The balance of power in the Big Ten is squarely in the East but who should be the favorite in 2017? Can Michigan rebuild quickly enough to knock off Ohio State or Penn State? What does the future of Michigan State football look like? Wisconsin appears to be the favorite on paper in the West but there is a large group of quality teams chasing the Badgers. And Minnesota and Purdue have new coaches.

The guys dive deep into the South to break down the SEC. What is the biggest issue for the SEC and it's perceived drop-off? Who is on the top contender tier in the East and which team could be a Wild Card? What else can be said about Bama and who are the two clear challengers to the Tide in the West? What do we make of the state of Mississippi football?

Is the Pac-12 the easiest league to pinpoint the favorites in 2017? Why is this the year to trust USC? Can Washington repeat? But who are the contenders next in line? Utah has an identity, Colorado returns everyone on offense and UCLA has the best quarterback. In the North, Oregon could bounce back quickly, Wazzu has its QB back and Stanford will once again be a tough out.

Athlon Sports is back doing what it does best: previewing college football. Braden and Mitch are previewing the Big 12 this week. Who are the teams that can challenge Oklahoma? How far does Baylor fall? Is Texas the surprise to watch for in '17? What do we make of quarterback situations at West Virginia and Texas Tech? Can TCU bounce back? Will the Big 12 miss the Playoff again?

The guys start with Jim Harbaugh and why people are obsessed with him? Which leads into a bigger discussion about why fans and the media glorify college coaches. Finally, the guys break down the Power 5 rosters heading into spring practice. Who are the most talented teams in the nation?

Alabama is looking for another offensive coordinator... again. What does it mean for the Tide that Coach Sark left? What did National Signing Day teach us about the future of college football? Braden Gall and Mitch Light break down the national team recruiting rankings and what it all means for coaches as well as the 2017 season. The guys also explore the Death Penalty and how involved the NCAA should be criminal investigations.

What is the most important aspect of National Signing Day? Do the guys agree with the new recruiting rules that could change recruiting forever? We also graded all of the first year coaches and tried to identify the rising stars of the mid-major ranks.

Braden Gall and Mitch Light are joined by Steven Lassan to take an early look at the preseason 2017 Top 25. Is Bama going anywhere? Florida State or Clemson in the ACC? Can Penn State challenge in the Big Ten East again? Is it a two team race in the Pac-12? How good can Texas be in the Big 12?

Braden Gall and Mitch Light break down every angle of the Clemson-Alabama rematch. Is this a Texas-USC type of game or does Bama continue to roll? How big of a factor is Lane Kiffin "leaving" the program? And does conference supremacy really matter?