College Articles
The Big Ten announced Wednesday the divisional alignments for the 2011 and 2012 football seasons. The addition of Nebraska next year allowed the conference to switch to a divisional format and play a conference championship game -- in 2011 it will be played at LucasOil Stadium in Indianapolis. [risenorthwestern]
Northwestern was placed in a division with Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Nebraska. The other division contains Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Purdue, Penn State and Wisconsin.
"We focused on competitive equality, traditional rivalries and geography," Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney said. "We considered multiple models and countless permutations in an effort to achieve the most competitively balanced divisions while at the same time respecting our traditions, preserving existing rivalries, and creating opportunities for the establishment and growth of new rivalries. We have listened to the feedback from our institutions, alumni and fans, and while we understand that no final alignments could possibly satisfy all of our constituents, we believe that we have achieved a very exciting result."
Delaney promised competitive balance between the conferences and he sure delivered on that promise. You can argue the big four teams in the conference are Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State. They were split down the middle. The next tier would be Iowa, Wisconsin, Purdue and Michigan State. Split down the middle. You might argue out of the remaining four teams, Northwestern and Minnesota have been the best recently.
In that sense, it feels like the Wildcats are in a harder division. But getting Michigan, at least for now, in the division is a big plus for NU's immediate prospects at having a chance to make the conference title game. With the way the Cats have played under Fitzgerald, you might feel comfortable saying they have the third or fourth best team in the division -- sorry Michigan. NU is in a good position. But of course we will not know anything until we play the games next year.
So here is how the schedule will break down. For the moment, there will still be only eight conference games. Each team will play the five other teams in its division and then three inter-divisional opponents.
There is a protected rivalry included in those three games. Northwestern's protected rivalry is Illinois, guaranteeing the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk Land Of Lincoln Trophy is played for every year. It also preserves the team's biggest rivalry -- at least, until Io_a recognizes NU as a rival and being divisional foes should help that.
"The Big Ten has done a great job of creating two competitive divisions that will feature entertaining football," Coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "I'm excited that we can maintain our Land of Lincoln trophy game against the Fighting Illini. That's a rivalry that both schools really look forward to, and be able to have that game as our protected rivalry is something that we'll look forward to each year."
The 2011 and 2012 conference schedules are set.
The Cornhuskers' first Big Ten game will be at Camp Randall Stadium against the Badgers on Oct. 1, 2011. They open their home slate against the Buckeyes a week later. Quite an entrance for Nebraska.
The Cats will open the 2011 conference slate with that rivalry game against the Illini. Why it was not held until the end of the season, I don't know. Seems like this rivalry should have been saved for the end of the season. But I guess the conference did not want the potential of a rematch of inter-division teams that close to the championship game. But Michigan and Ohio State will still play each other at the end of the year.
Opening the conference schedule with Illinois pretty much ends any thought of making the NU-Illinois game a bi-annual occurrence at Wrigley Field -- unless the Cubs do the right thing and just forfeit all their games after August, when they have been eliminated from playoff contention anyway (you know I am kidding, Cubs fans).
Curiously, the Illinois-Northwestern matchup is returned to the final week of the season in 2012.
The Cats get their first look at the Cornhuskers since the 2000 Alamo Bowl on Nov. 5 when they travel to Lincoln.
The questions about the schedule will have to buzz around for another year. As Pat Fitzgerald says, it is time to flush this news and get ready for Saturday's opener. [risenorthwestern2]
With the dawn of September comes the first edition of the weekly Bloguin Heisman Poll. Last year at RSS we had our own Heisman Watch each week of the college football season - but now as a part of the Bloguin Network, we wanted to kick things up to notches unknown for the new college football season. The Bloguin Heisman Poll is an open collaboration of many dedicated bloggers here at the Bloguin Network that love college football. Each week, bloggers from across the country will send in their votes for their top 3 Heisman candidates (3 pts for 1st, 2 for 2nd, 1 for 3rd). Then, we here at RSS will give you the results and tell you who the Heisman hopefuls really are every week during the college football season. [randallsimonssausages]
Here is what you'll see each week in the Bloguin Heisman Poll:
-The Top 5 total votegetters and quotes from bloggers in support of their candidates.
-A list of all players that receive votes in the Bloguin Heisman Poll
-Poll Notes that look at some of the interesting facts, figures, and trends of the poll.
-The BHP Roll Call of voters and the links to their respective blogs.
Without any further adieu, on the eve of the 2010 College Football Season, here is the 1st Bloguin Heisman Poll...
1) Terrelle Pryor (QB-Ohio State) - 39 Points, 31.20%, 9 1st Place Votes
* Looks to build off a mean Vince Young impression after breakout Rose Bowl victory over a very good Oregon team last year, Pryor has all the tools. He has to get more consistent, but he has a top title contender in Columbus, something voters love (best player on best team, ala Ingram at Alabama). If Ohio St. gets a BCS title game bid, and Pryor tops 3,000 yards passing, 20+ td passes with single-digit INT's, and rushes for 600-700 yards, Pryor should take home the trophy.
-Sean Hawkins, WSU Football Blog
* Pryor is back with a vengeance this season after having a great sophomore season and finishing up with a breakout performance in last years Rose Bowl. It appears that the "Sweater Vest" and Pryor are actually on the same page and that many of his teammates have bought into his hype. With stat padding games like Ohio, Marshall and Eastern Michigan and the marquee television match-ups all at home (Miami, Penn State and Michigan), Pryor should have the numbers and exposure to lift the stiff armed trophy come September.
-KGG, Subway Domer
* I am buying what Ohio State and Pryor are selling this season. I love Pryor's skill set, and I believe this is the year he puts everything together and really breaks out. Last year's passing stats were modest, completing 56.6% for 2,087 yards with 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 779 yards and seven more touchdowns. I think we'll see around 2,500 yards in 2010 with a decrease in interceptions and another 800 or so rushing. If he displays some moxie and leadership in big games, he'll likely stay near the top of my list. He showed me a lot in the Rose Bowl last season, and I think that carries over to 2010.
-Kris Brauner, Saturday Night Slant
2) Mark Ingram (RB-Alabama) - 25 Points, 20.00%, 5 1st Place Votes
*Note: Most ballots were sent in before news of Ingram's injury broke Tuesday.
* Don't actually think he'll win it, based more on how good his teammates are (Especially Trent Richardson), than anything he will or won't do. But it's Week 1, and Ingram deserves the nod.
-Aaron Torres, Aaron Torres Sports
* We were on the Ingram bandwagon all last season and were excited for the prospect of him battling to challenge Buckeye legend Archie Griffin as a two-time winner. But, the presence of Trent Richardson and now his knee injury will make that task even more difficult. Still, Ingram is the hardest, most fierce runner that college football has seen in years. If he comes back with a flourish in some marquee games, his stats and more importantly the hype he gets from ESPN, could catch him up in a hurry.
-Ryan Yoder, Randall Simon's Sausages
* Should continue to shine in Bama's run-first system, but the emergence of co-star Trent Richardson could prevent Ingram from repeating.
-Cody Strahm, Phins Focus
3) Kellen Moore (QB-Boise State) - 12 Points, 9.6%, 0 1st Place Votes
* Moore is going to put up crazy numbers again and if the Broncos defeat Virginia Tech in the opener it's going to be hard to dismiss him again this season. The pollsters are starting to show Boise some real love, so it's time for the Heisman voters to do the same.
-Tom Perry, Eye and Eer Blog
* He has the arm and the abilities. What is not for certain is will he and his team have the respect in 2010? Earn the respect and he could earn the trophy.
-Flounder, Leftover Hot Dog
4) Jake Locker (QB-Washington) - 9 Points, 7.2%, 2 1st Place Votes
* This kid is crazy gritty. He wins, and he does everything imaginable on the way to that. He runs, he throws, he scores. He wins.
-Elliott Roberts, Bama Sports Report
* I have drank so much Jake Locker kool aid that I think he's the next coming of John Elway. Washington will probably suck, but I think he can pull off an invite to New York anyway.
-Scott King, Bearcats Blog
5) Case Keenum (QB-Houston) - 7 Points, 5.6%, 2 1st Place Votes
* After putting up ridiculous numbers in 2009, Keenum’s numbers will be too hard for the Heisman voters to overlook.
-Ian Bethune, Sox & Dawgs
* Here is the token small school guy who will put up tons of stats. Keenum is a good quarterback and put up numbers last year. He will need to do that again and win to get Heisman consideration.
-Philip Rossman-Reich, Rise Northwestern
Also Receiving Votes - Ricky Dobbs (QB-Navy) 6 pts, Ryan Mallett (QB-Ark) 5 pts, Michael Floyd (WR-ND), Dion Lewis (RB-Pitt), Jacquizz Rodgers (RB-Or St) 3 pts. Jacory Harris (QB-Mia), Andrew Luck (QB-Stan) 2 pts. Adrian Clayborn (DE-Iowa), Ryan Williams (RB-VT), Jon Clay (RB-Wisc), Patrick Peterson (CB-LSU), LaMichael James (RB-Ore), DeMarco Murray (RB-OU) 1 pt
Poll Notes
-Terrelle Pryor and Mark Ingram are the runaway preseason choices. They total 64 out of 125 total points (51.2%) in the initial poll. All other votegetters total 61 points (48.8%).
-Pryor appeared on the most ballots - 17 out of 21.
-Outside the Big 2, Kellen Moore appeared on the most ballots with 8 2nd or 3rd place votes.
-Quarterbacks and running backs dominate the poll as the only players to appear on multiple ballots. The only first place vote not given to a QB or RB was Michael Floyd of Notre Dame, a wide receiver. -After Ndamukong Suh's dominant year last season, 2 defensive players make the poll to start the 2010 season... albeit at the bottom - Iowa's Adrian Clayborn and LSU's Patrick Peterson each received 1 3rd place vote.
-A few Cinderella candidates emerge in the preseason list. Along with Kellen Moore, Case Keenum (2 1st place votes) and Ricky Dobbs (2 1st place votes) are quarterbacks from non-BCS schools who appear on the list.
Bloguin Heisman Poll Roll Call
Aaron Torres Sports - Aaron Torres
ACC Rivals - ACC Rivals Staff
Bama Sports Report - Elliott Roberts
Bearcats Blog - Scott King
Blatant Homerism - Allen Kenney
Eye and Eer Blog - Tom Perry
Hawks Highlights - Deborah Horton
Lambeth Field - Hamilton Riley
Leftover Hot Dog - Flounder
Phins Focus - Cody Strahm
Randall Simon's Sausages - Matt Yoder, Ryan Yoder, Brandon Yohey
Rise Northwestern - Philip Rossman-Reich
Saturday Night Slant - Kris Brauner, Kenny Hill
SEC Rivals - Darrell Owenby
Sox & Dawgs - Ian Bethune
Subway Domer - KGG
UO Sports Dude - Keith Becker
WSU Football Blog - Sean Hawkins
[randallsimonssausages2]
I love Jeremiah Masoli the football player. One of my favorite Ducks of all time. Half of "I Love My Ducks" is dedicated to him, and on the field, he truly is sicker than e-coli.
The only problem, as we've found out, is that he's not such a great guy off it. [uosportsdude]
Which, as an Oregon fan, makes it difficult to form an opinion on the NCAA's denial of his request for eligibility.
On one hand, I love watching him play. He's a Heisman-caliber talent, and him leading a mediocre Ole Miss team in the rugged SEC would be one of the top story lines in college football.
I'll never forget watching his two years at Oregon. Fifth string back-up in fall camp to best player in the conference in less than a full season? Amazing. The Civil Wars, the Holiday Bowl, USC on Halloween, double overtime in Arizona.
But then stuff happened. He blew his second chance, and months later his third. His rope with Chip Kelly ran out. So what'd he do? He fled town, looking for anywhere to keep his football dream alive.
Everything was going swimmingly for Masoli until yesterday. When the NCAA stepped in, and for once, made the right move.
If Masoli isn’t eligible at Oregon this year, why should he be eligible anywhere else?
He messed up. Twice, badly. He pleaded a felony charge down to a misdemeanor.
I'm glad the NCAA took a stand and set this precedent.
No football player should be able to finagle his way out of a suspension by getting a joke 45-credit sociology degree and transferring to another institution for "graduate school" because it offers a different program than Oregon. Parks and Recreation? Really?
I don't know why we're all of a sudden so shocked by the NCAA's decision. It's right there in it's bylaws:
"NCAA Bylaw 14.5.1.3 Disciplinary Suspension. A student who transfers to any NCAA institution from a collegiate institution while the student is disqualified or suspended from the previous institution for disciplinary reasons (as opposed to academic reasons) must complete one calendar year of residence at the certifying institution. (Revised: 1/14/97 effective 8/1/97)"
Here's a direct quote from Rich McGlynn in the prior precedent setting case:
"What are you going say, 'hey, I got arrested at another school, so can I come play here?'"
Sorry Masoli, I love watching you play, but it just wouldn't be right.
[uosportsdude2]
The headline news is no doubt that BYU will become the nation's best independent football program (although Navy certainly has claim to that), but nestled in there is that BYU will leave the Mountain West in all other sports and join, not the WAC as previously reported, but the WCC.
[thebeadlemaniacs]The immediate repurcussions in this is now Gonzaga has a legitimate fight on its hands to win the conference every year, as BYU was one of the best teams in the country last year, led by one of the best players in Jimmer Fredette. Fortunately for Gonzaga and St. Marys Fredette will be gone when BYU makes the move next season, but Tanner Haws and Noah Hartsock will still be around, making BYU one of the best teams in the conference.
For now Gonzaga still has the upperhand on the WCC, but it will be interesting to see what five years or so down the road brings. BYU is coming from the better conference, but they might get a recruiting boost from kids who want to play against Gonzaga twice per year. [thebeadlemaniacs2]
The college football season opens this weekend and while there is only one real blockbuster game, there are several solid matchups happening this week. In looking at the best conference in the nation - the SEC - I notice that they all really scheduled up by playing this difficult lineup: Southern Mississippi, Miami (Ohio), Louisiana-Lafayette, Jacksonville State, Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee Tech, San Jose State, Memphis, and Arkansas State. At least LSU is playing a good game against North Carolina. Otherwise, for a league that is always flapping their gums about being dominant, it'll be a while before we get to see it this season. Enough about that. Here are some games I'm excited about this weekend. [thoughtsfromthejockstrap]
Pittsburgh at Utah. 
Utah’s defensive line is going to be very solid this year, but can they stop Dion Lewis? Pitt is breaking in three new interior linemen, but Lewis could probably get positive yards with me and a couple of friends blocking for him. I keep hearing that the Utes have some ridiculous blitz packages prepared for this game, so they may have the Pitt offensive line looking silly. The last time these teams played the Utes beat the piss out of the Panthers in the Fiesta Bowl. Pitt brings a pretty lofty ranking into this game, and Wannstedt’s teams never seem to reach expectations (last year being an exception). Can they beat Kyle Whittingham and the Utes, considering that Whittingham is 7-2 against teams from BCS leagues in the past three years? Don’t be surprised to see Utah win at home. They always get up for big games.
Oregon State vs TCU. This game could have BCS implications. Oregon State has the chance to really put down the non-AQ teams this year because they get TCU this week and Boise State later in the season. The last time Oregon State played a non-AQ team they lost to BYU 44-20; this is the same BYU team that lost at home to TCU 38-7. Not that comparing scores will get you anywhere, but that’s quite the difference. TCU will look to exploit their speed advantage. How often can you say that the non-AQ team is much faster than the BCS squad? Not too often, but the speed difference in this game will be very evident. Oregon State better hope that Quizz Rodgers can control the clock on the ground, or else they’ll be in for a long game.
LSU vs North Carolina. Everyone is on North Carolina’s jockstrap this year. I can hardly find anything on ESPN about college football without someone having an orgasm over the Tar Heels defense. Will they live up to the hype? Obviously the talent is there. Can they score enough points? The offense was pretty futile last season, so they better step it up if they expect to have a better showing this season. LSU has been a bit down the past two years, but they are still extremely talented and definitely have the horses to win this game. And for what it’s worth, as good as the Carolina defense is, they don’t have the best defensive player in this game. That would be Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU. 
Washington at BYU. Can Jake Locker redeem himself? After his controversial unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (see the pic of him tossing the ball) that led to a BYU blocked extra point to seal the victory two years ago, will Locker come out on fire and light up the Cougars? Will Jake Heaps, a Washington native who was the #1 QB in high school last year, play well with the pressure of going against his hometown team? BYU is traditionally very tough at home, but both of their losses last year came in blowouts at home. Washington has sucked on the road the past few years, having lost 11 straight. BYU lost a ton of starters, but has a lot of young talent. Washington’s offense returns almost in tact, but the defense is a major question. All of the unknowns make this a very intriguing game.
UConn at Michigan. This game interests me bigtime. UConn is severely underrated nationally. Their linebacking corps is one of the best in the nation and they sport an underappreciated offense. Michigan is looking to break out under Rich Rodriguez. His teams have always improved very quickly - and it looked to be the same after a 4-0 start last year - but so far things haven’t gone his way in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines boast a fair amount of talent, but can they put it together and get a win against the Huskies? The Wolverines have lost to Purdue, Utah, Toledo, Illinois, Northwestern, and Appalachian State in the past few years. All at home. Maybe UConn will add their name to that list.
Boise State vs Virginia Tech. This is clearly the game of the weekend. For the first time in years, the questions about Va Tech are 
on defense. The offense should be extremely explosive, so if the defense is as tough as it usually is, the Hokies could be a national title contender. Boise State carries the BCS title game hopes of the underdog on its shoulders. Can they win their biggest game of the year? Over the years I have continually doubted Boise State, only to see them come up big. Last year I picked Oregon to beat them in week 1. Wrong. I picked TCU to beat them in the Fiesta Bowl. Wrong. I thought they’d lose to Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, and Oregon State in the past few years. Wrong on all counts. I’m not betting against them this time. Now they’re going to lose for sure... [thoughtsfromthejockstrap2]
One of my favorite football quotes of all time is "Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships."
Ask Nick Saban what was the key to Alabama winning the 2009 BCS Championship and I'm pretty sure he'll focus on the play of his defense.
There are some outstanding defensive units this season. It most likely starts with North Carolina's experienced and talented group. But there's also Ohio State, Nebraska, Iowa, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas. [eyeandeerblog]
It's hard to put Alabama on that list yet, but don't be shocked when the Tide turns out another outstanding defense. But what makes the units so good are the freaks of nature that play defense.
Who are those special talents in 2010? Here's a look at the 25 best.
25. Jerrell Powe, Defensive Line, Mississippi
Powe is large (6'2", 315) and in charge on the Ole Miss defensive line. However, he has slimmed down a great deal since he arrived on campus at nearly 400 pounds. The powerful Powe led the Rebels with 12 tackles for a loss and had three sacks last season as he proved to be one of the SEC's best interior lineman.
Recent reports say he's in the best shape of his career. He's a contender for the Outland, Lombardi and Nagurski awards, and he's considered one of the top senior defensive tackles in the country.
Powe's journey to Ole Miss is well documented after he failed to qualify, but finally arrived as a 20-year-old freshman.
24. Luke Kuechly, Linebacker, Boston College
At 19-years-old, Kuechly is called "Boy Wonder" by his BC coach Frank Spaziani. But the 6'3", 235-pound sophomore plays like a man on Saturdays.
The ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and All-ACC First Team player recorded 10 or more tackles in the final nine games of the season. He had a season-best 19 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss, against North Carolina.
If 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year Mark Herzlich returns after sitting out last season with cancer, Kuechly could be shifted to an outside linebacker for 2010.
23. Jeremy Beal, Defensive Line, Oklahoma
Beal, a 6'3, 261-pound defensive end, didn't garner the same attention as fellow Sooner Gerald McCoy last year, but he's as tough as they come.
He was the most consistent defensive player last season as he recorded 66 tackles, 11 sacks and forced two fumbles. He also had one interception.
If all goes as expected, Beal should finish as the No. 1 or 2 all-time sack leader at OU. He's made a number of preseason All-America teams, and is on the Ted Hendricks Award watch list.
22. Tyler Sash, Safety, Iowa
He's a big-play safety who was named second-team All-American in 2009. The 6'1", 210-pound junior, led the Big Ten in interceptions (six) and racked up 203 yards on returns, including one pick-six.
Sash finished 2009 with 85 tackles, including 5.5 for loss, six pass break ups and two forced fumbles. He's easily the Big Ten's top safety as the 2010 season gets underway.
He's been named to the watch lists for the Lott Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Award and Jim Thorpe Award.
21. Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama
When you're the best safety in the SEC you have to make this list. Barron led the conference in interception with seven as he earned first-team All-SEC honors. It should be no surprise that he's on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list.
He's earned the starting strong safety spot for the Crimson Tide last season and he finished with 74 tackles and one interception for a touchdown (77 yards against South Carolina).
He has the attitude and confidence to be one of the best in Alabama history, and he's become an unquestioned leader on the Tide's defense.
20. Travis Lewis, Linebacker, Oklahoma
Lewis is the latest in a great line of Sooner linebackers that includes Brian Bosworth, Rocky Calmus and Teddy Lehman.
Oklahoma will rely on Lewis to lead the defense this year as the Sooners try to get back on top of the Big 12. Lewis has 27-game starting streak at outside linebacker and Bob Stoops would like to see it reach 40 straight.
In 2009, Lewis led Oklahoma with 109 tackles and was naturally named first-team All-Big 12. He's been named to the watch list for the Butkus Award.
19. Kelvin Sheppard, Linebacker, LSU
Sheppard is big (6'3", 240), strong and intimidating as he leveled many big hits last year. He finished fourth in the SEC in 2009 with 110 tackles, and he also had 8.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
He's high energy guy who is the leader of the Tigers defense at middle linebacker. A three-star recruit coming out of Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Ga., Sheppard has made the most of his opportunity in Baton Rouge.
He doesn't get the same attention as Alabama's Dont'a Hightower, but offensive coordinators around the SEC definitely have to game plan for Sheppard.
18. Allen Bailey, Defensive Line, Miami
Bailey is the best lineman on one of Miami's best defensive lines in nearly a decade. The 6'4", 288-pounder enters 2010 with huge expectations as the Hurricanes believe they are ready to be relevant nationally again.
Last year he led all Miami linemen with 34 tackles, and he led the team with seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss. This makes him one of the most marked defensive players in the ACC. He's also on the Ted Hendricks Award watch list.
Bailey is getting tons of preseason hype, but we'll find out more about him when the Hurricanes travel to Columbus on Sept. 11 and play Ohio State in the Horseshoe.
17. Robert Quinn, Defensive Line, North Carolina
Quinn has NFL scouts salivating over his potential. What they see is a 6'5", 270-pounder who can run like a deer. To be a legitimate end in the NFL, though, he'll need to put on some weight.
He finished 2009 with 52 tackles, including 19 for loss and 11 sacks. So of course, everyone in Chapel Hill believes he'll surpass Julius Peppers as the greatest DE in school history.
He's considered a long-shot Heisman candidate by many, but he's more likely to bring home an honor like the Ted Hendricks Award.
16. Cameron Heyward, Defensive Line, Ohio State
Heyward's stats weren't overly impressive last year as he had 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, but it's his ability to disrupt an offensive game plan that makes him most dangerous.
At 6'5", 288, Heyward is considered first-round talent and it's a bit of a surprise he returned for his senior season at OSU. He played some of his best games last year as the Buckeyes rolled past Penn State, Iowa and Michigan en route to another Big Ten championship.
Big Ten coaches love him too. Here's what Iowa's Kirk Ferentz had to say about him recently, "Cameron, ooh, man, is he a player. And he's a very unusual player because he can play inside or outside, and be effective in both realms. You don't see a lot of that."
15. Marcell Dareus, Defensive Line, Alabama
The last time many of us saw the Crimson Tide's 6'3", 306-pound defensive end he was lumbering into the end zone with a pick-six in last year's BCS Championship Game.
Dareus, who is easily one of the best pass rushers in the SEC, still makes the cut despite concerns about his eligibility. There's nothing new from the NCAA investigation about Dareus, but his playing time could be limited or even eliminated if things turn sour.
He's also on the Ted Hendricks Award watch list, and if he gets to play in 2010, Dareus is arguably one of the strongest and most powerful defensive ends in the nation.
14. Stephen Paea, Defensive Line, Oregon State
Paea is on almost every preseason All-American team out there and he's on a number of post-season award watch lists. He briefly considered leaving for the NFL, but in the end decided he'd return for another season with the Beavers.
He anchors a defensive line that hopes to help Oregon State win a Pac-10 title. At 6'1", 311 pounds, Paea is a tough to move, is strong and remarkably agile.
It's hard to believe just six years ago, Paea didn't even know how to play football. Now he's getting better every day and this should benefit him in the 2011 NFL Draft.
13. DeAndre McDaniel, Safety, Clemson
Not many people, even Clemson fans, thought McDaniel would return this season. He seemed a lock to leave early for the riches of the NFL.
But the 6'1", 210 pounder, has made it clear that he's back to win the ACC and leave an even bigger mark on the Clemson program. McDaniel had 102 tackles and eight interceptions and 1 touchdown last season.
McDaniel loves to hit (just ask Florida State's Christian Ponder) and he will clearly be a leader on defense in 2010. He's another player from this list that is a preseason candidate for a number of awards.
12. Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback, South Carolina
Gilmore is every bit as talented as he is confident. He started every game as a true freshman and remains one of the best in the SEC. He recorded 56 tackles and three sacks, but had just one interception (probably a sign of respect from opposing quarterbacks).
At 6'1, 188, Gilmore has the size and quickness to shut down any of the SEC's top receivers, including Georgia's A.J. Green and Alabama's Julio Jones. He's a physical corner who hounds receivers.
Gilmore also gets a little time on offense as South Carolina's WildCock quarterback and he returns punts.
11. Kendric Burney, Cornerback, North Carolina
Burney, a 5'9", 190, senior, is one of six Tar Heels linked to AgentGate and his future playing time at UNC could be in jeopardy. He still remains one of the nation's most experienced and talented defensive backs.
Last year he amassed 52 tackles and hauled in five interceptions for one of the country's top defenses. He also set a school record with 200 return yards on his five picks.
He started all 13 games last season as he was named All-ACC. He has started 38 straight games for Butch Davis in Chapel Hill. He's a player who seems to have a real nose for the football.
10. Jared Crick, Defensive Line, Nebraska
When you're 6'6", 285 pounds, it's difficult to get overlooked. Still Crick was overshadowed by all-everything Nebraska lineman Ndamukong Suh in 2009. Now it's Crick's turn to shine.
The Cornhuskers massive Crick had a breakout season last year as he finished with 85 tackles and 12 sacks. Crick clearly benefitted from the double and triple teams that were employed to slow down Suh, but his talent can't be overlooked.
His strength, quickness and agility make him difficult to stop. He's also known for his ability to knock down passes at the line.
9. Von Miller, Linebacker, Texas A&M
The 6'3", 240-pounder is a sack machine. He led the nation with 17 in 2009 and he also had an additional 20 tackles for loss as both a linebacker and defensive end for the Aggies.
Miller recorded eight of his sacks in the first three games, so teams either made adjustments to stop him or A&M needs to devise some schemes to give him more opportunities to create havoc.
New defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter may be doing just that in his 3-4 scheme. The athletic Miller is expected to play "Joker," a hybrid defensive end/linebacker.
8. Prince Amukamara, Cornerback, Nebraska
Amukamara has been listed as the top defensive NFL prospect in the Big 12 and he's named on nearly every preseason All-American team and awards' watch lists.
The 6'1", 205-pound cornerback recorded five interceptions and 11 pass breakups during his junior season, emerging as a sure-fire first-round prospect in the upcoming NFL draft.
He's a converted running back who displays great instincts, is physical with receivers and is willing to stick his nose in and make a tackle.
7. Dont'a Hightower, Linebacker, Alabama
On pure physical skills Hightower deserves this spot, but the 6'4", 260-pounder is recovering from torn ACL and MCL ligaments in his left knee four games into last season.
He received a medical redshirt and is making a move to middle linebacker, but he's still the leader on Nick Saban's/Kirby Smart's defense. He's also the most experienced player on a unit that is replacing nine starters.
His size and athletic ability give him an advantage when taking on blockers, but he also has the speed to run down running backs.
6. Rahim Moore, Safety, UCLA
Moore, a 6'1", 197-pound junior, led the nation with 10 interceptions last year. He's not as well known as some of his peers on the East Coast, but Moore is a consensus All-American who has a bright future playing on Sundays.
He's also got great speed for a safety (somewhere in the 4.5 range). He's possibly the best ball hawk in college football coming into 2010. As a freshman he had 60 tackles and three interceptions.
He has started all 25 games of his career and is also named on many preseason All-American teams and watch lists for postseason awards. If he decides to return for his senior season he could likely be an even higher draft pick in 2012.
5. Greg Romeus, Defensive Line, Pittsburgh
Romeus, a 6'6", 270-pound defensive end, is expected to be a high draft pick and is another player on all of the award watch lists. He's the reigning Big East co-defensive player of the year and is a sack machine, which is impressive considering he is normally matched up with an opponent's best lineman.
He possesses a freakish set of skills for a defensive end - strength, length and speed. He also covers a lot of ground because of these abilities. Last year he finished with 43 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
He's missed some time during the preseason because of back spasms, but once the season begins expect Romeus to be at his best.
4. Quan Sturdivant, Linebacker, North Carolina
Sturdivant, another outstanding defensive player for Butch Davis and the Tar Heels, is facing an uncertain future. He may miss the season because of possible NCAA infractions, but until that day, his raw talent can't be overlooked.
The 6'2," 230-pound middle linebacker, is a special talent because he has outstanding power to go with the speed he needs to succeed at the next level. Put those together and he can shut down opponents.
Led the team with 79 tackles and was second with 12 tackles for losses in 2009. In 2008, he led the nation with 87 unassisted tackles.
3. Adrian Clayborn, Defensive End, Iowa
Did you happen to see his performance in Iowa's Orange Bowl victory over Georgia Tech? The 6'3", 280-pounder was so dominating that the Yellow Jackets quit running the ball his way. He finished with nine tackles and two sacks.
He's about as close to a lock to go in the first round in next year's draft as they come. He was a first-team All-Big Ten performer in 2009 when he had 70 tackles, 20 for loss and 11.5 sacks.
He's a high-energy player who thrives at stopping the run, but will also get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
2. Greg Jones, Linebacker, Michigan State
Jones is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a consensus first-team All-American last season. The 6'1", 235-pound linebacker earned these honors with his outstanding playmaking skills.
He had 153 tackles and nine sacks. He displays great pass rushing instincts, and is versatile enough to cover backs and receivers.
Jones enters 2010 No. 8 on the all-time tackles list at Michigan State. He may not project as high in the NFL draft as others that have already appeared, but he's a big-time player on game day.
1. Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, LSU
Peterson may be the best player in the SEC, so if you are the best in the best conference ... you get the top spot here.
The 6'1", 222-pounder oozes confidence and that's important to play corner. He arrived at LSU as a five-star recruit who was the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year, and he hasn't disappointed.
Peterson has proven in past match ups with SEC elite receivers like Alabama's Julio Jones and Georgia's A.J. Green. Now most SEC teams avoid throwing his way and look for other ways to exploit the LSU defense. [eyeandeerblog2]
We've recently seen that it's becoming more and more likely that OSU and UM will not be in the same division. In fact, Yahoo is reporting it's a done deal, but that it just has not yet been announced. I strongly disagree the Big Ten would be selling out tradition, but would rather be putting divisions together that make some sense. It's silly for PSU and Nebraska to be in the same division. Travel isn't nearly as difficult as it once was, but there's no reason that the two teams on the edges of the conference be placed in the same division just so that UM and OSU do not ever play a second game. [thehawkeyestate]
The reality here is that UM and OSU would meet up for a second time once every ten seasons, give or take. Therefore it seems irresponsible of the conference to make decisions based on the possibility that those two meet twice in a season. If it makes sense for them to stay in the same division, fine, but tradition does not make a sensible argument. Tradition is something that happens over time and while it's certainly a tradition for those two to play the final game of the season, in fifty years it would be tradition for them to meet at some other point in the season. Tradition changes. The game will have no less meaning if they play it in October.
The proposed divisions we discussed here are quite lopsided. Jon argued that it was difficult to see it any other way and while I think the league would like to just do that kind of alignment, what are the odds that an agreement could be reached? That's the important question here. OSU and PSU would absolutely love it. It's a two team division that would rarely see any other team win it. The other 4 in that division are going to be strongly opposed. Nebraska and Michigan are going to hate this. While OSU and PSU are battling for the top spot each and every season, they're going to be fighting it out with Iowa and Wisconsin. And Michigan State always has a talented team. I just cannot see the league agreeing to this kind of alignment.
In fact, I think it's highly unlikely. Consider the winning percentages over the time frame the conference is using (since PSU joined the conference).
| Division A | W | L | Win% | Division B | W | L | Win % |
| Ohio State | 170 | 43 | .797 | Michigan | 146 | 64 | .695 |
| Penn State | 147 | 62 | .703 | Nebraska | 165 | 52 | .760 |
| Purdue | 105 | 97 | .520 | Iowa | 119 | 86 | .580 |
| Northwestern | 97 | 105 | .480 | Wisconsin | 145 | 65 | .686 |
| Illinois | 75 | 121 | .383 | Michigan State | 101 | 103 | .495 |
| Indiana | 69 | 126 | .354 | Minnesota | 92 | 11 | .453 |
| TOTAL | 663 | 554 | .545 | TOTAL | 768 | 381 | .668 |
| Avg season | 6.5 | 5.5 | .545 | Avg season | 8.0 | 4.0 | .668 |
Division B is considerably better than the other. It's not close. The average team in Division B wins 8 games per season while it's 6.5 in the other. This can't be approved and I don't see how it would be. Keep in mind that Delany said that competitive balance was number 1. It's the most important factor and this couldn't be a more comptetively unbalance alignment. You could create more balance by putting 3 of the elite teams in the same division. Easily. MSU is the fifth best in Division B and would be the third best in the other by a long way.
No, I don't see how this alignment gets passed. If we move Wisconsin to Divison A and Illinois to Division B, the balance is closer, though B is still quite a bit tougher. The winning percentage for A is .576 and it's .615 for B. Average wins for A is 6.9 and it's 7.4 for B. This isn't as close as you'd like it, but it's a much, much better alignment than the other. We can do better, but I do think geography has proved to be more of an issue than Delany was hoping for, so this just might be the best they can do. [thehawkeyestate2]
No introduction necessary. Here are the top 10 WRs in college football for 2010: [thoughtsfromthejockstrap]
10. Titus Young, Boise State 
79 rec, 1041 yards, 13.2 ypc, 10 TD
I could put either Young or his teammate Austin Pettis in this slot. I went with Young because he is the more dynamic player and he fits the Boise offense well (Pettis is definitely the better pro prospect). Young runs great routes and catches everything thrown his way. His numbers would be even more impressive if he wasn’t sharing the spotlight with Pettis, but he still put up huge numbers last season. Expect more of the same this year.
9. DeVier Posey, The Ohio State
60 rec, 828 yards, 13.8 ypc, 8 TD
Posey put up good numbers last year with a quarterback (Terrelle Pryor) who struggled to deliver the ball. Posey is extremely strong and often outfights corners for jump balls. If Pryor comes on this year the way so many expect, Posey should have a huge year as Ohio State contends for a national title.
8. Armon Binns, Cincinnati
61 rec, 888 yards, 14.6 ypc, 11 TD
Binns was prolific in Brian Kelly’s offense last year as the second option. What will he do as the first option? His numbers may be insane this year, depending on how Cincinnati does under new head coach Butch Jones, who typically operates a run-first offense. Binns will have some pressure taken off of him by Vidal Hazelton, a USC transfer who will line up as the other starting wideout.
7. James Rodgers, Oregon State
91 rec, 1034 yards, 11.4 ypc, 9 TD
James doesn’t get quite the recognition that his brother Quizz gets, but James is pretty amazing in his own right. The fact that a guy who comes in at 5-7, 188 is even on this list is impressive. Rodgers has great hands, runs great routes, is a good blocker for a WR, and he gets a lot of yards after the catch. He’s also a dangerous return man for the Beavers. What keeps Rodgers down is that he isn’t consistent: he had four games of over 100 yards, but had four games of under 50 yards.
6. Vincent Brown, San Diego State
45 rec, 778 yards, 17.3 ypc, 6 TD
Surprised to see someone from San Diego State this high? Don’t be: Vincent Brown is insane. If he played for a better team everyone would know who he is. Check out his stats. He put those numbers up in six games last year. Six freaking games! His QB, Ryan Lindley, is improving like crazy, so Brown will likely put up gigantic numbers this year. Brown put up 84 yards in one game last year, but had over 120 yards in every other game. He’s ridiculous, and you’d be wise to check him out this season (assuming you get The Mtn, the sorriest sports channel around). He’d be ranked higher on this list in most years, but WR is loaded this season, so here he settles for the 6 spot.
5. Julio Jones, Alabama
43 rec, 596 yards, 13.9 ypc, 4 TD
Jones came to Alabama with ridiculous hype. He has prototypical size (6-4, 211) and speed (reportedly runs a 4.4 40), but he just hasn’t put up the numbers you would expect for someone with his skills. Some of that can be attributed to the Alabama offense, with its plethora of stud running backs, but Jones should still put up bigger numbers than he has. He also seems to be somewhat injury prone, in that he seems to always have nagging injuries and has to take plays off. Jones could have a monster season this season though if he stays healthy. Jones is almost a lock as a first-round NFL pick.
4. Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh
57 rec, 1111 yards, 19.5 ypc, 8 TD
Another WR who was hyped like crazy coming out of high school, Baldwin began to really show his skills last season. What might be most impressive about his stats from last season is that he did that for a Pittsburgh team that mostly focuses on the run and had an average QB. Baldwin is huge (6-5, 230) and will go up and catch just about anything thrown his way. He could put up monstrous numbers this season if the Pittsburgh QB (presumably Sunseri) can deliver the ball anywhere near Baldwin. He may be the best deep threat in the nation, as evidenced by his absurd yards per catch.
3. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
89 rec, 1120 yards, 12.6 ypc, 15 TD
Broyles is like James Rodgers in that he is undersized, but he just makes plays. Broyles is as shifty as any wide receiver in the nation, has great hands, and is not afraid to go across the middle and take a hit. His speed and athleticism allow him to dominate opponents. Broyles put up impressive numbers while dealing with a shoulder injury and breaking in a new QB because of the injury to Sam Bradford. I don’t know that Broyles will do much in the NFL, but he’s a great college WR.
44 rec, 795 yards, 18.1 ypc, 9 TD
Golden Tate got a lot of the attention for the Irish last year, but Floyd put up some impressive numbers as well. Floyd only played in seven games and still put up some impressive stats. It will be interesting to see what he does in Brian Kelly’s offense. He has speed, size, and athleticism, and will push A.J. Green for the top spot on this list all year.
1. A.J. Green, Georgia
53 rec, 808 yards, 15.2 ypc, 6 TD
Green is flat-out the best receiver in college football. His hands are unbelievable. He is fast and runs great routes. In short, he does everything well. He is absolutely unstoppable in the red zone and will likely be the top WR taken in the NFL draft. The downside to Green is that he has had some nagging injuries in the past, and this season he’ll be catching passes from a QB that has never taken a snap in a college football game. Still, Green is the best at his position in college football, good QB or not. [thoughtsfromthejockstrap2]
Jon Miller writes an article about how momentum has been growing for OSU and UM to be in different divisions. [thehawkeyestate]
More and more momentum builds for Ohio State and Michigan being in opposite divisions. The biggest ‘whoa’ we have seen on this front in some time is Michigan AD David Brandon’s comments within the past 24 hours that if he were the one setting up the divisions, would he place Michigan and Ohio State in the same division…he said ‘No.’ You can read more of what he said here. Adam Rittenberg of ESPN also talks about the splitting of divisions here.
I have felt all along that Michigan and Ohio State would be in the same division to preserve the ‘sanctity’ of their rivalry, one of the best in sports…to have it possibly be played twice per year could water it down and make it less special, in my opinion. Perhaps that’s just me being too sentimental being a nearly 40-year old life long fan of Big Ten Athletics…it’s a new era, a new time.
We wrote about it a couple weeks ago. I don't agree with Jon that it would water it down. It's one of the best rivalries in the nation and one of the most watched games each season. I can't imagine that if they played twice in a season that it wouldn't be an even bigger game considering the rematch would be for the Big Ten Championship. That's a good thing for the conference in my opinion and it's something that would be in their best interest.
In the last part here on realignment, we set it up so that OSU and UM were in opposite divisions. I do think that if UM and OSU are split that UM and MSU will have to be in the same division. The "West" division would be Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Minnesota while the "East" division would be Ohio State, Penn State, Illinois, Indiana, Northwestern and Purdue. The "West" division would be the tougher division top to bottom. NE and UM are elite programs and Iowa and Wisconsin are just below them. Michigan State is no pushover either. There would be 5 good teams in that division. I think it would be unlikely that a team from that division would go undefeated very often. The other division is much weaker. There's a big drop off after OSU and PSU. One way to fix that would be to send Iowa or Wisconsin to the "East" division, but I do think geography is important. I don't think the conference wants to send PSU, the furthest East school in the conference, into a division with the team that is the furthest university west (Nebraska). That really doesn't make much sense.
Thoughts? [thehawkeyestate2]
It was just a conversation one Saturday afternoon when I was 12. As we watched a college football game that day he turned to me and said, "How many people do you think are sitting in the stands of every game today?"
I sat there for a few minutes and finally turned to him and simply stated, "A lot." He laughed and we continued our conversation about the games that Saturday. Then I told him, "There's at least one game every Saturday that's worth going to ... no matter your team."
Right then and there my idea was hatched. It wasn't until about five or so years later that I fully comprehended my concept, but since I have shared the idea with two of my closest friends. [eyeandeerblog]
Now it goes a little something like this: If I ever when the lottery or come into unforeseen riches through an inheritance or whatever, I'm purchasing a John Madden-like bus, hiring a driver and traveling each week of the college football season to the best games (sometimes quantity trumps quality).
I've also promised those two friends (Phil and Ryan) and my father that they can come with me. It goes without saying that this expensive and long schedule could play a little havoc on the marriage, but I have an understanding wife and she's always welcome to come along for the ride.
So if I find that money soon, here's how my 2010 Perfect Road Trip looks.
Marshall at Ohio State (Sept. 2)
If this were a solo mission I would probably make the long road trip to Salt Lake City to see Pittsburgh and Utah in a rematch of the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. However, big-time Buckeye backer Phil isn't about to miss Ohio State's opener.
So we'll start the 2010 season in Columbus as the Buckeyes host Marshall and first-year coach Doc Holliday at The Horseshoe. Holliday would probably prefer an easier beginning to his tenure in Huntington, but the Buckeyes have played down to its competition before.
In the end Ohio State should win by at least 17, but a Thursday night in Columbus should be exciting. It's also a great way to kick off the ultimate road trip as start in one of the best venues for college football.
Ticket difficulty: Very low.
Arizona at Toledo (Sept. 3)
This is one of those quantity games. We're already in Ohio and we don't even have to get up early after a late Thursday to get to this one. We can party a little in Columbus and then let the bus driver get us to Toledo by 6 p.m. Friday.
This is the second season for Toledo coach Tim Beckman and the Rockets hope to improve on a 5-7 finish in 2009. The Rockets still need to pick a starting QB, but it looks like sophomore Austin Dantin will be the man.
This is also a good opportunity to see the Wildcats without having to drive so far west to see Nick Foles and his Justin Bieber hair cut.
Ticket difficulty: We'll manage.
LSU vs. North Carolina (Sept. 4)
We won't be hanging around Toledo very long (we may even leave after the third quarter) so we can hit the road for Atlanta.
SEC teams have done very well in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic, but this year the ACC's UNC has a real shot at taking down LSU. This game is big for both coaches as Les Miles seems to be a loss away from getting on the hot seat again, and Butch Davis could use a signature win like this.
If the Tar Heels can muster some offense to go with that nationally vaunted defense, North Carolina should give the ACC something to brag about.
Ticket difficulty: Easier than expected as North Carolina has plenty left.
Tulsa at East Carolina (Sept. 5)
Getting to Greenville, N.C., won't be too difficult. This game also allows us to see to head coaching debut of ECU's Ruffin McNeill take on one of the game's up-and-coming coaches in Tulsa's Todd Graham.
It's also an opportunity to see two of the better teams in Conference USA go at so early in the season. The Pirates are the defending league champion, but McNeill must find a number of new starters-especially on defense as only two starters are back.
The Golden Hurricane should improve on last year's 5-7 season with 16 starters back, including nine on offense. It will also be fun to watch dual-threat QB GJ. Kinne run and throw for Tulsa.
Ticket difficulty: Extremely easy.
Boise State vs. Virginia Tech (Sept. 6)
This is a crazy start to road trip, but we're not about to miss the best game of the opening weekend. We'll arrive in Landover, Md., in plenty of time to get in a little tailgating with the Boise fans. (Editor's note: none of us making the trip can stand Virginia Tech fans, so there's no way we're partying with them).
When the game starts, we'll probably all be rooting for the Hokies, though. We just want to put an early end to all of the Boise State whining.
We're also interested in seeing Boise QB Kellen Moore, as well as Tech QB Tyrod Taylor up close and personal. We're also curious to see if Virginia Tech DC Bud Foster can put together a game plan with a lot of new faces to stop the innovative Broncos.
Ticket difficulty: Difficult.
Auburn at Mississippi State (Sept. 9)
Nothing like a trip to Davis Wade Stadium to see an early season test for Auburn, which has ambitions of ousting Alabama from the top spot in the SEC West. If the Tigers are for real they can't slip up in tough road environments like this.
The Bulldogs, who should also be 1-0 entering this game, have bowl aspirations as Dan Mullen begins his second season.
It would also be nice to see the beginning of the Cam Newton era at quarterback. Plus, I really want to experience the whole cowbell thing.
Ticket difficulty: We'll buy some student tickets.
Penn State at Alabama (Sept. 11)
Now this is going to be fun. Big-time football programs in one of the best college football environments. I'm buying Kenny Stabler his first drink of the day (and he'll still probably no more than Joe Paterno when it comes to what's happening on the field).
The Nittany Lions are good, but this isn't one of their better teams. So the Tide should manage just fine. It will also be fun to watch Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson and Nick Saban in person.
I'm also looking forward to the post-game celebration. Since I have family in the area, I'll probably need a few extra tickets for this one. Do I have to wear a houndstooth hat?
Ticket difficulty: Scalpers? eBay? I don't care, we'll pay.
Nebraska at Washington (Sept. 18)
After a week off, we'll make the long trek out west for the first time and see the future Big Ten contending Cornhuskers take on the upstart Huskies at the raucous Husky Stadium.
Getting a chance to see QB Jake Locker take on the stringent Nebraska defense that is led by All-American candidate CB Prince Amukamara is worth the road trip.
It's also a great chance to see two programs that are close to returning to national prominence, even if the Huskies are a little further away than Nebraska.
Ticket difficulty: It'll be raining ... someone will sell their tickets.
Miami at Pittsburgh (Sept. 23)
Sweet. An old Big East match up that only a die-hard Big East fan could enjoy.
There's also a little side story of Dave Wannstedt, who once coached the Dolphins and was an assistant with the Hurricanes, has something to prove. The Panthers are favored to win the Big East and Miami is considered an ACC possibility so it should be competitive.
It'll be interesting to see if Miami's defense can stop RB Dion Lewis and WR Jonathan Baldwin at Heinz Field. The Panthers don't have the greatest home-field advantage, but a night game in Pittsburgh is still special.
Ticket difficulty: We'll probably get them for less than face value.
West Virginia at LSU (Sept. 25)
This is probably our toughest road trip following a game. We'll make it, but don't be shocked if we have to down a gallon of Red Bull to stay awake (we'll try not to mix it with Jagermeister).
Two LSU games in less than a month is not ideal, but we could be watching the eventual downfall of Les Miles. Lose to the Mountaineers at home at night is not good for his future.
We've seen WVU handle SEC speed before, but RB Noel Devine will need a huge game and QB Geno Smith will need to avoid blowing up like Jarrett Brown did last year at Auburn.
Ticket difficulty: I'm a little worried about this one, but we'll pay what it takes.
Texas A&M at Oklahoma State (Sept. 30)
This will be the entire group's first ever trip to Oklahoma (flying over and passing through doesn't count). This one is also the appetizer to our long weekend.
Still, getting to watch the athletic freak Jerrod Johnson lead A&M in this key Big 12 road game should be fun. Also, there's a chance OSU coach Mike Gundy may see us in the parking lot and get all self-righteous and make some more YouTube history.
Plus, with T. Boone Pickens in the stadium I'm guaranteed to not be the richest person in attendance.
Ticket difficulty: Much cheaper than a Barry Sanders autograph.
Texas vs. Oklahoma (Oct. 2)
If everything goes as planned, we should get two undefeated teams who are ranked in the Top 5. But if we don't, it's still a chance to be a part of the Red River Rivalry.
This is also the post Colt McCoy-Sam Bradford era. OU's Landry Jones gained valuable experience as Bradford missed most of the season. Garrett Gilbert's main experience came in the BCS title game.
The winner is in the driver's seat for a Big 12 title and possibly a trip to the championship game ... and we'll be able to say we were there.
Ticket difficulty: Certainly we can talk Matthew McConaughey out his ticket. So just two more to go.
UAB at UCF (Oct. 6)
Look, it's on the way to Miami so why not stop and watch two programs who like to go by initials.
Then on Thursday and Friday we'll stop in Broward or Dade County and catch some high school football.
Ticket difficulty: We may have more trouble getting the high school tickets.
Florida State at Miami (Oct. 9)
Now you know why we're traveling south.
Growing up this game was the Must Game of the year. It may be close to earning back that reputation, but it's still a good game to watch. Great athletes in a heated rivalry game are always a good mix.
It's also Jimbo Fisher's first game in this series as the head coach. Will his Noles start a new tradition? Remember Wide Right and Bobby Bowden?
Ticket difficulty: It's not 1989 ... tickets are available.
UCF at Marshall (Oct. 13)
Remember, it's about quantity ... and sometimes regionalism. That's the only way to explain seeing UCF and Marshall twice in one season.
Really, who doesn't want to party in Huntington on a Thursday night.
Ticket difficulty: Just buy the Thundering Herd season ticket package and give away the rest.
South Florida at WVU (Oct. 14)
This has become one of the Big East's best rivalries over the past five seasons. WVU recruits a ton of Florida players and they don't like losing to the Bulls. However, South Florida owns a 3-2 mark over that stretch.
A night game in Morgantown in October will be chilly, but probably not enough to impact the outcome. But the rowdy, packed Mountaineer Field crowd should help WVU gain an edge.
I can't overlook the fact that I just love to tailgate in the Blue Lot.
Ticket difficulty: It'll be packed, but there will be tickets around face value available.
Cincinnati at Louisville (Oct. 15)
This is really turning into another busy week. But trekking from Morgantown to Louisville won't be too taxing (plus we're paying a driver).
The Cardinals may struggle again this year, but getting to see them in Charlie Strong's first year is something you'll be able to tell other fans, "I was there when Charlie began to turn this thing around."
Watching QB Zach Collaros run and throw all over the place makes for an exciting Friday night ... plus my buddy Phil who's lucky enough to be on the bus is from the same hometown as Collaros (or something like that).
Ticket difficulty: Papa John's Stadium should be closer to capacity this season, but getting in won't be tough.
South Carolina at Kentucky (Oct. 16)
Ending the week with a little SEC football is a good thing, even if it's two middle of the road teams.
OK, this could finally be the year for the Gamecocks, but I'm placing my bets on Stephen Garcia throwing more interceptions than TDs in this game.
It's also a chance to see another first-year coach in Kentucky's Joker Phillips.
Ticket difficulty: Commonwealth Stadium holds more than 67,000. Finding four tickets should be easy right up to kickoff.
UCLA at Oregon (Oct. 21)
I must admit, seeing a game at Autzen Stadium has always interested me. I love watching that crazy crowd on TV and I've heard a few great stories about seeing a game in Eugene.
Chip Kelly worked magic with the Ducks last year, and he has a good chance of having them playing for another Pac-10 title. UCLA expects to take another step under Rick Neuheisel and this will be a huge obstacle.
Besides, I love great defenses and Oregon's linebacking corps of Casey Matthews, Spencer Paysinger and probably Josh Kaddu is one of the nation's best.
Ticket difficulty: I know very little about the challenge of getting a ticket at Oregon, but I don't imagine it will be simple.
Florida State at North Carolina State (Oct. 28)
An ACC game at Carter-Finley Stadium on a Thursday night is a good way to kick off the weekend.
I smell an upset brewing here as well. The Seminoles have high expectations under first-year coach Jimbo Fisher, while Tom O'Brien may be fighting for his job at N.C. State. While many consider FSU QB Christian Ponder to be the class of the conference, Russell Wilson actually led the ACC in touchdown passes last year with 31.
The Seminoles get the edge on defense, but hopefully a hopped up home crowd will even the playing field.
Ticket difficulty: About 15 years ago a home game with a Top-5 team like FSU in town would have been a hot ticket. Not so much anymore.
Florida vs. Georgia (Oct. 30)
Everyone should get a chance to attend the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party at least once. So here's our shot.
This battle has had a lot of great moments, and the heat has been ratcheted up of late as Urban Meyer and Mark Richt tolerate each other.
Florida has dominated this series of late, but it may be time for Georgia to turn the tide on its SEC rival.
Ticket difficulty: To date, this may be our toughest task.
Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech (Nov. 4)
The two Techs have been the elite of the ACC in recent history. Now both are considered favorites to win the conference again. But only one can represent the Coastal in the league's title game.
This game also features two of the ACC's best dual-threat quarterbacks in Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor and Georgia Tech's Josh Nesbitt. So this game should see a lot of points scored.
Besides it gives me a chance to go to Lane Stadium and root again the Hokies.
Ticket difficulty: Difficult, but nothing some extra cash can't solve.
Alabama at LSU (Nov. 6)
Nick Saban returns to LSU again. It may not be as crazy as the first time, but those Cajuns are still bitter Saban and Alabama won it all last year ... plus their still pissed that Les Miles is still their coach.
Take the coaches out of the mix and these two teams are pretty equal on talent. The big difference is Alabama is more experienced and has the reigning Heisman Trophy winner in Mark Ingram.
So the X-Factor is 92,000 screaming LSU fans in Tiger Stadium. Damn that sounds like a blast.
Ticket difficulty: I have concerns. Any tips?
Toledo at Northern Illinois (Nov. 9)
What makes this so interesting? Not one of my friends on the bus would want to go to this game. It's Mid-American Conference football on a Tuesday night.
What they don't understand is Toledo and Northern Illinois are legitimate MAC contenders and I'd rather be at Huskie Stadium watching Chad Spann and Eric Page than another episode of Bones.
These two also played a great game last year that saw Toledo nip the Huskies 20-19. It's time for some payback.
Ticket difficulty: It's MAC football on a Tuesday, how difficult could that be?
Miami, Ohio at Bowling Green (Nov. 10)
The laughs just keep coming. I'll probably neglect to tell them we're going to stay over in Bowling Green for another MAC game on Wednesday.
We're scrapping the bottom a little on this one, but it's still a game.
Ticket difficulty: Bowling Green will see us pull up in the bus and give us what we want.
Penn State at Ohio State (Nov. 13)
This game makes the rest of the week worth it.
It's likely to be cold and rainy this time of year in Columbus, so Joe Paterno will probably be coaching from the press box. Jim Tressel won't even notice.
Ohio State could very possibly be undefeated, so the entire stadium will be overtly intoxicated and every play will be do or die.
Those same fans will fall in and out of love with Terrelle Pryor at least 58 times. But in the end, the Buckeyes' Devin Barclay will kick a late field goal for the win.
Ticket difficulty: Luckily there are always scalpers, err, I mean Stub Hub.
UCLA at Washington (Nov. 18)
It's time to head west again and we'll start with two programs that have been down on their luck for longer than anyone would have ever expected. It's also our second trip to Husky Stadium.
UCLA's Rick Neuheisel returns to Seattle where he was unceremoniously booted as the Huskies coach. Neuheisel would love a shot at coaching Jake Locker. Instead, he gets Kevin Prince.
If Washington wants to take the next step and make it to a bowl game this year, not letting up against the Bruins is a big step.
Ticket difficulty: We'll learn some tricks from our first visit.
Fresno State at Boise State (Nov. 19)
It's ugly, but everyone should see the Blue Turf in person at least once. Don't worry, I'll have the camera and I'll change my Facebook profile photo after this game. We'll also Tweet all game about random Boise or blue facts.
If Boise is still undefeated, the Broncos are likely to be ranked second or third in the nation and Fresno would love nothing more than to ruin that perfect season. Fresno coach Pat Hill exudes confidence, but his teams have been lacking it of late.
In case you didn't know, Boise returns 21 of 22 starters from last year. Just ask any Broncos fan, they'll tell you.
Ticket difficulty: This game will be sold out, so does anyone know a good ticket broker in Idaho?
USC at Oregon State (Nov. 20)
By this point in the season we'll know how talented our bus driver is because I have no idea how long it will take us to get from Boise to Corvallis.
This game is tough to predict right now. USC can't go to a bowl, but both of these could be near or on top of the Pac-10 this late in the year. It's also reasonable to predict both could have three or four losses as well.
No matter what, we're going to see the Rodgers brothers at Oregon State and yell at Lane Kiffin from whatever seats we score.
Ticket difficulty: Depends on the importance of the game.
West Virginia at Pittsburgh (Nov. 26)
Through 14 years of marriage one lesson I've learned is the day after Thanksgiving is the one day my wife is nowhere to be found as she shops all day. So I'll either have to load the children up on the bus or beg the grandparents to watch them all day.
The Backyard Brawl is an underrated rivalry and has intensified since the Panthers upset WVU in 2007. This year it should decide the Big East champion.
This game also features two of the nation's most explosive running backs in Pitt's Dion Lewis and WVU's Noel Devine. Big runs and tough defense should be the MO of this game.
Ticket difficulty: If it's sold out it's because WVU fans bought up the tickets.
Michigan at Ohio State (Nov. 27)
I've wanted to attend The Game since I was 8. I watched this game on TV every year growing up in Florida and always respected the tradition.
Now we get to go as the Buckeyes close out a perfect season and Rich Rodriguez may be coaching his last game with the Wolverines.
It's going to be fun just reading the creative signs the OSU fans make for this one.
Ticket difficulty: Expensive.
Arizona State at Arizona (Dec. 2)
It's December, so we have two chooses go South or West for some warm weather. So Tucson will have to do.
The Duel in the Dessert is a great way to spend an early December day as Mike Stoops and the Wildcats play for bowl positioning and Dennis Erickson plays for his job at ASU.
If the Arizona fans decide to rush the field a little early, we'll be there to join them.
Ticket difficulty: I don't know. Anyone have an idea?
Illinois at Fresno State (Dec. 3)
Will Ron Zook still be the coach at Illinois this late in the season? I hope so, because watching the Zooker roam the sidelines is part of the draw.
It will also be fun to watch Pat Hill and the Bulldogs pull off one of those upsets of a Big Boy.
But really we'll just be itching to get on the road for the next day's game.
Ticket difficulty: Normally a BCS team traveling to a non-BCS program is good for an attendance boost. Not so much here.
Oregon at Oregon State (Dec. 4)
The Civil War will likely decide who's going to the Rose Bowl again. Even if it doesn't this game is one of the West Coast's best rivalries.
The Beavers haven't won since 2007, so Mike Riley will have his team ready.
The environment alone makes this one worth the long road trip.
Ticket difficulty: Another rivalry another tough ticket. Thankfully I won all of that money.
Navy vs. Army (Dec. 11)
We may be lucky to see 10 passes thrown between the two military academies, but Navy QB Ricky Dobbs is one of the toughest and most talented players in the country. Could this guy really win the Heisman?
Army counters with its own skilled quarterback in sophomore Trent Steelman, who started every game last year as a plebe.
Navy has dominated the series of late, but Army is getting better. Is this the year for the Black Knights? Probably not.
Ticket difficulty: Tough, but we're not missing this one. [eyeandeerblog2]
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