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 familiar as three of the four high-profile magazines — Athlon Sports, Lindy’s Sports, and Street & Smith — have provided hundred of pages of information about the upcoming season.
This week, we’ll look at what the magazines are saying about area teams. Next up: Toledo.
ATHLON SPORTS
■ Prediction: 7-6 (6-2 MAC, first place MAC West)
■ Bowl projection: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs. Air Force
■ MAC unit rankings: QB 5th, RB 2nd, WR/TE 3rd, OL 2nd, DL, 7th, LB 9th, DB 7th
■ All-MAC: C Bryce Harris (first team), OL Nick Rosi (first team), RB Bryant Koback (second team), WR Bryce Mitchell (second team), DL Jamal Hines (second team), CB Samuel Womack (third team), PR Devin Maddox (third team)
■ FBS rank: 90 (out of 130 teams)
■ What they wrote: “With 13 returning starters, including five all-conference talents, and ample depth across the roster, the Rockets have the firepower to return to their status as one of the MAC contenders.”
■ Quoted: “They have dynamic edge rushers who are young and athletes at every skill position. Their receivers are a problem to scheme against.” — opposing MAC assistant coach.
LINDY’S SPORTS
■ Prediction: First place MAC West
■ All-MAC: RB Koback (first team), DL Hines (first team), DB Womack (first team), WR Mitchell (second team), OL Harris (second team), OL Rosi (second team)
■ MAC rank: 3 (out of 12 teams)
■ FBS rank: 77
■ What they wrote: “A proven offensive line and a powerful running game should provide the necessary scoring punch, while a veteran-laden defense will have to show its experience translate into value on the field.”
STREET AND SMITH
■ Prediction: Second place MAC West
■ Bowl projection: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs. Boise State
■ All-MAC: None.
■ Side notes: Street and Smith named first-year defensive coordinator Vince Kehres as the coordinator to watch in the MAC this season and linebacker Jonathan Jones (Notre Dame) as the top transfer in the conference.
■ What they wrote: “The Rockets could be back in a big way in 2020, but the pressure is on Kehres to work his magic quickly.”
First Published June 9, 2020, 3:16 p.m.
