College Football, BENched Make Triumphant Return

This still feels like it happened yesterday.

It's safe to say that every Clemson fan across the nation has been waiting for - and dreading - this day since the early morning hours of January 10.

College football has returned, and with it, the first installment of the 2017 Clemson Tigers. The trophy resides in a small corner of Upstate South Carolina for the time being. Until the Tigers are out of it this year, Clemson fans can be seen smiling from ear to ear. Fans of the orange and purple are stoked to see their team board the buses, rub Howard's Rock, and run down The Hill as defending National Champions for just the second time in school history - the first since 1982. It surely will bring a tear or two to my eye.

They also know it's the beginning of a new season, one that will slowly wipe away memories of 2016. Gone are Deshaun Watson, Wayne Gallman, Jordan Leggett, Mike Williams, Artavis Scott, Ben Boulware, Cordrea Tankersley, and Carlos Watkins. In step new faces ready to prove there won't be a drop-off. A new champion will be crowned (and who knows, it could be Clemson again!).

This year will be different for BENched as well. Many of you know my wife and I are expecting our first child quite literally any day now (We're having a boy and his name will be Xander). (Edit: When I typed this Tuesday, no baby. Now it is Wednesday and Xander is here!!!) With a Clemson national title in hand and sleep soon to become null and void, I'll tone it back ever-so-slightly.

While I still plan to write often, some changes will be necessary. I still plan to do weekly predictions either Thursday or Friday. These are commonly known as PTT or PTF (Prediction Time Thursday/Friday). I'm planning on a new format of predicting all Top 10 teams, featuring a few "Must Watch" games, and adding a section for games to flip to during commercials.

On Sunday, my ever-popular piece "The Morning After..." will continue with a few tweaks. In the past, it's been heavily Clemson-focused. I'll try to bring that part back a tad and add a few more nationally relevant thoughts. My hope is that I'm able to provide you with a more balanced college football viewpoint instead of mostly Clemson and just a few bigger items.

My time for writing any other pieces will be limited once Xander arrives. That said, I am more excited for football to begin than ever before! I watched every game this past Saturday just to get back in the groove.

I normally don't do predictions, but I'll leave you with this. Here's my 2017-18 CFB Playoff prediction:

Semifinals
Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual - 2 Ohio State vs. 3 USC
Allstate Sugar Bowl - 1 Alabama vs. 4 Clemson

2018 National Championship Game -  3 USC vs. 4 Clemson

-BtW