Coach's Pre Pre Season Top 25

12) Washington

2000 Record: 11 - 1 (7 - 1)

The Huskies fell one touchdown from perfection in 2000, then went on to put a licking on Purdue in the Rose Bowl. Not bad for a team that lost five games in 1999, six games in 1998, and four games in 1997. Third-year head coach Rick Neuheisel has returned the swagger to Washington football. They're a tougher team now, bringing me back to the days of Beno Bryant, Jay Barry, and Billy Joe Hobert, and their 1991 National Championship. Those were tough teams that featured hard-hitting, raucous defenses. The 2001 Huskier are gonna need to find that attitude right out of the starting gate, as they face Michigan, then go to revenge-minded Miami on the first two Saturdays of the season, making an 0 - 2 start a very real possibility. Their PAC -10 schedule has them playing the toughest teams in away stadiums. But they can count one blessing: Oregon, the conference's toughest team and the only team to beat them last season, isn't on the schedule this year. Neuheisel has raised expectations an the shores of Lake Washington, and so far he's lived up to them. But in 2001, the high hopes in Seattle are gonna be a little tougher to meet.

Offensive Losses: Quarterback Marquis Tuiasosopo took a lot more than 2,146 yards passing and 14 touchdowns to the NFL; he took his toughness and leadership ability, too. The offensive line lost a ton of senior talent in Dominic Daste, Chad Ward, Wes Call, Matt Fraize, and Elliot Silvers. Three of them were chosen on NFL draft day. The offense also lost fullback Pat Conniff.

Defensive Losses: The defense lost a few big-time players, as well. Strong safety Hakim Akbar was a tough guy who recorded 97 tackles, and will be playing in the NFL next season. Outside linebacker Jeremiah Pharms had 10 tfl's and 5.5 sacks. Inside linebacker Darrell Daniels also racked up 97 tackles.

Offensive Strengths: You ain't gonna replace a warrior like Tuiasosopo, but the leading candidate for the quarterback position is talented sophomore Cody Pickett. The downside to Tuiasosopo's toughness, is that Pickett has virtually no game experience. He has better potential as a passer than Tuiasosopo, but his running skills don't compare. Alex Rich and Willie Hurst, first and second leading rushers respectively, return to the back field where they each averaged over 6 yards per carry, and combined for over 100 yards per game and fifteen touchdowns. The Huskies return their entire receiving corp, but Pickett must emerge for them to be effective. Also, center Kyle Benn returns for his senior season.

Defensive Strengths: The defense returns five of its front seven. Defensive linemen Marcus Roberson, Larry Tripplet, and Ryan Julian are all seniors. Tripplett and Roberson combined for 19 tfl's and 12 sacks. Senior Jafar Williams returns to outside linebacker where he played in nine games last season, and junior middle linebacker Ben Mahdavi is also back. Look for the Huskies to be tough against the run. Also, cornerbacks Omare Lowe and Chris Massey bring plenty of experience to the defensive backfield.

September 8	MICHIGAN
September 15	at Miami
September 22	Idaho
September 29	at California
October 6	SOUTHERN CAL
October 13	at UCLA
October 20	ARIZONA
November 3	STANFORD
November 10	at Oregon State
November 17	WASHINGTON STATE

11) South Carolina

2000 Record: 8 - 4 (5 - 3)

There were a lot of great stories in college football last season but I don't think there was a better one than the Gamecocks rising from the ashes behind Old Man Lou? I mean, come on! They'd only won one game the previous two seasons, against Ball State in 1998, then they started the 2000 SEC season by beating No. 5 Georgia, and the rest is history. Their 8 & 4 record and their shellacking of Ohio State in the Outback Bowl was amazing enough, but if not for last-second losses to Tennessee and Clemson by a total of five points, the Gamecocks would have finished 10 - 2. How did the Gamecocks do it? With a winning attitude, a spread offense that started with the run, and an attacking defense that allowed only 15 points per game (6th in the nation). And with eight players returning to the offense and eight returning to the defense, South Carolina has a chance to be the bully of the barnyard in 2001. One big difference, though: They ain't gonna be sneaking up on anyone they face, so they better have their spurs sharpened.

Offensive losses: There are no real significant offensive losses, with the exception of receiver Jermale Kelley, who led the team in receiving, and had a knack for making big plays (see fade route against Mississippi State). Also, missing are tight end Thomas Hill, and center Scott Browne.

Defensive losses: While the defense only loses four players, their defensive line is depleted, and it was a good one. Cecil Caldwell was as tough a defensive tackle is there was in the SEC last season, when he racked up 11 tfl's and seven sacks. Nose guard Cleveland Pinckney was an excellent run stopper. Also gone is linebacker Andre Offing.

Offensive Strengths: Quarterback Phil Petty showed last season that he can be an excellent SEC signal caller, when he threw for 2,285 yards and completed 54% of his passes, but he's going to be challenged by upstart Dondrial Pinkins, who has a lot more shake-and-bake. Running back Derek Watson rushed for 1,066 yards (5.7 yds/carry, 97 yds/game). Watson has All-American talent, but character issues have to be a concern for Gamecock fans. There's plenty of returning experience at pass catcher, where Ryan Brewer, Brian Scott, and Corey Alexander each played in at least 11 games last season. The offensive line returns three starters in tackles Travelle Wharton and Melvin Paige, and guard Cedric Williams.

Defensive Strengths: Though the Gamecocks lost a lot on the defensive line, they return some pretty tough hombres. Senior linebacker Kalimba Edwards (74 tackles, 11 tfl's, seven sacks) has All-SEC potential. The defensive backfield is stacked, where senior cornerback Sheldon Brown led the team with four interceptions, other senior cornerback Andre Goodman started all 12 games last season, senior safety Willie Offord racked up 54 tackles, and junior safety Rashad Faison (100 tackles, 13 tfl's, 5 sacks) was the best defensive playmaker I saw last season, bar none.

September 1	BOISE STATE
September 8	at Georgia
September 15	BOWLING GREEN
September 19	at Mississippi State
September 29	ALABAMA
October 6	KENTUCKY
October 13	at Arkansas
October 20	VANDERBILT
October 27	at Tennessee
November 10	FLORIDA
November 17	CLEMSON

10) Oregon State

2000 record: 11 - 1 (7 - 1)

Well, if South Carolina's success was the best story of the 2000 college football season, then Oregon State's can't be too far behind in the list of quality tales. In fact, it's a pretty similar story when you get right down to it. History making coach comes back to college football after extended absence and thrusts perennially losing program into the spotlight with winning attitude, strong passing game, and tough aggressive defense, their season culminating with big bowl win over storied pigskin powerhouse. The Beavers' 2000 pigskin story ended with a 41 - 9 demolition of Notre Dame, the winningest team in college football. One of the factors that made Oregon State's season interesting was that they didn't come out of their corner swinging. They started with a 21 - 19 win over Eastern Washington, and a 28 - 20 win over New Mexico. Not the most impressive wins. But when they got it rolling, they were as good as any team in the country. In fact, Leonard ruffled some Sooner fans' feathers when he said that they were the most impressive he saw during the bowl season. I agree with him. Their only loss came against Washington in Seattle by a score of 33 - 30. In 2001, they get Washington, UCLA, and Arizona at home, but they head to Eugene for the instate war with the Ducks. It's a sign of the times that the Oregon State VS Oregon game is scheduled to be televised nationally by ABC. Who would have thought that the state of Oregon would ever become the keystone to the college football season? Well, it was last season, and could be again in 2001.

Offensive Losses: The Beavers have to find some receivers, and they have to find them fast. Departed from last year's squad are wide-outs T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chad Johnson, Robert Prescott, and tight end Martin Maurer. That's their top four pass catchers. They also lost a few offensive linemen, in guards Robert Sykes and Jared Cornell, and tackle Mitch White.

Defensive Losses: The strength of last season's defense was on the line, where the Beavers graduated a lot. Defensive ends LaDairis Jackson and DeLawrence Grant take a total of 34 tfl's and 19 sacks with them. Sefa O'Reilly accounted for another six tfl's and five sacks, and defensive tackle Ryan Atkinson graduates as well. Also gone is linebacker and leading tackler Darnell Robinson.

Offensive Strengths: The battery of the skill positions is back, in senior quarterback Jonathan Smith (2,773 yards and 20 touchdowns) and senior running back Ken Simonton (1,627 yards and 5.5 yards.carry). Simonton could have an outside shot at the Heisman. The receiving corp lost a lot but returns some experience in Shawn Kintner, who played in 11 games last season, and James Newson, who played in six. The offensive line returns two seniors in tackle Vincent Sandoval and center Chris Gibson.

Defensive Strengths: There aren't many known defensive strengths, but Dennis Erickson has always been able to field a physical group to put on the field. Eric Manning (13 tfl's and 2 sacks) and Dwan Edwards (9 tfl's and 5 sacks) bring potential to the defensive tackle positions, while Kyle Rosselle brings 12-game experience to one defensive end. Second leading tackler Richard Seigler returns to middle linebacker, while nine-game player James Allen will play on the outside. Still, it'll be hard to find big-play guys to match last year's group.

September 1	at Fresno State
September 8	at New Mexico State
September 15	MONTANA STATE
September 29	UCLA
October 6	at Washington State
October 13	ARIZONA
October 20	at Arizona State
October 27	CALIFORNIA
November 3	at Southern Cal
November 10	WASHINGTON
December 1	at Oregon

9) LSU

2000 Record: 8 - 4 (5 - 3)

Nick Saban's LSU Tigers were pretty typical of a team learning a new head coach's system. With big wins over the likes of Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi State, and disappointing losses to UAB and Arkansas, and blow out losses to Auburn and Florida, the first year under Saban was all over the place. But the excitement is back and the expectations are high in Baton Rouge. And why not? In his first year on the recruiting trail, Saban locked up what most pundits considered the second ranked class in the country, behind annual recruiting champion Florida State. Now in Saban's second year, the 2001 Tigers need to prove that they can win the games they're favored to win, and hang tough in the games where they're underdogs. But there ain't gonna be too many of those underdog games this year, as most preseason pundits think the Tigers have a chance to take a run at the SEC West and the SEC Championship. It ain't ever easy in the SEC, though, where they play the West's power teams in Starkville and Tuscaloosa respectively, and where they go to Knoxville to take on an angry Tennessee team in Baton Rouge, then welcome the Gators on the following week. Still, Saban seems to have brought some discipline to one of the most talented teams in the conference. Add a little luck to discipline and talent, and an SEC Championship can't be too far around the corner.

Offensive Losses: The Tigers lose quarterback Josh Booty. Booty played in ten games last season, and threw for more interceptions than he did touchdowns on his way to completing 50% of his passes for 2,121 yards. Other offensive losses include linemen Brandon Winey, Louis Williams, Trey Langley, and John Compton.

Defensive Losses: The Tigers don't lose many players from one of the most active D's in the country. The only starter is cornerback Fred Booker, who was a leader in the backfield with two picks and 10 pass deflections.

Offensive Strengths: The Tigers might have lost Booty, but co-starter Rohan Davey is back at quarterback. Davey had a far better efficiency rating (182.32) and completion percentage (64%) than Booty. The question is whether or not Davey can handle being "the man," rather than being the guy who comes off the bench and saves the day, as he did in several games last season. The Tigers are loaded at running back, with LaBrandon Toefield (733 yds), Domanick Davis (482 yds), and Devery Henderson all returning. Add Derron Parquet to that squad, and you might have the deepest and most talented group of backs in the country. The offense is also loaded at receiver, where the top four return. Josh Reed averaged 17 yards per catch and 102 yards per game, and is a legitimate All-American candidate, while Reggie Robinson, Jerel Myers, and tight end Robert Royal give Davey plenty of targets. The offensive line returns three starters from last year's platoon, but must find a new center.

Defensive Strengths: Despite all the offensive talent that's returning, the defense might be the strength of the team. The Tigers return ends Kendrick Allen and Jarvis Green, and tackles Muskingum Barnes and Chad Lavalais. Also, freshman sensation Marquis Hill has the ability to contribute immediately to a line that needs to find a way to get more pressure in the passer. The linebacker corps of Treverance Faulk (113 tackles, 9 tfl's), Brady James (109 tackles, 8 tfl's, and 5 sacks), and Jeramy Lawrence might be the best in the country. And the defensive backfield returns three of its starters in cornerback Robert Davis, and safeties Lionel Thomas and Ryan Clark. Cornerback Demetrius Hookfin (24 tackles, 1 int) or Erin Damond (12 tackles, 1 int) would be an excellent replacement for Fred Booker. Both are nine-game players.

September 1	TULANE
September 8	UTAH STATE
September 15	AUBURN
September 29	at Tennessee
October 6	FLORIDA
October 13	at Kentucky
October 20	at Mississippi State
October 27	OLE MISS
November 3	at Alabama
November 10	MIDDLE TENNESSEE
November 24	ARKANSAS

8) Oregon

2000 Record: 10 - 2 (7 - 1)

While the south still has to be considered the most dominant college football region of the country, the Pacific Northwest ain't too far behind, with three teams ranked in last year's final top ten. While Washington and Oregon State were tops in the Northwest last season, Oregon has the potential to end up at the top of the heap in 2001. Last season, only two games separated the Ducks from perfection, when they went down to a depleted Wisconsin team 27 - 23 in the second week of the season and to Oregon State 23 - 13 in their final regular season game. Then the Ducks proved that they ain't afraid of taking on tradition, when they knocked off Texas in the Holiday Bowl 35 - 30. Like so many surging programs, the expectations are gonna be pretty high in 2001. The teams that they lost to last season come to "The Pond" in 2001, and there's no battle with Washington on the schedule. Their toughest away games appear to be Southern Cal and Arizona, two teams that haven't done much these past few years, but that are both being piloted by new captains. If Bellotti's Ducks can avenge their two losses from last season, and win the games they're favored to win, they could be warming themselves around the national championship fire come December.

Offensive Losses: There aren't any real painful losses on the offense. Second leading receiver Marshaun Tucker is gone. Tucker was their most explosive pass catcher, where he caught six touchdowns and averaged over 17 yards per catch. Other losses include center Jeff Austin and tackle Lee Gundy.

Defensive Losses: This is where the most damage was done. The Ducks say goodbye to almost the entire front seven. Their top three tacklers have graduated, with big play defensive end Saul Patu taking his team high 20 tfl's and 11 sacks. The entire linebacker squad was given their sheepskin, where Matt Smith and Garrett Sabol combined for 158 tackles and 22 tfl's. Also missing are cornerbacks Brian Johnson and Jermaine Hanspard.

Offensive Strengths: The offense returns a lot of firepower. At the top of the ammo list is quarterback Joey Harrington, who threw for 2,967 yards and 22 touchdowns last season in his way to a 52% completion rate. The running back situation is in good hands, where Maurice Morris gained 1,313 yards and averaged nearly 100 yards per game. Look out for Tennessee transfer Ontarrio Smith, who could add some breakaway capability to the running back position. The receiving corps returns leading pass catcher Keenan Howry (780 yards and 5 touchdowns) and tight end Justin Peelle, who averaged 16 yards per catch. They're augmented by several 12-game players from last season. The offensive line returns three starters, but must find a replacement at center.

Defensive Strengths: This is the Ducks greatest area of concern. They must find a way to replace a hard-hitting front seven. Defensive end Seth McEwen returns, while defensive tackle Zak Frieter and end Quinn Dorsey have game experience. The linebackers will most likely be junior David Moretti, sophomore Kevin Mitchell, and senior Wesley Mallard (no joke!). The backfield will have game experience in cornerbacks Rashad Bauman and Steve Smith, and safeties Gary McGraw and Rasuli Webster. Still, the defense has to find some teeth in order for the Ducks to have the season they want. It's that simple.

September 1	WISCONSIN
September 8	UTAH
September 22	SOUTHERN CAL
September 29	at Utah State
October 6	at Arizona
October 13	at California
October 20	STANFORD
October 27	at Washington State
November 3	ARIZONA STATE
November 10	at UCLA
December 1	OREGON STATE

7) Texas

2000 Record: 9 - 3 (7 - 1)

The Texas Longhorns started the 2000 season ranked in the top ten of most polls based largely their schedule -- they didn't have to play Nebraska or Kansas State. Still, I didn't put a lot of credence in that high ranking. After all, in 1999 they dropped their first game to N.C. State, then went on to get pushed around by Texas A&M, Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game, and Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl. There was something soft about them in 1999, and I figured that softness would show up again in 2000. When they lost to Stanford at home during the second week of the 2000 season, I said to myself, "Here we go again." Then on the forth week of the season, they got shellacked by Oklahoma 63 - 14. It was as if the Longhorns didn't believe the Sooners were really that good. For 2001, the Longhorns are again ranked in everybody's top ten, and again they don't have to play Kansas State or Nebraska. Still, Mack Brown's team is gonna have to find a way to survive some early-season tests before they reach the Red River and their showdown with the Sooners. Also, they have to play a Colorado team that returns a ton of talent from last season, and they head to College Station for the blood war with Texas A&M. The Longhorns have been out-recruiting nearly everybody in the country for the past few years, so we know they have the talent. But do they have the attitude to beat the teams we expect them to beat, and take it hard to the rest? I guess we'll find out.

Offensive Losses: The biggest loss to the offense, literally, will be tackle Leonard Davis (6-6, 370), who was the second pick overall in the NFL Draft. Also gone is last year's leading rusher Hodges Mitchell, who gained 1,118 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Davis was a "manster" whose intimidating presence was important to the O-line's success.

Defensive Losses: The defense loses both its tackles. Casey Hampton was a first round draft choice, who led the team in tackles and tfl's with 18. Shaun Rogers had a knack for the big play as well with 14 tfl's.

Offensive Strengths: It starts with the quarterback(s), where Mack Brown has a lot of public relations work to wade through. Major Applewhite is a senior who played in nine games and threw for 2,164 yards and 18 touchdowns. Junior Chris Simms is the golden-haired, lightening-armed upstart, who played in ten games last season and threw for 1,064 yards and eight touchdowns. Brown ain't Steve Spurrier, and he needs to pick a quarterback and stick with him. I say they're gonna chose Simms, the fan favorite, even though I don't necessarily agree. Simms plays too often like he's been reading his own headlines. There's also gonna be a fight to replace Mitchell at tailback, but the Longhorns have plenty of talent in the pipeline. The wide receivers have as much talent and speed as any in the country. B.J Johnson led the team in receiving with 41 catches and averaged 17 yards per catch. Roy Williams (40 catches, 20 yds/catch, 8 td's) is the most talented player on the football field no matter who the Longhorns are facing, but, like an Italian sports car or a thoroughbred horse, he always seems to have a nagging problem that keeps him from showing his best stuff. The line returns plenty, but needs to find another intimidator.

Defensive Strengths: The Longhorns need to find a way to replace their tackle combo, but they return both defensive ends. Junior Cory Redding racked up 17 tfl's and led the team with 6.5 sacks, while junior Kalen Thornton had eight tfl's and 3.5 sacks. The linebacker squad is made up entirely of seniors. De'Andre Lewis and Everick Walls were second and third on the team in tackles. The defensive backfield has experience in seniors Quentin Jammer at cornerback and Lee Jackson at strong safety, and junior Roderick Babers at the other cornerback position. Jammer caused four fumbles blitzing from the corner position. The defense let Oklahoma score 63 points, and needs to play with pride every weekend in 2001.

September 1	NEW MEXICO STATE
September 8	NORTH CAROLINA
September 22	at Houston
September 29	TEXAS TECH
October 6	Oklahoma (Dallas)
October 13	at Oklahoma State
October 20	COLORADO
October 27	at Missouri
November 3	at Baylor
November 10	KANSAS
November 23	at Texas A&M

6) Nebraska

2000 Record: 10 - 2 (6 - 2)

Used to be Nebraska was the bully on the Big 12 block They would pound every opponent they faced into submission with such consistency that college coaches from all over the country would visit the Lincoln campus to observe the Huskers' strength and conditioning formula in the hope that they could turn their own teams into rock-hard bludgeoning machines. But for the past few years, the Cornhuskers just haven't had that same aura of physical domination. They started last season with a 27 - 24 overtime win over Notre Dame during which they gave up two huge special teams plays. They barely beat a depleted Colorado team. Then they lost a thriller to Kansas State 29 - 28, and took a shot on the jaw from the Sooners 31 - 14, a game in which they were up 14 - 0 in the first quarter. In their 1997 national championship season, the Huskers averaged well over 50 points per game, and hung 77 points on Iowa State alone. Last season the Huskers only averaged 41 points per game. The problem for the past few years has been at I-Back. The Huskers used to fill the backfield with guys who hit the hole with tremendous power and quickness, then had the ability to make defenders miss and break the big run. Well, for the past few years, the Huskers haven't had that type of I-Back, so they've had to rely more on the pass for their big play capability. Instead of wearing opponents down, they've had to finesse them. If they're forced to throw the ball fifteen times per game like they did last season, then they're gonna lose two or three games in 2001. If they find a true Nebraska I-Back and get back to power football, they could be rolling into the National Championship game come January.

Offensive Losses: The Huskers lose a lot of players from last season's offense. I-Backs Dan Alexander (leading rusher with 1,174 yds) and Corel Buckhalter (750 yds) are both gone. Fullback Willie Miller has also graduated. Leading receiver Matt Davidson is gone, as is do-everything player Bobby Newcome. Also gone are three of the offensive linemen, including All-American center Dominic Raiola.

Defensive Losses: The defense doesn't lose much personal, but does lose a lot of production. Leading tackler and emotional leader Carlos Polk (89 tackles, 8 tfl's) is gone from his linebacker position. Lineman Kyle Vanden Bosch, who led the team in tfl's and sacks is also gone. And safeties Joe Walker and Clint Finley have also graduated.

Offensive Strengths: The offense returns senior quarterback Eric Crouch, but if the Huskers are going to continue to rely more heavily on the pass, Crouch has to improve his 48% completion rate or risk being pushed by sophomore Jamal Lord. Though the offensive line only returns senior tackle Dave Volk and junior guard Toniu Fonoti, both have All-American potential, and you can rest assured that the Huskers will fill the other three O-line position with some big mean boys. I-Back Dahrran Diedrick averaged a healthy 6.4 yards per carry in limited duty, and Husker fans might finally get to see the much-hyped Thunder Collins get a few carries. Sophomore fullback Judd Davies averaged over ten yards per carry. The receiving corps is led by senior tight end Tracey Wistrom, who averaged 16 yards per catch. Wistrom has All-American chops.

Defensive Strengths: The defensive line returns end Chris Kelsay and tackle Jason Lohr. Lohr has slightly better big-play potential with 6 tfl's in 2000. Jeremy Slechta and J.P. Wichman, both eleven-game players in 2000, bring plenty of experience to the other defensive line positions. Two out of three linebackers return in senior Randy Stella (58 tackles, 15 tfl's, 5.5 sacks), who was second on the team in tackles, and junior Scott Shanle. The backfield returns senior cornerbacks Keyuo Craver, who had 13 pass deflections, and Erwin Swiney, who had ten pass deflections. Safety Dion Booker returns for his senior season.

August 25	TCU (Pigskin Classic)
September 1	TROY STATE
September 8	NOTRE DAME
September 15	RICE
September 29	at Missouri
October 6	IOWA STATE
October 13	at Baylor
October 20	TEXAS TECH
October 27	OKLAHOMA
November 10	KANSAS
November 23	at Colorado

5) Tennessee

2000 Record: 8 - 4 (5 - 3)

The Vols were a young team in 2000 and they had a lot of ups and downs. They barely got by a hammer-tough Southern Miss team 19 - 16, they lost to Florida on a disputed touchdown catch, then they went down to LSU and Georgia on back to back weeks, squeaked by Vandy and Memphis, and ended by getting beat up pretty bad by Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl. But despite their inexperience, you could see that Phillip Fulmer had put together a pretty talented football team - so talented that they have to be considered a contender for the SEC and National Championship in 2001. Though they have to go to The Swamp this season, they'll have two challenging games under their belt when they get their, against Syracuse and Arkansas, two teams they beat on their way to the 1998 National Championship. And they also go to South Bend. It's a tough schedule, but these Volunteers have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, and if they live up to expectations, things might be coming up roses for the Big Orange.

Offensive Losses: Last year's leading rusher Travis Henry has taken his hard running to the NFL. Also, leading receiver Cedrick Wilson (12 td's, 62 catches for 681 yds) is gone. Third leading receiver David Martin has also used his eligibility.

Defensive Losses: Linebackers Anthony Sessions (82 tackles, 9 tfl's, 9.5 sacks) and Eric Westmoreland (82 tackles, 10 tfl's, 5 sacks) are gone. They tied for the team lead in tackles and were a very active set of players. Also, DeAngelo Lloyd, a ten-game player on the defensive line has graduated. But maybe the biggest defensive loss is punter David Leaverton, who was the best in the business.

Offensive Strengths: The Vol offense seemed to pick up confidence once Fulmer decided on Casey Clausen as the starter. Clausen started six games and played in nine, during which he completed 62% of his passes for 1,473 yards and 15 touchdowns. He'll be backed up by junior Joey Mathews, since last year's some-time starter A.J. Suggs has transferred to Georgia Tech. There'll be a big-time competition to replace Henry at running back, and Vol fans shouldn't be surprised if a true freshmen emerges from the best running back recruiting class in the country. But last year's second leading rusher Travis Stephens ain't gonna give up the job easy. The receiving corps is led by junior Dante Stallworth (14.8 yds/catch) and Eric Parker (14.5 yds/catch), who has the potential to be one of the best in the league. The offensive line was very young last season, but this season, Fulmer's seasoned the beef and got himself some depth, depending on whether or not Michael Munoz can return from a knee injury. Still, these boys have a year's worth of SEC football in their bellies and will be tougher for it.

Defensive Strengths: The defensive line could be the best in the country. It starts with last year's national linemen of the year John Henderson. Henderson is unblockable from his tackle position, where he racked up 70 tackles, 11 tfl's, and 12 sacks. The tackle opposite Henderson will be shared by Edward Kendrick and Albert Hainesworth. Hainesworth at 6-6, 310-pounds has an All-American build. Defensive end Will Overstreet is one of the must unrelenting players in the nation, and Bernard Jackson has eleven-game experience at the other end. The linebackers are less proven, but you can count on them being fast. Middle linebacker Domonique Stephenson is a returning starter, while Eddie Moore and Kevin Burnett both have plenty of game experience. The defensive backfield returns a lot in senior cornerbacks Andre Lott and Teddy Gaines, junior Steven Marsh at strong safety, and ten-game player Rashad Baker at free safety.

September 1	SYRACUSE
September 8	at Arkansas
September 15	at Florida
September 29	LSU
October 6	GEORGIA
October 20	at Alabama
October 27	SOUTH CAROLINA
November 3	at Notre Dame
November 10	MEMPHIS
November 17	at Kentucky
November 24	VANDERBILT

4) Florida State

2000 Record: 11 - 2 (8 - 0)

A lot of folks are probably wondering how in the heck I can rank the Seminoles so high. After all, they've got a lot of questions that need to be answered. They're gonna have a new quarterback, new running back, new go-to receiver, new offensive coordinator, and they lose eight starters from each side of the ball. Well, with teams that lose a lot of players, you have to see if you can answer the questions about the future with what the team's done in the past. In the case of Florida State and Bobby Bowden, all you have to look at is the recruiting classes they've had coming in over the past four or five years to see that they'll have some talented players. Now just because a team has talent doesn't mean that a team's gonna be a winner. There are lots of programs that recruit the top athletes, but don't know how to shape the players' attitudes. Well, that ain't ever been a problem at FSU. Not only do they get the best players in the country, but they expect the best of them and teach them how to be winners. That's why they've finished forth or better for the past fourteen years. I just don't see why this season should be all that different from the past fourteen. I might be wrong, after all Georgia Tech and Clemson are getting pretty close, but history says that I'm probably not.

Offensive losses: You could incorporate a small town around the number of players that are missing from last year's No. 1 ranked offense. Heisman Trophy winner and team leader Chris Weinke (4,167 yds and 33 tds) has graduated, as has running back Travis Minor. Minor was the leading rusher and second leading receiver. Leading receiver Marvin Minnis (1,340 yds and 11 tds) has also graduated. Add to that several offensive linemen, and center Jared Moon, and you have some real holes to fill.

Defensive Losses: And you could fill a bus with the number of players who are gone from last year's sixth ranked defense. Both starting defensive ends and a key backup have graduated. Leading tackler linebacker Brian Allen (102 tackles) is gone, along with second leading tackler Tommy Polley (100 tackles). Strong safety Derrick Gibson has graduated, along with cornerbacks Clevan Thomas and Tay Cody. Gibson picked off six balls last season for an amazing 200 yards in returns, and Cody had been starting at cornerback since midway through his freshman season. So the Noles have to find some playmakers on the defense as well.

Offensive Strengths: The Noles return a bunch of good receivers in Atrews Bell, Jevon Walker, and Robert Morgan. Bell caught ten touchdowns last season, and Walker has unlimited potential of he can stay healthy. I don't list Anquan Bolden among the receivers, even though he was second in catches, because he's been moved to quarterback, where he was an All-American player coming out of high school. Also fighting for the starting quarterback position is redshirt freshman Chris Rix. No matter who gets the nod, it's gonna be a far different look from the last few years. Bolden and Rix are two of the fastest players on the team, so the offense will most likely look more like it did in the early 90's behind Charlie Ward. Bowden has been saying all spring that the Noles will run the ball more in 2001. He says this every year, but with an inexperienced quarterback, we have reason to believe him this time. Sophomore tailback Greg Jones (266 yrds, 6.5 yds/carry) is a big fast back who has star potential, and he'll be backed up by junior Nick Maddox, who was considered the top runner in the country coming out of high school a few years back. And the offensive line returns its best lineman and leader in junior tackle Brett Williams.

Defensive Strengths: The middle of the defense should be incredibly stout. Sophomore tackles Darnell Dockett (66 tackles, 18 tfl's, 7 sacks) and Jeff Womble (49 tackles, 10 tfl's) both return, as does senior middle linebacker Bradley Jennings (102 tackles). The end positions will most likely be occupied by Alonzo Jackson and Kevin Emanuel. Like so many of the Seminole players, Emmanuel was highly touted coming out of high school. There's all sorts of potential at outside linebacker, where Kendyll Pope looked outstanding this spring, and Michael Boulware has All-American bloodlines. The defensive backfield will be led by free safety Chris Hope, who's one of the ACC's most feared hitters, but they need to find some players at cornerback.

September 1	at DUKE
September 8	UAB
September 15	GEORGIA TECH
September 22	at North Carolina
September 29	WAKE FOREST
October 13	MIAMI
October 20	at Virginia
October 27	MARYLAND
November 3	at Clemson
November 10	NC STATE
November 17	at Florida

3) Florida

2000 Record: 10 - 3 (8 - 1)

By most standards, the Florida Gators had a fine season in 2000. They achieved Coach Spurrier's only stated yearly goal when they won the SEC Championship, hung around the edges of the national championship spotlight until right up to the end, represented the SEC in the Sugar Bowl, and finished the season highly ranked. But any season that ends with "3" in the loss column -- two of those losses against Florida State and Miami - ain't nearly good enough for the folks in Gainesville. Being the third best team in the Sunshine State means that all those powerful UF alumni who attended the gentry school have to take a ribbing from the more "working class" Seminole fans and the "spoiled rich kid" Hurricane fans, and that don't sit well. A few ugly characteristics showed up in last season's Gator team. First, Coach Spurrier still hasn't found a quarterback with the calm understanding of Shane Mathews or Danny Wuerffel; and, second, the Gator defense just ain't tough enough against the run. If these Gators want a shot at the 2001 national championship, they need to hope that either Rex Grossman or Brock Berlin becomes the man at the helm, but not both. Also, they need to quit being out-rushed in big games. The Gators gave up 351 yards rushing to Mississippi State, while rushing themselves for minus 78 yards. If the Gators can find answers at the quarterback position and in the rushing defense, they're gonna be in the middle of the national championship spotlight come the end of 2001, rather than hanging around the edges.

Offensive Losses: One half of the two-headed quarterback has graduated in Jesse Palmer. Palmer threw for 1,653 yard and 11 touchdowns, and was often reliable in relief of Grossman. Also gone is All-American tackle Kenyatta Walker, hard-nosed fullback Rod Frazier, and super-speedy running back Bo Carroll.

Defensive Losses: The defense loses a lot from the front seven. Defensive tackle Gerard Warren (76 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 7 tfl's) was the overall third pick in the draft, and nose tackle Buck Gurley was as tough as his name. Also, gone are defensive line backups Derrick Chambers and Thaddeus Bullock, and key linebacker backup Daryl Owens.

Offensive Strengths: The Gator offense welcomes back nearly all of its skill position players from a squad that averaged nearly 450 yards and 38 points per game. The quarterback position is still up for grabs. Grossman (1,866 yds and 21 tds) played in eleven games last season and completed 61% of his passes, but he will be pushed by Brock Berlin, who was the national player of the year coming out of high school a few years back. Spurrier returns his top two rushers in Robert Gillespie and Earnest Graham, both averaging around 5.5 yards per carry. The offense also returns last year's freshman sensation receiver Jabar Gaffney (1,184 yds, 17 yds/catch, 14 tds), and junior wide out Reche Caldwell. Grossman and Gaffney seemed to meld minds last season and will have to again in 2001. The offensive line lost some good players but has others in the pipeline.

Defensive Strengths: The defense also returns a lot of players from last season, but needs to replace some beef on the line. Still, big play end Alex Brown (56 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 11.5 tfls) is back for his senior season, but might never live up to fans' expectations, and Clint Mitchell will bookend the other side of the defensive line. The linebackers return a lot of experience in Mike Nattiel (61 tackles), Travis Harris (9 games played), and Byron Hardmon (12 games played). The defensive backfield should be awesome with safeties Todd Johnson (102 tackles, 5 int) and Marquand Manual (83 tackles) returning, and corners Lito Sheppard (6 ints) and seven-game-starter Robert Cromartie returning. If the defense can get pressure on the quarterback, it will be nearly impossible to pass against, but now they need to find a way to stop the run with some consistency.

September 1	MARSHALL
September 8	LA-MONROE
September 15	TENNESSEE
September 22	at Kentucky
September 29	MISSISSIPPI STATE
October 6	at LSU
October 13	at Auburn
October 27	Georgia (Jacksonville)
November 3	VANDERBILT
November 10	at South Carolina
November 17	FLORIDA STATE

2) Miami

2000 Record: 11 -1 (7 - 0)

Last season the Miami Hurricanes showed that they're coming close to the stature they had in old days. In 2000, they ended the season with a legitimate argument that they should have been the team to play Oklahoma for the National Championship, then backed up that argument by leaving the Florida Gators crying "uncle" 37 - 20 in the Sugar Bowl, and finishing the season ranked No. 2 and ahead of the Seminoles. But things got crazy soon after, when head coach Butch Davis told his team and the Miami media that he was staying to coach the Hurricanes, then shifted like the wind and accepted the head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns. Even more remarkable than Davis's sudden change of heart, was the timing of his departure, which came at the peak of the high school recruiting season, and could have torn a chunk out of the program's talent pool. But in stepped assistant Larry Coker to calm the situation and reassure the high school stars who'd committed to the Hurricane program. Now with Davis gone and Coker as the CEO, it's up to the 2001 Hurricanes to show the nation that they can keep their upward trajectory despite being thrown from the boat by their former head coach.

Offensive Losses: The Hurricanes lost a lot of last season's firepower at receiver. Speedster Santana Moss (45 catches, 748 yds) and second leading receiver Reggie Wayne (43 catches, 755 yds, 10 tds) were both first round draft picks. Key receiver backup Andre King was also drafted, as was leading rusher James Jackson (1,006 yds, 11 tds).

Defensive Losses: The major defensive losses are linebacker and leading tackler Dan Morgan (136 tackles, 15 tlf's, 4 sacks, 2 int) and defensive tackle Damione Lewis (39 tackles, 7 tfl's, 3 sacks). Both were first round draft picks. Also missing from last year's squad are defensive ends Quincy Hipps and Jevon Rhodes, cornerback Leonard Myers, and safety Al Blades.

Offensive Strengths: Quarterback Ken Dorsey is back. Dorsey ranked fifth in the country in passing efficiency last season, and threw for 2,737 yards and 25 touchdowns. While leading rusher Jackson is gone, the Hurricanes have a deep and talented stable of running backs that includes Clinton Portis (506 yds, 6.3 yds/carry), fullback Nejah Davenport, and this spring's star Willis McGee, who might end up displacing Portis as the starter. While the Hurricanes have a lot of pass catching talent to replace, have the Hurricanes ever lacked talent at receiver? Also, third leading receiver Jeremy Shockey caught only three touchdowns last season, but caught what might have been the biggest touchdown of all to beat FSU with :46 left to play. The offensive line will return four starters from last year's tough bunch.

Defensive Strengths: The rumor out of South Florida is that the defensive line could be awesome, with the addition of junior college transfers Andrew Williams and Jerome McDougle adding depth at defensive end, where Cornelius Green and Jamaal Green saw significant playing time last year. The interior of the line will most likely be manned by tough guys Santonio Thomas and William Joseph, or by Matt Walters and Vince Wilfork . The linebacker corps is led by the return of linebackers Howard Clark (60 tackles, 2 ints) and senior Chris Campbell (77 tackles, 6 tfls, 4 sacks). Ten-game player Jonathan Vilma will most likely take over for Morgan in the middle. But look out for D.J Williams to make an impact on defense, if he gets the chance. The defensive backfield returns senior cornerback Mike Rumph and strong safety Edward Reed, who had an amazing eight interceptions and 23 pass defections in 2000. Eleven-game players Phillip Buchanan and James Lewis will most likely take over at cornerback and free safety, respectively.

September 1	at Penn State
September 8	RUTGERS
September 15	WASHINGTON
September 27	at Pittsburgh
October 6	TROY STATE
October 13	at Florida State
October 25	WEST VIRGINIA
November 3	TEMPLE
November 10	at Boston College
November 17	SYRACUSE
December 1	at Virginia Tech

1) OKLAHOMA

2000 Record: 13 - 0 (9 - 0)

The Sooners came out of the shadows last season to go undefeated and beat mightily-favored Florida State to win the National Championship. They had a fairly typical national championship season, in that they danced with lady luck and repeatedly made the plays they needed to get the job done. Whether it was Josh Heupel picking up a desperation first down, or Terrance Marshall coming up with a big pick, they worked hard for their opportunities and grabbed them by the collar. Some of y'all might think I'm crazy for putting Oklahoma on top of the mountain over the Florida teams or Nebraska, but the way I see it, they're already there, and ain't nobody knocked them off yet. And unlike last year, they get Kansas State and Texas A&M at home this season, but they have to head to Lincoln to meet the Cornhuskers, and that ain't no easy task. They return all sorts of players from last year's national championship squad, so they're gonna be ready to defend their title, and right now, I don't see any reason to think that they won't be able to do it. There's one difference this season, though: Everybody's gonna be gunning for the Prairie Ship from Norman.

Offensive Losses: Let's face it, quarterback Josh Heupel wasn't a great athlete, but he was a great playmaker and a calm leader. And those qualities are gonna be missed more than his 3,606 yards passing and his 20 touchdowns. The Sooners also lose three offensive linemen, tight end Matt Anderson, and backup halfback Seth Littrell.

Defensive Losses: They lost their biggest defensive playmaker in linebacker Torrence Marshall (106 tackles, 17 tfl's, 5 sacks, 3 ints). Nobody came up bigger in clutch situations. Also, strong safety J.T. Thatcher, who had a whopping eight interceptions is gone, as are three defensive linemen.

Offensive Strengths: Come on! They've got to find somebody to replace Heupel, not necessarily as a quarterback, but as The Man. The early feeling is that Nate Hyble's gonna be the new QB. Hyble, one of about three quarterbacks who transferred from Georgia because he got scared off by Quincy Carter, threw two touchdowns in mop up duty. Leading rusher Quentin Griffith (823 yards, 17 tds) returns, as do backups Renaldo Works and Jamar Mozee. The receiving corps is loaded, with the return of Antwone Savage (621 yds, 3 tds), Andre Woolfolk (614 yds, 5 tds), and Curtis Fagan (606 yds, 7 tds). The offensive line needs to replace some beef.

Defensive Strengths: They're gonna miss Marshall, but leading tackler Rocky Calmus (128 tackles, 17 tfl's, 4 sacks, 3 f-rcv) is an All-American and an emotional leader. The outside linebacker positions will most likely be manned by Brandon Moore and Ted Lehman. Both have plenty of playing experience. The secondary's basically the same one that stonewalled Florida State's passing game, though cornerback Michael Thompson is questionable due to injuries suffered in a car wreck this spring. The leader of the secondary is strong safety Roy Williams, who was the team's third leading tackler, and is one of the most active defensive players in the Big 12. The Oklahoma defensive scheme calls for the defensive linemen to occupy space rather than cause pressure, and they should be able to do so again this season.

August 25	NORTH CAROLINA
September 1	at Air Force
September 8	NORTH TEXAS
September 15	TULSA
September 29	KANSAS STATE
October 6	Texas (Dallas)
October 13	at Kansas
October 20	BAYLOR
October 27	NEBRASKA
November 10	TEXAS A&M
November 17	at Texas Tech
November 24	OKLAHOMA STATE