5 college football teams with a ton of momentum heading into 2019
After big bowl wins, these five teams have a ton of momentum behind them as they hope to build on their success in 2019.
And then there was one. Only one game remains in the college football season as Clemson and Alabama will meet for the third time in the National Championship Game in the last four years. Fans already know they can expect to see Alabama and Clemson competing for a national championship next year. But for the teams who have already finished their season with big bowl wins, they’ll enter the offseason with a ton of momentum they hope to use as fuel for a successful 2019 season.
LSU Tigers
LSU defeated the reigning national champions* in the Fiesta Bowl and they did it with strong quarterback play, which is normally a foreign subject for the Tigers. Joe Burrow went out with a bang, throwing for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns to snap the nation’s longest winning streak at 25. In many ways, LSU overachieved this year to finish 10-3, but outside of Alabama, they had a chance to win every game. With Burrow returning, look for LSU to build on this year’s success and compete for another 10-11 win season in 2019.
Oregon Ducks
Oregon’s momentum heading into next year isn’t really predicated on what happened in the RedBox Bowl. Their 7-6 win over Michigan State was great and all, even if it was a bit of a drag to watch in its entirety. The primary reason Oregon has a ton of momentum heading into next year is the decision by quarterback Justin Herbert to bypass the NFL Draft and return to school. Herbert had a chance to be the first quarterback selected so his decision to return is a huge boost for Mario Cristobal and the Ducks. Also helping out Oregon is the recruiting class coming in. The Ducks have the No. 5 recruiting class, according to 247Sports after the early signing day period, highlighted by the addition of No. 1 overall recruit, defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux. Don’t be surprised if Oregon wins the Pac-12 North next year.
Florida Gators
The first season for Dan Mullen back in Florida wasn’t perfect, but it was a season that has the Gators back on track after the Jim McElwain debacle. Florida’s dominating performance against Michigan in the Peach Bowl suggests the Gators could be ready to compete for the SEC East division as early as next year. Quarterback Feleipe Franks has had some ups and downs during his time in Gainesville but he appears to have turned the corner in his development and thrived under Mullen’s tutelage and play calling. Georgia will still be the favorite in the East but Florida is charging.
Texas A&M Aggies
The first month of the first season for Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M was a tough one. Games against Clemson and Alabama in September showed just how far the Aggies had to go to compete with the two top teams in the nation. They rallied with six wins in their next eight, including a seven-overtime win against LSU to close the regular season. That alone was enough of a boost to give this the team the confidence they needed to compete in the SEC West. Adding a Gator Bowl win against NC State was icing on the cake for Fisher’s crew, especially in the manner in which they won. Texas A&M blew out NC State and quarterback Kellen Mond looks like he could be one of the top signal-callers in the country next year. Coupled with the recruiting efforts by Fisher and his staff and Texas A&M will be in a position to challenge LSU for the No. 2 spot behind Alabama in the West.
Texas Longhorns
There was a lot of barking from Georgia during the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. But then there was very little bite from the Dawgs during their Sugar Bowl loss to Texas. Tom Herman’s Longhorns came out and beat Georgia in every facet of the game. Texas was more physical, more disciplined, tougher and more prepared than Georgia and it showed when they took a 28-7 lead in the fourth quarter on last year’s national runner-ups. No one is going to take Texas lightly next year and overlook them, which is what Georgia did and they got beat up and down the field. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger looks like a budding superstar who could be in the Heisman conversation next year. If Texas can convince some of their draft-eligible stars to return to Austin for another year, the Longhorns will be Big 12 favorites in 2019.