Talking top college football teams with NFL veteran Bobby Carpenter

Heavy conference realignment took place this offseason, and college football has a new look, consolidating from five power leagues to four. Seven-year NFL veteran and former Ohio State Buckeye LB Bobby Carpenter spoke about teams within those leagues. 

Key notes from Bobby Carpenter interview

• For so long, beating Michigan was a part of the road at Ohio State. You could not win a national title without beating Michigan. Then in 2022, they almost did it. It is a weird feeling when you lose to your rival, but then you are still playing for the ultimate prize. It’s a deep-seated rivalry, just like Texas A&M and Texas. That’s going to be a big one. 
   
• Ryan Day almost needs to do both this year, given the fact that you have lost to Michigan three years in a row. It’s been so long since we have gotten that win, that if there is a situation when you lose but win a title, it is probably okay.
   
• This year, a lot of those guys who came back to Ohio State haven't beaten Michigan or won a Big Ten Championship. So I think those two goals along the way are almost as critical, in their minds, as winning the national title.
   
• That Notre Dame defense is really good. They are always going to be well-coached and physical up front. They have an award-winning linebacker coming back. Their corners are good, not great, so there are opportunities out there. This is a defense that isn’t going to give you plays. You are going to have to earn them. I can’t wait because that Saturday night is going to be one heck of a game.
   
• From everything I’ve seen of coach Mike Elko, he is a heck of a guy, a defensive guy and a disciplined guy. The one thing they are going to do is win or lose on their own terms. I think you are going to see a restoration of the team. It’s going to be a tough match between him and Riley Leonard. 
   
• Riley Leonard is a playmaker, and he is a tough guy to stop. He is a chain mover, and he is able to keep plays rolling. Mike Elko’s defense is much better, and I think that their offense will be more disciplined as well.
   
• I think the gap between the SEC and Big Ten has closed at the top. The thing that is different with the SEC is that the bottom teams there are much more competitive. You don’t necessarily have that with Indiana or Purdue. Michigan won a national championship, and now in a 12-team playoff, teams like Penn State are going to be competitive. I do think it is close with the top five or six teams, but the back end is where the Big Ten still needs to make some strides.
   
• It’s tough to replace a guy like Nick Saban. He is the most successful coach in modern college football history — no debate. We were ready to bury him into the ground after the loss to Texas, and then they beat Georgia and found their way back into the College Football Playoff. If you told me they went 9-3 or 10-2 this year, I wouldn’t be shocked. 
   
• The question is, can Alabama beat out an Ole Miss? Can they beat Georgia? I think any time you have any coaching transition, there is going to be a blip. I like Kalen DeBoer, and I think he’s a great coach. If they got into the playoffs and went 10-2, I would say it was a huge success.
   
• If USC can get a defense with an efficient offense, they can be 11-1 or 7-5. There is so much variability. LSU will depend on how good Garrett Nussmeier is. Those two teams are very similar. Those are two teams that I think can get it done. I have Clemson as the favorite to win the ACC as well.
   
• I have to look at Texas A&M’s schedule a bit more. I know it’s not the easiest in the world. With a first year coach taking over a team with the talent that they have, if they are 8-4 or 9-3 with a nice upset somewhere, I think it’s a win. If you can upset and play tough, I think it is a great trajectory for Texas A&M and that Elko program.