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- Pollack’s early favorites: teams he expects to headline next fall
- Why Pollack trusts Ohio State to rebound quickly
- Oregon’s quarterback situation and what it means
- Texas and Arch Manning: why Pollack called them the team to beat
- What Indiana’s title changes in the national picture
- Additional Big Ten stories catching attention
As the college football world digests an unlikely champion, pundits are already sketching the next season’s landscape. Former ESPN analyst David Pollack has named a handful of teams he expects to dominate preseason chatter by August, and his list skips the new titleholders.
Pollack’s early favorites: teams he expects to headline next fall
Pollack singled out two Big Ten programs and one Pac-12 contender as likely returnees to national relevance. He did not include the championship-winning Indiana Hoosiers in his own preseason top list.
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- Ohio State Buckeyes: Pollack slots them near the top, citing returning skill position talent and offensive line continuity.
- Oregon Ducks: The Ducks earn a high projection mainly because they bring back quarterback Dante Moore.
- Texas Longhorns: Pollack believes Texas, led by quarterback Arch Manning, will be the team to beat next season.
Why Pollack trusts Ohio State to rebound quickly
Despite graduation and NFL departures, Pollack emphasized depth and recruiting as reasons to expect a rapid bounce back.
- Experienced offensive line likely to return the group that protected the quarterback.
- Young receivers and proven playmakers give the offense multiple threats.
- Coaching continuity and a recent national title add to the program’s aura.
He noted that while the roster will lose talent, Ohio State’s pipeline and coaching make a top-five finish plausible. Pollack called Ohio State a safe bet to be back among the elite.
Oregon’s quarterback situation and what it means
Oregon’s outlook centers on Dante Moore returning under center. Pollack views that continuity as a big advantage.
- Starting quarterback stability usually speeds offensive development.
- Quarterback-receiver chemistry from spring and fall camps could lift scoring.
- Oregon’s roster construction on defense and special teams will shape championship hopes.
Texas and Arch Manning: why Pollack called them the team to beat
Pollack named the Longhorns, with Arch Manning at quarterback, as the benchmark for the upcoming season.
The Longhorns and their star passer are described as the standard other programs will measure themselves against. Pollack’s view reflects Texas’s recruiting muscle and national profile.
Those narratives will be tested early. Texas and Ohio State are scheduled to meet in Austin on Saturday, Sept. 12, a marquee early-season showdown fans are already circling on the calendar.
What Indiana’s title changes in the national picture
Indiana’s undefeated run and national championship have shifted expectations across conferences.
- Other programs now study Indiana’s approach to roster building and game planning.
- Pollack and others wonder whether the Hoosiers can sustain that level.
- Teams like Ohio State and Texas see Indiana’s blueprint as motivation.
Even skeptics acknowledge the title validates the Big Ten’s strength. The Hoosiers’ success will alter preseason rankings and recruiting narratives.
Additional Big Ten stories catching attention
- Paul Finebaum offers sharp takes on Indiana’s rise and coach Curt Cignetti.
- Joel Klatt explains why Indiana’s title run is a rare achievement.
- Analysts push back on critics who dismiss Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers.
- Todd McShay lays out a blueprint explaining why some see Indiana as college football’s best team.
