In the world of college football, it's been an eventful season filled with surprises, coaching moves, and conference shake-ups. As the regular season comes to a close, fans and experts are reflecting on the successes and challenges faced by various teams and coaches.

One team that has raised eyebrows is the Alabama Crimson Tide. Despite their impressive wins over highly-ranked opponents, including Georgia, Ole Miss, LSU, and Tennessee, there are debates about their potential playoff contention. On the other hand, the Texas Longhorns have faced their own struggles, with wins against Alabama, Kansas State, and a likely matchup with Oklahoma State. The selection committee faces the dilemma of evaluating these teams and finding a way around ranking difficulties.

Coaching changes have also made headlines this season, with Brian Kelly at LSU and Lincoln Riley at USC making surprising moves. Both teams have faltered and gone backward this season, leaving fans wondering who's feeling the best and who's the most nervous. LSU fans have mixed emotions about Kelly, recognizing his potential to produce 10-win seasons. However, concerns arise from the team's poor defensive performances. USC fans, on the other hand, have legitimate reasons to be extremely concerned, considering Riley's disastrous second season, impending move to the Big Ten, and a challenging schedule ahead.

Brent Venables at Oklahoma and Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame have had their share of ups and downs in their early tenures. Venables has rebounded nicely from his debut season, securing impressive wins over Texas and likely attaining a solid record. Freeman, meanwhile, has had a rollercoaster season, facing criticism for a last-second mistake against Ohio State but generating hope with comeback victories. If he can finish the season strong and achieve a 10-3 record, he will start the next season on solid footing.

In other news, the Big 12's tiebreaker language has raised some eyebrows and concerns. With the potential for 128 different scenarios, questions are being raised about how the information is distributed and the challenges it presents. Furthermore, the expansion plans of various conferences, including the Big Ten, ACC, and SEC, pose their own set of challenges. Eliminating divisions seemed like a good idea, but potential scenarios of undefeated teams not facing each other raises questions about the fairness of determining conference champions.

As the Ohio State-Michigan game approaches, speculation begins about the implications for head coach Ryan Day. While Day has an impressive record, a loss against Michigan for the third consecutive year could draw comparisons to John Cooper, who struggled against their rivals despite overall success. However, the differences in coaching eras and Day's strong track record indicate that such comparisons may not be justified.

In another development, the NCAA's stance on potential retroactive vacating of wins is unclear. The investigation into Michigan's impermissible recruiting actions and alleged booster involvement could lead to serious charges for the program. While vacating wins is a possibility, it is uncertain how far back the penalties would reach and if it would impact any future games or championships.

Injury plays a significant role in shaping the national title race. Florida State's Jordan Travis' recent injury has dealt a blow to their championship hopes, reminding us of similar instances in the past. In 2007, Oregon's Dennis Dixon's injury derailed their season, and J.T. Barrett's injury in 2014 impacted Ohio State's campaign. These examples demonstrate how a crucial injury can dramatically alter a team's trajectory in a championship race.

Lastly, the question of Syracuse's competitiveness in the ACC arises. While some argue that the school may be better off competing in a Group of 5 conference to achieve more success, financial constraints and conference obligations make this move unlikely. Syracuse's best strategy lies in investing in their football program, leveraging NIL opportunities, and making a strong coaching hire to revive their fortunes.

As the Ohio State-Michigan matchup approaches, expectations are high for a thrilling showdown that could potentially eclipse last year's viewership numbers. With intriguing storylines surrounding potential suspensions and alleged cheating, experts predict that this year's highly-anticipated clash will draw an estimated 18.2 million viewers, marking the most-watched regular-season game since the monumental LSU-Alabama matchup in 2011.

As the college football season reaches its climax, the landscape is filled with excitement, concerns, and uncertainties. Fans and pundits eagerly await the outcome of key matchups, coaching decisions, and conference deliberations that will ultimately shape the future of the sport.