0 of 10

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

College football is one of America's most popular sports, and one huge reason for its popularity is its unpredictability. In August, fans devour preseason magazines and preseason media coverage, speaking in absolutes about how the season will unfold and which teams will make the College Football Playoff.

By October, however, many of those magazines have little value beyond scratch paper, kindling or an improvised coaster for your favorite game-day beverage.

Upsets can and will happen, and previously unheralded teams will emerge. After all, did anyone expect Pitt to go into Death Valley and stun Clemson? Or for Penn State to emerge as the Big Ten champion? Or, for that matter, for Michigan State to tumble from the College Football Playoff to 3-9? That's the beauty of college football. We think we know, but we don't know anything until the games are played.

Here's a look at 10 realistic upsets that would send the 2017 season into chaos. We're not guaranteeing they'll happen, by any means. But if they do, remember, you heard it here first.