Strengths: Along with one of the nation’s best coaches in Meyer and one of college football’s all-time greats in Tebow, the Gators have 18 starters back in the fold.
Nagging questions: Will the Gators stay hungry? The SEC is college football’s version of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. If you don’t come ready to play each and every Saturday, then you’ll get your teeth knocked in because this conference is chock-full of future pros.
Make or break game: at LSU, Oct. 10. With home games versus Charleston Southern, Troy and Tennessee and then a road trip to Kentucky to open the season, the Gators figure to be 4-0 and No. 1 in the land as they head to Cajun country to play in one of college football’s toughest venues. Win this one and Team Tebow could run the table.
Strengths: With the reigning Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback (Sam Bradford), two tailbacks who rushed for a combined 2,222 yards and 34 scores in Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray, and a battle-tested defense that returns nine starters, the Sooners have the horses to return to the BCS title game.
Nagging questions: Bradford (4,720 yards, 50 touchdowns, eight interceptions) is as accurate a passer as there is in college. But with four new starters along the offensive line, one wonders if he’ll have anywhere near as much time to stand in the pocket and work his magic.
Make or break game: vs. Texas, Oct. 17. The Sooners will have a pair of interesting early season quizzes to pass versus BYU (Sept. 5) and at Miami, Fla. (Oct. 3), but this showdown in Big D is a must-see affair for any college football fan or NFL scouts worth their salt.
Strengths: The Longhorns will light up scoreboards in 2009 as eight starters return on offense, paced by the pass-catch combo of Colt McCoy (3,859 passing yards, 34 touchdowns) and Jordan Shipley (88 receptions, 1,060 yards, 11 scores).
Nagging questions: Will the Kindle experiment work? Mack Brown has moved linebacker Sergio Kindle (10 sacks) to end to help ease the loss of quarterback harasser Brian Orakpo to NFL riches. It’s worth the gamble because Kindle doesn’t need a GPS system to find his way into enemy backfields and the Longhorns’ linebacking corps still features an All- American candidate in Roddrick Muckelrot (team-best 112 tackles).
Make or break game: vs. Oklahoma, Oct. 17. This battle of top five teams will be one of the most widely anticipated games of the entire season.
Strengths: Each year, head coach Pete Carroll (88-15 record at USC) loses truckloads of talent to the NFL, but continues to keep on winning. With two young pups in sophomore Aaron Corp and true freshman Matt Barkley competing to replace Mark Sanchez at quarterback, look for Carroll to lean on his tailbacks (C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson and Joe McKnight) and his Taylor Mays-led defense a little heavier in the early part of the season.
Nagging questions: Can the Trojans keep their string of winning 11 or more games in seven straight seasons intact, even after losing an NCAA-high 11 players in the NFL draft? It won’t be easy. But if one of the young quarterbacks blossom and USC’s all-new starting linebacking corps of Michael Morgan, Chris Galippo and Malcolm Smith is as good as Carroll thinks they are, then expect the Trojans to stay near the top of the national polls.
Make or break game: vs. Ohio State, Sept. 12. After a glorified scrimmage in Week 1 versus San Jose State, the Trojans’ quarterback and rebuilt defense will truly be put to the test in Columbus.
Strengths: Frank Beamer is one of the best X-and-O men in the college ranks, a fact that he illustrated last fall by leading the young Hokies to 10 wins and their fourth ACC title in six years. With 16 starters back, most notably tailback Darren Evans and defensive playmakers Jason Worilds, Stephan Virgil and Kam Chancellor, the Hokies will once again be the class of the ACC.
Nagging questions: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor, an absolute blur as a runner, must become a better passer or foes will overload the box in hopes of stopping him and Evans (1,265 rushing yards, 11 scores) from beating them with their feet.
Make or break game: vs. Alabama, Sept. 5. Rather than open with Creampuff University or Cupcake State, the Hokies begin 2009 in Atlanta versus Alabama in a battle of powerhouse teams.
Strengths: Quarterback Daryll Clark can beat opposing defenses with his arm and feet, while tailback Evan Royster might be the most underrated player in the Big Ten. The healthy return of linebacker Sean Lee, who missed all of last season with a bum knee, gives “Linebacker U” one of those tough-as-a-$2 steak linebackers that all great Penn State teams have.
Nagging questions: Three playmaking wideouts, DerrickWilliams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood, must all be replaced and the offensive line needs some serious retooling. But Joe Paterno has plenty of time to plug those holes as the Nittany Lions face an early soft schedule (Akron, Syarcuse and Temple all visit State College) that should be sponsored by Charmin.
Make or break game: vs. Iowa, Sept. 26. After three all-but-but guaranteed wins to start the season, the Nittany Lions will face two tough foes in a row, versus Iowa (Sept. 26) at home and then at Illinois (Oct. 3). Sweep those two and Paterno’s squad should be 9-0 when Ohio State visits in early November.
Strengths: No college team in America has a better sideline boss than Nick Saban. His defense, a unit that returns nine starters and has a future pro at each level (tackle Terrance Cody, linebacker Roalndo McClain and cornerback Javier Arenas), should be lights out.
Nagging questions:We, at Football Action, were tempted to pick the Tide even higher, but there are some positions with new starters, including quarterback (where John ParkerWilson is gone), left tackle (where All-American Andre Smith is now a rich pro) and safety (where All-SEC performer Rashad Johnson no longer patrols).
Make or break game: vs. Virginia Tech, Sept. 5 at the Georgia Dome.
Strengths: Thanks to the return of eight starters, including quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LeGarrette Blount, first-year head coach Chip Kelly has the makings of another explosive offense. The linebacking corps of Spencer Paysinger, Casey Matthews and Eddie Pleasant is top shelf.
Nagging questions: Can Jordan Holmes do a decent job of replacing center Max Unger, a 2009 first-round draft choice who anchored the Ducks’ blocking schemes? Will the secondary, minus two of its primary stars in safety Patrick Chung and cornerback Jarius Byrd, be able to survive a tough early schedule?
Make or break game: at Boise State, Sept. 3. Kelly should take up the Ducks’ September schedule with former coach- Mike Bellotti, now Oregon’s athletic director. After opening on the “Smurf Turf” versus Boise State, the Ducks then host Purdue, Utah and California in the season’s first month.
Strengths: Sure, a bevy of stars are gone, but sophomore signal-caller Terrelle Pryor is back to terrorize opposing Big Ten defenses with his feet and his arm. Speaking of terrors, the defensive line features two all-league caliber players in Cameron Heyward and Lawrence Wilson.
Nagging questions: Can Pryor improve his passing aim? And will Ohio State’s rebuilt linebacking and receiving corps be ready when USC visits the Horseshoe?
Make or break game: vs. USC, Sept. 12. Two of college football’s most storied programs will lock horns early in the 2009 season. The winner will stamp itself as a national title contender.
Strengths: Surprised? Don’t be. Mississippi will be the chic accessory in everybody’s top 10—and with good reason. In Houston Nutt’s first season at the helm, the Rebels beat Florida and LSU during the regular season and Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Jevan Snead doesn’t get a fraction of the ink that Tebow does, but he’s a big-time quarterback. Leading rusher Dexter McCluster returns, as does sackmaster Greg Hardy.
Nagging questions: The anchors of both lines—offensive tackle Michael Oher and nose tackle Peria Jerry—were literally two big reasons that Rebels were able to defeat some of college football’s big boys last year. They’re both cashing NFL checks now and will be sorely missed.
Make or break game: vs. Alabama,Oct. 10. The Rebels will find out if they’re for real or masquerading as a top 10 team.
Strengths: The three-headed monster of quarterback Zac Robinson (3,064 yards, 25 touchdowns), wideout Dez Bryant (87 receptions, 1,480 yards, 19 scores) and tailback Kendall Hunter (119.6 yards rushing per game) ensures that scoring points won’t be a problem for the Cowboys. Bryant will be on most Heisman short lists entering the season.
Nagging questions: Head coach Mike Gundy’s Maalox moments are about replacing three-fourths of his secondary, a unit that struggled against the elite teams.
Make or break game: vs. Georgia, Sept. 5. Many folks believe that Oklahoma State will be this year’s Missouri, a team that can score points but will find itself in its fair share of shootouts because of a leaky stop unit. New defensive cordinator Bill Young will learn a lot about his charges right out of the gate when Georgia visits Stillwater.
Strengths: Quarterback Kellen Moore (3,486 yards, 25 touchdowns) is the nation’s best quarterback that you’ve never heard of. He’ll headline a potent offense, along with tailback Jeremy Avery (614 yards). The defense has a lock-down corner in first-team All-WAC player Kyle Wilson, a pass-rushing demon in Ryan Winterswyk and a hard-hitting safety in Jeron Johnson (98 tackles).
Nagging questions: Will wideout Titus Young be able to stay out of the coaching staff’s doghouse? Young was suspended for 10 games last season. He’ll give Moore a much-needed home-run threat.
Make or break game: vs. Oregon, Sept. 3. The ESPN cameras will be in Idaho for this September matchup.
Strengths: Sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson looked like a worldbeater in the Tigers’ 38-3 rout of Georgia Tech in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. If he’s a starin- the-making and former Tennesee defensive coordinator John Chavis can solidify LSU’s defense, then the 2007 national champs could ascend back into the top 10.
Nagging questions: Can Chavis get enough productivity from a defensive line that includes Rahim Alem, Pep Levingston and oft-injured Charles Alexander, who received a sixth year of eligibility, to pressure the steady stream of quality quarterbacks on the Tigers’ schedule?
Make or break game: at Washington, Sept. 5. Head coach Les Miles will get an early indication of how well his team will play on the road when it heads to the Pacific Northwest to open the season. The Tigers have their share of tough road trips ahead with games at Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi on the docket.
Strengths: The Yellow Jackets return all 11 starters on offense, so they should be able to run Paul Johnson’s triple-option offensive attack with more aplomb in 2009. Tailback Jonathan Dwyer (1,395 yards, 12 scores) is one of the best runners in the country.
Nagging questions: Rebuilding the defensive line is at the top of Tech’s to-do list. Tackles Darryl Richard and Vance Walker will be hard to replace. Also, will signal-caller Josh Nesbitt (43.9 completion percentage) improve his throwing aim enough to keep foes from putting everyone in the box against the Jackets?
Make or break game: at Miami (Fla.), Sept. 17. While most of the top ACC opponents (Clemson, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest) will travel to Atlanta to battle against Georgia Tech, this trip and one to Tallahassee on Oct. 10 could tell the tale for Johnson’s squad.
Strengths: Head coach Skip Holtz welcomes back 16 starters—eight on offense and eight on defense. He has a budding star under center in quarterback Patrick Pinkney. If Kentucky transfer Brandon Jackson can be an every-down back, the Pirates will score points. East Carolina’s defense features a proven playmaker at each tier: tackle Linval Joseph, linebacker Nick Johnson and safety Van Eskridge.
Nagging questions: Can a Conference USA team be a BCS buster for the first time? To do so, East Carolina must negotiate two rugged road trips—West Virginia (Sept. 12) and Virginia Tech (Nov. 5).
Make or break game: at Virginia Tech, Nov. 5. In order to be a fly in the BCS ointment, the Pirateswill need to upend the Hokies in Blacksburg,which is no small task.
Strengths: Mark Richt is a proven offensive whiz, but even his skills will be put to the test as quarterback Matthew Stafford and tailback Knowshon Moreno are both now NFL millionaires. Richt is confident that senior Joe Cox will be a competent signal-caller. The defense is littered with talent—most notably linbacker Rennie Curran, tackle Geno Atkins, safety Reshad Jones and corner Prince Miller.
Nagging questions: Replacing Moreno, now a Denver Bronco, won’t be a oneman job. Richt hopes that sophomores Caleb King and Richard Samuel—along with Carlton Thomas and Dontavius Jackson— can do the trick.
Make or break game: at Oklahoma State, Sept. 5. As if test-your-manhood tussles with SEC foes weren’t enough, Georgia travels to Stillwater to open the season against a Cowboy team that scores.
Strengths: Kirk Ferentz is constantly the subject of NFL rumors, because he is so adept at building offensive lines and football is won in the trenches. Quarterback Rick Stanzi is back, with a much-improved throwing motion. The back seven of Iowa’s defense will be strong as all three starting linebackers and three/fourths of the secondary return.
Nagging questions: Ferentz has allleague caliber answers at the two tackle spots in Bryan Bulaga and Kyle Calloway, but needs to find a new center and two new guards. Also, can gifted tailback Jewel Hampton fill the cleats of all-everything tailback Shonn Greene, now with the Jets?
Make or break game: at Penn State, Sept. 26. After in-state tests versus Northern Iowa and Iowa State, followed by a visit from Arizona, the Hawkeyes’ first venture out of the state will be a real doozy as they visit Happy Valley.
Strengths: True to his last name, Jahvid Best, who rushed for 1,580 yards and 15 scores, is the best runner in the Pac-10. He’s not a household name yet, but the people that matter most (NFL scouts) know his name. The defense returns seven starters, including end Cameron Jordan and cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson.
Nagging questions: Will quarterback Kevin Riley take this team by the throat? He has much more game experience than sophomore Brock Mansion or redshirt freshman Beau Sweeney, but head coach Jeff Tedford won’t pick a winner in the quarterback derby until August.
Make or break game: at Oregon, Sept. 26. The Bears host USC one week later.
Strengths: BYU’s offense, led by senior quarterback Max Hall and junior tailback Harvey Unga, should be high-octane, if the Cougars’ offensive line holds up and Unga, who was bothered by various bumps and bruises, can stay healthy.
Nagging questions:Will the offensive line (four new starters) be adequate enough to give Hall time to throw?Will wideout McKay Jacobson regain his pre-mission form, easing the loss of Austin Collie.
Make or break game: atOklahoma, Sept. 5. The Cougars have a whopper of a season opener, taking on the reigningHeisman Trophywinner, SamBradford, and the Sooners’ absolutely electric offense.
Strengths: Mark Dantonio is quite a coach and he has the makings of a stingy defense in East Lansing. Lineman Trevor Anderson and linebacker Greg Jones are both disruptive forces who will play on Sundays, while the secondary will be the strongest of Dantonio’s tenure.
Nagging questions: Can either Kirk Cousins or Keith Nichol be the answer under center? The winner of the quarterback competition doesn’t have to do everything himself as both starting wideouts, three starting linemen and the starting tight end are all back.
Make or break game: at Notre Dame, Sept. 19. The Spartans’ new signalcaller will be on a big stage in this nationally televised affair in South Bend.
Strengths: A seasoned offensive line, anchored by All-America-caliber guard Rodney Hudson, should give quarterback Christian Ponder (2,006 yards, 14 touchdowns, 13 interceptions) plenty of time to throw and tailback Jermaine Thomas sufficient holes to run through.
Nagging questions: With only five returning starters, the Seminoles’ defense has some serious questions.
Make or break game: vs. Miami (Fla.), Sept. 7. These two bitter in-state rivals always seem to play close games. The winner of this ACC opener between one-time college football superpowers will stamp itself as a top 25 team.
Strengths: Second-year Huskers head coach Bo Pelini knows how to build defenses. And with seven returning starters, including tackle Ndamukong Suh and safety Larry Asante, he’ll have a stout unit. The schedule, with Texas not on the slate and with Oklahoma and Texas Tech coming to Lincoln, is favorable.
Nagging questions: Signal-callers Zac Lee and Patrick Witt are locked in a battle to replace last year’s starter, Joe Ganz. Lee took a big step toward winning the job in spring ball, but he still has work to do to nail down the No. 1 spot on the depth chart.
Make or break game: at Virginia Tech, Sept. 19. If Nebraska can somehow upset the Hokies, then a 4-0 non-conference record will be assured.
Strengths: Nine starters are back on offense for Charlie Weis, including quarterback Jimmy Clausen and two good playmakers in receivers Golden Tate (1,080 yards, 10 scores) and Michael Floyd (719, 7). Clausen (25 touchdowns, 17 interceptions), who has had his share of growing pains in South Bend, should be well-protected as four offensive line starters return. Look for junior Armando Allen to emerge as a star running back.
Nagging questions: Does Notre Dame have the foot speed, particularly on defense, to deal with the seven 2008 bowl teams on its schedule?
Make or break game: at Michigan, Sept. 12. The Wolverines figure to be better in Year 2 under Rich Rodriguez. But if Notre Dame, which opens at home on Sept. 5 versus Nevada, wants to be a player on the national stage, then it needs to win at the Big House to get out of the gate with a 2-0 mark.
Strengths: After leading the Bearcats to the Big East title and a BCS berth in the Orange Bowl, quarterback Tony Pike still isn’t satisfied. He’s added 10 pounds of muscle to his frame and, with seven other returning offensive starters back, seems poised to build on last year’s success (2,407 yards passing, 19 touchdowns).
Nagging questions: With only one returning defensive starter (safety Aaron Webster) from last year’s 11-3 team, first-year coordinator Bob Diaco raided the offensive two deep to find the athletes necessary to run his 3-4 scheme.
Make or break game: at Rutgers, Sept. 7. The Bearcats new-look defense will be road-tested right away.
Strengths: The Utes, of course, were the nation’s only unbeaten team last year at 13-0. The strength of this year’s team will be the defense, a unit that brings back seven starters—most notably, end Kao Misi and linebacker Stevenson Sylvester.
Nagging questions: Quarterback Brian Johnson is gone and it’s a three-man race to replace him with juniors Corbin Louks and Terrance Cain battling newcomer JordanWynn to man the controls of the offense.With only four returning offensive starters back, the wheels of proven tailback Matt Asiaia (707 yards rushing, 12 scores) will need to carry the offense early on.
Make or break game: at Oregon, Sept. 19. This game against the Ducks will be a good barometer for a team that will need to win on the road at TCU and BYU in order to defend its Mountain West crown.
