Tribune college football reporter Andrew Bagnato provides a quick-look primer for the season.
The Heisman contenders
Nearly twice as many running backs (40) as quarterbacks (21) have won the Heisman Trophy. But quarterbacks won the first two Heismans of the new century, and it looks as if their roll may continue this year with a flock of passers gunning for the most prestigious individual award in sports.
1. Ken Dorsey
Miami
quarterback, senior
A finalist last year, Dorsey may run away with it if the Hurricanes mount a serious national title defense.
2. Rex Grossman
Florida
quarterback, junior
When Gators QB Danny Wuerffel won in 1996, many said then-coach Steve Spurrier deserved an assist. Can Grossman ring up impressive numbers now that the ol’ coach has taken his visor to the NFL?
3. Byron Leftwich
Marshall
quarterback, senior
If you don’t think a player from Marshall has a shot, consider that Randy Moss finished fourth in 1997–and Leftwich carries none of Moss’ off-field baggage.
4. Eli Manning
Mississippi
quarterback, junior
Eli may be a better quarterback than his fabled brother, Peyton, who lost out to Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997. The Rebels probably need a near-perfect record for Eli to have a shot.
5. Onterrio Smith
Oregon
running back, junior
Smith romped for 1,058 yards as a reserve last year, averaging six yards per carry. No Pac-10 player has won the Heisman since Southern Cal’s Marcus Allen in 1981.
Preseason All-America team
OFFENSE
POS PLAYER CLASS SCHOOL
QB Ken Dorsey Sr. Miami
RB Onterrio Smith Jr. Oregon
RB Cedric Benson Soph. Texas
TE Trent Smith Sr. Oklahoma
OL Al Johnson Sr. Wisconsin
OL Brett Romberg Sr. Miami
OL Jon Stinchcomb Sr. Georgia
OL Todd Wike Sr. Maryland
OL Steve Sciullo Sr. Marshall
WR Charles Rogers Jr. Michigan St.
WR Reggie Williams Soph. Washington
SPECIALISTS
POS PLAYER CLASS SCHOOL
PK Seth Marles Sr. Tulane
P Brooks Barnard Sr. Maryland
KR Keenan Howry Sr. Oregon
DEFENSE
POS PLAYER CLASS SCHOOL
DL Tommie Harris Soph. Oklahoma
DL Cory Redding Sr. Texas
DL Darnell Dockett Jr. FSU
DL Jerome McDougle Sr. Miami
LB E.J. Henderson Sr. Maryland
LB Boss Bailey Sr. Georgia
LB Jonathan Vilma Jr. Miami
DB Mike Doss Sr. Ohio State
DB Troy Polamalu Sr. S. California
DB Eugene Wilson Sr. Illinois
DB Derrick Strait Jr. Oklahoma
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Breaking it down: Conference by conference
Rating the major conferences and forecasting the races:
1. BIG 12
The big games:
Oklahoma vs. Texas at Dallas, Oct. 12; Colorado at Oklahoma, Nov. 2; Texas at Nebraska, Nov. 2.
Outlook:
The Big 12 is so strong there’s talk the league could produce both Fiesta Bowl teams. It’s highly unlikely, but as Nebraska proved a year ago, anything is possible in the Bowl Championship Series.
North Division
1. Colorado
2. Nebraska
3. Kansas State
4. Iowa State
5. Missouri
6. Kansas
South Division
1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Texas Tech
4. Texas A&M
5. Baylor
6. Oklahoma State
2. SOUTHEASTERN
The big games:
Florida at Tennessee, Sept. 21; Tennessee at Georgia, Oct. 12; Louisiana State at Florida, Oct. 12.
Outlook:
Alabama and Kentucky are on probation and barred from postseason play this year. That means 10 teams are competing for the SEC’s seven bowl slots.
Eastern Division
1. Tennessee
2. Georgia
3. Florida
4. South Carolina
5. Vanderbilt
6. Kentucky
Western Division
1. Louisiana State
2. Alabama
3. Auburn
4. Mississippi
5. Mississippi State
6. Arkansas
PACIFIC-10
The big games:
Southern Cal at Washington State, Oct. 5; Washington at Oregon, Nov. 16; Washington at Washington St., Nov. 23.
Outlook:
Because it plays so many of its games after most of the nation has turned off its TV sets, this rugged league may always struggle for respect. That’s too bad. It may be the toughest conference in the land.
1. Washington
2. Washington State
3. Oregon
4. Southern Cal
5. Arizona
6. UCLA
7. Oregon State
8. Arizona State
9. Stanford
10. California
4. BIG TEN
The big games:
Ohio State at Wisconsin, Oct. 19; Michigan State at Michigan, Nov. 2; Michigan at Ohio State, Nov. 23
Outlook:
The Big Ten is as weak as it has been in a decade. But if Michigan beats Washington, Penn State beats Nebraska and Ohio State beats Washington State in the season’s first three weeks, the league’s image will shine again.
1. Michigan
2. Ohio State
3. Wisconsin
4. Penn State
5. Michigan State
6. Illinois
7. Iowa
8. Purdue
9. Northwestern
10. Minnesota
11. Indiana
5. ATLANTIC COAST
The big games:
Florida St. at Maryland, Sept. 14; N.C. State at Maryland, Nov. 9; Florida St. at N.C. State, Nov. 23.
Outlook:
Look for the Seminoles to regain their dominance and cruise to their 10th ACC title in 11 seasons. Maryland, N.C. State, Virginia and Clemson will battle for a Gator Bowl berth.
1. Florida State
2. Maryland
3. N.C. State
4. Virginia
5. Clemson
6. Georgia Tech
7. North Carolina
8. Wake Forest
9. Duke
6. BIG EAST
The big games:
Boston College at Miami, Sept. 21; Pitt at Miami, Nov. 21; Virginia Tech at Miami, Dec. 7.
Outlook:
As if the Hurricanes weren’t already dominant, the conference schedulers have made their most realistic challengers visit the Orange Bowl.
1. Miami
2. Virginia Tech
3. Pittsburgh
4. Boston College
5. Syracuse
6. West Virginia
7. Rutgers
8. Temple
7. CONFERENCE USA
The big games:
Cincinnati at S. Mississippi, Oct. 19; TCU at Louisville, Oct. 19; Louisville at S. Mississippi, Nov. 14.
Outlook:
Louisville has an outside chance at a BCS berth. Southern Mississippi looks like a cinch for a ninth straight winning season under alumnus Jeff Bower.
1. Louisville
2. Southern Mississippi
3. Cincinnati
4. Texas Christian
5. East Carolina
6. Memphis
7. Tulane
8. Houston
9. UAB
10. Army
8. MOUNTAIN WEST
The big games:
Colorado State at Utah, Oct. 19; Brigham Young at Colorado State, Oct. 24; Brigham Young at Utah, Nov. 23.
Outlook:
After a non-conference schedule that includes Colorado, UCLA and Louisville, Colorado State may not be too worried about the Mountain West. Or it may be too.
1. Colorado State
2. Utah
3. Brigham Young
4. Air Force
5. UNLV
6. New Mexico
7. Wyoming
8. San Diego State
9. MID-AMERICAN
The big games:
Central Florida at Marshall, Sept. 20; Northern Illinois at Western Michigan, Oct. 26; Bowling Green at Toledo, Nov. 30.
Outlook:
Marshall seems to be the best of the bunch, but newcomer Central Florida could become an immediate force. In the West, it looks like a wide-open race with at least four realistic contenders.
East Division
1. Marshall
2. Central Florida
3. Miami
4. Ohio
5. Kent State
6. Akron
7. Buffalo
West Division
1. Bowling Green
2. W. Michigan
3. Toledo
4. Northern Illinois
5. Ball State
6. C. Michigan
7. E. Michigan
10. WESTERN ATHLETIC
The big games:
Fresno St. at Boise St., Oct. 19; Hawaii at Fresno St., Oct. 26; Louisiana Tech at Boise St., Nov. 16.
Outlook:
Last season Hawaii, Boise St. and Rice won 25 games among them and didn’t draw a bowl invitation. The WAC has three guaranteed bowl berths, but it will be seeking national respect in games against Clemson, Penn St., Texas A&M, Wisconsin and Oregon, to name a few of the BCS schools WAC teams will be playing this year.
1. Boise State
2. Fresno State
3. Hawaii
4. Louisiana Tech
5. Southern Methodist
6. UTEP
7. Nevada
8. Rice
9. San Jose State
10. Tulsa
