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Independents in football is a dying breed in college football. We are putting Oregon State and Washington State in this category this season. Here are some storylines, teams, and players for the upcoming year.
Introducing…🔥 pic.twitter.com/9FnBTcIawh
— Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) July 12, 2024
Independents Storylines
Who are the Independents now? UConn. For the moment, that’s really it. Army left to be a part of the American Athletic Conference, Notre Dame is living with the ACC but won’t put a ring on it and forced former Pac 12 members Oregon State and Washington State are hanging with the Mountain West. While they still cling to the idea of a rebuild of the Pac-12. This season UMass is an independent, but it’s off to the MAC next season.
Washington State and Oregon State are attempting to figure out their future. Totally hosed though the expansion process, the Cougars and the Beavers were left without a business partner after the Big 12 chose not to expand even further, even though a west coast division seemed possible.
Instead, the revenue for WSU and OSU dropped through the floor as the former Pac-12 programs going to the Big 12 will make about 32ish million. They were able to put together decent schedules with the help of the Mountain West, but the Cougars lost a slew of key players to the portal, and the Beavers lost just about everyone just when things were starting to click.
Always a great time After Dark 😏
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) July 11, 2024
More to come from tonight's After Hours with the Beavs & Cougs! pic.twitter.com/JAc8Xd7W4g
Notre Dame continues to do what Notre Dame does. Yeah, it could be a part of the ACC as a full-fledged member at any time, but that’s a tricky situation with top schools FSU and Clemson trying to leave. The Big Ten is the likely eventual landing spot for football when the Irish finally decides it’s wants to leave the single life behind. For now, it has another strong schedule, the team is loaded, and there are enough good ACC games with their affiliation to make the Irish matter in the College Football Playoff era.
Predictions
Oregon State won’t be totally bad, and Washington State won’t be much worse. At least record-wise, they both cold make a bowl. Besides playing each other they both play only a few versus the Power 4 teams. Washington State only gets Washington and Texas Tech and Oregon State gets Oregon, Purdue, and Cal. The world will be rooting for the Beavers and Cougars. The winner of the head-to-head matchup will almost certainly go bowling.
Notre Dame will challenge for a CFP spot. The Marcus Freeman era has been building to this, and now the combination of recruiting and the transfer portal will come together with a team that should make it a seventh double-digit win season in the last eight years. By seasons end could the Irish be a top four team that can’t make the top four in the new conference champions only expanded College Football Playoff? It’s time for Freeman to take the next step.
The Golden Standard ☘️
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) July 8, 2024
Coach @Marcus_Freeman1 is on the 2024 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List #GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/tRDHlr8caQ
UConn will bounce back and go bowling for the second time in three seasons. Jim Mora Jr. and his staff have had to piece it all together with the transfer portal proving to be a bit of a problem with lost personnel. But the addition of one-time Oklahoma super-recruit QB Nick Evers is a help. Injuries did not help last season as well. There are just enough winnable games to get to six wins and go bowling.
10 Best Independents Players
1. Benjamin Morris, CB Notre Dame Jr.
2. Riley Leonard, QB Notre Dame Sr.
3. Xavier Watts, S Notre Dame Sr.
4. Howard Cross, DT Notre Dame Sr.
5. Joshua Gray, OG Oregon State Sr.
6. Jack Kiser, LB Notre Dame Sr.
7. Mitchell Evans, TE Notre Dame Sr.
8. RJ Oben, EDGE Notre Dame Jr.
9. Kyle Thornton, LB Washington State Sr.
10. Jeremiyah Love, RB Notre Dame RFr.
So when is the Joshua Gray or Jaden Robinson statue being built? These guys exemplify leadership and loyalty. #GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/FTF85sN4U7
— Conner (@C_King2013) April 10, 2024
10 Best Independents Games
1. Florida State at Notre Dame, Nov. 9
2. Notre Dame at USC, Nov. 30
3. Notre Dame at Texas A&M, Aug. 31
4. Oregon at Oregon State, Sept. 14
5. Washington State at Oregon State, Nov. 23
6. Louisville at Notre Dame, Sept. 28
7. Washington State at Washington, Sept. 14
8. Oregon State at Boise State, Nov. 30
9. Notre Dame at Georgia Tech, Oct. 19
10. UConn at UMass, Nov. 30
TransceND@CooperxFlanagan is building habits that are making him stronger each day in all facets of life ☘️#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/O88LECQ6qv
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) July 8, 2024
10 Top Independents Transfers
1. RJ Oben, EDGE Notre Dame (Duke)
2. Beaux Collins, WR Notre Dame (Clemson)
3. Kris Mitchell, WR Notre Dame (FIU)
4. Kobe Singleton, CB Oregon State (Liberty)
5. Jayden Harrison, WR Notre Dame (Marshall)
6. Jam Griffin, RB Oregon State (Ole Miss)
7. Ron Heard, CB Notre Dame (Northwestern)
8. Sai Vadrawale, CB Oregon State (Cal)
9. Anthony Hankerson, RB Oregon State (Colorado)
10. Kris Hutson, WR Washington State (Oregon)
Top Independents Quarterback Transfers
– Riley Leonard, Notre Dame (Duke)
– Nick Evers, UConn (Wisconsin)
– Deuce Hogan, UMass (Kentucky)
– Gevani McCoy (Idaho); or Gabarri Johnson, Oregon State (Missouri)
SUMMER SCOUTING QUARTERBACKS THREAD
— Cardiac Cats (@cardiacatsbrand) July 11, 2024
Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard
Leonard is a well-built quarterback with traits that make him an excellent developmental prospect. He has good arm strength, dual-threat capabilities, and an ultra-competitive personality that should yield good… pic.twitter.com/jW53gEPj1j
New Independent Head Coaches
Trent Bray, Oregon State
He’s sticking around to try picking up all the pieces from the loss of so much talent and head coach Jonathan Smith. This will be a work in progress.
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— Brad Harvey (@BradCSCast) July 13, 2024
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