament to them defeating man coverage at a solid rate, while Gardner spreading and utilizing each field dimension. Expect a similar result for 2013 because guys such as Jeremy Gallon and Drew Dileo are capable of increasing production.

Plus, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com wrote of each receiver on May 2:

The Wolverines' leading receiver last year was 5-foot-8 Jeremy Gallon, and he figures to be joined in the starting lineup by 5-foot-10 Drew Dileo next year. Gallon is a terrific receiver, Dileo is sure-handed and both have terrific speed.

With these two making plays, as well as tight end Devin Funchess, the Wolverines present a dynamic aerial assault. Ultimately, the efficiency will improve courtesy of reliable targets across the field.

Prediction: Five players catch 20-plus passes and each average at least 15 yards per catch.

Forced Turnovers/QB Pressure

The Wolverines ranked No. 99 in turnover margin (minus-nine) and managed to only intercept seven passes.

Now part of that plays into the quarterback pressure as Michigan logged just 22 sacks. Therefore, more numbers are needed in 2013 to win the battle up front and force fumbles and ill-advised throws.

Enter Frank Clark, who accounted for nine tackles for loss in 2012. He'll need to lead the charge on crashing the backfield, which in turn, ups the quarterback pressure to provide additional turnover opportunities.

The quicker Clark gets established, the quicker he'll draw the occasional extra blocker. As a result, the rest of the front seven benefits accordingly.

Prediction: 30 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and 12 interceptions

Record

By no means is Michigan's 2013 campaign easy.

Hosting Notre Dame will remain tough because the Irish bring in a strong recruiting class and still possess playmakers on each side of the ball. Within the Big Ten, Northwestern and Ohio State will be the toughest of challenges.

The Wildcats didn't lose much to pro football and are coming off a 10-3 season. The Buckeyes have BCS title expectations and also sport a strong recruiting class.

Michigan State (sound defense) and Penn State (better offense than at first glance) won't be cakewalks; however, the aforementioned opponents are just more complete teams.

Nebraska at home and Iowa on the road can't be discounted either. The Cornhuskers field a balanced offense to control the tempo, and the Hawkeyes are always tough at Kinnick Stadium.

Nevertheless, Michigan possesses the overall personnel to finish with another sound season under Hoke.

Prediction: 9-3 (6-2)

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Every quarterback that signs a letter of intent with a FBS program dreams of starting for his squad right away, becoming an All-American and winning a Heisman.

But all too often, things don't quite work out as they hope.

It's rare for a quarterback to start as a freshman. Even freshman phenomenons Marcus Mariota and Johnny Manziel weren't true freshman. They had to wait a year and take a redshirt.

Becoming a star quarterback will involve some waiting, and it almost doesn't matter how good you are.

However, some quarterbacks find themselves waiting at a program and find that they'll never even become a starter. Or, sometimes a player finds that he'd be happier and a better fit at a different program.

Take the whole Wes Lunt saga as he leaves Oklahoma State.

Knowing which way to go is tricky, particularly considering that these are players just a few years, at most, removed from high school. If the NFL is these players' ultimate goal, the decision to wait or to transfer has huge ramifications.

So, here's a basic guide on when to wait your turn or to try your luck somewhere else.

When to Stay and Wait

99 percent of the time, this is the right decision to make.

Most freshmen, particularly those good enough to one day be a starter at a quality FBS program, come into college with an established starter on the team. Most quarterbacks, unless there's an unusual circumstance such as an injury, will have to wait for 1-2 seasons behind the established starter.

Now, smart freshmen will use this time to learn as much as they can from the established starter. They'll use this time to improve their game so that when their time on the field comes—they'll be ready.

Foolish freshmen will whine, complain, not work hard or just transfer in a temper tantrum.

However, there are other considerations to take into account. For example, there's what kind of competition they'll face when the established starter graduates or leaves for the NFL. 

If a quarterback isn't good enough to win or keep a starting position where they were recruited, chances are they're not going to be good enough to win a starting position at an FBS school of equal or greater standing.

In most situations, the best thing to do is work hard, improve your game and be the best quarterback you can be.

When to Transfer

However, sometimes a transfer to a different program, even a less prestigious one, is the right thing to do.

There's a few very important questions that a quarterback should ask himself before asking for a transfer:

1. Am I really good enough to start at a FBS program? This is the hardest question to ask yourself, but if the answer is "no," then a transfer doesn't change much, does it?

2. Would I really be able to get along with and learn more from a different coaching staff?

3. Is sitting out a season, per NCAA rules, really worth it?

4. Would a move like this really improve my chances of making it to the NFL?

If the answer to all four of these questions isn't "yes," don't make the move.

So, what about the news of Wes Lunt and Oklahoma State?

Well, Lunt is in a tricky situation as he was a starter as a freshman last season and fell out of that position due to injury. He's been locked in a battle with J.W. Walsh, who did well after Lunt was sidelined, and wasn't able to win the starting position in spring ball.

However, given the interest Lunt has received from major programs, he'll probably come out of this alright.

Those are some basic guidelines on staying or going if you're a quarterback. There's no storybook ending for every FBS quarterback, but we can't wait to see who will break out next.

We'll just have to see whether or not it'll be a transfer.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

The SEC features the best college football in the country. Collectively, the 14 member institutions and the communities in which they reside know how to party on game day.

In this slideshow, I will rank the SEC schools according to their tailgating scenes. I have placed emphasis on traditions: what are they and how well do the schools maintain them.

Each school has a unique way of creating a great game-day atmosphere, so trying to compare them was difficult.

If you want to learn more about how the SEC does tailgating, there are plenty of ways to do so. Each school has tailgating policies, and you should familiarize yourself with them before entering the tailgating scenes. Also, many people who have attended these tailgates have written and spoken about them online. Finally, the most fun way to learn about an SEC tailgate is to attend one yourself!

Let the fun and the debate begin!

Begin Slideshow

College football is forever a revolving door of high school talent, perpetually keeping the sport young, wild and unpredictable.

The Texas Longhorns will officially welcome 15 new players as part of their 2013 recruiting class in just a few weeks, although several from the group enrolled early and have already been through a semester on campus.

With new players comes fresh talent, perspective and possibility, and the Longhorns will be looking in every corner for the difference-maker who can contribute to a potentially special season.

The Longhorns return 19 starters next season, ultimately leaving few vacancies for the newcomers to find wiggle room, but there are always the surprises. Texas has a select few who could make contributions at some point this season, small or large.

Begin Slideshow

Houston Cougars running back Charles Sims is reportedly leaving the program just ahead of his senior season.  

Rob Sellers of CougarsDen.com broke the news on Wednesday:

The 6'1", 213-pound Sims enjoyed a stellar campaign for the Cougars in 2012, running for 851 yards on six yards per carry for 11 touchdowns, while also catching 37 passes for 373 yards and three more scores.

This comes after Sims announced he would return for his final year back in January.

Prior to this past season, Sims was on the preseason Maxwell Award watch list, an accolade that is given to college football's most outstanding player. That hype was justified by his breakout sophomore campaign in which Sims received first-team All-Conference USA honors.

A big reason he didn't receive the same distinction yet again was due to his health, as Sims missed three full games and the second half of three others with injuries (h/t UHCougars.com).

Since Sims has redshirted and already graduated from Houston, he can catch on with another program as a transfer immediately without sitting out a full season, as is typical protocol.

That is what current Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson did in transferring from North Carolina State to Wisconsin in 2011, and he attended graduate school in Madison.

Circumstances are different for Sims in this instance, and it is still a mystery as to precisely why he left Houston. The key is that he's eligible for one more collegiate season, and wherever he lands, he should find a way to see the field

Sims projects well to the NFL because of his size and versatility to catch the ball out of the backfield. Even as a freshman in an offense triggered by Case Keenum, that was evident, as Sims registered 70 receptions for 759 yards.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Kansas football announced Wednesday evening that the team has landed wide receiver Nick Harwell. According to the KU athletics website, "Harwell has signed a grant in aid to join the KU football program in August."

The Jayhawks have a receiving core with limited talent in Andrew Turzilli, Justin McCay and Josh Ford. The Jayhawks went all of last season without a touchdown pass to a wide receiver.

Now, Kansas has a little bit more fire power and a big target for quarterback Jake Heaps to throw to.

Kansas head coach Charlie Weis was pleased with Heaps' four-touchdown spring game earlier this offseason. Now, Weis is really looking forward to coaching this offense.

Under Weis' guidance, the Jayhawks offense should see some improvement. With the addition of Harwell, the returning Jayhawks have a better understanding of how Weis wants to run the offense.

Heaps also spent one year watching quarterback Dayne Crist in Kansas, giving him a better idea of the offense by spectating in games and participating in practice.

The Jayhawks still have a lot of room for improvement, but picking up Harwell can help the program turn a corner and move into the right direction. Kansas won two games in 2011 and just one game last season in Weis' first year. The Jayhawks are currently riding a 21-game conference losing streak, with their last conference win coming against Colorado on Nov. 6, 2010.

Harwell, who played for Miami (Ohio), was the NCAA's second-leading receiver two years ago with nearly 130 receiving yards per game. He finished his sophomore year with 97 catches for 1,425 yards and nine touchdowns.

Despite missing three games last season, Harwell placed 13th in the NCAA in receptions per game and 14th in receiving yards per game.

Follow @Farzin21

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Seven years.

That is how long the Southeastern Conference has dominated college football.

Alabama has won three of the last four BCS titles. How long will this onslaught last?

That depends on two things—the head coach and the NCAA.

College football is cyclical. But winning programs that incurred a coaching change or NCAA sanctions—sometimes both—saw their dynasties end.  

Alabama, Nebraska and Oklahoma were three of the most dominant teams in the 1970s. They won a combined seven national titles.

Alabama head coach Bear Bryant won six national titles before retiring in 1982. Alabama won another title in 1992 under Gene Stallings but would then go on a 17-year drought. The school faced three major NCAA investigations from 1995 to 2009 and was slapped with postseason bans and vacated victories. 

Oklahoma faced the wrath of the NCAA in 1988. Head coach Barry Switzer left the program in 1989 because of notorious scandals that occurred during his watch. The NCAA sanctioned the Sooners with postseason and television bans and scholarship reductions.

Nebraska coach Tom Osborne (1973-97) never coached a team that finished with less than nine wins in one season. His teams won two national titles in 1994-95 and shared a title with Michigan in 1997. Since Osborne retired, five Nebraska teams have finished the season unranked by the AP and only three finished in the AP's final Top 10.  

The Miami Hurricanes stormed through the 80s as one of the more fearsome teams in the country. They won three national titles in that decade. Nobody could stop the Hurricanes...except for the NCAA. Miami was rocked by scandals including the infamous Pell Grant scandal. In 1995 the NCAA hammered Miami with a postseason ban and stripped its scholarships for the next three years. 

USC won two championships in 2003-04 but its 2004 BCS Championship was vacated due to NCAA sanctions. In addition to vacated victories, USC was placed on a two-year postseason ban and stripped of 30 scholarships over three years. USC head coach Pete Carroll left for the Seattle Seahawks at the end of the 2009 season. Since Carroll's departure, USC's record is 32-19.

Florida won two BCS titles in 2006 and 2008 but it hasn't played in a BCS Championship since then-head coach Urban Meyer left in 2010.

LSU won its first BCS title under then-head coach Nick Saban in 2003. Saban left for the NFL's Miami Dolphins on Christmas day 2004.  Head coach Les Miles won the school's second BCS title in 2007 but he did that with Saban's senior class—he has not won a BCS title with his own players.

If it is not a coaching change that affects a team's momentum, it is the NCAA's imposing heavy hand. The more a coach wins, the more every school or NFL team wants him. He heads the short list of every athletic director or NFL general manager.

Winning also has another downside. The more a team wins, the more high profile it becomes. More eyes are watching, including those in Indianapolis where the NCAA is headquartered.

So far, Alabama is the team to beat in the foreseeable future. Alabama is no longer on NCAA probation but it still is within that five-year repeat offender window.

If the Tide stay clean and Nick Saban continues to coach at Tuscaloosa, Alabama should keep rolling.

Saban will be 62 years old this October. He's already dabbled in the NFL. Unless the most powerful man in sports is offered an absurd amount of money to coach somewhere else, he's staying put.

The only way we can predict how long Alabama will continue to dominate is to predict how long Saban will be at Alabama. It's that easy.

We're predicting Saban retires after having won his seventh title at Alabama. Saban currently has four BCS titles but one of those belongs to LSU. To catch Bryant, he needs three more. To be the all-time leader, he needs four.

We're giving him five years to win four, just like an NCAA student-athlete scholarship.

Piece of cake.

Note—National champions were determined by using the criteria of an AP, UPI, USAT or BCS title.  

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Ohio State isn't the most talented team in the nation.

In fact, you could make a case that the Buckeyes aren't even in the top five when it comes to talent on paper, what with the departures of defensive linemen Johnathan Hankins and John Simon, outside linebacker Etienne Sabino, tight end Jake Stoneburner and fullback Zach Boren.

Why are the Buckeyes considered national title contenders?

No, not just because of dual-threat sensation Braxton Miller.

Because Urban Meyer is the head coach.

We all know what Meyer is capable of. He not only won two national championships with Florida, he also lifted Ohio State to a perfect 12-0 record in his first year as Buckeyes coach last season.

This year, the task will be even more difficult than last season. To be a true national contender, the Buckeyes will need some freshmen to step up.

Sure, these aren't just any freshmen. Safety Vonn Bell was a 5-star recruit, according to 247Sports.com's composite rankings. Four-star recruits such as cornerback Eli Apple, defensive end Joey Bosa and playmakers Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson figure to make an impact in their first years.

But they are still freshmen.

Particularly in the cases of Marshall and Wilson, Meyer will have to use his magic touch to get the most out of his young talent.

Marshall and Wilson are ideal athletes for Meyer to work with. Given their speed, elusiveness and playmaking ability, they could fit wonderfully into Meyer's spread offense. Memories of Percy Harvin at Florida instantly sprout up in the spring.

A coach's job is to make the most out of his talent. Ohio State's youngsters have great potential, but Meyer will need to put them in the right situations to succeed, like he's done with countless players before, including Miller.

The expectations are extremely high for the Buckeyes in 2013-14. Whether they meet these expectations will depend on how well Meyer can mold his young talent into a cohesive unit.

Of course, Meyer has never shied away from great expectations before.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

If you believe the latest rumors surrounding Notre Dame Football and its prized recruit, 5-star defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes, there's a chance the young man won't be taking his talents to South Bend. 

According to Lou Somogyi of 247Sports.com, there are rumors that Vanderdoes "might not be enrolling" at Notre Dame. Furthermore, he is reportedly favoring UCLA:

A groundswell of Internet message board speculation that exploded on Monday has indicated that Vanderdoes might not be enrolling with the 24-man Fighting Irish class for summer school and workouts that begin Monday, June 17.

Reportedly, the Bruins now seem to be the favorite for Vanderdoes. Messages left by Blueandgold.com to Vanderdoes and his family to confirm or deny the rumors went unanswered, and Notre Dame has not issued any public statements either.

Some of the stuff that was being talked about on the Internet message boards had to do with potential character concerns and/or bad grades, but Mike Davidson of the Sacramento Bee—a man who's been working closely with Vanderdoes and his family—refuted those claims:

Vanderdoes' coaches continued to rave about his upstanding character on Monday, and his father Eddie Vanderdoes on Monday night texted of his son, "One thing I can tell you is grades or eligibility is not and has never been an issue."

 He also has no idea whether or not the young man has changed his mind about Notre Dame, per his Twitter account:

With all this speculation, it's important to realize that Vanderdoes may still be intending to attend Notre Dame this summer. That said, should he make the decision to go elsewhere, it would could mean trouble for the Fighting Irish in the next couple of years.

Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt—the team's two top defensive linemen—will both likely head to the NFL after this season. 

Vanderdoes, at 6'2" and 310 pounds, is an incredibly strong young man and would be perfectly suited to replace Nix in the middle of Brian Kelly's 3-4 scheme. Should he decide to go elsewhere, however, Kelly doesn't have another player coming up that could possibly impact his defense like Vanderdoes.

The only other player who could potentially play the nose right now, if you look at current players and incoming freshmen, is sophomore Sheldon Day, who measures in at 6'5" and 299 pounds.

Incoming freshmen Jacob Matuska and Isaac Rochell are both 260 pounds or lighter and better suited to play on the edge as pass-rushers (or at best as 3-4 defensive ends). Sheldon Day, at 6'2" and 286 pounds, projects as a pure 3-4 defensive end. 

Should Vanderdoes decide to take his talents elsewhere, Kelly and the Notre Dame defense could really struggle in 2014 against the run. 

Perhaps one solution might be to convert to a 4-3 defensive scheme that would be better a better fit for the team's roster, but that's not likely a move Kelly would be willing to make for the long-term success of the program. 

This story isn't going away any time soon.

If Vanderdoes and his family continue to keep Notre Dame, its fans and the media in the dark about their intentions, then speculation and rumors will only continue to gain momentum. 

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

This fall the Pac-12 is loaded with talent and looking for titles. Each team has a fresh start, but not all are title contenders. Some just want to make the postseason.

This is a look at the best and worst that the fall will have to offer for each Pac-12 team.

The national title aspirations return for Oregon and Stanford, while USC would be happy with a shot at the Pac-12 title. Can Mike MacIntyre turnaround the Colorado program in year one?

Begin Slideshow

247Sports' No. 1 recruit for the class of 2015 attends the same high school President Barack Obama graduated from.

There are three quarterbacks who received 5-star rankings, and all three are pro-style quarterbacks from the state of California. One of those quarterbacks, Josh Rosen, runs a 4.55-second 40-yard dash (247Sports) and already has offers from Michigan, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, among others.

This is a quick snapshot of what we can look forward to from this 2015 class, and thanks to the newly released Top247 for 2015, we can start breaking it down.

Over the next months and years there will be much discussion and analysis of these 247 recruits. Offers will be made, momentum will be gained and lost. Commitments and decommitments are givens, and before all is said and done, we'll definitely see a few surprises.

Overall, though, the world of college football recruiting is all about the future, and this class projects to be exceptionally bright.

Here's a look at the new Top247 and the major talking points you want to know about:

No. 1 Recruit: Canton Kaumatule

Kaumatule of Honolulu, Hawaii (Panahou School) is a strong-side defensive end recruit who's already 6'6.5'', 275 pounds. He has the size and length of a dominant end recruit already, and he could end up getting bigger. He's still just a sophomore in high school, but his savvy will continue to build.

He already has a good combination of strength, speed and technique, but all three of those attributes will improve during his junior and senior years of high school. If he keeps hitting the weight room and working on his fundamentals, Kaumatule could be a truly elite recruit.

As of right now, he only has offers from Hawaii, UCLA and Utah, but that will change fast.

Note: Check out our preliminary analysis and thoughts on the No. 1 recruit. All scouting done via tape study of film provided on his 247Sports profile page.

16 initial 5-star recruits 

Not surprisingly, the power group in the early goings of this class is the defensive line. Out of the 16 5-star recruits, eight of them are defensive linemen. There are four offensive linemen and three quarterbacks.

The quarterbacks are Ricky Town, the aforementioned Rosen and Kevin Dillman.

George Campbell is the lone wideout who received a 5-star rating, and he checks in at 6'3'', 184 pounds.

Commitments

Bleacher Report's assistant college football editor, Eric Bowman, took the time to tally the amount of commitments in the initial top247. He posted his findings on Twitter: 

Those commitments are:

Shameik Blackshear, 5-star WDE, committed to South Carolina

Mekhi Brown, 5-star SDE, committed to Alabama

Kevin Toliver II, 4-star CB, committed to LSU

Derwin James, 4-star S, committed to Florida State

Desherrius Flowers, 4-star RB, committed to Alabama

Deionte Thompson, 4-star S, committed to Alabama

Chad President, 4-star WR, committed to Baylor

Donovan Sheffield, 4-star CB, committed to Vanderbilt

Jordan Davis, 4-star TE, committed to Florida State

Christian Owens, 4-star WR, committed to Georgia

Avery Anderson, 4-star ATH, committed to Arizona State

(Note: Avery Anderson has since been left off the list.)

Of course, Alabama is leading the way so far, and overall, the SEC has a dominant head start on the class of 2015. 

Initial Thoughts

It's nice to see three quarterbacks receiving early 5-stars, especially with the lack of star power at the position in the current 2014 class. There will be a lot of hype surrounding the three quarterback recruits, and their commitments will eventually be big news.

There is a very notable lack of defensive backs at the top of the class. In fact, the first true defensive back to appear in the rankings, 4-star safety Kerryon Johnson, doesn't appear until No. 31 overall.

Finally, the defensive line group looks stellar as well, and Kaumatule, in particular, has superstar potential once he gains more experience—in the weight room, film room and on the field.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com