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The biggest story currently in college football today is the official transfer of QB Everett Golson from Notre Dame to Florida State (more on that below), but we could say the team he's leaving is more interesting than whichever new program Golson decides to join.
There's a lot of excitement around the Fighting Irish as we look ahead to the fall.
Just last week, my colleague Stewart Mandel wrote what a lot of people think about Notre Dame. "I believe Brian Kelly's team is a legit playoff contender," Stew wrote, as he named ND one his top five underrated teams entering 2015.
On Monday, SB Nation's Bill Connelly -- a friend of The Audible -- came out with his Notre Dame preview and reiterated Notre Dame's potential this season, saying the Irish should certainly be a top-20 team.
Bill framed it a bit more bluntly though: Notre Dame has no more excuses to use in 2015, and there shouldn't be any acceptable reason for Kelly's team not to go at least 9-3 and be in the top 20.
The hype and expectations for ND seem to center around a few common themes.
New QB and new OC. With Golson gone, it's officially Malik Zaire's job and there's a lot of promise around the sophomore and his big-play ability (as well as a lot of uncertainty). Zaire was heavily featured in only two games last season -- against USC and in the bowl game against LSU -- so facing Texas in Week 1 this fall will be only his third significant game with the Irish. But couple his athleticism with the arrival of new OC Mike Sanford -- a 32-year-old rising star who came from Boise State and was on Urban Meyer's short list to replace OC Tom Herman at Ohio State -- and ND fans see more offensive explosiveness ahead.
Plenty of help around Zaire. The best news for Zaire: He's got a good car to drive. The offensive line returns 67 career starts and, as Connelly notes in his piece, has the potential for great developing depth, with eight of the nine freshmen and sophomores listed on the roster as four-star recruits or better. There's also a lot of skill talent on offense. Running backs Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant provide a solid backfield foundation, along with Zaire's running ability, and William Fuller emerged as a true playmaker at WR in 2014. C.J. Prosise and Amir Carlisle will also contribute significantly.
A defense on the up. The Irish were hit hard with injuries on defense last year -- such as linebacker Joe Schmidt, who missed the last five games of the year -- not to mention losing cornerback KeiVarae Russell, defensive end Ishaq Williams and linebacker Kendall Moore before the season due to academic suspensions. But now defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder has a clean slate with playmakers at every level of the defense, including Sheldon Day upfront, Jaylon Smith at linebacker -- who many believe is better than Manti Te'o, the former ND linebacker who was a Heisman finalist -- and Cole Luke at corner. If this unit doesn't perform in 2015, the heat will be turned up on VanGorder.
Of course, the same thing could be said about Kelly. This Irish team is ready to do damage, and there will be tons of scrutiny reigning down on South Bend if ND flops this fall.
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. Golson chooses Florida State. (Update: 1:30 p.m. ET). Bruce Feldman broke the news of Golson to FSU on Tuesday morning, with Golson providing this statement to FOX Sports: "This past weekend has been a defining moment in my life as I am proud to say I am a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. The support I've received there over the past four years has helped strengthen my integrity, wisdom and character. I would like to thank all of the coaches who spent time speaking with me these past few weeks and considered adding me to their football programs. Their interest and sincerity was truly humbling. After much thought and careful consideration, I will utilize my fifth year of eligibility to join the Florida State University Seminoles. To coach Jimbo Fisher, the Florida State football team, staff, alumni and fans, thank you for allowing me to become part of the Seminoles family. I can't wait to get started."
Stewart Mandel has a reaction column to the news, where he writes Florida State becomes an instant College Football Playoff threat by adding Golson. As Stew points out, FSU followed the same model as Oregon by reloading for another playoff run with a grad transfer QB, and if Jake Coker wins the Alabama starting QB job, that means three of last year's four playoff teams will start grad transfer QBs in 2015. Pretty fascinating and the whole reason why the NCAA is discussing how to put an end to college football's de facto form of free agency. For the record: I'm totally in support of graduates being able to freely transfer to any school they choose, and I believe the NCAA should add other stipulations that help undergraduates transfer without penalty under certain circumstances.
2. Ohio State AD comments on Braxton Miller. I don't know what good it does for Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith to offer any comment about what QB Braxton Miller might have told him in a private conversation, but Smith said that Miller assured him he's not transferring from Ohio State. Miller loves being a Buckeye, Smith said, and plans to be in Columbus this fall to compete with Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett for the starting quarterback job. It would be in Miller's best interest if nobody from Ohio State commented on this story anymore, because the only thing it does is increase pressure on the player and put him in a bad spot if he does end up transferring (which would be well within his right, particularly considering he's already completed his undergrad degree).
3. Offseason training at Penn State. How do you get ready for the upcoming season if you're a Nittany Lion? By tackling trees. James Franklin must have been giddy watching this video over coffee at 3:27 a.m.
Have a great Tuesday, everybody.
Teddy Mitrosilis works in content production at FOX Sports Digital. Follow him on Twitter @TMitrosilis and email him at tmitrosilis@gmail.com.
