The college football season kicks off with two games on Thursday, August 30th. Recently an ESPNU panel of experts ranked their preseason Top 25 teams. I love analyzing great sports teams because they offer multiple transferable concepts to church, business, and non-profit leaders.
The following are the ESPNU’s Top 10 preseason teams in descending order with lessons all leaders can learn from.
- After an 11-win season, the #10 Michigan Wolverines face a unique challenge.  Jesse Palmer states, “The biggest issue facing Brady Hoke is complacency.”
- The #9 Arkansas Razorbacks are facing what John Maxwell calls The Law of the Lid. Can the team overcome the loss of head coach Bobby Petrino?  Palmer points out that “this team is really going to miss Bobby Petrino in the play calling.” Fellow analyst Todd Blackledge adds, “Bobby Petrino was as good as anyone as a play caller in the SEC.”
- The #8 South Carolina Gamecocks teach us the value of flexible leaders and their willingness to adjust their system based upon their talent. Head Coach Steve Spurrier has a great admirer in Blackledge.  “I’m not sure that Steve (Spurrier) hasn’t had a better year coaching than he had last year…’We’re not going to throw it all over the park anymore’…They’re 95th in the country in passing and still win 11 games. It’s an amazing job he did.”
- The #7 Florida St. Seminoles are a deep and talented team.  “This is the year we will see the fruits of Jimbo Fisher’s recruiting” says Palmer. Kirk Herbstreit tells us why team depth is so important. “If they stay fresh (because of continually rotating players), they’ll play fast on defense the whole game.”
- Character and Chemistry are the keys to a successful season for the #6 Georgia Bulldogs.  The team’s defense has suffered multiple game suspensions because of the players’ off-season behavior. “They think they have 10 NFL players on defense. Can they get out of their own way?” asks Mark Schlabach.  Blackledge points out that regardless of your level of talent, “the thing you don’t know year-to-year about a team is chemistry.”
- Often a leader’s success is determined by the quality of their teammates. The #5 Oklahoma Sooners suffered a major setback last season when star receiver Ryan Broyles was injured. Blackledge reminded us that “when Ryan Broyles went out of the lineup last year, (QB) Landry Jones disappeared.”
- Talent and skill determines opportunity for the #4 Oregon Ducks.  “Chip Kelly doesn’t necessarily give the job to person with the most seniority.”
- What makes the #3 Alabama Crimson Tide great each season is that they have created a leadership culture.  “Barrett Jones is one of the best leaders in college football” says Blackledge. David Pollack adds that you can give more responsibility to leaders. “Nick Saban puts on a lot on the defense’s plates. He expects you to know tendencies.”
- Upgraded talent may help the #2 LSU Tigers win the NCAA championship. Interestingly, Palmers wants us to “keep in mind the last three national champions had a first year starting quarterback. Zack Mettenberger has all the tools you are looking for…He is a natural leader.”
- Great teams, such as the preseason #1 USC Trojans understand the value of proper motivation.  Herbsteit says, “The job Lane Kiffin did last year was one of the best jobs in all of college football.” However, what made you successful last year will not ensure success this year. Palmers adds that, “Lane Kiffin this off-season purposefully has had to instill new concepts, new routes, and allow Matt Barkeley more time to call plays at the line of scrimmage just to keep him motivated.”
Complacency, The Law of the Lid, Flexibility, Depth, Character, Chemistry, Talented Teammates, Skill, Culture Of Leadership, Upgraded Talent, and Proper Motivation.
Practice these concepts and you too may have a championship team. Which team are you most excited about this college football season?
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