Why this year’s College Football Playoff title race is wide open
Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz spoke with ESPN college football analyst Jesse Palmer on what he’s most excited about entering this season - including why Michigan could be set to make a run for the title.
Jesse joined Yahoo Sports on behalf of “College Colors Day” - which takes place this Friday, September 1st. Follow along on social media with the handle #CollegeColorsDay or visit www.collegecolorsday.com.
Video Transcript
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JASON FITZ: All right, hanging out with Jesse Palmer and one of my favorite quarterbacks. I'll say one of my favorite quarterbacks, a long time friend. And now we get to talk a little bit about a few things. I know we're going to get into College Colors Day. We're excited about that. But before we do that, as we come into the College Football season, you've been around the sport so long. What still excites you the most, like when you're coming into a year like this?
JESSE PALMER: For me this year, I think what makes-- first off, great seeing you too. What makes it exciting for me is that I don't think it's as obvious this year with respect to the National Championship picture. I know every year we're used to talking about Georgia and Ohio State and Alabama. But I think Michigan's a team this year people should keep their eye based on the fact that JJ McCarthy's coming back.
They have the experience at the quarterback position and with an offensive play caller in Sherrone Moore. And there's teams on the periphery at Texas and Oklahoma, a USC. Could be other teams from the Pac-12, Florida State, teams that can make noise. In the last year here at the College Football Playoff with four teams, I think what excites me obviously is the great games we're going to see and the pageantry, which I think makes the sport so special.
But I think there are more unknowns and maybe some more question marks coming into this year than maybe what we've had in years past.
JASON FITZ: But when you look at Michigan, does all of this Harbaugh suspension, does it lead to any sort of distraction for this team? Or they're simply, in your mind, too good to let any of that get in the way?
JESSE PALMER: I think it's too good. It kind of reminds me of a few years ago with Ohio State when Urban Meyer got suspended for the first couple of games, or he wasn't there. Ryan Day took over, and they just rolled everybody. I remember them beating TCU during that stretch. For the stretch of games Michigan has, they're just too talented of a team. That's a team I think is in the National Championship picture yet again.
JASON FITZ: Well, you mentioned fans. One of the best things about the entire College Football season are the fans. And they're part of College Color Days. Tell me about it. Tell me how everybody can get involved.
JESSE PALMER: Yeah, I'm really excited about this. So I'm working with CLC, and we're celebrating the 19th Annual College Colors Day. It's going to be Friday, September 1. And College Colors Day basically sets the tone for College Football fans all across America, anywhere around the world to show their school colors and their pride and their team loud and proud.
It gives everybody a chance really to fan out loud. Just in time for the College Football season to get to explain and represent your school and the pride you have for the school. And you get involved in the social media discussion online and the conversation with the hashtag #ColorsCollegeColorsDay. Fans can also, by the way, go to www.collegecolorsday.com for a chance to win two tickets to the National Championship game and the College Football Playoff.