Here is why State will be the Darkhorse pick to win it all in 2018...

[BrunswickDawg]

I don't know that we have ever had the amount of returning, experienced talent that we will have in 2018. Maybe '99 or '00?

I know that people are concerned about the staff change, however we have some things going for us there:
1) Our defense is used to the change. It's happened every year.
2) The leadership mentality the team developed this past year. These guys are tight, and are on a mission. I think Dan bolting, and the way it went down, will be a huge motivating force. These guys have a big chip on their shoulder.
3) A HC who is known for adapting - Moorhead takes talent and figures out how to use it and doesn't just force players into a system. I love that.
4) Schedule - our schedule is favorable for a run next year. Lots of teams with new coaches. Three OOC games and at Kentucky to work out the kinks and start 4-0. UF and AU at home makes both winnable. 5-1 or 6-0 going into Baton Rouge with momentum - a place and team we have played well the past 4 years, making this a winnable road game. Texas A&M at home is winnable - and we seem to have gotten the milkman monkey off our backs. Follow that up with LaTech, and we are 8-0 or 7-1 headed to Tuscaloosa. Can we get the Red Elephant off our back? If so, there is no stopping us and we roll into an SEC title match against UGA

and finally

5) Fitz in Grad School. Once he finishes rehab, Fitz being in grad school will free him up for a Master's in QB. More time for reps, film study, etc. etc. Dak made his biggest strides after he graduated. I think Fitz can do the same.

[Tbonewannabe]

I don't know that we have ever had the amount of returning, experienced talent that we will have in 2018. Maybe '99 or '00?

I know that people are concerned about the staff change, however we have some things going for us there:
1) Our defense is used to the change. It's happened every year.
2) The leadership mentality the team developed this past year. These guys are tight, and are on a mission. I think Dan bolting, and the way it went down, will be a huge motivating force. These guys have a big chip on their shoulder.
3) A HC who is known for adapting - Moorhead takes talent and figures out how to use it and doesn't just force players into a system. I love that.
4) Schedule - our schedule is favorable for a run next year. Lots of teams with new coaches. Three OOC games and at Kentucky to work out the kinks and start 4-0. UF and AU at home makes both winnable. 5-1 or 6-0 going into Baton Rouge with momentum - a place and team we have played well the past 4 years, making this a winnable road game. Texas A&M at home is winnable - and we seem to have gotten the milkman monkey off our backs. Follow that up with LaTech, and we are 8-0 or 7-1 headed to Tuscaloosa. Can we get the Red Elephant off our back? If so, there is no stopping us and we roll into an SEC title match against UGA

and finally

5) Fitz in Grad School. Once he finishes rehab, Fitz being in grad school will free him up for a Master's in QB. More time for reps, film study, etc. etc. Dak made his biggest strides after he graduated. I think Fitz can do the same.

If our team isn't pumped up to play UF then I don't know what could. AU will be tough if Stidham comes back but a lot of NFL draft boards are thinking he might be gone. There aren't a lot of good QBs in the draft this year. LSU will be tough in BR but do they actually get a QB worth a crap with Guice leaving? Everyone has more question marks than we do next year.

We basically have to replace one corner and Dez Harris on defense. On offense, Eiland already played over half the season and Thomas at TE was rotated with Green anyway. Gray and Myles were complete non factors for the whole year. As far as losing actual production, oddly enough we need someone to step up for Cleveland but he was probably an average SEC corner.