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Editor's note: This year, we're eschewing traditional conference previews for more bite-size nuggets of information and insight.
Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel have spent the summer visiting teams and speaking with coaches around the country.
What you find below are byproducts of those conversations and their own opinions.
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SEC PREVIEW
Feldman's surprise team: LSU Tigers. Yeah, the Tigers will be the youngest team in the conference, and perhaps the nation, with the skill talent they’ll be relying on this year. Those kids are also ridiculously talented and focused. Sure, there will be a hiccup or two from them, but this is still a dangerous team and they could be really scary by mid-October.
Mandel's surprsie team: Ole Miss Rebels. Hugh Freeze has recruited at a high level. He’s got an experienced quarterback, Bo Wallace, and elite-level players like WR Laquon Treadwell, OT Laremy Tunsil and S Cody Prewitt.
Click here to read more about the SEC.
BIG 12 PREVIEW
Feldman's breakout player: Davis Webb, QB, Texas Tech. He lit up ASU and was MVP of the Red Raiders’ impressive romp over the Sun Devils in last year’s Holiday Bowl, and the 6-foot-5, 220-pound sophomore is just getting warmed up. Don’t be surprised if Webb makes it to NYC as a Heisman finalist in the next two seasons. He’s that talented, and he’s in a potent system. Kingsbury says Webb has the strongest arm of any QB to come through Tech, and he’s also extremely cerebral and determined.
Mandel's breakout player: Tyreek Hill, RB/WR, Oklahoma State. The track star-fast juco transfer has been the talk of preseason camp with his supreme playmaking abilities. Cowboys coach Mike Gundy has said he’d like to get Hill 15 to 20 touches per game, utilizing him in much the way West Virginia did with former star Tavon Austin.
Click here to read more about the Big 12.
PAC-12 PREVIEW
Mandel's flop team: Oregon Ducks. The string of 11- and 12-win seasons can’t go on forever, and despite the return of star quarterback Marcus Mariota, the Ducks’ once-unstoppable offense showed cracks last year following Chip Kelly’s departure. Oregon’s defense may miss retired coordinator Nick Aliotti.
Feldman's flop team: Utah Utes. They have been sputtering since arriving in the conference and don't be surprised if the bottom drops out in 2014. The rest of the league has elevated from when Utah planned the move to the Pac-12, and with CU improving, the hunch here is that Utah will end up in the South division cellar.
Click here to read more about the Pac-12.
BIG TEN PREVIEW
Mandel's hot seat coach: Hoke, Michigan. It’s been downhill since a BCS berth in his 2011 debut season, with the Wolverines badly underachieving during their 7-6 campaign last season. “They’ve got the players, there’s no question about that,” said an opposing coach. AD Dave Brandon needs an on-field product befitting his marketing hype.
Feldman's hot seat coach: Kyle Flood, Rutgers. After a nice debut season taking over for Greg Schiano, Flood had a clunker of a 2013, going 6-7 and just 3-5 in the AAC. He did make a shrewd hire bringing in Ralph Friedgen to be his OC, but Flood needs results fast. It's no stretch to think that if he can't get the Scarlet Knights to a bowl this year, Rutgers brass will look to go in a different direction as the program tries to measure up in a much tougher league.
Click here to read more about the Big Ten.
ACC PREVIEW
Feldman's three under-the-radar games:
1) North Carolina at Clemson, Sept. 27: All eyes will be on the Tigers’ road trips to Georgia and FSU in the first couple of weeks, but this one comes the week after the game against the Seminoles. If the Tigers don't get refocused or they come home too banged up, they could be looking at a 1-3 start.
2) Miami at Louisville, Sept. 1: Bobby Petrino's first game back is against the Miami team that the Cardinals whupped in the Russell Athletic Bowl, 36-9. The Canes hobbled down the stretch, dropping four of their final six games in 2013, and lost those four by an average of 22 ppg. Another loss to U of L, especially since this will be on a Monday Night national TV stage, would put Golden squarely on the hot seat.
3) East Carolina at Va. Tech, Sept. 13: This is the Hokies’ follow-up game after the trip to Ohio State, and if Foster's D can't handle the talented Shane Carden and Lincoln Riley's dangerous offense the Hokies could be staring at a 1-2. Last season, Tech handled ECU 15-10 and picked off Carden three times and notched seven sacks. After that game, though, Carden led the Pirates to wins over ACC opponents UNC and NC State as they scored 97 points.
Click here to read more about the ACC.
