Dutch Lion’s 2024 College Football Spectacular

Dutch Lion’s 2024 College Football Spectacular

Welcome back to football season! We have many changes on the college gridiron this year. It’s the first year of the new 12 team CFP Playoffs. We have more conference realignments. Also, Nick Saban finally retired. That’s a lot for one autumn.

Longtime readers of Dutch Lion know that ever since I was a young pup in the 1980’s, I’ve always inspired by the great football preview magazines such as Sports Illustrated’s “College & Pro Football Spectacular”, as pictured above. For my money, the 1986 version with Brian Bosworth hoisting Jim McMahon on the cover was the coolest cover photo ever. It gets me thinking. If we were to take a modern photo of football’s “Wild And Crazy”, who would be featured? Feel free to make suggestions in the comments below.

In this year’s Spectacular, we’re going to predict our Top 25 selections, as well as our mock CFP Playoff bracket. As usual, we’ll select an All-America team and our favorite players in ’24. For our special feature this year, we’re going to select the best head coaches in college football history.

And now for the big reveal…… our 2024 National Champion will be………

THE Ohio State Buckeyes!

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Dutch Lion’s Top 25

1. Ohio State – The Buckeyes seemingly have it all going into 2024. They have awesome players, experienced coaches, incredible transfers, and motivation. They have the best chance to beat their rivals, the Michigan Wolverines, in several years. The offensive weapons are astounding. Not only do they return guys like WR Emeka Egbuka and RB TreVeyon Henderson, but they added in uber-transfers such as QB Will Howard and RB Quinshod Judkins. Then they added top freshman recruits such as WR Jeremiah Smith, QB Julian Sayin, QB Air Noland, WR Mylan Graham, and RB James Peoples. And that’s just on the offensive side. Meanwhile over on defense, the Buckeyes return 9 starters from last year’s impressive unit that allowed only 11.2 ppg! Only one opponent scored more than 17 against the Buckeyes (Michigan scored 30). The returning studs are guys like DE J.T. Tuimoloau, DE Jack Sawyer, DT Tyleik Williams, and DT Ty Williams up front. Then the secondary returns CB Denzel Burke and Sonny Styles, who will move up to WILL LB. Oh yeah, then the Bucks added Alabama transfer S Caleb Downs who was an Honorable Mention All-American as a freshman for the Crimson Tide. As for the coaching staff, Ohio State somehow managed to convince legendary offensive coach Chip Kelly to be their OC. What a coup! The Buckeyes schedule is tough, but they can run the table. THE Ohio State will be our 2024 National Champions.
2. Texas – Texas has it all to be back. Not only back… but BACK! I love Coach Steve Sarkisian. He’s an interesting guy. He went 12-2 last year and returns 15 starters including QB Quinn Ewers. The most challenging aspect for Texas this year will be their arrival in the SEC. They play Oklahoma and Georgia in back-to-back weeks in October. But their schedule isn’t as hard as you’d think. They only have three true road SEC games, and avoid Alabama, Ole Miss, and LSU. The Longhorns are going all the way to the CFP, and maybe all the way to the Title Game. Could they be National Champs?
3. Miami – One of my surprise teams this year is Miami. They were only 7-6 last year, which was surprisingly disappointing. When I look at this roster, I am really impressed. Coach Mario Cristobal knows how to build a tough team. He builds in the trenches. As a former offensive lineman, he loves recruiting and developing offensive linemen. Look at the talent on the ‘Canes defensive line?! It includes supersoph DE Rueben Bain, Simeon Barrow, C.J. Clark, and two VHT recruits from Chicago in Justin Scott and Marquise Lightfoot. The offense nabbed perhaps the top QB transfer available in Washington State’s Cam Ward. WR Xavier Restrepo returns after catching 85 balls for 1092 and 6 TD’s. The schedule is pretty easy except for their huge rivalry games at Florida and vs Florida State. I could see this Miami team running the table, going 12-0 and into the CFP.
4. Oregon – I love Coach Dan Lanning and the way he’s continuing the “franchise” known as the Ducks. He has an attitude that he brought from Georgia. Oregon has always been one of our favorites since the 1994 team led by Safety Chad Cota. The Ducks really came into prominence with one of our all-time favorites, QB Joey Harrington back in 2001. Anyway, Oregon has gone through many coaches since Rich Brooks built the program from 1977-’94 (Mike Bellotti ’95-’08, Chip Kelly ’09-’12, Mark Helfrich ’13-’16, Willie Taggart, Mario Cristobal ’17-’21, and now Lanning ’21-present). Cristobal and Lanning have made the Ducks a more physical program, focusing on the trenches. Oregon gets better recruits now than they did back then, and they have more of a Big Ten type roster and mentality than years past. Having said that, they still bring the speed element and West Coast philosophy. With transfer QB Dillon Gabriel leading the way, the Ducks could go all the way in ’24. However, Gabriel is overrated in my opinion, and he’s a lefty (don’t get me started!). Plus, they enter a new conference with unique challenges including more travel and scouting teams for the first time. Overall, the Ducks should continue to thrive, but they are an unknown this year in that they could be as great as National Champs are as low as maybe 5th in the Big Ten conference. We shall see.
5. Georgia – I am a huge Georgia fan, but I must admit, the Bulldogs might take a step back this year. Their recruiting and coaching are elite, but can they keep up with losing so many players to the NFL each and every year? (15, 10, and 8 players taken over the last three NFL Drafts). At some point the new guys might be great recruits but they may not pan out over their college careers. Are they getting experience with all of the NFL guys in front of them? I’m just sayin’! Having said all this, UGA will still be excellent. Carson Beck is back at QB (72% completion rate), but his weapons are weaker than usual. TE Brock Bowers is gone, and in steps Oscar Delp and Ben Yurosek. At WR, there will be Dominic Lovett, Colbie Young, and Dillon Bell. Up front, the OL features four returning starters. On defense, the scheme will be enough to win many games, but new faces abound at LB and in the secondary. Overall, Georgia will be a really good team again, but facing hungry opponents on the road such as Texas, Alabama, and Ole Miss, in addition to neutral site games vs Clemson and Florida, might make this year a bigger challenge than expected.
6. Ole Miss
7. Clemson
8. Notre Dame
9. Penn State
10. Alabama
11. Utah
12. LSU
13. Missouri
14. Kansas St.
15. Nebraska – I know what you’re thinking….. Reid is off his rocker again. Well, you might be right, but hear me out. The Huskers were only 5-7 last year but major improvement is long overdue. The Blackshirts defense really upped it’s game last year with DC Tony White. The new 3-3-5 alignment causes havoc. Eight returning starters on the D include big nasties like Nash Hutmacher, Ty Robinson, and Jimari Butler. Nine starters return on offense. Throw 5-star freshman Dylan Raiola into the huddle, cut down on the turnovers, get lucky with an easier schedule (for once), and watch the Huskers win 8 or 9 or even more games! HC Matt Rhule is the man. GBR!
16. West Virginia – I’d LOVE to put them higher but their schedule is a wrecking ball, ranked as 7th hardest by Phil Steele. They open with Penn State and then play a Big 12 schedule including games at Oklahoma St., at Arizona, and at Texas Tech. They also go to Pitt for the “Backyard Brawl”. Watch QB Garrett Greene have a HUGE year!
17. Liberty – Our top rated non-Power 4 conference team is Liberty. Led by HC Jamey Chadwell, the Flames have QB Kaidon Salter returning to lead an explosive offense that averaged 38.3 ppg. Liberty went 13-1 with their only loss to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. They are my favorite to repeat as an undefeated team which most likely will land them as the automatic qualifier in the inaugural 12 team CFP.
18. Iowa State
19. Michigan – Gonna take a step back this year with a new coach, new players, revenge-minded opponents, and a cloud from the sign-stealing cheating scandal.
20. Arizona
21. Tennessee
22. Oklahoma
23. Oklahoma St.
24. Boise St.
25. SMU

Notably absent from our Top 25: Florida St., Florida, Texas A&M, USC, Iowa, Wisconsin.

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The Inaugural CFP 12 Team Playoff Seeds:

This is going to be a learning experience for all of us. Here’s how it works: The Power 4 conference champions will receive automatic bids, most likely the top four seeds, and byes in the 12 team playoff. The highest ranked non-Power 4 conference team will get an automatic bid, but not necessarily #5. I guess they could be one of the top 4, but here’s guessing they never will be. So that’s 5 automatic qualifiers, which leaves 7 at-large, wild cards. It’s going to be confusing and exciting, this is for sure. Here’s how we project the first CFP Playoff field:

# 1 Ohio St. (B1G Champ) – BYE

#2 Texas (SEC Champ) – BYE

#3 Miami (ACC Champ) – BYE

#4 Utah (Big 12 Champ) – BYE

First Round

#12 Liberty at #5 Oregon (Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR)

#11 Alabama at #6 Georgia (Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA)

#10 Penn St. at #7 Ole Miss (Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS)

#9 Notre Dame at #8 Clemson (Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC)

Second Round (Quarterfinals)

#8 Clemson vs #1 Ohio St. in the Rose Bowl

#7 Ole Miss vs #2 Texas in the Sugar Bowl

#6 Georgia vs #3 Miami in the Peach Bowl

#5 Oregon vs #4 Utah in the Fiesta Bowl

3rd Round (Semifinals)

#1 Ohio St. vs #5 Oregon in the Orange Bowl

#2 Texas vs #3 Miami in the Cotton Bowl

4th Round (National Championship in Atlanta)

#1 Ohio St. over #2 Texas

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Dutch Lion’s 2024 All-America Team

OFFENSE

QB1 Quinn Ewers/Texas/JR/6-2 205/PS#1

QB2 Jaxson Dart/Ole Miss/JR/6-2 220/PS#14

RB1 Omarion Hampton/North Carolina/JR/6-0 220/PS#13

RB2 Damien Martinez/Miami/JR/6-0 237/PS#62

RB3/FB C.J. Donaldson/West Virginia/SR/5-11 202/PS#37

WR1 Emeka Egbuka/Ohio St./SR/6-1 205/PS#1

WR2 Tez Johnson/Oregon/JR/5-10 160/PS#307

WR3 Luther Burden/Missouri/JR/5-11 208/PS#1

TE1 Colston Loveland/Michigan/JR/6-5 237/PS#20

TE2 R.J. Maryland/SMU/JR/6-4 240/PS#23

LT Wyatt Milum/West Virginia/SR/6-6 312/PS#19

LG Tate Ratledge/Georgia/SO/6-6 310/PS#4

C Parker Brailsford/Alabama/SO/6-2 275/PS#56

RG Kelvin Banks/Texas/JR/6-4 324/PS#3

RT Will Campbell/LSU/JR/6-6 320/PS#7

DEFENSE

DE Mykel Williams/Georgia/JR/6-5 265/PS#4

DT Mason Graham/Michigan/JR/6-3 317/PS#63

DT Nash Hutmacher/Nebraska/SR/6-4 330/PS#78

DE Jack Sawyer/Ohio St./SR/6-4 265/PS#2

OLB Harold Perkins/LSU/JR/6-1 220/PS#3

ILB Smael Mondon/Georgia/SR/6-3 225/PS#2

ILB Nick Martin/Oklahoma St./JR/6-0 210/PS#95

OLB Barrett Carter/Clemson/SR/6-1 230/PS#3

CB1 Will Johnson/Michigan/JR/6-2 206/PS#6

CB2 Tommi Hill/Nebraska/SR/6-0 195/PS#38 – 9 PBU’s, 4 INT’s last year for the nation’s #? total defense

FS Dillon Thieneman/Purdue/SO/6-0 205/PS#131

SS Hunter Wohler/Wisconsin/JR/6-2 215/PS#18

All-Purpose: CB/WR Travis Hunter/Colorado/JR/6-1 185/PS#1 – (57 Rec, 721 Yds, 5 TD at WR; 30 TKL, 3 INT at CB)

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Reid’s Favorite Players in 2024

1. Nash Hutmacher/DT/Nebraska – “The Polar Bear” has been one of our favorites for years now. A 330 pound mammoth that wears #0? That is beyond cool. Nash is a stud and will lead a Top 10 Blackshirts unit back to a Bowl in ’24.
2. Garrett Greene/QB/West Virginia
3. “The Stone Age” Preston Stone/QB/SMU
4. Tez Johnson/WR/Oregon
5. Omarion Hampton/RB/North Carolina
6. Haynes King/QB/Georgia Tech
7. Jack Sawyer/DE/Ohio St.
8. Arch Manning/QB/Texas
9. Cam Skattebo/RB/Arizona St.
10. Dylan Raiola/QB/Nebraska
11. Isaac Gifford/LB/S/Nebraska

Watch out for these future stars, breaking out as early as this season:

• D.J. Lagway/QB/Florida
• Nyck Harbor/WR/South Carolina
• Jeremiah Smith/WR/Ohio St.
• Jaydon Blue/RB/Texas
• Julian Sayin/QB/Ohio St.
• Jahiem White/RB/West Virginia
• Micah Hudson/WR/Texas Tech
• Avery Johnson/QB/Kansas St.
• Abu Sama/RB/Iowa St.
• Jeremiyah Love/RB/Notre Dame
• Cam Coleman/WR/Auburn.

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“The Twelve Disciples”: The Greatest Coaches in College Football History (since World War II)

12. Bo Schembechler/Miami (OH), Michigan (234-65-8) – Check out the BTN movie “Tiebreaker” to understand more about Bo. He is still “bitter”, and he’s six feet under.

11. Bobby Bowden/West Virginia, Florida St. (377-129-4)

10. Urban Meyer/Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, and Ohio St. (187-32)

9. Steve Spurrier/Duke, Florida, and South Carolina (228-89-2)

8. Woody Hayes/Miami (OH), Ohio State (238-72-10)

7. Barry Switzer/Oklahoma (157-29-4)

6. Lou Holtz/N.C. State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina (249-132-7)

5. Frank Leahy/Boston College, Notre Dame (107-13-9)

4. Bud Wilkinson/Oklahoma (145-29-4)

3. Tom Osborne/Nebraska (255-49-3) – The amazing thing about Coach Osborne is the consistency. He won at least 9 games EVERY SINGLE SEASON in his 25 year head coaching career. His bad years featured 9 wins. Sure the Big 8 and Big 12 weren’t juggernaut conferences each and every year, but still, the numbers are astounding. Dr. Tom never had a bad year. His absolute worst season was 9-3-1 in 1976. “The Program” just churned out excellent seasons year after year after year, just like the harvests of corn on the Nebraska prairies year after year. The Huskers won at least 10 games in 15 of his 25 seasons, and that was back when you’d only play 12 or 13 games per year. He did it through a groundbreaking muscle-building weight-room, years before anyone else had even thought about it. And he did it with continuity, Christianity, and love. A man of extreme calmness and integrity, Osborne inspired of love of team, teammates, and the state of Nebraska to raise the Huskers to the most victories in college football in the decade of the 1980s. Then he topped himself with the team of the decade of the 1990’s. He finished his career with a 60-3 record and 3 National Championships over the last five years (1993-’97). If only he hadn’t retired so young. Nebraska has been in a tailspin since he left. He was only 60 at the time and is still providing advice at age 87 for Coach Matt Rhule’s modern program.

2. Nick Saban/Toledo, Michigan St., LSU, and Alabama (292-71-1) – There’s not much left to be said about the great Nick Saban. Sure he’s always salty and intense and demanding and he always uncomfortably stares into the camera on those weird on-field post-game interviews. Bottom line, he’s a winner. His “Process” is ultra detail-oriented. I’m glad he’s finally retired however. It’s time for somebody else to dominate.

and #1 Paul “Bear” Bryant/Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A&M, and Alabama – Paul Bryant once said, “I ain’t never been nothin’ but a winna’.” Who is the most legendary coach in all the land? It’s the “Bear”. Listen to the gravelly voice. Hear the stories of former players. Read about the demanding presence and grit and tough guy image that inspired thousands of the South’s finest. Imagine the toughness. Add it all up, and it will (should) give you goosebumps. If it doesn’t, you’re probably not reading this column anyway.

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That’s it for our ’24 Spectacular. I hope you enjoyed reading. I KNOW you’ll enjoy the season!