There are plenty of unknowns swirling around college football, but there has been at least one normal occurrence: annual college football season preview magazines have arrived on time.
All seems somewhat routine as three of the four high-profile magazines — Athlon Sports, Lindy’s Sports, and Street & Smith — have provided hundred of pages of information bout the upcoming season.
This week, we’ll look at what the magazines are saying about area teams. First up: Bowling Green.
ATHLON SPORTS
■ Prediction: 2-10, 1-7 MAC (fifth in MAC East)
■ MAC unit rankings: 12th QB, 6th RB, 11th WR/TE, 11th OL, 12th DL, 11th LB, 11th DB
■ All-MAC team: TE Quintin Morris (first team); LB Kholbe Coleman (second team); KR Bryson Denley (second team); RB Andrew Clair (third team); P Matt Naranjo (third team)
■ FBS rank: 126 (out of 130)
■ What they wrote: “Much of the Falcons’ fate for 2020 fans on the shoulders of [QB Matt] McDonald, who doesn’t have a lot of proven talent around him. The defense will have to show vast improvement to keep the Falcons in any game after this unit got shredded in 2019, surrendering 60 total touchdowns.”
■ Quoted: “They’re set up for the long-term rebuild, which they should be. I think with Scot’s offense, they could turn some heads this year and use that in recruiting.” — opposing MAC assistant coach.
LINDY’S SPORTS
■ Prediction: Fifth in the MAC East.
■ All-MAC team: None.
■ FBS rank: 119
■ What they wrote: “[Quarterabck Matt] McDonald has a high upside, but the Falcons lack a significant number of experienced skill players on offense. Bowling Green might be headed in the right direction under Loeffler, but remains one or two years away from making an impact in the East Division.”
■ Quoted: “[Loeffler] had a bare cupboard on offense last season. He shocked some people with his 2020 recruiting class.” — opposing MAC assistant coach
STREET AND SMITH
■ Prediction: Sixth in the MAC East
■ All-MAC team: TE Quintin Morris (first team).
■ What they wrote: “Last season, on paper, Bowling Green looked like the same team under new head coach Scot Loeffler as it did under his predecessor, Mike Jinks. The Falcons were 3-9 in 2019 and own just 12 wins since the start of the 2016 season. But Loeffler was able to create an identity with his new team, and BG even snagged a win in its long-running rivalry with Toledo.”
First Published June 8, 2020, 4:04 p.m.
