If you're a college football fan, the release of the Associated Press All-America team is your official wake-up call. It means the games are about to begin, and the roster gives less experienced fans some solid leads about which players to root for and follow.
This year's roster is dominated by stars from Ohio State, Georgia, and Michigan, which isn't surprising. Some of the names are new, though, and a few are controversial, so let's dig and take a look at who made the cut, why, and what the expectations are.
The Buckeyes go big with portal transfers
After a disappointing loss to archrival Michigan last year and a desultory defeat at the hands of Mizzou in the Cotton Bowl, Ohio State is restocking via the transfer portal.
Former Alabama safety Caleb Downs will help lead the defense, and he'll get help from cornerback Denzel Burke on that side of the ball. Expect the offense to be energized by guard Donovan Jackson and Emeka Egbuka at wideout to give the Buckeyes a total of first-team selection, which was highest among the Top 25.
The hope is that Egbuka will be a formidable weapon for new QB Will Howard, as coach Ryan Day faces a key season in which a victory over the Wolverines will be at the top of the agenda list.
Georgia bets on Beck to rebound
The Bulldogs faded late last year as they tried to defend their national title, but this year they're betting on Carson Beck to keep that from happening. The quarterback was one of three Georgia players to make the first team, and he was joined by guard Tate Ratledge and NFL prospect Malaki Stark, whose stock will also be closely watched during the season.
The goal in Athens is to defeat perennial SEC favorite Alabama, which will be operating without coach Nick Saban for the first time in forever as the SEC continues to expand and become even more powerful.
Don't sleep on Michigan
With coach Jim Harbaugh having left Ann Arbor to coach the Chargers and resume his NFL quest for a title, many observers are expecting the Wolverines to drop to the bottom of the Top Ten.
If that happens, though, it likely won't be the fault of some key players. Michigan also placed three guys on the first-team All-America unit--tight end Colston Loveland, cornerback Will Johnson, and D-lineman Mason Graham.
Rounding up the rest
Georgia, OSU, and Michigan aren't the only teams with top-tier talent that were represented on the AP All-America outfit, as several other contenders tapped into the transfer portal to make serious additions.
Not surprisingly, one of them was the Crimson Tide. 'Bama beefed its line with the addition of center Parker Brailsford, a former Washington product, and kicker Graham Nicholson will replace Tuscaloosa legend Will Reichard, who moved on to chilly Minnesota to kick indoors for the Vikings.
Notre Dame got in on the action as well with a pair of defensive selections. Xavier Watts was selected for the first team and D-lineman Howard Cross III. Cross happens to be the son of former Giant tight end Howard Cross, so the family's football legacy will be carried forward.
LSU was the other team to put two players on the first team. Tackle Will Campbell will rep the Bayou Bengals on offense, while linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. will rep the defense.
The portal isn't the only game-changer, however. The expanded college playoff format is part of the reason for all the player shuffling, as over a dozen teams now have a chance to make the playoffs in what promises a game-changing season for college football fans.
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