Finally, the college football season is underway.   It was an exciting weekend as always with some great games and plays including, quite possibly, the catch of the year.

That catch of the year came from Ohio State’s Devin Smith who made a leaping and twisting one handed grab in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.  The Buckeyes started off slow and looked like they were so anxious that they played uptight.  However, as soon as the second quarter came along the Buckeyes rolled.  Braxton Miller accounted for 368 of the Buckeyes 538 yards with 207 in the air and 161 on the ground along with three total touchdowns.

Fellow Big Ten school, Michigan State, barely got by Boise State and rode the back of Le’Veon Bell who rushed for 210 yards and two touchdowns and added six catches for 55 yards.

Sticking with the Big Ten, Michigan did not fare too well against the Crimson Tide of Alabama.  Michigan’s poor play was a big disappointment to many as they were expected to be very good this season. Denard Robinson was not only shut down by the Alabama defense, but he also played poorly by making some bad decisions.

However, Alabama rolled.  Their offensive line was dominant and opened up some major holes for their running backs to get through and out into space.  AJ McCarron controlled the game from the beginning and was mistake free.  The Alabama defense looked like they will have the best defense in the country, yet again.

Former number one in the polls, USC, took down Hawaii with ease but still lost their ranking to Alabama.  Heisman favorite Matt Barkley threw for 372 yards and 4 touchdowns including 2 to Robert Woods.  Marqise Lee added 10 catches for 197 yards and a touchdown as well.

Oklahoma did not play like fourth ranked team in the country as they looked bad against UTEP.  South Carolina squeaked by Vanderbilt.  Oregon was up huge at halftime and then stopped scoring and ended with a 57-34 victory over Arkansas State.

West Virginia took down Marshall 69-34 with Geno Smith accounting for 5 touchdowns.  LSU looked solid without the Honey Badger and Clemson took down Auburn behind Andre Ellington and his 228 rushing yards.  This weekend recap can’t go without mentioning the 84-0 victory Oklahoma State had over Savannah State. Finally, Virginia Tech defeated Georgia Tech by a field goal in overtime escaping another opening game loss.

This was a very exciting weekend of college football and the rest of the season should be no different.  Alabama should continue to roll, and USC should keep up the offense for the rest of the season, potentially creating a great matchup for the national title.

Once the Heisman Trophy winner was announced the discussions began for the favorites for the next season.  As we approach the upcoming season it is a good time to take a look at the early favorites.

The Favorites (Alphabetical Order):

Montee Ball, Senior, Running Back, Wisconsin:
Ball rushed for 1,923 yards, and 33 touchdowns while adding 306 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns giving him a total of 39 touchdowns for the season tying Barry Sanders record. Ball will be carrying the offensive load with the departure of Russell Wilson.  The Badgers also will have a new offensive line, but that shouldn’t worry Ball as Wisconsin always seems to have one of the best offensive lines in the country. The stats he put up a season ago are going to be very difficult to repeat, but he should be able to have another great season and be a potential finalist for the Heisman.

Matt Barkley, Senior, Quarterback, USC:
Barkley is by far the best quarterback coming into this season.  Barkley is a complete quarterback and would have been the second overall pick in the NFL draft had he decided to leave school early.  However, the NFL teams will be lining up for him after this season.  Barkley threw for 3,528 yards with 39 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions.  The Heisman Trophy could be sitting there waiting for him as he is the clear favorite.  The Trojans did not lose many players to the draft and they will be returning Robert Woods who was Barkley’s favorite receiver hauling in 111 catches last season as a sophomore.

Marcus Lattimore, Junior, Running Back, South Carolina:
Lattimore is an interesting candidate for the Heisman as he is going to be bouncing back from a knee injury that ended his year last season.  Lattimore rushed for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns before his season ending injury.  He is the most talented running back in the SEC and possibly the entire country.  The offense of the Gamecocks will run through him and if he comes back 100% and remains healthy he could see himself in New York as a Heisman finalist.

Aaron Murray, Junior, Quarterback, Georgia:
Coming off a great sophomore season throwing for 3,149 yards with 35 touchdowns and 14 interceptions Murray is set to be the best quarterback in the SEC this coming season.  The Bulldogs could be serious contenders for the national title this season because of Murray.  He is a very talented quarterback and he has experience since this will be his third season as Georgia’s starter.  If Murray continues to improve he could be not only a Heisman finalist, but a hot NFL prospect as well.

Denard Robinson, Senior, Quarterback, Michigan:
Back to back 2,000 yard passing and 1,000 yard rushing seasons have Denard Robinson as the top contender to beat Matt Barkley.  He his electric and creates havoc for opposing defenses.  Michigan is returning a number of starters and they look to be favorites for the Legends Division in the Big Ten with possible National Championship discussions.  Denard Robinson looks to complete his career with both a Heisman and National Championship.

Geno Smith, Senior, Quarterback, West Virginia:
Smith’s 407 yard and 6 touchdown performance in the Orange Bowl victory against Clemson put his mark in the Heisman discussion.  He threw for 4,385 yards and 31 touchdowns with just 7 interceptions last season.  Geno Smith has the Mountaineers back in the National Championship discussions.  He also has a talented receiving group returning which creates an arsenal of weapons for him to succeed and potentially win the Heisman Trophy.

On the Outside Looking In:

Tajh Boyd, Junior, Quarterback, Clemson

Rex Burkhead, Senior, Running Back, Nebraska

Landry Jones, Senior, Quarterback, Oklahoma

Logan Thomas, Senior, Quarterback, Virginia Tech

Robert Woods, Junior, Wide Receiver, USC

The Heisman Trophy race this season is set to be a great one.  There are a number of potential contenders that have not been named and the greatest thing about sports is that they are unpredictable.  So as we can discuss the favorites, it is unknown what will happen during the season.

The end of May has arrived, and College Sports Feed’s Preseason Top 5 is finally here. The five teams listed here are 2012’s best of the best, the toughest and most talented, and the greatest in the game. They came a long way in 2011, but even more will be expected of them in the fall. Kicking off our final week:

5. Oregon

“Oh, Oregon. If you ask most people, they have no clue where Oregon even is on a map, but they can tell you that they have a damn good football team. Oregon has been working hard these past few years to get where they are today, and they won’t give that up. My prediction is that they are determined to prove that they are the best and are going after that number one spot. I don’t think that they will get it this year, but if they can continue to do better over the next few years, it could end up being theirs.”

Allie Balog, CSF Associate Editor

“The loss of LaMichael James will be difficult, but Oregon is persistent. They are strong recruiters and look for the best newcomers, and they promise wins and are pretty consistent in their claims. Plus, Oregon has the potential to have one of the best defenses in the Pac 12. Look for them to place in one of the top bowl games in January.”

Elizabeth Garabedian, CSF Writer/Contributor

4. Oklahoma

“The Sooners’ high-powered offense will dominate once again in 2012. Senior QB Landry Jones will have a shot at following in Sam Bradford’s footsteps as a Heisman winner. The loss of WR Ryan Broyles, Jones’ favorite target, will hurt, but four returning wideouts and a standout recruiting class will help fill the void. The defensive side of the ball will carry more question marks into the season, but solid play coupled with an explosive offense will carry Oklahoma to the Big 12 title in 2012.”

Anthony Manzella, CSF Writer/Contributor

“The Sooners will yet again dominate on offense as Landry Jones, and a solid receiving core is returning. The loss of playmaker Ryan Broyles will hurt, but they should be able to overcome his departure. The defense had a number of questions last year and they are hoping to be answered by the arrival of Mike Stoops, Bob Stoops’ brother, as the defensive coordinator. Okalahoma is the easy favorite in the Big 12 this season with Texas still trying to figure itself out and Oklahoma State losing its two biggest playmakers in Weeden and Blackmon.”

Garrett Mayers, CSF Writer/Contributor

3. LSU

“Les Miles’ squad had by far the toughest schedule in the nation. Their only loss came against a loaded Alabama team that had six full weeks to prepare. The Tigers lose some stars on defense, most notably Jim Thorpe award winner Morris Claiborne, but they are still absolutely loaded. Tyrann Mathieu could be the most dynamic playmaker in college football, and he returns with another LSU defense that will be one of the best in the country. The only knock on LSU last season was the lack of production on offense, but former Georgia QB Zach Mettenberger is a much better passer than Jordan Jefferson. Look for the Tigers to win their second straight SEC West title.”

Jeff Dunbar, CSF Senior Editor

“The LSU Tigers will try and rebound from getting blown out by Alabama in the BCS National Championship in January. It will not be an easy road for them with star receiver Rueben Randle and 6th overall pick Mo Claiborne going to the NFL.  With enough talent returning on offense and the returning stellar defense, the LSU Tigers should be near the top of the SEC and national ranks again this coming season.”

Garrett Mayers, CSF Writer/Contributor

2. Alabama

“Bama, Bama, Bama. There’s not much to really say about it. They have always been good and they probably always will be good. Look at their players – they’re huge. They’re the southern boys that have been playing football since they could walk and have always known that they would play in college. Bama is definitely not a team to think you can beat easily. They will make you fight for a victory over them – hard. They are a team to watch out for this season, they do have the potential to take the #1 spot.”

Allie Balog, CSF Associate Editor

“Coach Nick Saban has transformed Alabama into arguably to most consistently great team since his arrival in Tuscaloosa, with two BCS titles in five years. Expect the same this year, even with the high number of losses on both sides of the ball.  QB AJ McCarron will shoulder more of the offensive load, and RB Eddie Lacy should provide a more than acceptable replacement for Trent Richardson. The defensive will benefit greatly from the top recruiting class in the country, and will be tough enough for the Crimson Tide to compete for another National Championship in 2012.”

Anthony Manzella, CSF Writer/Contributor

1. USC

“Matt Barkley’s decision to return for his senior season took USC from a top 20 team to the team to beat in 2012.  Barkley’s favorite targets, Robert Woods and Marqise Lee combined for an astounding 2,435 yards receiving and hauled in 26 touchdowns.  Oregon and Stanford lost a lot of talent to the NFL, but the major playmakers (excluding LT Matt Kalil) all came back for the Trojans.  Expect Barkley to make a run at the Heisman, but more importantly, expect him finish what he started, by hoisting the crystal football at season’s end.”

Jeff Dunbar, CSF Senior Editor

“The Trojans may not have snagged Su’A Cravens yet, but they have multiple other factors that have contributed to their #1 spot in CSF’s Top 25. QB Matt Barkley is still there, and he has enough skill to lead the offense even with the loss of LT Matt Kalil. And with an experienced defensive line, USC is double the trouble. They could very easily snag a spot in the BCS title game, mainly because they have a handful of talented returnees while many other Pac 12 teams do not. This could very well be the year for the Trojans.”

Elizabeth Garabedian, CSF Writer/Contributor

Every year, the SEC is the hot commodity of preseason college football talk. There is always something going on at Florida, an incredibly talented quarterback has been drafted to the NFL, and one of them just won the BCS championship game.

But this year’s talk has taken a new turn, and it is a bit unexpected.

The USC Trojans, accurately described as one of the “hidden gems” of the 2012 preseason, has been chosen as the top team by many an online sports site, and it could perhaps be because of Matt Barkley’s return, and Stanford and Oregon losing a lot of talent to the NFL.

And remember what I said the other day: a new season is a clean slate, and just because they lost to Stanford in triple-overtime on October 29 does not mean they will face the same embarrassment again in 2012.

If Su’A Cravens commits to USC on June 6, who knows what could happen? Cravens, a 6-1, 210-lb. safety, is rumored to be leaning toward the Trojans; going elsewhere would come as a surprise. But he could add some serious agility and knowledge to the game, the defense especially. The Barkley-Cravens duo could potentially be unstoppable.

Isn’t it just a little refreshing, though, that the spring chatter this year is leaning toward a non-SEC team? I would have to think everyone gets tired constantly hearing talk about Alabama and LSU, especially since they were both in the BCS championship game last season – oh what an exciting change of pace (obviously not – it’s like Kentucky winning the men’s basketball title this year.)

Still, I would have to think a lot of people would have high hopes for the Trojans, especially since they may possibly be a machine next year, and maybe they will finally get their shot against an SEC team in the BCS title game.

It is just time for something new.

In SI.com’s recent 2012 Mock Draft by Don Banks, college football fans see a lot of usual suspects.  Even if you’re not college football fan, you’ll notice that eight players he projects played in the BCS Title game that featured a rematch of LSU and Alabama.

You also see the top three Heisman candidates projected in the top 5.  In this edition of CSF, we take a look at Banks’ top 5 projected picks and we go Magic 8-ball on you to determine whether or not these players will make an immediate impact in the NFL.

1.  Indianapolis Colts:  Andrew Luck/QB Stanford: Unless the Colts feel they can win with two quarterbacks hijacking over $50 million in salary cap, at some point before March 8th, Peyton Manning will sign with a different team for the 2012 season.  This opens the door for Luck to see action immediately this fall.

Will he prove his worth in years 1 and 2?

Jeff’s Magic 8 Ball Answer:  Ask again later. I know, I know…not much of an answer, but sometimes, the Magic 8-Ball is vague, and in the case of the Colts, so is their immediate future.  The Colts showed last season that they are in shambles.  They hope to catch lightning in a bottle twice, with their second correct choice of a 1st round QB.  While Luck is a great player, it will take at least two drafts or a shift in philosophy (owner Jim Irsay has never been one to go after star free agents), and Luck will likely run into the same issues that St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford is facing–with no weapons around him, it doesn’t matter how talented your quarterback is.

2.  Cleveland Browns:  Robert Griffin III/QB Baylor: In Banks’ mock draft, he sees the the Browns trading up with the Rams, and more importantly, he sees them selecting a bigger, faster, more athletic version of their current QB Colt McCoy.  McCoy has done a serviceable job in his first two years for a really bad team, but unless he takes a huge step forward in year three, expect RG3 to be the starter this fall.

Will he prove his worth in years 1 and 2?

Jeff’s Magic 8-Ball Answer:  Outlook not so good. RG3′s speed and athleticism are unparalleled, but he doesn’t have the size of Cam Newton.  He’s bigger than Michael Vick and is more of a pass-first QB, but let’s be honest–Griffin’s running ability is a big part of his game.  His speed and elusiveness will what puts him on Sportscenter’s top plays, but it could be what puts him out of football.  As with the Colts, the Browns (or any other team that drafts RG3) have more needs than just the quarterback position, and the lack of weapons will lead to a lot of hits on a star QB.

3.  Minnesota Vikings:  Matt Kalil/OT USC: Banks sites the need to bolster the O-line over another speedy wideout.  As with most any offensive tackles taken high in the draft, expect Kalil to find the field immediately, and should the Vikings choose the talented tackle, he certainly has the ability to anchor an offensive line for a long time.

Will he prove his worth in years 1 and 2?

Jeff’s Magic 8-Ball Answer:  Without a doubt. Kalil is a force on the run and pass, and he will prove his worth right away.  In fact, Kalil’s departure from USC was one of the main reasons many experts thought that quarterback Matt Barkley would also leave this year for the NFL.  If Kalil is available, the Vikings don’t want to pass on dominant tackle that should make a few Pro-Bowl appearances by his third year in the league.

4.  St. Louis Rams:  Justin Blackmon/WR Oklahoma State: Assuming Banks is correct and the Rams trade their second pick to Cleveland, Blackmon would be an ideal pick.  Sam Bradford has been without an impact wide receiver since he got in the league two years ago.  Help could be on the way this fall for the tackling dummy, I mean quarterback for the Rams.  Bradford will still be running for his life behind a pourus offensive line, but at least he’ll have a stud to throw the ball to this season.

Will he prove his worth in years 1 and 2?

Jeff’s Magic 8-Ball Answer:  It is decidely so. Blackmon would have been a first rounder in last year’s draft, but he was only a sophomore.  And unlike fellow Okie State first round selection Dez Bryant, Blackmon isn’t a knucklehead and should be able to learn a playbook.  Any doubts as to whether Blackmon was a legit top 5 pick were put to rest in the Fiesta Bowl last month, when Blackmon absolutely went off, hauling in eight catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns.  Expect much of the same in the NFL.

5.  Tampa Bay Bucs:  Trent Richardson/RB Alabama: Banks believes the Bucs could benefit from another bruising back to complement LaGarrette Blount, and Richardson is easily the best running back in this draft.  At 224 lbs., he has the size to run between the tackles, but he also has the balance and speed to go along with it, qualities that allowed him to average over six yards a carry in the SEC, despite being the focal point of every defense he faced.

Will he prove his worth in years 1 and 2?

Jeff’s Magic 8-Ball Answer:  As I see it, yes. The fact that the Bucs already have a big, physical back in Blount means that the addition of Richardson will cut down on carries for each of the running backs, and they will see the same benefit that Alabama saw in Richardson’s first season with the Crimson Tide, when he split carries with Mark Ingram.  If a different team selects Richardson and he is forced to carry the ball 250-300 times, well…I’ll have to re-check the 8-Ball for an updated answer.

Click here to see Don Banks’ 2012 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 for his full first round projections and analysis, and check back later this week for my Magic 8-Ball impact predictions later this week.