Well, I guess we’re back at square one now. The Dennis Franchione era didn’t exactly yield the results that were expected after Franchione came into College Station a hot property after turning things around in short order at Alabama, as there were more losing seasons in Franchione’s five (two) than there were in 21 seasons under Slocum and predecessor Jackie Sherrill (one).

Franchione stepped down last November with an overall record of barely over .500 at Texas A&M and a conference record under .500. Now, the reins are in the hands of a familiar face to the program, former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman, who served as an assistant coach under Slocum from 1989-93 and in 1996, and during his time on the sidelines, the Aggies were 64-21-1, won three Southwest Conference championships from 1991-93, and finished in the top 20 in six of the seven seasons Sherman was there.

Can Sherman lead A&M back to those heights and make them a contender in the Big 12 again? Here’s our take on how the Aggies look for 2008.

Texas A&M Aggies

Coach: Mike Sherman (1st year at Texas A&M, 57-39 record in the NFL)

2007 Record: 7-6, 4-4 Big 12, lost to Penn State in Alamo Bowl

Starters Returning: 11 (6 offense, 4 defense, punter)

Key Returnees: QB Stephen McGee, RB Mike Goodson, FB Jorvorskie Lane, WR Pierre Brown, T Michael Shumard, T Travis Schneider, DE Cyril Obiozor, DT Kellen Heard, DT Lucas Patterson, DE Michael Bennett, CB Jordan Pugh, CB Danny Gorrer, CB Arkeith Brown, SS Devin Gregg, S Alton Dixon, P Justin Brantly

Key Losses: WR Kerry Franks, TE Martellus Bennett, C Cody Wallace, LB Mark Dodge, LB Misi Tupe, DT Red Bryant, DE Chris Harrington, DB Marquis Carpenter

2008 Schedule

8/30 vs. Arkansas State
9/6 at New Mexico
9/20 vs. Miami (FL)
9/27 vs. Army
10/4 at Oklahoma State
10/11 vs. Kansas State
10/18 vs. Texas Tech
10/25 at Iowa State
11/1 vs. Colorado
11/8 vs. Oklahoma
11/15 at Baylor
11/27 at Texas

Key Game: Sept. 20 vs. Miami - Last season, Texas A&M went to Miami with a 3-0 record and left with a 34-17 in a game where they trailed 31-0 after three quarters and were held to 240 total yards of total offense by a team who’d go on to finish 5-7. This season, Miami should be improved, and this one should prove to be an excellent challenge ahead of conference play.

2008 Outlook

Texas A&M’s transformation starts on offense, an area where the production has been good over the last few seasons, but I’d like to see an Aggie fan satisfied with the offense’s inconsistency.

A lot of fingers may be pointed not just at the old coach for that issue, but also at the leader of the offense for the last couple of seasons, senior QB Stephen McGee. McGee’s ability to make plays with both his arm and legs are unquestioned, but his prowess as a passer hasn’t shown on a regular basis.

That ability is there, without a doubt, as he showed in last season’s 38-30 upset of the Longhorns, in which he threw for a career-high 362 yards and three touchdowns, and those are numbers that we may see more of this season with McGee set to throw more than he did under the previous system, which means more of a chance to showcase his abilities as a quarterback and less of a beating for his body, which is inevitable when you’re running it almost as much as some running backs do.

McGee’s go-to guys through the air are set to be senior Pierre Brown and sophomore Terrence McCoy. Brown caught 19 passes for 217 yards last season, and he also served as a primary kick returner with Kerry Franks, but he’ll have a much bigger role this season. He and McCoy, whose only catch last season was a 17-yard touchdown, both have great size at 6’2 and 6’4 respectively, which will make them easy-to-find targets for McGee. Adding to the big targets is 6’4 freshman Jeff Fuller, who should see immediate playing time.

While the passing game will be a lot more prominent in the new offense, the running game will definitely still be a major presence, with speedy junior Mike Goodson getting the lion’s share of the carries at tailback and touchdown machine Jorvorskie Lane, who’ll officially man the fullback position as a senior, which will mean scoring more touchdowns, but also serving as a primary blocker for Goodson and being a factor in the passing game.

Joining Goodson and Lane in the backfield is red shirt freshman Bradley Stephens, a prolific rusher in high school (7,803 yards in four seasons) and one of the top recruits in Texas A&M’s 2007 recruiting class. True freshman Cyrus Gray has impressed thus far with his speed and big-play ability, and he could get a chance to show it on the field this fall.

A lot of the offense’s success will depend on how durable a somewhat inexperienced offensive line is. Only two starters return, but fortunately they’re both tackles in junior Michael Shumard and senior Travis Schneider.

While the offense will be trying to adjust to a new system and produce consistently, the defense needs to improve in some key areas.

One bright spot about the defense was that they got the whole forcing fumbles thing down pretty well (24 fumbles forced, 16 takeaways), but that was one of the few real positives. With only four returning starters on defense, there may be a little worry that things may not be pretty this year, but that may not necessarily be the case.

The defensive line’s experience is going to have to pay off. End Cyril Obiozor is the only returning full-time starter, as the senior started all 13 games last year, but there is definitely experience among the other projected starters. At the tackle positions, Kellen Heard and Lucas Patterson were key reserves for much of last season and earned starts against Penn State in the Alamo Bowl. The other end spot should at least be solid with senior Amos Gbunblee, but the wild card along the line is Michael Bennett. Bennett, who had 43 tackles and a sack last season, has gotten himself back on track after being academically ineligible, and if he’s on the field, he has star potential.

It’ll be a new-look crew of linebackers, as leading tacklers Mark Dodge and Misi Tupe are gone. However, new starters Matt Featherston and Von Miller have some experience under their belts, and redshirt freshman Garrick Williams, who will start on the strong side, has a great deal of potential.

The secondary returns the most experience out of the entire unit, and as such, they’ll be looked upon to have a successful season. Cornerback Jordan Pugh and strong safety Devin Gregg (starting free safety last season) started all 13 games, and opposite Pugh, Danny Gorrer, who started the first seven games before a knee injury ended his season, returns along with Arkeith Brown, who started the final six games in place of Gorrer. Also returning is senior Alton Dixon, who started 11 games last year.

Talent isn’t the issue with A&M, not in the least. The Aggies have pulled in the necessary talent to be a consistent winner in the Big 12, but for whatever reason, that hasn’t happened as often as it should over the last several years.

However, the Sherman era may just provide what Aggie fans have been searching for. While he may not be the flashy name that some may have hoped for or expected, he fit’s the bill. Not only does he know the program and the area, from his two previous stints in College Station, but he’s also a proven, experienced coach on the highest level.

Success on the pro level, naturally, doesn’t translate into success on the collegiate level, but his track record is nothing to balk at. He was at A&M during a highly successful period, and rest assured, if he can’t get the program back to those heights, it won’t be for a lack of trying.

So, how should Texas A&M fare this season? They could be either 2-2 or 4-0 entering Big 12 play, as the trip to New Mexico will present a challenge, and they’ll face an improved Miami team at home after their first open date of the season.

After what should be a successful non-conference run, the Aggies should at least break even in the Big 12, with the home games against Colorado and Kansas State games that they should win, and so are the road games at Iowa State and Baylor, and there’s room for an ‘upset’ in there. 7 or 8 wins in the regular season is a reasonable target and where they‘ll likely land, but if the Aggies can win nine or more games, it could mean a New Year‘s Day bowl and a successful start to a new - and hopefully long and win-filled - era in College Station.

That capitulation (and that’s being nice) in Boulder proved to be the end for Bill Callahan, who brought offensive success to Lincoln, but alas, the amount of victories are the only numbers that matter, and he didn‘t deliver nearly enough of those to stay employed.

Taking over for Callahan is former LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, who held the same position on Frank Solich’s staff in 2003 when Solich was fired. Pelini actually earned his lone head coaching victory as the interim head coach for the 2003 Alamo Bowl (a 17-3 win over Michigan State), and was in the running for the permanent job, but lost out to Callahan.

A return to national prominence seems a few seasons away for this storied program, but will Nebraska at least make a return to the postseason in Pelini’s first season

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Coach: Bo Pelini (1st year at Nebraska, 1-0 record)

2007 Record: 5-7, 2-6 Big 12

Starters Returning: 14 (6 offense, 6 defense, kicker, punter)

Key Returnees: RB Marlon Lucky, QB Joe Ganz, WR Nate Swift, LT Lydon Murtha, LG Mike Huff, RG Matt Slauson, C Jacob Hickman, DE Barry Turner, DE Zach Potter, DT Ndamukong Suh, DT Ty Steinkuhler, CB Armando Murillo, SS Larry Asante, K Alex Henery, P Dan Titchener

Key Losses: QB Sam Keller, WR Maurice Purify, WR Terrence Nunn, RT Carl Nicks, TE Sean Hill, TE J.B. Phillips, LB Steve Octavien, LB Bo Ruud, LB Corey McKeon, CB Cortney Grixby, CB Zack Bowman, FS Tierre Green

2008 Schedule

8/30 vs. Western Michigan
9/6 vs. San Jose State
9/13 vs. New Mexico State
9/27 vs. Virginia Tech
10/4 vs. Missouri
10/11 at Texas Tech
10/18 at Iowa State
10/25 vs. Baylor
11/1 at Oklahoma
11/8 vs. Kansas
11/15 at Kansas State
11/28 vs. Colorado

Key Game: Sept. 27 vs. Virginia Tech - Nebraska should be 3-0 heading into this matchup against the ACC Coastal Division favorite Hokies, who should be ranked somewhere in the top 20 or 25 when they come to Lincoln. A big win in this one could not only put the Huskers in the top 25, but it’d also give them a ton of confidence for their Big 12 opener against Missouri the next week.

2008 Outlook

Offense wasn’t the problem for Nebraska last season, for the most part, which must be why offensive coordinator Shawn Watson was retained from Callahan’s staff.

The Huskers put up 468.2 yards per game and averaged 33.4 points, totals that put them near the top of the Big 12 charts. A good amount of that production came via the air, where Nebraska averaged 323.8 yards per game and accounted for 31 of their 53 touchdowns, thanks to quarterbacks Sam Keller and Joe Ganz, the latter of whom will be the starter under center come the 30th.

Ganz took over for Sam Keller late in the Texas game when Keller went down with a broken collarbone, and in starting the final three games, he threw for 1,397 yards and 15 touchdowns, numbers that past Husker quarterbacks might have taken an entire season to rack up. Those three starts included a school-record performance against Kansas State, in which he set school records with 510 yards and seven touchdowns in a 73-31 win.

Now, no one wants to see Ganz throw it 40-50 times every game, and he does need to avoid the interception bug (four against Kansas, three against Colorado), but the passing game should have no problems being productive, with receivers Nate Swift (36 catches, 520 yards, 4 TD) and Todd Peterson (18-359-5) should be two of Ganz’s favorite targets.

However, the focal point of the offense, and potentially Ganz’s top target, will be senior running back Marlon Lucky. Lucky had a terrific year in 2007, which was a benefit for anyone’s fantasy football team, but it was overshadowed with how bad things went for the Huskers overall.

Last season, Lucky did his best Brian Westbrook impression by running for 1,019 yards and nine touchdowns, and catching 75 passes (led the team) for 705 yards (2nd) and three more scores. Having a guy who’s as big of a weapon through the air as he is on the ground is a good thing, because it means another way to get the ball in his hands, which they tried to do even when the running game wasn’t a big factor.

However, I’m sure Nebraska fans would like to see a little more running, because more than being a piece of the past, it’s also a good sign that you’re in the game for four quarters and not just playing from behind over and over again.

The offensive line is certainly sturdy enough to allow Lucky to have all the lanes to run that he wants, as four starters return, minus star right tackle Carl Nicks, who looks to be replaced by sophomore Jaivorio Burkes.

Okay, I know that the Nebraska fans reading this really don’t want to spend a lot of time reading about how bad the defense was last season, but I have to do it, and I apologize in advance. If you want to scroll down a few paragraphs, feel free, because I don’t want to ruin anyone’s day.

In 2006, Nebraska’s defense was actually pretty solid, and through two games last season, had allowed only 27 points. Then, USC happened, and things weren’t the same after that.

USC ran for 313 yards and five touchdowns in a 49-31 win in Lincoln on September 15, and that, for all intents and purposes, was the beginning of a defensive implosion that would only get uglier.

In Nebraska’s last ten games, every opponent racked up more than 400 yards, and only one time in the last 10 games did they allow less than 28 points. Considering that even Iowa State put up 415 yards in a 35-17 loss, that effort wasn’t something to be wholly proud of.

It’s hard to pick out what the lowest of the low points was, because there were several. Letting Jamaal Charles run for 216 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to lead Texas to a 28-25 comeback win in Austin? Allowing 76 points to former whipping boy Kansas? Ending the season with Colorado hanging 65 (one score was defensive) on them?

Hopefully, for the sleeping (and drinking) habits of the most diehard of Husker fans, those nightmares are a thing of the past, and given Pelini’s pedigree as a defensive coach, one would have to feel confident about that. In that one season that he was the defensive coordinator at Nebraska, the defense was stellar, allowing only 14.5 points and 297.2 yards per game, and forcing 47 turnovers (15 fumbles, 32 interceptions, +23 turnover margin).

Those numbers might be unrealistic this season, considering that defense featured the likes of Barrett Ruud, Demorrio Williams, Josh Bullocks, and Fabian Washington, but improvement is the key word for this year.

Improvement starts with being a little more fearsome up front, which was an area of weakness last season. Nebraska had all of 18 sacks last season, with no player recording more than three, and as for the run defense, well, the USC and Texas games weren’t their only bad performances, as they gave up an average of 232.2 yards per game on the ground. That number needs to be in the ‘for’ category, not the ‘against.’

So, it remains to be seen until they actually hit the field whether the fact that all four primary starters from last year’s line are back, all of them being upperclassmen. At the end positions, Barry Turner and Zach Potter started 11 of 12 games last season, and there were bright spots for each, as Turner led the team in sacks with three and Potter had 11.5 tackles for loss. But, suffice it to say, both need to have a more regular presence in the backfield, namely when it comes to making opposing quarterbacks taste grass.

Production from the tackle spots is a definite must, where starters Ty Steinkuhler and Ndamukong Suh return. Steinkuhler had to deal with injuries last season, which limited him to only 13 tackles in eight games, but he’s going to be a key part of being much better against the run, as well junior Suh, who had 34 tackles (6 for loss) last season.

The defensive line could also get an immediate boost from a couple of highly-rated freshmen. Ty’s brother Baker was a five-star offensive line recruit, but the future, or at least the present, for the 6’6, 290 pounder could be on the defensive line, where he could make a bigger impact quicker than he would on the other side of the ball. Along with the younger Steinkuhler, highly-rated end Josh Williams, who had 47 tackles for loss and 18 sacks in his last two high school seasons, could be a difference-maker early on.

Just as important to that cause is a revamped linebacker unit, which lost all three main starters from last year. The linebacker with the most experience is junior Phillip Dillard, who started two games last season and recorded 37 tackles. He’ll be counted on to be a defensive leader, along with converted running back Cody Glenn, who spent the last three seasons in Nebraska’s backfield, but emerged from spring practice as the starter on the weak side.

While Pelini would love to have Bullocks and Washington in his secondary this time around, he does have returning starters at cornerback in Armando Murillo and at strong safety in Larry Asante, who were two of the team’s leaders in tackles last season with 71 and 78, respectively. While the pass defense could’ve been worse last season (244.7 yards per game, 20 touchdown passes allowed), there weren’t nearly enough game-changing plays (eight interceptions total).

What can we expect from Pelini’s first Nebraska team? Undoing someone else’s mess isn’t an easy job to do, but the Huskers should - and they really, really need to - be tougher on defense, and being tougher goes a long way towards being better, because if you go after that ball carrier harder, put a little more sting into your tackle, rattle that receiver’s cage a little and make him think twice about waving for the ball over the middle, it’s going to rub off on everyone else…well, at least the people that want it to rub off.

The schedule definitely offers up the chance to snatch back some of the respect that they lost in some of last season’s disasters. The opener against Western Michigan could be a little tougher than it might appear, as the Broncos have a ton of returning talent and could hang with the Huskers for at least a little while, but the opening three-game stretch should see Nebraska pick up three wins and see what doesn’t need fixing and what does heading into the meat of their slate.

Signature wins are the best way to get yourself back on the map, and their non-conference finale against Virginia Tech offers up chance #1 to do that, and their Big 12 opener against Missouri offers up chance #2 and a chance to prove that they can’t necessarily be written off as a contender in a North division where Missouri and Kansas are expected to tussle for the title.

Better yet, the two teams that inflicted the most pain, Kansas and Colorado, are coming to Lincoln this time around, and as if there wasn’t already enough incentive to whip those two, reversing last year’s misery is even more.

The offense is going to be very good, provided there isn’t a rash of injuries (knock on wood). But, just how far Nebraska goes this season will depend solely on the defense. If they’re at least a little better, the Huskers should at least go bowling. If they’re significantly better, then they could surprise some people. It may take a little while for Nebraska to return to the glory of old, but they should at least reclaim a little respect this season.

Jones announced that Bo Levi Mitchell and Braden Smith, both true freshmen, would be the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart as the Mustangs prepare for their season opener at Rice on Aug. 29. Assistant head coach/offense Dan Morrison said Mitchell is the No. 1 for now.

“After going through all of the tapes, I felt like Bo and Braden had a better understanding of the offense,” Jones said. “I think they’re executing a little bit better, so we’re going to give them the reps. We will continue to give the other guys reps too, but those guys will get the focus.”

Morrison said he and Jones focused on accuracy, quick releases and a thorough understanding of the run-and-shoot and that Mitchell and Smith fit the bill perfectly.

“Their maturity level is well beyond what most freshmen truly are,” Morrison said. “They have that same kind of moxie, that same kind of confidence and maturity that we have to see and, truthfully, the other players have to see, too.”

Mitchell, one of Jones’ first recruits to sign at SMU, led Katy High to an undefeated, state championship season during his senior year. It is that experience on a big stage that stood out to Jones.

“I think the fact that he’s been in big games at his high school he played [in front of] 62,000 in San Antonio for the state championship,” Jones said. “So he’s been in big games, seems to have a lot of poise, confidence.”

Tough break for Willis, who set a school record with 3,643 total yards last season and has a school-record 51 career touchdown passes. At least Jones told Willis to stay ready to play.

“I told Justin he’s only one or two plays away from being the guy, so he’s got to be ready,” Jones said. “We’re going in the other direction right now, but the other guys have got to be ready.”

One other thing working against Willis was that he was suspended and missed spring practices.

Give Jones credit in that he wants to put his stamp on the program. He is the rare coach who doesn’t want a mobile QB (like Willis) always leaving the pocket. He wants a gunslinger like Colt Brennan was at Hawaii.

Steffy, a fifth-year senior who started the first five games last season before being sidelined with a concussion, won this season’s starting job because of his consistency in practice and because he surpassed Turner in almost every statistical category the coaches measured. Turner, who led the Terps to wins over two top-10 teams last year, will be No. 2 with dual-threat Josh Portis seeing the field in specific situations throughout the season.

“I evaluate what I see, and I have to have some credibility with my players,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. “If you don’t reward people who practice well, you are in danger of losing the whole team.

“It was a hard decision. We looked at every statistic that we kept, from pass completions, yards per catch, yards after catch, interceptions, percentage of drives scoring, good practices and bad practices. We even consulted with some of the players.”

Steffy led Turner by a large margin in completion percentage (67 percent to 57 percent) and lowest interception percentage. Portis led the three in percentage of passing plays longer than 16 yards.

In Saturday’s scrimmage, Turner went 8-for-16 for 124 yards, Portis 3-for-8 for 100 yards and Steffy 9-for-13 for 63 yards. Each led the Terps to at least one touchdown. Portis produced two.

“If one quarterback all through the spring and all through summer camp was statistically better in almost every single category,” offensive coordinator James Franklin said, “it’s hard to rationalize not making him the starter.”

Portis has the highest upside of the three. The speedy transfer from Florida missed one season because he transferred, and was out for all of 2007 because he got caught cheating in school.

Friedgen didn’t dismiss the idea of using all three quarterbacks over the course of the season.

“I think they’ll all end up playing throughout the year, to be honest with you,” he said.

“We’ve decided to name Kevin Craft our starting quarterback,” said Neuheisel this week. “He’s earned it with his consistent play and he has the best mastery of the offense at this point.”

Craft, a redshirt junior, transferred to UCLA from Mount San Antonio College this spring - he nearly chose Hawaii but backed off that after June Jones left for SMU. Craft spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons at San Diego State; as a redshirt freshman in 2006, he appeared in nine games for the Aztecs, starting five. He completed 69 of 121 passes that season for 737 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions.

Craft beat out redshirt freshman Chris Forcier for the job that opened when Ben Olson was lost for two months due to surgery on a broken foot.

For offensive coordinator Norm Chow, the goal is to now get Craft ready to lead UCLA’s young offense against the Volunteers on Sept. 1.

“I think that [Craft] has known since Ben went down, that the job would be his if he performed as he should,” Chow said. “Hopefully, he’ll step up and do what he has to do.”

And where does Craft need the most improvement?

“Making quick decisions,” Chow said. “He has to get the ball out to help the offensive line a little bit. . . . You don’t have to throw a touchdown pass on every down. He’s improving in that area.”

Craft would become the first Bruin quarterback to start a season-opening contest in his initial season following a transfer since Troy Aikman, who came to UCLA from Oklahoma, took the first snap in the 1987 opener against San Diego State. He is also the first junior college transfer to start a season-opening game in his initial season since Mark Harmon in 1972.

“Right now, I’m trying to step up and be a leader and do what I can do so this team can be successful,” Craft said. “I’m not afraid of the challenge. I’m ready for it. I relish it. I really want to get in there and do well. I’m just anxious to get it started.”

To compound that problem, coach Frank Beamer has suspended projected starting receiver Zach Luckett indefinitely after he was arrested for the second time for drunken driving. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound sophomore played all 14 games last season. He caught two passes for 18 yards and made 15 tackles on special teams. He was one of only two current receivers at Virginia Tech who has caught a pass in his college career.

His suspension makes it likely that Virginia Tech will be forced to start a true freshman at flanker in Dyrell Roberts, who was listed No. 2 on the depth chart. He had three catches for 13 yards and returned a kickoff 55 yards in Saturday’s scrimmage. Fellow frosh Xavier Boyce will also vie for the job going into Tech’s Aug. 30 season-opener against East Carolina in Charlotte.

“Roberts and (Boyce) are doing a good job over there,” Beamer said, without saying if Luckett’s suspension is permanent. “Let them battle it out and see. I think (Roberts, Boyce and freshman Jarrett Boykin) are going to wind up playing.”

The Hokies lost their top four pass-catchers from 2007 to graduation, and then Brandon Dillard, who had been expected to start at flanker, was lost for the season when he ruptured his Achilles tendon June 3. Redshirt freshman Danny Coale remains atop the depth chart at split end. Junior Ike Whitaker, a converted quarterback, is listed behind Coale. Whitaker’s three career receptions are now tops among all Tech receivers.

“The depth chart is still the same,” said Tech wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman about the situation after Luckett’s suspension. “There’s a spot open and somebody has got to step up. That’s just the way it is, and I’ve told them that. We’ve got to move on and get better everyday.”

Don’t be surprised to see this suspension only last two games – the Hokies are solid WagerWeb.com favorites to win the opener against East Carolina and then will be huge favorites to beat Furman. But then comes the ACC opener against Georgia Tech, which is when the inexperienced receiving corps could really come into play.

I’ve already submitted my first ballot, but I still have time to make some revisions, so if you have any comments/thoughts on who you think should be where, or who should be in or out, feel free to give them. Or, if you just want to rail on my selections, you can do that too.

As sensible college football fans, we know not to take too much stock into preseason polls, but we have to start somewhere, right? Frankly, if I could’ve stretched it to a top 30, since there were some pretty worthy teams that I left out at the bottom.

1. Florida - The two major polls have Georgia at the top, but I have to tip my cap to another SEC East member. The Gators’ defense is a big question mark at this point, albeit a very, very talented one, but if that talent can produce and keep the offense from having to score 40 points per game, they’re the team to beat, in my opinion.

2. Ohio State - Ohio State’s defense is going to get a lot of attention, and rightfully so, but the offense deserves plenty of due, with Heisman candidates at quarterback and running back, and potential first-round picks at receiver and offensive line. As we’ve seen, getting to the title game isn’t so much the problem, whether they’re undefeated or not.

3. Georgia - The Bulldogs ended last season on fire, and a lot of people are anointing them as ‘the’ team in ‘08. This may well be their year, with an offense that has potential (the less interceptions Matthew Stafford throws, the better it is for Georgia’s chances) and a defense that many wouldn’t want to face even in their dreams. But, they have had a tendency to trip themselves up during Mark Richt’s tenure, so I will tread somewhat cautiously with them for now.

4. Oklahoma - If the defense that features one of the top defensive lines in the country can live up to its potential, another Big 12 title, and maybe a trip to the national title game, is in the cards. As is the case with Ohio State, getting to BCS games isn’t the issue with the Sooners, so you may as well get that double-digit million dollar check ready already.

5. USC - In the end, they’ll be good. That’s a formality. But, will they be good enough to get that national title that’s been eluding them since 2004? They’ve tripped up in games that they should’ve won in each of the last two seasons, and with a slate full of trap games and the hugely-hyped showdown with the Buckeyes, there can’t be any chicken counting in Troy just yet.

6. Missouri - Last year was not a fluke, but a lot of people may not become believers until/unless the Tigers go to Texas on October 18. Of course, their hopes of being a national title contender could be tripped up right out of the gate if they don’t beat Illinois, but after that one, the trip to Austin and their post-Thanksgiving rivalry showdown with Kansas in Kansas City, along with the Big 12 title game, are the only real tests standing in their way of potentially playing for a national championship.

7. West Virginia - Their schedule offers up several opportunities to slip up, so if they end up second-best in a deep Big East (who’d have said that a few years ago?), it wouldn’t be a surprise.

8. Clemson - The hopes of the ACC having a national title contender rest on the Tigers. If they come out and lay an egg against Alabama, it could make some very nervy fans.

9. LSU - If their new starting QB just plays efficiently, then they’re set. They’re a little behind Florida and Georgia in my book, due in large part to their QB situation, but if last year proved anything, two losses isn’t exactly a mortal blow for your national title hopes if everyone else wants to throw their chances away.

10. Texas - There are some holes to fill on both sides of the ball, and Colt McCoy needs to be less mistake-prone. Nothing wrong with San Diego in December, but I’m sure Mack Brown has his sights set higher.

11. Auburn - If there’s an Auburn fan that will miss Brandon Cox, I’d like to meet him. I’m a big believer in their defense, and with an offense that has a stable full of backs and the Tony Franklin touch, Auburn could emerge as a national title contender if they can navigate through a tough schedule. But, it all depends on the QB and if he takes them on the rollercoaster ride that Cox did a little too often.

12. Texas Tech - Defense, defense, defense. If the Red Raiders finally have one, then they’ll finally be a legit contender in the Big 12.

13. South Florida - The Bulls have knocked off West Virginia in each of the last two seasons, and are well-positioned to knock the Mountaineers off the top in the Big East. If Matt Grothe cuts down on the picks, he’ll be a Heisman candidate. How much longer can they hold on to Jim Leavitt before he gets that ‘can’t miss’ opportunity? If they take that extra step this season, they may erect a statue of him.

14. Wisconsin - If they can have consistent quarterback play and an injury-free defense, they’re the team best in position to challenge Ohio State for the Big Ten title.

15. Arizona State - It’s not often that your offensive line can give up 55 sacks and you win 10 games. If the line is better, then the Sun Devils stand a chance to upset Georgia and make a run at the Pac-10 title. Dennis Erickson’s second-year success is well-known, but the Sun Devils, while very talented in a lot of areas, are going to have to navigate through a tough schedule to match or better last year’s record.

16. Kansas - They lost some important pieces on both sides of the ball, including Aqib Talib. But with Todd Reesing back, the Jayhawks should push Missouri for the Big 12 North crown.

17. Virginia Tech - A giant question mark looms over the Hokies, as there are a lot of holes to fill and a quarterback issue that may not be an issue. But, they’re the best team in an ACC Coastal Division that’s wide open. That‘s not really saying much, but my expectations are that the defense should at least carry them to the division title.

18. BYU - If they past their non-conference games against Washington and UCLA, the only thing standing between them and a BCS berth is running the table in the Mountain West for the third straight season. Their offense will blow a lot of teams away, but completing that task won’t be easy, especially with Utah ready and able to bring them down.

19. Tennessee - Given the way Georgia finished, and the fact that Florida has the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, it’s easy to forget that Tennessee trumped both of them for the SEC East title last season. Doesn’t look likely to happen this season, but if they can upset Florida, then I’ll gladly eat those words.

20. Oregon - Coaches Hot Seat says that Oregon’s going to go 6-6 this season, which will spell the end of Mike Bellotti’s tenure in Eugene. The schedule is cruel enough for that 6-6 mark to not be out of the question, but even with a new quarterback, there’s more than enough talent on this team to at least nab second in the Pac-10. I think Jairus Byrd just picked off another pass. Speaking of passes, the more Jaison Williams catches, the better it is for the Ducks.

21. Wake Forest - Wake Forest will quietly win somewhere between eight and ten games, and Jim Grobe will have to dodge a few more athletic directors.

22. Penn State - Anthony Morelli’s gone, but that’s not a bad thing. Their defense is stacked, even without some key names, and provided the offense can back them up with half-decent production, maybe a title challenge can be mustered.

23. Connecticut - The Huskies won a share of the Big East title last season, and all but a few pieces from that team return. If there’s a team that could challenge West Virginia and South Florida for the conference title, they’re it. And if it happens, Randy Edsall will have more than his fair share of suitors.

24. Illinois - There are some holes to fill, but the talent is there to pick up from where they left off last year. But, the schedule is anything but friendly, as they have to go to Penn State, Michigan, and Wisconsin, along with the opener against Mizzou in St. Louis and the home game against Ohio State, who will be licking their chops when they go into Champaign. No sneaking up on anyone this time, that’s for sure.

25. Fresno State - It won’t take long to find out if this team is BCS buster material, with games at Rutgers and UCLA and at home against Wisconsin in September. Their offense is plenty good enough to win a lot of games, but their defense can’t afford to implode if they don’t want to play second-fiddle to anyone in the WAC again.

It wasn’t to be though, as losses to Oregon and USC ended both of those hopes, although they did clinch a share of the conference title with USC with a 7-2 mark. The season ended with a loss to Texas in the Holiday Bowl, but the 10 wins that the Sun Devils totaled were the program’s best since Bruce Snyder’s 1996 team won 11 games and came agonizingly close to a national championship.

This season, hopes are high for Arizona State, and Erickson’s got the Sun Devils in position to show that they’re one of the best of the best. But, a tough schedule awaits, and there is one big, big question that needs to be answered quickly.

Arizona State Sun Devils

Coach: Dennis Erickson (2nd year at Arizona State, 10-3, 158-68-1)

2007 Record: 10-3, 7-2 Pac-10 (tied for 1st), lost to Texas in Holiday Bowl

Starters Returning: 15 (7 offense, 7 defense, kicker/punter)

Key Returnees: QB Rudy Carpenter, RB Keegan Herring, RB Dmitri Nance, WR Mike Jones, WR Chris McGaha, WR Kyle Williams, DE Dexter Davis, DE Luis Vasquez, DT David Smith, LB Travis Goethel, CB Omar Bolden, FS Troy Nolan, SS Rodney Cox, K/P Thomas Weber

Key Losses: RB Ryan Torain, WR Rudy Burgess, TE Brent Miller, DT Michael Marquardt, LB Robert James, CB Justin Tryon, SS Josh Barrett

2008 Schedule

8/30 vs. Northern Arizona
9/6 vs. Stanford
9/13 vs. UNLV
9/20 vs. Georgia
10/4 at Cal
10/11 at USC
10/25 vs. Oregon
11/1 at Oregon State
11/8 at Washington
11/15 vs. Washington State
11/28 vs. UCLA
12/6 at Arizona

Key Game: Sept. 20 vs. Georgia - Georgia should come into this one #1 in at least one of the major polls. If the Sun Devils could pull off the upset, it could show the nation how much potential they have to be one of the best in the country this year, and it could also catapult Rudy Carpenter into the Heisman race.

2008 Outlook

As go Rudy Carpenter and the Sun Devils’ offense, so go their hopes of fulfilling the high expectations that are on them.

Last season, Carpenter threw for 3,202 yards and 25 touchdowns, which puts him within reach of 10,000 yards (7,998 yards) and 100 touchdowns (65 in three seasons). Hopes have been high for him since the stellar half-season he had as a freshman in 2005 (2,273 yards, 68.4% completion rate, 17 TD, 2 INT), and after an inconsistent 2006 (55.4% completion rate, 23 TD, 14 INT), Carpenter made big steps in the right direction last season, and he has the chance to be a Heisman candidate as a senior.

10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns are certainly reachable with several experienced targets returning, led by Mike Jones (46 catches, 769 yards, 10 TD) and Chris McGaha (61-830-1). Also back is junior Kyle Williams (29-360-6) and Kerry Taylor (8-53-1), who will get plenty of catches behind Jones and McGaha. Freshman receiver Gerrell Robinson, a top-100 prospect according to Rivals, is expected to contribute significantly early on and could even jump into a starting role.

Tight ends always play an integral part in ASU’s offense, and tight ends Andrew Pettes and Jovon Williams, who were reserves last season, should both play key roles.

The big question is if Carpenter’s offensive line will keep him upright. That, to say the very least, was an issue last season, as the Sun Devils surrendered 55 sacks. That’s an average of more than four per game, which, by average, means that their offensive line was more porous than the co-worst in the NFL, Kansas City and San Francisco, who both allowed 55 sacks in 16 games.

That offensive line will also have to be better in order to benefit the run game, which averaged only 3.2 yards per carry last year. If it happens, Keegan Herring (815 yards, 5 TD in ’07) and Dmitri Nance (500 yards, 7 TD) can be one of the top rushing tandems in the country. The Sun Devils won’t be starved for options in the backfield, which includes a talented freshman in Ryan Bass, who‘s joined by high school teammates and freshmen linebackers Brandon Magee and Shelly Lyons, who should compete for early playing time.

It does say something about the talent that you have on offense if you’re able to produce pretty good numbers (32.3 points, 399.6 yards per game) with a bad offensive line, but that’s not something you want to test too many times.

The defense will also have to perform, with several high-powered offenses set to test them. Seven starters return from a unit that, minus a select few games, was pretty solid, allowing 22.5 points and 345.2 yards per game last season.

The defensive line may not be able to rack up as many sacks as the O-line allows, but they have should get a few, thanks to the duo of ends Dexter Davis (33 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks) and Luis Vasquez (43 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks). At tackle, senior David Smith started all 13 games last season and recorded 22 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, and an interception last season, and he returns, while at the other starting spot, sophomore Jonathan English has the strength to be a force on the inside. ASU also picked up two quality recruits that should make an immediate impact in Spencer Gasu and Lawrence Guy.

There’s also some turnover at linebacker, where star ‘backer Robert James leaves a big hole. However, there is a proven commodity in Travis Goethel (71 tackles, sack, three forced fumbles), and there’s a good amount of experience and depth, especially in the middle, where Gerald Munns (20 tackles, 3.5 TFL, sack), Mike Nixon (58 tackles, 3 TFL), and Morris Wooten (47 tackles, 3 TFL) all have starting experience.

The secondary is going to be battling some top receivers this season, but if you’re Erickson, you’ve got to be confident, given the caliber of talent the Sun Devils’ D Bo face everyday in practice.

The departure of cornerback Justin Tryon means that highly-touted JC transfer Terell Carr will immediately have a spotlight on him. Carr may get picked on early, due to the presence of a rising star opposite him in sophomore Omar Bolden (33 tackles, INT last season), but if he proves his worth, offenses are going to be in a world of trouble.

That‘s not even taking into consideration the havoc that senior free safety Troy Nolan (64 tackles, 2 TFL, 6 INT) will be wreaking this season. Of the team-leading six interceptions that Nolan had in 2007, two were returned for touchdowns. At the other safety spot, the starter looks to be senior Rodney Cox, who started two games last season and recorded 22 tackles and an interception.

After winning the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s best placekicker as a freshman last season, Thomas Weber is back to handle both kicking and punting duties. Weber made 24 of 25 field goals (7 of 7 from 40-plus) and 46 of 48 extra points last season, and he also averaged a respectable 39.3 yards per punt.

The offensive line is really ASU’s only major concern, but it’s one that could make or break them. The Sun Devils really needs to have their line solidified by the time they face Georgia and their tenacious defense, because if not, Carpenter will have a few cobwebs to shake out come the following Sunday.

If the Sun Devils are going to win 10 or more games and push USC for the Pac-10 title, it’ll have to be done on the road, with only three home games after their opening four-game homestand. Not only will that stretch from Georgia to Oregon be a season-maker, but so will their five conference road games, none of which can be marked down as sure wins.

Dennis Erickson‘s second-year success is the stuff of legends, and as easy as it is to buy into what he’s done already and what he’s undoubtedly building in Tempe, I won’t be the least bit surprised if 7-5 or 8-4 ends up being the reality, due to a hellacious schedule post-NAU/Stanford/UNLV and the concerns about whether the offensive line can allow the offense to be every bit as good as it can be.

However, this is a talented team, and when you throw in their leader on the sidelines, there’s no reason why ASU shouldn’t make a run in the Pac-10 this season.

However, star QB and Heisman Trophy frontrunner Dennis Dixon went down with a torn ACL in what proved to be a 34-24 upset loss at Arizona, and the Ducks went on to lose their final two games, which saw them not only fall out of the national title race but also lose their grasp on the Pac-10 title and a BCS berth.

But, Oregon did end the year on a high note with a 56-21 rout of South Florida in the Sun Bowl to finish at 9-4, and heading into this season, Oregon is ranked in the top 25 and primed for another successful season under Mike Bellotti, though there are a few questions that need to be answered early on to avoid a rough start.

Oregon Ducks

Coach: Mike Bellotti (14th year at Oregon, 106-52 at UO, 129-77-2 overall)

2007 Record: 9-4, 5-4 Pac-10 (tied for 4th), beat South Florida in Sun Bowl

Starters Returning: 15 (6 offense, 7 defense, kicker, punter)

Key Returnees: RB Jeremiah Johnson, WR Jaison Williams, TE Ed Dickson, C Max Unger, LT Fenuki Tupou, RG Mark Lewis, DE Nick Reed, DE Will Tukuafu, DT Cole Linehan, LB Jerome Boyd, LB John Bacon, CB Jairus Byrd, CB Walter Thurmond III, S Patrick Chung, K Matt Evensen, P Josh Syria

Key Losses: QB Dennis Dixon, RB Jonathan Stewart, WR Garren Strong, RT Geoff Schwartz, LG Josh Tschirgi, LB Kwame Agyeman, DT Jeremy Gibbs, DT David Faaeteete, FS Matthew Harper

2008 Schedule

8/30 vs. Washington
9/6 vs. Utah State
9/13 at Purdue
9/20 vs. Boise State
9/27 at Washington State
10/4 at USC
10/11 vs. UCLA
10/25 at Arizona State
11/1 at Cal
11/15 vs. Stanford
11/22 vs. Arizona
11/29 at Oregon State

Key Game: Sept. 13 at Purdue - The Ducks may or may not be settled at QB heading into this one, but they need to be, because Purdue has an offense that could hang 40 or more on the Ducks. A loss here could hurt their chances of being in or near the top 10 when they go to USC, but if their defense can terrorize Curtis Painter and slow down Purdue’s talented duo of RBs Kory Sheets and Jaycen Taylor, they’ll come back from the Midwest with a big non-conference victory and looking for another one.

2008 Outlook

The Ducks’ offense was one of the nation’s best last season, averaging 38 points and more than 450 yards per game, flourishing in a new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s wide-open offense. This year, the fireworks should continue, even with some key pieces to replace.

Things were shaky under center over the final few regular-season games after Dixon went down, as Brady Leaf, Cody Kempt, and Jason Roper had ups and downs in the losses to Arizona, UCLA, and Oregon State. But, Roper threw four touchdown passes against a quality South Florida pass defense in the Sun Bowl to end the year on a high note.

The sophomore Roper, however, isn‘t the guy right now, as that will be redshirt sophomore Nate Costa. Costa redshirted last season but tore his ACL in October, which might have hampered his chances to contend for the starting job in the spring. However, that wasn’t the case, as Costa nailed down the top spot on the depth chart with an impressive spring run. Roper will likely play at least a little, but the mobile Costa is the better fit for the spread option, able to make plays with his legs just as much as with his arm.

Dixon wasn’t the only significant loss, as the Ducks also says goodbye to Stewart, who ran for 1,722 yards last season before being drafted 13th overall by the Carolina Panthers. However, the backfield isn’t a concern, as senior Jeremiah Johnson is back after playing only six games in ‘07. Johnson has averaged more than six yards a carry in each of his three seasons, so getting the yards he needs and then some won’t be a problem.

Behind Johnson, JC transfer LaGarrette Blount and junior Andre Crenshaw should see regular carries. While Johnson and Crenshaw are a little on the ‘smaller’ side (not that 5′10/5′11 and 200 pounds is tiny), the 6′1, 230 pound Blount has the size and power to be a big bruiser, but if he gets some space, he has the speed to take it the distance.

As for Costa’s primary targets through the air, last year’s top two receivers are back in WR Jaison Williams and TE Ed Dickson. Williams has worked on being more sure-handed in the off-season, which could mean a 1,000 yard senior campaign. Williams is a physically imposing target at 6′5, 240, with game-breaker ability, but if he keeps his eye - and hands - on the ball, and consistently produce week in, week out, he is easily one of the country’s elite receivers…and less of a headache for coaches and fans alike.

A deep group of sophomores will be counted on along with Williams, including sophomore Jamere Holland, who could also provide that big-play ability with his blazing speed. Holland started his career at USC, where he ran track and redshirted on the football team as a freshman in 2006 before transferring to Oregon last summer, and while there are injury concerns, if he’s healthy, he can do some special things.

It’s not all about the offense though, by any means. Just as the offense will make a lot of plays, so will the defense.

It all starts up front, with one of the top defensive ends in the country in Nick Reed. Last season, Reed had 60 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks. He’ll form a dangerous rush duo with Will Tukuafu (36 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks), and in the middle, experienced tackles Ra’Shon Harris and Cole Lineham will complete a starting front four that should be strong and could be stronger if five-star JC recruit Justin Thompson gets his academic issues in order. One new face to watch out for is freshman Hamani Stevens, who came in as one of the top-rated centers, but is at tackle right now and could see immediate playing time.

There are two returning starters at linebacker in Jerome Boyd and John Bacon. Boyd, who had 79 tackles (11 TFL) and three sacks in 2007, should challenge for all-conference honors as a senior, and Bacon, a junior, should come back strong after having his 2007 season ended early due to a knee injury against Arizona State. At the other starting linebacker spot looks to be Spencer Paysinger, who benefits from the suspension of Kevin Garrett for at least a little while.

The spotlight, however, is on the secondary, which should be one of the best in the country. Teams threw the ball a lot against the Ducks last season (487 times in 13 games), so obviously some yards (249.2) and touchdowns (20) were given up.

But on the other hand, only 53% of those 487 passes ended up in the right hands, and 20 of them, well, didn’t.

12 of those 20 picks were by corners Jairus Byrd and Walter Thurmond III, who could both vie for conference and national accolades. Thurmond was second on the team in tackles with 103, had eight TFL, five interceptions, and 18 pass breakups, while Byrd racked up 65 tackles (4 TFL, sack), a team and conference-leading seven interceptions, and 15 pass breakups to follow up on a freshman season that saw him pick off five passes and be named the Pac-10’s Co-Freshman of the Year and a freshman All-American.

Along with their playmaking duo of corners, the Ducks also have one of the top safeties in senior Patrick Chung, who elected to stay for his final season after flirting with entering the draft. Last year, Chung led the team in tackles with 117, had 7 TFL, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, forced a fumble, and he blocked two kicks. So, it’s safe to say that there are going to be a good many plays made in Oregon‘s secondary this season.

More than having things set at the quarterback position and with the other areas where there are new starters, the key to Oregon’s success will be avoiding the injury bug. Besides Dixon, there were multiple other key injuries last season, and while it’s inevitable guys will pick up scrapes and knocks, you’d prefer they be of the ’strain’ or ‘acute’ variety, not of the ‘tear,’ ‘rupture,’ or ‘fracture’ type.

The season opener against Washington won’t be a cake walk, but Oregon should avoid a scare, and after what will be a stroll against Utah State, things get a little tougher.

That being said, if the offense can use those first couple of games to get in stride, the Ducks should be well-positioned to make their Pac-10 destiny when October hits, and they have to go to USC and Arizona State, before November with a test at Cal.

While I do think USC and Arizona St. are the top two teams in the Pac-10, if there’s a team to make it a three-horse race, it’ll be an Oregon team that’s high on experience, high no talent, and through the roof on excitement. They may fall short of the title, but 9-3 or 10-2 is certainly within reach, with the latter putting them in BCS at-large consideration.

Check out our 2008 Pac-10 Preview to see where the Ducks and the rest of their Pac-10 foes stand in our preseason predictions!

Two decades later, it was Dorrell doing the passing, as the reins of the UCLA program were handed over to Neuheisel last December. Things haven’t exactly been to rosy for the program recently, and last year’s mediocre 6-7 season was the final straw under Dorrell, who saw his tenure come to an end after five seasons.

The Bruins certainly have the talent to be a contender in the Pac-10, but will they be?

UCLA Bruins

Coach: Rick Neuheisel (1st year at UCLA, 66-30 at Colorado and Washington)

2007 Record: 6-7, 5-4 Pac-10 (tied for 4th), lost to BYU in Las Vegas Bowl

Starters Returning: 13 (5 offense, 6 defense, kicker, punter)

Key Returnees: QB Ben Olson (currently injured), RB Kahlil Bell, WR Marcus Everett, WR Dominique Johnson, WR Terrence Austin, TE Logan Paulsen, DE Korey Bosworth, DE Tom Blake, DT Brigham Harwell, DT Brian Price, DT Jess Ward, LB Reggie Carter, LB Kyle Bosworth, CB Alterraun Verner, K Kai Forbath, P Aaron Perez

Key Losses: RB Chris Markey, WR Brandon Breazell, WR Joe Cowan, DB/KR Matt Slater, CB Trey Brown, LB Christian Taylor, FS Dennis Keyes, SS Chris Horton, DT Kevin Brown, DE Bruce Davis

2008 Schedule

8/30 vs. Tennessee
9/13 at BYU
9/20 vs. Arizona
9/27 vs. Fresno State
10/4 vs. Washington State
10/11 at Oregon
10/18 vs. Stanford
10/25 at Cal
11/8 vs. Oregon State
11/15 at Washington
11/28 at Arizona State
12/6 vs. USC

Key Game: Aug. 30 vs. Tennessee - What better way would there be to kick off the return of Rick Neuheisel to his alma mater than to knock off a top-20 team? All the same, an unimpressive performance could get the ball rolling for what could be a tough start.

2008 Outlook

At Colorado and Washington, Neuheisel had some pretty good quarterbacks, like Koy Detmer and Marques Tuiasosopo.

Now, he’s not looking for a Heisman-caliber QB so much as a healthy one.

After injuries to Patrick Cowan and Ben Olsen, it looks like it’s on JC transfer Kevin Craft, who’s got the edge over Chris Forcier at this point, to lead the team (at least until Olson returns), and to keep Neuheisel from adding himself to the depth chart.

Craft isn’t exactly inexperienced at the I-A level, as he started at San Diego State as a freshman two years ago. But, instead of starting at a Mountain West basement contender, Craft is slated to start against Tennessee in two weeks. After leaving SDSU, Craft went to junior college, threw 44 touchdown passes in one season, and got a collegiate upgrade. Now he’s gotten his big break, and if I were him, I’d be watching all of the cracks in the sidewalk.

Provided Craft is healthy, the next thing he needs to be is efficient and productive. Four quarterbacks saw considerable playing time last season, but the end results weren’t stellar: 47.6% completion rate, 182.6 yards per game, 13 TDs, 15 interceptions. Those numbers should improve, though that depends both on the QB and on a receiving corps that’s certainly not short on talent or depth.

Leading receiver Brandon Breazell is gone, along with Joe Cowan, but a healthy Marcus Everett, will be a prime target, along with fellow returnees Terrence Austin, Dominique Johnson, and Gavin Ketchum. A few freshman talents could figure in as well. The Bruins signed a solid group of receivers in their ‘08 class, and headliners Nelson Rosario and Antwon Moutra will be heard from, and Jerry Johnson may also get some early action. Rosario is a guy who could really stretch the field and make big plays, as he’s got the size (6′6, 220) and speed to have an advantage in almost every matchup. Also returning is starting tight end Logan Paulsen, who caught 12 passes for 144 yards last season.

Craft’s job will be made easier by the return of senior RB Kahlil Bell. Last year, Bell ran for 795 yards in seven-plus games, before a torn ACL against Washingtown St. ended his season early. Before Bell went out, the Bruins weren’t exactly the picture of offensive consistency (28.3 points per game in the first seven), but including the Wazzu game (in which he had a 50-yard touchdown run before getting injured in the 27-7 loss), UCLA averaged only 13 points over their final six contests.

The senior is still trying to get back to 100%, but his body won’t have to be pounded relentlessly, as UCLA is also deep in the backfield. Chane Moline, Craig Sheppard, and Christian Ramirez all got carries last year, but they’re in tough competition with the backs of the future - redshirt freshman Raymond Carter and true freshman Aundre Dean, Milton Knox, Derrick Coleman, and Johnathan Franklin.

The biggest addition to the offense is on the sidelines, where former USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who’s, to make a bit of an understatement, very good at coaching up some potent offenses and pro-caliber quarterbacks. That’s real good news for his new team, for which offensive success has been irregular recently.

On the same note, many times when there’s turnover in the coaching staff, the new coach brings in a whole new set of his guys, but Neuheisel held on to defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker for good reason.

The front line should be a strong unit, as a lot of experience returns. Off the ends, the duo of Korey Bosworth and Tom Blake will cause a lot of problems, but all the same, so will the men in the middle. At one tackle spot, both Brian Price and Jess Ward got a lot of starting experience last season, and at the other, senior Brigham Harwell has a chance to be one of the best defensive tackles there is anywhere if he’s healthy. Injury ended what would’ve been his senior season early, but he can return to 2005 form, it’ll mean good things for UCLA’s line.

The linebackers will also be a solid unit and a key part in stopping the run which UCLA did well last season, for the most part. Christian Taylor will be missed, but Reggie Carter and Kyle Bosworth (brother of Korey) will make plenty of plays.

Secondary in an area where there might be a little fretting…for a little while. Gone are safeties Dennis Keyes and Chris Horton and corner Trey Brown. Big holes, indeed. But, the one returning starter is one of the conference’s top corners, junior Alterraun Verner, who had 75 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 15 pass breakups last season. Verner has three interception returns for touchdowns in two seasons, so it’s a good idea to keep the ball away from his hands if you don’t want bad things to happen.

Across from Verner, it looks like Michael Norris will be the starter, but redshirt freshman Courtney Viney and true freshman Aaron Hester will push him for significant playing time. Some might be concerned about the lack of size when it comes to Verner (5’11), Norris (5’9), and Viney (5’8), and while going up bigger receivers could pose some matchup disadvantages, their cover skills will allow them to more than hold their own.

Speaking of true freshmen making an impact in the secondary, Rahim Moore, the top recruit in UCLA’s ‘08 class, could be Horton’s successor at the strong spot. The original starter, Bret Lockett, is suspended for the opener, leaving the way clear for Moore to take the spotlight. At free safety, junior Aaron Ware, one of the Bruins‘ top recruits in their 2005 class, finally moves into a starting role after primarily being a special teams guy for the last two seasons.

UCLA has one of the top kicking units in the conference. Sophomore kicker Kai Forbath made 25 of 30 field goals and all 30 extra points last season, and he was 5 of 5 from 50-plus. Senior punter Aaron Perez averaged 42.3 yards per punt last season, which was good for second in the conference.

There is one hole to fill on special teams though, as Matt Slater averaged 29 yards per kick return last year and returned three kicks for touchdowns. It’s an extra dimension and a luxury when you can have some non-offensive touchdowns like that, as is the case with interception/fumble return scores.

One can’t realistically expect Neuheisel to work miracles overnight, but there’s no reason why he can’t and won’t succeed at UCLA. He’s flanked by some stellar assistant coaches, and there is talent to work with, both for the present and the future, especially considering the top-10 recruiting class that UCLA pulled in this February and a 2009 class that‘s shaping up well.

We’ll find out early just how good this year’s UCLA team could be, as they could upset a top-20 team right out of the gate. They also have arguably the top two non-BCS teams on their September slate in BYU and Fresno State, which could allow the Bruins to easily crack the top 25 if they have an unbeaten September.

There are question marks, and you can never assume what you’ll see when there’s a new system and new starters in place. A serious challenge for the Pac-10 title might be another year or so away, but this season, the Bruins should make some noise and at least finish in the top half of the Pac-10.

Check out our 2008 Pac-10 Preview to see where UCLA and the rest of their conference foes stand in our preseason predictions!