College football midseason awards: Biggest surprises, disappointments, Heisman picks, title predictions and more
Yahoo Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The college football season is marked by unprecedented parity, with five of the top 10 teams losing in a single weekend and only six undefeated teams remaining, including Miami, BYU, Texas Tech, UCLA, Utah, and unranked James Madison.
- Traditional powerhouses like Texas, Oregon, Penn State, Washington, and Florida State have struggled, with Texas notably losing consecutive games to unranked opponents for the first time since 1990.
- New contenders such as Wake Forest, Northwestern, and UCLA have emerged, showcasing the impact of NIL and player transfers in leveling the playing field across conferences.
- Coaching transitions and decisions have significantly influenced team performances, with Penn State's Matt Campbell facing challenges in his first Big Ten season, while UCLA's Bob Chesney has quickly revitalized the program.
- Experts highlight standout players like Miami's Darian Mensah and Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith as Heisman contenders, and predict a wild second half of the season with potential for two to three-loss national champions.
