Moving the Chains: ‘Tis the Season

[email protected]

A man covering the sport for 50 years has every right to be called ‘Mr. College Football.’  His real name, as we all know, is Tony Barnhart.

In the late 1980’s Barnhart was the college sports editor for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He began hosting a blog, which was a fairly new innovation at the time.  The blog was called ‘Mr. College Football.’  It wasn’t long before the name of the blog and his given name were – for the sake of argument – one and the same.  

Covering the sport for that duration of time is just one of the many reasons Barnhart deserves the nickname.  His knowledge and insight of college football is unsurpassed, as is his love and passion for the game.  

All of those traits were on display when Barnhart – for the 16^th consecutive year – was the featured speaker at the Coweta Samaritan Clinic’s College Football Kickoff Breakfast in Newnan. 

After a few introductory comments, he made two announcements: (1) after a career of 50 years – ‘a nice round number’ according to his mother – Barnhart was ready to take it a little easier and quit doing the ‘heavy lifting’ covering the sport, and (2) his next book, Mr. College Football: 50 Years of SEC Memories, will be available in the summer of 2027.  

Barnhart then transitioned into the part of his presentation the crowd of 300 was chomping at the bit to hear (I used that particular idiom just for you Dawg fans): his views on the current state of college football and, more importantly, his predictions for the upcoming season.  

And he didn’t disappoint.  

First, his observations and commentary:

• The ‘Lane Kiffin Rule’ is a proposed provision in the federal Protect College Sports Act that would prohibit college football teams from recruiting or hiring head coaches and coordinators while their current seasons or playoff runs are still going on.  (Barnhart then jokingly referred to the SEC Media Days as ‘the Lane Kiffin Invitational.’)

• The Act also would raise the salary cap (or shared revenue) from $21.3 million to $48.8 million, re-implement the one-time transfer exception, and standardize a player five-year eligibility policy. 

• Miami is the team to beat in the ACC as they have a great quarterback in Darian Mensah and a star receiver in Malachi Toney.  They may even be better than last year’s team that made it all the way to the National Championship game.

• There are six new head coaches in the SEC: Alex Golesh (Auburn), Pete Golding (Ole Miss), Lane Kiffin (LSU), Jon Sumrall (Florida), Ryan Silverfield (Arkansas), and Will Stein (Kentucky).  

• The NCAA must make a decision on playoff expansion: from 12 to either 16, 20, or 24 teams beginning in 2027.  If a decision isn’t reached by December 1, the playoffs will remain  at 12.  The SEC and Big Ten Commissioners have differing opinions: the SEC wants 12 teams (or less) in the playoffs, and the Big Ten wants 24.  Neither seems willing to budge. 

• Finally, these encouraging words for college football fans everywhere: ‘despite everything that is taking place off the field, the play on the field is as good as it’s ever been.   

About the SEC, Barnhart said:

• Texas looks strong; Longhorn quarterback Arch Manning told Barnhart he ‘feels better than he has in two years.’

• Georgia will be in the playoffs with Gunner Stockton and Nate Frazier leading the way, but there is concern about their wide receivers.

• There will be drama on September 19 when LSU goes to Ole Miss in Lane Kiffin’s first trip to Oxford since jumping ship.  As Kiffin once said: ‘be sure to bring your popcorn.’

• The dark horse team in the conference could be Oklahoma, who looked strong last year until quarterback John Mateer was hurt.

• A big question is whether Jon Sumrall can return the Gators to their glory days.

• Alabama is also a question mark after making the playoffs last year and being ‘taken to the woodshed by Indiana in the 2025 CFP quarterfinals.’

• It wouldn’t be a surprise if an SEC team with a record of 9 – 3 made the playoffs.  

Barnhart shared his predictions for the playoffs:

• The field of 12 will be (in order) Texas (SEC champion), Oregon (Big Ten champion), Ohio State, Notre Dame (independent), Indiana, Georgia, Miami (ACC champion), LSU, Ole Miss, USC, Texas Tech (Big 12 champions) and Boise State (Group of Six representative).  

Then, in the final four:

• #1 Texas will beat #4 Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl
• #2 Oregon will beat #3 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl

Finally this year’s champion, who will be crowned in the latest championship game in history (January 25, 2027 in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas), is going to be:

• TEXAS!

Incidentally, the last time the Longhorns won the National Championship was in 2005 when they defeated Southern Cal on a late touchdown run by Longhorn quarterback Vince Young.  Barnhart called it the best game he’s ever had the privilege of seeing in person.

And after 50 years in the business, that’s saying something.  

Circling back around to Barnhart hinting that he would be backing off now that he’s covered college football for 50 years:

It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if – God willing and the creek don’t rise – he did it for 50 more. 

And I don’t think it would come as a surprise to anyone else either.  

After all, this is Mr. College Football we’re talking about.