Last year, only one year removed from winning the second national championship in school history, the Gators (9-4) had what, by their standards, could be considered a disappointing season.  While featuring a quarterback who had arguably the most productive season in college football history, the Gators were still saddled with several weaknesses, including a porous and inexperienced secondary and an inconsistent rushing attack.

The 2008-9 season brings another year of promise to the Gainesville faithful as the Tim Tebow-led Florida Gators have as good a chance as anyone to bring home a conference and potentially national title.

Quarterbacks:  Tim Tebow has become the poster boy for college football.  After a record-setting season in which he became the first quarterback to both rush and throw for twenty touchdowns, Tebow is in position to become only the second player behind Ohio State’s Archie Griffin to win back-to-back Heisman trophies.  Such a task will not be easy.  Not only will he continue to have a target on his back, he likely will not have the carries he did last year.   Nor will Coach Meyer want to keep him in harm’s way.  With seemingly unlimited options in the backfield, Tebow will see decreased carries and likely an increase in pass attempts.  Redshirt Freshman John Brantley are Cameron Newton continue to battle for the back-up role with Brantley leading the way ever so slightly.  Neither should see serious playing time unless Tebow gets hurt or the Gators hold a considerable lead in any given contest.

Backfield: The Gator backfield may be as talented and as deep as it’s ever been.  Florida features speed, speed and more speed.  And with Meyer’s lack of tolerance for the fumble, he will look to platoon whoever can hold on to the football until deciding on a feature back.  With Percy Harvin still recovering from an ankle injury, USC transfer Emmanuel Moody will likely get the bulk of the carries.  However, with Kestahn Moore, Mon Williams, the lightning quick Chris Rainey and even Brandon James, Meyer and Tebow will have a full arsenal of weapons from which to choose.  The question is not whether they’ll be able to score, but whether they’ll be able to control enough clock after consistently running past their opponents. 

Receiving Corps:  Florida was dealt a blow when they lost Cornelius Ingram to injury, but as is the case at most big play positions, Florida simply reloads.  Aaron Hernandez and Tate Casey will catch the bulk of the passes from the tight end position and Louis Murphy is ready to step into the role as senior leader of the wide receivers.  With an ailing Percy Harvin, Meyer will either have to get imaginative or hope that some of his youth will step up to contribute some big plays.

Offensive Line:  The Gators stand 6’3” to 6’6”  and weigh 310 lbs across the board.  Phil Trautwein, Jason Watkins and Jim Tartt are all seniors and twin brothers Mike and Maurkice Pouncey shore up the rest of the line.  Tim Tebow is tough enough to bring down as it is.  With that amount of protection, he should have plenty of time to hit his wide open speedsters. 

Defense: Much is expected out of sophomore defensive end Carlos Dunlap.  He played like a man possessed in this spring’s Orange and Blue game, leading the team with four sacks.  With the departure of Derrick Harvey, junior DE Jermaine Cunningham, Jr. will provide Florida with some well-needed experience.  Similarly, junior linebackers Dustin Doe and Brandon Spikes will be forces to reckon with.  Spikes led the Gators with 131 tackles in 2007.  If there is any area in which the Gators need to improve, however, it is their secondary.  The 2006-7 national championship defense set the bar high, which last year’s youth as of yet has failed to live up to.  Even with another year under their belt, the secondary is still young.  Wondy Pierre-Louis is the only junior.  Sophomore Joe Haden shores up the other side of the field.  Safety Major Wright proved to be a hard hitter last season but the coaching staff will still be looking for marked improvement.  While the Gators finished first in the SEC in rushing defense last year, they ranked dead last in passing yards allowed per game.  If the defense is at all able to convert turnovers into touchdowns, with their already potent offense, the Gators should be a serious title contender.  

Special Teams:  The multi-purpose Brandon James once again highlights the Florida special teams.  The 5’7” James is a highlight reel waiting to happen and is a threat to put six on the board every time he touches the ball.  Kicker Jonathan Phillips is now a senior and sophomore punter Chas Henry was money in the bank last year… that is when the Gators had to punt.

Schedule:

Aug 30 – Hawaii

Sep 6 – Miami

Sep 20 - @ Tennessee

Sep 27 – Ole Miss

Oct 4 – @ Arkansas

Oct 11 – LSU

Oct 25 – Kentucky (HC)

Nov 1 – Georgia (Jacksonville, FL)

Nov 8 - @ Vanderbilt

Nov 15 – South Carolina

Nov 22 – The Citadel

Nov 29 - @ Florida State

One familiar with Florida’s traditional schedule will notice a few glaring changes.  In-state rival, the University of Miami, is back on the schedule.  UF hasn’t beaten Miami since 1985 and will be looking to exact decades of revenge against a rebuilding Miami team.

Traditionally, Florida would schedule two cupcake teams before their conference opener against Tennessee.  This year, they have scheduled a bye the week before that contest.  They have additionally abandoned their October of doom, deciding to mix in a home game instead of a month of consecutive road games that usually resulted in at least one loss.  Their conference road schedule is favorable, traveling only to Knoxville, Fayetteville and Nashville.  The Florida/Georgia game is held in Jacksonville at a neutral site.  As always, Florida finishes its season against the Seminoles.

Outlook:  While no SEC schedule can be considered easy, the Gators’ is not overly intimidating.  If they can escape a tough match-up in Knoxville, they shouldn’t be seriously be tested until Georgia, assuming they can handle LSU in the Swamp.  The Gator offense, which finished third in the nation in scoring last year with 42.5 point per game, should put up similar numbers, meaning their defense just needs to be functional.  Even with number one Georgia ranked in their division, with this amount of talent, anything less than an appearance in Atlanta for the SEC Championship game, will considered a disappointment for this Florida team.

Both remain questionable with injuries. Spikes has been dealing with a nagging injury after twisting his foot last week, and Harvin’s recovery from heel surgery has taken longer than expected.

“Percy actually practiced with the team in seven-on-seven drills,” coach Urban Meyer said Tuesday. “The one that’s not (practicing) is Spikes. Spikes has that toe and foot deal. I was disappointed. I’ll know more about him (later).”

Spikes, an all-Southeastern Conference selection, planted wrong and twisted his foot during a practice last week. He practiced sparingly Monday.

“I hope it’s a one-game deal,” defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said.

Ryan Stamper figures to be Spikes’ replacement against the Warriors, and he said the coaching staff might hold Spikes out just to be cautious. Expect the same kind of cautious approach with Harvin, an All-American candidate who for rushed 764 yards and six touchdowns and caught a team-high 59 passes for 858 yards and four touchdowns last season.

Meyer admitted he thought Harvin would have been back by now.

“They shaved off some of his heel when [the doctors] found out he had abnormal growth on the bone that was causing his issues with tendonitis in his knees,” Meyer said. “They went to North Carolina and took a good chunk of bone in surgery. He’s looking pretty good right now. If he’s ready to play, he’ll play.”

Because Harvin has been unable to go full speed since Aug. 5, UF is not preparing for Hawaii with Harvin in mind.

“Right now what we’ve done is put our game plan based on not involving anybody,” wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales said. “We’re moving guys around. … But the bottom line is we’ve got to prepare no matter who we have, if we have high school players playing for us right now or junior high young men.”

Expect both Spikes and Harvin for next week’s game with Miami.

Vanderbilt

Nickson and Mackenzi Adams competed throughout preseason practice. Both players started during the previous two seasons - Nickson 18 straight games from the beginning of 2006 to midway through last fall, Adams the final six games of the ‘07 campaign (going 2-4).

Nickson started the 2006 opener at Michigan and last season’s opener against Richmond. Injuries limited his effectiveness, leading to Adams making his first career start, at South Carolina. Vanderbilt won, and Adams started the rest of the season.

Coach Bobby Johnson said there was no “magic moment” during the preseason that prompted him to go with Nickson and added that he was equally confident in Adams.

“Chris is healthy and ready to go, confident,” Johnson said. “We expect him to play really well. If Mackenzi’s in the game, we expect him to play really well.”

With Vanderbilt replacing its entire offensive line, Nickson’s ability to escape and make plays when everything else breaks down is one of the big reasons he got the nod.

Nickson piled up 2,779 yards of total offense as the full-time starter in 2006, helping him earned third-team preseason all-Southeastern Conference honors by league coaches before the 2007 season began. Partly due to dealing with a separated shoulder, Nickson never regained his 2006 form in 2007.

Vandy’s last win of 2007 came against Miami of Ohio in Nashville. That 24-13 victory made the Commodores 5-3, and they needed just one win to become bowl eligible but lost their last four games.

The RedHawks finished last year 6-7, their second consecutive losing season. Their strength this year should be defense, which will be returning nine starters, highlighted by the linebacking corps, which returns in full.

That Miami defense, led by 2007 MAC Defensive Player of the Year Clayton Mullins should prove troublesome for a Vandy offensive line that returns no starters.

Coach Greg McMackin said that the call on who will take the first snaps of the season “could be a game-time decision.”

Junior Greg Alexander may get the start because presumed starter Brent Rausch, a sophomore JuCo transfer, rested a sore arm over the weekend and has backed up Alexander and practices this week.

“I’m going to have that mind-set that you always have to be ready and always prepared and just get ready to go and do my job,” Alexander said.

McMackin said he will evaluate the situation when Rausch is able to throw without discomfort for long periods of time. He did say that Rausch is the No. 1 if he is 100 percent healthy.

“I gotta see if his arm’s OK,” McMackin said of Rausch. “If both are playing good, it could be a game-time decision.”

However, McMackin said he doesn’t expect to rotate quarterbacks.

“The first guy in will be the quarterback,” he said. “I don’t want him looking behind.”

McMackin said Alexander and Rausch are the top two quarterbacks, followed by junior Inoke Funaki. But that depth chart could change after the Florida game as Tyler Graunke, who started two games last season and was Brennan’s primary backup the past three years, will receive some reps when the Warriors return Hawaii. Graunke was recently reinstated after missing all of training camp while addressing academic issues but won’t be ready to play this week.

“Tyler is going to get his chance,” offensive coordinator Ron Lee said. “He deserves one.”

With that in mind, who will be this year’s Adrian Peterson, Michael Crabtree, Sam Bradford, or Herschel Walker? We already know about Terrelle Pryor, so this will be a Pryor-less list. There’s a good chance you know many of these names as well, but if there are a couple that you don’t know yet, you will soon.

1. Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

Bowers is the complete package of size, speed, strength and explosiveness. He will be a backup for the Tigers’ season opener against Alabama, but expect to see him on the field regularly.

2. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

Much like Da’Quan Bowers, Jones, the top-rated receiver in the 2008 class, is the complete package. It’s not a surprise in the least that he’s earned a starting nod for Alabama’s opener against Bowers and Clemson, and John Parker Wilson will be looking for him early and often this year. At 6′4, Jones is a physically-imposing target, and when he makes the catch, he can turn a 5-yard catch into a 50-yard touchdown with his speed and ability to break tackles with relative ease.

3. Darrell Scott, RB, Colorado

The California native elected to make the move to the Big 12, where he’ll immediately play a key role for the Buffs. He might start as the backup to the experienced Demetrius Sumler, but he’ll get a lot of chances to impress early, and it won’t be a surprise if he’s starting before long. At 6′1, 225, Scott has the size of a bruising power back, but he has the speed to make the sting of that 225-pound freight train running you over sting all the more.

4. Marcus Forston, DT, Miami (FL)

Forston, the top-rated defensive tackle recruit in the country, will be a monster in the middle for the Hurricanes. His athletic ability can be noted by the fact that Rivals rated him as the strongest, quickest, and most athletic defensive tackle prospect in the 2008 class. Not only is the 6′2, 302 pound Forston an excellent run-stopper, he’s also a threat as a pass rusher, as shown by his totals of more than 40 sacks total in his last two prep seasons.

5. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

Peterson, formerly known as Patrick Johnson, has terrific size for a corner at 6′1, 205, but that size comes with plenty of speed and quickness, which will translate into many a big hit. The Tigers took a hit at the corner position, and while Johnson isn’t slated to start immediately, he’ll get plenty of reps early.

6. Nigel Bradham, LB, Florida State

Bradham is a strong, hard-hitting, playmaking linebacker that will contribute immediately for the Seminoles. FSU has produced some pretty good linebackers over the years, and if Bradham lives up to his high potential, he’ll be the next in that line. Enrolling in the spring semester gave him an early jump on getting acclimated to the next level, and it will pay off early.

7. Jerrell Harris, LB, Alabama

Harris is an aggressive and athletic defender with good instincts and impressive vision. He is an excellent tackler that is not only tough against the run, but is also reliable as a pass rusher and in pass coverage. How much he plays early on remains to be seen, but he should be a key part of Alabama’s rotation at linebacker this season.

8. De’Anthony Curtis, RB, Arkansas

With more than 3,300 yards and 29 touchdowns gone from the Arkansas backfield with the losses of Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, and Peyton Hillis, there’s a big hole to fill on offense. The Razorbacks will be throwing the ball more under Bobby Petrino, but the running game will definitely be a factor, which means plenty of touches for Curtis. Michael Smith will be the starter, but Curtis should get the most carries behind him and could end up surpassing him before long. Curtis has the breakaway speed, explosiveness, and moves that we saw McFadden and Jones display many, many times over the last three seasons, and though he was bothered by a knee sprain for a little while during camp, will be ready to go from the outset.

9. A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

Green, who was ranked as the #2 receiver prospect in the ‘08 class behind Jones, will be on the field immediately for the Bulldogs, who have the star power at quarterback and running back, but not at receiver. That could change with the addition of Green, who won’t start out of the gate, but will make a big impact. The 6′4 Green has the size and the athleticism to make the tough grabs look easy, and when he gets the ball in his hands, he has the speed to leave you behind.

10. Latavius Murray, RB, UCF

Murray is the wildcard on this list. He isn’t ranked nearly as high as the rest of players on this list, but he will get his chance to play and possibly start for the Knights. He is in a similar situation as Curtis, as someone will need to replace the 2,567 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns that Kevin Smith put up last year at UCF. Murray should be that guy with three of the top four rushers gone from the Knights’ line-up. He is a big, powerful runner at 6’3” and 215 lbs, and possesses great on the field vision. His size actually got him recruited by other teams as a linebacker, but he turned them down due to his desire to remain in the backfield. Murray chose a great situation with up and coming UCF.

11. Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame

With a season-ending injury to starting TE Mike Ragone, Rudolph, the top-ranked tight end in the 2008 class, will be a starter for the Irish from the outset. He should get the opportunity to make plenty of catches in Notre Dame’s offense, and on top of that, he’s a quality blocker as well.

12. DeAndre Brown, WR, Southern Miss

Brown surprised many when he spurned the likes of LSU to stay in-state and play for Larry Fedora at Southern Miss, as the 6′6 pass-catcher from Ocean Springs was the top receiver prospect behind Jones and Green. There were questions about whether he’d qualify academically, but he’ll be on the field when the Golden Eagles play Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday, and while it’s supposed to be a rebuilding year for USM, Brown’s definitely going to bring plenty of excitement to Hattiesburg this year and for the next couple, especially considering Fedora’s pedigree when it comes to successful offenses.

13. Josh Haden, RB, Boston College

Haden, the brother of Florida sophomore cornerback Joe (a freshman All-American last season), decided to stay closer to native Maryland and play for Boston College, and it’s a decision that’s paying big dividends for both sides immediately, as Haden is slated to start in Saturday’s opener against Kent State. He’s not a big guy, but he is fast, fast, and more fast, and he’s also plenty strong as well.

14. Enrique Davis, RB, Ole Miss

Houston Nutt has to replace BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who ran for 1,137 yards last season, and one of the prime candidates is Davis, who committed to Auburn out of high school but switched his allegiance to the Rebels after a year in prep school, which saw him be the top-ranked prep school prospect. At 6 feet and 220 pounds, Davis isn’t a small fry by any means, but he packs plenty of speed into his frame. For the sake of not having to rely solely on new QB Jevan Snead, the Rebs need a ground game, and Davis could be the man to provide it.

15. Bo Levi Mitchell, QB, SMU

It says something about June Jones’ confidence in the newcomer from Houston-area power Katy that he inserts him as the starter over a two-year starter and school record-setter Justin Willis. Mitchell actually committed to Hawaii before Jones left the island to move to Dallas, and when Jones changed his plans, so did Mitchell. He wasn’t highly-recruited, but all he did in his senior season was throw for 2,451 yards, 37 touchdowns, and only four interceptions as he helped lead Katy to a 5A state championship and a perfect record. He’ll have to impress to keep the job for an extended period of time, but he certainly looks to have the tools to succeed under Jones.

Honorable Mention: RB Aundre Dean (UCLA), QB Jacory Harris/Rob Marve (Miami, FL), K Blair Walsh (Georgia), QB Riley Dodge (North Texas), RT Tyler Love (Alabama), C Mike Brewster (OSU), RB Enrique Davis (Ole Miss), DT Omar Hunter (Florida), WR Daryl Stonum (Michigan)

The football season is officially here! The college football regular season begins later this week!

What better time to lay down my conference predictions for the year, then right now.

I also state who I think will come away with the Heisman Trophy.

Catch me later this week as I start to give out my expert game predictions for the weekend set of games, every week for the entire NCAA and NFL seasons. This year we’re going to continue to rake in the cash!

- Mark Scott, theredzonereport.com

Who’ll take the crown this season? We give our predictions, all-conference picks, and what and who to watch for in the Big 12 this season below.

Conference Favorites

North

Missouri - After claiming the North title and then falling just short of a chance at the national championship this season, Gary Pinkel’s Tigers are the clear favorite in the division this season. Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, and the prolific offense get plenty of plaudits, and rightfully so, but a talent-laden defense led by All-American safety and playmaker extraordinaire William Moore (117 tackles, 9 TFL, 2 sacks, 8 INT, two forced fumbles in ‘07) has the potential to be one of the best in the nation.

Kansas - The Jayhawks lose All-American corner Aqib Talib and all-conference DT James McClinton, but nine starters return on a defense that was one of the best in the country last season. On offense, there are some holes to fill, but the talent is definitely there, led by QB Todd Reesing, who should follow up last year’s school-record campaign with another big season and keep KU on Mizzou’s heels.

South

Oklahoma - There really aren’t any glaring weaknesses for the Sooners at this point (minor issues with proven experience on some areas of the defense and at receiver, but the talent is there). Winning the division title seems almost like a formality with how regularly they’ve done it this decade, but they will be pushed, certainly.

Texas Tech - If there is a year for the Red Raiders to finally make their surge to the top of the Big 12, this is it. The offense is going to toss it around a lot and burn the lights out on some scoreboards, but the difference in how good of a year this is for Tech depends on a defense that’s expected to be a quality unit, with a great deal of experience returning.

Texas - It might seem like the Longhorns are an afterthought, with Oklahoma expected to contend for the national title and Texas Tech expected to have a breakout season, but they are anything but an afterthought. There are quite a few holes to fill, but there’s quite a lot of talent there to fill those holes. Colt McCoy’s VY-like running exploits are nice and everything, but the better he slings it, the better it is for Texas’ hopes of making a run at the Sooners.

Postseason Potential

Oklahoma State - Zac Robinson and the Cowboys are going to be good on offense, we know that. But to do better than another 7-6 year, their defense is going to have to be a little better in the late stages than last season (outscored 120-82 in the fourth).

Kansas State - K-State hit the juco ranks big-time with their 2008 recruiting class, but they have more than enough returning talent to reverse last season’s late collapse. There’s a lot of production to replace on offense, and the defense is a question mark, but they could turn out to be a surprise team in the end.

In the Mix

Colorado - Colorado rode an upset of Oklahoma to an Independence Bowl berth in Dan Hawkins’ second year on the job in Boulder. The schedule’s pretty tough this year, both in and out of conference (West Virginia, Florida State), so if the Buffs do get back to the postseason this year, they’ll certainly have earned it.

Iowa State - After finishing last year’s 3-9 season with two wins in their last three games, the Cyclones are expected to make more strides in Gene Chizik’s second season. Making the postseason might be a bit of a long shot given how deep the conference is and that 10 teams ahead of them could push for bowl eligibility, but don’t be surprised to see ISU pull an upset or two.

New Coaches, New Outlook

Baylor - Baylor hasn’t really sniffed success since the formation of the Big 12, which is why the program is back at square one again. New head man Art Briles does have a lot of returning starters to work with, and the Bears should be more competitive this season. However, wins will be very, very hard to come by, not only because they don’t have it easy in conference, but their non-conference schedule sees them face Wake Forest and Connecticut, both of whom are contenders in their respective conferences.

Nebraska - Bill Callahan did spice things up offensively in Lincoln, but defensively, well, you’re not going to give up more than 60 points on multiple occasions and get away with it for long, unless you’re putting up 75 every time out. Don’t expect Bo Pelini to have the Huskers back as a force overnight, but they will be tougher and a lot less sloppy, and they will be bowling, at least I think so.

Texas A&M - I won’t set the bar too high for Mike Sherman’s first A&M team, but the Aggies should make the postseason and get the ball rolling for what should be a bright future under someone with the credentials to succeed at a program that has all the tools to do so. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing Stephen McGee throw the ball more, and I’m sure his body is too.

Conference Predictions

1. Missouri -< The Tigers won't be surprising this season, and if they can win the big games, they'll be in the national title picture at the end again.

2. Kansas - Having nine starters back on defense that was one of the nation’s best last year, along with the talent they have on offense will help the Jayhawks overcome a tougher schedule.

3. Nebraska - Nebraska needed to add some toughness and tenacity. Hiring Bo Pelini was the first step, and if they can be tougher on the field, then it’ll lead to a good season.

4. Colorado - The Buffs might find it hard to be better than .500, but they have the talent to make a return trip to the postseason.

5. Kansas State - With all of the unproven talent Ron Prince has, you’re not sure what to expect from this team. But, the returning talent can definitely make some good things happen. If they don’t implode on defense, they should have a winning season.

6. Iowa State - The Cyclones finished well last season, and year two under Gene Chizik should see even more improvement.

South

1. Oklahoma - The Sooners have few weaknesses, and a seventh division title in nine years looks like a good bet.

2. Texas Tech - Graham Harrell may pass for 6,000 yards, and Michael Crabtree could catch 150 passes for 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns, but none of it will matter if the Red Raiders fall short of expectations.

3. Texas - There are some question marks right now, but talent certainly isn’t an issue for the Longhorns.

4. Oklahoma State - If their defense improves, the Cowboys could have a great season.

5. Texas A&M - The Aggies aren’t likely going to challenge for the division title this season, but they should at least go for bowling.

6. Baylor - Art Briles has a lot of work ahead of him, but he does have some pieces to work with, especially on defense.

Big 12 Championship Game: Missouri over Oklahoma

Ten Conference Games to Watch

Colorado vs. Texas, Oct. 4: Kansas State had Texas’ number each of the last two seasons, and the Buffs pulled the upset against Oklahoma last season, two things that the Longhorns should be aware of when they open their Big 12 slate in Boulder.

Oklahoma vs. Texas, Oct. 11: To the winner goes an early advantage in the Big 12 South standings, and of course, immeasurable bragging rights for the next year. Last year’s matchup in Dallas saw the Sooners break their two-game losing streak against the Longhorns with a 28-21 win in a back and forth matchup.

Texas vs. Missouri, Oct. 18: Their trip to Nebraska on Oct. 4 could cause Mizzou some problems, but this is really the defining test to their push to be a real player in the national title race between their bookend rivalry showdowns with Illinois and Kansas.

Kansas vs. Texas Tech, Oct. 25: Before Texas Tech can think about what could happen in November, they face a daunting trip to Lawrence, where many a point will be scored.

Kansas State vs. Oklahoma, Oct. 25: See Colorado-Texas above.

Texas Tech vs. Texas, Nov. 1: Provided October doesn’t trip them up, the Red Raiders should head into this one with their Big 12 South title chances still fully alive. But to make those hopes a reality, they need to beat the South’s Big Two, and it starts here, with a team they haven’t beaten since 2002. In 2006, the Red Raiders went up 21-0 after the first quarter but lost 35-31, a collapse they can’t afford to let happen again.

Nebraska vs. Kansas, Nov. 8: 76-39. No more needs to be said.

Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech, Nov. 22: This could be a tussle for the Big 12 South title. Texas Tech has taken the last two in Lubbock, but haven’t won in Norman since a 22-12 win in 1996, when the John Blake-led Sooners finished a woeful 3-8. However, outside of a 60-15 slaughtering in 2002, the Red Raiders have kept it relatively close with OU, but this year, they’ll be looking for more than just moral victories.

Texas vs. Texas A&M, Nov. 28: The Aggies have taken the last two in the series, including an ugly 12-7 win in Austin in 2006.

Kansas vs. Missouri, Nov. 29: Last season, the #1 ranking and the Big 12 North title went to the winner of this showdown in K.C. This time around, the stakes should be pretty high again, may it be for the North title or for more.

Five Non-Conference Games to Watch

Missouri vs. Illinois, Aug. 30: These two were among the nation’s big surprise teams last year, but both enter this year with high expectations. If Mizzou wants to be a national title contender, it all starts here.

Oklahoma State vs. Houston, Sept. 6: The defenses may as well just stay on the bus. If you still use the abacus to keep score, it’s time for a technological upgrade.

Kansas at South Florida, Sept. 12: Both teams have BCS in their sights, and not only will this game do some early good for the winner, but both KU’s Todd Reesing and USF’s Matt Grothe are both poised to make some noise in the Heisman race.

Texas vs. Arkansas, Sept. 13: The nation’s first look at how Bobby Petrino’s new team stacks up against a quality opponent. Could be a tricky one for the ‘Horns if Petrino’s offense is already clicking.

Nebraska vs. Virginia Tech, Sept. 27: This one’s a rematch of the 1997 Orange Bowl, when the Huskers throttled the Hokies 41-21. Things have changed just a little for Nebraska since then, but this is their first opportunity to earn back some national respect and show that they may be someone to contend with this season.

All-Conference Picks

1st Team

QB: Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
RB: Marlon Lucky, Nebraska
RB: Mike Goodson, Texas A&M
WR: Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
WR: Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
WR: Deon Murphy, Kansas State
TE: Chase Coffman, Missouri
OL: Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma
OL: Ryan Miller, Colorado
OL: Duke Robinson, Oklahoma
OL: Luis Vasquez, Texas Tech
OL: Jon Cooper, Oklahoma

DL: Ian Campbell, Kansas State
DL: Auston English, Oklahoma
DL: George Hypolite, Colorado
DL: Lamarr Houston, Texas
LB: Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
LB: Joe Mortensen, Kansas
LB: Ryan Reynolds, Oklahoma
LB: Brock Christopher, Missouri
CB: Jamar Wall, Texas
CB: Chris Harris, Kansas
S: Nic Harris, Oklahoma
S: William Moore, Missouri

Kicker: Jeff Wolfert, Missouri
Punter: Justin Brantly, Texas A&M
Kick Returner: Marcus Herford, Kansas
All-Purpose: DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma

2nd Team

QB: Chase Daniel, Missouri
RB: DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
RB: Jake Sharp, Kansas
WR: Eric Morris, Texas Tech
WR: Juauquin Iglesias, Oklahoma
WR: Dez Bryant, Oklahoma St.
WR: Quan Cosby, Texas
TE: Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
OL: Rylan Reed, Texas Tech
OL: Colin Brown, Missouri
OL: Cedric Dockery, Texas
OL: Matt Slauson, Nebraska
OL: Daniel Sanders, Colorado

DL: Stryker Sulak, Missouri
DL: Brian Orakpo, Texas
DL: Roy Miller, Texas
DL: Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma
LB: Joe Pawelek, Baylor
LB: Roddrick Muckleroy, Texas
LB: Mike Rivera, Kansas
LB: Marlon Williams, Texas Tech
CB: Jason Lacey, Oklahoma State
CB: Ryan Palmer, Texas
S: Jordan Lake, Baylor
S: Darrell Stuckey, Kansas

K: Ryan Bailey, Texas
P: Dan Titchener, Nebraska
Kick Returner: Quan Cosby, Texas
All-Purpose: Deon Murphy, Kansas State

Conference Player of the Year: Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
Offensive Player of the Year: Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
Defensive Player of the Year: William Moore, Missouri
Newcomer of the Year: Darrell Scott, Colorado
Coach of the Year: Mike Leach, Texas Tech

“There’s still some question how long Mark can play. We need to three-to-four weeks before his conditioning comes back,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “You get tired and stay tired. Some of it will depend on how we manage the game.”

Thus either Aaron Corp or Mitch Mustain should see brief periods of action. Carroll has not said who the official No. 2 quarterback is but added the position will be up for grabs on a weekly basis.

While Mustain may be the most physically gifted quarterback on the roster, he has looked lost at times as he continues to struggle with his progressions, often throwing interceptions that Carroll calls “game-crushers.” Thus Corp, a redshirt freshman, likely would be the No. 2 for the opener because he is a better game manager at this point.

“We want to find out who is ready to handle the game and make good choices and give us a chance to win,” said Carroll. “We’re not looking for our quarterback to be spectacular and carry the whole load. We never have.”

Meanwhile, Sanchez looked comfortable directing the offense Monday in his first full practice since the injury as the Trojans began game-week preparations for Virginia.

“We’ve really narrowed down what we want to get accomplished in this game plan and that helps from a quarterback’s standpoint,” he said. “Less to study and less to remember.”

Sanchez admitted he was not in optimal shape.

“I need to run a little bit, but I felt OK,” he said.

Carroll said doctors would examine Sanchez’s knee Tuesday night following practice in what Carroll hopes to be the last step in clearing Sanchez for the opener.

As for how Sanchez’s lack of mobility would affect the game plan, Carroll said some plays would need to be taken out.

Costa will be out a minimum of eight to 10 weeks after reinjuring his surgically repaired left knee last week; this injury comes on the heels of Costa first tearing ligaments in his knee on Oct. 30 of last season.

Justin Roper will start in the opener at home against Washington on Saturday. His backups will be Jeremiah Masoli, a sophomore transfer, and true freshman Chris Harper. Neither Masoli nor Harper has played in a Division I-A game.

Roper, a 6-foot-6, 204-pound sophomore, accounted for seven touchdowns against one interception in the final two games of 2007, when he took over following injuries to the four quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart. One of those was Costa, who was on track to redshirt before he tore ligaments in his left knee during late October practice.

“Right now, he’s the guy,” UO offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said of Roper. “Looking at our track record with quarterbacks, I’d be very pleased if he got 100 percent of the snaps, because if he did it means he didn’t get banged up.”

Kelly said the playbook won’t change because of the switch in quarterbacks, and coach Mike Bellotti called Roper’s performances in the past two scrimmages the best of any Duck quarterback this offseason.

Costa’s mobility had given him an edge over Roper in their competition, until last week’s injury. The non-contact incident occurred late in practice as he slowed up on a run.

“I’ve been saying all fall camp, we’ve got two great quarterbacks,” running back Jeremiah Johnson said. “The only thing we’ve got to do with Roper is just keep his confidence up if anything goes bad.”

If Costa does not play this season, he could apply for a medical redshirt after his senior year in 2010. Bellotti is hopeful he can return for this season’s final month, however. It basically depends on what is found during surgery because MRIs were rather inconclusive on the total damage because of scar tissue from the last injury.

College football season

Neither team is ranked, but Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks are a potential sleeper in the SEC. South Carolina had a good defense last season but struggled on offense, so maybe that’s why Spurrier waited until this week to name his starting tailback: Taylor Rank.

This was a surprising move, to say the least.

Rank had just two carries for five yards last season and began the preseason third on the depth chart behind Mike Davis and sophomore Brian Maddox. Davis, the presumed starter who shared time with graduated Cory Boyd last year, missed the final two weeks of preseason camp because of a shoulder injury and stomach.

“He looks OK. He looks OK,” Spurrier said of Davis. “Taylor Rank’s going to start. He’s had a little bit better preseason practice. He had a good summer with going to workouts. And Mike did, too. But Mike will be in early. He’s ready to play.” 

Davis, who has rushed for 1,658 yards in three seasons, was listed No. 1 on the depth chart issued Sunday. Rank, a redshirt junior, has only one previous start. He rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries two years ago against Florida Atlantic.

A good start could be crucial for South Carolina, which is just 21-16 under Spurrier. The team collapsed down the stretch last year after starting 6-1.

The Wolfpack also held out until announcing a starter at a key position: Redshirt freshman Russell Wilson will start at quarterback, with senior Daniel Evans his backup.

Coach Tom O’Brien said he picked Wilson because he “gives us the best opportunity to win the football game.”

He’s the Wolfpack’s third starting quarterback in O’Brien’s two seasons. Evans made eight starts during N.C. State’s 5-7 season in 2007, and third-stringer Harrison Beck started four games.