SIX GAMES TO LOOK FORWARD TO
Illinois vs. Missouri (Aug. 30): Two of last year’s surprises meet in St. Louis to open the season. The Tigers can make a statement if they can keep the Juice (Williams) from getting loose.
Ohio State at Southern California (Sept. 13): One of the nation’s top five teams will lose all of its wiggle room in the national title chase with this titanic matchup in Los Angeles.
Georgia-Arizona State (Sept. 20): The Bulldogs don’t go west often - this is their first visit to a Pac-10 school since 1960. Rudy Carpenter and the Sun Devils will provide a tough test in the desert.
Texas vs. Oklahoma (Oct. 11): A Sooners loss isn’t likely this season. But if it comes anywhere, chances are it will be at the Texas State Fair in Dallas against the Longhorns.
Louisiana State at Florida (Oct. 11): Would Urban Meyer repeatedly go for it on fourth down with the Gators’ season on the line like riverboat gambler Les Miles did last year? It could happen in the Swamp this season.
Auburn at West Virginia (Oct. 23): Hide the women, children and couches - the Mountaineers should be 6-0 entering this Thursday night showdown in Morgantown.
SIX HEISMAN CANDIDATES
QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
2007: 3,121 yards, 36 TDs, 8 INTs
Nation’s passing efficiency leader - and NCAA record holder for touchdown passes as a freshman (36) - could be in for an even more impressive encore as a sophomore.
WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
2007: 134 catches, 1,962 yards, 22 TDs
After a dominant freshman year, Crabtree could be in line for a 2,000-yard season. Part of it’s the system. Much of it’s his talent.
QB Chase Daniel, Missouri
2007: 4,306 pass yards, 253 rush yards, 37 TDs, 11 INTs
The Big 12 is loaded with quality quarterbacks - Todd Reesing, Sam Bradford, Graham Harrell and Colt McCoy among them. Daniel happens to be the best.
RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
2007: 1,334 yards (5.4 avg.), 14 TDs
He dazzled as a redshirt freshman, and he’s arguably the top reason the Bulldogs are considered title contenders. But will he get enough carries?
QB Tim Tebow, Florida
2007: 3,286 pass yards, 895 rush yards, 55 TDs, 6 INTs
The first sophomore to take home the Heisman hardware could become only the second player to win it twice.
RB Chris “Beanie” Wells, Ohio State
2007: 1,609 yards (5.9 avg.), 14 TDs
Obligatory Buckeyes player to include on the list in case Ohio State again makes the national title game.
QB Pat White, West Virginia
2007: 1,724 pass yards, 1,335 rush yards, 28 TDs, 4 INTs
If not the best player in the land, White might be the most valuable to his team - the Mountaineers would crumble without him under center.
ENCORE ATTEMPTS
Returning AP All-Americans:
FIRST TEAM
Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Duke Robinson, G, Oklahoma
Jeremy Maclin, WR/KR, Missouri
Thomas Weber, K, Arizona State
George Selvie, DE, South Florida
James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State
Kevin Huber, P, Cincinnati
SECOND TEAM
Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri
Anthony Parker, G, Tennessee
Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas
Austin Starr, K, Indiana
Terrill Byrd, DT, Cincinnati
Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
William Moore, S, Missouri
Patrick Chung, S, Oregon
THIRD TEAM
Ryan Stanchek, OT, West Virginia
Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin
Nick Reed, DE, Oregon
Greg Middleton, DE, Indiana
Vance Walker, DT, Georgia Tech
Scott McKillop, LB, Pittsburgh
Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest
Taylor Mays, S, USC
FAB 14
The 14 winningest (by percentage) active Division I-A coaches (must have three or more years of experience):
Coach, school Seasons Record Win pct
1. Pete Carroll, USC 7 76-14 84.4
2. Jim Tressel, Ohio State 7 73-16 82.0
3. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas 4 41-9 82.0
4. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma 9 97-22 81.5
5. Urban Meyer, Florida 7 70-16 81.4
6. Mark Richt, Georgia 7 72-19 79.1
7. Phil Fulmer, Tennessee 16 147-45 76.6
8. Bobby Bowden, Florida State 42 342-113-4 74.9
9. Joe Paterno, Penn State 42 372-125-3 74.7
10. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina 18 163-56-2 74.2
11. Gary Patterson, Texas Christian 7 62-25 71.3
12. Dennis Erickson, Arizona State 19 158-68-1 69.8
13. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan 7 60-26 69.8
14. Les Miles, LSU 7 62-27 69.7
COACHING CAROUSEL
Of the 120 major college jobs, 18 of them changed hands last year. A look at the old and new coaches, as well as where the hires came from:
SchoolOld coach (seasons)New coach (former job)
ArkansasHouston Nutt (10) resignedBobby Petrino (Falcons HC)
BaylorGuy Morriss (5) firedArt Briles (Houston HC)
Colorado St.Sonny Lubick (15) firedSteve Fairchild (Bills OC)
DukeTed Roof (5) firedDavid Cutcliffe (Tennessee OC)
Georgia TechChan Gailey (6) firedPaul Johnson (Navy HC)
HawaiiJune Jones (9)to SMUGreg McMacklin (Hawaii DC)
HoustonArt Briles (5) to BaylorKevin Sumlin (Oklahoma co-OC)
MichiganLloyd Carr (13) retiredRich Rodriguez (West Virginia HC)
MississippiEd Orgeron (3) firedHouston Nutt (Arkansas HC)
NavyPaul Johnson (6) to Ga. TechKen Niumatalolo (Navy asst. HC)
NebraskaBill Callahan (4) firedBo Pelini (LSU DC)
N. IllinoisJoe Novak (12) retiredJerry Kill (So. Illinois HC)
SMUPhil Bennett (6) firedJune Jones (Hawaii HC)
Southern MissJeff Bower (17) resignedLarry Fedora (Okla. State OC)
Texas A&MDennis Franchione (5) resignedMike Sherman (Texans OC)
UCLAKarl Dorrell (5) firedRick Neuheisel (Ravens OC)
Washington StateBill Doba (5) resignedPaul Wulff (E. Washington HC)
West VirginiaRich Rodriguez (7) to MichiganBill Stewart (WVU assistant)
BLUEST CHIPS
Where last season’s top 35 prep players signed as determined by a consensus of rankings from top analysts Bobby Burton, Allen Wallace and Tom Lemming:
PlayerPositionHt/WtSchool
1. Terrelle PryorQB6-6/227Ohio State
2. Julio JonesWR6-4/215Alabama
3. DaQuan BowersDE6-4/265Clemson
4. Will HillS6-3/203Florida
5. Darrell ScottRB6-0/204Colorado
6. Patrick JohnsonCB6-1/193LSU
7. A.J. GreenWR6-4/184Georgia
8. Marcus ForstonDT6-2/286Miami
9. Arthur BrownLB6-1/210Miami
10. Jermie CalhounRB6-0/210Oklahoma
11. R.J. WashingtonDE6-3/245Oklahoma
12. Jonathan BaldwinWR6-6/220Pittsburgh
13. Mike FloydWR6-4/195Notre Dame
14. Richard SamuelRB6-0/197Georgia
15. Blake AylesTE6-4/240USC
16. Omar HunterDT6-1/300Florida
17. Brandon HarrisCB5-10/174Miami
18. Matt KalilOL6-7/281USC
19. Mike AdamsOL6-7/308Ohio State
20. Baker SteinkuhlerOL6-6/290Nebraska
21. Jamie HarperRB6-0/220Clemson
22. Tyron SmithOL6-5/260USC
23. Mike GlennonQB6-6/194N.C. State
24. DeAndre BrownWR6-6/208Southern Miss
25. Burton ScottATH5-11/194Alabama
26. Dayne CristQB6-5/228Notre Dame
27. Chancey AghayereDE6-4/244LSU
28. Lamaar ThomasATH5-11/181Ohio State
29. Blaine GabbertQB6-4/226Missouri
30. Michael BrewsterOT6-6/290Ohio State
31. Jerrell HarrisLB6-2/220Alabama
32. DeVier PoseyWR6-2/190Ohio State
33. Aaron WilliamsDB6-1/175Texas
34. Kyle RudolphTE6-6/229Notre Dame
35. Tyler LoveOT6-7/280Alabama
— Barker Davis and Patrick Stevens
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