AUGUST 2024 | 31
HUSKERS PREVIEW
CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN
Setting the scene The Mid-American Conference was rav- aged in the transfer portal, adding to the unpredictability of the league. However, even with the significant turnover, Miami (Ohio) should be the heavy favorite after winning the conference title in 2023. To- ledo, Northern Illinois and Bowling Green will be real threats to knock o the Red- Hawks. Watch out for sleepers like West- ern Michigan and Eastern Michigan, too. 3 A-list players to watch Brett Gabbert, QB,
Setting the scene The Mountain West looks a little di erent in 2024 as seven teams have new head coaches and the league has a scheduling agreement with Oregon State and Washington State, post-Pac-12 breakup. There’s is also a chance for the conference to earn the Group of 5 spot in the 12-team playo . Boise State was the last MW team (2014) to rank as the high- est G5 squad at the end of the season and the Broncos are poised to end that drought. If all the pieces fall together, Boise State should be able to fend o UNLV and Fresno State. 3 A-list players to watch
Antario Brown, RB, Northern Illinois: Brown provides the Huskies with a vet- eran in the backfield. He finished the 2023 campaign with 1,296 yards and 10 touch- downs. Add in the fact that he’s ripped o an 80-plus yard run in back-to-back sea- sons, so he brings speed with a 220-pound frame. Jordan Oladokun, CB, Bowling Green: Oladokun is one of the league’s best de- fensive backs after returning four inter- ceptions for 82 yards, including one for a 53-yard touchdown. He also added 30
Malachi Nelson and the o ense has plenty of firepower to work with. Ricky White, WR, UNLV: An All-American a year ago, White shattered the program record for yards in a season with 1,483 and tied the record with 88 catches. He added eight touchdowns and seven 100-yard games. Fresno State’s o ensive line: The Bull- dogs started 8-1 in 2023, before fading down the stretch. But, returning four start- ers on the o ensive line, which only gave up 19 sacks, should give quarterback Mikey Keene and his weapons enough protection to compete. And the nominees are ... (Projected order of finish) 1. Boise State, 2. UNLV, 3. Fresno State, 4. Air Force, 5. Colorado State, 6. Wyoming, 7. Utah State, 8. San Diego State, 9. Hawaii, 10. San Jose State, 11. New Mexico, 12. Nevada. six touchdowns, plus caught a pass for 10 yards, at 300 pounds. Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame: The Omaha native paired with Benjamin Morrison makes one of the nation’s best safety-cornerback tandems. Watts tallied 52 tackles, three for a loss and a ½-sack, and seven interceptions a season ago. The Irish defense has to reload at a few positions but will be strong again. Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame: Leonard gives Notre Dame a dynamic run-throw option, assuming he can stay healthy. The Duke transfer threw for 1,102 yards and three touchdowns while run- ning for 352 yards and four scores in the seven games he started. And the nominees are ... (Projected order of finish) 1. Notre Dame, 2. UConn, 3. UMass.
tackles, including one for a loss. And the nominees are ... (Projected order of finish)
Miami (Ohio): Gabbert started the first eight games a year ago, throw- ing for 1,634 yards and 14 touchdowns including a 99-yard toss. He can also be a threat in the run game assuming he stays
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State: Jeanty is a key factor in the Broncos’ run in 2024. He ran for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns, plus caught 43 passes for 569 yards and five more scores. Pair that with former five-star QB
1. Miami (Ohio), 2. Toledo, 3. Northern Il- linois, 4. Bowling Green, 5. Western Michi- gan, 6. Eastern Michigan, 7. Central Michi- gan, 8. Ohio, 9. Ball State, 10. Bu alo, 11. Akron, 12. Kent State.
healthy after a leg injury.
Setting the scene The Sun Belt can breathe a sigh of relief after not experiencing any changes for the upcom- ing season. All 14 teams remain the same and divisions are still intact. No SBC team has ever appeared in a New Year’s Six bowl and virtually had no chance to make a four-team playo . However, the stability of the league may make it the best in the Group of 5 ranks. 3 A-list players to watch
Setting the scene And then there were three, for now. As conference realignment shakes up the college landscape, more teams are try- ing to hitch onto a new ride to survive. That includes UMass, which will join the Mid-American Conference in 2025. Notre Dame won’t join one if they don’t have to and will look to build off of a 10-3 record. UConn and UMass, on the other hand, can only go up after 3-9 campaigns in 2023. The Huskies and Minutemen will be fight- ing to not be at the bottom of the FBS. 3 A-list players to watch Jelani Stafford, DL, UConn: Stafford is
with 170 tackles in 12 games which was one shy of Iowa’s Jay Higgins (171 in 14). He led the country in tackles per game (14.2), had 19½ tackles for loss, 4½ sacks and a forced fumble. Look for the linebacker to wreak havoc. Texas State’s backfield: The Bobcats snatched Sun Belt player of the year and QB Jordan McCloud away from James Madison. McCloud totaled 3,657 passing yards, 276 yards on the ground and 43 total TDs. Pair that with All-American and all-purpose threat Ismail Mahdi (1,606 yards, 11 TDs), two solid receivers and a top o ensive line to get a dangerous o ense. And the nominees are ... (Projected order of finish) East: 1. Appalachian State, 2. James Madi- son, 3. Marshall, 4. Coastal Carolina, 5. Old Dominion, 6. Georgia Southern, 7. Georgia State; West: 1. Texas State, 2. Arkansas State, 3. Louisiana, 4. South Alabama, 5. Troy, 6. Southern Miss, 7. Louisiana-Monroe.
Joey Aguilar, QB, Appala- chian State: Aguilar broke six single-season school records last season, throw- ing for 3,757 yards and 33 touchdowns to go with 249
an effective lineman, re- cording 40 tackles includ- ing eight for a loss and a ½-sack in 2023. But what makes him interesting is his situational use on of- fense. He carried the ball 15 times for 22 yards and
rushing yards and three more scores. The signal- caller alongside one of the league’s best receiving corps will determine the Mountaineers’ success. Jason Henderson, LB, Old Dominion: Hen- derson was an All-American in 2023, finishing
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