For me the big 12 is one of the most frustrating things ever but bringing back a conference championship game starting in 2017 and possibly expanding to 12 teams again are moves that are making the conference grow on me. The expansion move is said to be voted on by the board of directors by the end of this season and the big 12 could have 12 teams again by the time the 2017 season begins. There are reportedly 18 teams in the running to join the big 12 and up to four may be added but two is much more likely and should be the choice. One of the two teams I think should be getting into the big 12 is the Houston Cougars who really made some noise last year after finishing at 13-1 which included a 14 point victory over Florida State in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. This decision probably wont end up being about football though it will be about what teams can bring in the biggest revenue and what teams have the biggest markets and that being the case I think the Cougars should still be considered because Houston is one of the largest cities in the country so I am really rooting for Houston to get in here. There is one more thing that I despise in college football and it's Notre Dame. It is infuriating that they are a part of the ACC except for football but still schedule multiple games a year against ACC opponents I don't understand it at all and even though I wish they would just join the big 12 i'm almost positive that won't happen. That being said Houston and Notre Dame would be who I would like to see enter the big 12. There is only one other team besides Notre Dame and Houston that I would be actually excited about joining the big 12 and I would bet that there chances are pretty slim. The SMU Mustangs had an awful season in 2014 and then another terrible season in 2015 going 2-10 I know that the record isn't very exciting but the only reason I want to see SMU in the Big 12 is because of the head coach Chad Morris. A former offensive coordinator at Clemson Chad Morris was the offensive mastermind behind the outstanding career of Tajh Boyd and he was a big part of the recruiting process that brought Deshaun Watson to Clemson so naturally I love him and I am really interested in what he can do as a head coach. I think that Morris can turn SMU around given a few years and that if the big 12 allowed them into the conference they would benefit from it. Hopefully the big decision will be made by the end of October and we can look forward to a 12 team big 12 again.
Honorable Mention- These are a few more running backs who you could argue are in the top 5 but to me haven't proven they are better than the top 5. Donnel Pumphrey, Nick Chubb, Wayne Gallman, Elijah Hood, Jalen Hurd 1. Deshaun Watson- If you don't think that Watson is the best quarterback in college football chances are you're blind and should see a doctor immediately. After missing most of the 2014 season because of a broken bone in his hand and an acl tear Watson rebounded in 2015 with an amazing season in which he should have won the Heisman over Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffery but got robbed. During the 2015 campaign Watson led the tigers to the national championship game while throwing for over 4,000 yards and rushing for over 1,000. I would say that leading all of college football in yards and finishing in the top ten in completion percentage, total touchdowns, and winning the Davey O'Brien award given to the best quarterback in the nation as well as being named the ACC player of the year is more than enough to earn the number 1 ranking here. Keep in mind last year Watson's top target Mike Williams played in only one game after suffering a severe injury and is on track to be ready to play week 1. This year the whole offense is back and healthy and they have so many weapons on this offense I don't think Watson will have any kind of problem making plays and finding the open targets. The tigers are going to burn holes through the defenses they play this year with Watson leading the way.
2. Baker Mayfield- I hate that the NCAA gave Mayfield two more years of eligibility because that just means Oklahoma will be one of the better programs in the country for two more years. I despise Sooners but I can admit that Mayfield is a very good college quarterback and much like Watson he can hurt you with his arm or his legs and is a very good escape artist when the pocket around him collapses. Last season he led Oklahoma to the number 4 seed in the playoff while taking home big 12 offensive player of the year and finishing right behind Watson in Heisman voting. This year Mayfield will be without his favorite option Sterling Shepard so other wide receivers on the roster like Dede Westbrook and Jarvis Baxter will need to step up to help Mayfield out. If Oklahoma hopes to return to the playoff like last year Mayfield will need to lead his team through a very tough schedule but as of right now there's no reason to doubt his skill and that's why he's here at number 2 in my rankings. 3. Josh Rosen- Josh Rosen is here not because of his performance last year because as a true freshman mistakes were expected and they were made but can easily be corrected. Rosen is here on my list because of what he could potentially do this year. Rosen has got great arm strength and his decision making should improve greatly this year the only problem is that Rosen doesn't have much help from his offense. The o-line is decent but his wide receiver options are very limited i'm not expecting too much from Rosen this year given the fact that the team has a ton more defensive talent but he should still emerge as the best quarterback in the pac 12 and become one of the best in the country and if he cant do that then I would be shocked. 4. Chad Kelly- Its time for the SEC's best quarterback to make an appearance on this list Chad Kelly is another dual threat quarterback who had a very nice junior season at Ole Miss last year after transferring from a JUCO. He finished last season leading the SEC in total yards and total touchdowns and was top 5 in college in total yards per play. Kelly threw for over 4,000 yards but without Laquon Treadwell to catch Kelly's deep bombs someone else will need to step up. Junior and senior wide outs Damore'ea Stringfellow and Quincy Adeboyejo should be up to the task and that will help Kelly to prove he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. 5. J.T Barrett- Undoubtedly the Big 10's best quarterback I see big things for J.T Barett this year especially without Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller to challenge him he can just relax and do what he does best and that's make plays either on foot or through the air. Urban Meyer has some big decisions to make regarding the receiving core but whoever he chooses as starter must connect with Barrett right away. This year there is no Micheal Thomas or Jalin Marshall to throw too so Barrett is going to have to do what he can with what he's got but I don't think Curtis Samuel is a bad option he should be able to help Barrett out. Whatever Samuel and others cant do Barrett should be able to do by himself people forget that he finished 5th in Heisman voting just 2 years ago so the talent and ability is definitely there now its time to show Buckeye fans and the rest of the nation that he is for real. Honorable Mention- Here are a few guys who you could argue are to 5 qbs in the nation but didnt crack my top 5. Brad Kaaya, Luke Falk, Patrick Maholmes, Mason Rudolph, Seth Russell
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