Last year might’ve been the most unpredictable season in recent history, as Indiana, of all teams, stormed through college football to pull off the unthinkable and win the National Championship. Furthermore, in a controversial decision, the committee left Notre Dame out of the CFP after they won 10 straight games following a close loss to runner-up Miami. Plus, the coaches carousel went into overdrive as many established coaches got the axe midseason. With Week 0 kicking off shortly, we’ll discuss this year’s Heisman hopefuls and who will dethrone Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers as champions in the college football world. We’ll also dive into this week’s Saturday Spotlight and Upset Special for Week 0.
Freshman 15: College Football Week 0
Saturday Spotlight: UNC vs. TCU in Dublin, Ireland
In recent history, whoever plays in this game in Dublin and loses is set up for a catastrophe. A few years ago, it was Nebraska and Scott Frost losing to Northwestern, withFrost getting fired that season. After that, it was Florida State getting upset by Georgia Tech, which set off a chain reaction to derail their season. Then most recently, Kansas State and Avery Johnson took a big step backwards after falling to Iowa State.
This year, Ireland takes center stage once more as we have Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels at the forefront after a bizarre first year in Chapel Hill. Rumors swirled throughout the season, with some even expecting the school and Belichick to sever ties. What transpired last year was a stark contrast to the buttoned-up authoritarian that Belichick was with the New England Patriots. This game has drama because a decorated legend such as Belichick has to prove himself at the collegiate level, especially after last year. The hire itself is a culture clash, considering who Belichick is and now finding himself in the Wild West of College Football and NIL.
For TCU, they’re still working to pull themselves from the ashes after they were incinerated in the National Title game just a few years ago. TCU welcomes in Ivy League transfer Jaden Craig from Harvard to lead their offense. He’s a big-armed senior who doesn’t make many mistakes and has gone 20-4 over his three years as a starter for Harvard.
Keep an eye out for him and Jordan Dwyer to test the North Carolina Secondary. Maybe one of the biggest adds for UNC this offseason for North Carolina was adding Bobby Petrino. He may not have sustained success as a head coach, but he has proven to get the most out of his quarterbacks. And, Billy Edwards Jr. is going to need a lot of tutelage from Petrino to make strides. Without question, this is the college football game to watch in Week 0.
Upset Special: NC State over UVA
Last year, my initial upset pick in Week 0 was Stanford over Hawaii. Once again, both teams are matched up on the schedule for Week 0, this time on the mainland at Stanford. I won’t be underestimating Hawaii this year. However, this year’s Week 0’s upset special is the NC State Wolfpack getting the big win traveling on the road to Virginia.
First off, it’s a conference opponent that NC State is very familiar with. And, they’ve won the last four meetings against the Cavaliers by an average margin of 9.5 points. A spread of 5.5 in favor of Virginia is generous if not optimistic. That said, it’s reasonable how some could see UVA as the clear favorite. Virginia was so close to winning the ACC title in 2025 and had they beaten Duke, they would have landed in the CFP.
However, this year’s team hardly resembles the Cinderella from last year. Quarterback Chandler Morris is gone, as are receivers Trell Harris and Andre Greene Jr. Meanwhile, NC State does have continuity.
Duke Scott is back, and he is an explosive runner. Last season he torched Georgia Tech for almost 200 yards rushing. CJ Bailey is also back for his third year as a starter. The defense also looks good, as they brought in Miami transfer Raul Aguirre and have 330+ pound KaTron Evans in the middle of the defense. NC State has built a sneaky good roster in that conference and is coming off of an 8-win season. What you have is two programs going in different directions. Take the Wolfpack to get the upset in Week 0.
Heisman Hopefuls
LP’s Pick: Darian Mensah
Mensah has been a winner at every level he has been at. He led Tulane to the American Conference title game. He then beat Virginia for the ACC title and won the Sun Bowl over Arizona State while at Duke. Mensah was top-3 or better last year in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completions while playing for the Blue Devils.
At Miami, he inherits a terrific supporting cast with Mark Fletcher and Malachi Toney (and his best friend and former Duke teammate, Cooper Barkate), not to mention a very good offensive line. Miami has a date with Heisman favorite CJ Carr against Notre Dame, giving Mensah a prime opportunity to show off for the voters. He is already a very efficient passer who can deliver wins. By season’s end, Mensah will have the wins, the stats, and the primetime visibility of playing for the Hurricanes; You can lock him in for the Heisman.
Heisman Dark Horses
Dark Horse: Jayden Maiava
Jayden Maiava is my top pick as a dark horse to win the most prized award in the country. He has the benefit of playing for Lincoln Riley, whose offense has created multiple Heisman winners as most recent as Caleb Williams.
Maiava had huge games last year against Illinois and had the highest passer rating in a single game last year with 265.9 against Georgia Southern when he threw for 412 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. If Maiva improves on his efficiency and leads the Trojans into the tournament, that will bolster his viability for the Heisman. The opportunity to impress the voters is laid out right in front of Maiava. He has games against Penn State, Oregon, and then two top matchups near season’s end in back-to-back weeks versus Indiana and Ohio State. Fight on!
Who wins the Natty?
The first step is getting there. Notre Dame and Ohio State have the first and second-best odds to win it all. However, the committee has set a precedent that they don’t reward empty calories. The caliber of opponent matters to get in the CFP, but also for seeding as well.
Ohio State has a late-season gauntlet of Indiana, USC, Oregon, and then ends the year with Michigan. Meanwhile, the toughest test for Notre Dame is Miami, playing a very extensive schedule versus the ACC. If Ohio State survives a critical stretch, they’re going to be rewarded coming out on the other side.
The Buckeyes’ secondary is young but very talented, with Jermaine Matthews Jr. and Devin Sanchez at cornerback. Kenyatta Jackson could get double-digit sacks this year. That’s not even considering Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. Plus, Chris Henry Jr. joins the mix as a five-star true freshman. Ryan Day has endured his failures, experienced success, and now has to pull his team back up the mountain. The Buckeyes get their redemption and bring the National Championship back to Columbus.
Discover more from The League Winners
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
