All 4 Downs Podcast

Welcome to season 3 on the All 4 Downs Podcast, I’m your host Ovi  Muniz.  The USA Today Coaches’ poll released this week has Alabama at 1 and Ohio State at 2 while the defending national champions Georgia Bulldogs positioned at three.  The AP preseason Top 25 will be released on August 15.  However, I will be giving you a full depth of my top 25 with the focus on the top ten  teams.  

Here we go!

21 thru 25

Miami Hurricanes, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, and Utah.  

Utah is ranked in the top ten in the USA Today Polls and with Brad Fowler, host of Pint Glass Football Podcast.  I have them at 25.  Why?  I tell you that Utah Utes are never consistent.  The school receives the votes but usually loses three or four games at best.  Kyle Whittingham has been the head coach since 2005, in which the team played in the Mountain West Conference and transitioned to the PAC-12 in 2011.  He led them to one undefeated season in 2008.  

 For Miami, it will be Mario Cristobal’s first season as the head coach. He left Oregon winning two PAC 12 championships in 5 seasons.  With a heavy top rated underclassmen, it will be interesting to see if the team can turn things around.

Rankings 16 thru 20

Florida, Cincinnati, Baylor, Penn State, Auburn

Baylor is ranked 10th in the USA Today polls.  But, former starting QB Gerry Bohanon is no longer with the Bearcats.  He transferred to the University of South Florida.  Blake Shapen will assume the role as the starter but in the three games he started last season, Baylor struggled to score in each game in the second half.  

Florida Gators’ new head coach, Billy Napier, will debut in the SEC.  He changed the culture at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  Only four seasons as head coach, the last two, Napier put Louisiana on the map, ranked in the top 25.  Epic games against Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State.  Now, Napier will have to concentrate on new rivals like Georgia, Florida State, and Tennessee.  Florida has six new transfers that may start and a higher top-rated talent than Louisiana.  His big task will be to change the culture.  

Rankings 11 thru 15

Oregon, Ole Miss, Michigan State, USC, and Oklahoma State

I am surprised Ole Miss is ranked low in the coaches’ poll.  The school finished ranked 11th last season. Although they lost at the Sugar Bowl to Baylor, Lane Kiffin gained 6 offensive player transfers  to help Luke Altmyer progress in his sophomore year.  However, should Altmyer not live up to the expectation, Kiffin can call on Sophomore Transfer from USC, Jaxson Dart.  

And now my top ten.  

At number ten, Texas A&M

Aggies finished 8-4 last season but were able to defeat Alabama for the first time since 2012.  It was Nick Saban’s first time losing to any of his assistance, HC Jimbo Fisher.  But the biggest question is, with all the top recruits established in the last few years, can the Aggies do it again.  Can they take over the SEC?  Fisher is entering his fifth year with A&M and his best record is 9-1 in 2020.  The 2013 national champion head coach needs to do more and defeat top ranked teams.  Fisher has 6 wins and 11 losses as Aggies head coach against top 25 teams.  

At number 9, Texas

Texas at 9 is a wild card for me.  Steve Sarkisian is a brilliant head coach who landed a second chance with the Longhorns.  Sarkisian won 2 national championships, 3 pac-120 conferences, and 2 SEC championships as an assistant coach.  Although finishing 5-7 last season, Texas are pretty excited for the dramatic improvement being that this may be the last season in the Big XII.  Longhorns gained 7 transfers to include former Ohio State CB, Ryan Watts, who is among the top defensive backs in the nation.  Biggest test this season will be against Alabama, Oklahoma, and Baylor.  

At number 8, LSU

LSU is not in anyone’s radar.  Brian Kelly left Notre Dame to become the new head coach of the LSU Tigers.  He will rely on Myles Brennan, who will return for his sixth year after missing all of last season due to an off the field injury.  Brennan only played three games in 2020.  He was injured against Missouri that ended his season.  

LSU dealt with issues on and off the field as a team.  Hopefully, Kelly can change the culture.

At number 7,  Notre Dame

The Irish will have Marcus Freeman as head coach.  The team is excited and so are the fans as each game will be critical.  One game in particular will be the matchup against Clemson.  

At number 6, Oklahoma

The Sooners will have Brent Venables as their new head coach.  Oklahoma has always been an explosive offensive team but lacks defense.  Venable can provide that leadership and improve in those areas.  Sooners have been excellent with legendary coach Bob Stoops and Lincoln Riley.  The program is set for success for Venables.  Big test for the team will be against Baylor and Oklahoma State.  

At number 5, Clemson

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers look to bounce back after a terrible season.  The school spent 6 straight seasons ranked in the top 4 and won two national championships.  The team is solid and set their comeback on recapturing the ACC and a revenge game against Notre Dame.  

At number 4, Michigan

The Wolverines had an outstanding season making it to the college football playoffs.  Their biggest accomplishment was defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes.  If they are going to repeat again, they must challenge the Buckeyes in Ohio this season.  

At number 3, Ohio State

C.J. Stroud came short of winning the Heisman Trophy.  He should be favorite to win it this season.  Only a Red Shirt Sophomore, Stroud is ready to produce and lead the buckeyes to the promised land.  

At number 2, Georgia

The national champions will not get the respect they deserve.  For this reason, the Bulldogs lost the SEC championship to Alabama but won the title game in their rematch.  Georgia lost a lot of key players in the NFL draft but have Stetson Bennett returning for his final year.  This is why Georgia is not ranked number one.  

But At number 1, Alabama

Nick Saban has appeared in 6 of the 7 national championship games.  He has won 6 national championships.  In 2008, Alabama finished with a 12-2 record.  The following year, 14-0 winning the national championship.  Again happened in 2019, finished with a 11-2 record.  In 2020, Alabama went 13-0 with a national championship.  

Last season, the team finished 13-2 losing the national championship to Georgia.  Can Alabama reach the national championship and win this year?  

Week 1 of the college football season starts August 27 thru September 5.  Get your tickets, get your popcorn and prep your grills.  It is going to be another exciting college football season and the All 4 Downs podcast will cover each down for you.  Follow and subscribe to our YOuTube channel or wherever you listen on your favorite podcast platform.