The Year in Review

60-51

Welcome to this segment on mediocre BCS squads and decent lower tier teams.

60. Tennessee (6-7, 3-5 SEC)

The Original Forecast: After a surprise bowl season in '09, the Volunteers were jilted by coach Lane Kiffin for USC, and the Derek Dooley era began. No-one expected much of them again this year, especially with a tough conference schedule and a number of key players graduating. It looked like a 3 or 4 win season was imminent.

The Outcome: The Vols just want to keep on surprising. After starting the season 2-6 and appearing to fulfill expectations, UT went on a four game winning streak to earn a bowl appearance, which they lost 30-27 to North Carolina in double overtime. The reasons for the turnaround are many, but QB was definitely a factor. Matt Simms started the season and was solid with 1460 yards and 8 TDs against 5 interceptions. But it was when Tyler Bray took over full time that the Vols really exploded. Bray passed for 1849 yards and 18 TDs, although with 10 picks, 7 in the last three games. He brought a big play element that wasn't obvious is Simms' play. The running attack was almost non-existent outside of Tauren Poole, who ran for 1034 yards and 11 TDs. Denarius Moore provided that big-play threat with 47 catches for 981 yards and 9 TDs. The defense got better as the season went along and they were particularly good against the pass. They gave up some yards, but allowed just 14 TDs against 18 interceptions, despite a pass rush that managed just 26 sacks. FS Janzen Jackson had 69 tackles and 4 interceptions with 11 passes defended, while corner Prentiss Waggner had 57 tackles and another 5 picks, with 9 passes defended. Nick Reveiz led the team with 108 tackles, 6 for loss. After a poor start to the season, the Vols really turned on the jets in the last five games, and the season should be counted as a relative success.

Best Game: A week after pummeling local rivals Memphis 50-14, the Vols went even better blowing out Mississippi 52-14. In a game that was never close, Bray threw for 323 yards and 3 TDs, with Justin Hunter catching 3 for 114 yards and 2 scores. Tauren Poole kept things ticking over on the ground with 107 yards and 2 TDs. For Ole Miss, QB Jeremiah Masoli threw for just 80 yards and 3 picks, although Brandon Bolden ran for 113 yards and 2 scores. But that didn't matter in a game that was never really close. A statement game for Tennessee.

Worst Game: A month before the Ole Miss win, Tennessee traveled to Georgia. With hopes of getting off to a fast start, the Vols instead spotted the Bulldogs a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. Simms threw for 179 yards and a score, but the running attack managed only 9 yards. Georgia QB Aaron Murray threw for 266 yards and 2 scores, and ran for 41 and another pair to spark the victory. A tough loss where little went right for the Vols.

59. UCLA (4-8, 2-7 PAC 10)

The Original Forecast: Coach Rick Neuheisel had targeted 8 wins for the season, but not many believed that was possible. After a year in a new offense, improvement was expected this season. but they still lacked firepower. A tough schedule made it unlikely the Bruins would make a bowl game.

The Outcome: I guess Neuheisel was half right, with a mere 4 wins. The running attack was outstanding, but the passing attack actually averaged nearly 35 yards a game LESS than the run. Starting QB Kevin Prince was knocked out early in the season, but he was far from outstanding, throwing for just 384 yards and 3 TDs against 5 interceptions. Sophomore Richard Brehaut stepped in and was a bit better, throwing for 1296 yards and 6 TDs with 7 picks. Jonathon Franklin led the running attack with 1127 yards and 8 TDs, with good backup from Derrick Coleman who had 487 yards and 5 TDs. Taylor Embree was the top receiver with a mere 32 catches for 409 yards with no scores. The defense wasn't bad against the pass, but was terrible against the run allowing an average of 205.5 yards a game. OLBs Sean Westgate and Akeem Ayers combined for 158 tackles with 20 for loss, but big plays were few and far between. A dissatisfying season that promised improvement early but went downhill too quickly.

Best Game: The Bruins headed to Texas off the back of a solid win over Houston, hoping to sweep Texas teams, and boy did they. Texas turned the ball over 5 times in a 34-12 rout. Prince threw for just 27 yards, but still managed a TD pass. Franklin and Coleman combined for 212 yards and 2 scores on the ground. Texas QB Garrett Gilbert threw for 264 yards and a TD, with a pick, but it was four fumbles that cost Texas. A win that seemed far more of a scalp at the time, but a good win nonetheless.

Worst Game: California weren't particularly special this season and the Bruins expected to at least compete when they got there. They were wrong, getting trounced 35-7 with the offense going nowhere fast. Prince managed just 99 yards passing with a TD and an interception in his last game of the season. The vaunted UCLA running game mustered a mere 26 yards and Jonathon Franklin coughed up the ball at an inopportune moment when the game was still in reach. For Cal, QB Kevin Riley threw for only 83 yards and a score, but Shane Vereen ran for 151 yards and 2 scores and Isi Sofele chipped in with 80. A bad loss against local and division rivals.

58. Baylor (7-6, 4-4 Big 12)

The Original Forecast: The '09 season went downhill as soon as star QB Robert Griffin III was injured, and Baylor needed a full year from him in order to compete for a bowl game. The offense is night and day better with him, but the defense needed to pull its socks up and pitch in. The OOC was manageable outside of TCU, and there were enough winnable conference games to hit bowl eligibility. But it's all for nothing if Griffin's knee doesn't hold up against a Big 12 pounding.

The Outcome: The drought is over - Baylor started the season 7-2 behind a prolific offense before the wheels fell off the wagon and they lost their last four games -the tough partof the schedule - by double digits each. The offense was ranked 19th in passing and 24th in rushing, but the defense struggled mightily against powerhouse offenses. And Illinois. Griffin was outstanding, passing for 3501 yards and 22 TDs with just 8 picks, and running for 635 yards and another 8 scores. The offensive line played its part, allowing just 20 sacks and clearing holes for RB Jay Finley to rush for 1218 yards and 12 TDs. Kendall Wright was the top receiver with 78 catches for 952 yards and 7 TDS, but four other guys caught more than 40 passes to give Griffin plenty of options. SS Byron Landor led the defense with 127 tackles and 6 passes defended, but managed just one interception. Much was expected of Penn State transfer Phil Taylor at nose guard, but he managed just 4 tackles for loss, although he led the team with 5 sacks. Gettinng Baylor to a bowl game has to count as a success for coach Art Briles, but the 0-4 finish where they fell flat against string teams shows just how far the team must go to start contending for titles. If Briles keeps getting the Bears to bowl games, he may not be around to see it.

Best Game: This might be the year the Bears beat Texas, but the manner in which they hammered Kansas 55-7 has to count as their best performance. The Baylor offense racked up 678 yards of offense and the defense forced four turnovers. Griffin threw for 380 yards and 3 TDs (a 94 yarder!) and ran for 64 yards and a score. Josh Gordon and Terrance Williams combined for 8 receptions, 262 yards, and 4 scores. The defense not only had the turnovers, but brought an interception back for six, had 3 sacks, and held Kansas to a mere 270 yards of offense. Outstanding!

Worst Game: When you make your first bowl game since '94, you better show up to play. Unfortunately, the Bears took to long to get started, falling behind 24-0 in a 38-14 loss. The defense had no answer for Illinois RB Mikel Leshoure who ran for 184 yards and 3 TDs. Freshman QB Nathan Scheelhaase threw for 242 yards and also ran 55 yards for the final TD. Griffin threw for 306 yards and a score, and got the Bears to within 10 points before the Fighting Illini pulled away. However he fumbled the ball on the first drive that set the tone for the day. A disappointing first bowl for Briles and Baylor.

57. Michigan (7-6, 3-5 Big 10)

The Original Forecast: This was a bowl or bust season for coach Rich Rodriguez, but questions were abound regarding the team. Who would be QB; how would the 3-3-5 defensive scheme hold up against the black-and-blue offenses of the Big 10; and would they be able to compete against a tough schedule. Even if some or all of these questions are answered, the team still might only win 6 or 7 games in a tough conference.

The Outcome: Well, they made their bowl game, but it wasn't enough to save Rodriguez's job. They started surprisingly well, going 5-0 behind an inspired performance from QB Denard Robinson, but finished 2-6 when the schedule got tougher. The offense was great, ranking 3t6th in passing and 13th in rushing, but the defense was dreadful, finishing 108th in points allowed and allowing over 450 yards in total offense. LB Jonas Mouton and SS Jordan Kovacs were the leading tacklers with a combined 233, 17 for loss, but there was practically no pass rush and too few turnovers too help out. The story of the offense was Robinson - he had an amazing year, throwing for 2570 yards and 18 TDs with an okay 11 interceptions, and ran for an outstanding 1702 yards and 14 TDs. Vincent Smith was the leading running back with just 601 yards and 5 TDs, but he was used more as a decoy and was decent. Ray Roundtree was Robinson's favorite target, catching 72 passes for 935 yards and 7 TDs, but he had bouts of drops at inopportune moments. The offense was finally run as Rodriguez wanted it, but the defense has regressed throughout his tenure and cost him his job despite the bowl. An improvement, but just not enough.

Best Game: Robinson showed his talent from Day 1 against Connecticut, but the following week against Notre Dame he showed he could win with the game on the line too in a 28-24 win. He had a great game, throwing for 244 yards and a score and running for 258 yards and 2 TDs, including an 87 yard run to spot the Wolverines a 21-7 half-time lead. Martavious Odoms and Roundtree were reliable targets all night, combining for 15 receptions, 173 yards and a TD. Notre Dame wouldn't go away though, with Dayne Crist shaking off a first half concussion to throw 2 long TDs to lead the Irish back to a 24-21 lead with 3:41 left. TE Kyle Rudolph did most of the damage with 8 catches for 164 yards and a 95 yard TD reception. Robinson marched Michigan back down the pitch, mixing run and pass well, to score on a 2 yard run with just 27 seconds left. Crist nearly brought ND back, but overthrew the endzone with no time left on the clock. A good win over a decent opponent, something rare this season.

Worst Game: Losing to Ohio State hurt, but the 52-14 bowl thrashing at the hands of Mississippi State was downright awful. Don't get me wrong, the Bulldogs are a good team, but not this good. Bulldog QB Chris Relf threw for 281 yards and 3 TDs and ran for another, while RB Vic Ballard picked up 76 yards and 3 TDs. Robinson threw for 254 yards and 2 scores, and ran for 59, but Michigan just seemed to give up after going up 14-10. To highlight the futility of the Wolverine defense, MSU converted 5 first downs on the evening. A bad end to a tough season.

56. Kansas State (7-6, 3-5 Big 12)

The Original Forecast: Kansas State surprised many with their 6 win season in '09, and more was expected of them this season. They had questions at QB, but had the type of runner - Daniel Tomas - who could win games on his own. The defense was also a question mark, but Snyder built a solid foundation through the JUCO route and the Wildcats should be good for 7 or 8 wins.

The Outcome: The Wildcats had a 7 win season and were competitive in most games. The passing game was poor, but Thomas carried the offense for the second straight season. The defense was okay against the pass, but was terrible against the run, allowing 231.4 yards per game. This was despite the efforts of corner David Garrett who led the team with 92 tackles, 15 for loss, and 10 passes defended. Yes, that was a corner. On offense, QB Carson Coffman threw for 2060 yards and 14 TDs against just 7 picks. He also ran for 157 yards and 9 TDs. Backup Collin Klein played some too, throwing for 138 yards and a TD, and running for 432 yards and 6 scores. Thomas was the key though, gaining 1585 yards and 19 TDs. The top receiver was Aubrey Quarles, who had a respectable 51 catches for 760 yards and 5 scores. Not a bad season for the most part. They started fast and used an easy OOC schedule to pad the win column, but they had some good wins too. They need to seriously strengthen the front seven if they have any desire to compete for Big 12 titles.

Best Game: Beating Texas is sweet for any Big 12 team, but the manner of K-State's 39-14 victory made it all the more sweet. What was even more surprising was Klein getting the start over Coffman at QB. Klein only threw 4 passes, completing 2 (to Thomas) for just 9 yards, but he ran for 127 yards and 2 scores, creating a 1-2 punch with Thomas, who ran for 106 yards and another 2 TDs. The defense allowed Texas to move the ball, QB Garrett Gilbert threw for 272 yards and a TD and ran for 93 yards, but they picked him off 5 times in building a 39-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Gilbert finally figured out which team he played for in the fourth quarter and led two TD drives, but the game was well over long beforehand. A great scalp for the Wildcats.

Worst Game: It's no secret that the Wildcats aren't quite ready for beating the big boys week in, week out, but they were competitive in every game bar one - Nebraska. The Cornhuskers shut down Thomas, holding him to just 63 yards in a 48-13 blowout. Coffman managed just 91 yards, a TD and an interception in 14 completions. For Nebraska, QB Taylor Martinez threw just 7 passes, completing 5 for 128 yards and a score, but also ran for 241 yards and 4 TDs, including an 80 yarder. RB Roy Helu ran for 110 yards as Nebraska ran over the Wildcats to the tune of 451 yards. Disgraceful.

55. Connecticut (8-5, 5-2 Big East)

The Original Forecast: With 16 starters returning and the rest of the Big East suffering through change, this was to be UConn's year to take a step up in the FBS after being on the verge for a while. They lacked a passing game, but had a solid running attack and defense. Their OOC schedule wasn't difficult, and the team may pull off and 10 wins, and were to be considered contenders in the Big East.

The Outcome: Pretty much as predicted, except the easy OOC and 10 win season. Michigan and Temple turned out to be stiffer propositions, but the tenacious Huskies went 6-2 in the Big East and got the BCS spot courtesy of beating both West Virginia and Pittsburgh. The passing game was again a problem, especially when Cody Endres was gone. Zach Frazer started the season, and came back in when Endres went out, but only threw for 1425 yards, 5 TDs and 6 interceptions. Endres threw for 471 yards and 5 scores against 2 picks in just three games, but was kicked off the team. The Huskies managed to win 8 games in spite of the passing attack courtesy of superstar RB Jordan Todman, who gained 1695 yards and 14 TDs. Michael Smith was their leading receiver with 46 catches for 615 yards and 2 TDs. Their defense was tough most of the season, ranking 35th in points allowed with just 22 points per game. Lawrence Wilson led the team with 123 tackles, with 10 for loss, while Sio Moore had 110 tackles with 11.5 for loss. FS Jerome Junior and Blidi Wilson-Wreh had 4 picks apiece. DE Jessee Joseph led the team with 8.5 sacks. A fine season for the Huskies, despite the loss to Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, but the success cost them their coach Randy Edsall, who has become head coach at Maryland.

Best Game: A week after beating West Virginia in overtime, Pittsburgh arrived in town with designs on cementing their conference lead. They hadn't counted on Jordan Todman though. Todman ran for 222 yards to pace UConn, and Frazer threw for just 100 yards but 2 TDS, as the Huskies won a nail-biter 30-28. UConn also got a 95 yard kick return TD as the third quarter closed. For the Panthers, QB Tino Sunseri threw for 220 yards and a TD, but was picked off twice. Dion Lewis and Ray Graham combined for 152 yards and 3 TDs on the ground. UConn had a 4th and 1 at their own 19 with 2 and a half minutes left, and Edsall went for it, getting the conversion and running out the clock. An excellent win that spearheaded their BCS charge.

Worst Game: Connecticut traveled to Louisville with the aim of getting back on track after losing to Rutgers the previous week, but did little right in a 26-0 beating. The managed just 195 yards against the Cardinals medicore defense, and turned the ball over three times. What was even worse was the Louisville special teams dominating the Huskies normally strong unit. Four field goals and a 74 yard TD punt return from Doug Beaumont piled on the misery. The other score was a pass Adam Froman, who threw for 195 yards, to Cameron Graham. Bilal Powell ran for for 105 yards. The loss that turned the season around for the Huskies.

54. Navy (9-4 Independents)

The Original Forecast: Navy won ten games in '09 and though it was unlikely, could possibly do it again this season. The schedule was manageable, and they had a Heisman hopeful at QB in Ricky Dobbs. The likelihood of them missing a bowl game for the first time in 8 years was slim to none.

The Outcome: Navy were just 12 points from a 12-1 season, losing to Maryland, Air Force (oops!) and Duke. They were solid all round as usual, with a fine running attack and defense, and were even quite efficient on those rare moments when they passed. Dobbs didn't win the Heisman, but he did throw for 1527 yards, 13 TDs and 6 picks, while rushing for 967 yards and 14 TDs. FB Alexander Teich rushed for 863 yards and 5 scores and plenty of other backs contributed too. Greg Jones did a good job at receiver, catching 33 passes for 662 yards and 5 TDs. On defense, LB Tyler Simmons led the team with 131 tackles, while DE Jabaree Tuani had 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Billy Yarborough on the other end led the team with 6 sacks. A fine year that was somewhat marred by a bowl blowout and losing the Commander-In-Chief trophy to Air Force.

Best Game: The Navy offense rarely scored more than 35 all season, so when they went to East Carolina and hung 76 on the Pirates to their 35, it was an impressive performance. Dobbs completed 6 of 8 passes for 75 yards and 2 scores, and ran for 100 yards and another TD. Teich was the main man though, with 157 yards and a score. In all, eight different players scored TDs. ECU QB Dominique Davis had a big day with 413 yards and 5 TDs, but not he even he could counter an inept defense or an offense that coughed the ball up 4 times, including 3 in 4 snaps. An outstanding example of how to execute the triple option.

Worst Game: Losing the Commander-In-Chief trophy to Air Force after 7 consecutive wins has to sting. Dobbs completed just 6 of 18 passes for 103 yards and 2 interceptions,while running for just 43 yards. Falcon QB Tim Jefferson was the better of the two, completing 5 of 7 passes for 83 yards, while running for 62 yards and both scores. FB Jared Tew kept things ticking over with 111 yards on the ground. A disappointing loss in an otherwise good season.

53. Georgia (6-7, 3-5 SEC)

The Original Forecast: This had the look of a transition year in Athens, with a number of new faces at key positions, including a freshman QB. The schedule was tough from the start (well, week 2) and there was little respite for new guys to get comfortable. There was an abundance of talent with which to contend for the East title, but with inexperienced players at key positions, an 8 win season was probably more likely.

The Outcome: The season started badly, going 1-4, before finishing 5-2 before their bowl loss. The Bulldogs remained pretty competitive throughout, never getting blown away, and there were some bright spots, such as the play of QB Aaron Murray. He threw for 3049 yards and 24 TDs with 8 interceptions, while running for 167 yards and another 4 scores, and looks like he could take Georgia back to competing for SEC titles. He could do with more help from a running game that was inconsistent at best. Washaun Ealey was the leading rusher with 811 yards and 11 TDs, but they finished 73rd overall. Receiver AJ Green rounded out his college career by leading the team with 57 receptions for 848 yards and 9 TDs, despte a four game suspension to start the season. The defense was good, carrying the team for the most part, bot fell asleep on occasion - they had four games with 31+ points in the last five. ILB Akeem Dent led the team with 126 tackles, 6.5 for loss, but OLB Justin Houston was the big play guy with 8.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, and an outstanding 44 QB hurries. They were somewhat unfortunate in their scheduling, and where a much better team by season's end, but the bowl loss to UCF was shocking. This was Georgia's worst season in some time.

Best Game: With one more shot at bowl eligibility, and Georgia Tech coming to town, the Bulldogs needed to do something to try to save something of their season. Step forward Murray, who completed 15 of 19 passes for 271 yards and 3 TDs, and Ealey who 118 yards and 2 scores. Green didn't get in the endzone in his penultimatel game, but caught 8 passes for 97 yards. They nearly blew it too, allowing Tech to run for 411 yards, led by Anthony Allen with 166 and a score. The Yellowjackets got to within a point, but the Bulldogs answered with Ealey's second score and Tech couldn't respond. A big win with the postseason on the line.

Worst Game: With the offense humming in previous weeks, few people expected the bowl matchup with UCF to be close. But the Knights did enough to stop Georgia when it mattered in a 10-6 victory. Murray threw for 198 yards and two interceptions and the running game just managed 82 yards. Green caught 8 passes, but was limited to 77 yards and UCF made sure he didn't beat them. UCF running back Latavius Murray ran for 104 yards and the clinching TD to key the victory. A disappointing finish to a lost season.

52, Clemson (6-7, 4-4 ACC)

The Original Forecast: After winning the ACC title in '09, one would expect something similar from the Tigers again this season. But Clemson never seems to maximize its level talent, usually frustrating fans by falling short, particularly when expectations are high. Many new faces were taking over this season, but Clemson always have a good haul of talent on campus, and were more than capable of contending for the ACC title again. They had a tough schedule after a couple of layup games early on, and most likely this would be a tough season.

The Outcome: And it was - the offense struggled most of the season when even mediocrity would suffice, as Clemson's defense was outstanding, ranking 13th in points allowed. They made both passing and running a chore, but even this defense couldn't stem the tide when it spent too much time on the field. DE Da'Quan Bowers was the man of the hour with 74 tackles, 10.5 for loss, 15.5 sacks and 20 QB hurries. SS DeAndre McDaniel led the team with 84 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and also led with 4 interceptions. These were the stars of the show, but the strong defense was definitely a team effort. On offense, QB Kyle Parker was mediocre at best, throwing for 2213 yards, 12 TDs and 11 interceptions. Freshman receiver DeAndre Hopkins led the team with 51 catches, 626 yards, and 4 TDs, which says a lot about the receivers. To be fair to Hopkins, he got better as the season progressed and looks like a good one. Clemson needed two players to replace '09 star RB CJ Spiller, and they weren't too bad. Speedy Andre Ellington was the better runner, gaining 686 yards and 10 TDs despite missing three games late in the season. He's a small back, but did okay carrying the load. Jamie Harper was a tank, powering for 760 yards and 7 TDs, most of them coming when Ellington was injured. This was a tough season, with most of their losses close (including an OT loss to Auburn). Better QB play would have made the difference, and Parker's performance epitomized the season - average.

Best Game: With the Tigers sitting at 4-4, and #25 NC State coming to town, the season looked to be going downhill in a hurry, especially with some tough games due up too. The Wolfpack were quite the offensive juggernaut with QB Russell Wilson dissecting defenses at his leisure. Not this one - Clemson put the clamps on, holding him to 212 yards and a TD, and intercepting him in the endzone. The Tigers held the NC State running attack to 63 yards, leading the Wolfpack to decide to punt on 4th and 1 late in the game, a punt which managed just 4 yards. Clemson also blocked a 30 yard field goal, and were fortunate to have TD interception return nullified by penalty. For the Tigers, Parker threw for 214 yards and a TD and interception, providing most of the offense as Ellington was out injured and Harper was suffering from a virus. He still managed to run for 60 yards and the game winning TD though. A good win when things were looking bleak.

Worst Game: With bowl eligibility assured, Clemson had a chance to show their ability with the annual battle with South Carolina. They fell flat on their faces, losing 29-7. The defense was pretty solid, holding freshman sensation Marcus Lattimore to 48 rushing yards. Stephen Garcia threw for 227 yards and a pair of TDs, but only Alshon Jeffrey did any real damage with 5 receptions for 141 yards and a score. The Tiger offense, on the other hand, took the day off. Between Parker and Tajh Boyd, they passed for just 190 yards and turned the ball over 3 times. The running attack never got going with just 61 yards. There was one bright spot on offense - Hopkins caught 7 passes for 124 yards and the only TD. An otherwise poor showing when they should at least be competitive.

51. Louisville (7-6, 3-4 Big East)

The Original Forecast: New coach Charlie Strong is a good recruiter who should be able to increase the talent level in Lexington in a hurry, but a tough schedule and the current roster most likely means a winning season is beyond them.

The Outcome: Take a bow, Charlie Strong. Not only did you inspire the team to win 8 games, but you did it with a star performance from RB Bilal Powell, a tough defense, and on the flip side, a mediocre passing game. Powell was easily the star of the show, rushing for 1405 yards and 11 TDs, and catching another 3 scores. The QBs Adam Froman and Justin Burke combined for 2423 yards and 21 TDs against 7 interceptions. They were careful with the ball, but neither will make fans forget Brian Brohm. TE Cameron Graham and receiver Doug Beamount combined for 81 catches, 910 yards and 6 TDs. Beaumont is capable of better. The real story was the defense though, as it has been dire lately. They allowed an average of just 19.4 points per game, and were extremely tough to pass on. Rodney Gnat led the team with 9 sacks, while CB Johnny Patrick was excellent, intercepting 5 passes and defending 17 passes. After being tagged by pretty much every authority to prop up the Big East, the Cardinals and Strong came up with a fine season and topped it off with a nice come-from-behind bowl win.

Best Game: With bowl eligibility on the line and a trip to struggling Rutgers on the cards, Louisville need to pull off the win. In recent seasons they'd most likely have lost, but this year they steamrolled the Scarlet Knights 40-13. The defense was key, sacking Rutgers QBs 9 times and intercepting them twice, with one late in the fourth quarter returned for a TD to close out the scoring. Burke needed just 11 passes, completing 9 for 138 yards and 2 TDs. Powell keyed the ground attack with 123 yards and a score. If there was one negative, Rutgers had some success on the ground, with Jordan Thomas gaining 120 yards and a score. A fine victory nonetheless.

Worst Game: With the Cardinals showing they were no walkover, they traveled to Pittsburgh with the intention of making some noise in the conference. The only noise they made was going belly up against a Panther team that shut them down without Powell. Powell injured his knee early, and Louisville could get nothing going after that. Burke threw for just 82 yards, while the running game sans Powell made just 18 yards. For Pittsburgh, QB Tino Sunseri managed just 123 yards against the tough Cardinals secondary, but Dion Lewis and Ray Graham pounded for 105 yards and a score. With the Louisville offense, they didn't need more. A loss that showed how much work the team has to go.

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.