Q: Who will be this year’s Northwestern?
A: It won’t happen again, at least not for a long time. Nevertheless, keep an eye on Wake Forest (1-10 a year ago) and Georgia Tech (1-10 two years ago).
Q: Why do coaches favor the new overtime rule in Division I-A?
A: Because it eliminates ties, which may enable more teams to amass six victories, the minimum required for bowl participation. Coaches love bowls.
Q: Why do coaches oppose the new overtime rule?
A: When two teams tie, no one loses. Coaches hate to lose.
Q: How many teams are in the Western Athletic Conference?
A: Sixteen, most in the nation. The WAC also leads Division I-A in time zones, with four.
Q: Can Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace win the Heisman Trophy?
A: Not unless he switches to tailback. But Pace will earn enough votes to be in the Downtown Athletic Club ballroom when Florida State’s Warrick Dunn accepts the award.
Q: Which underclassmen are going to play on Sundays next year?
A: Pace, for one. And Peyton Manning.
Q: What’s the Haka Bowl?
A: It’s the postseason game in Auckland, New Zealand, that will pit the third-place Pac-10 team against an at-large selection (read: the Big Ten’s sixth-place finisher).
Q: What happens if three teams go undefeated?
A: The team that ranks third in the polls will spend the holidays whining while the other two prepare to play for the national title in the Sugar Bowl.
Q: Which Big Ten school has the best tailgate parties?
A: Penn State wins a narrow nod over Wisconsin. But leave now to make it to the parking lot in time for the Sept. 7 home opener against Louisville.
Q: What’s a name to look for this fall?
A: Epenesa Epenesa, Iowa defensive tackle. Don’t ask us to repeat it.
Q: Nebraska has won 25 straight games. Will the Big Red ever lose again in our lifetime?
A: Yes. It may happen Sept. 21, when the Huskers take on revenge-seeking Arizona State in the frying pan known as Sun Devil Stadium. Or it may not happen until 2000.
