Dabo Swinney and Deion Sanders are not the same.
But, entering into the 2024 season, Clemson's veteran head man and Colorado's second-year conductor are the same: They need big seasons -- for entirely different reasons.
Swinney has done it all at college football's highest level, but he needs to prove Clemson hasn't slipped beyond College Football Playoff relevancy.
After taking his Buffaloes show on the road over the weekend to Denver Public Schools' city stadium, Sanders needs to prove this Colorado football will travel week in, week out throughout a return to the Big 12 and with an early-season rivalry tilt at Nebraska.
Florida's Billy Napier? He needs wins for all the standard reasons. It's Year 3 in the Swamp for Napier, and he's got America's worst schedule getting him, from Aug. 31's opener at home against in-state rival Miami to its regular-season finale at Florida State, with tilts in-between against Georgia, LSU, Tennessee and Texas in various outposts.
And what of the Big Ten? Matt Rhule's always generated big second years in his collegiate stops, and Michigan finally gives the Big Ten its first defending national champion since Urban Meyer's Buckeyes.
Team FootballScoop discusses all these elements in more, starting with the ACC, going to the Big 12 in segment two, followed by the Big Ten and on to the SEC, wrapped up by Scoop President Scott Roussel.
Take a listen below:
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