Mel & Todd: What's the perfect college football team right now?

Throughout the college football season, Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay kick off each week by settling a debate, looking at emerging NFL prospects and peeking ahead to next week.

Among this week's topics: Who would make up the perfect college football team right now? Kiper takes the offensive team, McShay takes the defense.

Who would make up the perfect college football team right now?

Mel Kiper: Offense

Quarterback

Deshaun Watson, Clemson: I'm sticking with draft-eligible picks for the individual positions -- sorry, Lamar Jackson -- and I have to take my top-rated quarterback. Watson hasn't had that massive game like he did a few times last season -- he did have four touchdowns and no interceptions in the rout at Boston College on Saturday, but his completion percentage was again under 60 -- but he's still the guy I'm taking if my team had to win one game. Just look at what he did in last season's national title game, in which he torched Alabama and almost led the Tigers to a win. Though his numbers aren't as good as they were last season, he and Clemson just keep on winning. Give me Watson over the rest of college football's QBs.

Also in the mix: Brad Kaaya, Miami; DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame

Running back

Leonard Fournette, LSU: This pick relies on health, obviously, because Fournette has struggled with an ankle injury and missed two games. He's an incredible player when he's at his best. Fournette, who's No. 2 on my Big Board, is averaging 5.8 yards per carry this season, and that's without the 80-yard rushes he has had the past two seasons. His longest run this season is only 35 yards. If my team has Watson and Fournette in the backfield, which player is the opposing team going to target to stop? It's not possible to shut them both down.

Also in the mix: Dalvin Cook, Florida State; Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

Wide receivers/tight end

Michigan: The Wolverines' experienced pass-catchers are impressive. Amara Darboh (6-foot-2) and Jehu Chesson (6-3) provide a great combination of size, speed, and catch-radius on the outside, then you get one of the more underrated weapons in the country with Jake Butt at tight end. Butt isn't a burner, but he has good length (6-6), linebacker size (250 pounds), and soft, strong hands to win on contested balls. He's going to be a pretty good one on Sundays. They've combined for nine touchdowns and 901 receiving yards so far this season. Chesson is my No. 1 senior wideout, and Darboh is No. 3. Butt is my top tight end, ranking No. 19 on the Big Board.

Also in the mix: Clemson

Offensive line

Ohio State: The Buckeyes' O-line is young and really talented. Pat Elflein, my No. 2-ranked center, is the only senior among the starters. They're also starting true freshman Michael Jordan at left guard and true sophomore Isaiah Prince at right tackle. Both look like promising future NFL players. Rounding out the group is left tackle Jamarco Jones and and right guard Billy Price, both juniors. Ohio State is averaging 6.4 yards per carry, and it has allowed only 3.0 sacks this season.

Also in the mix: Notre Dame

Todd McShay: Defense

Defensive line: Texas A&M

I know the Aggies didn't have their best defensive performance against Tennessee, but they didn't play as poorly as the 45-38 score would indicate (allowed only 14 points in the first three quarters). DE Myles Garrett is the best defensive prospect in the nation, and it won't shock me a bit if he's the No. 1 overall pick in 2017. A ferocious pass-rusher, Garrett added 10-plus pounds of muscle and has been better versus the run this year. DE Daeshon Hall starts opposite Garrett and is another stud pass-rusher. He already has 3.5 sacks, 10 QB hurries and 9.0 tackles for loss this season. A&M is also deeper, bigger and stronger at defensive tackle than it has been at any point under Kevin Sumlin.

Also in the mix: Alabama, Ohio State and Washington.

Linebackers: Florida

The Gators rank third overall in scoring defense, and this group has talent at all three levels, with five prospects earning grades in the first three rounds: OLB Jarrad Davis, CB Teez Tabor, DT Caleb Brantley, S Marcus Maye and DE Bryan Cox. Davis is the star of the group, and he's the big reason I picked Florida here. In the majority of plays I've studied on tape, the Gators play two-linebacker personnel. Davis reads his initial key quickly and shows great ball reaction. He's also a nasty take-on guy at the point of attack. Junior Alex Anzalone isn't as naturally talented as Davis, but he makes a ton of plays. He's the Gators' second-leading tackler, with 32 through five games (Davis leads the team with 40).

Also in the mix: When Vince Biegel and T.J. Watt are healthy, Wisconsin is a close second.

Defensive backs: Michigan

I'm cheating a little bit here and counting Jabrill Peppers as a member of Michigan's secondary. He plays a hybrid safety/linebacker/nickel back/cornerback role for the Wolverines. Peppers' versatility is unique, and he allows defensive coordinator Don Brown to keep the same personnel on the field against multiple offensive personnel groupings. Peppers can cover most WRs one-on-one. He's a threat as a blitzer from the "overhang" (slot) position. And he's a master at using his quick hands and feet to shed much bigger lead blockers in the run game. CB Jourdan Lewis gets overshadowed a bit by Peppers' all-around brilliance, but Lewis is the best man-to-man cover corner in college football. And Channing Stribling leads the Wolverines with three interceptions and five pass break-ups.

Also in the mix: Florida and LSU

Almost famous

Kiper: Nico Siragusa, OG, San Diego State: Meet the massive man who's making space for the FBS' leading rusher. The Aztecs ran behind the 6-foot-3, 325-pound Siragusa often in Saturday's win over UNLV, and two backs rushed for more than 100 yards. Donnel Pumphrey, who leads the FBS in rushing with 891 yards, had 141 yards, and Rashaad Penny had 114 yards on just 14 carries. Siragusa, who has started 33 games in his career, mostly at left guard, is powerful at the point of attack, but his feet and ease of movement were even more impressive. He pulled and got out in space several times, and he was rarely on the ground. San Diego State passed only 15 times, but Siragusa showed a nice anchor in pass protection. Right now I have him as a late Day 2, early Day 3 guy, but he could rise.

McShay: Nick Holley, QB, Kent State: Holley, a former WR/RB, is doing his best Julian Edelman impersonation. Kent State switched him to QB last week, and he rushed for 224 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries in Saturday's 44-20 win over Buffalo. He entered the game with just 164 rushing yards and one TD in five games, and 117 of those yards came a week earlier against Akron in his first game at QB. The 5-10, 190-pound senior has impressive quickness and vision.

Prospect on the rise

Kiper: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee: Barnett has been a monster the past three weeks, registering 5.0 sacks, a few more tackles for loss and several play disruptions. He's extremely consistent for the Volunteers, getting pressure on quarterbacks while lined up at both tackle and end. He even dropped into coverage a few times. In Tennessee's loss to Texas A&M on Saturday, the 6-3, 265-pound Barnett showed that he's an all-around defender, beating multiple double-teams and making run stops. And the effort's there, too, which makes up for him not having an elite first step off the ball. I see Barnett as a 4-3 defensive end in the NFL, not a 3-4 outside linebacker, but that shouldn't hurt his value. He's a really good player. Barnett was No. 18 on my last Big Board, but I expect him to move up a few spots.

McShay: Trayveon Williams, RB, Texas A&M: Williams rushed for a career-high 217 yards and one TD in the Aggies' hugely important win over Tennessee. I saw A&M live a few weeks ago against Auburn, and I was really impressed with the true freshman's raw ability, particularly his burst and top-end speed. Williams is averaging 8.6 yards per carry and has runs of 42, 49, 73 and 89 yards so far this season.

The big question for next week

Kiper: Who will get the best of the matchup between Derek Barnett and Cam Robinson?

When No. 1 Alabama travels to Tennessee to play the Volunteers next weekend, there's one matchup featuring two players in my Big Board that I'm particularly interested in: Barnett, who I wrote about above, against Robinson, the Alabama left tackle. Both are true juniors who are three-year starters in the SEC, and both are fantastic prospects. Now, they're not going to be lined up over each other every play, but they're going to have some battles. Will Barnett's veteran pass-rushing skills get the best of the consistent, durable Robinson? I can't wait to watch Saturday.

McShay: Can Tennessee rebound quickly with Alabama coming to town?

The Vols have had a problem putting together a four-quarter performance, but they'll need one against the Crimson Tide. Alabama is coming off another impressive win -- 49-30 over Arkansas -- but its defense isn't as dominant as last year's group, and the offense, while explosive at times, has been up and down. Kiper mentioned the Barnett/Robinson matchup, but I'm also looking forward to seeing how Alabama's front-seven studs (LB Reuben Foster, DE Jonathan Allen and OLB Tim Williams) look against Tennessee's O-line and a mobile QB Joshua Dobbs.