Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

FOX Sports analyst RJ Young weighs in on if 2022 will be a ‘chaos season’

Cole Thompson

By Cole Thompson

Published:

College football’s landscape is always on the verge of change. A major upset one week could lead to a ripple effect in terms of chaos. A program that was viewed to finish dead last in the conference could end up being a surprise. A team that was dubbed a preseason contender might be out of the College Football Playoff race before Week 4.

The sport has seen chaos as of late over the past several seasons. According to Fox Sports’ RJ Young, this season has started the same as in years past with massive upsets in non-conference matchups.

“I thought this last year. Turn’s out I was wrong, like many people,” Young said on the latest episode of ‘The No. 1 CFB Show.’ “It feels so chaotic during the non-conference schedule in that you see upsets where you don’t expect to see upsets and that’s what makes the sport go. It’s why I love it so much.”

In a sense, Young might be onto something. Nebraska was projected by many to contend for the Big Ten West division title after winning big in the transfer portal with prospects such as Texas quarterback Casey Thompson and TCU defensive end Ouchan Mathis. On Sunday, the Huskers fired Scott Frost after a 1-2 start with losses to Northwestern and Georgia Southern.

It’s not just in the B1G, either. Programs like Texas A&M and Notre Dame both suffered early season losses to Sun Belt schools after being ranked inside the preseason top 10. Kansas, meanwhile, s currently leading the FBS in scoring offense, averaging 55 points per game through 2 outings.

Young isn’t ready to say that college football is headed into chaos just yet. However, if programs like Kansas, Georgia Tech, and Indiana are fighting for a shot at a conference title late in the season, all bets are off the table.

“I need to see more of this in November,” said Young. “Because if I see Kansas jumping up and beating Baylor, Oklahoma I’m inclined to believe you, because Kansas finished the No. 3 team in the country in 2007. That’s the only way that I’m willing to say we are looking at another 2007.”

Cole Thompson

Cole Thompson is a freelance writer for Saturday Tradition who has covered college football and the NFL for multiple websites. Thompson is currently based in Houston, Texas, and also can be heard daily on SportsMap National Radio's 'Just Sayin It' from 3am-6am.