Only 1 more Saturday left without college football, so let’s sneak in one last preseason thread. Not a rankings list, just a best/most likely yearbook style superlatives list. In no particular order:

Best Coaching Matchup
Sark vs Kiffin. Kirby is the undisputed best coach from the Saban tree, but these are the two best offensive minds to graduate from Saban’s school for wayward coaches. Both should have diabolical game plans cooked up and QBs who know how to execute, but they also have the defenses to counter anything thrown at them. Will be must watch TV

Best first year coach matchup
Golesh vs Sumrall. Two of the hottest coaching candidates (non Kiffin division) stepping into roles with tons of talent on their side of the ball. Winner is set up for a potential 8+ win season which would go a long way with both fan bases

Best QB matchup
Arch vs Trinidad. Probably the most hyped SEC QB matchup since 2019. Consensus #1 pick vs the only QB to make the playoffs in D2 and D1 (also finished top 10 in heisman votes a year after being a finalist for the D2 harlon hill trophy) Assuming both teams come in undefeated, this will be a marquee game day matchup even without accounting for the Manning family angle.

Most likely to combine for 90+ points
Auburn vs Ole Miss. I really liked Byrum Brown at USF, and even with an improving ole miss defense, I could see him lighting up the scoreboard. Golesh is an offensive minded coach, so I could also see them getting gashed by Chambliss and Lacy. Feels like a last one with the ball wins situation.

Most likely to combine for < 30 point
OU vs UF. 8th sp+ defense vs 12th sp+ defense. Last time we saw John Mateer, he was almost getting shut out in the second half by Bama. UF had a lot of problems last year but defense wasn’t one of them. Combine that with a defensive head coach and a new QB and you have a stoppable forces meet immovable objects.

Most likely to go 9-0
No one. But if it does happen, maybe Texas? Avoids UGA/Bama, gets OU in Dallas and Ole Miss at home. Toughest games will be LSU and A&M on the road. Again, don’t think it happens, but if Arch plays like he did in the bowl game all year I could see it.

Most likely to go 0-fer
South Carolina. Arkansas is the easy pick, but I think they snag at least one of Vandy, Mizzou, and SCar. Losing every 1 score game 2 years in a row seems unlikely. Meanwhile South Carolina faces a rising MSU and plays UK right after Bama. By the time they get to Arkansas they might be in full tank mode with an interim.

Newcomer(s) of the year
Leavitt will be a popular pick given Lane’s status as a QB whisperer. Already mentioned that I like Byrum Brown at Auburn as well. And if UT or Vandy freshman QBs like up to recruiting rankings they will be in the running. But I’m putting my money on the Texas RB transfers Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers. They will have lots of opportunities if Arch makes defenses respect the pass and both lit it up last year at P4 programs. One or both will be in the heisman conversation late in the year.

Which ones am I leaving out?