Well, folks – we’ve had over a week to digest the conclusion of another season of college football. Guys, I hate to say it – but it was kind of disappointing. The cupcake games were as bad as ever. With the exception of the SEC Championship, the conference championships were “meh.” The semi-finals and championship games were all blowouts. No real shocking games outside of Ohio State-Purdue. This season wasn’t exactly one that I’d show a non-football fan and say, “MAN – if THIS doesn’t make you love the sport, I don’t know what will!”
That’s going to happen from time to time. And, I’m sure none of this hurt the amount of money the sport generated. But, it’s merely an observation – a broad, over-simplified review of the year that was. Before we officially close the book on the season, I’m going to look at the biggest surprises of the year as well as the biggest disappointments of the year. Today, we’re talking about the surprises.
Kyler Murray
Replacing the production of Baker Mayfield looked damn near impossible. But, not only did Murray replace it…he surpassed it. The Oklahoma Sooners now have back-to-back Heisman winners, and for all the talk of Tua Tagovailoa being a lock for the award, Murray was the one who went home with the hardware. I’d be curious to look back and see what his odds of winning the trophy were before the season. But, there’s no doubt that this is a lesson in taking the field over one player no matter who it is.
Kentucky Wildcats
The single most surprising team of 2018 was the 10-3 Kentucky Wildcats. Benny Snell and Josh Allen drove this team to the program’s best season since 1977. We knew there was a hodge podge of teams jumbled up in the SEC East that could’ve potentially been the dark horse. Be it Florida, Missouri, South Carolina…whoever….no one was giving the Wildcats a credible chance. But, they showed up, and they won the Citrus Bowl, defeating a highly touted Penn State team in the process.
LSU Tigers
Okay, maybe this one is just on me. I thought it was possible the Tigers could be the second worst team in the SEC West this season (let’s face it – no one was touching Arkansas’ spot there). But, the legendary Coach O had his guys ready for battle. They produced one of the best defenses in college football, and went on to win a New Year’s Six bowl game. Didn’t have that one picked during the preseason.
Purdue rocks Ohio State
It was the upset of the season to me. Not just because the Boilermakers won, but because they absolutely imposed their will upon the Buckeyes. Dwayne Haskins wasn’t enough to overcome it, and Ohio State NEVER had a chance in that game. That’s what was so surprising about it, and there’s a chance that no game had an impact on the CFP quite like this one did this season.
UAB Blazers
Man, these Blazer just continue to surprise. I know you’ve all heard the story by now, as it’s been run into the ground. But, I can’t stress enough how crazy it is that this team went from having NO football program whatsoever to winning the C-USA Championship, winning a bowl game, and finishing the season with an 11-3 record. It’s just mind boggling.
Cincinnati Bearcats
Sure, they folded against UCF…when the competition mattered most. But, I’d still consider the Bearcats that ‘group of five’ team that nobody saw coming. They finished the season with a record 11-2, a bowl win over Virginia Tech, and the #24 ranking in the country. Didn’t see that one in my crystal ball.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Maybe Pitt doesn’t belong here….maybe their success is more an indicator as to how bad the ACC was, overall, this season. But, to look at that division – with Miami, Virginia Tech, Duke – and to think that Pitt would be the team to represent it in the ACC Championship? You would’ve been laughed at back in August. Hell, I would’ve picked Virginia and Georgia Tech to finish ahead of Pitt in the preseason. But, they went 6-2 in the ACC and earned their spot.
Northwestern Wildcats
I almost didn’t put the Wildcats on this list. They’re always hanging around, and sneaking into a bowl game as long as Pat Fitzgerald is there. But, to win the Big Ten West? To make it to the Big Ten Championship? I think it’s fair to say that’s surprising, and that Northwestern exceeded expectations in 2018.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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