With the news that the SEC is joining the Big Ten and Pac-12 and moving to a conference-only schedule for 2020, a number of fascinating non-conference games have been removed from the upcoming college football slate.
In addition to taking some intriguing games off the schedule, this is removing some matchups that draft evaluators were looking forward to studying for the 2021 NFL Draft and beyond. Here are some of the more intriguing one-on-one battles or matchups fans will miss out on in the fall.
Alabama Versus USC
One of the first games of the season has been canceled due to the decisions by both the SEC and the PAC-12, the Kickoff Classic set for September 5th down in Arlington, Texas.
What this means is fans and evaluators will have to wait a little longer to see the impressive Alabama weapons take the field. While the Crimson Tide had two wide receivers drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft in Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy, they have two more potential first rounders in Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith.
But another matchup that was going to be worth watching would have taken place in the trenches, with USC interior defensive lineman Jay Tufele working against the inside of the Alabama offensive line, including guard Deonte Brown and center Landon Dickerson.
Of course, we also have to wait a bit longer to see quarterback Mac Jones taking over as the full-time starter in the wake of Tua Tagovailoa’s departure. Jones was steady taking over for the injured Tagovailoa, but now the job is his and his alone.
North Dakota State at Oregon
Another game set for a September 5th kickoff that was canceled is this matchup between Oregon and North Dakota State, the defending FCS Champions. Of course the idea of an underdog going into a tough environment and pulling off an upset is enticing, but there is another layer to this game: Trey Lance.
The rising sophomore quarterback is currently a draft darling of the football community. Lance dazzled last season in his first under center for the Bison, going the entire campaign without throwing a single interception. This has rocketed him into the first-round conversation, and a chance to put on a huge performance in front of a national audience would have seen his draft prospects, to steal a line from “Spaceballs,” go plaid.
Instead, we will have to wait to see when Lance and the rest of the FCS schools take the field.
Ohio State at Oregon
Beyond the quarterbacks, a name often bandied about as perhaps the best at his position and a virtual lock for a Top Five draft pick is Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell. In their preseason Big Board, the analysts at The Draft Network rate Sewell the second-overall prospect for the 2021 NFL Draft, behind only quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Here’s what they have to say about the Oregon OT:
Exceptionally young and will only get better as he grows and matures more into his body and frame. In the run game, Sewell is tenacious and comes off the ball hard as a drive blocker — showing great success in creating lanes for his back. Showcases as an excellent run lane anchor and is heavy at the point of attack to create immediate movement. In the passing game, he is competitive and showcases good length for the perimeter — will check the box comfortably for teams with his wingspan. He has a strong upper body and excellent latch strength in his hands. He is tough, strong and competitive and it is reasonable to consider that he has only scratched the surface of his potential.
This was going to be a chance for Sewell to matchup with yet another talented Ohio State pass rusher. Coming in the wake of Joey and Nick Bosa, and then Chase Young, is Tyreke Smith. Obviously Smith was more of a second fiddle last season to Young, but he has the traits you want in a pass rusher. This could have been a coming out party for Smith. Instead we will have to wait to see both of these players tested.
Buffalo at Ohio State
Senior offensive tackle Thayer Munford looks the part of a first-round offensive tackle in the upcoming draft. Listed at 6’5″ and 313 pounds, Munford has been a starter on the left side of the Buckeyes’ offensive line for the past two seasons. With some refinement to his game and technique, he could be another cornerstone tackle that general managers covet early in the draft.
This game against Buffalo would have given him a solid test in the form of Malcolm Koonce, the versatile defender for the Bulls. He has tallied twelve sacks over the past three seasons, including a career-high eight last year along. According to the analysts from The Draft Network, Koonce has what you want to see from an edge rusher:
Koonce is a lanky and long armed defender who has experience playing from both an upright and three point position. He’s efficient with using his length and hands with a consistent club-rip move that has become his go-to tactic as a pass rusher. Demonstrating adequate bend at the hips, he can lower his center of gravity and corner in order to win around the edge. An attacker at the apex of pass rush attempts, he has also shown to be capable of dipping below the hands/arms of matchups prior to initial punch attempts. Constantly showing a high motor, he remains a relentless ball chaser, which helps show off his athleticism. Koonce is well above average with using his as he’s fully aware of how to stack-shed and push-pull when necessary. When locking his arms out, it’s very difficult for blockers to get inside of his frame.
This game could have been the opportunity for one – or both – of these players to really improve their draft stock.
Florida at Florida State
In terms of pure matchups, this potential meeting is one that I am certainly disappointed to see fall off the calendar. Florida State safety Hamsah Nasirildeen is one of the more intriguing safeties in the upcoming class. He was at the top of our “way too early” watch list at the position and is the kind of versatile safety fit for the modern game. He can play down in the box, in the slot or even align as a deep safety. Last year he recorded 101 tackles, becoming the first Florida State defender to record 100 tackles in a season and the first since 1990 with multiple 17-tackle games in a season. For his efforts he was named a Second-Team All-ACC Selection.
In this rivalry game, he might have seen a lot of Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. Pitts, along with Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth, is one of the better tight end options in the upcoming class. Last year Pitts was a weapon in the Florida passing game, catching 54 passes for 649 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore. Seeing these two square off would have told us volumes about both player’s pro prospects.
Penn State at Virginia Tech
This game lost some of the sizzle when Caleb Farley, the talented Virginia Tech cornerback, decided to opt-out of the upcoming season due to concerns over COVID-19. Farley’s mother passed in 2018 due to cancer, and in a statement the talented defensive back said that he “cannot afford to lose another parent or loved one.”
With the game being canceled anyway, it robs us of a potential receiver versus corner matchup between Farley and Jahan Dotson. While Farley is viewed as a potential first-rounder, Dotson showed last season some true potential as a receiver. He caught 27 passes for 488 yards and five touchdowns, and showed some impressive movement skills that could make him an intriguing slot option at the next level. Getting some work against Farley could have gone a long way towards improving his draft stock.
Texas at LSU
Akin to what we saw this past draft with the duo of Alabama receivers, a similar situation could play out involving wide receivers from LSU. Justin Jefferson went in the first round to the Minnesota Vikings, but for many his former teammate Ja’Marr Chase, seen here beating A.J. Terrell in the National Championship Game, is the more complete receiver. Most draft analysts currently have Chase as the top WR in the upcoming class, and that includes the two returning Alabama wideouts.
Had Chase been able to take the field against Texas, he’d see across the line of scrimmage one of the better safeties in the college game, Caden Sterns. Sterns is more of your prototypical free safety, with good man coverage skills and the fluidity to be used as both a center fielder or as a half-field player as part of a Cover 2 scheme. Given his coverage skills, it might not have been outside the realm of possibility to see Chase matched up against Sterns in some one-on-one situations. But at the bare minimum we could have seen some deep plays downfield with Chase working against Sterns in zone coverage. Instead, we can only wonder what could have been.
