In August, the college football universe is awash in an abundance of hope. In lieu of any evidence to the contrary, it's easy enough to imagine any outcome for the season ahead.

We could bask in the comforting consistency of Clemson 's roster and believe the Tigers are back to being national title contenders.

We could squint at all the portal additions Auburn made this offseason and buy into the idea that perhaps Jackson Arnold was finally ready to fulfill his potential behind an offensive line that wasn't primarily made up of Popsicle sticks and tape.

We could hold our breath, focus on the way last year ended, and convince ourselves that Billy Napier truly had Florida on the right path.

In August, it was easy to believe Illinois was a playoff team, Nebraska was back and it

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