2011 College Football Preview: Big Ten

As usual, my 2011 College Football Preview includes information compiled from a variety of sources, most notably the work of Phil Steele. Check out his preview publications and material on his website. I also scour local newspapers and school websites for updated information, but it should be noted that all information contained in team and conference previews is only current up to the date of that post's publication.

BIG TEN CONFERENCE
Predicted Order of Finish
Leaders Division
1. Wisconsin
2. Penn State
3. Illinois
4. Ohio State
5. Purdue
6. Indiana
Legends Division
1. Nebraska
2. Michigan State
3. Northwestern
4. Michigan
5. Iowa
6. Minnesota

Top Storylines in the Big Ten

Nebraska brings league title game, bad division names, instant contender. Welcome, Nebraska. Before you've won a Big Ten game, you have a target on your back. You have the label of "favorite." That's what happens when you have a defense with guys like tackle Jared Crick, end Cameron Meredith, and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, and a young quarterback like Taylor Martinez. Yeah, Bo Pelini has to replace some offensive pieces like Roy Helu and Niles Paul, but the Cornhuskers walk into the Big Ten as a team capable of contending for the national championship. Martinez was up and down as a freshman, but he got through a sometimes-rough first year and helped lead his team to a ten-win season. Nebraska will keep with the run-first offense, with Martinez and junior back Rex Burkhead leading the charge. It's the kind of addition a league makes and is really happy with in hindsight. There is a buzz around this league that hasn't existed for a while, and it distracts people from the goings-on at tOSU.

How Russell Wilson's inability to hit changed the Big Ten race. To put it bluntly, Wilson created a new contender for the national championship by transferring to Wisconsin. The Badgers return two top running backs, an experienced senior receiver, and they possess one of the best offensive lines in the nation. Gabe Carimi is gone, but center Peter Konz and left tackle Ricky Wagner both return. Six starters return on defense, but they also bring back middle linebacker Chris Borland, a medical redshirt last year. Senior Aaron Henry is the leader in the secondary, and junior Mike Taylor will make plays at outside linebacker. But the story is Wilson. The former All-ACC quarterback solidifies the only major question mark Wisconsin had, as sophomore Jon Budmayr didn't look ready to step into Scott Tolzien's shoes. The Badgers don't play a true road game until Oct. 22 (Michigan State), and they open the league schedule Oct. 1 at home against Nebraska, the toughest game on their slate. Bret Bielema has matured as a coach, to the point that he is no longer a detriment to a program that has the look of a serious BCS contender.

What's left of Ohio State is still good. No more Terrelle Pryor. No more Sweatervest. Ross Homan and Devon Torrence are among those gone from the defense. Suspensions have sapped the team's depth for the first five games of the season. But Ohio State is still dangerous. Joe Bauserman takes over at quarterback, and he has plenty of weapons with the likes of Rod Smith and Jaamal Berry, and Dan Herron will be around after his suspension is served. The Buckeyes can catch, block, run, and will still play good defense. The key will be surviving the suspensions of guys like Herron and DeVier Posey, and then surviving road games against Nebraska, Illinois, and Michigan, along with home dates against Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Penn State. It's a tough draw this year, and a somewhat-gutted Ohio State team might not be its old self as a result. But they're still good.

Jerry Kill era opens with no promises or insane bluster. Unlike his predecessor, new Minnesota coach Jerry Kill doesn't feel the need to talk about what the Gophers are going to do. Instead, he's working to rebuild a program that was once a perennial bowl contender, but has gone 17-33 in the last four years. The Gophers have some talent, especially on the defense, for Kill to work with. But he acknowledges that this is a long-haul project, and not one that will carry a lot of short-term victory. For now, this team will work with what is there. On defense, guys like Kim Royston, Troy Stoudermire, and Brandon Kirksey have to make a leap as individuals for the team to truly improve. Offensively, it's on the broad shoulders of junior MarQueis Gray, a prized Tim Brewster recruit who was moved to receiver last year and caught 42 passes while Adam Weber finished his Gopher career as the school's all-time leading passer. Gray has an arm, but he's untested at that position at this level. The Big Ten schedule is a bear, with the most winnable games (Michigan, Purdue, Northwestern) all on the road.

The Rest of the Story

Joe Paterno has 14 starters back for his 46th year as Penn State coach. The Nittany Lions might not be BCS material, but they are good enough to make a second-tier bowl and perhaps pull an upset or two in league play. ... Lots of hope around this Illinois team, with sophomore Nathan Scheelhaase back along with leading receiver A.J. Jenkins. The offense was good last year, and should be even better this year. ... I think Purdue is going to improve this year, as Danny Hope enters his third season as head coach. I'm just not sure how far up the Leaders Division standings they can get, especially with some uncertainty at quarterback. ... Former Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson takes over at Indiana, and his first job is to replace Ben Chappell, the school's No. 2 all-time passer. There are some pieces in place, but Wilson has a lot of work ahead. ... Senior quarterback Kirk Cousins and junior back Edwin Baker lead the way for Michigan State, a team largely forgotten in the Legends Division thanks to Nebraska, but one that is extremely talented and very much a title threat. ... Quarterback Dan Persa's health is a significant question for Northwestern, but once he's good to go, the Wildcats have one of the better offenses in the league. ... The Brady Hoke era starts at Michigan, and hopes are high it won't be the disaster that the Rich Rodriguez era was. The Wolverines return star quarterback Denard Robinson, leading receiver Ray Roundtree, running backs Michael Shaw and Vincent Smith, and seven starters on defense. Then again, given how bad the defense was last year, seven returning starters might not be a good thing. ... If junior James Vandenburg can lead the offense and get the ball in the hands of receiver Marvin McNutt, Iowa will be good enough to win eight or nine games again this season.

2011 College Football Preview: WAC

As usual, my 2011 College Football Preview includes information compiled from a variety of sources, most notably the work of Phil Steele. Check out his preview publications and material on his website. I also scour local newspapers and school websites for updated information, but it should be noted that all information contained in team and conference previews is only current up to the date of that post's publication.

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Fresno State
2. Nevada
3. Louisiana Tech
4. Hawai'i
5. Utah State
6. Idaho
7. San Jose State
8. New Mexico State

Top Storylines in the WAC

Parity at the top, but Fresno will climb the mountain. If there's a benefit to Boise State bolting for the Mountain West, it's that the top of the WAC is as wide-open as it's been in years. I think Fresno State and Nevada are a bit ahead of the rest, but I could be completely off my rocker. No matter what, I expect the WAC to be won by a team that won't be in the league next season (Fresno, Nevada, and Hawai'i all join the Mountain West). Fresno State only returns ten starters, but among them is junior running back Robbie Rouse, who topped 1,100 yards and at least flashed some brilliance in his effort to replace the largely-irreplaceable Ryan Mathews. Derek Carr, younger brother of former Fresno State star David, should take over the offense for the Bulldogs, and I expect he will do many of the things his brother was famous for in college. Pat Hill's defense has struggled for a few years, but senior tackle Logan Harrell and junior linebacker Travis Brown should both be stars as part of a resurgent unit this year. Nevada loses Colin Kaepernick and Vai Taua, along with sack leader Dontay Moch. The Wolf Pack start senior Tyler Lantrip at quarterback, and they have Lampford Mark and Mike Bell at running back, along with seven starters back on defense. They went 13-1 last year, and that probably won't happen again, but there's plenty of reason for hope in Reno.

Another stud quarterback at Hawai'i. He needs nearly 10,000 yards to pass Timmy Chang, and some 6,500 to reach Colt Brennan, but Bryant Moniz is the latest in a long line of big arms to lead the Hawai'i offense. Moniz topped 5,000 yards passing last year, with nearly 40 passing touchdowns, as the Warriors won ten games, including handing Nevada its only loss of the season. The Warriors have Moniz, but little else, back on the offensive side, but Hawai'i is known for quickly reloading. Left tackle Austin Hansen anchors the line, and senior receiver Royce Pollard returns. JUCO transfer Darius Bright will be a main target for Moniz, too. The Warriors have gotten progressively better on defense since 2005, and that should continue this season, thanks to guys like linebacker Corey Paredes and tackles Vaughn Meatoga and Kaniela Tuipolotu. Hawai'i's schedule features Louisiana Tech and Nevada on the road, so its final WAC slate isn't an easy one.

The Rest of the Story

Louisiana Tech is the best hope among the non-leaving teams to win the WAC. The Bulldogs need to settle on a quarterback, but they should be competitive on defense and along both lines. ... Diondre Borel departs, but Utah State gets star running back Robert Turbin back from a torn ACL, and junior receiver Stanley Morrison -- the team's leading receiver in 2009 -- is back off a medical redshirt. ... Idaho narrowly missed out on a bowl game last year after winning the Humanitarian Bowl in 2009, and now the Vandals have to replace four-year starting quarterback Nathan Enderle. Senior Brian Reader has played the position a bit, and eight starters return on defense. ... A 1-12 season hasn't stopped Mike MacIntyre from continuing his work at San Jose State. The Spartans get 18 starters back, because MacIntyre played a ton of freshmen last year. He paid for it with a bad record, but this is going to be a good team very soon. ... Back-to-back ten-loss seasons at New Mexico State should be followed by a better team this season. DeWayne Walker has 16 starters back, and he hit the JUCO ranks hard for talent, but the Aggies still are likely to finish last.

2011 College Football Preview: Sun Belt

As usual, my 2011 College Football Preview includes information compiled from a variety of sources, most notably the work of Phil Steele. Check out his preview publications and material on his website. I also scour local newspapers and school websites for updated information, but it should be noted that all information contained in team and conference previews is only current up to the date of that post's publication.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Florida International
2. Troy
3. Louisiana-Monroe
4. Arkansas State
5. Middle Tennessee State
6. North Texas
7. Florida Atlantic
8. Western Kentucky

Top Storylines to Watch in the Sun Belt

The rise of FIU. In 2006 and 2007, Florida International combined for one win in 24 games. The Golden Panthers lost 17 of those 23 games by at least ten points. 2007, though, started the Mario Cristobal era, and the former Miami tight ends and offensive line coach has turned the FIU program around very quickly. Last year, FIU went 7-6, advancing to a bowl game for the first time in their short FBS history. A team that couldn't matriculate the ball down the field for three years finally fielded a passable offensive attack last season, averaging nearly 400 yards and 30 points per game. Reigning league player of the year T.Y. Hilton is back, as is senior quarterback Wesley Carroll. Senior running back Darriet Perry returns after scoring 16 touchdowns a year ago. The Golden Panthers have seven starters back on defense, including leading tackler Jonathan Cyprien, who was first-team All-Sun Belt last year. For once, FIU doesn't have a BCS tour of doom this year, with Louisville the only team from an AQ league on the schedule ... and that's a winnable game. Cristobal's team could win nine or ten games if things go right this year.

Troy stays consistent. Since a 4-7 hiccup in 2005, Troy has been the most consistent team in the league. The Trojans have won 41 games over the last five seasons, including two bowl wins and a win over Big 12 member Oklahoma State in 2007. This year, Troy has eight starters back on a defense that was uneven for most of last year. They'll look to linebacker Xavier Lamb, cornerback Jimmie Anderson, and safety Brynden Trawick to lead the way this year. Corey Robinson earned the starting quarterback job as a freshman last year, and he thrived for the most part, throwing for over 3,700 yards. The offense needs more out of junior back Shawn Southward, but Robinson will improve as he becomes more of a leader and more experienced in the offense. A road game at FIU in late October will probably decide the league title.

Can Arkansas State break through? After another disappointing season under Steve Roberts, the school decided to make a coaching change. The Red Wolves didn't look far to replace Roberts, as they hired offensive coordinator Hugh Freeze to take over the program. ASU will continue the transition to a pass-happy attack under Freeze, one that set a school FBS record with 30 points per game last year (joined FCS in 1992). He has the right quarterback in Ryan Aplin, a dual-threat who totaled 32 touchdowns last year (21 pass), and he will improve on his 61.5 percent completions in his second year as the starter. His top three targets are back, and the Red Wolves have seven starters back on defense. Arkansas State has to play early-season games at Illinois and Virginia Tech, but they get FIU and Troy at home in league play and could be a threat.

Dan McCarney lands in Denton. After former high-school coach Todd Dodge bombed, North Texas took a safe route with its latest coaching hire. Former Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney, a longtime defensive coach, got the job. Expect immediate improvement in many areas, including a defense that made strides last year and returns seven starters. Dodge's spread offense never caught on, largely because the Mean Green had too many issues with injuries at quarterback. The offense won't change much, as coordinator Mike Canales was retained. Sophomore quarterback Derek Thompson returns after his 2010 was ruined by injuries. If the transition is as smooth as expected, the Mean Green could christen their new stadium with a bowl-eligible campaign.

The Rest of the Story

17 starters return for Louisiana-Monroe, and the Warhawks could contend for the league title. Quarterback Kolton Browning played like a freshman at times last year, which made sense because he was a freshman. With so many pieces back, Browning is looking to have a huge season. ... A largely disappointing season ended poorly for Middle Tennessee last year, as the Blue Raiders fell to Miami in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. MTSU loses eight starters on defense, and projects to start a lot of freshmen and sophomores there. It could be a tough season ... Howard Schnellenberger's last season at Florida Atlantic features a new stadium, which the Owls will open against Western Kentucky after a five-game road swing to start the season. FAU won only four times last year, but could improve if the coaches can find a comfort zone with a starting quarterback. ... It's been a struggle for Western Kentucky since joining the FBS, but Willie Taggart has things pointed in the right direction. The Hilltoppers won twice last season in Taggart's first year, but return 15 starters and have a more manageable schedule. Four or five wins might not be out of reach for WKU.

2011 College Football Preview: SEC

As usual, my 2011 College Football Preview includes information compiled from a variety of sources, most notably the work of Phil Steele. Check out his preview publications and material on his website. I also scour local newspapers and school websites for updated information, but it should be noted that all information contained in team and conference previews is only current up to the date of that post's publication.

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
Predicted Order of Finish
East Division
1. South Carolina
2. Georgia
3. Tennessee
4. Florida
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt
West Division
1. Alabama
2. LSU
3. Arkansas
4. Mississippi State
5. Auburn
6. Mississippi

Top Storylines to Watch in the SEC

Whose year is it this time? Lately, there's no doubt the SEC has dominated college football. Whether it's Florida, Alabama, LSU, or Auburn, the conference has owned the big games in the sport, and it will probably continue to, even if rumors of expansion end up unfounded. This year, it appears the West is best again, as Alabama and LSU (before players ran into trouble in the final days before the season starts) look like favorites in the national championship picture, and it's not like Auburn is going to stink in its title defense. I have to go with Alabama, with Trent Richardson running the ball and hopefully staying healthy this season. The Tide have sophomore AJ McCarron at quarterback now, but expect him to be just as solid and efficient as Greg McElroy was. Throw in that defense, one that includes studs like Dont'a Hightower, CJ Mosley, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Dee Milliner, and it makes sense that a team breaking in a new quarterback could be favored.

As for LSU ... News as I was writing this post that LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and a teammate have allegedly run afoul of the law doesn't help the Tigers' cause in the West. Neither does the tough break dealt to offensive coordinator Steve Kragthorpe, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's. For LSU to succeed -- assuming Jefferson doesn't skate on whatever charges end up being filed -- they obviously have to find a new quarterback. Jefferson was often the object of scorn from the fans over his uneven play, but he was starting because he was the Tigers' best option. Now, we'll see if Jarrett Lee or Zach Mettenberger can take over and get the job done. It's not like LSU has a layup of an opener. They play Oregon at a neutral site. So right out of the chute, the quarterback situation will be emphatically tested, and their national championship hopes could disappear quickly if things don't go well.

Auburn's title defense will probably not go wonderfully. The Tigers picked a good time to win a national title, because this team was decimated by departures and graduation. Look for running back Michael Dyer to shoulder a huge load in the offense, coming off a 1,000-yard season as a true freshman. No Cam Newton means Barrett Trotter is likely to run the Tigers' offense. Trotter isn't as big or athletic, but he can throw, and he's no slouch running the ball. Just with the missing pieces (eight starters gone on each side of the ball), it's going to be tough for Auburn to repeat last year's run. A schedule that features roadies to Clemson, South Carolina, Arkansas, LSU, and Georgia probably makes it impossible. Auburn should be a bowl team, so they won't repeat Texas' fall from the title game to 5-7, but they aren't going to be a BCS bowl team, it doesn't appear.

What will Charlie Weis' impact be at Florida? The former Notre Dame coach takes over the Gators' offense under new head coach Will Muschamp. While it didn't exactly crash in the first year post-Tebow, Florida wasn't nearly as good in 2010. They dropped 100 yards and a touchdown per game off their 2009 averages, with the yardage losses split between rushing and passing (the passing game took a slightly bigger hit). Seniors John Brantley and Jeff Demps will man the backfield again, and with Weis on board, it seems this offense will transition to more of a pro-style attack. Throw that change in with only ten returning starters and Muschamp's lack of head-coaching experience, and you have the recipe for a tough season in Gainesville. Florida has highly-touted players all over, but they need to replace four offensive line starters and three defensive line starters. Muschamp has four winnable games in September, but October starts with a visit from Alabama, and it doesn't get much easier from there.

The Rest of the Story

I'm not sure if Stephen Garcia can stay out of trouble long enough, but I know that South Carolina is the best team in the SEC East. The Gamecocks have come a long way the last year or so, and a lot of it is due to recruiting. Steve Spurrier got a huge contribution out of true freshman back Marcus Lattimore last year, and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is poised to do that this year. ... Georgia could be a real darkhorse contender. The Bulldogs have talent all over the field, some potential impact freshmen, and a schedule that features the toughest games -- South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Auburn -- at home, with Florida in Jacksonville as usual. Isaish Crowell could be this year's Lattimore. ... Tennessee hasn't been good in a while, but they'll make a positive stride this season. 13 starters return, Derek Dooley appears to have his quarterback in Tyler Bray, and the Volunteers play five of six at home to start the season. I don't see them being nearly good enough to challenge South Carolina or Georgia, but they'll improve. ... If you're looking for a potential sleeper, don't discount Kentucky. The Wildcats lose starting quarterback Mike Hartline and ten-touchdown back Derrick Locke, but return ten starters to a defense that was pretty good a year ago. That defense stands to improve dramatically. It starts up front, where they're experienced, but still a tad young. ... I expect that new coach James Franklin will do a good job with the Vanderbilt program, but I don't think it will be instant gratification. The Commodores were a mess last year, and while they have a ton of experience with 19 starters, it will take time to adjust. ... I like this Arkansas team, but they'll miss Ryan Mallett at quarterback. The loss of running back Knile Davis to an injury is devastating, too. We'll see what Bobby Petrino can do with junior quarterback Tyler Wilson. ... It was nice to see Dan Mullen get Mississippi State to a bowl last year, and it seems they have a good-enough team to get to one again. But how good will they be? They'll miss Chris White on defense and Derrick Sherrod on the offensive line, and it doesn't help them that a road game at Auburn and a home date with LSU are on the docket in the first three weeks. ... Despite the presence of transfer quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, last season was a disaster at Mississippi. The Rebels went 4-8, only 1-7 in league play, and allowed 35 points per game. Now, Houston Nutt has to replace seven defensive starters, and he has to find a new quarterback. In the SEC, this doesn't sound like a road map to a bowl.

2011 College Football Preview: Pac 12

As usual, my 2011 College Football Preview includes information compiled from a variety of sources, most notably the work of Phil Steele. Check out his preview publications and material on his website. I also scour local newspapers and school websites for updated information, but it should be noted that all information contained in team and conference previews is only current up to the date of that post's publication.

PAC 12 CONFERENCE
Predicted Order of Finish
North Division
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. Oregon State
4. Washington
5. California
6. Washington State
South Division
1. Arizona State
2. USC
3. Utah
4. UCLA
5. Arizona
6. Colorado

Top Storylines to Watch in Pac 12

Lots of newness. There are two new teams. New divisions. New league name. Lots of excitement in the Pac 12 over everything that happened this summer. Newcomers Utah and Colorado stand to experience slightly different fortunes in their first years. Utah has 12 starters back, lots of stability with seventh-year coach Kyle Whittingham, and a new offensive coordinator in Norm Chow who knows a thing or two about this conference. Junior quarterback Jordan Wynn is joined in the backfield by freshman running back Harvey Langi, who should make an impact along with junior John White, a junior college transfer. Colorado has 16 starters back, but new coach Jon Embree has quite a lot of work to do in rebuilding a program that hasn't made a bowl since 2007, and hasn't played in a major bowl since 2001. The Buffaloes were 5-7 in Dan Hawkins' last season, and unless senior quarterback Tyler Hansen takes better care of the ball and stays healthy, CU will struggle in the transition.

Oregon reloads. After a run to the BCS title game, the Ducks return only 11 starters, including just five on a defense that played much better most of the season than it was given credit for. I expect Oregon to ride their offense a bit this year. Quarterback Darron Thomas returns, as does running back LaMichael James. Thomas is only going to develop better passing skills with more experience, and James is coming off a 1,700-yard, 21-touchdown season. There's a lot of talent in that backfield, and while Auburn did a great job slowing the Ducks' frenetic pace, Thomas made a few plays in the passing game to keep them alive in the game. On defense, the Ducks allowed 519 yards to Auburn, and it might get worse this year without Casey Matthews and Talmadge Jackson. That Nov. 12 game at Stanford will be a doozy.

Luck's shocking return leads to ... With a new coach on board (David Shaw replaces Jim Harbaugh), and half the starters gone, this could be a rebuilding year for Stanford. Of course, Andrew Luck's decision to return changes all that. Leading receivers Doug Baldwin and Ryan Whalen are gone, but running back Stepfan Taylor is back, and Luck still has incredible ability. How will Luck build off last year (70 percent completions, 3,300 yards, 32 touchdowns, only eight picks)? He's going to get better, and he's going to be in the Heisman chase. With defensive leaders Shayne Skov, Chase Thomas, and Delano Howell all back, the Cardinal could be even better on defense than they were a year ago, when they slowed virtually everyone but Oregon and USC. And Luck will be in New York when the Heisman gets handed out.

Another step at ASU. After three straight non-bowl seasons and a lot of disappointment, it looks like Dennis Erickson will have a very strong team at Arizona State this year. The Sun Devils have 15 starters back, which should help support 6-8 quarterback Brock Osweiler. He takes the reigns after Steven Threet was forced to step away from football because of concussions. Osweiler should be well-protected, as the whole offensive line is back, and he has a lot of weapons at his disposal. Running back Cameron Marshall and wide receiver Mike Willie have loads of talent. The Sun Devils have a favorable schedule, with USC and Oregon State at home, and only Oregon and Utah looking like difficult road games. Erickson's defenses have been plenty competitive in recent years, and as long as that trend continues, there's no reason ASU can't be in the mix for the league title and a significant bowl.

Tough times at UCLA. Fourth-year coach Rick Neuheisel was supposed to fix a lot of these ills. Instead, the UCLA program continues to flounder in mediocrity. The Bruins have been to one bowl in Neuheisel's three years, and that was an EagleBank Bowl bid in 2009 that materialized only because Army couldn't win its last game and gain eligibility. This year, UCLA has 17 starters back, including nine on offense, but there is one guy Neuheisel needs more than anyone else. That's junior quarterback Kevin Prince, who was injured much of last season and ineffective when he was healthy. Without him, it won't matter how many yards Johnathan Franklin runs for, and it won't matter who good the defense -- which stunk last year -- is. Neuheisel is an offensive guy, and he has to develop a quarterback or risk being out of a job.

The Rest of the Story

Oregon State seems to always outperform expectations, but after a 5-7 season, the Beavers need to rebound this year. Junior quarterback Ryan Katz should have more time to throw behind an experienced line this season. ... No more Jake Locker at Washington, but the Huskies still have a pretty good team. Sophomore Keith Price takes over at quarterback, and junior running Chris Polk is going to be a star ... Due to stadium renovations, California is playing home games at San Francisco's AT&T Park. Like Oregon State, the Golden Bears were uncharacteristically bad last year, going 5-7. Unless Buffalo transfer Zach Maynard is the answer at quarterback, though, things might not improve as quickly. ... I keep thinking Washington State will improve, and nothing really happens. Paul Wulff is 5-32 in Pullman, but there are signs of light here. He has a quarterback in Jeff Tuel who can play, and the Cougars will be better on defense. Unfortunately, they might not be good enough to win more than three or four games. ... USC is still not eligible for a league title or a bowl game, but they're going to be dangerous this year. The Trojans have a developing star in junior quarterback Matt Barkley, and sophomore receiver Robert Woods is coming off a great season. They should be good enough to battle Arizona State for the South title. ... I'm not sure what to make of Arizona. I like Nick Foles as a quarterback in this offense, and Juron Criner is a hell of a good receiver. I'm just no sure the Wildcats have enough pieces on defense to win more than three or four league games in this conference. They can make a minor bowl, but I'm not sure they're better than that.

2011 College Football Preview: Mountain West

As usual, my 2011 College Football Preview includes information compiled from a variety of sources, most notably the work of Phil Steele. Check out his preview publications and material on his website. I also scour local newspapers and school websites for updated information, but it should be noted that all information contained in team and conference previews is only current up to the date of that post's publication.

MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Boise State
2. TCU
3. Air Force
4. Wyoming
5. Colorado State
6. San Diego State
7. New Mexico
8. UNLV

Top Storylines to Watch in the Mountain West

The new guy. As the Mountain West mourns the losses of Utah and rival BYU, the league is still strong, thanks to the addition of Boise State from the WAC. The Broncos have been a monster in college football for some time, posting a staggering 61-5 record over the last five years, with three of those losses coming in 2007. Three-year starter Kellen Moore is back under center for Boise, carrying a TD-interception ratio of 99-19 into this season. That's solid. Senior running back Doug Martin is back, as is senior receiver Tyler Shoemaker. Senior left tackle Nate Potter has been first-team All-WAC twice, and he's an odds-on favorite for similar honors in the MWC this year. Chris Petersen's team returns seven starters on defense. Among them are senior tackles Billy Wynn and Chase Baker, senior ends Tyrone Crawford and Shea McClellin, and linebackers Aaron Tevis and Byron Hout, both seniors. This is a serious national championship contender, and it doesn't hurt them at all that key MWC games against TCU and Air Force will both be contested on the blue carpet.

The lame duck. Boise is in, and Fresno State and Nevada might be on the way soon, but the loss of TCU will hurt the league in a way, because they no longer have a foot in the door in Texas. TCU's decision to move to the Big East was controversial in a way, in large part because of the league's decision to move a home game against Boise to Idaho after TCU announced it was departing. On the field, this figures to be a tough season for the Horned Frogs, who posted back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons (only loss was the 2009 Fiesta Bowl to Boise), and beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl last year to complete a 13-0 campaign. As usual, TCU will be led by its defense, which hasn't allowed more than 20 points per game in a season since 2004. Linebackers Tanner Brock and Tank Carder are back, as is defensive end Stansly Maponga. The offense took some hits, as quarterback Andy Dalton -- the school's all-time leading passer by nearly 3,000 yards -- departed, along with leading receiver Jeremy Kerley and top offensive linemen Marcus Cannon and Jake Kirkpatrick. Going to Baylor and Air Force right out of the chute won't help matters, but I still think there's a decent chance TCU will be unbeaten when they head to Boise Nov. 12. It's not too early to get excited about that one.

Air Force is doing it ... again. It's probably a bit insulting now to talk with amazement about how Air Force -- with stringent admissions standards and often an undersized team -- continues to remain more than competitive in today's college football landscape. Instead, this has become old hat. The Falcons have not won fewer than eight games in any of their four years under coach Troy Calhoun, and there's no reason to think they will struggle to hit that number again this year. Senior quarterback Tim Jefferson returns for a fourth year at the controls, something rather unprecedented in the Air Force system. And, yet, it's the second class in a row that's featured a four-year starter for them (Shaun Carney from 2004-2007). Jefferson can throw enough to keep defenses honest, and he's the kind of run threat you expect from the option offense. Senior back Asher Clark returns after a 1,000-yard season, and junior Wesley Cobb should also see plenty of carries. Eight starters are back on defense, including nose tackle Ryan Gardner, a key figure in the team's 3-4 defense, one that struggled mightily to defend the run last year (over 200 yards per game). An experienced secondary helps keep teams from running away with games. An early home date with TCU will tell us a lot about this Air Force team, one that has a realistic shot at ten or more wins.

Rocky Long returns. Well, to the league, that is. Long is the new head man at San Diego State, taking over for Brady Hoke after he moved on to Michigan. Long coached at New Mexico for a decade, taking the Lobos to five bowls in seven years before being shoved out the door. The Lobos are 2-22 since. Long takes over a team that Hoke did a tremendous job with, getting them to nine wins and a bowl win over Navy last year. The Aztecs do have senior quarterback Ryan Lindley back after a tremendous season last year, and running back Ronnie Hillman returns after tearing up defenses as a freshman, but SDSU loses six starters from a Long-led defense that had some struggles a year ago. That's the new head man's priority: get more out of that defense, including a lot more big plays. A winning season is a solid bet here, but they'll have to make quick strides defensively to match the nine they won in 2010.

The Rest of the Story 

I'm hitching up to the Wyoming bandwagon. The Cowboys return 14 starters, have an emerging star in back Alvester Alexander, and should be significantly better on defense. If Dave Christensen can find a quarterback, he'll have a team capable of going bowling for the third time since 1993. ... Colorado State should also be a lot better this year. The Rams suffered through a 3-9 season, but now-sophomore quarterback Pete Thomas made strides each start. Just think about how much better he will be thanks to last year's experience. ... There's no doubt that Mike Locksley is in trouble at New Mexico. He has a better team on paper, but they're 2-22 the last two years and not looking to be better than four or five wins this year. Doesn't help that former UNM coach Long is now a head man for a league rival. ... Former Montana head coach Bobby Hauck is trying to build UNLV into a contender, and one year won't show those results. Look for the Rebels to play a ton of young players as Hauck stocks the shelves with his players. For now, though, only marginal improvement can be reasonably expected after a 2-11 campaign.

2011 College Football Preview: MAC

As usual, my 2011 College Football Preview includes information compiled from a variety of sources, most notably the work of Phil Steele. Check out his preview publications and material on his website. I also scour local newspapers and school websites for updated information, but it should be noted that all information contained in team and conference previews is only current up to the date of that post's publication.

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Predicted Order of Finish
East Division
1. Ohio
2. Temple
3. Kent State
4. Miami
5. Bowling Green
6. Buffalo
7. Akron

West Division
1. Northern Illinois
2. Toledo
3. Western Michigan
4. Central Michigan
5. Ball State
6. Eastern Michigan

Top Storylines to Watch in the MAC

New regime, same Huskies? Jerry Kill may be gone to Minnesota (with both coordinators going with him), but Northern Illinois is still loaded for another run at the MAC title. The Huskies return eight starters on offense for new coach Dave Doeren, the former co-defensive coordinator at Wisconsin. One of them is quarterback Chandler Harnish, who stands to set the school's all-time passing yardage record if he stays healthy. Senior back Jasmin Hopkins hopes to pick up where departed star Chad Spann left off. Spann scored 22 touchdowns on the ground and ran for nearly 1,400 yards, so his shoes are going to be tough for Hopkins to fill. Doeren's challenge comes on defense, where NIU loses nine starters, but projects to start eight juniors and seniors. The schedule is tough, with Army (home), Kansas (road), and Wisconsin (neutral) in back-to-back-to-back weeks before the MAC season starts.

How good will Western Michigan be? The Broncos went 6-6 last year, but Bill Cubit returns 15 starters, including eight on a defense that got better throughout last season. It culminated in the Broncos yielding just ten points in the last two games (both wins). The key to Western's further improvement this season is junior quarterback Alex Carder, who threw for 30 touchdowns last year. Leading receiver Jordan White (94 catches, 1,400 yards, ten touchdowns) is back. With so many bodies back, it will be hard for Western not to run the ball better. Sophomores Tevin Drake and Brian Fields lead the running game this year. Middle linebacker Mitch Zajac and Miami transfer Doug Wiggins, a safety, are the key players on that defense, one that will be tested right away with games against Michigan and Illinois, along with Central Michigan, in the first month of the season. Road trips to Northern Illinois and Toledo will make it a tough division to win this season.

Ohio might be a quarterback away. Since taking over at Ohio, Frank Solich is 40-36, but his Bobcats have made three bowl games in five years. This year might be the best team he has fielded there, meaning it could be the best team Ohio -- a school currently sporting an all-time bowl game record of 0-5 -- has ever had. The Bobcats return their linebackers intact, have loads of potential on the defensive line with senior Curtis Meyers and junior Carl Jones, and have all five starters back on the offensive line. Senior Donte Harden and Iowa State transfer Beau Blankenship should at least be able to match what Ohio got out of their running backs last year. The question is at quarterback, where Boo Jackson graduates third on the school's all-time passing yardage list. Sophomore Tyler Tettleton and redshirt freshman Kyle Snyder appear to be the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart. Tettleton is probably a slight favorite to start, thanks in part to his athleticism. The schedule isn't terribly meaty, so Ohio should be favored in the East and should get to another bowl this season.

Temple in transition. No more Al Golden at Temple, as the young prodigy ended a very impressive five-year run at what had become one of the worst programs in the country and moved on to Miami. Former Florida offensive coordinator Steve Addazio takes over. Golden didn't leave the cupboard bare for Addazio, as the Owls won eight games last year (inexplicably did not get a bowl invite), and they return 12 starters. The offense should be energized by the return of running back Bernard Pierce, whose 2010 season was washed away by injuries. Quarterbacks Mike Gerardi and Chester Stewart are back, with Gerardi possibly favored to start because of his advantage over Stewart in accuracy. All-MAC defensive end Adrian Robinson is back, as is senior cornerback Kee-Ayre Griffin, who should contend for all-league honors. Temple is an interesting team because they have so much talent, and the key to their season being a success will be how quickly they adjust to Addazio.

The Rest of the Story

Even with a new coach in Darrell Hazell, Kent State could be a real darkhorse contender this year. The Golden Flashes had a great defense last year, but couldn't score points. Look for improvement there, and possibly Kent State's first bowl since 1972. ... No more Mike Haywood at Miami, and the RedHawks try to build off a ten-win season with new coach Don Treadwell. His experience tutoring the offense at Michigan State -- where Sparty has been a pretty good running team over the years -- should help at Miami, where the RedHawks averaged 98 yards per game rushing last year. ... 14 starters return for Dave Clawson at Bowling Green. The Falcons won twice last year, but should at least double that as sophomore quarterback Matt Schilz grows up. ... It was rough for Buffalo last year, but you can expect the offense -- a huge problem last year -- to get significantly better in the second year of Jeff Quinn's spread attack. ... Akron won once last year, and losing the entire rushing attack from last year won't help them improve immediately. Look for coach Rob Ianello to play a lot of freshmen and sophomores, something that will help him in a year or two, but not as much in the here and now. ... Don't spend a lot of time overanalyzing their heartbreaking bowl loss to Florida International, because Toledo will be a MAC contender. Tim Beckman gets 18 starters back, had virtually his entire offense intact, and the Rockets project to start four seniors in the secondary. Those are good things, for sure. ... Central Michigan struggled last year with Mike Enos as the new coach. His second year will be smoother, with junior Ryan Radcliff set at quarterback, junior receiver Cody Wilson back, and some impact players on defense. ... Former Elon head coach Pete Lembo is going to try to turn things around at Ball State, where Brady Hoke's departure led to two awful seasons under Stan Parrish. This might take some time, but Lembo did good things at Elon, and he should get the job done here, too. ... Eastern Michigan hasn't had a winning season since 1995. They haven't won more than four games in a season once since then. Ron English is 2-22 in two seasons, and while the Eagles appear to be improved on paper, there is still a long way to go for English to get EMU caught up in terms of talent with the rest of the MAC.

2011 College Football Preview: Conference USA

As usual, my 2011 College Football Preview includes information compiled from a variety of sources, most notably the work of Phil Steele. Check out his preview publications and material on his website. I also scour local newspapers and school websites for updated information, but it should be noted that all information contained in team and conference previews is only current up to the date of that post's publication.

CONFERENCE USA
Predicted Order of Finish
East Division
1. Southern Mississippi
2. Central Florida
3. UAB
4. Marshall
5. East Carolina
6. Memphis
West Division
1. Houston
2. Tulsa
3. SMU
4. Rice
5. Tulane
6. UTEP

Top storylines to watch in Conference USA

Case Keenum's return to a loaded Houston team. Keenum's senior season was cut short last year, so he successfully gained a medical redshirt from the NCAA and is back again. He's already passed Kevin Kolb on Houston's all-time passing yards list, and the NCAA record is within reach if he can make it through this season without any problems. The Cougars need to replace three starters in the secondary, where Texas A&M transfer Colton Valencia becomes eligible at safety. But they have plenty of talent elsewhere, especially with senior receivers Patrick Edwards and Tyron Carrier and senior running back Bryce Beall. Keenum is familiar with this offense, his targets, and he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Don't count him out of the Heisman race if he can stay healthy, and don't count Houston out as a darkhorse BCS contender. With UCLA, East Carolina, and SMU at home, the schedule is incredibly manageable. A Nov. 26 game at Tulsa will likely decide the division title.

Can Tulsa get by Houston in the West? Change came at a bad time for the Golden Hurricane, as Todd Graham's move to Pittsburgh came right before signing day. That shouldn't greatly impact this year's team, as UT returns 18 starters, including ten on offense. The lead dog is quarterback G.J. Kinne, who has flourished since transferring from Texas. Kinne pitched 31 touchdown passes last year, and still found time to lead the team with 561 rushing yards. Tulsa used a committee approach to running the ball last year, with three backs totaling at least 335 yards as the team averaged over 200 yards per game on the ground. Look for sophomore Trey Watts to carry more of that load this season. New coach Bill Blankenship has plenty of experience in the program, but this is his first rodeo as a college head coach. He sure has a lot of players who have played significant snaps in the past, but that's not a guarantee of anything in a division which includes Houston and SMU. Another double-digit win season looks likely, but the non-conference schedule may prevent that in the end.

Southern Miss tries to bust the BCS, too. Houston isn't the only team capable of a big season in 2011. Southern Mississippi has pieces in place on both sides of the ball, along with a pretty favorable schedule. Quarterback Austin Davis is in position to break Brett Favre's USM career passing record early in the season, sophomore Kendrick Hardy could be on the verge of stardom, and wide receivers Kelvin Bolden and Quentin Pierce are all returning from last year's team, which averaged nearly 37 points per game. The defense should be better, thanks to seven returning starters, including the top four tacklers and star linebacker Korey Williams, who plays all over the field. The favorable schedule includes only one real tough non-conference game (at Virginia), along with a bunch of winnable games at home (SMU, Central Florida, Rice). It's not inconceivable that USM could meet Houston in a battle of 12-0 teams for the Conference USA title.

Can UAB get to a bowl? Last year, Alabama-Birmingham showed improvement in many areas, but still took a step back in record, going from 5-7 in 2009 to 4-8. The school decided to keep coach Neil Callaway, who has the lowest salary of CUSA coaches, and possibly the worst facilities to work with. Despite those handicaps, the Blazers could be improved enough to qualify for a bowl this season. It helps that teams like East Carolina, Marshall, and Memphis are still in a bit of transition in the East Division. UAB has to deal with non-division games against Tulsa and Houston, but they get Southern Miss and Central Florida at home, and senior quarterback Bryan Ellis returns to lead the offense. His line is virtually intact in front of him, including senior left tackle Matt McCants. Expect Ellis to be more efficient, and the running game will improve. Callaway's defense gets a jolt with new coordinator Tommy West (former Memphis coach), and it helps that West gets to work with nine returning starters.

The Rest of the Story

After an 11-win season, Central Florida only has ten starters back. Luckily for George O'Leary, one of them is sophomore quarterback Jeff Godfrey, who is only going to get better after a very good freshman campaign. ... Marshall has to replace quarterback Brian Anderson, but I still think they could find a way to a bowl game, assuming they survive an incredibly difficult league schedule that includes non-division games against Tulsa and Houston, both on the road ... A tough non-conference schedule (South Carolina, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Navy) could keep East Carolina from going bowling, but it also doesn't help that a defense that allowed 44 points per game lost four starters off the front seven. Big things will happen with Dominique Davis back to lead the offense, though. ... They won one game last year, and Memphis is not going to be good this year, either. Larry Porter's rebuilding job continues with another season of double-digit losses more than likely here. ... Expect huge numbers out of June Jones' offense in year three at SMU. He finally has the personnel he wants in place at all the key positions. That said, their defense still won't be good enough to overcome Houston and Tulsa, both of whom SMU plays on the road. ... Rice could be a surprise team, but it will take a Herculean effort out of their defense. Michigan transfer Sam McGuffie and sophomore Taylor McHargue are more than capable offensive stars, and the Owls could very well hit 35-40 points per game. The problem is that they're also likely to allow those types of numbers. ... Steady improvement has been the way at Tulane recently, but it's time to make a real move in the right direction. Bob Toledo gets 14 starters back, and one of them is emerging star back Orleans Darkwa. He also gets leading tackler Trent Mackey back on defense, and both units should improve statistically. ... Mike Price only has two starters back on offense at UTEP. All-time leading passer Trevor Vittatoe departs, as does leading receiver Kris Adams. The Miners might have to ride their defense, which gets nine starters back and might take a huge leap forward from the average unit they had a year ago.

2011 College Football Preview: Big 12

As usual, my 2011 College Football Preview includes information compiled from a variety of sources, most notably the work of Phil Steele. Check out his preview publications and material on his website. I also scour local newspapers and school websites for updated information, but it should be noted that all information contained in team and conference previews is only current up to the date of that post's publication.

BIG 12 CONFERENCE
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Oklahoma
2. Texas A&M
3. Texas
4. Oklahoma State
5. Missouri
6. Baylor
7. Texas Tech
8. Kansas State
9. Iowa State
10. Kansas

Top Storylines in the Big 12

Texas is king; will they play like it? With Colorado and Nebraska gone, the Big 12 has ten teams. Texas is the league's crown jewel, owners of their own (somewhat controversial) television network. But the Longhorns are coming off a 5-7 season, and there are some issues to resolve if they are to return to the top of the mountain. For one, quarterback Garrett Gilbert has to cut down on the turnovers. Secondly, the Longhorns could stand to find a feature back. Unless Gilbert -- assuming he beats out the likes of Case McCoy for the starting job -- is set to become a Vince Young/Colt McCoy type who can run this offense and be the alpha dog, they need someone in the backfield to step up. That could be highly-touted freshman Malcolm Brown, who has impressed the Texas veteran players so far. The Longhorns have talent all over the field, but the offense will sputter if Gilbert struggles, and Gilbert will likely struggle if Texas doesn't find a running back to carry the load the way Ricky Williams and Cedric Benson did in years gone by.

Can Justin Blackmon do it again? In an otherwise non-descript season for Oklahoma State, wide receiver Justin Blackmon was special last year. He caught an incredible 111 passes and scored 20 touchdowns, numbers that will be difficult to build on, or even match, though it helps that triggerman Brandon Weeden returns, and running buddy Josh Cooper, an outstanding possession receiver, both return for OSU. Oklahoma State also brings back its entire offensive line intact, and there are some strong pieces on defense like cornerback Brodrick Brown and linebacker Shaun Lewis. I'm not sure they can win 11 games again, but the Cowboys are definitely a threat in a league that has one top dog (Oklahoma) and a bunch of teams with question marks.

Oklahoma is a heavy favorite. There is no getting around this, really. Junior quarterback Landry Jones threw for over 4,700 yards last year, and he's on track to become OU's all-time leading passer by the team's second game this season. The Sooners do have to replace dual-threat back DeMarco Murray, but there is an impressive stable of backs ready to take a shot. There are indications OU will use a group of guys to fill the position, instead of a single feature back. That opens the door for true freshman Brandon Williams to make a huge impact. Junior Jermie Calhoun could also be a guy to watch, along with sophomore Roy Finch. Ryan Broyles and Kenny Stills return to catch Jones' passes, and eight starters are back on defense to improve a unit that allowed 362 yards and 22 points per game last year. those aren't bad numbers at all, but it's expected that OU will be just as dangerous defensively as they look to be offensively. Don't overlook the loss of tackle Trent Williams, even though he primarily played on the right side.

We'll keep seeing how good Robert Griffin III is. Baylor hasn't exactly been known for producing legendary quarterbacks over the years. In fact, until 2010, something called J.J. Joe was the school's all-time leading passer. That is no more, thanks to now-junior Robert Griffin III. Griffin shook off the torn ACL that ruined his 2009 season by making The Leap last year. He hit two-thirds of his passes for over 3,500 yards with 22 touchdowns. He chipped in eight rushing touchdowns for an even 30 on the season. He showed his potential brilliance in ten starts as a true freshman in 2008 before the injury washed away 2009. Last year, Baylor reached a bowl game for the first time since 1994, losing to Illinois in the Texas Bowl. Griffin led the Bears to a win at Texas, their first in Austin since 1991, when that Joe guy was the quarterback. Griffin has a chance to take Baylor to consecutive bowls for the first time in 20 years, and he is only going to become a bigger name in Waco with every game he wins. The Bears have 14 starters back, could field an elite offense in the Big 12, and are a far cry from the outfit that was routinely getting blown out in conference play even a few years ago.

The Rest of the Story

Mike Sherman has his quarterback at Texas A&M, and it's Ryan Tannehill. The senior took over for the last six games last season and made a huge difference for a then-struggling team. With receivers Jeff Fuller and ryan Swope both back, this offense could be scary good. ... The loss of Blaine Gabbert will be felt at Missouri, though there's no doubt that sophomore James Franklin is a talented quarterback. What will also be interesting is how the Tigers replace impact players Aldon Smith and Andrew Gachkar from the defensive front seven. ... They might not run the same mad offense in Lubbock, but Texas Tech can still score points. I expect they'll be a little wobbly this season as they continue to adjust to Tommy Tuberville's ways. Look for the defense to be vastly improved. ... Transfers like Bryce Brown (Tennessee), Meshak Williams (JUCO), and Justin Tuggle (JUCO) will make an impact at Kansas State, but the Wildcats will feel the loss of star running back Daniel Thomas despite Brown's presence. ... Iowa State continues to get better on defense, but Paul Rhoads will again struggle to get his team's offense up to snuff. Losing dual-threat quarterback Austen Arnaud won't help matters on that side of the ball, but the Cyclones do have seven starters back on defense, including linebacker Jake Knott, who is capable of 150 tackles this season. ... Last year started with a whimper for Kansas, as they lost 6-3 to North Dakota State. They then scored 24 points in their last three games of the year, losing by a combined 69 points. They were outgained by 131 yards per game, including a staggering 219 in conference play. 15 starters return, but this isn't going to get better fast.

2011 College Football Preview: Big East

As usual, my 2011 College Football Preview includes information compiled from a variety of sources, most notably the work of Phil Steele. Check out his preview publications and material on his website. I also scour local newspapers and school websites for updated information, but it should be noted that all information contained in team and conference previews is only current up to the date of that post's publication.

BIG EAST CONFERENCE
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Pittsburgh
2. Cincinnati
3. South Florida
4. Rutgers
5. Connecticut
6. West Virginia
7. Syracuse
8. Louisville

Top Storylines in the Big East

Odd offseason for coaches. Two league schools had rather unorthodox coaching changes during the offseason. At Pittsburgh, Dave Wannstedt was jettisoned after 26 wins over three years, the most for the school in nearly 30 years. They tried to hire Mike Haywood after a magical season at Miami University, but Haywood's legal issues gave Pitt no choice but to pull the plug on that idea. They then turned to former Tulsa coach Todd Graham, who brings a wide-open offensive attack to Pittsburgh. The Panthers' main rival, West Virginia, had an even more interesting spring. After they announced new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen and named him the head coach in waiting, reports surfaced that current head coach Bill Stewart -- set to coach in 2011 for one more year before Holgorsen took over -- was trying to undermine his successor. Once that all got out, WVU forced Stewart out immediately, with Holgorsen taking over. It was all very juicy, but does it make the Mountaineers better? This was a upper-tier team before the upheaval, and now they have to maintain it after all the distractions. Missing seven starters on defense won't help. Meanwhile, Graham's quarterback-friendly offense should leave incumbent starter Tino Sunseri very happy. The junior is poised to put up huge numbers for the Panthers.

Rutgers rebound? Greg Schiano's Scarlet Knights went 4-8 last season. They took significant steps back both on defense and offense, where their production dropped by more than a touchdown per game while the run game suffered greatly, averaging just 2.7 yards per attempt. Top recruit Savon Huggins is expected to make an impact, and leading rushers Jordan Thomas and Jeremy Deering return. Huggins averaged over ten yards per carry and is the first consensus No. 1 player from New Jersey to commit to Rutgers. Sophomore quarterback Chas Dodd returns after putting up decent numbers last year, and leading receivers Mark Harrison and Mohamed Sanu are both back. Harrison should become a star as Dodd develops. Only a junior, he tallied nine touchdowns and averaged nearly 19 yards per catch last year. Michigan transfer Anthony La Lota, an athletic tackle, keys the Knights' defense.

Can South Florida make The Leap? The 2009 preseason was full of high hopes for South Florida. Matt Grothe was carrying the offense into the season, but the quarterback tore his ACL less than a third of the way into the season, and while freshman B.J. Daniels performed admirably, he couldn't get the Bulls to the top of the Big East. Now, Daniels is a junior, and the Bulls might be ready to make another run. USF needs to get more out of an offense that averaged just 309 yards per game last season, but their defense should be quite strong. Look out for linebackers Sam Barrington and DeDe Lattimore, and defensive end Ryne Giddins could be special rushing the passer. On the offensive side, it will help that the team has a full year of Skip Holtz' system in, but the key is Daniels, who must become more consistent as a thrower.

The Rest of the Story

I like Cincinnati this season for more reasons than just Zack Collaros, though that's a good place to start. The senior quarterback waited his turn to become the full-time starter, and he did pretty well last year, with turnovers and some bad luck conspiring to help the Bearcats limp home 4-8. Mix in an experienced and talented defense with improvement from Collaros, and the Bearcats could be a threat ... Connecticut will miss Randy Edsall's leadership, and former Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni has some big shoes to fill there. It will be interesting to see if D.J. Shoemate can emerge as a top runner, because the Huskies have quietly done a fine job of developing running backs lately, with Donald Brown and Jordan Todman both starring at UConn before going to the NFL. ... While I don't expect much of a dropoff with Syracuse this season, I do think they will struggle a bit, off their first bowl trip (a win at Yankee Stadium) since 2004. Delone Carter was too big a part of the offense not to be sorely missed. It puts a lot of pressure on quarterback Ryan Nassib, who was hot and cold much of last season. If he develops more consistency, the Orange could be a surprise team. ... Charlie Strong did a great job in his first year at Louisville, leading the Cardinals to the Beef O'Brady's Bowl, where they beat Southern Miss. A big reason why was the play of their top quarterbacks, as Adam Froman and Justin Burke were both efficient and took good care of the ball. Inexperienced Will Stein is expected to start this season, and the Cardinals lose seven other offensive starters, so Year 2 could be a bit tougher for Strong.

2011 College Football Preview: ACC

As usual, my 2011 College Football Preview includes information compiled from a variety of sources, most notably the work of Phil Steele. Check out his preview publications and material on his website. I also scour local newspapers and school websites for updated information, but it should be noted that all information contained in team and conference previews is only current up to the date of that post's publication.

ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE
Predicted Order of Finish
Atlantic Division
1. Florida State
2. North Carolina State
3. Clemson
4. Maryland
5. Boston College
6. Wake Forest
Coastal Division
1. Virginia Tech
2. Georgia Tech
3. Miami
4. Duke
5. Virginia
6. North Carolina

Top storylines to watch in the ACC

Upheaval in Chapel Hill. Just last week, North Carolina fired coach Butch Davis amid NCAA scandal that could impact this program for years to come. After a season in which 13 players and eight possible starters were suspended for NCAA violations, UNC fans were probably looking forward to a look at what their team could do with a full deck. Instead, Davis is gone, we don't know yet how the roster will be impacted, and fall camp is set to start. It's likely too much for even a potentially great team to overcome, and I didn't see UNC as anything more than a potential mid-major bowl team this year (similar to their 8-5 record last year with a Music City Bowl trip). UNC returns 13 starters, including star defensive end Quinton Coples, and sophomore quarterback Bryn Renner is a promising talent. We'll see if it's enough to override everything going on off the field.

The Wilson Theory? ESPN columnist Bill Simmons popularized the Ewing Theory, attaching it to teams that lost star players and ended up improving overall because other players saw the opportunity to step up into a bigger role. NC State relied heavily on the talents of quarterback Russell Wilson the last three years, riding his arm and athleticism to two bowl bids and 20 wins, including a 9-4 record last year. The Wolfpack lost Wilson, presumably to baseball, but he has now quit baseball and transferred to Wisconsin to play his senior season (he can do this because he earned an undergraduate degree at NC State). While Wilson tries to lead Wisconsin to the Big Ten title, Mike Glennon takes over in Raleigh. Glennon was a top-five prospect in high school, but he has just 326 passing yards in two years with the 'Pack. It's his team now. He's more of a pocket passer -- in the mold of NC State's all-time passing leader, some guy named Philip Rivers -- so he won't play the same as Wilson. But with the distractions of Wilson's budding baseball career no longer Tom O'Brien's problem, Glennon has the chance to be a big-time leader for NC State. With eight starters back on defense, Glennon could be a huge factor if he stays healthy, because that defense should keep the Wolfpack in plenty of games.

Nine wins = new coach. After one of his finer coaching jobs, Maryland pushed Ralph Friedgen out the door after ten years at the helm. Friedgen took the Terrapins to the ACC title early in his tenure, but struggled in recent years before leading Maryland to nine wins last season. Former Connecticut coach Randy Edsall was the choice to replace him. He inherits a strong team with 14 returning starters. Two big players to watch are sophomore quarterback Danny O'Brien, who had 22 touchdown passes as a freshman, and senior running back Davin Meggett, who split time at the position last year with Da'Rel Scott, but was Maryland's most consistent runner. Outside linebacker Kenny Tate's range and athleticism keys the Terps' 3-4 defense. If Edsall can lead a smooth transition, Maryland could be a team to watch in an Atlantic Division that doesn't feature any clear favorites outside of Florida State, which has to replace its starting quarterback.

Logan Thomas = Cam Newton? With 26 passes on his college resume, you sure can't argue that presumed Virginia Tech starter Logan Thomas is anything like 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton of Auburn. But that hasn't stopped some in the hype machine from cranking up the comparisons, largely because Thomas' physical stature is very similar to Newton's. Their games are not that similar, with Thomas more of a pocket passer as opposed to Newton's athletic freakishness. The sophomore takes over at Tech after Tyrod Taylor graduated, and the hope is that he can become the strong passer Taylor never really did until his senior season. Leading rusher Darren Evans is also gone, but the Hokies return almost the whole starting offensive line, and the defense should be strong as always.

The rest of the story

Yes, Florida State loses Christian Ponder. But I like this team a lot. They'll run the ball better, thanks to a crop of great young talents and junior Chris Thompson. Leading receivers Bert Reed and Willie Haulstead return, too, so new starting quarterback E.J. Manuel has plenty of targets. ... If Clemson can fill in pieces on the defense, where stars DeAndre McDaniel and Da'Quan Bowers depart, they could be dangerous. Kyle Parker never reached his potential at quarterback, and his departure to play baseball won't be that tough to deal with. Look for sophomore Tajh Boyd to play well. ... No one in the ACC stands to improve as much at quarterback as Boston College, where sophomore Chase Rettig had his ups and downs as a true freshman. As he continues to gain experience, I expect senior Montel Harris to keep carrying the offense. ... I think Wake Forest will be better, but they could still be the worst team in the ACC. Jim Grobe gets the most he can out of this talent, but the Demon Deacons simply don't have a lot of talent. A pair of sophomores in the backfield -- quarterback Tanner Price and running back Josh Harris -- are the keys to Wake's future. ... Despite losing option triggerman Joshua Nesbitt, Georgia Tech could be a surprise team. They execute their offense well, and while Tevin Washington was ineffective last year when Nesbitt got hurt, I think he'll show great improvement running the offense after a full offseason. If Paul Johnson has a quarterback, his team will improve off 6-7 last year. ... Al Golden takes over at Miami, and the transition shouldn't take long. The cupboard isn't bare here, and if Golden can straighten out quarterback Jacory Harris' fundamentals, the Hurricanes should improve. It helps that non-conference opponents Ohio State and Kansas State both visit South Beach. ... They were 3-9 last season, but Duke keeps getting better under David Cutcliffe. Now, they have to build their defense to take the next step. The Blue Devils allowed 35 or more points in five games, going 1-4 in those contests. Cutcliffe is now seeing his own recruits at most every position, and the team keeps getting bigger, faster, and stronger. Quarterback Sean Renfree -- only a junior -- could be a star once he takes better care of the football. ... Mike London did a great job in his first year at Virginia, getting four wins out of a team that probably wasn't that good. A defense that allowed nearly 30 points per game returns ten starters, so it's obvious that the Cavaliers will go as far as that unit takes them. London is recruiting well, so it's just a matter of time before a three-year bowl drought ends.