CFN Analysis - Arizona's New Mexico Thriller

CFN Analysis - Arizona's New Mexico Thriller: The instant analysis and reaction to the 2012 Gildan New Mexico Bowl

CFN Analysis - Utah State's Potato Win

CFN Analysis - Utah State's Potato Win: The instant analysis and reaction to the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Tuesday Question: Does NIU Belong In The BCS?

Tuesday Question: Does NIU Belong In The BCS?: Tuesday Question: Does Northern Illinois Belong In The BCS?

CFN Analysis: Alabama's Classic Win

CFN Analysis: Alabama's Classic Win: CFN Analysis: Alabama won the SEC title, and maybe more, against Georgia.

B1G Uglies - The Big Ten Champ Pick

B1G Uglies - The Big Ten Champ Pick: At the conclusion of each week’s games, Phil Harrison, Bart Doan, and Terry Johnson discuss three hot topics on the minds of fans of the Big Ten. It’s three guys with three opinions that could change the course of human history--or at least add some clarity to football being played in the Midwest. It’s the weekly B1G Uglies roundtable.

Johnson's Final Thoughts: SEC Breakdown

Johnson's Final Thoughts: SEC Breakdown: Terry Johnson's Final Thoughts before the final weekend of the regular season.

TQ: Should It Be Florida Or Notre Dame?

TQ: Should It Be Florida Or Notre Dame?: The Tuesday Question: Who's more deserving, Florida or Notre Dame?

The Firing Season - 5 Coaching Changes

The Firing Season - 5 Coaching Changes: Five BCS programs canned their coaches. What's next?

CFN Analysis: South Carolina 27, Clemson 17

CFN Analysis: South Carolina 27, Clemson 17: The Gamecocks were without their starting QB, but they still got by the Tigers.

CFN Analysis: Notre Dame 22, USC 13

CFN Analysis: Notre Dame 22, USC 13: CFN Analysis: Helped by an epic stand, the Irish are off to Miami to play for it all.

CFN Analysis: Stanford 35, UCLA 17

CFN Analysis: Stanford 35, UCLA 17: In Round One, Stanford beat the Bruins to get to the Pac-12 championship

B1G Uglies: 3 Hot Big Ten Topics

B1G Uglies: 3 Hot Big Ten Topics: At the conclusion of each week’s games, Phil Harrison, Bart Doan, and Terry Johnson discuss three hot topics on the minds of fans of the Big Ten. It’s three guys with three opinions that could change the course of human history--or at least add some clarity to football being played in the Midwest. It’s the weekly B1G Uglies roundtable.

Johnson Final Thoughts: Upset To Watch For

Johnson Final Thoughts: Upset To Watch For: Terry Johnson Final Thoughts: The Upset To Watch For

The Heisman Case For ... Johnny Manziel

The Heisman Case For ... Johnny Manziel: Tuesday Question: The Heisman Case For Johnny Manziel

CFN Analysis: Baylor's blasting of K-State

CFN Analysis: Baylor's blasting of K-State: The Bears blew the doors off of Kansas State to stun the No. 1 team

CFN Analysis: Stanford Solves Oregon Problem

CFN Analysis: Stanford Solves Oregon Problem: CFN Analysis: The Cardinal throws a shock into the system with an OT win over the Ducks.

CFN Analysis: The Bruins Take The South

CFN Analysis: The Bruins Take The South: CFN Analysis - UCLA will play for the Pac-12 title again after beating USC.

Johnson's Final Thoughts: Big 12, Big QBs

Johnson's Final Thoughts: Big 12, Big QBs: Terry Johnson's Final Thoughts & Musings Before Week 12

Tuesday Question: The New Star QB Is ...?

Tuesday Question: The New Star QB Is ...?: Tuesday Question: If you could pick one great young QB, which one would you take?

Grading The Games: Week Eleven

Grading The Games: Week Eleven: Texas A&M and Alabama created an A-plus pigskin paper. What grade did dozens of other schools earn? Let's go to the CFN classroom, shall we?

CFN Analysis: Texas A&M's Win Over Alabama

CFN Analysis: Texas A&M's Win Over Alabama: CFN Instant Analysis of Texas A&M's season-changing win over Alabama

B1G Uglies: The Big Ten Roundtable

B1G Uglies: The Big Ten Roundtable: At the conclusion of each week’s games, Phil Harrison, Bart Doan, and Terry Johnson discuss three hot topics on the minds of fans of the Big Ten. It’s three guys with three opinions that could change the course of human history--or at least add some clarity to football being played in the Midwest. It’s the weekly B1G Uglies roundtable.

Terry Johnson's Final Thoughts

Terry Johnson's Final Thoughts: Terry Johnson's Final Thoughts before the Week 11 games

Final Thoughts Before Week 11

Final Thoughts Before Week 11: Final Thoughts Before Week 11 ... How sad is the Big Ten right now? You'll see this weekend.

Tuesday Question: The Vote For The Heisman

Tuesday Question: The Vote For The Heisman: Tuesday Question: Who are the top five Heisman candidates?

Grading The Games: Week Ten

Grading The Games: Week Ten: Alabama-LSU excelled in the classroom this time around. That's just one of the highlights in the latest edition of "Grading The Games."

CFN Analysis: Kansas State picks off Ok State

CFN Analysis: Kansas State picks off Ok State: The CFN Instant Analysis on Kansas State's big win over Oklahoma State

Alabama's Championship Moment

Alabama's Championship Moment: CFN Instant Analysis: LSU had the game in hand, but the Tide found a way to pull it out.

CFN Analysis: Oregon's crazy win over USC

CFN Analysis: Oregon's crazy win over USC: The CFN Instant Analysis on Kenjon Barner and Oregon's brilliant day

CFN Analysis: Another Notre Dame Miracle

CFN Analysis: Another Notre Dame Miracle: The CFN Instant Analysis on the Irish's overtime thriller over Pitt.

B1G Uglies: The Big Ten Hot Topics

B1G Uglies: The Big Ten Hot Topics: At the conclusion of each week’s games, Phil Harrison, Bart Doan, and Terry Johnson discuss three hot topics on the minds of fans of the Big Ten. It’s three guys with three opinions that could change the course of human history--or at least add some clarity to football being played in the Midwest. It’s the weekly B1G Uglies roundtable.

Tuesday Question: What If The SEC Is Out?

Tuesday Question: What If The SEC Is Out?: Tuesday Question: Will you be okay if the SEC champion isn't playing for the national title?

Grading The Games: Week Nine

Grading The Games: Week Nine: Notre Dame's excellence against Oklahoma takes center stage in the latest CFN classroom examination. It's time to take out the red pen in this edition of "Grading The Games."

CFN Analysis: Alabama Blasts Miss State

CFN Analysis: Alabama Blasts Miss State: CFN Analysis & Breakdown of Alabama's win over Mississippi State

CFN Analysis: Yes, Notre Dame Is For Real

CFN Analysis: Yes, Notre Dame Is For Real: CFN Analysis & Breakdown of Notre Dame's win over Oklahoma

CFN Analysis: Kansas State's Statement

CFN Analysis: Kansas State's Statement: CFN Analysis & Breakdown of Kansas State's win over Texas Tech

Final Thoughts - Part 2. Zemek & Johnson

Final Thoughts - Part 2. Zemek & Johnson: Final Thoughts & Musings before the Week 9 games - Zemek & Johnson

B1G Uglies: Big 10 Topics To Impress Friends

B1G Uglies: Big 10 Topics To Impress Friends: At the conclusion of each week’s games, Phil Harrison, Bart Doan, and Terry Johnson discuss three hot topics on the minds of fans of the Big Ten. It’s three guys with three opinions that could change the course of human history--or at least add some clarity to football being played in the Midwest. It’s the weekly B1G Uglies roundtable.

Tuesday Question: Who's Really No. 2?

Tuesday Question: Who's Really No. 2?: Tuesday Question - It's the big fight. How should the teams rank behind Alabama?

Monday Thought: What We Learned

Monday Thought: What We Learned: Terry Johnson Monday Thought: What did we learn this weekend?

Grading The Games: Week Eight

My new feature column at CFN Grading The Games: Week Eight 
 

CFN Analysis - Kansas State Clobbers WVU

CFN Analysis - Kansas State Clobbers WVU: Collin Klein and the Wildcats destroy and embarrass the Mountaineers.

CFN Analysis - Florida Swamps South Carolina

CFN Analysis - Florida Swamps South Carolina: Florida finds a passing game in an ugly blowout over the Gamecocks.

CFN Analysis - LSU Rumbles Over A&M

CFN Analysis - LSU Rumbles Over A&M: LSU proved to be too physical, but the Aggies made it interesting.

Tuesday Question: Was Stepfan Taylor In?

Tuesday Question: Was Stepfan Taylor In?: TQ: Was Stepfan Taylor in the end zone against Notre Dame?

Grading The Top Games - How Good Were They?

Grading The Top Games - How Good Were They?: Is a 9-6 game a great one or an awful one? Is a 59-57 shootout the best thing on earth or a silly video game that sets back the sport? It's time to render verdicts for these weekly contests and give an added sense of definition to each and every Saturday of the season. Grading The Games debuts now.

CFN Analysis - LSU Grinds The Gamecocks

CFN Analysis - LSU Grinds The Gamecocks: The Tigers fought their way back into the national title chase.

CFN Analysis - Texas Tech blasts WVU

CFN Analysis - Texas Tech blasts WVU: The CFN analysis of Texas Tech's stunning win over West Virginia

ACC Quick Slants: News, Notes and Thoughts

ACC Quick Slants: News, Notes and Thoughts: At the conclusion of each week's games, CFN's Terry Johnson puts the previous weekend of ACC football under the microscope, and looks ahead to see what's in store for the upcoming weekend.

Final Thoughts: A different Red River Rivalry

Please checkout Week 7 Final Thoughts, which includes the Red River Rivalry, a potential change of power in the SEC, and the outstanding play of Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel.

B1G Uglies: The 3 Big, Big Ten Talking Points

Phil, Bart, and Terry are at it again in this week's B1G Uglies on CFN.

ACC Midseason Awards

ACC Midseason Awards: The college football season is at the halfway mark, and CFN’s lead ACC writer Terry Johnson looks back to hand out some midseason awards, reflect on the best moments so far, and provide a glimpse of what’s to come in the second half of the season.

Florida's Meteoric Rise

By Terry Johnson
Follow me @TPJCollFootball

As expected, Week 6 helped clear up the national championship picture.

However, it was an unexpected surprise that stole the show. Largely ignored by most of the college football world as a contender for the BCS title, Florida registered one of the most impressive victories of this young college football season with a 14- 6 win over LSU.

This convincing triumph against the defending conference champion leaves no doubt that the Gators are the second best team in the nation right now.

Let's be honest: no team in the country has a resume as impressive as Florida's. Sure, the team struggled to score points in the season opener, but that was only because Muschamp wanted the Gators to learn how to block an eight-man front. Had margin of victory factored into the equation, the final score of that contest would have been much different.

Despite the struggles against Bowling Green, Florida proved itself as one of the nation's elite teams once conference play began. The Gators opened the season with a bang, posting solid road wins over Texas A&M and Tennessee. They followed those wins with a convincing 38-0 victory over Kentucky (something No. 3 South Carolina did not do).

Oh yeah, Florida also turned in a dominant defensive performance against reigning SEC Champion LSU on Saturday night, who hadn't lost a regular season game since November of 2010.

To recap, that's four SEC wins, with three of them coming against teams that spent time in the Top 25 at some point this season. If that doesn't qualify as one of the top two teams, what does?

Another reason that Gators should have moved into the two-slot in both polls this week is because they have one of the best defenses in the nation.

Even the most casual football fan knows that defense wins championships, and that's where the Gators excel. Florida's defense has emerged as one of the top units in a conference loaded with stellar defenses. The Gators rank 16th nationally against the run, 12th in total defense, 6th in scoring defense, and 2nd in passing efficiency defense. More impressively, Will Muschamp's team has a knack for coming up with timely turnovers, forcing an average of 1.2 net turnovers per game. As Saturday night's game showed, sometimes a single turnover is the difference between winning and losing.

Unfortunately, the numbers listed above fail to tell the entire story. Despite posting such astronomical stats, the Gators do not lead the SEC in any defensive category. While the rankings alone might suggest that other defenses are better, it's important to note that Florida's numbers include games against Tennessee and Texas A&M, who lead the conference in passing offense and total offense, respectively.

As any coach will tell you, the true measure of greatness is how you perform against top competition. The fact that Florida has compiled such gaudy statistics against two of the best offenses in the SEC leaves little doubt that the Gator D is one of the best in the land.

Despite its impressive credentials and smothering defense, Florida is currently sixth in the both the USA Today and Harris Polls, which accounts for two-thirds of the final BCS formula.

However, after it's demolition of LSU this weekend, don't expect to see Gators outside of the Top 5 for very long.

Midseason Thoughts: Terry Johnson

Midseason Thoughts: Terry Johnson: Tuesday Question: Midseason Picks, Thoughts and Calls

ACC Quick Slants - News, Notes & Tidbits

ACC Quick Slants - News, Notes & Tidbits: At the conclusion of each week's games, CFN's Terry Johnson puts the previous weekend of ACC football under the microscope, looking for the Lucky 7

TQ: How To Fix The ACC

TQ: How To Fix The ACC: Tuesday Question: Terry Johnson on How To Fix The ACC

Johnson: The ACC's Woes Continue

Johnson: The ACC's Woes Continue: Terry Johnson on yet another lost weekend for the ACC

CFN Analysis - Texas Survives Ok State

CFN Analysis - Texas Survives Ok State: The Longhorns scored in the final seconds to win a wild one.

CFN Analysis - Ohio State's win over MSU

CFN Analysis - Ohio State's win over MSU: The Buckeyes stay unbeaten in a tough win over the Spartans.

CFN Analysis - The Dawg-Vol Shootout

CFN Analysis - The Dawg-Vol Shootout: Where was the defense? The Dwags and Vols put on a show.

B1G Uglies: The Big Ten Questions

B1G Uglies: The Big Ten Questions: The B1G Uglies: 3 BIG TEN QUESTIONS THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT-POST WEEK 4

Week 5 Thoughts: WVU, welcome to the Big 12

Week 5 Thoughts: WVU, welcome to the Big 12: Final thoughts and musings before Week 5 kicks off.

ACC Quick Slants - News, Notes & Tidbits

ACC Quick Slants - News, Notes & Tidbits: At the conclusion of each week’s games, CFN’s Terry Johnson puts the previous weekend of ACC football under the microscope, looking for the Lucky 7

Tuesday Question: Is Oregon Really No. 2?

Tuesday Question: Is Oregon Really No. 2?: Are the Ducks really deserving of being ranked No. 2 in the land?

Johnson: Should Oregon go past LSU in polls?

Johnson: Should Oregon go past LSU in polls?: Monday Thought: Johnson on LSU getting leapfrogged in the polls by Oregon.

CFN Analysis: Oregon's blowout over Arizona

CFN Analysis: Oregon's blowout over Arizona: Ladies and gentleman, we have a new contender for the National Championship. Say hello once again to the Oregon Ducks.

CFN Analysis: Florida State's Big Statement

CFN Analysis: Florida State's Big Statement: While FSU's win was impressive, let's not assume that they're back.

CFN Analysis: Notre Dame Stuffs Michigan

CFN Analysis: Notre Dame Stuffs Michigan: Don't sleep on the Irish - they're good enough to win the national championship this season.

CFN Analysis: South Carolina Rolls Mizzou

CFN Analysis: South Carolina Rolls Mizzou: Everyone wanted to see a passing game, but the wrong one showed up.

Week 4 Final Thoughts: Terry Johnson

Week 4 Final Thoughts: Terry Johnson: Final thoughts and musings before Week 4 kicks off.

Terry Johnson's ACC Tour

Terry Johnson's ACC Tour: At the conclusion of each week’s games, CFN’s Terry Johnson put the previous weekend of ACC football under the microscope, looking for the Lucky 7

Tuesday Question: Just How Good Is ...

Tuesday Question: Just How Good Is ...: Tuesday Question: Just How Good Is Florida, Georgia, FSU & More

Johnson: Is McCarron in the Heisman hunt?

Johnson: Is McCarron in the Heisman hunt?: Monday Thought: Johnson on McCarron for the Heisman

CFN Thoughts - Notre Dame Ds Up On MSU

CFN Thoughts - Notre Dame Ds Up On MSU: CFN's Instant Analysis on Notre Dame's tough win over the Spartans

CFN Thoughts - Stanford Shocks USC

CFN Thoughts - Stanford Shocks USC: CFN's Instant Analysis on Stanford's gamechanger over the Trojans

CFN Thoughts - Florida Rocks The Vols

CFN Thoughts - Florida Rocks The Vols: CFN's Instant Analysis on Florida's win over Tennessee

CFN Thoughts - Bama Blows Away Arkansas

CFN Thoughts - Bama Blows Away Arkansas: CFN's Instant Analysis on Alabama's win over Arkansas

Top 25 After Week 3

Here's my top 25 ballot for this week. As always please email any comments to me @ johnsoncfn@gmail.com

1) Alabama
2) LSU
3) Oregon
4) West Virginia
5) South Carolina
6) Oklahoma
7) Georgia
8) Stanford
9) Notre Dame
10) Florida State
11) Clemson
12) Kansas State
13) Mississippi State
14) USC
15) Texas
16) UCLA
17) Michigan
18) Arizona
19) Florida
20) Oklahoma State
21) Wisconsin
22) Michigan State
23) Louisville
24) Utah
25) Tennessee

Final Thoughts: Terry Johnson

Final Thoughts: Terry Johnson: Final thoughts and musings before Week 3 kicks off.

B1G Uglies: The Big Ten 3 Questions

B1G Uglies: The Big Ten 3 Questions: B1G Uglies: 3 BIG TEN QUESTIONS THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT-Week Two

CFN Thoughts: Notre Dame to the ACC

CFN Thoughts: Notre Dame to the ACC: CFN's thoughts on Notre Dame's partial move to the ACC

Tuesday Question: Who's Real, Who's Not?

Tuesday Question: Who's Real, Who's Not?: What teams are the real deal and which ones are likely a mirage?

Johnson Thought: The Pac-12 Breaks Through

Johnson Thought: The Pac-12 Breaks Through: Week 2 Thoughts: Johnson on the Pac-12's big weekend

CFN Analysis - UCLA 36, Nebraska 30

CFN Analysis - UCLA 36, Nebraska 30: CFN's instant analysis of UCLA's breakthrough win over the Huskers

CFN Analysis - ULM Stuns Arkansas In OT

CFN Analysis - ULM Stuns Arkansas In OT: CFN's Instant Analysis of ULM's season-changing win over Arkansas.

CFN Analysis - LSU 41, Washington 3

CFN Analysis - LSU 41, Washington 3: CFN's instant analysis of LSU's blowout of Washington

CFN Analysis - Florida 20, Texas A&M 17

CFN Analysis - Florida 20, Texas A&M 17: CFN's instant analysis of the huge Gator road win over the Aggies.

CFN Analysis - Miss State 28, Auburn 10

CFN Analysis - Miss State 28, Auburn 10: CFN's instant analysis of the big SEC West win for the Bulldogs.

Harrison/Johnson Final Thoughts Before Week 2

Harrison/Johnson Final Thoughts Before Week 2: Phil Harrison and Terry Johnson Final Thoughts Before Week 2

2012 Staff Picks - Week 1

2012 Staff Picks - Week 1: 2012 CFN Staff Picks and Selections for every game

B1G Uglies: The Big Ten 3 Questions

B1G Uglies: The Big Ten 3 Questions: The B1G Uglies and the biggest Big Ten questions after Week One

ACC Week 1 News, Notes & Reviews

ACC Week 1 News, Notes & Reviews: At the conclusion of each week’s games, CFN’s Terry Johnson puts the previous weekend of ACC football under the microscope, looking for the Lucky 7

CFN Analysis - Va Tech's terrific comeback

CFN Analysis - Va Tech's terrific comeback: The CFN analysis of Virginia Tech's thrilling overtime win over Georgia Tech.

Johnson Thought: The ACC's Rocky Opener

Johnson Thought: The ACC's Rocky Opener: Week 1 Thought: Johnson on the ACC's rocky opening week.

CFN Analysis - Bama's big blowout

CFN Analysis - Bama's big blowout: The CFN analysis of the Alabama 41-14 destruction of the Wolverines

CFN Analysis - Clemson gets by Auburn 26-19

CFN Analysis - Clemson gets by Auburn 26-19: The CFN analysis of Clemson's 26-19 win over Auburn

CFN Analysis - Ohio stuns Penn State 24-14

CFN Analysis - Ohio stuns Penn State 24-14: The CFN analysis of Ohio's 24-14 win over Penn State.

CFN Analysis - Tennessee 35, NC State 21

CFN Analysis - Tennessee 35, NC State 21: The Tennessee offense exploded in a big win over NC State.

CFN Analysis - MSU's big day from Bell

CFN Analysis - MSU's big day from Bell: The CFN analysis of Michigan State's 17-13 win over Boise State.

CFN Analysis - South Carolina 17, Vandy 13

CFN Analysis - South Carolina 17, Vandy 13: CFN Analysis - South Carolina 17, Vanderbilt 13. And away we go. South Carolina won, but it wasn't easy.

ACC Quick Slants - Atlantic Breakdown

ACC Quick Slants - Atlantic Breakdown: Terry Johnson's weekly look at the ACC news and notes.

B1G Uglies - The Biggest Question Mark for Each Team

Big Ten fans, are you ready for the season to start?

Of course you are, which is why you should head to College Football News! This week, Phil, Bart, and Terry will break down the biggest question marks for each team in the B1G.

To read the full article, click here.

In defense of Lane Kiffin

Very few people in college football are as polarizing as USC's Lane Kiffin. He's much like the Miami Hurricanes of the 1980's - you either love him or hate him. There's no middle ground.

Regardless of how you feel about him, it's time that someone called out USA Today for revealing Lane Kiffin's ballot.

Let's quickly recap what happened. Reporters tell Kiffin that Rich Rodriguez voted USC as the number one team in the land. Kiffin responds: "I would not vote USC No.1, I can tell you that". Shortly afterward, USA Today publishes an article revealing that Kiffin placed the Trojans in top spot on his ballot.

Here's how the publication justified its interference:

"Each coach's vote normally is kept confidential until the final vote of the regular season under an agreement between USA TODAY Sports and the American Football Coaches Association. However, when a voter volunteers false or misleading information about his vote in public, then USA TODAY Sports, in its oversight role as administrator of the poll, will set the record straight to protect the poll's integrity."

This type of unprofessionalism makes me sick.

USA Today is fooling itself if it believes anything that Kiffin did damaged the integrity of its poll. Most of the coaches don't watch all of the games (and rightfully so because they're preparing for the next opponent), making the poll more of a beauty contest than an accurate assessment of a team's merits.

Even if, and that's a big if, Kiffin did provide false information, USA Today could have handled things much differently. If they felt that his comments did not reflect his ballot, they should have made an attempt to qualify his comments or at least place some sort of context around it, rather than writing a "liar, liar pants on fire" article about it.

More importantly, the USA Today Poll now has a credibility problem. As USC's Tim Tessalone pointed out, the poll told its participants that all ballots would remain confidential with the exception of the final poll. Giving this information to a reporter, or to anyone not involved with administration of the poll, breaches that agreement.

It's too bad the people over at USA Today chose to make the news, rather than report the news.

Relax, LSU will be fine without the Honey Badger

Ever since Les Miles dismissed Tyrann Mathieu (aka the Honey Badger) from the team yesterday, members of the media have said that his loss derails any chance that LSU had to win the national championship this season.

While his departure certainly doesn’t help their cause, the Tigers will still have a great season without him.

Mathieu was clearly the most electrifying player on the team last year. Every time that the Tigers needed a big play, he seemingly came up with one, forcing a school-record 11 fumbles. LSU scored six TDs last year when they were behind, and the Honey Badger scored three of them. His penchant for making clutch plays earned him a trip to New York as a Heisman finalist.

However, to say that his loss eliminates LSU from winning the national championship is absurd. The reason that the Tigers dominated everyone last season was because the front seven simply manhandled its opponents. The Bayou Bengals were always in opposing backfields, leading the nation in sacks and tackles for a loss. They also thrived against top competition, holding two of the top nation’s top rushers in LaMichael James and Michael Dyer to a combined 104 yards on 30 carries.

Many of the top players from this stalwart defensive line return this year, including Barkevious Mingo, Anthony Johnson, and Sam Montgomery. With another year’s experience under John Chavis, they will continue to terrorize opposing QBs, which will force some ill-advised throws.

Let’s not forget that the Tigers play in the SEC West, which means that they always land the nation’s top talent. While Jalen Collins and Jalen Mills are inexperienced, they would not have earned a scholarship to LSU if they didn’t have exceptional cover skills.

In other words, there should be no drop off in the secondary this season, even with the loss of three very highly decorated starters.

Make no mistake about it -- Alabama is still the team to beat in the national championship race.

But even with the loss of Mathieu, the Tigers will be nipping at their heals, and have the advantage of playing the Crimson Tide in Death Valley.

Terry Johnson is a member of the FWAA and covers college football for www.CollegeFootballNews.com. Please contact him via email at johnsoncfn@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter @TPJCollFootball

Big Ten Burning Questions

After a brief respite, Phil, Bart, and I are back at again on the B1G Uglies. This week, we address the following topics:

1. Should Anything be Done with the Competitive Balance of the Divisions with Penn State Out of the Mix for the Big Ten Title Game for the next Few Years?

2. Could Anything Been Done Differently With the “Recruiting” Situation of Current Penn State Players?

3. What Does the Departure of Silas Redd Mean for Penn State?

You can read the full story here.

Initial Poll

Throughout the offseason, many of you have asked which teams belong in the Top 25. Here's what my preseason ballot looks like:

1) Alabama
2) Oklahoma State
3) LSU
4) Oregon
5) Wisconsin
6) Oklahoma
7) USC
8) South Carolina
9) Stanford
10) Florida State
11) West Virginia
12) Georgia
13) Michigan
14) Boise State
15) Clemson
16) Arkansas
17) Virginia Tech
18) Nebraska
19) Iowa
20) Texas
21) Utah
22) Mississippi State
23) Missouri
24) NC State
25) Michigan State

What do you think? Feel free to email me at johnsoncfn@gmail.com, or follow me on Twitter @TPJCollFootball

ACC Quick Slants

It's Wednesday, which means it's time for another addition of ACC Quick Slants. This week's topics include:

• Sammy Watkins' Suspension
• NC State's QB Depth problems
• What does Kevin Haplea's transfer mean to Florida State
• Greg Reid dismissed

To see the full story, click here or go to the College Football News homepage at http://cfn.scout.com

Big Uglies - 20110727

This week's Big Uglies includes the following topics:

1) What does the Pac 12's decision to back out of the scheduling agreement mean for the Big Ten?

2)Should the Big Ten play an eight or a nine-game schedule?

3)Should Jim Delany have the power to hire and fire coaches.

Check out the reactions from Phil, Bart, and I at http://cfn.scout.com/2/1205438.html

Penn State Reaction

Today, I wrote about my reaction to the NCAA's punishment on Penn State.

In short, it's simply not enough. Here's the full article.

Should Penn State Get the Death Penalty?

Should Penn State receive the Death Penalty?

Yes, they should. I give my reasons why on CFN's Tuesday Question.

ACC Quick Slants - 20120713

ORANGE BOWL AGREEMENT

Just a few months after its long-term viability was threatened, the ACC reached a profitable 12-year agreement with the Orange Bowl.

When the existing BCS contract expires at the end of the 2014 season, the conference will continue to send its champion to Miami unless the Orange Bowl hosts one of the national semifinal games. If, and that’s BIG if, the league champion qualifies for the four-team playoff, the Orange Bowl has the option to select the best available ACC team rather than the loser of the conference title game.

A closer look at the details will show why this deal is a major victory for the conference.

With a 1 pm kickoff on January 1, the ACC now has a place on the big stage similar to the Rose Bowl and the "Champions Bowl" between the SEC and the Big 12. More importantly, the ACC holds the TV rights for the game, and can shop it to the highest bidder. Having this type of power will bring more revenue to the schools and potentially earn as much the four major conferences.

That ought to kill any discussion about teams leaving for the Big 12.

While the new partnership keeps the ACC on a level playing field with the big boys, it still has its problems. The early afternoon kickoff conflicts with Capital One, Outback and Gator Bowls, which will do nothing to improve the Orange Bowl’s already lackluster ratings. Such a logistical nightmare will not win any recruiting battles, especially in the Southeast.

The biggest problem with the new agreement is that it does not offer the conference champion a shot at a league champ from one of the power conferences. To their credit, ACC officials realized that this was a problem and have held discussions with Notre Dame about an arrangement to play in the game, provided that Irish meet a certain set of standards.

But will a win over one of the nation’s most storied programs get the ACC the type of respect it’s looking for?

2012-13 BOWL SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

The Football Bowl Association released the official bowl schedule on Tuesday. The ACC has eight bowl invites but could gain a couple more depending on how many teams are eligible.

Fans will enjoy a lineup of games that provides a diverse set of bowl opponents. The conference has three games against the SEC, two against the Big East, and one against the Pac 12. The league champion will play an at-large team in the Orange Bowl unless it qualifies for the BCS Championship game.

With these matchups, the ACC has a golden opportunity to establish itself.

The Independence, Chick-Fil-A, and Music City bowls are especially big because the conference has nothing to lose. If they don’t win, the ACC is essentially no different than the Big Ten, who struggled mightily against the SEC in January.

However, if the ACC should win a few of these games, it would pick up some much-needed victories over the SEC in its own backyard.  That won’t quite bridge the gap with the nation’s strongest conference, but it could help win some key recruiting battles on National Signing Day.

MAXWELL AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST

The highly coveted Maxwell Award, presented to the nation’s top all-around player, released its preseason watch list Monday. Eight ACC players made the list. They are:

RB Giovanni Bernard, UNC
QB Tajh Boyd, Clemson
RB Andre Ellington, Clemson
QB Mike Glennon, NC State
QB EJ Manuel, Florida State
QB Bryn Renner, UNC
QB Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech
WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson

What will it take for one of these players to become the first Maxwell Award winner since FSU QB Charlie Ward took home the trophy in 1993?

Each candidate’s chances depend on how his team fares during the season. The winner of the Maxwell Award almost always plays on a team that finishes with a strong record (three losses or fewer).  With a couple of breaks, Clemson, Florida State or Virginia Tech could end up playing for all the marbles this season, which would put Boyd, Manuel, and Thomas in the thick of the race.

However, don’t dismiss the candidates from The Old North State. Glennon has a chance to make a huge impression in front of a national audience against Tennessee in the season opener, which could propel the Wolfpack to a big season. By the same token, Renner and Bernard will put up even bigger numbers in Larry Fedora’s offense, which could persuade some people to vote for them even though UNC is ineligible for the postseason.

It will be interesting to watch it all unfold.

TO OFFER OR NOT TO OFFER?

The nation’s top recruit and current Clemson commitment Robert Nkemdiche generated plenty of discussion among college football fans over the weekend.

First, he told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that his recruitment was a "done deal" if the Tigers offered a scholarship to close friend and teammate Ryan Carter. However, if Clemson didn’t, Nkemdiche would have to take another look at Ole Miss, who has already offered a scholarship to Carter.

When the New York Times followed up with Nkemdiche on Sunday, he said that he would still honor his commitment to the Tigers even if they did not offer a scholarship to Carter.

Whether or not people agree with Nkemdiche’s actions, the question remains – what should Dabo Swinney do?

Unlike going for it on fourth-and-one at midfield, this decision is a no-brainer. Swinney should nip this in the bud and offer Carter a scholarship.

There is absolutely no downside to making this choice. Even if Carter, a three-star prospect according to some scouting services, does not pan out, all Clemson loses is a scholarship.

On the other hand, not offering a scholarship could possibly cost the Tigers a once-in-a-generation type of player.

The only people in the Palmetto State that want to see that happen wear Garnett and Black.

Terry Johnson covers the ACC for www.CollegeFootballNews.com. Please contact him via email at johnsoncfn@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter @TPJCollFootball

Louis Freeh Report - Instant Reaction

Yesterday's press conference confirmed my absolute worst fears about what transpired at Penn State ever since the Jerry Sandusky situation came to light.

Here's a link to the story that I wrote for College Football News on the subject http://cfn.scout.com/2/1202039.html