COLUMBIA, Mo. — It’s inevitable that every summer, college football fans and media declare that the coming season is big for their team. It’s big for the head coach’s job security. It’s big for the senior class’ legacy. It’s big for the direction of the program, the mood of the fan base, recruiting implications, donations and ticket sales. For all those reasons and more, this season is BIG.
Here’s a little secret about college football: Every season is big — or at least it seems that way for every team, every year. The future of the program hinges on everything that unfolds from the first practice in August to the final game in November, December or, if you’re fortunate, January.