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

College Football Preview: 23. Florida Gators

23. Florida Gators Returning Starters: 18 Returning Star: DE Sharrif Floyd Key Loss: RB Jeff Demps Player to Watch: RB Mike Gillislee Will Muschamp's 2011 team wasn't suited to compete in the tough SEC, as they finished off 7-6. Gone is quarterback John Brantley who didn't have much success as a starter. Replacing him is up to sophomores Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett. Driskel and Brissett are both huge with big arms. Driskel is more mobile but Brissett is also pretty athletic also. Muschamp hasn't announced who will start but Brissett may have a little bit of an advantage. Whoever will start must improve an offense that ranked 105th nationally in 2011. The backfield was stacked with talent last year but gone is both Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey. The player likely to replace them will be senior Mike Gillislee. Hes had a great offseason but questions still loom about whether he can be an every down back. Junior Trey Burton is a hybrid who can play just about every skill postition on offense. Hes fast and versatile and is Muschamp's most dangerous player on offense. The receivers are quick led by Andre Debose and sophomore Quinton Dunbar. Debose had 16 catches last year a number that should increase greatly in 2012. Junior tight end Jordan Reed has proved himself as a sure target for this Gators offense. Four starters are back to make this line solid. Left tackle Xavier Nixon and guard Jon Halaplo are anchors and Matt Patchan should be All-SEC this season. 10 starters are back on defense that was 8th nationally in 2011-2012. The line is a definite strength with the returns of pass rushing end Sharrif Floyd and athletic tackle Dominique Easley. Floyd had a strong '11 and could even improve in his third year in Florida. This defense lost Ronald Powell to a torn ACL and he likely won't be back until midseason. The linebackers are fantastic maybe the best in the SEC, a pretty tall order. Senior Jonathan Bostic led the squad in tackles last year and should again while Jelani Jenkins is a sure tackler. Look for freshman Antonio Morrison to get tackles after a big spring game. This secondary is another great unit with safety Matt Elam and a potential star in Marcus Roberson. This special teams is led by Lou Groza finalist, senior Caleb Sturgis. The return game could be lethal with a number of key players back including Debose. Defense should lead this Gators team and this offense should be improved. Expect a solid 9-10 win season. Heisman Hopeful: Mike Gillislee SEC Rank: 6th

College Football Preview: 22. Boise State Broncos

22. Boise State Broncos Returning Starters: 9 Returning Star: WR Matt Miller Key Loss: QB Kellen Moore Player to Watch: QB Joe Southwick It seems like a Bronco tradition to win games and they still should even without quarterback Kellen Moore. It seems that the man to replace Moore, maybe the best Boise quarterback ever, is junior Joe Southwick. Southwick, a two-year backup, has the tools to become the next great quarterback. He has an accurate arm and can also throw deep balls. He has the receivers to have a breakout first year as starter. Back is sophomore Matt Miller who caught 62 balls in his freshman year. He has good size and he has fantastic hands. Also back is senior Mitch Burroughs who has the experience and smarts. Junior Geraldo Boldewijn could have a big 2012 and sophomore Dallas Burroughs is improving. Tight end Gabe Linehan caught five touchdowns last season and should help Southwick mature. The ground game is without Doug Martin a bigger loss then people may think. Senior D.J. Harper is likely the one to replace Martin. He can make big plays but he is not proven as an every-down back. Senior Drew Wright should also make plays for Boise State. This offensive line is solid and experienced. Junior tackles Charles Leno could have a big junior season. Senior guard Joe Kellogg has the talent to become one of the best offensive linemen in the Mountain West. Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski has his work cut out for him losing most of this defense. The line lost talented Shea McClellin and Billy Winn. Tackle Mike Atkinson is huge and should dominate. JUCO transfer Demarcus Lawrence could end up being this team's top pass rusher. Gone is Byron Hout which leaves this linebacker postition razor thin. Senior J.C. Percy is the only returner. He should lead the Broncos in tackles as he has the speed and athleticism. Sophomore Blake Renaud will handle plays in the middle. The secondary is the best unit on defense headlined by cornerbacks Jamar Taylor and Jerrell Gavins who provide a lethal combo. Both are experienced and Gavins led this squad with interceptions in 2011. With no TCU in this conference the Broncos should be a lock to win the Mountain West crown. Heisman Hopeful: Joe Southwick Mountain West Rank: 1st

College Football Preview: 21. Texas Longhorns

21. Texas Longhorns Returning Starters: 16 Returning Star: DE Jackson Jeffcoat Key Loss: LB Keenan Robinson Player to Watch: WR Jaxon Shipley 13-12. Thats the Longhorns record over the past two seasons, something that nobody associated with this football team is proud of. But, this year's squad could win 10 games thanks to the return of 16 starters. Quarterbacks David Ash and Case McCoy split snaps last season but it appears Ash will get the bulk of snaps this season. Ash is a smart player with a good arm but isn't quite mature yet. Junior McCoy has no consistency but has the raw potential to be great. This backfield is deep and talented and will carry this offense. Sophomore Malcolm Brown had an okay freshman year and will continue to improve. If he can stay healthy he could improve significantly on last season's 742 yards. Back is sophomore Joe Bergeron also but he'll probably take a backseat to the next big thing at Texas. Jonathan Gray was the second-most prolific back in Texas high school history and will make plays in 2012. Gray has great speed and has the vision to spot lanes. In order to help Ash and McCoy this Longhorns squad must find a big play receiver. Sophomore Jaxon Shipley has the potential and smarts to become that guy. Also back is junior Mike Davis who has the size and senior Marquise Goodwin has the experience. Offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin hopes to find an effective tight end. Senior D.J. Grant or junior Dominique Jones could fill that role. This offensive line keeps on improving with the return of junior guard Mason Walters and tackle Trey Hopkins. The Longhorns like to play gritty defense and it worked last year as the Longhorns had the nation's 11th best defense. The defensive line has two great defensive ends in Jackson Jeffcoat and Alex Okafor. These two combined for 15 sacks last year, a number that could improve to 20 plus. Other than these two though the line is weak. Gone are Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho leaving these linebackers depleted. This secondary could end up being the nation's elite. Cornerbacks Carrington Byndom and Quandre Diggs are sticky and will give quarterbacks headaches. Senior safety Kenny Vaccaro shows promise. The Longhorns are slowly turning back into a championship contender just give them time. Heisman Hopeful: Malcolm Brown Big 12 Rank: 6th

College Football Preview: 20. Kansas State Wildcats

20. Kansas State Wildcats Returning Starters: 14 Returning Star: QB Collin Klein Key Loss: DT Ray Kibble Player to Watch: WR Tyler Lockett The surprise of 2011 returns 14 starters including All Big 12 quarterback Collin Klein. Needless to say, two straight 10 win seasons isn't out of the question. Klein had a huge junior year but hopes to improve his passing game in his senior season, as the Wildcats had the worst air game in the Big 12. Klein is durable and is athletic and should run for 1,000 plus yards once more. His arm isn't that strong but he can make deep plays and has decent accuracy. Also back is junior runningback John Hubert who has great speed. Hubert can also catch the ball out of the backfield which should help Klein mature in the passing game. Senior Angelo Pease should also get rushes. The most underrated player on this team? Senior fullback Braden Wilson leads the way for both Klein and Hubert two of the best rushers in the Big 12. The receivers are good with the return of sophomore Tyler Lockett, senior Chris Harper and senior Brodrick Smith. Lockett is the most talented and should continue to improve in his second year with the Wildcats. Tight end Travis Tannahill is a reliable receiver and is a pretty good blocker. The offensive line is on the weaker side of things. Guard Nick Puetz is the top blocker on the squad. This defense is very underappreciated. The line is definitely a weakness after losing tackle Roy Kibble. End Adam Davis is a fantastic pass rusher and senior Meshak Williams could break out on the other side. But this line has little or no depth. Senior Arthur Brown had a big junior year and has no way to go but up in his senior year. Brown is athleitc with great field vision and should lead this Wildcats team in tackles. Also back is junior Tre Walker who should also improve this season. In the secondary, JUCO transfer Nigel Malone had an All-American season after leading the Big 12 with seven interceptions. Though senior Allen Chapman has to step up on the other side. Safety Ty Zimmerman is a hard hitter who is a playmaker in the back. The special teams is good with kicker Anthony Cantele coming back. Heisman Hopeful: Collin Klein Big 12 Rank: 5th

College Football Preview: 19. Ohio State Buckeyes

19. Ohio State Buckeyes Returning Starters: 18 Returning Star: DL John Simon Key Loss: DeVier Posey Player to Watch: QB Braxton Miller Ohio State welcomes in Urban Meyer and hopefully better football after last season's disappointment. Meyer has a lot of talent on this team and it all starts at quarterback with sophomore Braxton Miller. Miller struggled at times last season but will improve with more stable scenery. He is basically Terrelle Pryor with a little less hype. He has great mobility and a big arm but his passing game is still improving. The backfield isn't very flashy but is still good with the return of senior tailback Jordan Hall. Hall is a hard runner who Meyer will rely on heavily if Miller can't get the passing game going. Also back is fullback Zach Boren and backup junior Carlos Hyde. The receiving core is pretty good headlined by tight end Jake Stoneburner. Stoneburner is big with large hands and can withstand tons of hits from Big Ten defenders. Junior Chris Fields, Corey Brown and Verlon Reed must step up to help Miller improve a passing game that was 117th in the nation last season. Sophomore Reed is the least experienced but may have the best potential. The offensive line is okay but losing leader Mike Brewster definitely doesn't help. Guards Marcus Hall and Jack Mewhort will head the way for Hall. This defense is good especially on the line and in the secondary. Linemen John Simon is an intimidating force for these Buckeyes. The senior can rush in from the end and can play tackle and stuff up plays. Junior tackle Jonathan Hankins is a prospect but didn't play fantastic in 2011. Hankins has the size and athleticism to have a big season. Junior end Adam Bellamy can make great plays on Simon's other side. These linebackers are athletic and will make plays. Senior Storm Klein can hit hard and is a sure tackler. Few units are better then Ohio State's secondary. Back is All Big Ten safety C.J. Barnett and cornerback Travis Howard. Sophomore Bradley Roby showed he has the potential to become a shutdown corner last season. With kicker Drew Basil back and senior punter Ben Buchanan this special teams should be good. Heisman Hopeful: Braxton Miller Big Ten Rank: 4th

College Football Preview: 18. Virginia Tech Hokies

18. Virginia Tech Hokies Returning Starters: 11 Returning Star: QB Logan Thomas Key Loss: RB David Wilson Player to Watch: DE James Gayle Frank Beamer is still coach so the Hokies are going to play his style: run the ball and play pyschical defense. But never before has Beamer had this talented of a quarterback in junior Logan Thomas. Thomas is huge and athletic and was an All-ACC quarterback in his first year as starter. He has only one direction to go: up. That is, if his passing game continues to mature and his leadership abilities improve. The loss of backs David Wilson and Josh Oglesby hurts considerably. Ready to start is freshman Michael Holmes who was redshirted last season. He has great vision and has decent speed. Though sophomore Daniel Dyer and junior Tony Gregory should also run the ball a lot and Beamer will have a tough time choosing between the three. Senior fullback Joey Phillips is an experienced blocker. Gone are Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale who would have been Thomas' top options this season. Senior Dyrell Roberts returns from injury and could lead this Hokies squad in receiving. Seniors Marcus Davis and D.J. Coles have played a lot of snaps. Junior tight end Eric Martin is a reliable receiver. Martin and Randall Dunn can also help block for Virginia Tech. That is important because this offensive line is very thin. Center Andrew Miller is back but other then that no starters return. This defense is beastly. The defensive line is a formidable unit headed by end James Gayle. Gayle has great size and is a great pass rusher. Junior J.R. Collins is a beast on the other side also and tackle Derrick Hopkins is a monster. This linebacker group has loads of talent and a lot of depth also. Senior Bruce Taylor is the next big thing for this Hokies squad but was banged up this spring. Junior Tariq Edwards is a hard hitter that will make plays. The secondary lost cornerback Jayron Hosley but is still very good. Junior Kyle Fuller was good last year and has the potential to be even better. Junior cornerback Antoine Exum moved from safety and is very versatile. Special teams is always good at Virginia Tech but may struggle. Kicker Cody Journell is back but his future is in question after legal issues. Michael Branthover should start at either kicker or punter. Or maybe even both. Heisman Hopeful: Logan Thomas ACC Rank: 3rd