The Year in Review

70-61.

BCS teams become more prevalent in the ratings here, as upper tier mediocrity and middle tier success blends nicely. Starting wit Kentucky who had their bright spots, but had a mostly dissatisfying season.

70. Kentucky (6-7, 2-6 SEC)

The Original Forecast: With an easy OOC shedule, the Wildcats were expected to make a bowl due to some decent returning players on both sides of the ball. This did hinge on both QB play, which has been inconsistent the last couple of years, and improvement from both lines, which have also struggled.

The Outcome: Pretty much as expected. They made bowl mostly due to their easy OOC, but they did top South Carolina for a surprise upset. The offense carried the team, with Hartline having a fine season in throwing for 3178 yards, 23 TDs and just 9 interceptions. Big things were expected of Derrick Locke, but he missed nearly five games with injury and ended with a respectable 887 yards and 10 TDs. He was on pace for a fantastic season before injury though. At receiver, Randall Cobb was an outstanding weapon. He caught 84 passes for 1017 yards and 7 TDs, ran for 424 yards and 5 TDs, and even threw 3 scoring passes. Chris Matthews was a fine second option, catching 61 balls for 925 yards and 9 TDs. With just 21 sacks allowed and a solid running attack, the line kept up its end of the bargain too. This was an explosive offense that kept UK in four close games. Unfortunately, the defense couldn't stem the flow in these close games. They managed to allow exactly 2302 yards rushing and receiving, meaning the pass defense wasn't bad but the run defense was weak. The only managed 16 turnovers too. OLB Danny Trevathan was outstanding with 144 tackles, 16 for loss, while SS Winston Guy had 106 stops, 4 for loss, and led the team with 3 picks. To cap off a season where they often seemed to just fall short, they got beaten soundly by Pittsburgh in their bowl game. A mediocre season.

Best Game: After a three game losing streak to start league play, the Gamecocks came to town ranked #10 and coming off an upset of Alabama. They raced to a 28-10 start behind the running and receiving of super-freshman Marcus Lattimore, who ran for 79 yards and 2 TDs and caught 4 passes for 133 yards and a score. However, he hurt his ankle early in the third quarter and the Gamecocks stalled on offense, giving the Wildcats life. Hartline, who threw for 349 yards and 4 TDs, sparked the comeback, with Matthews catching 12 for 177 yards and a score. Once Lattimore went down, Kentucky stifled the SC running attack, but allowed QB Stephen Garcia to throw for 382 yards and 2 scores. They made amends by recovering 2 fumbles and picking off 2 passes, including 1 in the endzone with 11 seconds left by Anthony Mosley. An excellent win in a season short of signature wins.

Worst Game: Florida had been struggling on offense, winning their first three games by virtue of their defense when Kentucky came to town. Florida unleashed Trey Burton on the unsuspecting Wildcats, and he had 5 carries for 40 yards and 5 TDs, and caught 5 passes for 37 yards and another score. He also threw a 42 yard pass. Hartline threw for 242 yards and a score, but had two picks one for a TD. There were few bright spots for Kentucky. Locke ran for 103 hard yards, and Matthews caught 6 balls for 114 yards and 2 scores. Another disaster against the Gators.

69. Army (7-6 Independents)

The Original Forecast: Expectations to start the season were that the Black Knights would be further improved on their '09 version, but a stiffer schedule may not see the results go their way. They are experienced and have some talent suited to their systems, and a bowl game was a likelihood.

The Outcome: The season went more or less as expected, with Army beating who they were expected to beat, and losing to the teams they were meant to. On top of their seven wins, they also had three losses by a TD or less. This was a decent team. To run the option effectively, it all starts with the QB, and Army had a decent one in Trent Steelman. He only threw for 995 yards with 7 TDs and 3 picks, but he ran for 721 yards and generally made the right reads. Having Jared Hassin behind him to carry the ball helps too - he picked up 1013 yards and 9 TDs and had some big games. Injuries hampered the depth at the slots, but whoever played, played well enough. Receiver is generally a forgotten position in this offense, and with a passing game that was ranked plum last in the FBS, they were essentially blockers. Davyd Brooks and Austin Barr combined for a mere 29 catches for 453 yards and 4 TDs. The defense was solid against both run and pass, but failed to hold up against the better attacks. They also had an excellent 30 turnovers. MLB Stephen Anderson was the beating heart of the defense, making 108 tackles, 12 for loss, with 2 picks and 7 passes defended. DE Josh McNary picked up where he left off last season with 10 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries. SS Donovan Travis had 60 tackles, 5 picks and 11 passes defended. The defense came up big in the bowl game win over SMU, capping a good season that bodes well for the future.

Best Game: Duke may not be a BCS powerhouse, but they have an offense that could rip this Army team part on any given day. Except this one. Five turnovers, including 3 interceptions of QB Sean Renfree shut down a Blue Devil offense that required a big fourth quarter to make the score slightly respectable. Steelman keyed the Army offense with 2 passing TDs in just 4 of 6 completions (85 yards). He also ran for 62 yards and a score. The Cadets led 35-7 going into the fourth quarter, holding Renfree to just 67 yards passing, but he racked up 194 yards and 2 TDs in the fourth to pull it back to 35-21, but it was too little, too late.

Worst Game: Sure they had worse losses, but losing to Navy always stings, especially as it runs their losing streak to nine games. Steelman had a decent day, throwing for 128 yards and 2 scores, while rushing for 74 yards, but it was the defense that couldn't contain Navy despite four turnovers. Midshipmen QB Ricky Dobbs was held to 54 yards on the ground, but he threw for 186 yards and 2 TDs on just 6 completions. Wyatt Middleton returned a fumble 98 yards for a score to push their lead to 24-7 in a hard loss where the Knights competed for most of the game.

68. Northwestern (7-6, 3-5 Big 10)

The Original Forecast: The Wildcats opened up the season with a easy enough OOC schedule, then had a number of winnable games before closing out with tough four game stretch. They had a strong possibility of a bowl game, but they needed QB Dan Persa to perform, along with some help from a running attack that was practically non-existent in '09.

The Outcome: A tale of two seasons, with a 5-0 start and closing with a 2-6 finish. They were competitive until the final three games when Persa was out with a torn ACL. Persa had a fine season, throwing for 2581 yards and 15 TDs with just 4 interceptions, and also ran for 519 yards and 9 TDs. Freshman Evan Watkins stepped in for the last three games, but threw for just 378 yards, 2 TDs and 5 picks. The running game improved, but still wasn't great, led by Mike Trumpy and his 530 yards and 4 TDs. Jeremy Ebert was Persa's favorite target with 62 catches for 953 yards and 8 TDs. The offensive line struggled to both run and pass block, allowing 40 sacks. The pass defense came up with a decent 15 interceptions, but couldn't stop the pass otherwise. The run defense was even worse. SS Brian Peters led the team with 107 tackles and tied for the lead with 3 picks. End Vince Browne was one of the few playmakers in the front seven, making 58 tackles, 8.5 for loss, and 7 sacks. A couple more stops and this team could have been higher in the bowl pecking order. They played quite well in the bowl loss to Texas Tech, but one must wonder could they have performed better with Persa in there.

Best Game: What is it with NU and Iowa lately? Last year, the Wildcats knocked out QB Ricky Stanzi and spoiled the Hawkeyes' conference title chances. This year, Dan Persa drives down the pitch to throw the winning TD late in the game, but tears his ACL and is lost for the season. He threw for 318 yards and 2 scores against an interception, and ran for 50 yards and another TD. Stanzi played the whole game this time and threw for 270 and 2 scores with a pick, while RB Adam Robinson picked up 108 yards. Iowa had a chance to come back, but a Brown sack drove them back into long yardage and Stanzi's fourth down pass fell incomplete. This is the 5th timein 6 games that the Wildcats have topped Iowa.

Worst Game: Missing Persa might account for a struggling offense and losing games pretty badly, but getting steamrolled 70-23 by anyone is a team failing, even if it is to a red hot Wisconsin team. With John Clay limited to four carries by injury, Monte Ball and James White combined for 312 yards and 5 TDs as the Badgers ran at will. QB Scott Tolzien completed 15 of just 19 passes for 219 yards and 4 TDs and Aaron Henry returned a pick 50 yards for a score with 2 seconds left to pile on the misery. Watkins threw for just 123 yards and 1 TD with 3 interceptions, although he ran for 34 yards and a score too. Venric Mark's 94 yard kick return TD was a rare bright spot on an utterly, utterly horrible day.

67. Georgia Tech (6-7, 4-4 ACC)

The Original Forecast: Georgia Tech usually pull in enough talent to compete in the ACC, and were expected to again last season. The offense is finally starting to hum, but the defense has been slack lately. Al Groh was brought in as defensive co-ordinator, which should pay dividends down the road, but the switch was expected to hamper Tech this season. An easy OOC schedule would see them in a bowl, but the tough Coastal division was expected to be their undoing. A repeat of last season's 11 wins was highly unlikely.

The Outcome: The Yellowjackets essentially played two seasons, the first half where they went 5-2 to start, then the second was their 1-5 finish, once the competition got tough. Their offense was productive for the most part, finishing first in rushing with an outstanding average of 323.3 yards per game. QB Josh Nesbitt was the key to the running game, making all the right reads and picking up 737 yards and 10 TDs. As a passer he struggled though, completing just 37.1% of his passes for 674 yards and 7 TDs against 4 interceptions. He also missed the last four games with injury, thrusting sophomore Tevin Washington into the limelight. He showed some potential, rushing for 514 yards and 4 TDs, but completing just 41% of his passes for 417 yards, 2 TDs and 3 picks. Anthony Allen was the main ball carrier with 1316 yards and 7 TDs, but Orwin Smith chipped in with 516 yards and 4 TDs on just 53 carries. GT failed to find a receiver to replace Demaryius Thomas, with Stephen Hill leading the way with just 15 catches for 291 yards and 3 TDs. The offensive line deserves a shout out for its outstanding play throughout the year. On defense, they struggled against the run but were decent against the pass. They also managed just 21 turnovers and 17 sacks. ILB Stephen Sylvester led the way with 10.5 tackles for loss, while FS Jerrard Tarrant picked off 3 passes. But big plays were few and far between, and the defense really struggled, particularly down the stretch. A less than satisfactory season.

Best Game: Beating North Carolina was nice, but they were missing 12 starters to suspension, so I find it difficult to put it here, so the 33-21 victory over Virginia gets the nod. They ran for 477 yards and came up with a key goalline stop in the win. Nesbitt only threw for 59 yards, but ran for 109 yards and a score, while Anthony Allen ran for 195 yards and 3 TDs to key the win. For Virginia, QB Marc Verica threw for 239 yards while RB Keith Payne ran for 2 scores, but GT's defense frequently held them on 3rd down, and led 33-14 before Payne's TD in the last minute. A decent win in a season short on them.

Worst Game: For any number of reasons, the 14-7 bowl loss to Air Force has to sting for the Yellowjackets. Things started badly when four players were declared academically ineligible, to go with a number of missing injured players. GT still ran all over the Falcons, with Washington racking up 131 yards and Allen gained 91 yards and the sole TD, but four turnovers continually foiled scoring chances. Washington also struggled passing, with just 41 yards and an interception. For the Falcons, Tim Jefferson threw for 117 yards and Jared Tew picked up 59 yards and their only TD on the ground. A poor performance that was an accurate reflection of their season.

66. Southern Mississippi (8-5, 5-3 CUSA)

The Original Forecast: The Tigers were expected to compete for the East title this season behind an explosive offense and improved defense. The OOC schedule was okay outside of South Carolina, and a bowl game was a certainty, but the lack of depth on offense would more than likely hinder them in the conference race.

The Outcome: The defense may have had more depth than the offense, but they were pretty poor against the pass, which isn't a good idea thing in Conference USA play. Although the run defense was pretty stiff, allowing just 3.6 yards per carry, the secondary collapsed against better passing attacks, costing them four close games. The Tigers were 11 points away from a 12-1 season. MLB Korey Williams was again the top defender, making 92 tackles with 14.5 for loss. DE Cordarro Law led the team with 6 sacks, while SS Justin Wilson had 4 picks. CB Deron Wilson had 3 interceptions and 15 passes defended. The offense was outstanding, coming 35th in passing and 20th in rushing. QB Austin Davis led the way with 3103 passing yards, 20 TDs and just 6 interceptions, and also ran for 452 yards and 10 scores. Kendrick Hardy and Desmond Johnson both missed time, but provided a good 1-2 punch at running back with 1514 yards and 15 TDs. Kevin Bolden and Johdrick Morris were the top receivers, combining for 96 catches, 1406 yards and 10 scores, but five other receivers caught in excess of 20 passes to provide Davis with plenty of options. Losing three close conference games ruined their chances of a title shot, and the defense must shoulder the blame after allowing 150 points in those three games.

Best Game: Knocking off UCF 31-21 to pull within a game of the conference lead was easily their best game. The Eagles fell behind 14-0 early, but Davis rallied them to a 31-14 lead behind his 264 yards passing and 4 TDs. For UCF, QB Jeff Godfrey threw for 190 yards and 2 TDs, but the beleaguered Southern Miss secondary picked him off twice to stay ahead of the game. A good win, and a tough performance from the defense.

Worst Game: Southern Miss' 44-43 loss to East Carolina, a game they had in hand, was particularly galling for their own lack of discipline that cost the game. The Eagles raced off to a 20-0 lead behind Davis 237 yards and a score and a solid running attack that totaled 167 yards. The defense picked of ECU QB Dominique Davis three times, returning one for a score, but the Pirates would not go away. The Eagles committed 15 penalties, including four personal fouls in the second quarter, one of which saw Williams ejected. A disappointing and avoidable loss.

65. Colorado (5-7, 2-6 Big 12)

The Original Forecast: This was the meant to be the year Colorado got back to a bowl game or coach Dan Hawkins moves on. They had a winnable OOC conference schedule, and enough returning starters on both offense and defense to do it. Expectations were that the Buffs would fall short again.

The Outcome: As expected, the Buffaloes failed to make the postseason, although they came close with five wins, and Hawkins and the team went their separate ways. Tyler Hansen started the first seven games at QB, throwing for 1102 yards with 6 TDs and 6 interceptions, but missed the rest of the season with injury. Cody Hawkins took over and threw for 1547 yards, 14 TDs and 5 picks. The running game was ranked just 85th in yardage, despite the efforts of Rodney Stewart who ran for 1318 yards and 10 TDs. Scotty McKnight led the receivers with 50 catches for 621 yards and 7 TDs. The offense wasn't awful, but lacked big-play ability again. The defense was okay against the run, but struggled horribly against the pass. DE Josh Hartigan led the team with 7 sacks, while SLB BJ Beatty had 15 hurries. The defense did manage 34 sacks, but were shredded too often. They lost three games by less than a score, and a better defensive effort could have pushed the Buffs into bowl eligibility.

Best Game: Coming off a five game conference losing streak with the defense struggling, an interim coach in his first game and injuries mounting, Iowa State came to town looking to cement bowl eligibility over reeling Colorado. The Buffalo defense was outstanding, holding the Cyclones to 229 total yards, with -6 coming on the ground, in a 34-14 victory. Cody Hawkins spurred the offense on, throwing for 266 yards and 3 TDs, while Stewart amassed a hard-earned 123 yards on the ground. Colorado even took a 34-7 lead on Michael Sipili's fumble return, before Iowa State scored a consolation TD. A good victory with bowl eligibility still on the line.

Worst Game: After an okay win over Colorado State to start the season, the Buffs traveled to California to take on a good-but-not-great Golden Bears team. In what was easily their worst performance of the season, Colorado came back with their tails between their legs on the back of a 52-7 thrashing. Hansen managed just 166 yards and 3 interceptions, while committing one of two team fumbles, and Stewart was held to 78 yards. For Cal, QB Kevin Riley threw for 197 yards and 4 scores, while the defense returned a fumble and interception for a TD. A disastrous result that told of worse things to come this season.

64. Cincinnati (4-8, 2-5 Big East)

The Original Forecast: The Bearcats were going through a certain amount of change with coach Brian Kelly off to Notre Dame, a new starting QB and a defense that needed rebuilding and tightening up. No-one expected them to repeat '09s success, but with a relatively easy OOC schedule, at least an 8 win reason was on the cards.

The Outcome: This was a shock collapse for the Bearcats, who expected at least a bowl appearance. The offense was solid enough, but the defense struggled to stop the pass. A meager 14 turnovers did them no favors either. OLB JK Schaffer spearheaded a tough run defense with 111 tackles, 3 for loss, while DT Brandon Mills had 6.5 tackles for loss and led the team with 6 sacks. Unfortunately, finding stars in the secondary is a stiffer task. QB Zach Collaros didn't play quite as well as hoped, but did okay with 2902 yards and 26 TDs against 14 picks. He also ran for 202 yards and 4 scores. Isaiah Pead was a fine running threat, gaining 1029 yards and 6 TDs, while receivers Armon Binns and DJ Woods combined for 132 catches, 1999 yards and 18 scores. A poor season that already has some questioning Butch Jones' ability to coach at this level.

Best Game: When things are going downhill in a hurry, what better remedy than a visit from fellow strugglers Rutgers. Despite allowing 38 points, Cinci racked up 661 yards of total offense and scored69 of their own. Collaros threw for 366 yards and 4 TDs, with one pick, while Pead ran for 213 yards and 4 scores, and also caught one. Binns and Woods caught 12 passes for 236 yards and a score between them. Rutgers QB Chas Dodd threw for 335 yards and 4 scores, but was intercepted twice. Mark Harrison was outstanding with 10 catches for 240 yards and 4 TDs. The Cinci defense held the Knights running game to -9 yards in a fine performance.

Worst Game: There were a number of options available here, but getting beaten 28-10 by Pittsburgh to end the season hurt because their normally staunch run defense allowed Panther running back to gain 261 yards and 4 TDs. While Pead had a solid game with 97 yards, Collaros only threw for 109 yards and a score, and was picked off three times. The score could have been worse but for a missed field goal and two redzone turnovers by Pitt. A poor end to a poor season.

63. Temple (8-4, 5-3 MAC)

The Original Forecast: The Owls were favored to win the East this year due to their excellent depth and quality coaching. They're not perfect, they struggled against the pass last season, and if their passing game was even mediocre they'd win the MAC. They do have a tough schedule both in and out of conference, but have the talent to won out. Most likely they'll finish second in the East.

The Outcome: With Miami's rapid ascension, they actually came third. Their three conference losses were all to higher ranked teams, and the closest loss was 8 points. The reason was simple, their passing attack wasn't very good. When the running game broke down, so did Temple. Chester Stewart started the season and threw for 842 yards and 4 TDs with 5 interceptions, but was benched against Bowling Green and didn't play again. Mike Gerardi took over and threw for 1290 yards and 10 TDs against 8 picks, improving the passing attack some, but struggled in big games. Star RB Bernard Pierce was hampered by injures and ran for just 728 yards and 10 TDs, but Matt Brown filled in capably and gained 830 yards and 7 scores. Michael Campbell was their top receiver, catching 45 balls for 724 yards and 6 scores and flashing some big time potential. The defense, particularly against the pass, was outstanding despite forcing only 20 turnovers. DT Muhammad Wilkerson led the charge with 9.5 sacks. Still, the season fell short of expectations, and coach Al Golden has moved on to Miami (Fl).

Best Game: Temple blew all their key games, although they did beat Connecticut. However, their most comprehensive victory was 42-0 over Buffalo, who have given them some fierce battles lately. Gerardi threw for 131 yards and 3 scores, although he had 2 picks, and Pierce and Brown combined for 215 yards and 2 scores. But the defense held the Bulls to 161 yards of total offense and forced 4 turnovers. Buffalo's offense didn't make it into Temple territory until midway through the third quarter. An excellent all round win.

Worst Game: With a trip to Oxford to take on surprise contenders Miami for a shot at tying the East title, Temple fell flat on their faces and had to settle for third place. After scoring first, the Owls could get nothing going the rest of the game. Gerardi threw for just 108 yards and was picked off twice, while the running game could only come up with 70 yards. For the Redhawks, QB Austin Boucher threw for 155 yards and 2 scores, and RB Thomas Merriweather gained 182 yards and a score, a 96 yard TD run. A sad performance with so much on the line.

62. Iowa State (5-7, 3-5 Big 12)

The Original Forecast: The Cyclones were a surprise bowl team last season, but repeating that success would have been equally as surprising. A tough schedule would be their downfall, despite some improvement throughout the team. The offense and secondary should be good, but a 5 win season was in the offing.

The Outcome: Exactly as the doctor ordered, ISU played 6 ranked (at the time) teams and managed to won just five games. They lost a couple of other games by a TD or less, but mostly struggled against better teams. The offense was disappointing, with both running and passing ranked in the lower half of the FBS. QB Austen Arnaud only managed 1703 yards and 13 TDs against 10 picks, and just 282 yards and 2 scores on the ground. Alexander Robinson ran for 946 yards and 9 TDs, but didn't see enough of the ball due to lopsided losses. Colin Franklin was the leading receiver with 54 catches for just 530 yards and 3 TDs in an offense that lacked a big play option. An offensive line that allowed 33 sacks did them no favors either. The pass defense wasn't bad, but they struggled stopping the run. OLBs Jake Knott and AJ Klein had good seasons, combining for 241 tackles, 14 for loss, and 7 interceptions. There were too few big plays outside of these two though. So, the team didn't improve much (if at all) on last season, and the lack of big play ability on both sides of the ball condemned to another quiet postseason.

Best Game: The Cyclones hadn't beaten Texas on the road since '90 when they defeated the then #19 Longhorns 28-21. Arnaud only threw for 136 yards, but passed for 2 scores and also ran for 40 yards, but Robinson was the key, gaining 120 yards and 2 scores. The defense also did a good job, limiting the Texas running attack to just 96 yards. QB Garrett Gilbert passed for 344 yards and 2 TDs, but was picked off three times and fumbled once. The Cyclones led 28-6 in the fourth quarter before Gilbert threw his TDs, but Iowa State managed to control the clock into the last two minutes to hold on. A fine win.

Worst Game: A week after getting blown out 68-27 at home by Utah, the Cyclones headed to Oklahoma with the intention of showing they were a decent team. The result was even worse - a 52-0 thrashing in which they gained just 183 total yards. Sooner QB Landry Jones threw for 334 yards and 3 TDs, DeMarco Murray and Roy Finch rushed for a combined 204 yards and 2 scores. Ryan Broyles made a mockery of the Cyclones normally solid secondary with 15 catches for 182 yards and a TD. A performance that did nothing but show how far the Cyclones have to go in the Big 12.

61. Texas (5-7, 2-6 Big 12)

The Original Forecast: Texas suffered some losses to graduation, but that hasn't stopped them competing for the Big 12 regularly. Having won at least ten games every year since 2000, the were was no reason to doubt it wouldn't happen again. The only concerns were injuries at QB or on the offensive line.

The Outcome: Having gotten used to winning 5 games by midseason, the Longhorns not only took 11 games to do it, but only 2 conference games. So what went wrong? Well, for one thing, the rest of the Big 12 got better. Baylor and Iowa State both came up with rare wins over the Longhorns. The big problem was the passing game - there was a distinct lack of big plays from QB Garrett Gilbert, who threw for 2744 yards, but just 10 TDs against 17 picks. He did add 380 yards and 5 scores on the ground, but he rarely pushed the ball down the field. The running game hasn't been great for a few years in Texas, and this year was no different. They haven't found a bell-cow back, with this year's leading rusher, Cody Johnson, gaining just 592 yards and 6 TDs. The leading receivers were James Kirkendoll and Mike Davis who combined for just 99 receptions for 1185 yards and 4 TDs. The defense was it's usual outstanding self, but 30 turnovers by the offense left them with short fields too often. DE Sam Acho was the star with 59 tackles, 8 for loss, 9 sacks, 17 QB hurries and 5 fumble recoveries, but quality performers were rife. Unfortunately, the defense could not carry the team, and a struggling offense meant their first season less than 9 wins since 1997.

Best Game: After losing two consecutive home games, Texas traveled to #5 Nebraska in a state of shock. They got over it in a hurry, beating the Cornhuskers 20-13 in a defensive battle. Gilbert played an important role despite completing just 4 of 16 passes for 62 yards. He ran for 71 yards and 2 TDs, and combined with Johnson's 73 yards to keep the Longhorns moving on the ground. Huskers QB Tyler Martinez had been shredding opposing defenses until he ran into Texas, completing just 4 of 12 passes for 63 yards, and gaining just 21 yards on the ground. The Texas defense actually held the Husker offense to 6 points. A late 95 yard punt return by Eric Hagg brought them to within 7, but even with the game on the line their offense couldn't do anything. A hard but well-earned victory.

Worst Game: Texas's season was running out of control in a hurry, losing close games to Baylor and Iowa State, and needed a win at Kansas State to steady the ship. They didn't get it, losing 39-14. What was particularly galling is the Wildcats passed for just 9 yards on 4 attempts. QB Collin Klein and Daniel Thomas combined for 233 yards rushing and 4 TDs to key the win. But K-State's offense was the real factor. Gilbert threw for 272 yards, but he was intercepted 5 times to continually short circuit drives. The Wildcats led 39-0 before Gilbert made it a bit more respectable with two fourth quarter TD drives.

Big East Preview

Cincinnati

Last Year

Despite the disappointing thrashing in the bowl game against Florida, last season was easily the best in the Bearcat's history. The offense was amazing, with the 24 points they scored in the bowl the least they scored all season. They were 4^th in the nation in scoring with 38.6 ppg. Even when Tony Pike went down, Zach Collaros stepped in and was arguably even better. It wasn't all great though, with the defense falling asleep the last five games. They allowed an average of 12.9 ppg the first eight games, then 39.4 the last five. This tale of two defenses finally caught up with them in the bowl game. The offense also took some time to get going in some games before waking up in the second half.

Offense

Last year's coach Brian Kelly is one of the finest offensive minds in the game today, and it shows in his teams' successes. Unfortunately, coaches such as these don't stay put very long, and Kelly is no different, taking the top job at Notre Dame this season. Ironically, new coach Butch Jones replaced Kelly at Central Michigan when he took the Cincinnati job. Jones did an excellent job at CMU, making a fine QB of Dan LeFevour. He now gets to play with Collaros, who is a far better fit for the spread offense both he and Kelly favor than last year's QB Tony Pike was. Pike was excellent for the most part last year, throwing for 2520 yards and 29 TDs against a mere 6 Ints. When Pike was injured for 3½ games, Collaros stepped in and completed a superb 75% of his passes for 1434 yards and 10 TDs with only 2 Ints. He also ran for 344 yards and 4 TDs, including a 75 yarder. It will be interesting to see how Collaros performs this season now that opponents have had a good look at him. His backup is junior Chazz Anderson who has game experience and has played well. The Bearcats only ran for 139 ypg last season, but that was more due to a prolific passing attack, although on occasion the running game was shut down by strong defenses. Isaiah Pead came on strong last year, gaining 806 yards and 9 TDs at 6.7 a pop. He will get a lot more work this season if he can hold up. Last season's number 2 has graduated, so John Goebel will get some carries after missing most of last season due to injury. The offensive line returns three starters, LT Sam Griffin, LG Jason Kelce and RG Alex Hoffman. New C Evan Davis and RT CJ Cobb have plenty of experience and should have few problems stepping up this year. Big-play guy Mardy Gilyard is gone to the NFL, but Armon Binns (61-888-11) and DJ Woods (51-640-4) return at WR. Vidal Hazelton got lost in the shuffle at USC, but has transferred here and sat out last year. He is a former top recruit and should flourish in the wide open offense. TE Ben Guidugli (27-364-3) returns after being voted 2^nd team Big East last year. Pead caught 20 passes and 2 TDs last season, and should see an increased role in 2010.

Defense

Fixing the defensive meltdown at the end of the season has to be top of the coaching staff's list this season, and with only five starters back, it may not happen this season. The line only returns one starter, Tackle Derek Wolfe, but he's a good one notching five sacks last season. Joining him will most likely be fellow junior John Hughes, who played well when called upon last season. The coaching staff must find a pass rusher to replace Alex Daniels 8.5 sacks at End last season. Dan Giordano was a regular in the rotation last season and played well. On the other side is probably sophomore Brandon Mills, who made the most of his limited opportunities last season. It is hoped these guys can play as well or better in an expanded role this season. The lack of experience could hurt though. JK Schaffer and Walter Stewart return to man the outside at Linebacker, and both have flashed great potential at times. Tennessee transfer Dorian Davis will man the middle, but he hasn't done much to date. Corner Dominique Battle and Safety Drew Frey return after solid seasons in '09, and they'll be joined by freshmen CB Cameron Cheatham and junior S Wesley Richardson. Expect Cheatham to be targeted early and often. Last season's defense wasn't particularly good, expect more of the same this season.

Special Teams

Jake Rogers has been merely average as both a kicker and a punter, and has been benefited by Cinci's prolific offense. If they struggle this season and Gs become more regular, Rogers might not be the man for the job. Patrick O'Donnell may take over the punting chores to allow Rogers to focus on his placekicking. The return teams were exceptional last season, but Gilyard was their main returner, so a capable replacement must be found. The coverage teams were pretty good too, particularly the kick squad.

Next Season

It would be a surprise if the Bearcats were to repeat last year's success, even with a breakout year from Collaros. This team is currently in a state of flux, particularly with the coaching change, but in saying that, a manageable schedule (only Oklahoma in OOC) means at least 8 wins and a bowl game is assured.

Connecticut

Last Year

Last season was overshadowed by the stabbing of starting corner Jasper Howard in October, but the team pulled through this admirably, a tribute to coach Randy Edsall. The Huskies had a solid 8-5 (3-4 Big East) last season and a bowl win over South Carolina, and their five losses were by a total of 15 points. They ran the ball successfully for the most part, with the two pronged attack of Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon (both 1000+ yards and 28TDs) doing the damage. The passing game improved as the season went on. The defense struggled against the better teams but 33 sacks and 25 turnovers kept them in games.

Offense

Zach Fraser started the season at QB and struggled until he got injured. Cody Endres stepped in and played well, and probably would have retained the starting job except he was lost for the season against Rutgers. Fraser returned and looked like a different QB, leading to team to a 4-1 finishing clip including the bowl win. This season both QBs return, with Fraser the likely starter. Dixon moves on this season, but leading rusher Todman (1188 yards and 14 TDs) returns. Tough FB Anthony Sherman will ope holes for him again in '10. Four linemen return to clear the way, including 1^st Team Big East C Moe Petrus and RG Zach Hurd. RT Mike Ryan can play both tackle spots and LG will be a battle between Erik Kuraczea and Mathieu Olivier, both of whom started at times last season. The likely LT is sophomore Jimmy Bennett (a former top recruit). He missed spring camp with a knee injury though, but it is hoped he will be ready to go in September. This is potentially UConn's best line since moving up from the FCS. Neither of their starting wide receivers from last season return, and big play guy Marcus Easley will be a huge loss, but the returning players are experienced and solid. Michael Smith and Kashif Moore should be the nominal starters. Ryan Griffin caught 23 passes for 272 yards at TE last season and is more than good enough to improve in those numbers this season. He's also picked up his blocking. Todman is capable catching the ball out of the backfield. With eight starters back, and two experienced QBs, this unit is rock solid this season.

Defense

The defense also returns eight starters, including three quarters of their defensive line. Kendall Reyes and Twyon Martin return to man the middle, and Jesse Joseph is the returning End. Last year's starting MLB Greg Lloyd moves to DE this season. The coaching staff believe his speed and strength can cover the loss of Lindsey Witten's 11.5 sacks. Despite Lloyd's move, the linebacking corps returns two four year starters in Scott Lutrus and Lawrence Wilson. Lutrus takes over the middle, and '09 part-time starter Jory Johnson takes his spot on the outside. This is a good group. Last year's concern was the secondary, and that should be the case again this season. Sophomore Blidi Wreh-Wilson was forced into a starting corner spot prematurely to replace Howard, but the experience should stand him in good stead. The other starter will be fellow soph Dwayne Gratz, who gained some valuable experience playing in the Nickel D last season. Another sophomore, Jerome Junior, started 12 games at SS last season but moves over to Free in '10. Senior Kijuan Dabney would have played more last season if not for a shoulder injury. He takes over the SS slot. This is an experience unit outside of the secondary – if they can grow up fast, this could be a strong defense in '10.

Special Teams

Kicker Dave Teggart struggled last season (14/23 FGs) after a great freshman year, but it's unlikely he'll lose his job unless he completely falls apart in '10. Redshirt freshman Chad Christen takes over at punter. It remains to be seen whether he can maintain his HS success. Three different players had KR TDs last season (including Todman) and they all return so there's no concern there, but new PR is inexperienced. Kick coverage was poor last season, but punt coverage was excellent. There is plenty of room for improvement here.

Next Season

This team is in good shape with 16 returning starters this season, and is probably the most experience team in the Big East. Their OOC is very winnable (including a trip to struggling Michigan) and if the team can turn some of those close division losses into wins, they could be looking at a ten-win season. In fact, with the changes going on at other Big East programs, they've got to be considered (at least for now) contenders for the conference. His could be the year they finally get some FBS notice.

Louisville

Last Year

How the mighty have fallen! Was it really only four seasons ago that the Cardinals were a loss to Rutgers away from making the BCS game? What has happened since then that caused this fall from the heights. The answer is simple – Bobby Petrino. The coach's exodus to the NFL and rapid exit has been well documented. His replacement was Steve Kragthorpe, who had previously coached at Tulsa and was known as an offensive mastermind, which sat well with the Louisville faithful. So what went wrong? The answer is defense. Petrino's Louisville squads were strong defensively, something that was under-appreciated by alumni. So after three steadily worsening seasons, Kragthorpe was sent packing and ex-Florida defensive co-ordinator Charlie Strong has been brought in. The Cardinals weren't particularly competitive in '09, going 4-8 (1-6 Big East) and propping up the conference.

Offense

Strong intends to run a spread offense akin to that run in Florida, but may not have the pieces necessary to have any impact this season. Last season the Cards played three different QBs, none of who impressed. Best of the bunch was senior Adam Froman (60%, 1354 yds, 6 TDs and 5 INTs). He's the most mobile of the QBs, which suits the new offense, but any pass over 20 yards is an adventure. Will Stein played in four games last season and is faster than Froman, but freshmen Dominique Brown is a tough runner and may win the job at some stage. Louisville generally has decent RBs, and last season was no different. Victor Anderson is their top guy, but he was injured often last season and only gained 473 yards and 5 TDs. Darius Ashley filled in admirably, rushing for 462 yards and 4 TDs, while Bilal Powell came third with 392 yards and 4 TDs. The open spaces provided by the spread offense should give this trio ample opportunity to improve their yardage. Four starters return from an offensive line that allowed 37 sacks and opened holes for 3.5 ypc. These numbers just won't cut it, and no jobs are guaranteed. The starters most likely will be C Mario Benavides, Gs Mark Wetterer and Joe Evinger, and Ts Jeff Adams on the right and either Byron Stingily or Greg Tomczyk on the left. Top receiver Scott long has graduated, but Doug Beaumont (38-465-0) returns. Josh Chichester (17-202-2) will get one of the other WR slots, with either Stephon Ball (3-42-0) or Troy Pascley (3-30-0) taking the third spot. New coaches tend to favor their own recruits, so watch out for freshmen playing a big role here. TE Cameron Graham (27-323-2) is one of the best in the conference and should flourish in an offense that gets rid of the ball quickly. Look for this offense to run often and throw to Graham until Strong's recruits get their feet wet.

Defense

This is Strong's forte, and he did an amazing job (albeit with amazing talent) at Florida. He'll have to exhibit some patience with the holdovers from last year's squad, at least (as with the offense) until his own guys are ready to go. Only five starters return, including their four leading tacklers, leading sack guy and leading interceptor. Two starters return from a line that got shoved around too often in a conference with good running attacks. DT Greg Scruggs (4.5 tfls) and Malcolm Tatum are undersized but do play at a high tempo which will appeal to Strong. Joining them this season will be Tackle Tim High, who weighs 310, but has done little to date. The other end will be William Savoy, who had 5 sacks as part of the rotation last season. The linebackers should be good next season. Brandon Heath (48 tkls, 5.5 for loss and 2 INTs) is the only returning full-time starter, but Dexter Heyman and Antwon Canady have starting experience. Only one starter, CB Johnny Patrick (53 tkls and 2 INTs) returns from a secondary that struggled last season. Anthony Conner played okay in limited opportunities last season, and will man the other corner spot. Safeties will most likely be Terence Simien and Shenard Holton. Neither has a lot of experience and will be the weak spot. There is some talent here, but Strong will have his hands full trying to get them to make some stops.

Special Teams

Chris Philpott (5/5 FGs) took over during the season and did a good job. He looked good in spring camp too. Jon Payne takes over at Punter from the steady Cory Goettsche who graduated. Returner Tent Guy was excellent last season but unfortunately has graduated. Anderson and Beaumont are probably the best options to replace him, but as they are starters, another option may need to be found. Punt coverage was excellent last season, but kick coverage wasn't great. Special teams are especially important to struggling teams, but there's no guarantee they can match last year's production.

Next Season

Strong is a good coach and a good recruiter, but a winning season in '10 may be beyond them. OOC includes equally struggling Kentucky and always tough Oregon State, but the in-conference schedule is harsh this season, even with the changes in the other programs. If they can go 4-1 in OOC then they might eke out six wins, but that's about it for this season. Give them a couple of years though…

Pittsburgh

Last Year

After yearly calling for coach Dave Wannstedt's head the Panthers finally showed their mettle, coming within four points of the Big East title. A 10-3 season (5-2 Big East) included a surprising loss to North Carolina State and losing by 3 in the Backyard Brawl to West Virginia and by 1 to Cincinnati on a game they appeared to have well in hand. They also beat a good North Carolina team in their bowl game. Wannstedt is an excellent recruiter and this year finally showed the results of those good classes. They return many of last season's stars, including super RB Dion Lewis and pass rusher Greg Romeus. The offense and defense were both pretty consistent throughout for the most part, not really deviating too far from their average yardage gained or allowed. This suggests a consistent performance throughout, and this is essentially the truth. They were solid all year long, and their record reflects it.

Offense

Last year, the Panthers had their best total offense since '03 and their best running attack by far this decade. QB Bill Stull (65.1%, 2633 yards, 21 TDs and 8 INTs) really stepped it up last season and was rock solid, making the throws that needed to be made and avoiding any major mistakes. He won't be back this season unfortunately, so Tino Sunseri and Pat Bostick will battle for the job. Sunseri played well in limited opportunities last season (17-10-114-2-0) and is the favorite coming out of the spring, but Bostick has been around a while. Whoever wins the job will have the benefit of handing off to Lewis (325-1799-17), who not only smashed the Panthers' freshman rushing record, but had the second best season in Pitt history behind some guy named Dorsett! He was voted 2^nd team All-American for his troubles, and the sky's the limit for him. Backing him up is Ray Graham (61-349-4) who played well when given the chance. He should get more carries this season to give Lewis a breather. Leading the way for them will be Henry Hynoski, a fine blocker who can also run and catch when required. A runner is only as good as his line, and last year's version was superb. Not only did they pave the way for 180 yards a game on the ground, they only allowed 15 sacks. Unfortunately, only Tackles Jason Pinkston and Lucas Nix return. The middle should be manned by senior C Alex Karabin, who plays regularly, and junior Gs Chris Jacobson and Greg Gaskins. They too played regularly last season. If they can hit the ground running, there should be little let down in '10. 6'5 Big play guy Jonathon Baldwin (57-1111-8) returns at receiver, and will be joined by fellow 6'5 Mike Shanahan (15-211-0). Manning the slot will be little guy Greg Cross (redshirted last year), who's only 6'2. This height advantage gives any QB an extra edge on errant passes. They lost both of last season's TEs who were big parts of the offense, and this year's starter will be Mike Cruz (1-2-1) who's a fine blocker but an average receiver. Virginia transfer Andrew Devlin could take his spot. Lewis caught 25 passes last season and should continue to be part of the passing game. This offense should continue to be potent this season.

Defense

The defense last year was tough against the run, but had a few hairy moments against the pass, especially early in the season. They return six starters from last season, including their two top-notch defensive ends. Greg Romeus will look to improve on his 8 sacks of last season – he is the reigning Big East defensive player of the year. On the other side is Jabaal Sheard who had 5 sacks. These two will encourage opposing passers to throw quickly in 2010. They are solid against the run too. Last year's DTs were excellent and will be sorely missed. Charged with replacing them will be Myles Caragein (35 tkls, 7.5 for loss) and either TJ Clemmings or Chas Alecxih (4 sacks). Clemmings is a freshman, but regardless of the combination they should be solid in the middle again. The starting OLBs Greg Williams and Max Gruder are back, and they combined for 124 tackles with 7.5 for loss last season. Stepping into the middle is sophomore Dan Mason (26 tkls, 2 sacks) who started three games last season hits like a train. Cornerback could be a problem as two new starters will need to emerge. Junior Antwuan Reed should take one slot, having played in 22 games over the last two years, while either JUCO Saheed Imoru or sometime-starter senior Ricky Gary will take the other side. It wouldn't be a surprise to see a frequent rotation here. Senior Dom DeCicco had 88 tackles and 3 picks last season and is a good one, and sophomore Jarred Holley started from week 5 on and had 48 tackles and another 3 INTs. The coaching staff hopes the pass rush can get after the QB enough to give the corners a chance to adjust to a full-time starting role. If it goes according to plan, this defense could be even better this season.

Special Teams

Dan Hutchins was the kicker and punter last season and had mixed results. He was solid as a kicker (23/29 FGs), including nailing a game-winner against UConn, but only averaged 41.1 as a punter with a meagre 34.5 net. Either he needs to improve in both areas, or someone needs to step up and take on the punting chores. Cameron Saddler was excellent returning kicks and nearly took a couple to the house, but Aaron Smith was not the answer at PR. Coverage teams were pretty good, although they could improve. As a whole this unit has to step it up in '10.

Next Season

This team is loaded. Wannstedt has holes to fill, but with the excellent recruiting classes he's pulled in, this is the most talented squad in the Big East. The other teams are going through major changes at skill positions, yet he has most of his guys back. If he doesn't win the Big East this year, the boo-birds will rear their ugly heads again. The OOC schedule includes always tough Utah, BCS outside shot Miami and Brian Kelly led Notre Dame. If he can pull off at least 4-1 here, and win the Big East, a major bowl could be in reach.

Rutgers

Last Year

The Scarlet Knights pulled off a 9-4 (3-4 Big East) season despite playing with a freshman QB and lacking a breakaway threat at RB. They managed this with an easy OOC schedule and a fine defense, coach Greg Schiano's speciality. Schiano has done a great job here, turning a moribund program from whipping boys to a bowl regular. They may have been ranked in the Top 10 in '06, but this may have been his best coaching job to date.

Offense

Tom Savage has gone from the youngest QB in the conference to the most experienced in just one season. In his 11 starts he completed 52.3% of his passes for 2211 yards with 14 TDs against just 7 picks. Obviously his accuracy needs to improve, something he didn't do over the course of the season, but he is smart with the football which helps. The running game really struggled last season, with their season average grossly inflated by running over weak teams. Joe Martinek ran hard all season, and was effective in the fourth quarter, but he's merely a banger. He will most likely be backed up (or replaced) by De'Antwan Williams (44-235-1) and the incoming freshmen. Fullback will probably be Edmond Laryea, although he's merely average. The line returns only two starters, LG Art Forst (1^st team Big East) and C Howard Barbieri. Desmond Wynn has started some in the past and will probably play LT. Desmond Stapleton will probably play opposite him with Antwan Lowery at RG. This line could be reshuffled before the season starts. The excellent Tim Brown graduated last season but the Scarlet Knights appear to have a ready made replacement in Mohamed Sanu. In '09 he caught 51 passes for 639 yards and 3 TDs, but also played some QB in running formations, gaining 346 yards and scoring 5 TDs. He also threw a TD pass. This versatility will see him leaned upon even more next season. The problem is who will play opposite him. There are number of freshmen and sophomores waiting in the wings, but none have much experience, and this must be a concern going into fall camp. DC Jefferson returns at TE, but he only caught 5 passes last season. The ex-QB still has a lot to learn, but he has potential and should improve this season. Savage didn't throw to his backs much last season, but that may change as he becomes more experienced. This offense has way too many question marks to be much of a factor this season.

Defense

Schiano has done an excellent job with the defenses here, and he believes this year's could be his best yet. Last season the run defense ranked 15^th nationally with a mere 103 yards per game (3 ypg!) and 16^th in scoring at 17.9 ppg. The pass defense was rock solid too for the most part, and 40 sacks and 34 turnovers are worthy of note. The defense did tend to fall asleep on occasion, such as being gutted by Cincinnati in the opening game and run over by lowly Syracuse in a shock defeat. This will have to be corrected for next season. They return three starting linemen from '09, including both their tackles. Scott Vallone was a freshman All-American last season with 12.5 tfl, while Eric LeGrand had 5.5. End Alex Silvestro was 2^nd team Big East with 42 tackles including 10 for loss, while this year's new starter Jonathon Freeny was also 2^nd team Big East and had 9.5 sacks despite only starting one game. This is an excellent group to have up front and make life a lot easier for the Linebackers, only one of whom returns. Antonio Lowery had 55 tkls with 6.5 for loss in 9 starts last season and should improve on them this season. Steve Beauharnais will man the middle after a freshman season where he had 36 tackles and 5 sacks in part-time duty. Manny Abreu has played well when given the chance in the past, but this corps is the question mark pf the defense going into 2010. Last season's super corner Devin McCourty has gone to the NFL, but the secondary is still in good shape. David Rowe did a solid job on the other side and returns this season, and he should be joined by senior Brandon Bing. Any of this year's freshmen could steal the spot either. Joe Lefeged returns at Safety having started the last three years, and he'll be joined by Khaseem Greene who did a good job when given the chance. The linebackers will have time to gel with an easy OOC schedule, so this group could be even better this season. They may need to be with all the issues on offense.

Special Teams

Each kick by San San Te last season was an adventure, as he had a habit of slicing. However, after offseason surgery and some technical improvement in camp, it looks like he may actually have a good season. With a long of 49 in '09, his leg strength is not an issue. Punter Ted Dellaganna is one of the best in the conference, with a net of 36.9 and 26 inside the 20. Lefeged averaged 32.4 on 11 KRs and scored a TD last season, and should take on the job full-time in 2010. Sanu only averaged 3.9 per PR last year, so he either needs to drastically improve or be replaced. He definitely has the talent though. Coverage units were both excellent. This group should be better next season.

Next Season

Rutgers has had a tendency to choose easy OOC opponents recently, and this season is no different, the only exception being potential ACC champion North Carolina. They should go at least 3-1 heading into conference play. They also play Tulane, another likely victory. With the change going on in the conference they should easily make another bowl game, but I can't see them winning the conference title this year with the question marks on offense.

South Florida

Last Year

USF roared out the gate last season, easily dispatching their first three fours by 20+ points each. Unfortunately they lost Matt Grothe for the season in Week 3 to a torn ACL, but appeared to have little let-down with freshman BJ Daniels at the helm and dispatching then #18 Florida State 17-7 in Tallahassee. They were 5-0 and ranked #21 going into the Cincinnati game and even went toe-to-toe with them in the first half before the wheels fell off the wagon. BJ Daniels began to mix flashes of brilliance with typical rookie mistakes as the team went 2-5 before beating MAC opponent Northern Illinois in their bowl game. If Daniels can cut out the mistakes he has a bright future – when he was on form, he was great. But the offense lived and died on his performance. The defense was fast and tough as usual, although they wore down in games when the offense didn't pull its weight. Then in the off-season, the Bulls only head coach Jim Leavitt was fired. He has done a good job building this program, but the new man in charge is ex-East Carolina and Connecticut coach Skip Holtz. He has done a good job in the past (72-50 record) and arrives at a time when South Florida are competing with the other Florida schools for top recruits. If he can continue building from were Leavitt left off, a Big East championship could be just around the corner.

Offense

Matt Grothe, who seems to have played here since the program started, has finally run out of eligibility after a fine career. This is now Daniels gig and he actually had a decent first season, completing 53.7% of his passes for 1983 yards with 14 TDs and 9 picks. He also ran for 772 yards and 9 TDs, leading the team in rushing. He often tried too hard to make a play, hanging onto the ball for too long and taking sacks (35) or forcing it and being intercepted. On occasion though he looked brilliant, making defenders look stupid with some instant replay-worthy moves. The Bulls finally gave up on Mike Ford and sent him packing, leaving Moise Plancher (129-581-5) as the probable starter. He hasn't proven he can carry the load, so a committee approach is likely. Backing him up will be a host of freshmen. Watch out for JUCO Michael Hayes though – he helped Blinn CC to a JC championship and is the type of heavy-duty ball carrier USF have lacked since Andre Hall graduated. Whoever has the ball will have an excellent line blocking for him. Four out of five linemen return, with Zach Herrmann the odd man out due to retirement. C Sampson Genus, Gs Chaz Hine and Jeremiah Warren and T Jake Sims all return to clear the way. The "new" member is Jamar Bass who actually started six games last season. Receiver could be a problem area though. Carlton Mitchell has gone to the pros, and potentially great AJ Love (26-489-4) tore his ACL in the spring and will most likely miss the season. Dontavia Bogan (22-305-4) returns to man one spot, but the other two appear up for grabs. RB Lindsey Lamar has been tried there in camp and has looked pretty good, and backup QB Evan Landi may also be moved to WR, but this area remains a question mark. Jeff Hawkins should be the starting TE in '10. He needs to improve his blocking, but he's a good enough receiver to act as a safety valve for Daniels. The RBs are hardly used in the passing game, although that may change with a new offensive system in place.

Defense

The normally staunch defense could be in trouble this year. Only three starters return from a unit that was gutted by graduation and the NFL Draft. George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul will be missed at DE, but the line has capable replacements, and also returns under-rated Terrell McClain (25 tkls, 3.5 for loss) at DT. Fellow Tackle Keith McCaskill started five games last season and can get the job done. At one end spot should be David Bedford who has started three games over the past couple of years, while the other spot will be manned by either Craig Marshall (39 tkls and 5 sacks in two years) or redshirt freshman Ryne Giddins. These are all quick, athletic players in the USF mould. Sabbath Joseph (48 tkls, 4 for loss) returns at WLB, and he'll be joined by Sam Barrington (41 tkls,2 for loss) who made the Big East Freshman team despite only starting one game, and Jacquian Williams who had 28 tackles in spot duty last season. This should be a good crew in '10. Quenton Washington returns and mans one corner spot and he'll be joined by Kayvon Webster, who started six games as a freshman and had 30 tkls and 2 picks. Fellow sophomore Jon Jejiste or Jerrell Young (who started 6 games before injury) will start at SSm while Mistral Raymond will take over the FS spot after starting four games last season. This group has experience and could be tough to pass on. If last year's part-time starters can maintain their level of play over the course of the season, the defense should be excellent. If not, the better start scoring some points on offense.

Special Teams

Eric Schwartz was okay last season, making 11 of 16 FGs including a 50 yarder. But he may be replaced by Maikon Bonani who missed the season due to injury and made 15 of 21 FGs the year before. A new punter needs to be found, and the expectations are for Justin Brockhaus-Kann to take the job. He had an outstanding HS career but redshirted last year. Bogan was okay returning kicks but can do better, while Faron Hornes really needs to improve his PRs or lose his job. Kick coverage was good last season, but punt coverage was weak allowing 21 yards per return and a TD. Improvement is a must in this department.

Next Season

The Bulls tend to start to start fast then suffer a late season swoon, and lose to at least one team they probably shouldn't. Holtz needs to correct this to take the Bulls to their Promised Land of a Big East title. Three of their OOC opponents are shoo-in victories, but they also include rebuilding Florida and Miami (Fl). If they can find some receivers and get the running games going, this could be their year. 8-5 and another middle tier bowl as usual will be the most likely result.

Syracuse

Last Year

Greg Robinson turned Syracuse from a Big East contender to a bottom-dweller in very few seasons. The team had dipped in previous seasons, and Robinson was trying to install a new offensive system which can take time. The team never really improved (10-37) and he recruited badly, leading to his firing at the end of the '08. Step forward Doug Marrone, just their sixth head coach in 47 years. With a pretty bare cupboard, Marrone fashioned a 4-8 (1-6 Big East) record and had the team punching above their weight in most games. Beyond RB Delone Carter, the Orange beat Rutgers and Northwestern, and their defense allowed just 101.8 ypg rushing, thanks in no small part to Arthur Jones (now with Baltimore). This was 87 ypg less than last year. Their secondary was still weak, but 35 sacks and 15 INTs helped out.

Offense

Here's the bad news – the offense returns two of last year's starters, and star Carter may not be back due to legal difficulties. At QB Ryan Nassib is the most likely starter after playing in nine games as a freshman and threw for 422 yards (52.9%) with 3 TDs and an INT. Redshirt freshman Charley Loeb will back him up if he doesn't steal the starting gig. If Carter is out, Antwon Bailey will be the most likely replacement after coming second on the team with 312 yards and a TD last year. It's unknown whether he can carry the load, and there is little experience beyond him. It might be academic (no pun intended) that the line only returns one starter, C Ryan Bartholomew. Three of the four new starters – Gs Andrew Tiller and Adam Rosner, and T Josh White all have starting experience. The other T will probably be JUCO Michael Hay, but he could be pushed by redshirt freshman Justin Pugh. Marcus Sales (28-324-3) and Alec Lemon (29-295-1) return at receiver and will likely be joined on the starting roster by Aaron Weaver, a transfer from Hofstra who 1416 yards in three years there. This isn't a great group but are functional, although Lemon has potential. At TE Nick Provo should return from injury to beat out the more experienced Jose Cruz. He'll provide a decent safety valve for Nassib. Carter wasn't used much as a receiver last season, but that could change with whoever is the back this season. If Carter is back the offense might do enough to pull off a few wins, if not, this could be a long season for Marrone.

Defense

The defense returns ten starters from last year's squad, and should be a better unit for it. Tackle Andrew Lewis will be joined this season by either JUCO Deon Goggins or senior Bud Tribbey whi has starting experience. They should remain tough in the middle. At End Mikhail Marinovich (3 sacks) and Chandler Jones (52 tkls, 8.5 for loss) are excellent run-stuffers but don't provide much in the way pf pass rush. That comes from speedy LBs Derrell Smith and Doug Hogue who combined for 154 tackles, 10.5 for loss and 16 sacks. The other starter, EJ Carter, had 24 tackles and 2 sacks in 8 starts last season. The secondary actually returns 5 players with plenty of starting experience from last season. Kevyn Scott (22 tkls, 2 INTs) mans one corner, while Mike Holmes (77 tkls, 3 INTs) will take the other if he doesn't slide over to FS. If he does, ex-WR Da'Mon Merkerson will step in. He started 7 games at corner in '09. Max Suter (71 tkls and a pick) returns to the SS spot, and if Holmes stays at corner, Shamarko Thomas should step in at FS after 41 tackles with 5.5 for loss last season. The defense should be better for the experience of playing together last season, but the secondary in particular lacks any real star-power and could struggle again. In saying that, there is little experience at QB in the conference, so they may do some damage in '10.

Special Teams

Ryan Lichtenstein earned a scholarship after walking on as kicker and doing a fine job (13/17 FGs),while Punter Rob Long is one of the best in Big East averaging 43.8 gross, 36.1 net and dropping 25 inside the 20. He may be playing on Sundays in 2011. They need new returners, although Suter averaged 25.5 on 51 KRs as a freshman and may do so this season. Whoever returns punts must do better than Donte Davis' 6.9 average in '09. Coverage teams need to be improved too after probably costing them the Louisville game last season.

Next Season

The OOC schedule is a mixed bag of should-wins (Akron, Maine and Colgate) to probably-wonts (Washington and Boston College). The Big East is in a state of flux this season with most teams suffering key graduations, and a 3-2 record in OOC could see them win 6 games and maybe get a bowl berth. They have to sort out the offense though, the defense isn't good enough to win games on it's own next season.

West Virginia

Last Year

Bill Stewart's done a fine job here replacing Rich Rodriguez, going 9-4 (5-2 Big East) in each season. Last season they ended up ranked #24, but lost 30-19 to USF and 24-21 to champs Cincinnati, either of which could have earned them the conference crown. The team was spearheaded by RB Noel Devine who has been everything the team hoped for when they signed him as one of the top recruits in the country in '07. However, despite being one of the top rushing teams in the nation, they struggled to scoring points at key times. The normally strong defense tended to disappear in the redzone too.

Offense

Jarrett Brown was okay last season after taking over from WVU hero Pat White, but was better at making the right reads in the run game than racking up stats. He's moved on this year, but the team really likes sophomore Geno Smith (65% 309 yds, TD and INT) who played in 5 games last season and was a top recruit. He better come up with the goods, because there's no experience behind him. "Coming up with the goods" means feeding Devine the ball. Last season he ran for 1465 and 13 TDs and carried the load despite weighing in at 180 lbs. He's lightning fast and is a big play waiting to happen. The FB and short yardage guy is Ryan Clarke, who gained 250 yards and scored 8 TDs. The coaching staff does a good job of recruiting players who fit their system, so they have a plethora of capable backs waiting in the wings for their chance. The offensive line loses Selvish Capers but otherwise returns intact. Jeff Braun and Matt Timmerman will battle to replace him. This is a good line that, while it isn't particularly strong, carries out the assignments in their sleight-of-hand offense effectively. Jock Sanders returns to man the slot again this season. He did a great job last year catching 72 passes for 688 yards and 3 TDs, and rushing for 175 yards and another score. Joining him should be regulars Brad Starks (29-405-2) and Tavon Austin (15-151-1). This unit should at least be effective as last year's. When they use a TE, Tyler Urban will be the man after catching 10 passes in limited opportunities last season. Devine caught 22 passes in '09 and should at least match that number again this year.

Defense

This defense was tough for most of the year, but struggled down the stretch with the title on the line. They also only recovered six opponents' fumbles, which needs to be drastically improved. Ten starters return, so if they tighten up, this could be the best unit in the Big East. All three of their linemen return (they run a 3-3-5) in DE Julian Miller (53 tackles, 5 for loss and 9 sacks), DT Scooter Berry (only 15 tkls due to injury) and Chris Neild (35 tkls). Josh Taylor filled in capably for Berry when he was injured. If this group stays healthy this year, they're potentially the best line in the Big East. At LB, Pat Lazear (78 tkls, 5 for loss), JT Thomas (76 tkls, 6.5 for loss and 2 INTs) and new but experienced starter Anthony Leonard (23 tkls with 2 for loss in part-time duty last season. The Cornerbacks, Keith Tandy (61 tkls and 3 INTs) and Brandon Hogan (74 tkls, 11 PBUs) are solid, and FS Robert Sands (65 tkls, 8 PBUs and 5 Ints) is excellent. BS Sidney Glover (60 tkls, 5.5 for loss) is also fine but their new SS Terence Garvin is inexperienced. Regardless this should be a great unit in '10.

Special Teams

Kicker Tylan Bitancurt (13/15 FGs) is rock solid, but a new Punter is needed. Alabama transfer Corey Smith is favorite to take the job, although he hasn't punted in the NCAA yet. Austin (17-426-1) is an excellent KR, and Devine and Sanders can pitch in too. Sanders was only okay at PR (8.6 ypr) last season. Kick coverage was poor last season, but punt coverage was good. There is work to be done on this unit for next season.

Next Season

WVU have a relatively easy OOC, apart from a trip to take on Louisiana State. A win isn't beyond them here, although it won't be easy, but they should start conference play at least 4-1. This could be the Mountaineers' chance to get back to the top of the Big East, as they are one of the most experienced teams. Their biggest game is the Backyard Brawl against Pittsburgh on 26^th November. Assuming they haven't lost any games they shouldn't, this should be the Big East decider. If they can beat LSU (albeit with a new QB) and win the Big East they could be in the National Championship reckoning. 9 or 10 wins is a certainty though.