ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit makes his college football picks for 2018

Paul Myerberg | USA TODAY

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Kirk Herbstreit has been a fixture on college football Saturdays since 1996, when he joined Chris Fowler and Lee Corso on the set of ESPN’s College GameDay. This fall marks his 13th season as part of the broadcast team behind ABC’s Saturday Night Football, which earned Herbstreit a 2018 Emmy for Outstanding Event Analyst.

During a stop at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Conn., Herbstreit spoke with USA TODAY Sports to break down his thoughts on the best team, surprise team, national champion and more heading into the 2018 season:

Best team

Alabama – if Tua (Tagovailoa) plays. If Tua does start, I think this will be the best Alabama team we’ve seen since Nick (Saban) has been there. Only because they’re going to be able to score like they’ve never been able to do in the past. Because of how explosive the offense can be. I would say ‘Bama is the best team.

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Surprise team

I think Texas is going to be much improved. Now that (second-year coach Tom Herman) has been there a little bit longer, I think the culture will allow them to be better. I think Florida with Dan Mullen has a chance to be pretty good. And I think Mississippi State has a chance. They’ve got guys that fit (new coach Joe Moorhead’s) system.

Heisman pick

Trace McSorley. How about it? He’s the Baker Mayfield of this year as far as intangibles, what he means to this team, attitude, how he plays with a chip on his shoulder. … I’m not talking first (overall) pick, just what he means to his team in 2018 reminds me a lot of Baker. I think that’s how Trace will play this year. And I think they’ve got a chip because people made it seem like it was more about Saquon Barkley, and I think they’re out to prove to people, “No, no, no, we have more in this program than Saquon Barkley.”

Best head coach (non-Saban edition)

There are two or three easy answers, but I think the guy, if you’re buying a stock, is Kirby Smart. He’s on his way. They’re about to be a force. They’re not going away. I would put him right there.

I think James Franklin is a great coach. I’m a huge fan. He won at Vanderbilt, he won at Penn State. Think about what he inherited … I know Bill O’Brien did a good job. But he’s made it cool to go to Penn State again. You know how hard that is after all they went through? When kids in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey say, “I’m going to Penn State,” it used to be like, “Oh, that’s your only (major) offer.” He did that.

College Football Playoff field

I’m going to go Alabama and Clemson … just, like, put them in. And then I’m going to go Penn State and Washington.

National champion

If those are the four, then it’ll be ‘Bama and probably Washington, and Clemson and Penn State. I’m just trying to go with anybody but Alabama and Clemson, but I think it’s going to be Alabama and Clemson. And I think Alabama is going to beat Clemson in what, round four now?