25) Colorado

2000 Record: 3 - 7 (3-4)

The Buffaloes played the toughest schedule in the country last season, and played some mighty good football in the process. They lost by four points or less to Colorado State, Southern Cal, and Washington. Coach Gary Barnett is known for his creative psychological ploys, and at one point last season, he stripped the Buffs of their bison head helmet sticker, saying they weren't worthy of the honor. Then they went out and beat Texas A&M, and the stickers returned.

Offensive Losses: They lost wide receiver Javon Green who was their leading receiver, and split tackle Tom Ashworth, who was their offensive captain.

Defensive Losses: They lost three studs along the defensive front in defensive tackle Sean Jarne, and defensive ends Anwawn Jones and Brady McDonnell.

Offensive Strengths: The Buffs return nine of eleven players on the offense, including nearly all of their skill players. Running back Marcus Houston, considered the number one high school recruit in the country in 1999, sat out most of his freshman campaign with an injury, but will be back healthy in 2001. Quarterback Craig Ochs got a lot of valuable playing time as a freshman last season, and junior Bobby Pesavento, who played in five games last season, will challenge for the starting spot. And don't count out QB Zac Colvin, who completed 24 of 45 passes in five games as well. Still, with all that QB experience, Barnett needs one of them to grab the offense by the throat.

Defensive Strengths: As with the offense, the defense returns a lot of starters - eight to be exact - including Michael Lewis, an All-American candidate at strong safety who led the team with 71 tackles. In fact, the Buffs return their seven top tacklers from last season, so look for them to be tough as nails.

August 25	FRESNO STATE
September 1	Colorado State at Denver
September 8	SAN JOSE STATE
September 15	at Washington State
September 22	KANSAS
October 6	at Kansas State
October 13	TEXAS A&M
October 20	at Texas
October 27	at Oklahoma State
November 3	MISSOURI
November 10	at Iowa State
November 23	NEBRASKA

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24) Southern Mississippi

2000 Record: 6-4 (5 - 3)

Jeff Bower's Hattiesburg group never seems to get the respect they deserve, and that gives them all the motivation they need to go out to leave blood on the gridiron. Bower has a simple plan: He signs the players that Ole Miss and Mississippi State leave behind, and he even out-recruits the big boys for one or two of the state's blue chippers, and he stitches that talent together with a little underdog motivation. When you load a team with Mississippi kids, you're loading it with some of the toughest-minded football players in the country. Last season's Golden Eagles lost to Tennessee in Knoxville by only three, upset Alabama in Birmingham and shut them out in the process, and knocked off a highly-favored TCU team in the Alabama Bowl. Southern Miss ain't gonna be sneaking up on anybody this season, so the questions is: Can they play tough in the favorites' role? Only time will tell.

Offensive Losses: The Golden Eagles only graduated two players on offense. The biggest loss was flanker Shawn Mills. Mills was the team's leading receiver by far with 713 yards on 55 catches, and five touchdowns

Defensive Losses: The defense was stripped hard by graduation, with only four starters returning. The entire defensive front is gone, including All-American defensive end Cedric Scott. The defensive backfield is also severely damaged.

Offensive Strengths: There are a lot. Mills might be gone, but three of the four receivers return. Also, leading rusher Dwayne Woods is back for his senior year, as is Derrick Nix, whose potential has been slowed by injuries. The offensive line returns everyone except center Billy Clay. And don't forget that quarterback Jeff Kelly is back. He threw for 58% of his passes for fifteen touchdowns last season, so things look good under center.

Defensive strengths: When you lose seven players off one of the best defenses in the country, it's hard to find many strengths. Although the defensive backfield lost a lot, safety Chad Williams, the leading tackler, is back in the mix and should assume a leadership role. And these Golden Eagles always have a lot of defensive intensity, and are backed up by a lot of tradition. They're gonna need to tap into that defensive pride.

September 1	OKLAHOMA STATE
September 15	at Alabama
September 22	at Lousiana-Lafayette
September 29	UAB
October 6	at Memphis
October 16	at Louisville
October 27	HOUSTON
November 3	at Penn State
November 27	TULANE
November 23	at East Carolina
November 30	TCU

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23) Mississippi State

2000 Record: 8-4 (4-4)

Count on Jackie Sherrill and Joe Lee Dunn to release the hounds again in 2001. The Mississippi State Bulldogs have the best record of any SEC West team over the past four years at 31 -13, and they play one of the roughest, toughest brands of football in the south. The Florida Gators learned last season just how loud those cowbells can ring, when they lost 47-35 in Starkville. The score might not show it, but it was a humiliating loss for the big rich school from Florida, as the Miss State ground game gained 351 yards and proved that the Gator defense just wasn't very tough. This year's Bulldogs team ain't gonna be too different from previous teams. The Nebraska Cornhuskers of the SEC West are gonna run the ball hard behind a massive offensive line, and play wildest defense in the league.

Offensive Losses: The Miss State offensive line lost a couple of plows when tackle Pork Chop Womack (6-3, 328) and center Michael Fair (6-3, 300) graduated. They also lost flanker Larry Huntington, who was the third leading receiver.

Defensive Losses: The Bulldog "D" was tough as nails last season and needs to find some players who can fill holes left by graduation. Defensive linemen Ellis Wyms, Toby Golliday, and Rob Knight will all be missed. Two-hundred-and-forty pound DeMotto Youngblood is slated to replace 330-pound Golliday at nose tackle. Also, Fred Smoot, All-SEC cornerback and smack talker is headed for NFL pastures, and taking his 5 interceptions, 55 tackles, and confidence with him.

Offensive Strengths: There might not be a team in the West with more offensive firepower returning. Quarterback Wayne Madkin is a senior this season, and has the potential to be one of the top QB's in the SEC. He completed 56% of his passes for 1,908 yards, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions last season. He's backed up by runners Dicenzo Miller and Dantae Walker, who combined for 1,800 yards total, and 240 yards per game. Amazingly, they each averaged over 100 yards per game for the season. And while Womack and Fair will be missed, they'll be replaced by sophomores Derrick Thompson ( 6-6, 304) and Blake Jones (6-4, 284), respectively. Recievers Terrell Grindle and Donald Lee are both back, with Justin Jenkins ready to step in at flanker.

Defensive Strengths: The Bulldog's 2000 defense was dominant for three main reasons: Coordinator Joe Lee Dunn, Pig Prather, and Mario Haggan, and lucky for the cowbell faithful, they're all back. Haggan and Prather, along with junior free safety Josh Morgan, and senior end Conner Stephens made up four of the Bulldogs top five tacklers, so there won't be much loss of production in the takedown department. They have to find a way replace Smoot's attitude, though, and something tells me Prather is up to the task.

September 3	MEMPHIS
September 15	BRIGHAM YOUNG
September 20	SOUTH CAROLINA
September 29	at Florida
October 6	at Auburn
October 13	TROY STATE
October 20	LSU
November 3	KENTUCKY
November 10	at Alabama
November 17	at Arkansas
November 22	MISSISSIPPI

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22) Alabama

2000 Record: 3 - 7 (3 - 5)

Even though they were clearly one of the most talented teams in the country and picked by most college football pundits to challenge for last season's national title, the Tide never made it to shore in 2000, and left the Alabama faithful scratching their heads. It started with a heartbreaking loss to UCLA, then things got downright miserable with a 21 - 0 loss to upstart Southern Miss, and a 40 - 38 home loss to Central Florida. Then the season ended mercifully with a 9 - 0 loss in the annual blood feud with Auburn. Now former TCU headman Dennis Franchione has washed up on the Tuscaloosa shore with a mind to bring discipline and pride to a deeply talented team that spent most of last season looking like they didn't care about each other, or about whether they won or lost. Of course, some pretty damaging recruiting and academic violations have been washing up like dead bodies in Tuscaloosa Town, as well, and only the NCAA knows how the punishment is gonna shake out. But the good news is that the Crimson Tide returns a lot of players from that deeply talented but underachieving 2000 pigskin edition, and Franchione might be the man to get them firing at the enemy instead of their own toes.

Offensive Losses: The Tide lost three offensive linemen to graduation in center Paul Hogan, guard Griff Redmill, and guard/tackle Will Cuthbert. They also graduated fullback Dustin McClintock, who averaged 5.1 yard per carry and part-time tailback Shaun Bohanon. The Tide relied heavily in their ground attack, particularly running between the tackles, so they'll need to find a way to fill some big holes at O-line and fullback.

Defensive Losses: Three-fourths of the defensive backfield is gone from a defense that gave up 211 yards per game passing and ranked No. 71 in the country in passing defense. Still, cornerback Milo Lewis led the team in interceptions, and safeties Marcus Spencer and Tony Dixon were first and third in tackling, respectively, so there's a lot of production that needs to be replaced. Also, defensive end Kenny Smith graduated.

Offensive Strengths: Skill, skill, and more skill. Last year's momentary Heisman candidate Freddy Milons has returned for his senior year, and he's a game breaker. Flanker Antonio Carter was as impressive as any receiver in the SEC during the second half of the season, and ended up leading the team in receiving, averaging nearly 13 yards per catch. He could have an All-SEC season in 2001. Last year's two leading rushers Ahmaad Galloway and Brandon Miree also return. Each averaged nearly five yards per carry. And who's gonna get the ball to all this talent? It's sounding like Andrew Zow has taken hold of the starting QB spot during the spring, but don't count out Tyler Watts, who played in five games until injuring his knee, or true freshman Brodie Croyle, who some folks think was the top high school quarterback in the country last season.

Defensive Strength: It starts with the D-line and the linebackers. Defensive tackle Jarrett Johnson is nothing short of a wrecking ball with 14 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, and 26 quarterback hurries. Also returning along the defensive line is Kindal Moorehead, who spent 2000 recovering from an Achilles tendon injury. If recovered fully, he has the potential to dominate. The linebackers are in pretty fine shape, as well, with All-American Saleem Rasheed returning to his more natural middle linebacker spot, and Victor Ellis, last year's second leading tackler, playing on the outside.

September 1	UCLA
September 8	at Vanderbilt
September 15	SOUTHERN MISS (Birmingham)
September 22	ARKANSAS
September 29	at South Carolina
October 6	TEXAS EL PASO (Birmingham)
October 13	at Mississippi
October 20	TENNESSEE
November 3	LSU
November 10	MISSISSIPPI STATE
November 17	at Auburn

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21) Georgia

2000 Record: 7 - 4 (5 - 3)

The Bulldogs started last season ranked as high as No. 5, but fell to earth in only the second Saturday of the season when they lost to South Carolina 21 -10 behind five interceptions by quarterback Quincy Carter. Although they were able to get the Big Orange Monkey off their back by beating Tennessee, losses to Florida and Georgia Tech for the third straight year, and an overtime loss to Auburn meant a trip to the Aloha Bowl (or the Irrelevant Bowl), a final ranking of No. 20 in the AP Poll and No. 17 in the Coaches Poll, and a three-way tie with Tennessee and South Carolina for second place in the SEC East. Their first victory over Tennessee in eight years wasn't enough to save Head Coach Jim Donnan, and now there's a new Alpha Dawg in town, former Florida State Offensive Coordinator Mark Richt. The Dawg Nation expects Richt to return their pack to the national spotlight, and Richt believes Georgia has the talent base to get there. Folks in the Athens are rubbing their hands together and waiting for the answers to the biggest questions: What changes will Richt bring to an offense that had grown stale and undisciplined over the years, and who's gonna replace Quincy Carter at quarterback?

Offensive Losses: Carter is the most obvious loss in offense, but considering the downward trajectory of his career in Athens, that might not be such a bad thing. The Bulldogs also lost last year's leading rusher Brett Millican, and tight end Jevaris Johnson, and offensive lineman Jonas Jennings, Brady Pate, and Reggie Stargill. Jennings was a do-everything O-lineman who was considered the leader of a unit that often looked soft last season.

Defensive Losses: Though the offense lost its quarterback and leading rusher, the losses that hurt the most are on the defensive side of the ball, where man-mountain defensive tackles Richard Seymor and Marcus Stroud have graduated and are both projected as first round draft picks. Super-speedy middle linebacker Kendrell Bell is also gone, along with big play cornerback Jamie Henderson. That's a lot to lose from a defense that only gave up an average of 18 points per game.

Offensive Strengths: You've got to believe that Richt, a quarterbacks coach who produced two Heisman Trophy winners, will find the right man for the job. Cory Phillips, who filled in admirably for an often-injured Carter last season and completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,000 yards, is back, but he's being pushed hard by redshirt sophomore David Green. The Dogs return their top four receivers from last season, which includes All-American candidate Terrence Edwards. But Athens product Damien Gary might be the one to watch in this group, as he averaged over 15 yards per catch. Also, second leading rusher Jasper Sanks returns for his senior year, and freshman superstar Musa Smith, who averaged 4.5 yards per carry, could restore the pride of Tailback U if he can stay healthy. But there was great disappointment in Athens, when redshirt sophomore Albert Hollis, considered by many to be the best running back in the country coming out of high school in Sacramento, tore three out of four knee ligaments during spring practice.

Defensive Strengths: The defense lost a lot of beef on the frontline, but returns three out of four members of the defensive backfield. Cornerback Tim Wansley led the SEC in interceptions, and safeties Terreal Bierria and Jermaine Phillips are big and fast, and hit like sledgehammers. Middle linebacker Tony Gilbert, the team's leading tackler, is back for more, as is outside linebacker Will Witherspoon. Linebacker Boss Bailey sat out the entire 2000 season with a knee injury, but should be back 100 percent for 2001. And defensive ends Charles Grant and Josh Mallard both have All-SEC potential, and are backed up by Terin Smith and Bruce Adrine.

September 1	ARKANSAS STATE
September 8	SOUTH CAROLINA
September 15	HOUSTON
September 29	ARKANSAS
October 6	at Tennessee
October 13	at Vanderbilt
October 20	KENTUCKY
October 27	Florida (Jacksonville)
November 10	AUBURN
November 17	at Ole Miss
November 24	at Georgia Tech

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20) Michigan

2000 Record: 9 - 3 (6 - 2)

Fans of the Wolverines were looking with excitement to see what poster boy/Heisman Trophy candidate Drew Henson could do in 2001 with a full spring under his belt, but, like a forty-one-year-old looking back on his life and wondering what might have been, fans of the Maze and Blue are just gonna have to accept their pigskin life as it is, because Henson is a New York Yankee now, and nothing's gonna change that. Depending on whether you're a "glass half empty" or "glass half full" type of person, 2001 is either gloomy or bright. If you're an optimist, you'll see that the Wolverines dropped their three games last season by a total of only seven points, including a 51 - 54 loss to Northwestern in what some pigskin pundits declared as the most exciting game of the season. If you're a pessimist you'll see that the Wolverines didn't earn a trip to the Rose Bowl and were only ten points from being 6 - 6 in 2000, including a four-point win over Illinois that was probably the most disputed game of the season. Either way you look at it, though, life ain't getting any easier for the Wolverines this fall, and they better be ready.

Offensive Losses: The loss of Henson, tailback Anthony Thomas, and wide receiver David Terrell will hurt, but it ain't gonna hurt as much as losing four-fifths of the best offensive line in college football. Guard Steve Hutchinson, and tackles Jeff Backus and Maurice Williams are gonna be hearing their names called during the upcoming NFL Draft, and center David Brandt will bust his way onto a pro roster as well. It ain't easy to replace that kind of quality.

Defensive Losses: The defense only loses four players in tackle Eric Wilson, cornerback James Whitley, and safeties DeWayne Patmon and Justin Fargas. Patmon was the leading tackler, though, and was second on the team in pass deflections.

Offensive Strengths: The broken foot that kept Henson out of last season's first three games was a blessing in disguise, because it gave sophomore John Navarre plenty of good experience, and the coaching staff knows how to devise a game plan that takes advantage of his strengths, and understands how he'll react under pressure. The Wolverine offense also returns their second and third leading rushers in Chris Perry and Walter Cross. Cross had a better yard-per-carry average than Thomas last season. Also, second-leading receiver Marquise Walker returns for his senior year.

Defensive Strengths: There are eight players returning to a defense that only gave up an average of 18.3 points per game. Victor Hobson, who led the team with 12 tackles for a loss, returns at outside linebacker, and Todd Howard, who led the team with six interceptions is back at corner. Add to that the return of six out of eight of the team's top tacklers, and the Wolverines can look forward to one of the stronger defensive teams in the Big Ten for 2001, and possibly the nation. But they'll be feeling the pressure, until the offense can find some confidence.

September 1	MIAMI (OHIO)
September 8	at Washington
September 15	WESTERN MICHIGAN
September 22	ILLINOIS
October 6	at Penn State
October 13	PURDUE
October 27	at Iowa
November 3	at Michigan State
November 10	MINNESOTA
November 17	at Wisconsin
November 24	OHIO STATE

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19) North Carolina State

2000 Record: 8 - 4 (3 - 4)

If folks in Raleigh ain't careful, Chuck Amato's recent success coupled with Mitch Sendek's recent troubles are gonna turn N.C. State into a football school. Some pigskin pundits considered last season a breakout year for the gridiron Wolfpack, but a closer look shows that they really only beat one of the three ACC elites -- Georgia Tech in overtime -- and their bowl win came against a gimmicky Minnesota team. They got knocked around good by Florida State and lost by a touchdown to Clemson, the other two ACC elites, and they got stomped by Maryland and Virginia, two teams they had the talent to beat. However, N.C. State fans can be excited by the change in attitude that Amato and his staff brought with them from Tallahassee. They're a tougher football team, and they seem more confident. They carry a winning attitude, and that's something that they haven't had in a long, long time. Still, if they want to have a true breakout season, this is the year to do it. After all, there are gonna be some opportunities in the ACC. The Seminoles are trying to find a way to replace a load of talent, Georgia Tech's offense could be more of an adventure this season with former offensive genius Ralph Friedgen heading to Maryland, and they get both Clemson and North Carolina at home. So, we're fixin' to see if the Wolfpack has the bite to back up its bark.

Offensive Losses: The biggest loss for the Pack offense is wide receiver Koren Robinson. Robinson is entering the NFL draft after only his sophomore year. He caught 62 passes for 1,061 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, and is projected to be the first receiver taken in the pros. Other losses include fullbacks Derek Roberts and Tramayne Simmons, wide receiver Eric Leak, and offensive tackle Jarvis Borum.

Defensive Losses: The defense was up and down last season, and Amato is hoping that the loss of only three players will help with their consistency. Strong safety Adrian Wilson is gone and takes with him his 103 tackles. Also, outside linebacker Clayton White and defensive tackle Jeff Fisher will be missing in 2001. White recorded five tackles for a loss.

Offensive Strengths: When you have a quarterback like Philip Rivers returning, you have to feel good about your offensive firepower. Rivers, a coach's son, was named the ACC Rookie of the Year last season as a true freshman when he "chucked" for 3,054 yards and an N.C. State record 25 touchdown passes. If you've ever seen Rivers' distinctive throwing motion, you'll know why I use the word "chuck" to describe it. The offense also returns four out of five offensive linemen from a group that was effective last season, but has room to get better. The backfield depth is thin, but the return of senior running back Ray Robinson is good news. Robinson was the ACC Rookie of the Year in 1998, and rushed for an average of 72 yards per game and seven touchdowns in 2000. Though Koren Robinson departs, the cupboard ain't bare at receiver, where Andy Bertrand showed some big-play potential in very limited playing time, and Bryan Peterson averaged 14 yards per catch in eleven games.

Defensive Strengths: There are plenty, and they start with senior linebacker Levar Fisher, whose 2000 statistics read: 158 tackles, 91 unassisted, 14 tackles for a loss, five sacks, one interception, and seven pass deflections. He's a bonafide playmaker and All-American candidate. The defensive line returns senior ends Nate Goodson and Corey Smith, and tackles Sean Locklear and Darius Bryant. They're backed up by George Anderson, Ricky Fowler, and Brian Jamison. Together this unit combined for 40 tackles for a loss, and 26 sacks. The defensive backfield returns two 11-game players in corner Brian Williams and free safety Terrence Holt, but strong safety Rod Johnson and corner J.J. Washington only played in two and five games respectively last season.

September 1	OHIO
September 8	INDIANA
September 22	at SMU
Septmeber 29	NORTH CAROLINA
October 6	at Wake Forest
October 13	CLEMSON
October 20	at Georgia Tech
October 27	VIRGINIA
November 3	at Duke
November 10	at Florida State
November 17	MARYLAND

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18) Kansas State

2001 Record: 10 - 3 (6 - 2)

Even though Kansas State went 10 -3 and whooped Tennessee in the Cotton Bowl, head coach Bill Snyder has to be thinking he's cursed. For the first time in a long time, they figured they had a shot at winning the Big 12, what with their old nemesis Nebraska coming to Manhattan. And sure enough, they knocked off the Cornhuskers in one of the season's best games. But the year that Nebraska was a little bit down happened to be the same year that Oklahoma was way up. The Sooners were so far up in fact, that they beat the Wildcats twice, whipping them once in Manhattan, then again in the Big 12 Championship Game. So, Coach Snyder has to be thinking, "What do I need to do to get a break. First it's Nebraska, now it's Oklahoma." Well, I don't agree with Ol' Man Leonard all that often, but I do agree with him on at least one point: Kansas State needs to quit playing those cupcake games early in the season, and show some self respect by playing some real teams. And this looks like the year they're gonna do it. Compare: Last season's first four games were against Iowa, Louisiana Tech, Ball State, and North Texas. This year's first four games are against Southern Cal, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, and Oklahoma. Better than last season. Good enough that maybe the Ol' Man will quit calling them the Cupcake Eaters. One problem with upping the schedule strength for 2001: K-State lost a lot of firepower from last season. Maybe as much as anybody in the country. But Snyder has developed his K-State program to the point where, like Nebraska and Florida State, he can reload the guns.

Offensive Losses: Quarterback Jonathan Beasley and his 50 percent completion rate and 14 touchdown passes ride off into the sunset. Running back Chris Caybon was the team's third leading rusher and had it's highest average per carry. Wide receiver Quincy Morgan caught 64 passes for 1,166 yard and 14 touchdowns in 2000, and he's gone, too. Add to that fullback Johnny Lazetich, tight end Shad Meier, tackle Milford Stephens, and center Randall Cummins, and things look pretty rough for the Wildcat offense.

Defensive Losses: Whoo, boy! There's even more trouble on this side of the ball, where eight players are gone from the nation's fourth rated "D". Ends Monty Beisel and Chris Johnson graduate their combined 175 tackles. Beisel had 19 tackles for a loss (TFL's) and 10.5 sacks, and Johnson had 25 TFL's and 11 sacks. It ain't easy to replace production like that. And tackle Mario Falafehi and his 15 TFL's and 8.5 sacks are in the rearview mirror, as well. Gone also are starting linebackers Turelle Williams and Jason Kazar, along with key backup Warren Lott. Add to that cornerbacks Dyshod Carter and Jerametrius Butler, who were responsible for 11 interceptions, and you've got some real headaches for a coach who already looks like he's carrying around a perpetual toothache.

Offensive Strengths: Last year's leading rusher Josh Scobey returns at tailback, and that might take some pressure off of two untested quarterbacks who will battle it out for the starting spot. Ell Robinson and junior college signee Marc Dunn have a lot of potential, but that's all they have at this point. Snyder needs to get some outstanding production from wide receiver Aaron Lockett, who proved his big-play potential by leading the nation in punt returns last season. Guards Andy Eby and John Robertson, and tackle Thomas Barnett give the offensive line a solid returning foundation. And fullback Rod Cartwright was last season's fourth leading rusher with six yards per carry.

Defensive Strengths: They're hard to find. Nose tackle DeVane Robinson will bring some senior leadership to the defensive line, while linebacker Ben Leber, who racked up 14 TFL's last season, is back for more. Also, free safety John McGraw was last year's second leading tackler, while intercepting three passes for 71 yards in returns. So each defensive unit returns one player who can play a leadership role. Still, Snyder has to find a way to replace some big time players.

September 8	SOUTHERN CAL
September 15	LOUISIANA TECH
September 22	NEW MEXICO STATE
Septmeber 29	at Oklahoma
October 6	COLORADO
October 13	at Texas Tech
October 20	TEXAS A&M
October 27	KANSAS
November 3	at Iowa State
November 10	at Nebraska
November 17	MISSOURI

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17) UCLA

2000 Record: 6 - 6 (3 - 5)

The 2000 UCLA Bruins squad was one of the most frustrating up-and-down teams I've seen on a long while. After reeling in some of the top recruits in the country for the past few years, Head Coach Bob Toledo looked to have whipped his Bruins of their old underachieving ways with a 3 - 0 start that included big wins over No. 3 ranked Alabama and top ten ranked Michigan. But alas, the conference schedule started, and the wheels fell off. It wasn't that they lost to Oregon, Oregon State, and Washington, which were the toughest teams in the PAC-10, but rather that they dropped games to Cal and Southern Cal, two teams that ended the season 3 - 8 and 5 - 7, respectively, and the fact that they barely survived against Stanford and Fresno State. In the end, the 2000 Bruins proved once again that football is first and foremost a game of physical toughness, after all, it wasn't just coincidence that the three most physical teams in the conference - Oregon State, Oregon, and Washington - were also the most successful.

Offensive Losses: The biggest loss on the offensive side of the ball was wide receiver Freddie Mitchell. Mitchell was the team's leading receiver with 1,494 yards and nine touchdowns. Other holes to fill include guards Oscar Cabrera and Brian Polak, and tackle Micah Webb. Second leading rusher Jermaine Lewis is also gone, but he only accounted for 229 yards rushing.

Defensive Losses: The defense only loses four players in linebacker Tony White (64 tackles), defensive tackle Kory Lombard (17 tackles), cornerback Jason Bell (42 tackles, 2 interceptions), and free safety Jason Zdenek (72 tackles).

Offensive Strengths: There are plenty of offensive strengths - aren't there always offensive strengths at UCLA? Quarterback Cory Paus, who threw for over 2000 yards and 17 touchdowns despite fighting the injury bug, returns for his junior season. Leading rusher DeShaun Foster (1,115 yards and 17 touchdowns) is back for his senior season. Throughout a career marred by piddling injuries, Foster has shown brief flashes of the brilliance that made him the most highly regarded high school recruit in the country a few years back. Last year's second leading receiver, Brian Poli-Dixon (750 yards, 5 touchdowns) is back for his senior year. Poli-Dixon is in the Randy Moss mold at 6-5, 216 pounds. Center Troy Danoff (6-5, 307) brings senior leadership to an offensive line that has to replace three of its starters from last season.

Defensive Strengths: UCLA returns eight players to their defense, which you might think is a strength, until you realize that they ranked 92nd in total defense and gave up an average of 31.5 points per game. Robert Thomas (88 tackles, 9 tfl's) returns at middle linebacker, where he's a Butkus Award Candidate and was the team's leading tackler. Second and third leading tacklers linebacker Ryan Nece and strong safety Marques Anderson return as well. And the defensive line will be anchored by two seniors in end Kenyon Coleman (6 tackles) and tackle Anthony Fletcher (28 tackles, 9 tfl's, and one sack). Sophomore tackle Rodney Leisle and junior end Rusty Williams round out the defensive line. But it's hard for UCLA fans to get excited about eight returning starters from a defense that got pushed all over the field during the 2000 season, and if this unit doesn't get tougher, it'll be another 6 - 6 season for the Bruin Bears.

September 1	at Alabama
September 8	at Kansas
September 15	ARIZONA STATE
September 22	OHIO STATE
September 29	at Oregon State
October 13	WASHINGTON
October 20	CALIFORNIA
October 27	at Stanford
November 3	at Washington State
November 10	OREGON
November 17	at Southern Cal

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16) Northwestern

2000 Record: 8 - 4 (6 - 2)

Northwestern came out of nowhere in 2000 to tie Michigan and Purdue for the Big Ten title and earn themselves a trip to the Alamo Bowl. Not bad for a team that was picked to finish last in the conference by nearly every college football analyst. Wildcats' head coach Randy Walker was like some mad doctor working feverishly in his garage on an offensive experiment that would level the playing field once and for all, and his test tube offense produced some pretty impressive results. It ended the season ranked third in the country in total offense, at 475 yards per game and almost 39 points, and it stirred fear in nearly every college football team it faced. Then came the Alamo Bowl, where the Nebraska Cornhuskers demolished the Wildcats 66 - 17, and proved the oldest football theories still ring true. The greatest offense in the world can't disguise a defense that's ranked No. 89 in the country and giving up 408 yards and over 30 points per game. But if Doctor Walker can return to his garage laboratory on the banks of Lake Michigan, and use a little alchemy to create a tougher-tackling and more physical defense, these Wildcats have a real shot at winning the Big Ten title and hanging around the National Championship spotlight.

Offensive Losses: Nearly none. The Wildcats return ten starters to the third ranked offense in the country. They lose starting wide receiver Teddy Johnson, who was their best big-play threat as a pass catcher, where he averaged 19 yards per catch and lead all receivers with six touchdowns.

Defensive Losses: The defense loses five players. Cornerback Harold Blackmon led the team in interception with five, while safety Rashad Morton collected 60 tackles. Defensive linemen Javiar Collins and Dwayne Missouri combined for 25 tfl's and twelve sacks. Linebacker Conrad Emmerich made 48 tackles, six for a loss.

Offensive Strengths: When you're returning ten players to the third ranked offense in the country, you know you've got some strengths. Zak Kustok returns at quarterback, where he threw for 2,250 yards and 18 touchdowns. Running back Damien Anderson is a legitimate Heisman candidate. He was second in the country in rushing last season, with 1,990 yards, second in scoring with 22 touchdowns, and he averaged 6.5 yards per carry. The offensive line returns all five starters, and the receiving corps returns its two leading pass catchers in flanker Sam Simmons and split end Sam Schweighardt. Randy Walker doesn't have much to worry about on the offensive side of the ball.

Defensive Strengths: But it's a different story on the defensive side of the ball, where the Wildcats need to toughen up, plain and simple. They return six starters including their entire linebacker unit in Billy Silva (leading tackler with 116 and 9 tfl's), Napoleon Harris (second leading tackler with 101 and 13 tlf's), and Kevin Bentley (78 tackles, and 11 tfl's). Also returning is defensive end Salem Simon, cornerback Rasheed Covington, and strong safety Rashidi Wheeler (third leading tackler with 83). But even though this group returns a lot from last season, they need to gain some confidence after giving up 30 points per game during the regular season, and 636 yards against Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl.

September 7	at UNLV
September 15	NAVY
September 22	at Duke
September 29	MICHIGAN STATE
October 6	at Ohio State
October 13	MINNESOTA
October 20	PENN STATE
October 27	at Purdue
November 3	at Indiana
November 10	IOWA
November 22	at Illinois

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15) Virginia Tech

2000 Record: 11 - 1 (6 - 1)

The Hokies have been one tough turkey flock over the past few years, what with back to back one-loss seasons, but they just haven't been able to climb to the top of the mountain. In 1999, they knocked the stuffing out of everybody they faced, then got stuffed themselves by Florida State in the national title game, and last season they were looking good, until they headed to South Florida and got beat by Butch Davis's excellent Miami team. The Hokies still made it to a New Year's Day bowl game, though, where they embarrassed a pretty darn good Clemson team. Coach Beamer's team is in a different situation this year. While Vick is off to the NFL, way too early in my humble opinion, they still return a lot of good players from last year's 11 - 1 squad. But they play a limp noodle schedule, possibly the weakest of any Top 25 team, and you've got to believe that come BCS time, they're gonna pay dearly for a non conference slate that's downright disrespectful to its fans and its ambitions. The Hokies might break a sweat playing Western Michigan and Virginia, but there's no excuse for scheduling Connecticut and Central Florida, especially when your conference schedule requires you to play the likes of Rutgers and Temple. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes -- the only team on the Hokies schedule ranked in the preseason top 25 -- play a non-conference schedule that includes Penn State, Washington, and Florida State. The Hokies will probably be undefeated heading into their December 1st showdown with Miami. Undefeated and untested.

Offensive Losses: Of course, Michael Vick is gone. But the more important issue is that guards Matt Lehr and Josh Redding, and tackles Dave Kadela and Anthony Lambo have all used up their eligibility. Also gone is senior O-line backup Joe Marchant. That's five seniors from the offensive line, all graduated. Andre Kendrick, the second leading rusher from the running back position, is also gone.

Defensive Losses: Cory Bird is probably the biggest loss to the Hokie defense. He was the team's third leading tackler with 70, including 12 tfl's, three sacks, and two interceptions. They also lose outside linebackers Nick Sorensen and Phillip Summers.

Offensive Strengths: The Hokies return two key skill players in running back Lee Suggs and flanker Andre Davis, both players who can take over a game. Suggs gained 1,224 yards last season and led the nation in scoring with an amazing 27 touchdowns. But can Va Tech find the beef it needs up front to keep him rolling? Davis was plagued buy injuries last season, but still managed to be the team's second leading receiver, and his world-class speed enables him to stretch the defense. Replacing Vick at quarterback will most likely be junior Grant Noel who mopped up in only three games last season, but has looked good this spring.

Defensive Strengths: The Hokies return their top two tacklers in senior inside linebackers Ben Taylor (103 tackles, 7 tfl's) and Jake Houseright (75 tackles, 5 tfl's). Outside linebacker T.J. Jackson played in nine games last season, as did rover Kevin McAdam. The defensive line returns all four starters. Tackles Chad Beasley and David Pugh bring senior experience to the defensive line, and at defensive end Nathaniel Adibi has star potential with eight sacks, while Lamar Cobb racked up five more himself. The defensive backfield is also in good shape, where corner Ronyell Whitaker and free safety Willie Pile picked-off eleven balls combined.

September 1	CONNECTICUT
September 8	WESTERN MICHIGAN
September 22	at Rutgers
September 29	CENTRAL FLORIDA
October 6	at West Virginia
October 13	BOSTON COLLEGE
October 27	SYRACUSE
November 3	at Pittsburgh
November 10	at Temple
November 17	at Virginia
December 1	MIAMI

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14) Clemson

The Tigers put a whipping on everyone they faced for the first half of the 2000 season and climbed the national rankings all the way to No.5, then Georgia Tech came to Tigertown and slashed Tommy Bowden's tires only a week before the big showdown in Tallahassee. Everyone thought the Bowden Bowl was gonna feature two undefeated teams, but it ended up being a battle between two once-beaten teams instead. Bobby's Men cold-cocked Tommy's Boys by a score of 54 - 7, and reminded Clemson just how far they still have to go. But Clemson football's on its way back, and this is the year they need to do some catching up. Daddy's Seminoles graduated a pile of talent on both sides of the ball, and Georgia Tech lost it's offensive guru Ralph Friedgen to his alma mater Maryland. That means Clemson has a chance to reel in the ACC big boys, if they can replace some big-time losses on the defensive side of the ball, and find a way to utilize two outstanding quarterbacks.

Offensive Losses: The Tigers don't lose too much skill on offense, with the exception of receiver Rod Gardner, who averaged almost 20 yards per catch and caught six touchdown passes. Other losses include fullback Terry Witherspoon, who was an excellent blocker, and offensive linemen Brian Outlaw, Theo Mougros, and John McDermott.

Defensive Losses: Clemson's defense spent much of last season highly ranked in all the statistical categories, but was exposed by Georgia Tech and Florida State as holier than Swiss Cheese against the pass. While the loss of All-Americans Keith Adams at linebacker (138 tackles, 19 tfl's) and Robert Carswell at safety (80 tackles) might look like the biggest holes to fill, a depleted defensive line is the real problem for 2001. The Tigers graduated defensive tackles Terry Jolly, Freddie James, and defensive end Gary Childress, and off-season disciplinary problems caused Tommy Bowden to dismiss a few players that might have helped fill the void. Also, the Tigers have to replace cornerback Darrel Crutchfield.

Offensive Strengths: The Tigers are set at quarterback, where they return the best tandem in the country (eat your heart out Steve Spurrier). Starter Woody Dantzler racked up some amazing stats in an injury-slowed 2000 campaign (1,075 yards and 13 tds rushing, and 1,691 yards and 10 tds passing). Second stringer Willie Simmons, one of the most highly recruited players in the country coming out of high school, helped out when Dantzler was injured by throwing for 616 yards and 7 touchdowns, four of which came in a come-from-behind victory over North Carolina. Running back Travis Zachery gained 1,044 yards and averaged five-yards per carry.

Defensive Strengths: There aren't many for a team that graduated eight of its starters. Clemson continues its fine linebacker tradition with the return of leading tackler and academic All-American Chad Carson (146 tackles and 8 tfl's). Other returning players include strong safety Charles Hafley, the team's fourth leading tackler, and linebacker Braxton Williams who racked up 62 takedowns. Still, the Tigers are gonna need to find some help along the line if they want a chance to stop some folks.

September 1	CENTRAL FLORIDA
September 8	WOFFORD
September 15	DUKE
September 22	VIRGINIA
September 29	at Georgie Tech
October 13	at NC State
October 20	NORTH CAROLINA
October 27	at Wake Forest
November 3	FLORIDA STATE
November 10	at Maryland
November 17	at South Carolina

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13) Georgia Tech

2000 Record: 9 - 3 (6 - 2)

In 2000, the Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech proved that they're getting closer to the top of the ACC and the national polls. They lost to ACC Champion and eventual national title contender Florida State 26 - 21, beat a No.5 ranked Clemson team, and knocked off instate rival Georgia for the third straight year. But even though the Yellow Jackets are returning plenty of players from last year's squad, there's still a lot to worry about in Atlanta. For starters, offensive Zen Master Ralph Friedgen has moved on to the head coaching job at his alma mater Maryland, and his absence showed up immediately, when Tech turned the ball over six times in the Peach Bowl and lost to LSU 28 - 14. Friedgen didn't coach in that game, having already accepted the job at Maryland. Also in the Peach Bowl, star quarterback George Godsey, who was driving the Wreck like it was a Ferrari, tore up his knee pretty bad. So, even though Georgia Tech returns plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, the Yellow Jacket fans have to be wondering how their offense will react to the loss of Friedgen, and how well Godsey can return from knee surgery. And, as I've said already in ranking N.C. State and Clemson, if the rest of the ACC is ever gonna chop Florida State off the top of the totem pole, this is the year to do it, and nobody in the ACC has a sharper ax blade than Georgia Tech.

Offensive Losses: There just aren't any significant losses from the offense. Offensive linemen Chris Brown and Brent Key are gone, as is receiver Jon Muyres and fullback Ed Wilder.

Defensive Losses: Again, Tech doesn't lose much. Defensive linemen Felipe Claybrooks (40 tackles, 10 tfl's, and 5 sacks) and Tony Robinson (33 tackles) are gone, as is cornerback Jamara Clark.

Offensive Strengths: The strength of the offense all depends on the strength of quarterback George Godsey's knee. Godsey was a maestro last season, guiding Friedgen's offense to an average of 33 points per game, and racking up almost 3,000 yards passing, 23 touchdown passes, and completing 63% of his passes. Back up Andy Hall was considerably less impressive when he completed 25% of his passes in six games. There's plenty of strength at running back, where Joe Burns gained 904 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. And leading receiver Kelly Campbell has All-American potential, where he averaged 16 yards per catch and caught ten touchdowns. Also, Tech returns three solid players to its offensive line. So. If Godsey can come back, and if Friedgen didn't take the offensive magic to College Park along with his shaving kit, things could be good.

Defensive Strengths: The defense has some excellent potential, and it starts with the front seven. Defensive end Greg Gathers is practically tattooed with the phrase "All-American." Last year he wracked up 20 tfl's, 13 sacks, and a interception. Opposite Gathers, senior Nick Rogers had 13 tfl's and 9 sacks. But the real strength of the defense is at linebacker, where Ricardo Wimbush, Darryl Smith, and Ather Brown might be the best corp in college football. The weakest part of the defense might be the backfield, where Tech ranked 86th in the country in pass defense last season, and need to toughen up this year in order to give the offense time to mature.

August 26	Syracuse (East Rutherford, NJ)
September 1	THE CITADEL
September 8	at Navy
September 15	at Florida State
September 29	CLEMSON
October 6	at Duke
October 11	MARYLAND
October 20	NC STATE
November 1	NORTH CAROLINA
November 10	at Virginia
November 17	at Wake Forest
November 24	GEORGIA

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