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College Football Preview: Around The Nation
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Published: July 4, 2008
It's about one month until college football players report for practice.
Looking for your mid-summer fix? We aim to please.
Here's a look at the national picture.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Storylines heading into the 2008 season:
•TITLE GAME: The ACC Championship Game will come to Tampa's Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 6. Could it be Florida State vs. Miami? That's a long shot. The more logical choice? Clemson vs. Virginia Tech.
•SEC DOMINANCE: The SEC is shooting for its third consecutive national championship, following titles by Florida and LSU.
•NEW COACHES: There are 18 new head coaches in Division I-A - including Arkansas' Bobby Petrino, Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson, Michigan's Rich Rodriguez, Ole Miss' Houston Nutt, Nebraska's Bo Pelini, Texas A&M's Mike Sherman, UCLA's Rick Neuheisel and West Virginia's Bill Stewart.
•RACE FOR NO. 1: Penn State's Joe Paterno (372) has pulled within striking distance of Bobby Bowden's all-time victory record (373).
•COORDINATION: Among the new assistant coaches: Norm Chow (offensive coordinator, from the Tennessee Titans to UCLA); Will Muschamp (defensive coordinator, from Auburn to Texas); and Jon Tenuta (defensive coordinator, from Georgia Tech to Notre Dame).
THE EARLY, EARLY, EARLY BOWL PICKS
It's never too soon for postseason speculation:
| Date | Bowl | Matchup | Comment |
| Dec. 20 | St. Petersburg | USF vs. Houston | Local organizers would love presence of home-area Bulls |
| Jan. 1 | Outback | Michigan vs. South Carolina | Rich Rodriguez matches wits with Steve Spurrier |
| Jan. 1 | Rose | USC vs. Penn State | One last Pasadena go-round for Nittany Lions legend Joe Paterno |
| Jan. 1 | Orange | Clemson vs. Missouri | Tigers vs. Tigers - and the traditionally long halftime show |
| Jan. 2 | Sugar | Florida vs. West Virginia | If you like offense and blinding speed, this is your dream matchup |
| Jan. 5 | Fiesta | Oklahoma vs. Brigham Young | Look for Cougars as this season's non-BCS darling team |
| Jan. 8 | BCS Championship | Georgia vs. Ohio State | Resilient Buckeyes fall (again) to an SEC team |
HEISMAN HOPEFULS
Florida junior QB Tim Tebow is trying to become the first repeat Heisman Trophy winner since Ohio State RB Archie Griffin in 1974-75. Here are Tebow's expected competitors:
•Oklahoma sophomore QB Sam Bradford - He had 36 touchdown passes as a freshman, and Sooners should be even better.
•Missouri senior QB Chase Daniel - Last season put Daniel on the map, and more success could vault him to New York.
•Georgia sophomore RB Knowshon Moreno - If Moreno stays the full term, Herschel Walker's records might be in jeopardy.
•West Virginia senior QB Pat White - Mountaineers can help his case by winning the Big East with a 12-0 record.
•Ohio State junior RB Chris "Beanie" Wells - After 1,609 rushing yards and 15 TDs, he's already in the conversation.
BEST EARLY GAMES
Here are some matchups to watch before the conference season begins:
•Illinois vs. Missouri (St. Louis), Aug. 30 - Used to be a ho-hum affair; now it's a battle of elite teams.
•Alabama vs. Clemson (Atlanta), Aug. 30 - We'll find out early if Clemson is up to the task as BCS contender.
•Tennessee at UCLA, Sept. 1 - Rick Neuheisel debuts with Bruins in a prime-time Labor Day affair.
•Kansas at USF, Sept. 12 - Bulls have an opportunity for national splash in this Friday night game.
•Ohio State at USC, Sept. 13 - Don't you wish more programs would use the 12th game in this manner?
•Michigan at Notre Dame, Sept. 13 - Rich Rodriguez, Charlie Weis both need this one to build momentum.
•Georgia at Arizona State, Sept. 20 - Bulldogs roll the dice, take a rare visit west of the Mississippi River.
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
Notable offseason developments
•Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White - who hired George O'Leary (briefly) and Charlie Weis while serving as the face of Tyrone Willingham's firing - is now Duke's AD.
•LSU starting QB Ryan Perrilloux was dismissed - leaving the Tigers with Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch or redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee - and he landed at Division I-AA Jacksonville (Ala.) State.
•Mark Sanchez was named starting quarterback at USC, holding off Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain.
•Heralded prep QB Terrelle Pryor selected Ohio State (over Michigan) in March, about six weeks after National Signing Day. Look for the dual-threat player to become Ohio State's change-of-pace option (a la Tim Tebow, 2006).
•Penn State LB Sean Lee, a potential All-American and the Big Ten's second-leading tackler in 2007, was lost for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee during a spring practice.
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