With 100 days to go before the season begins, College Football 24/7 presents 100 things to be excited about for college football in 2017. Here are Nos. 41-60.
Note: Click through the tabs above to see all 100 things.
- Lane Kiffin at FAU. Whether this curious marriage is a winner or a trainwreck, it'll be fun to watch.
- Can Nick Fitzgerald lead the SEC in rushing as a quarterback? Mississippi State's fourth-year junior fell just 12 yards short of doing so last year.
- Willie Taggart's reset at Oregon. When we last left the Ducks, their 2016 tailspin ended with rival Oregon State handing them their eighth loss.
44-46. Two players who will draw plenty of attention with their returns from season-ending injuries are UCLA QB Josh Rosen and FSU S Derwin James, but here are three more who merit watching, as well:
» Arizona RB Nick Wilson, whose last healthy season resulted in 1,375 yards (2014).
» South Carolina LB Skai Moore, an undersized but dynamic talent, back from a herniated disc in his neck.
» Texas RB Chris Warren III, son of the former Seahawks RB of the same name, who was supposed to share the rushing load that D'Onta Foreman commanded last season.
- Another big-time cornerback coming out of LSU. This year, it figures to be speedster Donte Jackson.
- One last go-round for QB Luke Falk, the Washington State senior who could finish his career with 15,000 passing yards.
- After Nathan Peterman resurrected his college career through a transfer to Pitt, former USC QB Max Browne will try to do the same.
- The rise of a star defender in the Big 12 other than Texas LB Malik Jefferson. In NFL.com analyst Chad Reuter's Top 150, Jefferson (No. 13) is the only Big 12 defender ranked in the top 90. Ouch.
- Texas-USC on Sept. 16. Yes, it's their first meeting since the 2006 national title game.
- Mark your calendar for Saturday, Nov. 25. That's rivalry day in college football, when you'll have to divide your attention between Michigan-Ohio State, Alabama-Auburn, Florida-Florida State and others.
- Arizona State senior RB Kalen Ballage going out like he should, as one of the nation's top offensive threats.
- At No. 55, fives are wild for Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin: as in three straight five-loss seasons for a $5 million-a-year coach. Five more losses this year could make his seat too hot for sitting.
- North Dakota State, which produced Eagles QB Carson Wentz, attempts to get back to the FCS title game. After five straight FCS championships, James Madison knocked off the Bison in the semifinals last year.
- The rise of the next dominant RB at Wisconsin, following Corey Clement. This time, the heir apparent isn't obvious, but at Camp Randall, it's always a question of who, not if.
- Can Brandon Harris end his college career on a strong note in a new uniform? The former LSU quarterback who couldn't hold the job in Baton Rouge will compete to replace Mitchell Trubisky at North Carolina.
- Major Applewhite's first venture into the head coaching ranks, with Houston.
- What will transfer-happy DB Shaq Wiggins make of his third (yes, third) FBS stop? He started at Georgia, went to Louisville, and now returns to the SEC East to finish at Tennessee.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
