So What Now for BCS?

Championship for McCarron?

Well I just saw Jordan Williamson nail the game-winning field goal against the second-ranked Oregon Ducks. And, before that I watched Kansas State get murdered by unranked Baylor by four touchdowns. So what does this mean for the whole BCS?

When Johnny Football and the Aggies stunned Alabama it seemed that the SEC won't get yet another crown as the Crimson Tide fell to Number 4 in the polls. But, this weekend everything changed. Kansas State and Oregon lost which means Notre Dame will almost definitely move to Number One, while Alabama likely to second. Georgia will be in the mix as well as they will probably move up to number three. Then, the SEC has Florida and LSU, while K-State and Oregon will still be in BCS bowls at least.

Next weekend: The newly crowned number one hopes to do what K-State nor 'Bama could; win at that spot. It won't be easy as the USC Trojans come to challenge Manti Te'o and the undefeated Irish. The Trojans have struggled mightily and played terrible against UCLA. Though, until Matt Barkley(if he is ready to go) is off the roster USC will have a legit chance of defeating these Irish.

Alabama gets an appetizer for the SEC championship game in the Iron Bowl against an atrocious Auburn team. They might not even need to play A.J. McCarron as this one should be done before halftime. The Tide should be looking ahead to a big showdown against Georgia.

The Bulldogs benefit just as much as Alabama with the upsets. They play an intense rival in Georgia Tech who hasn't had the season they imagined with Tevin Washington returning. If the defense holds up the Bulldogs should role into the SEC championship game 11-1. Though hopefully they play better than they did against LSU last year.

What will happen: Notre Dame wins comfortably against the Trojans thanks to a more confident Everett Golson. Alabama and Georgia square off in a game that decides who plays Notre Dame. Alabama uses their superior pyschicality to run the ball over an inconsistent Georgia defense and their defense holds Georgia to under 20.

College Basketball Preview: 6. NC State Wolfpack

6. NC State Wolfpack 24-13 in 2011 (9-7 ACC)

No I didn't mistake this team for North Carolina. The Wolfpack, who made the Sweet 16 last season one year after firing head coach Sidney Lowe, return four starters and bring a trio of top freshman. One of those returning starters is guard Lorenzo Brown who could end up being right in the middle of the ACC Player of the Year race. The last time NC State won the ACC was 24 years ago. With the return of all those stars that streak could end easily. No wait, it will end easily.

Lorenzo Brown

Backcourt: Brown looks to start at point guard for Mark Gottfried but he shouldn't pass the ball too much. Brown does damage inside and out with an excellent nose for the hoop and ability to hit mid and long range shots. Freshman Tyler Lewis, a McDonald's All-American, should end up backing up Brown. Lewis is considered the point guard of the future for NC State but should pick up occasional minutes. He is small standing at just 5 feet 11 inches and just 157 pounds. He can't create much shots but can hit anything when given space. Another freshman, Rodney Purvis, will see a lot of minutes at both shooting guard and small forward. Due to the fact that Gottfried needs a guard to replace C.J. Williams he'll see most of his time there. Purvis is explosive and can score anytime the ball is thrown in his direction. He isn't a great defender though and has some weak spots. Staats Battle could be dominant just because of his name. Something to note: LSU transfer Ralston Turner won't play this season but expect him to be a major contributor in the near future.

C.J. Leslie

Frontcourt: C.J. Leslie decided to return instead of skipping out on his junior and senior years for the NBA. It was a smart move as he still has some stuff he needs to work on. Leslie has size to fit at power forward and maybe even center but doesn't fit well at either. He can make every shot in the paint area and can gain rebounds. The breakout star on this team could be forward Richard Howell who has improved every year in Raleigh. Howell can score double digits every single game but also is the team's top rebounder, averaging 9.2 a game last season. In fact, he is the returning leader at rebounds in the ACC. The scariest player on offense for the Wolfpack may well be Scott Wood who can hit any shot on the court. And remember not to foul him, as he made 66 straight at one point last season. Gottfried should also receive contributions from freshmen Thomas de Thaey and T.J. Warren.

Top NBA Prospect: C.J. Leslie
ACC Rank: 1st
PROJECTED LINEUP
PG Lorenzo Brown- Junior
SG Rodney Purvis- Freshman
SF Scott Wood- Senior
PF C.J. Leslie- Junior
C Richard Howell- Senior
Sixth Tyler Lewis- Freshman

College Basketball Preview: 4. Kansas Jayhawks

4. Kansas Jayhawks 32-7 in 2011 (16-2 Big 12)

Travis Releford

Last season once again the Jayhawks were in a "rebuilding stage". The squad had lost the Morris twins, Josh Selby and a whole lot of other talent. But, once more Bill Self and Kansas defied expectations and, led by Thomas Robinson danced all the way to the championship game only to lose to Kentucky. Now, once more the Jayhawks are reloading after lsing their top backcourt player in Tyshawn Taylor and of course Robinson. But, it seems like it is the Kansas way; somebody steps up and leads them deep into the tournament. So, once more, don't count out Kansas in the title hunt.

Backcourt: Without Taylor, Self will rely heavily on senior Elijah Johnson. Self should give Johnson a lot of minutes at point where he could dominate thanks to his size and speed. Johnson isn't a great shooter, more of a passer or finisher. Also sure to see a lot of time in the backcourt is Travis Releford who doesn't score much either. Releford plays good defense and works hard which Kansas fans should appreciate. One of last year's top recruits Ben McLemore gets his first chance after being redshirted in 2011. McLemore can be a dangerous shooter and has the smarts to be truly lethal option on offense. Expect freshman Rio Adams, sophomore Naadir Thorpe, junior Niko Johnson and Self's son, Tyler, to see minutes.

Jeff Withey

Frontcourt: Jeff Withey was mainly just a defensive specialist who played alongside Robinson last season but could end up being dangerous this season. He is a shot blocker who can also rebound though must improve on his post moves. Freshman Perry Ellis was the top recruit Self managed to pull in this season. He could play at power or small forward and has the athleticism and versatility to be deadly at both. One of the biggest X-Factors for the Jayhawks will be Kevin Young, a senior who showed flashes of greatness last season. Young has good size and gives the Jayhawks a guy who can score in bunches. Junior Justin Wesley is a very valuable veteran who must turn into a consistent leader. Freshman Landen Lucas and Zach Peters should also see some valuable minutes. With the youth in the frontcourt Self will need some big contributions from Withey, Young and Wesley.

Big 12 Rank: 1st
Top NBA Prospect: Jeff Withey
PROJECTED LINEUP
PG Elijah Johnson- Senior
SG Ben McLemore- Freshman
SF Kevin Young- Senior
PF Perry Ellis- Freshman
C Jeff Withey- Senior
Sixth Travis Releford- Senior

College Basketball Preview: 3. Louisville Cardinals

3. Louisville Cardinals 30-10 in 2011 (10-8 Big East)

It was a peculiar season for Rick Pitino and the Cardinals. Louisville started off flaming into a 12-0 mark including wins against Butler and Vanderbilt. But, as many teams do, they fizzled going into the Big East tournament with a decent 22-9 mark. They went on to win the Big East and then danced into the Final Four. Now, with a lot of talent back the expectations are huge for Pitino and the rest of the Cardinals. So the hopes for 2012-2013 is a less peculiar season, though it won't hurt if they could get that Big East championship or another Final Four appearance. And, they likely will.

Peyton Siva

Backcourt: Now finally a senior Peyton Siva could have a big season. Siva has showed on various occasions his fantastic ability to find the open man but in his junior season he improved his scoring touch. With his vision he could be a threat to average double-digit assists every single game. He also forces turnovers recording 1.8 steals per game in 2011. Sophomore Russ Smith exploded last season averaging 11 points a game. Without Kyle Kuric and Chris Smith, he should play a bigger role meaning the possibility of a Big East Player of the Year nominee. Senior Mike Marra has size and smarts to be one of the squad's top bench options. The squad should also rely on sophomore Kevin Ware to provide an electic scorer.

Russ Smith

Frontcourt: Gorgui Dieng gives Pitino a dominant low post presence who can block shots and rebound. Standing at 6 feet, 11 inches, he will swat anything in sight. His rebounding is superb, top in the Big East and could be top five nationally. The most dangerous player in the frontcourt should end up being sophomore Chane Behanan who can score and rebound. Last season though his inexperience was clear in som areas. With a year under his belt he could be a lethal scoring option. Freshman Montrezl Harrell was Pitino's top pickup and he could also be dangerous. He has size and athleticism to be a force. Sophomore Zach Price provides a quality backup to Dieng who can also rebound. Expect sophomore Wayne Blackshear to play big minutes at small forward along with Angel Nunez.

Big East Rank: 1st
Top NBA Prospect: Gorguei Dieng
PROJECTED LINEUP
PG Peyton Siva- Senior
SG Russ Smith- Sophomore
SF Wayne Blackshear- Sophomore
PF Chane Behanan- Sophomore
C Gorgui Dieng- Junior
Sixth Montrezl Harrell- Freshman

College Basketball Preview: 2. Kentucky Wildcats

2. Kentucky Wildcats 38-2 in 2011 (16-0 SEC)

Nerlens Noel

John Calipari finally got the monkey off his back. His Wildcats won 38 games, undefeated in the SEC and then handled Kansas in the National Championship. Much of that was due to his freshmen class that included Player of the Year Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague. Now all three are gone, including veterans Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Darius Miller. So, the Wildcats number two in the nation? Yes, because, as Calipari usually does, he reloaded. In comes yet another Top Five recruiting class. A number of under the radar bench players come in and take a bigger role. All that could mean a National Championship if Calipari has enough experience to win it, that is.

Backcourt: Shooting guard Archie Goodwin could be the next big backcourt thing in Lexington. He has the moves to get open shots and also can shoot. He is more of a distributor then Marquis Teague and Doron Lamb. Starting alongside Goodwin in the backcourt could be Twany Beckham, a transfer from Mississippi State. A senior, Beckham shouldn't be a prolific scorer but he has more experience and smarts than Teague. Also sure to get big time minutes is another transfer, Ryan Harrow. Harrow is a sophomore with a lot of potential. He can be dangerous but he hasn't got the minutes to be that way in his fitst seasons. Junior Jarrod Polson provides a much needed backup to Harrow or Beckham. Brian Long nor Sam Malone got much chances to prove themselves but with the losses they should in their sophomore years.

Kyle Wiltjer

Frontcourt: As good as Anthony Davis was last season, freshman Nerlens Noel could be even better. Noel is a monster shot blocker, can rebound and will score also. He provides a huge presence at six feet, ten inches, that can hang with anyone in the nation. Calipari also brought in another dominant center in seven-footer Willie Cauley. Cauley may not start but he'll be Calipari's top bench option in the frontcourt. Yet another freshman should give the Wildcats a Kidd-Gilchrist role they had last year. That freshman is Alex Poythress who is athletic and has good size. He'll do damage inside and out and can also rebound. Poythress is a 5-star recruit who Calipari managed to sneak away from Vanderbilt and Florida. The unknown recruit of 2011, Kyle Wiltjer now has the minutes to do serious damage. He can hit shots from three and has the height to rebound along with the rest of this frontcourt. How good is Wiltjer? I have him as an easy All-SEC forward and maybe even an All-American possibility.
SEC Rank: 1st
Top NBA Prospect: Nerlens Noel
PROJECTED LINEUP:
C Nerlens Noel- Freshman
PF Kyle Wiltjer- Sophomore
SF Alex Poythress- Freshman
SG Archie Goodwin- Freshman
PG Twany Beckham- Senior
Sixth Willie Cauley- Freshman

College Basketball Preview: 1. Indiana Hoosiers

1. Indiana Hoosiers 27-9 in 2011 (11-7 Big Ten)

Victor Oladipo

Indiana started off 2011 flaming hot. Christian Watford hit a three pointer to seal the deal against number one Kentucky and then Tom Crean's squad handled Ohio State. Then, a cold streak emerged as they often do. In the end, the Hoosiers season ended in the Sweet 16 to a Kentucky team that would win a National Championship, which seemed about right. Now, almost everyone returns for these Hoosiers including sophomore Cody Zeller, the senior Watford and speedy junior Victor Oladipo. Expectations are high for Crean, the highest in a while. They must respond and prove they are better then Louisville and Kentucky.

Backcourt: Victor Oladipo has the talent to be All-Big Ten material. Oladipo has the speed and size to dominate at the shooting guard position. He is also equipped with a nasty crossover and a nice touch. Freshman Yogi Ferrell could end up starting at the point guard position as Indiana's top incoming recruit. Ferrell has speed and great court vision. He can blow past defenders and get to the basket but can also do damage on the perimeter. Expect senior Jordan Hulls to also get major minutes. Hulls is small but he does have speed and experience. Junior Maurice Creek has good size and has potential but his career at Indiana has been filled with issues. Expect contributions from sophomore Remy Abell and IPFW transfer Jonny Marlin.

Cody Zeller

Frontcourt: Sophomore Cody Zeller had a solid freshman season but way bigger things are expected from him in his second season in Indiana. Zeller is 7 feet tall with the wingspan to be a master shot blocker. He has good moves inside and has improved his court vision. Watford has proved before he can score in bunches but he doesn't get much respect. He has the size to be a rebounder but he can also hit three pointers and long range jumpers. On most teams, Watford could be a solid number one option but could be up to the third option for the Hoosiers. The Hoosiers gained a dominat low post presence in seven-footer Peter Jurkin from South Sudan. The three-star recruit is a master rebounder and blocker but he is raw. Freshman Jeremy Hollowell was a big time recruit for Crean as he provides another all-around talent to go along with Watford. Derek Elston and junior Will Sheehey provide some much needed depth.
Big Ten Rank: 1st
Top NBA Prospect: Cody Zeller
PROJECTED LINEUP:
PG Yogi Ferrell- Freshman
SG Victor Oladipo- Junior
SF Jeremy Hollowell- Freshman
PF Christian Watford- Senior
C Cody Zeller- Sophomore
Sixth Jordan Hulls- Senior

College Football Preview: Best of the Rest: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

31. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Returning Starters: 15 Returning Star: QB Tevin Washington Key Loss: WR Stephen Hill Player to Watch: LB Jabari Hunt-Days Paul Johnson enters his fifth year as coach of the Yellow Jackets and still ACC coaches can't stop his triple-option attack. That attack led these Jackets to the second best rushing numbers nationally, a number that should keep that way with the return of quarterback Tevin Washington and a trio of backs. Washington played strong in his junior year and is experienced enough to be a dark horse Heisman contender. The other returners in the backfield include senior Orwin Smith, junior David Sims and sophomore Charles Perkins. Smith reminds many of former great Jonathan Dwyer as he runs hard and has decent speed. David Sims was inconsistent last year and didn't quite fill Anthony Allen's role. Depth is no issue for these Yellow Jackets as Paul Johnson seems to think he needs about 10 backs. The biggest issue for Georgia Tech over the past few seasons has been the passing game. Last season only 12 teams had a worse passing game than Georgia Tech. That shouldn't improve too much with the loss of Stephen Hill and Tyler Melton. Replacing Hill and Melton will be Jeremy Moore and Chris Jackson. Both are fast and pretty good blockers but don't expect either of them to be All-ACC wide outs. The offensive line could end up being the best in the ACC with the return of four starters including guard Omoregie Uzzi, an All-ACC product. Also back are tackles Ray Beno and Tyler Kidney and center Jay Finch. The defense should end up being much improved from a pretty good unit last season. On the line, only end Izaan Cross returns. Cross has speed on the side and has the size to get off blockers. Expect big things from senior tackle T.J. Barnes who will clog up the middle. These linebackers are dangerous with the returns of Jeremiah Attaochu and Quayshawn Nealy not to mention the appearance of Jabari Hunt-Days. Attaochu has speed and is a sure tackler and 2011 top recruit Hunt-Days is disruptive. In the secondary the Yellow Jackets have talent headlined by cornerback Louis Young and safety Isaiah Johnson. The special teams is okay with kicker Justin Moore returning for his junior season.

College Football Preview: Best of the Rest: Washington Huskies

30. Washington Huskies Returning Starters: 14 Returning Star: CB Desmond Trufant Key Loss: TB Chris Polk Player to Watch: TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins It looks like the Huskies are finally ready to role with the big boys after two straight bowl appearances. With the return of Keith Price and Desmond Trufant it looks like the Huskies will make it three. Price had a fantastic freshman season recording a 66.9 completion percentage. He has amazing accuracy with a pretty strong arm and is very mobile. The big loss for the Huskies was tailback Chris Polk who was gritty and tough and was always a reliable way to gain yards. Junior Jesse Callier looks to be the man that replaces him. Callier has good speed but he lacks Polk's ability to get tough yards up the middle. Expect Bishop Sankey to also make plays also. Also gone from these Huskies are two dynamic receivers in Jermaine Kearse and Devin Aguilar. The top target for Price will likely be tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Seferian-Jenkins is very underrated as he racks tons of catches and yards. Also returning in these corps is James Johnson, sophomore Kasen Williams and senior Cody Bruns. All three have good speed but experience is an obvious issue. The top unit on offense may end up being the offensive line though, with the return of three starters. Senior center Drew Schaefer is a sure blocker and guard Erik Kohler has the potential to be dominant. The offense was fantastic in 2011 hitting 38 or more five times but the reason Washington went 7-6 was the defense. The unit was 106th nationally, and got killed against the pass last season. The pass defense should improve dramatically with the return of cornerback Desmond Trufant who has shutdown talent. Also back are safeties Sean Parker and Justin Glenn. Steve Sarkisian landed a true talent in Shaquille Thompson who is very versatile. The line lost a ton of talent as it only returns end Josh Shirley. Shirley had 8.5 sacks in '11 and that number could rise to double-digits. Linebacker is an issue but John Timu could break out in his sophomore season.

College Football Preview: Best of the Rest: Auburn Tigers

29. Auburn Tigers Returning Starters: 18 Returning Star: RB Onterio McCalebb Key Loss: RB Michael Dyer
Player to Watch: LB Daren Bates

The Auburn Tigers just couldn't figure out who their quarterback was in 2011, the main reason that the team finished off a disappointing 8-5 mark. Now coach Gene Chizik hopes he can find one and contend in this tough SEC. That looks like it could be junior Clint Moseley. Moseley has a good accurate arm but sometimes his decision making is an issue. Sophomore Kiehl Frazier will give Moseley one heck of a race as he has the talent to become the next Cam Newton. He certainly has the arm and dual threat ability to do that. Chizik should rely heavily on the ground even without Michael Dyer, who transferred to Arkansas State. Onterio McCalebb though is just as good. McCalebb has some speed and is very elusive. Expect to see him dancing in the end zone 15 to 20 times this season. Expect Corey Grant and Tre Mason to gain a whole lot of touches also though. Whoever is quarterback has a lot of options to throw too. Senior Emory Blake is his top receiver returning. Other receivers include senior Travante Stallworth and DeAngelo Benton, both who have speed and good hands. Tight end Phillip Lutzenkirchen is a reliable target and has the size to have a truly dominant season. This offensive line is decent with the return of three starters including senior John Sullen and sophomores Chad Slade and Reese Dismukes. The defense had some major issues in 2011, ranking 94th in the nation against the rush. With 9 starters back (including much of the front seven) that could improve significantly. The line has two proven pass rushers in Corey Lemonier and Nosa Eguae. Lemonier has size and speed on the outside while Jeffrey Whitaker can wreck havoc inside. These linebackers could be very good with the return of Daren Bates and Jake Holland. Bates had 96 tackles in 2011 and needs to keep on improving if the Tigers are to contend. The secondary is okay with the returns of shutdown corners Chris Davis and T'Sharvan Bell. On special teams, Auburn has a ton of talent back including kicker Cody Parkey and punter Steven Clark.

College Football Preview: Best of the Rest: BYU Cougars

28. BYU Cougars Returning Starters: 16 Returning Star: WR Cody Hoffman Key Loss: QB Jake Heaps
Player to Watch: QB Riley Nelson

Once more Bronco Mendenhall's squad made a bowl in 2011, marking their seventh straight postseason bid. Things look different in 2012, maybe better. Riley Nelson is now the full-time starter at quarterback as Jake Heaps has transferred to Kansas. Nelson has a strong arm and is pretty accurate. Though, his advantage over Heaps is his ability to extend plays with his legs. Nelson has one of the best playmakers BYU has ever seen in wide receiver Cody Hoffman to throw too. Hoffman has great hands and has some good speed. Another receiver back is sophomore Ross Apo who is a possession receiver that isn't much of a deep threat. Expect big things from junior tight end Austin Holt as BYU tight ends seem to always have success. Nelson should throw a good amount with talent like Hoffman and Apo surrounding him but Mendenhall loves to run the ball also. He has the depth to run a lot with guys like junior Michael Alisa and senior Zed Mendenhall. Both fit the Cougar mold of a tough, powerful back. The offensive line could end up an issue. Senior Braden Brown is a monster at tackle but a lot of talent is gone from an okay unit in 2011. Mendenhall has said his defense could be a formidable unit and with seven starters back it could be a possibility. The line is pretty good with two starters back. Eathyn Manumaleuna has huge name. But, he has even more talent. Up the middle senior tackle Romney Fuga could have a big final year for the Cougars. The linebackers are okay headed by Brandon Ogletree and Kyle Van Noy. Van Noy could lead the team in tackles while another Tyler Beck could end up being a strong pass rusher. The secondary is also decent with the returns of cornerback Preston Hadley and junior Daniel Sorensen.

College Football Preview: Best of the Rest: Utah Utes

27. Utah Utes Returning Starters: 16 Returning Star: RB John White Key Loss: LB Chaz Walker
Player to Watch: DT Star Lolutelei

Utah's first season in the Pac 12 was a rollercoaster ride. A weak start still stained a strong end to the season. Now, with 16 starters back the Utes have a legitimate shot at challenging USC in the South division. The quarterback is unsettled as Kyle Whittingham has two experienced and talented players at that slot in Jordan Wynn and Jon Hays. Wynn started off 2011 as the starter before missing the final nine games due to a shoulder injury. Hays replaced him and did play pretty good but it looks like Wynn still has the edge in the job. These Utes will run constantly as they have maybe the best back in the Pac 12 with senior John White. White has some speed and is elusive but when needed can put his head down and run people over. Expect another back, sophomore Harvey Langi, to also get carries in the red zone. These receivers are talented with the returns of senior DeVonte Cristopher and senior Reggie Dunn. Another senior in tight end Kendrick Moeai is a pretty good receiver and can block. The offensive line is solid with the returns of a bunch of seniors including Miles Mason and Sam Brenner. Freshman Jeremiah Poutasi could break out in his first season with the Utes. On defense Utah has one of the nation's elite defenders in defensive tackle Star Lolutelei. Lolutelei is a pretty good pass rusher and excels at stuffing up players in the backfield. Also back on the line is Joe Kruger and Dave Kruger who are athletic beasts. The losses of Chaz Walker and Matt Martinez leaves a big gap in the middle. Junior Trevor Reilly is a playmaker but his supporting cast probably won't be able to replace Martinez nor Walker. In the secondary Whittingham has some talent headlined by Ryan Lacy and Eric Rowe.

College Football Preview: Best of the Rest: Rutgers Scarlet Knights

26. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Returning Starters: 16 Returning Star: LB Khaseem Greene Key Loss: WR Mohamed Sanu
Player to Watch: WR Brandon Coleman

Rutgers has been a consistent contender in the Big East since the Ray Rice era. But, this team has yet to win it. It looks like in 2012, that hurdle will be climbed by these Scarlet Knights. The offense is efficient headed by back Jawan Jamison. Jamison is fast with great vision and could have a breakout sophomore season. Also back to bolster the backfield is another sophomore, Savon Huggins. Huggins is also fast and agile. The Scarlet Knights haven't had a strong quarterback since Mike Teel and I don't think sophomore Gary Nova will change that. At least, not this season. Nova has good vision and is pretty accurate but he has been prone to making bad decisions. Junior Chas Dodd could make a run at the job as he has more experience than Nova. Any way you look at it, Rutgers lost a true talent in playmaker Mohamed Sanu who could catch, run and was a factor on special teams. Now it looks like the top receiver on these squad will be athletic sophomore Brandon Coleman who is a deep threat. Also back is senior Tim Wright who has nice big hands and tight end D.C. Jefferson who is a good blocker and can catch. The offensive line is headed by junior Andre Civil and another junior in center David Osei. This defense could be the best in Rutgers history even better than the 2006 unit. The line is very strong led by big senior tackle Scott Vallone. The rest of this line is also helped with the return of Jamil Merrell and the addition of freshman Darius Hamilton, one of the best defensive linemen coming in this season. The linebacker situation is fantastic thanks to the return of Khaseem Greene who had 141 stops in 2011. Greene is athletic and makes plays all over the field. Also back is senior Steve Beauharnais who is another tackling machine. This secondary may be the best in the conference with junior Logan Ryan returning. Ryan had a big sophomore year and has proved many times he can be a shutdown corner. Also back is senior Duron Harmon who can make big stops. The special teams is fantastic with punter Justin Doerner and junior returner Jeremy Deering.

College Football Preview: SEC

Tyler Bray, Tennessee

Ranking the SEC
1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Georgia
4. Arkansas
5. South Carolina
6. Florida
7. Auburn
Overview: The SEC has won six straight national championships and it appears that LSU will be the seventh. Les Miles has a super talented squad especially on defense headed by defensive end Sam Montgomery and defensive backs Tyrann Mathieu and Eric Reid. All three of them have a chance to be All-Americans. On offense Zach Mettenberger replaces Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee but he has weaker targets now. Though, he won't throw the ball too much with the talent that the Tigers have in the backfield with Spencer Ware, Michael Ford and Kenny Hilliard. Alabama might have lost a whole lot of talent on defense and Trent Richardson but a repeat isn't out of the question. QB A.J. McCarron has the smarts and potential to be a Heisman candidate. Eddie Lacy and Jalston Fowler should replace Richardson. They have a fantastic offensive line to run behind in Barrett Jones and D.J. Fluker. Aaron Murray is back meaning the Georgia could end up playing in the SEC championship game again. Murray has had two straight 3,000 yard seasons and a third is a lock. On defense the Bulldogs have a whole lot of talent and electrcity. Jarvis Jones is a tackler and a great pass rusher and the secondary could be one of the nation's elite. Arkansas should win ten games once more even without brilliant offensive mind Bobby Petrino. Most of that is thanks to the return of Tyler Wilson and Dennis Johnson. Knile Davis is back after missing all of 2011 with a broken ankle. He was one of the best backs in the conference before the injury. The defense has always been weak but 7 starters are back including Alonzo Highsmith and Darius Winston. South Carolina is a dangerous team if Marcus Lattimore can stay healthy. If not the Gamecocks will still be good with Connor Shaw, Bruce Wilds, Ace Sanders and Jadeveon Clowney, but not great. If Florida was in any different conference they would probably be an easy 10 win team and they still may be in the SEC. Jacoby Brissett will replace John Brantley at the quarterback spot. He has a huge arm and is very athletic. On defense Will Muschamp has this team playing hard with Sharrif Floyd, Jonathan Bostic and Jelani Jenkins. Auburn couldn't figure out who they wanted their QB to be in '11 which resulted in an okay, but not great season. The likely starter this year will be Clint Moseley who played some time last season. Onterio McCaleb is back after Michael Dyer left to Arkansas State, and is an underrated part of this squad. On defense this line is beastly with Corey Lemonier, Jeffrey Whitaker and Nosa Eguae. Texas A&M enters a new chapter this one in the SEC. Gone is Ryan Tannehill but other than him the Aggies have just about everyone back including Christine Michael, Ryan Swope and Damontre Moore. Expect a strong season but no getting past tougher schedule (Arkansas, Alabama, LSU). Missouri also enters its first year in the conference with a talented team. QB James Franklin is back for his junior year after a decent sophomore season. Kendai Lawrence is the back after Henry Josey injured his knee. Expect big things from the nation's top recruit in receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. Tennessee only won one SEC game last season but could bump that mark to around .500. Tyler Bray is back as a sure starter and he has the most talented group of wideouts in the nation to throw too in Da'Rick Rogers, Justin Hunter and tight end Mychal Rivera. I really like Vanderbilt considering they were a below .500 team last year. James Franklin has this team playing hard and they have the most talent since Jay Cutler's days. Jordan Rogers has the bloodlines to be a star and Zac Stacy should be an All-SEC back. Mississippi State did disappoint last year but has more stability at quarterback and will play harder. On defense expect big things from this secondary with Jonathan Banks and Corey Broomfield back. Kentucky is an okay team but should struggle with an even better conference. Max Smith is dangerous at quarterback and he has a great receiver in La'Rod King. Ole Miss didn't win any SEC games last year but has a lot of playmakers in Randall Mackey and Ja-Mes Logan. They might not win much this year or any.

College Football Preview: Pac 12

Keith Price, Washington

Ranking the Pac 12
1. USC
2. Oregon
3. Stanford
4. Utah
5. Washington
6. California
Overview: With no more sanctions it appears USC is the team to beat in the Pac 12. Back is Heisman candidate Matt Barkley along with his top two receivers from last season in Robert Woods and Marqise Lee. If you don't believe these guys are good did you watch last year's UCLA game? Yes Darron Thomas and Lamichael James are gone but this Oregon team reminds me of 2010,  the team after Jeremiah Masoli was dismissed. And that team flew into the national championship only to loss to Auburn. Expect big contributions from Kenjon Barner and "The Black Mamba" De'Anthony Thomas on offense. The player to replace Andrew Luck at Stanford? Probably Brett Nottingham or Josh Nunes. Both have them have a back in Stepfan Taylor who can run over you or run away from you. This defense is stacked especially on the front seven with Terrence Stephens, Ben Gardner, Chase Thomas and a healthy Shayne Skov. Utah enters its second year in the Pac 12 hoping for a championship appearance. Jordan Wynn is back and fully healthy but it isn't a sure thing that he will start. Expect big things from the Utes' back in John White who could be one of the most underrated players in the nation. Nose tackle Star Lolutelei has the tools to become an All-American in his senior year. Keith Price is back for the Washington Huskies which means they could have a chance at the Pac 12 crown. Price is athletic and has a great arm but his supporting cast is weaker with no Chris Polk or Jermaine Kearse. This defense was atrocious in 2011 and even with 7 starters back and a new coordinator in Justin Wilcox it is still very weak. California could actually be scary good with the return of Zach Maynard, Isi Sofele and Keenan Allen on offense. Maynard stuggled at times but started to figure it out at the end of the year. Freshman Maurice Harris could end up dominating but the defense is considerably weaker. Washington State is in line for a bowl berth for the first time since 2003. Mike Leach is coming in with his new air raid offense and he has the quarterback to run it in Jeff Tuel. Tuel can be lethal when healthy and he has a big-play receiver in Marquess Wilson. The defense should also improve with the return of tackle Anthony Laurenzi and cornerback Daniel Simmons. UCLA is in a new era and they hope to start it off with a winning season. Jim Mora isn't sure who his quarterback will be as Richard Brehaut nor Kevin Prince were effective last year. Freshman Brett Hundley could make a run at the job but he is a little raw. Senior Jonathan Franklin is an effective back and on defense linebacker Patrick Larimore will make a lot of tackles. Is Arizona ready to compete with new coach Rich Rodriguez? Maybe if senior quarterback Matt Scott can have a big season. Taimi Tutogi also is a X-factor as he could end up being the team's top offensive threat. Arizona State never quite figured it out in 2011 and now are without Brock Osweiler, last year's starting quarterback. Their backfield is stacked with talent headed by Cameron Marshall, Chris Coyle and freshman D.J. Foster. The most dangerous player on this Sun Devils team isn't Marshall or linebacker Brandon Magee, it is receiver Jamal Miles who is also a huge factor in the return game. Oregon State could have a big season or could end up like last year's 3-9 team that couldn't beat Sacremento State. QB Sean Mannion is back and he has a dangerous threat in wide out Markus Wheaton. Colorado won't contend this season but the future is improving for the Buffaloes. Texas transfer Connor Wood is only a sophomore and has great potential. Another sophomore, Tony Jones, will also have a big season. On defense look out for Douglas Rippy and senior Jon Major.

College Football Preview: The Big 12

Ranking the Big 12
1. Oklahoma
2. West Virginia
3. Oklahoma State
4. TCU
5. Kansas State

Seth Doege, Texas Tech

Overview: Oklahoma stumbled in 2011 after many (including me) had them number one in the nation. Though a Big 12 title is pretty much a lock thanks to the return of prolific quarterback Landry Jones. Also back is explosive receiver Kenny Stills, sure tackling Tom Wort and strong defensive back Demontre Hurst. The Big 12 is tougher than the Big East but don't expect West Virginia to struggle at all. Geno Smith has a huge arm that will get his amazing receivers, Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin, the ball. The defense is definitely a problem but this offense is so good that this defense could be the worst in the Big 12 and the Mountaineers would still win 10 games. Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon are gone but Oklahoma State is still dangerous. Now, it appears they will run the ball a lot with back Joseph Randle who has speed and power. The defense is decent, but the secondary is stacked with Brodrick Brown and Justin Gilbert. Gilbert is also an excellent returner on special teams. Wes Lunt or Clint Chelf will likely be fighting for Weeden's spot as leader of the Cowboys.  TCU is in a tougher conference but the Horned Frogs should still win 10 plus games. Casey Pachall could end up being just as good as Andy Dalton and they have a stacked backfield even if Ed Wesley doesn't play with Waymon James and Matthew Tucker. Gary Patterson loves defense and he has a good unit with pass rusher Stansly Maponga and linebacker Kenny Cain. Collin Klein is back which means Kansas State will win a lot of games. Along with Klein is back John Hubert and a number of good receivers with Tyler Lockett and tight end Travis Tannahill. This defense is decent with Arthur Brown and shutdown corner Nigel Malone.  Texas doesn't know who their quarterback is but if they can figure that out they will win games thanks to the backfield. Malcolm Brown will excel and Jonathan Gray appears ready to play in the Big 12 and won't need much of an adjustment period. This defensive line features two sack machines in Jackson Jeffcoat and Alex Okafor. 2011 was the Year of the Bear in the Big 12 but Baylor will fall back to earth a bit. Nick Florence is likely the main faced with the task of replacing incredible RG3. Florence should do good though as he has excellent receivers headed by seniors Terrance Williams and Lanear Sampson. The defense is good with senior Gary Mason and Chance Casey. Texas Tech was looking like a true contender after beating Oklahoma last season but 5-7 was not their goal. Seth Doege and most of this prolific offense is back which means a bowl bid is a realistic possibility. Iowa State will likely start Jared Barnett who led the upset of OSU last season. He'll improve a lot in his second season. This Cyclones team has a whole lot of talent especially in the linebacker core with A.J. Klein and Jake Knott. Kansas has a new coach in Charlie Weis and hopefully more wins. Dayne Crist will likely start but he doesn't have too much talent around him to work with.

College Football Preview: The Big Ten

Kain Colter, Northwestern

Ranking the Big Ten
1. Michigan State
2. Michigan
3. Wisconsin
4. Ohio State
5. Nebraska
6. Northwestern
Overview: With five teams in my top 25 and tons of talent beyond that the Big Ten has the possibility to be the best conference behind the SEC. Michigan State lost Kirk Cousins so many would take them out of the Big Ten title race. Not too fast. Andrew Maxwell is more then capable of replacing Cousins and Le'Veon Bell should run for 1,000 plus yards easily. And as always the Spartans have a deadly defense headed by end William Gholston and pass rushing linebacker Denicos Allen. Michigan won 11 games in 2011 and has much of last year's squad back including Heisman candidate Denard Robinson. "Shoelace" must improve his passing game though in order to win he Big Ten. The problem there is that he only has one returning receiver in Roy Roundtree. Russell Wilson is gone but the Wisconsin Badgers are still title contenders with Maryland transfer Danny O'Brien. And this backfield is just as good, maybe even better. Montee Ball likely won't break Barry Sanders record, the record he tied in '11 but a Heisman isn't out of reach. Who was the Buckeyes top recruit? If you answered Urban Meyer you are correct. Ohio State has a star coach and a whole lot of talent returning in Braxton Miller on offense and John Simon on defense. Jordan Hall, though, the team's starting back, will miss significant time due to a cut on his foot. It isn't clear who will replace him. Tight end Jake Stoneburner and defensive linemen Jonathan Hankins are underrated pieces to the puzzle. Now in it's second year in the Big Ten Nebraska hopes to take the next step and win the conference championship. Easier said then done, as this team lost a number of key defenders and the offensive line is a serious weakness. Though, with Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead back, anything is possible. Northwestern is a team I like a lot more then I thought I would considering they lost Dan Persa. Kain Colter is the mobile quarterback to replace him. Colter started (and did pretty good) in Persa's absence in 2011. He has quite good receivers to pass too. Now that the off field distractions are done Penn State hopes this year they can forget and just play football. The issue is once more quarterback where Matt McGloin nor Rob Bolden have stepped up. But back Silas Redd has the tools to be dominant. It's called Linebacker University for a reason. Back is Gerald Hodges and a healthy Michael Mauti. Purdue returns QB Caleb TerBush and tackle Kawann Short on defense. Back Akeem Shavers could be a breakout star in 2012-2013. Iowa never has much star power but this year they're seriously lacking it. The man to replace now Stony Brook's Marcus Coker? Put your money on power Damon Bullock. Quarterback James Vanderburg isn't anything fantastic but he'll produce for a Hawkeyes team that needs it. Illinois looked like they were going to have a memorable 2011 starting off 6-0. I hope I don't have to tell you how the second half of the season went. Though junior Nate Scheelhasse is back and he can make plays with his feet as well as with his arm. This defense must replace various losses but is still dangerous.  Minnesota keeps on improving under coach Jerry Kill and MarQueis Gray is back. But only one receiver has caught a touchdown and this backfield is depleted. Indiana shouldn't be overlooked. Back Stephen Houston is lethal and receiver Kofi Hughes is super athletic. Quarterback Tre Roberson is now the full time starter and it will be interesting to see how he plays.

College Football Preview: The Big East

Ranking the Big East
1. Rutgers
2. Louisville
3. South Florida
4. Pittsburgh


B.J. Daniels, USF

Overview: This is the weakest this conference has ever been, and may ever be without West Virginia. It appears the team to beat is Rutgers. This defense is stacked with talent with a star in every unit. On the line Scott Vallone is a beast, at linebacker Khaseem Greene is a tackling monster and in the secondary Logan Ryan is a ball hawk. Though the quarterback position is in question as sophomore Gary Nova will likely start. Louisville could still get to a BCS bowl with sophomore Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback and a powerful defense. Junior Dominique Brown is powerful and behind him Senorise Perry is a speedster at backup. South Florida choked last season ending up 1-6 in the Big East and 5-7 overall. They may have the most dangerous player in the league in senior quarterback B.J. Daniels. He has a great receiver corps headlined by Sterling Griffin and tight end Evan Landi. Pittsburgh could be a dark horse with the return of senior quarterback Tino Sunseri and back Ray Graham. Graham had a great 2011 before getting injured midyear. Even with safety Jarred Holley back this Panthers defense is very weak. UConn will play UConn football, running the ball and playing psychical defense. They have their back returning in sophomore Lyle McCombs who ran for over 1,000 yards. 9 starters are back on defense including end Jesse Joseph and cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson. Cincinnati has a new quarterback in junior Munchie Legaux who has the potential to be a star and a new runningback in George Winn. They have a dominant defensive line headed by Walter Stewart and Dan Giordano. Ryan Nassib is back which means Syracuse will contend once more for a bowl. Though no hiding how bad this defense was last season, worst in the Big East. It likely won't get much better. Temple is in a new tougher conference after a strong 9-4 mark put together be last year's squad. But, this team must replace Bernard Pierce's 27 touchdowns. Matt Brown is a speedy, elusive back and QB Chris Coyer returns but no denying how much tougher the Big East is then the MAC.

College Football Preview: The ACC

Ranking the ACC
1. Florida State
2. Clemson
3. Virginia Tech
4. Georgia Tech
5. NC State
6. Virginia
Overview: It may come a year later than expected but Florida State should rule the ACC. E.J. Manuel is healthy and few have a better defensive line than the Seminoles with Brandon Jenkins, Everett Dawkins and Bjoern Werner. The top recruiting class in the conference should add depth. Clemson has the best player in the conference with Sammy Watkins but has some holes. Their is no denying that the D-line only has one returning player to a bad pass rush. Andre Ellington's return improves a good backfield. Once more it appears the team to beat out of the Coastal is Virginia Tech. Logan Thomas could be Frank Beamer's most talented QB ever and this defense looks menacing with James Gayle, Bruce Taylor and Kyle Fuller. Georgia Tech has an offense that looks scary good. Back is athletic Tevin Washington at quarterback and fullback David Sims should breakout. Not to mention four starters back on offensive line. NC State was able to win games thanks mainly to a decent passing game and a fantastic secondary. Back is QB Mike Glennon to lead the air attack and David Amerson is back to head the secondary after recording 13 interceptions in 2011. Virginia stunned many when they won 8 games in '11-'12. Now, back is maturing Michael Rocco and elusive back Perry Jones. With Steve Greer making plays on defense a Coastal title isn't out of the question. Bryn Renner and much of the offense is back at UNC. That includes sophomore Giovani Bennard and Erik Highsmith. New coach Larry Fedora hopes to have this defense playing hard. Wake Forest has underrated quarterback Tanner Price back and a good defense with defensive back Merrill Noel and linemen Nikita Whitlock. That being said 6-7 wins is the goal for the Demon Deacons. Miami has a really weak offense even if Stephon Morris becomes a star. The playmakers on defense are also pretty limited. Duke coach David Cutcliffe could actually have a bowl possibility team on his hands. Senior quarterback Sean Renfree is ready for the big stage and has a great receiver in Conner Vernon. Boston College was hoping Montel Harris could make a comeback after injury but was dismissed from the team. Kevin Pierre-Louis leads a dangerous defense. The only headlines Maryland made in 2011 was because of their odd jerseys. Though coach Randy Edsall can turn schools in the right direction and has the tools with linemen Joe Vellano and linebacker Kenny Tate back.

College Football Preview: 25. Nebraska Cornhuskers

25.Nebraska Cornhuskers Returning Starters: 16 Returning Star: RB Rex Burkhead Key Loss: CB Alfonzo Dennard Player to Watch: LB Will Compton The Huskers first year in the Big Ten was good, but not great. A 9-4 mark that included losses to Northwestern, and beatings from Michigan and Wisconsin could have been better. Though with the talent that this team has back a ten win season and possibly a Big Ten championship isn't out of the picture. Back is quarterback Taylor Martinez, the scrambler. Martinez can keep plays alive with his feet but sometimes the reason they break down is because he doesn't have the arm strength. Though he did throw for 2,000 plus yards in 2011. Bo Pelini caught a huge break when senior back Rex Burkhead returned. Burkhead is a bruiser who can also use some of his speed to become and elusive ballcarrier. The reason this Huskers offense should be improved isn't because of Martinez nor Burkhead. It's because of these receivers that are back. Sophomore Kenny Bell and Quincy Enunwa are both back in a Nebraska uniform hoping to help Martinez continue his developement. Both have some speed and have pretty good size. Martinez should rely heavily on tight end Ben Cotton. Cotton is a huge target that can also provide blocking help. This offensive line is greatly improved thanks to the return of guard Spencer Long and tackle Tyler Moore. Neither are very dominant but will get the job done. Defense has always been amazing, it seems, here in Nebraska. But gone is linemen Jared Crick, linebacker Lavonte David and defensive back Alfonzo Dennard, last year's top three defenders. Cameron Meredith should be the next great pass rusher, following Ndamukong Suh and Crick. Meredith is very ahtletic with a nose for the football. Also back is tackle Baker Steinhukler who is a monster. Jason Ankrah is yet another pass rusher that Pelini can unleash. Without David the linebackers are probably the weakest unit on the team. Senior Will Compton must have a big year in order for this defense to be good. Senior Alonzo Whaley has shown flashes in his career. Cornerback Andrew Green could become a shutdown corner in his third year with the Huskers. But other than that this secondary is young and unproven. Heisman Hopeful: Taylor Martinez Big Ten Rank: 5th

College Football Preview: 24. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

24. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Returning Starters: 14 Returning Star: LB Manti Te'o Key Loss: WR Michael Floyd Player to Watch: DE Stephon Tuitt Brian Kelly's last two teams here in South Bend have been average. Not too good but not too bad. This 2012-2013 team has the talent to turn Notre Dame into an above average 10 win team. If, they can get through this tough schedule that includes a Dublin battle with Navy, a road matchup against Michigan State and a good-looking Oklahoma team. Back is junior Tommy Rees who Kelly gave the starting job in 2011. But this quarterback position is far then settled. Junior Andrew Hendrix has a big arm and freshman Gunner Kiel could give Rees a run for his money. Rees has an okay arm and okay accuracy. He isn't too flashy but he did look good in a number of games last season and is the less risky option for Kelly. Though this team shouldn't pass too much with the talent they have in the backfield. Senior Cierre Wood ran for over 1,000 yards last season and should once more. Theo Riddick should also get carries as he should switch between a big and slot receiver. Riddick has the speed and agility to be lethal and since he was a receiver he can obviously catch. Gone is Michael Floyd greatly depleting Rees' options in the air attack. But back is tight end Tyler Eifert, an All-American. Eifert has size and stamina and brings toughness that not a lot of players have. Junior T.J. Jones could have a breakout '12 as he is the top returning true receiver. Also back is senior John Goodman who has the size to be a dominant force for Rees. Protecting Rees is this okay offensive line. Braxston Cave is fully healthy and should have a strong year at center. Guard Chris Watt is experienced and smart. This defense got a huge boost when tackling machine Manti Te'o decided to stay one more year with these Fighting Irish. Te'o has the athleticism that is truly dangerous and his numbers don't lie. This defensive line could end up being very good after returning two starters in Kapron Lewis-Moore and tackle Louis Nix. Nix is a force up the middle that can also provide a decent pass rush. The most talented player on this line, though, is end Stephon Tuitt. The versatile Tuitt can play just about every position you need him to. Other than Te'o these linebackers have senior Dan Fox back who can also make plays. The secondary is unproven and is the weakest unit on this team. Heisman Hopeful: Cierre Wood Independent Rank: 1st