Are you keeping an eye on the Indiana Hoosiers? If you're talking about teams that could realistically snag next year's College Football Playoff title, the Hoosiers are definitely in the mix.
They're the defending champs, after all, and while going back-to-back is no easy feat, they've got a secret weapon in tackle Carter Smith. This guy's not getting the spotlight he deserves.
ESPN's Max Olson recently highlighted the top returning player for each potential top 25 team, and for Indiana, it was a no-brainer: Carter Smith. Olson's piece suggests a bit of surprise that Smith didn't jump to the pros, where he could've been a first-round lock like last year's Heisman winner, Fernando Mendoza.
Mel Kiper Jr., another ESPN analyst, has Mendoza in the first round of his pre-combine NFL mock draft. But not Omar Cooper Jr. or Elijah Sarratt, just Mendoza.
This only adds to the buzz around Curt Cignetti, who might just be the best head coach in college football right now. Smith, playing on offense for Mike Shanahan alongside Charlie Becker and Josh Hoover, stands out as their top player.
As the reigning Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, Smith could dominate his competition next season.
Carter Smith might just be Indiana's Orlando Pace in the making.
There's been plenty of excitement about Hoover's transfer from TCU, but let's give him room to find his groove. Replacing a program legend is no small task.
Becker, meanwhile, steps up as the key player in their receiving corps. Sure, Nick Marsh is coming in from Michigan State, but with Cooper and Sarratt heading to the NFL, Becker's role is crucial.
For Indiana to repeat as College Football Playoff champions in the expanded 12-team format, they need a standout player at a pivotal position. While having that player at quarterback is ideal, having someone like Smith on the edge or the line is a game-changer. He makes Indiana's offense robust and dynamic.
Hoover is likely to shine in Shanahan's offense within Cignetti's system, but it's Smith's exceptional play that will give him the time he needs in the pocket. Until the game evolves in unexpected ways, line play will continue to be a deciding factor in championship outcomes. Indiana is lucky to have the best offensive tackle in the country this year.
Hoover might grab the headlines, but it's Smith who's the real game-changer for the Hoosiers.