Tuesday, September 1, 2009 - 11:40 pm
Team: Florida
Nickname: Gators
Conference: Southeastern (East)
Location: Gainesville, Fla.
Coach: Urban Meyer (5th year, 44-9; career: 83-17)
Last Bowl: 2009 BCS National Championship
Last season: 13-1, 8-1
Florida won the national championship last season, so it's only natural to pick them to repeat, right? Well, when you return a Heisman winner at QB and every single defensive...read more
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 - 11:35 pm
Team: Texas
Nickname: Longhorns
Conference: Big 12 (South)
Location: Austin, Texas
Coach: Mack Brown (12th year, 115-26; career: 201-100-1)
Last Bowl: 2009 Fiesta
Last season: 12-1, 7-1
Just 12 lettermen depart from a successful 2008 campaign, and the returnees are some of the team's best players. QB Colt McCoy is definitely one of the nation's best, and he returns a 1...read more
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 - 1:20 am
Team: Oklahoma
Nickname: Sooners
Conference: Big 12 (South)
Location: Norman, Okla.
Coach: Bob Stoops (11th year, 109-24)
Last Bowl: 2009 BCS Championship
Last season: 12-2, 8-1
Big Game Bob and his boys lost their fifth straight BCS game in the national championship, losing to Florida. The Sooners return a huge amount of talent, with three possible top 10 NFL picks. An offense...read more
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 - 1:15 am
Team: Southern California
Nickname: Trojans
Conference: Pac-10
Location: Los Angeles
Coach: Pete Carroll (9th year, 88-15)
Last Bowl: 2009 Rose
Last season: 12-1, 8-1
Another year, another 10-plus win season, another Pac-10 title, another BCS game win — it's pretty routine now for the men of Troy. Key starters depart the nation's best defense, and a true freshman...read more
Monday, August 31, 2009 - 1:16 am
Team: Penn State
Nickname: Nittany Lions
Conference: Big Ten
Location: State College, Pa.
Coach: Joe Paterno (44th year, 383-127-3)
Last Bowl: 2009 Rose
Last season: 11-2, 7-1
Remember a few years ago when fans clamored for JoePa to retire? Well, that bandwagon is just about empty as the Nittany Lions are primed to make another run at a BCS game with its top rusher and passer...read more
Monday, August 31, 2009 - 1:14 am
Team: LSU
Nickname: Tigers
Conference: Southeastern (West)
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Coach: Les Miles (5th year, 42-11; 70-32 career)
Last Bowl: 2008 Chick-fil-A
Last season: 8-5, 3-5
With another year of experience at quarterback, the Tigers should return to the top 10. Three different starters were used, but the team has settled on versatile sophomore Jordan Jefferson heading...read more
Saturday, August 29, 2009 - 11:58 pm
Team: Ohio State
Nickname: Buckeyes
Conference: Big Ten
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Coach: Jim Tressel (9th year, 83-19; 218-76-2 career)
Last Bowl: 2009 Fiesta
Last season: 10-3, 7-1
The Buckeyes lost a ton of talent to the NFL, but Tressel has built a powerhouse that should be able to replace the losses. There are two huge tests on the slate (Sept. 12 vs. USC, Nov. 7 at Penn State)...read more
Saturday, August 29, 2009 - 11:56 pm
Team: Alabama
Nickname: Crimson Tide
Conference: Southeastern (West)
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Coach: Nick Saban (3rd year, 19-8; 110-50-1 career)
Last Bowl: 2009 Sugar
Last season: 12-2, 8-1
All-time leading passer John Parker Wilson departs, but the Crimson Tide have a lot returning on both sides of the ball to help soften the blow. Alabama had one of the nation's best...read more
Saturday, August 29, 2009 - 1:02 am
Team: Oklahoma State
Nickname: Cowboys
Conference: Big 12 (South)
Location: Stillwater, Okla.
Coach: Mike Gundy (5th year, 27-23)
Last Bowl: 2008 Holiday
Last season: 9-4, 5-3
Last season was a huge success for the Cowboys, which Gundy parlayed into a huge new contract. However, they did lose three of their last four games, giving up 159 points in those losses. Still, no other...read more
Saturday, August 29, 2009 - 1:00 am
Team: Virginia Tech
Nickname: Hokies
Conference: Atlantic Coast (Coastal)
Location: Blacksburg, Va.
Coach: Frank Beamer (23rd year, 177-89-2; career: 219-112-4)
Last Bowl: 2009 Orange
Last season: 10-4, 6-3
Beamer is the nation's third-longest tenured coach, but somehow isn't mentioned among the elite —which is a shame. His squad is once again among the nation's...read more
Friday, August 28, 2009 - 1:02 am
Team: California
Nickname: Golden Bears
Conference: Pac-10
Location: Berkeley, Calif.
Coach: Jeff Tedford (8th year, 59-30)
Last Bowl: 2008 Emerald
Last season: 9-4, 6-3
With one of the nation's best running backs, an experienced quarterback and a stout defense, the Bears are primed to make a run at USC's Pac-10 dominance. If anyone wants to pass on the Bears, they should...read more
Friday, August 28, 2009 - 1:00 am
Team: Mississippi
Nickname: Rebels
Conference: Southeastern (West)
Location: Oxford, Miss.
Coach: Houston Nutt (2nd season, 9-4; career: 89-58)
Last Bowl: 2008 Cotton
Last season: 9-4, 5-3
In his first season at Ole Miss, one-time Boise State head coach Houston Nutt gave fans plenty of hope for 2009, winning the Cotton Bowl. All of the team's losses were by seven points or...read more
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 10:15 pm
Team: Georgia Tech
Nickname: Yellow Jackets
Conference: Atlantic Coast (Coastal)
Location: Atlanta
Coach: Paul Johnson (2nd season, 9-4 at GT; career: 54-33)
Last bowl: 2008 Chick-fil-A
Last season: 9-4, 5-3
The question entering last season was if the triple option can work at a BCS conference school. Johnson's Ramblin' Wreck answered that with an emphatic "yes...read more
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 10:13 pm
Team: Boise State
Nickname: Broncos
Conference: Western Athletic
Location: Boise
Coach: Chris Petersen (fourth season, 35-4 career)
Last bowl: 2008 Poinsettia
Last season: 12-1, 8-0
Boise State went into last season with a few unkown quantities, and emerged as a team likely to be a fixture in the top 20 for years to come. While the Broncos have a few holes to fill and some question...read more
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 1:14 am
Team: TCU
Nickname: Horned Frogs
Conference: Mountain West
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Coach: Gary Patterson (9th year, career: 73-27)
Last bowl: 2008 Poinsettia
Last season: 11-2, 7-1
The Horned Frogs were a last-minute touchdown away from spoiling Utah's Cinderella season, but managed to hold on and spoil Boise State's unbeaten run by a single point in the Poinsettia...read more
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 1:12 am
Team: Georgia
Nickname: Bulldogs
Conference: Southeastern (East)
Location: Athens, Ga.
Coach: Mark Richt (9th year, career: 82-22)
Last bowl: 2008 Capital One
Last season: 10-3, 6-2
It's the type of year Mark Richt excels at as the Bulldogs started 2008 season No. 1, then after a disappointing finish, saw quarterback Matt Stafford go No. 1 in the NFL draft and the SEC's...read more
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 12:34 am
Team: Oregon
Nickname: Ducks
Conference: Pac-10
Location: Eugene, Ore.
Coach: Chip Kelly (first season, career: 0-0)
Last bowl: 2008 Holiday
Last season: 10-3, 7-2
The Mike Bellotti Era ended in a positive tone, with Oregon rolling over Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl. Now Chip Kelly will instruct a young team which is inexperienced on the offensive and defensive lines. That...read more
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 12:32 am
Team: Utah
Nickname: Utes
Conference: Mountain West
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Coach: Kyle Whittingham (5th year, career: 37-14)
Last bowl: 2008 Sugar
Last season: 13-0, 8-0
It will be awfully difficult to repeat last year's performance — the best in the program's history. Quarterback Brian Johnson is gone, and the Utes will have to face conference juggernauts...read more
Monday, August 24, 2009 - 1:14 am
Team: North Carolina
Nickname: Tar Heels
Conference: ACC
Location: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Coach: Butch Davis (third year, career: 63-33)
Last Bowl: 2008 Mieneke Car Care
Last season: 8-5, 4-4
Butch Davis took the Tar Heels to their first bowl game in four years, but lost to West Virginia. With nine starters returning on defense, North Carolina has the potential to earn back-to-back...read more
Monday, August 24, 2009 - 1:12 am
Team: Michigan State
Nickname: Spartans
Conference: Big Ten
Location: Lansing, Mich.
Coach: Mark Dantonio (third year, career: 34-27)
Last Bowl: 2008 Capital One
Last season: 9-4, 6-2
Michigan State enters the third year of the Mark Dantonio Era, who's turned a slipping program into a respectable Big Ten team. The Spartans have a great chance of qualifying for their third...read more
Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 1:12 am
Team: Florida State
Nickname: Seminoles
Location: Tallahassee, Fla.
Conference: ACC
Coach: Bobby Bowden (34th year, career: 351-117-4)
Last Bowl: 2008 Champs Sports
Last season: 9-4, 5-3
Three seasons have passed since the 'Noles have played in a significant January bowl game, causing many to call for the departure of legendary coach Bobby Bowden. That said, this season may...read more
Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 1:10 am
Team: Iowa
Nickname: Hawkeyes
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Conference: Big Ten
Coach: Kirk Ferentz (11th year, career: 70-53)
Last Bowl: 2008 Outback
Last season: 9-4, 5-3
It was Heartbreak Hotel last season in Iowa City, as the Hawkeyes dropped four games by five points or fewer. But Iowa fans had the last laugh among Big 10 followers: The Hawkeyes were the lone Big Ten team to...read more
Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 1:22 am
Team: Nebraska
Nickname: Cornhuskers
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Conference: Big 12
Coach: Bo Pelini (2nd season at Nebraska, 10-4 record)
Last Bowl: 2008 Gator
Last season: 9-4, 5-3
The Cornhuskers have a schedule that could help ensure their success this season. They play in the North, the weaker of the two Big 12 divisions. Both Texas Tech and Oklahoma visit Lincoln this year,...read more
Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 1:20 am
Team: Illinois
Nickname: Fighting Illini
Location: Urbana-Champaign, Ill.
Conference: Big Ten
Coach: Ron Zook (5th year at Illinois. 18-30 record, 41-44 overall)
Last Bowl: 2007 Rose
Last season: 5-7, 3-5
The Illini had lofty expectations coming into last season, after making a Rose Bowl appearance. They fell way short of those goals falling back under the .500 mark. Illinois...read more
Friday, August 21, 2009 - 1:12 am
Team: Notre Dame
Nickname: Fighting Irish
Location: South Bend, Ind.
Conference: Independent
Coach: Charlie Weis (fifth year, 29-21)
Last Bowl: 2008 Hawaii
Last Season: 7-6 (No conference games)
Charlie Weis will now call the shots on a previously sub-par offense that returns 10 starters, led by brash quarterback Jimmy Clausen. That said, all excuses are out the window if the...read more
Friday, August 21, 2009 - 1:10 am
Team: Kansas
Nickname: Jayhawks
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Conference: Big 12
Coach: Mark Mangino (eight year, career: 45-41)
Last Bowl: 2008 Insight
Last Season: 8-5, 4-4
A Big 12 North title is being whispered in Lawrence, as the Jayhawks return a slew of offensive playmakers, led by prolific quarterback Todd Reesing. The question is: Can Mangino finally get that win against...read more
Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 12:39 am
Team: Miami
Nickname: Hurricanes
Location: Coral Gables, Fla.
Conference: ACC
Coach: Randy Shannon (third year, career: 12-13)
Last Bowl: 2008 Emerald
Last Season: 7-6, 4-4
It's been five years since the 'Canes have recorded double-digit victories that ultimately pumped talented athletes into the NFL Draft. That streak may reach six years, considering they'll face...read more
Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 12:38 am
Team: BYU
Nickname: Cougars
Location: Provo, Utah
Conference: Mountain West
Coach: Bronco Mendenhall (fifth year, career: 38-13)
Last Bowl: 2008 Las Vegas
Last Season: 10-3, 6-2
The Cougars face a tough battle to repeat their 10-win effort from last season. BYU opens the season against BCS runner-up Oklahoma in Arlington, Texas, followed by a home opener against Florida State...read more
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 1:03 am
Team: South Florida
Nickname: Bulls
Location: Tampa, Fla.
Conference: Big East
Coach: Jim Leavitt (13th season, 60-35)
Last season: 8-5, 2-5
Last Bowl: 2008 St. Petersburg
With games against Wofford, Western Kentucky and Charleston Southern, the Bulls better be tuned up before they battle in-state rival Florida State on Sept. 26 —the day South Florida's season officially...read more
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 12:56 am
Team: Pittsburgh
Nickname: Panthers
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Conference: Dave Wannstedt (5th season, 25-23)
Last season: 9-4, 5-2
Last Bowl: 2008 Sun
If not for losses to Rutgers and Cincinnati, the Panthers would have been playing in a BCS bowl last season.
This year, those two teams could again hold Pitt back from being an elite team.
After three season of so-so play with...read more
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 12:42 am
Team: Oregon State
Nickname: Beavers
Location: Corvallis, Ore.
Conference: Pac-10
Coach: Mike Riley (ninth year at Oregon State, 58-42 record)
Last Bowl: 2008 Sun
Last Season: 9-4, 7-2
In each of the past three seasons the Beavers have beaten a Pac-10 team that was ranked in the top 3 in the nation. In each of those seasons, they finished third in the conference. Last year, it...read more
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 12:40 am
Team: Texas Tech
Nickname: Red Raiders
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Conference: Big 12
Coach: Mike Leach (10th year at Texas Tech, 76-39 record)
Last Bowl: 2008 Cotton
Last Season: 11-2, 7-1
Last year, the Red Raiders proved that they could hang with the top dogs in the Big 12, beating Texas and Oklahoma State in back-to-back weeks and rising as high as No. 2 in the polls. But two...read more
Monday, August 17, 2009 - 12:28 am
Team: East Carolina
Nickname: Pirates
Conference: Conference-USA
Location: Greenville, N.C.
Coach: Skip Holtz (5th year at East Carolina, 29-22 record)
Last Bowl: 2008 Liberty
Last season: 9-5, 7-2
A tough non-conference schedule consisting of games against Appalachian State, West Virginia, North Carolina and Virginia Tech greet the Pirates, who are going for a third straight...read more
Monday, August 17, 2009 - 12:27 am
Team: NC State
Nickname: Wolfpack
Conference: ACC
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Coach: Tom O'Brien (3rd year at NC State, 11-14 record, 86-59 overall)
Last Bowl: 2008 Papajohns.com
Last season: 6-7, 4-3
A loss to Rutgers in the Papajohns.com Bowl put the Wolfpack at a sub-.500 record for the third season in a row last year. NC State looks to break that streak this year, with seven...read more
Sunday, August 16, 2009 - 1:36 am
Team: Arizona
Nickname: Wildcats
Location: Tucson, Ariz.
Conference: PAC-10
Coach: Mike Stoops (sixth year, career: 25-34)
Last season: 8-5, 5-4
Last Bowl: 2008 Las Vegas
The Wildcats are coming off a 2008 campaign which featured their first bowl appearance in nine seasons. For a repeat trip to the postseason, the Wildcats will have to rely upon a new quarterback after the departure...read more
Sunday, August 16, 2009 - 1:34 am
Team: UCLA
Nickname: Bruins
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Conference: PAC-10
Coach: Rick Neuheisel (second year, career: 70-38)
Last season: 4-8, 3-6
Last Bowl: 2007 Las Vegas
A lack of game breakers resulted in an abysmal campaign in Rich Neuheisel's inaugural season. It may not get much better this year as the Bruins still are recovering from the wake of the old regime...read more
Saturday, August 15, 2009 - 12:54 am
Team: Cincinnati
Nickname: Bearcats
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Conference: Big East
Coach: Brian Kelly (third year, career: 41-22)
Last season: 11-3, 6-1
Last Bowl: 2008 Orange
Only one starter returns on defense, so Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly has his work cut out for him on the defensive side of the ball. But don't be surprised if that becomes a non-issue, because the Kelly...read more
Saturday, August 15, 2009 - 12:52 am
Team: Arkansas
Nickname: Razorbacks
Location: Fayetteville, Ark.
Conference: SEC
Coach: Bobby Petrino (second year, career: 46-16)
Last season: 5-7, 2-6
Last Bowl: 2007 Cotton
Is it another year in the rebuilding process? Or are the Hogs ready to rock and roll? Those questions will be answered in year two of the Bobby Petrino Era, who built a quality program at Louisville before...read more
Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 11:35 pm
Team: Clemson
Nickname: Tigers
Location: Clemson, S.C.
Conference: Atlantic Coast
Coach: Dabo Swinney (second year at Clemson, 4-3 record)
Last season: 7-6, 4-4
Last Bowl: 2008 Gator
Last season, high expectations and a No. 9 national ranking ultimately led to the firing of head coach Tommy Bowden, who started off with a sub-par 3-3 record. Swinney, however, managed to right the...read more
Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 11:30 pm
Team: Nevada
Nickname: Wolf Pack
Location: Reno, Nev.
Conference: Western Athletic
Coach: Chris Ault (25th year at Nevada, 198-90-1 overall)
Last season: 7-6, 5-3
Last Bowl: 2008 Humanitarian
Expectations are high in Reno and the Nevada offense should produce gargantuan numbers led by quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the WAC Offensive Player of the Year. If the defense improves,...read more
Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 1:11 am
Team: Tennessee
Nickname: Volunteers
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Conference: Southeastern
Coach: Lane Kiffin (1st season, 0-0)
Last season: 5-7, 3-5
Last Bowl: 2007 Outback
It's time to put your money where your mouth is, at least that's the case for first-year coach Lane Kiffin. The loud-mouth coach has been more than vocal, pushing the Vols to the forefront of mainstream...read more
Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 1:10 am
Team: West Virginia
Nickname: Mountaineers
Location: Morgantown, W.Va.
Conference: Big East
Coach: Bill Stewart (2nd season, 10-4)
Last season: 9-4, 5-2
Last Bowl: 2008 Meineke Car Care
Despite a 10-win season last year, it was a down year compared to the previous three seasons the Mountaineers were ranked no worse than No. 13 in the final polls. Though this season may be more...read more
Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 1:08 am
Team: Stanford
Nickname: Cardinal
Location: Palo Alto, Calif.
Conference: Pac-10
Coach: Jim Harbaugh (3rd season, 9-15; 38-21 overall)
Last season: 5-7, 4-5
Last Bowl: 2001 Seattle
Year No. 3 begins for Harbaugh and Co., and by the look of it, it should be one of success. In three years as the head coach of San Diego, the former NFL and Michigan quarterback led the FCS Toreros...read more
Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 1:06 am
Team: Colorado
Nickname: Buffaloes
Location: Boulder, Colo.
Conference: Big 12, North Division
Coach: Dan Hawkins (4th season, 13-24; 105-47-1 overall)
Last season: 5-7, 2-6
Last Bowl: 2007 Independence
After going 53-11 with Boise State, CU fans are waiting for that type of success from Dan Hawkins. Though the team will be severely depleted at receiver, they should be able to...read more
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 1:06 am
Team: Michigan
Nickname: Wolverines
Conference: Big Ten
Location: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Coach: Rich Rodriguez (2nd season at Michigan, 3-9 record, 63-35 overall)
Last Bowl: 2007 Capital One
Last Season: 3-9, 2-6.
With the disaster that was his first season in Ann Arbor behind him, Rich Rodriguez will begin to build the Wolverines using his players. Leading Michigan this season will...read more
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 1:04 am
Team: Rutgers
Nickname: Scarlet Knights
Conference: Big East
Location: New Brunswick, N.J.
Coach: Greg Schiano (9th season at Rutgers, 46-51 record)
Last Bowl: 2008 Papjohns.com
Last season: 8-5, 5-2
The Scarlet Knights have missed out on playing in their first BCS bowl game by just one game in two of the last three seasons. Last season, a 13-10 loss against Cincinnati in the...read more
Monday, August 10, 2009 - 12:49 am
Team: South Carolina
Nickname: Gamecocks
Conference: SEC
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Coach: Steve Spurrier (5th season at South Carolina, 28-22 record, 170-62-2 overall)
Last Bowl: 2008 Outback
Last season: 7-6, 4-4
Things haven't exactly worked as planned in the Steve Spurrier era in South Carolina. Sure the Ol' Ball Coach has turned the media spotlight on Columbia, but...read more
Monday, August 10, 2009 - 12:48 am
Team: Auburn
Nickname: Tigers
Conference: SEC
Location: Auburn, Ala.
Coach: Gene Chizik (first year, career 5-19)
Last Bowl: 2007 Chick-fil-A
Last season: 5-7, 2-6
Call it a season to forget.
The 2008 campaign was the first losing season Auburn has endured since 1999, which, ironically, was the first year of Tommy Tuberville's tenure as Tigers head coach. Now, he's...read more
Sunday, August 9, 2009 - 1:09 am
Team: Missouri
Nickname: Tigers
Conference: Big 12
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Coach: Gary Pinkel (ninth year, 132-78-3)
Last Bowl: 2008 Alamo
Last season: 10-4, 5-4
Multiple players have exited the Tigers locker room, most notably quarterback Chase Daniel and receiver Jeremy Maclin. This year, Blaine Baggert will quarterback the offense, and newly hired defensive coordinator Dave...read more
Sunday, August 9, 2009 - 1:07 am
Team:Tulsa
Nickname: Golden Hurricane
Conference: Conference USA
Location: Tulsa, Okla.
Coach: Todd Graham (third year, 28-13)
Last Bowl: 2008 GMAC
Last season: 11-3, 7-2
The Golden Hurricane won the Conference USA West Division, thanks mostly to quarterback David Johnson (4,059 yards, 46 TD, 18 INT). But he's gone now, and so is receiver Brennan Marion (1,112 yards, 8 TD)...read more
Saturday, August 8, 2009 - 1:07 am
Team: Wisconsin
Nickname: Badgers
Conference: Big 10
Location: Madison, Wis.
Coach: Bret Bielema (fourth year, 28-11)
Last Bowl: 2008 Champs Sports
Last season: 7-6, 3-5
The Badgers' season starts with three consecutive home games against winnable non-conference opponents — Northern Illinois, Fresno State and Wofford. Couple that with one of the easiest Big 10 schedules...read more
Saturday, August 8, 2009 - 1:03 am
Team: Southern Mississippi
Nickname: Golden Eagles
Conference: Conference USA
Location: Hattiesburg, Miss.
Coach: Larry Fedora (second year, 7-6)
Last bowl: 2008 New Orleans
Last season: 7-6, 4-4
The Golden Eagles are a legitimate threat to win the Conference USA East Division, led by their three-headed offensive monster: quarterback Austin Davis, running back Damion Fletcher...read more
Friday, August 7, 2009 - 1:23 am
Team: Baylor
Nickname: Bears
Conference: Big 12
Location: Waco, Texas
Coach: Art Briles (2nd year at Baylor, 4-8 record, 38-36 overall)
Last Bowl: 1994 Alamo
Last season: 4-8, 2-6
Baylor has not been to a Bowl game since 1994 when it was in the now-defunct SWC. Playing in what is perhaps the toughest division in all of college football is not likely to help their cause this year...read more
Friday, August 7, 2009 - 1:18 am
Team: Boston College
Nickname: Eagles
Conference: ACC
Location: Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Coach: Frank Spaziani (1st season at Boston College, 1-0 record)
Last Bowl: 2008 Music City
Last Season: 9-5, 5-4
After a tumultuous offseason which saw the controversial firing of head coach Jeff Jagodzinski, the Eagles are ready to start the season with their third head coach in four years....read more
Thursday, August 6, 2009 - 1:01 am
Team: Arizona State
Nickname: Sun Devils
Conference: Pacific 10
Location: Tempe, Ariz.
Coach: Dennis Erickson (3rd season at Arizona State, 15-10 record)
Last Bowl: 2007 Holiday
Last season: 5-7, 4-5
Getting back to a bowl game is the main goal for the Sun Devils after a disappointing 2008 season. ASU played a brutal schedule in 2008, but the 2009 schedule is much more forgiving...read more
Thursday, August 6, 2009 - 12:58 am
Team: Central Michigan
Nickname: Chippewas
Conference: Mid-American
Location: Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
Coach: Butch Jones (third year, 16-11)
Last Bowl: 2008 Motor City
Last season: 8-5, 6-2
If Central Michigan wants to keep its Motor City Bowl streak intact — three years and counting — they'll need an experienced defensive unit to improve. NFL quarterback prospect...read more
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 - 11:00 pm
Team: Fresno State
Nickname: Bulldogs
Conference: Western Athletic Conference
Location: Fresno, Calif.
Coach: Pat Hill (13th season at Fresno State, 92-61 career record)
Last Bowl: 2008 New Mexico
Last season: 7-6, 4-4
Disappointing doesn't begin to explain 2008. After being picked as the heavy favorite to win the WAC and bust the BCS party, Fresno State seemingly fell apart...read more
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 - 11:00 pm
Team: Kansas State
Nickname: Wildcats
Conference: Big 12
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
Coach: Bill Snyder (18th season at Kansas State, 136-68-1 career record)
Last Bowl: 2006 Texas
Last season: 5-7, 2-6
There was nothing pretty about Kansas State last year. The only good thing that happened in Manhattan last season was getting rid of former head coach Ron Price. Bringing back legendary...read more
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 - 12:53 am
Team: Troy
Nickname: Trojans
Conference: Sun Belt
Location: Troy, Ala.
Coach: Larry Blakeney (19th season at Troy, 52-44 career record)
Last Bowl: 2008 New Orleans
Last season: 8-5, 6-1
Losing to Southern Mississippi in overtime of the 2008 New Orleans Bowl put a sour taste in the Trojans' mouths going into 2009. Getting back to a bowl game won't be as easy this year....read more
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 - 12:51 am
Team: Air Force
Nickname: Falcons
Conference: Mountain West
Location: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach: Troy Calhoun (third year, 17-9)
Last Bowl: 2008 Armed Forces
Last Season: 8-5, 5-3
The Falcons exceeded expectations last season, turning a supposed rebuilding effort into a bowl game appearance. This year, coach Troy Calhoun is looking for more explosiveness offensively, and he...read more
Sunday, August 2, 2009 - 10:56 pm
Team: Minnesota
Nickname: Golden Gophers
Conference: Big Ten
Location: Minneapolis
Coach: Tim Brewster (3rd season at Minnesota, 8-17 record)
Last Bowl: 2008 Insight
Last season: 3-5, 7-6
It's a new era for the Minnesota football program as the team moves into TCF Bank Stadium, a 50,300 seat on campus stadium. The new venue comes a year after the Gophers surprised everybody by improving...read more
Sunday, August 2, 2009 - 10:53 pm
Team: Western Michigan
Nickname: Broncos
Conference: MAC
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Coach: Bill Cubit (5th season at WMU, 29-20 record)
Last Bowl: 2008 Texas
Last Season: 6-2, 9-4
After three straight years of returning a majority of the defensive starters, the Broncos return just three starters as they look to capture their first MAC West title since 2000. The Broncos have been close in recent...read more
Sunday, August 2, 2009 - 1:13 am
Team: Florida Atlantic
Nickname: Owls
Conference: Sun Belt
Location: Boca Raton, Fla.
Coach: Howard Schnellenberger (9th year at Florida Atlantic, 31-30 record, 131-107-103 overall)
Last Bowl: 2008 Motor City
Last season: 4-3, 7-6
The Owls are entering their ninth season as a football program and have already made a name for themselves among the elite teams in the Sun Belt Conference...read more
Sunday, August 2, 2009 - 1:11 am
Team: Vanderbilt
Nickname: Commodores
Conference: SEC
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Coach: Bobby Johnson (8th season at Vanderbilt, 27-56 record)
Last Bowl: 2008 Music City
Last Season: 4-4, 7-6
The Commodores reached its first bowl game since 1982 last season and won its first bowl game since the 1955 Gator Bowl. With 17 starters returning the goals in Nashville are once again on...read more
Saturday, August 1, 2009 - 12:53 am
Team: Wake Forest
Nickname: Demon Deacons
Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Coach: Jim Grobe (ninth season, 87-77-1).
Last Bowl: 2008 Eagle Bank
Last Season: 8-5, 4-4
Only four starters return from a formidable defense that stifled opponents last season. That said, Wake Forest will have to rely on the pin-point accuracy of senior quarterback Riley Skinner...read more
Saturday, August 1, 2009 - 12:53 am
Team: Northwestern
Nickname: Wildcats
Conference: Big Ten
Location: Evanston, Ill.
Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (fourth season as head coach, 19-18 record)
Last Bowl: 2008 Alamo
Last season: 9-4, 5-3
The good news? Four starters return on the offensive line, three of which saw time last season as freshman. The bad news? Departed from the picture are six offensive starters, including the Wildcats'...read more
Friday, July 31, 2009 - 1:03 am
Team: Houston
Nickname: Cougars
Conference: Conference USA
Location: Houston
Coach: Kevin Sumlin (2nd season at Houston, 8-5)
Last Bowl: 2008 Armed Forces
Last Season: 6-2, 8-5
The Cougars were just one game behind Tulsa last season for the Conference USA West division title. Houston hung 70 points up on the Golden Hurricanes for Tulsa's only loss in the division, but road losses to Marshall...read more
Friday, July 31, 2009 - 1:03 am
Team: Navy
Nickname: Midshipmen
Conference: Independent
Location: Annapolis, Md.
Coach: Ken Niumatalolo (2nd season at Navy, 8-6 record)
Last Bowl: 2008 EagleBank
Last season: 8-5
Even though Navy returned just 12 starters the Midshipmen barely missed a beat in Ken Niuamatalolo's first season as coach. With an 8-4 record in the regular season, Navy made it's sixth straight bowl game...read more
Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 1:26 am
Team: Mississippi State
Nickname: Bulldogs
Location: Starkville, Miss.
Conference: SEC
Coach: Dan Mullen (1st season at Mississippi State)
Last Season: 2-6, 4-8
Last Bowl: 2007 Liberty
The Sylvester Croom era didn't go exactly the way Bulldog fans had hoped with Mississippi State making just one bowl game in his five seasons. Dan Mullen takes over in Starkville, inheriting...read more
Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 1:23 am
Team: Purdue
Nickname: Boilermakers
Location: West Lafayette, Ind.
Conference: Big Ten
Coach: Danny Hope (1st season at Purdue)
Last Season: 2-6, 4-8
Last Bowl: 2007 Motor City
Perhaps the biggest loss for the Boilermakers was not one of the 10 starters they lost, but rather coach Joe Tiller who retired after 12 seasons of strolling the sidelines in West Lafayette. Danny Hope...read more
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 1:25 am
Team: Kentucky
Nickname: Wildcats
Location: Lexington, Ken.
Conference: SEC
Coach: Rich Brooks (7th season, 32-41)
Last season: 7-6, 2-6
Last Bowl: 2008 Liberty
The Wildcats havn't been a contender in the SEC for a long time and don't seem destined to change that trend under head coach Rich Brooks. Brooks is 13-35 against the SEC since he began coaching the Wildcats in...read more
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 1:22 am
Team: Texas A&M
Nickname: Aggies
Location: College Station, Tex.
Conference: Big 12
Coach: Mike Sherman (2nd season, 4-8)
Last season: 4-8, 2-6
Last Bowl: 2007 Alamo
The 2008 season could have been worse for the Aggies, they easily could have lost every game in Big 12 play, but thanks to the Big 12 North the Aggies escaped with two conference wins against Colorado and Iowa State...read more
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 - 12:29 am
Team: Maryland
Nickname: Terrapins
Location: College Park, Md.
Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference
Coach: Ralph Friedgen (Ninth season, 64-36)
Last Season: 8-5, 4-2
Last Bowl: 2008 Humanitarian
The Terrapins lost 30 seniors from the 2008 team, the same team that defeated Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl, 42-35. An easy non conference schedule plays into the Terrapins' favor...read more
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 - 12:25 am
Team: Louisville
Nickname: Cardinals
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Conference: Big East
Coach: Steve Kragthorpe (3rd season, 11-13)
Last season: 5-7, 1-6
Last Bowl: 2006 Orange
This may be the year the Cardinals become a contender in the Big East once again, but don't expect them to win the conference. Steve Kragthorpe enters his third year at the helm in Louisville after two...read more
Sunday, July 26, 2009 - 8:23 pm
Team: Connecticut
Nickname: Huskies
Location: Storrs, Conn.
Conference: Big East
Coach: Randy Edsall (11th season at Connecticut, 54-53 record)
Last Season: 3-4, 8-5.
Last Bowl: 2008 International
The Huskies have a tough task this season of replacing Donald Brown, who gained over 2,000 yards last season. Sophomore Jordan Todman is the only returning player who had more than 75...read more
Sunday, July 26, 2009 - 8:18 pm
Team: Louisiana Tech
Nickname: Bulldogs
Location: Ruston, La.
Conference: Western Athletic Conference
Coach: Derek Dooley (3rd season at La. Tech, 13-12 record)
Last season: 5-3, 8-5
Last Bowl: 2008 Independence
The Bulldogs will start the season by attempting to open the season by knocking off an SEC opponent for the second year in a row. Last year, they opened with a 22-14...read more
Sunday, July 26, 2009 - 1:04 am
Team: UTEP
Nickname: Miners
Location: El Paso, Texas
Conference: Conference USA
Coach: Mike Price (6th season at UTEP, 30-30 record, 113-108 overall)
Last Season: 4-4, 5-7
Last Bowl: 2005 GMAC
With 55 lettermen returning, including 15 of the starters from last year's squad, the Miners are in a position to get to their first bowl game in four seasons. They've been one game...read more
Sunday, July 26, 2009 - 1:02 am
Team: Virginia
Nickname: Cavaliers
Location: Charlottesville, Va.
Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference
Coach: Al Groh (9th season at Virginia, 5-7 record)
Last season: 3-5, 5-7
Last Bowl: 2007 Gator
The conference schedule sets up nicely for the Cavaliers. There's no Florida State or Wake Forest on the schedule. Games against Boston College and Virginia Tech are at home....read more
Saturday, July 25, 2009 - 1:16 am
Team: Memphis
Nickname: Tigers
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Conference: Conference USA, East Division
Coach: Tommy West (9th season, 78-79)
Last Season: 6-7, 4-4
Last Bowl: 2008 St. Petersburg
Despite a losing 2008 mark, the Tigers did manage to make it to a bowl game, losing 41-14 to South Florida.
Memphis coach Tommy West has led the Tigers to five bowl games during the last six...read more
Saturday, July 25, 2009 - 1:14 am
Team: Temple
Nickname: Owls
Location: Philadelphia
Conference: Mid-American, East Division
Coach: Al Golden (4th season, 10-26)
Last season: 5-7, 4-4
Last Bowl: 1979 Garden State
Alas, Temple football really is going to be competitive. Really.
Despite an 18-year drought — and a move from a major conference to the MAC —the Owls are starting to turn it around.
Last...read more
Thursday, July 23, 2009 - 11:27 pm
Team: Ohio
Nickname: Bobcats
Location: Athens, Ohio
Conference: Mid-American (East)
Coach: Frank Solich (5th year at Ohio, 23-26 record, 81-45 overall)
Last Season: 3-5, 4-8
Last Bowl: 2006 GMAC
The Bobcats will be traveling quite a bit early on in the season with five of their first seven games on the road. After a tough game against Tennessee on Sept. 26, however, the schedule...read more
Thursday, July 23, 2009 - 11:26 pm
Team: UNLV
Nickname: Runnin' Rebels
Location: Las Vegas, Nev.
Conference: Mountain West
Coach: Mike Sanford (5th season at UNLV, 11-36 record)
Last season: 2-6, 5-7
Last Bowl: 2000 Las Vegas
The Rebels were able to win just two games a year in the first three years with Mike Sanford as head coach. They were just one win away last season from being bowl eligible for their first...read more
Thursday, July 23, 2009 - 12:26 am
Team: Toledo
Nickname: Rockets
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Conference: Mid-American (West)
Coach: Tim Beckman (1st season)
Last Season: 2-6, 3-9
Last Bowl: 2005 GMAC
Last year was a step back for the Rockets, and it wound up costing coach Tom Amstutz his job. Toledo averaged 10 ppg fewer than in 2007 and lost by 17 points or more six times.
Beckman, the former DC at Oklahoma State...read more
Thursday, July 23, 2009 - 12:25 am
Team: Hawaii
Nickname: Warriors
Location: Honolulu
Conference: Western Athletic
Coach: Greg McMackin (2nd season, 7-7 at Hawaii; 31-21-1 career)
Last season: 5-3, 7-7
Last Bowl: 2008 Hawaii
The 2008 campaign should be considered a success simply because McMackin took over for long-time coach June Jones and lost stars like Colt Brennan, Jason Rivers and Davone Bess.
Hawaii's...read more
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - 11:11 pm
Team: San Jose State
Nickname: Spartans
Location: San Jose, Calif.
Conference: Western Athletic
Coach: Dick Tomey (5th season at San Jose State, 23-25 record, 181-135-7 overall)
Last Season: 4-4, 6-6
Last Bowl: 2006 New Mexico
A tough non conference scheduled, followed by a tough road conference schedule could pose problems for San Jose State this season. The Spartans start out...read more
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - 11:10 pm
Team: Buffalo
Nickname: Bulls
Location: Buffalo, N.Y.
Conference: Mid-American
Coach: Turner Gill (4th season at Buffalo, 15-23 record)
Last season: 6-3, 8-6
Last Bowl: 2008 International
Buffalo may have won the MAC Championship, but the title game against then unbeaten Ball State was the only time they truly looked like an elite team. Three of the Bulls seven wins up to that...read more
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - 12:55 am
Team: Akron
Nickname: Zips
Location: Akron, Ohio
Conference: Mid-American, East Division
Coach: JD Brookhart (6th season, 27-33)
Last Season: 5-7, 3-5
Last Bowl: 2005 Motor City
In the Mid-American Conference, pretty much every team has a chance to go to a bowl game, given the lack of top-tier teams. That may just be the motivation this offseason for the Zips, which despite low expectations...read more
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - 12:55 am
Team: Central Florida
Nickname: Knights
Location: Orlando, Fla.
Conference: Conference USA
Coach: George O'Leary (6th season, 78-69 overall)
Last season: 4-8, 3-5
Last Bowl: 2007 Liberty
The offense was pretty poor last season, ranked last among all FBS teams. This year, the offense will return nine starters, which should obviously help. The defense, though, which was the team's strong...read more
Monday, July 20, 2009 - 12:52 am
Team: Colorado State
Nickname: Rams
Location: Fort Collins, Colo.
Conference: Mountain West
Coach: Steve Fairchild (2nd season at Colorado State, 7-6 record)
Last Season: 4-4, 7-6
Last Bowl: 2008 New Mexico
The Rams are coming off their first bowl win since 2001 but still have some holes they need to plug up. Despite getting 362 yards on the ground against Fresno State in their bowl game, Colorado...read more
Monday, July 20, 2009 - 12:51 am
Team: Rice
Nickname: Owls
Location: Houston
Conference: Conference USA
Coach: David Bailiff (3rd season at Rice, 13-12 record, 21-15 overall)
Last season: 7-1, 10-3
Last Bowl: 2008 Texas
Coach David Bailiff's third year at Rice is more likely to resemble his first season, when the Owls went 3-9, than his second season, when they had a 10 win season. A good chunk of the Owls offense from...read more
Sunday, July 19, 2009 - 1:05 am
Team: Arkansas State
Nickname: Red Wolves
Location: Jonesboro, Ark.
Conference: Sun Belt
Coach: Steve Roberts (8th season, 37-47)
Last season: 4-3, 6-6
Last bowl: 2005 New Orleans
The Red Wolves have won five or more games in six of Roberts' seasons, but have yet to win more than six in one season. Arkansas State returns its top three rushers, top two receivers and long-time starting QB...read more
Sunday, July 19, 2009 - 1:03 am
Team: Northern Illinois
Nickname: Huskies
Location: DeKalb, Ill.
Conference: Mid-Amercan
Coach: Jerry Kill (2nd season at Northern Illinois, 6-7 record, 55-32 overall)
Last Season: 5-3, 6-7
Last Bowl: 2008 Independence
The Huskies already know they can keep up with the best of the MAC. Last season they brought Central Michigan to overtime before the Chippewas prevailed 33-30. Non-conference...read more
Saturday, July 18, 2009 - 1:25 am
Team: Alabama-Birmingham
Nickname: Blazers
Location: Birmingham, Ala.
Conference: Conference USA
Coach: Neil Callaway (2nd season, 6-18)
Last Season: 3-5, 4-8
Last Bowl: 2004 Hawaii
By shutting out Central Florida 15-0 in the last game of the 2008 season, the Blazers we're able to show their faces in Birmingham after giving up at least 33 points the previous four games. Callaway...read more
Saturday, July 18, 2009 - 1:21 am
Team: San Diego State
Nickname: Aztecs
Location: San Diego
Conference: Mountain West
Coach: Brady Hoke (1st season, 34-38 career)
Last Season: 1-7, 2-10
Last Bowl: 1998 Las Vegas
After eight successful years at Ball State, head coach Brady Coke will make his coaching debut for the Aztecs at UCLA on Sept. 5. It will be Hoke's first game since the losing in the GMAC Bowl last...read more
Friday, July 17, 2009 - 12:44 am
Team: Duke
Nickname: Blue Devils
Location: Durham, N.C.
Conference: Atlantic Coast
Coach: David Cutliffe (2nd season at Duke, 4-8 record, 48-37 overall)
Last Season: 4-8, 1-7
Last Bowl: 1994 Hall of Fame
Duke began last season with a 4-3 record and in the hunt for its first bowl game in 14 seasons. However after suffering an overtime loss to Wake Forest, the Blue Devils finished the season...read more
Friday, July 17, 2009 - 12:43 am
Team: Washington
Nickname: Huskies
Location: Seattle
Conference: Pac-10
Coach: Steve Sarkisian (1st season)
Last Season: 0-12, 0-9
Last Bowl: 2002 Sun
The Huskies were the only winless team in the nation last season, and bring a 14 game losing streak into the season. A season opening game against LSU isn't likely to snap that, but the next week provides an opportunity as Idaho comes into...read more
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 8:05 pm
Team: Bowling Green
Nickname: Falcons
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio
Conference: Mid-American
Coach: Dave Clawson (1st season, 0-0)
Last season: 6-6, 4-4
Last Bowl: 2007 GMAC
Head coach Dave Clawson has moved up the ranks as the new leader for the Falcons. Clawson was a former national coach of the year at the I-AA level. However, as the OC at Tennessee last season, Clawson did...read more
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 8:02 pm
Team: Marshall
Nickname: Thundering Herd
Location: Huntington, W.Va.
Conference: Conference USA, East
Coach: Mark Snyder (5th season, 16-31)
Last season: 4-8, 3-5
Last Bowl: 2004 Fort Worth
In the end, the Thundering Herd did a bit better than many thought a season ago. However, a sub.500 record isn't quite where the program wants to be after so much success early this decade...read more
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 1:34 am
Team: Indiana
Nickname: Hoosiers
Location: Bloomington, Ind.
Conference: Big Ten
Coach: Bill Lynch (3rd season, 10-15; 47-68 overall)
Last season: 1-7, 3-9
Last Bowl: 2007 Insight
Though some nice defensive players return to the Hoosiers, talented QB/WR Kellen Lewis was kicked off the team, leaving IU pretty much devoid of playmakers.
The schedule: It may be tough for the Hoosiers...read more
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 1:31 am
Team: Iowa State
Nickname: Cyclones
Location: Ames, Iowa
Conference: Big 12
Coach: Paul Rhoads (1st season)
Last Season: 0-8, 2-10
Last Bowl: 2005 Houston
Two years after hiring Auburn's defensive coordinator (Gene Chizik), the Cyclones went back to the same well with Rhoads. However, the talent level in Ames is just not up to snuff in the high-powered Big 12.
Still, look...read more
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 - 12:01 am
Team: Middle Tennessee
Nickname: Blue Raiders
Location: Murfeesboro, Tenn.
Conference: Sun Belt
Coach: Rick Stockstill (4th season, 17-20)
Last Season: 5-7, 3-4
Last Bowl: 2006 Motor City
Last season, the Blue Raiders were a middle-of-the-road football team in the worst FBS conference. This season should be more than the same.
Though the team has 10 offensive returners back...read more
Monday, July 13, 2009 - 11:59 pm
Team: Southern Methodist
Nickname: Mustangs
Location: Dallas
Conference: Conference USA
Coach: June Jones (2nd season, 1-11; 77-52 overall)
Last Season: 1-11, 0-8
Last Bowl: 1984 Cotton
June Jones knew he'd have his hands full when he left Hawaii for SMU, but a 1-11 season, with the lone win coming against its only non-FBS team, has to be tough to swallow.
This season should...read more
Monday, July 13, 2009 - 1:01 am
Team: Ball State
Nickname: Cardinals
Location: Muncie, Ind.
Conference: Mid-American
Coach: Stan Parrish (1st season)
Last Season: 12-2, 8-0
Last Bowl: 2008 GMAC
Just last fall Ball State captured the nation's imagination, starting out 12-0 and climbing as high as No. 12 in the polls. But two losses to end the season brought the Cardinals back down to earth. Now Ball State enters a season...read more
Monday, July 13, 2009 - 12:58 am
Team: Florida International
Nickname: Golden Panthers
Location: Miami, Fla.
Conference: Sun Belt
Coach: Mario Cristobal (3rd year, 6-18)
Last Season: 5-7, 3-4
Last Bowl: N/A
After finishing the previous two seasons with just one total win, the Golden Panthers came from out of nowhere to come within one win of being bowl eligible for the first time in program history. The Golden Panthers return...read more
Saturday, July 11, 2009 - 10:32 pm
Team: New Mexico
Nickname: Lobos
Location: Albuquerque, N.M.
Conference: Mountain West
Coach: Mike Locksley (1st season)
Last season: 4-8, 2-6
Last Bowl: 2007 New Mexico
The schedule is not kind to the Lobos this year. In addition to playing a full MWC schedule, which seems to get stronger every year, New Mexico has non conference dates with Texas A&M, Tulsa, and Texas Tech. They may escape...read more
Saturday, July 11, 2009 - 10:22 pm
Team: Kent State
Nickname: Golden Flashes
Location: Kent, Ohio.
Conference: Mid-American
Coach: Doug Martin (6th season, 19-39)
Last season: 4-8, 3-5
Last Bowl: 1972 Tangerine
Kent State averaged 5.3 yards per carry last season, but their leading rusher was its QB. Julian Edelman had 1,370 yards rushing to go with his 1,820 passing yards, but he graduated. Running back Eugene Davis had more...read more
Saturday, July 11, 2009 - 1:06 am
Team: Tulane
Nickname: Green Wave
Location: New Orleans
Conference: Conference USA
Coach: Bob Toledo (3rd season, 69-80)
Last season: 2-10, 1-7
Last Bowl: 2002 Hawaii
The Green Wave suffered through their worst record last season since 2005, when Hurricane Katrina forced Tulane to play all of their games on the road. The schedule doesn't look to favor them this year either, with dates against...read more
Saturday, July 11, 2009 - 12:58 am
Team: Syracuse
Nickname: Orange
Location: Syracuse, N.Y.
Conference: Big East
Coach: Doug Marrone (1st season)
Last season: 3-9, 1-6
Last Bowl: 2004 Champ Sports
It could be another slow start for the Orange in the first year of the Doug Marrone era. Five of Syracuse's first six games are against teams who played in bowl games last year.
Marrone has helped turn around Syracuse once before...read more
Thursday, July 9, 2009 - 9:27 pm
Team: Utah State
Nickname: Aggies
Location: Logan, Utah
Conference: WAC
Coach: Gary Anderson (1st season)
Last season: 3-9, 3-5
Last Bowl: 1997 Humanitarian
Here we go again ... .
Brent Guy was unable to get it going in Logan, now the Aggies turn to Gary Anderson to lead the team. The former Utah assistant for the past five seasons could be more of the same as both he and Guy...read more
Thursday, July 9, 2009 - 9:22 pm
Team: Louisiana-Monroe
Nickname: Warhawks
Location: Monroe, La.
Conference: Sun Belt
Coach: Charlie Weatherbie (7th season, 70-109)
Last season: 4-8, 3-4
Last Bowl: none
And it was only two seasons ago when Louisiana-Monroe beat Alabama, 21-14.
This season, the team can land a huge win during the first week of the season when the Warhawks face Texas, but that may be more than...read more
Thursday, July 9, 2009 - 12:01 am
Team: Eastern Michigan
Nickname: Eagles
Location: Ypsilanti, Mich.
Conference: Mid-American
Coach: Ron English (1st season)
Last season: 3-9, 2-7
Last Bowl: 1987 California
If the Eagles have one thing going for them this season, it'll be the coaching. New head man Ron English, who was the defensive coordinator under Lloyd Carr at Michigan, should be an exciting change. EMU...read more
Thursday, July 9, 2009 - 12:01 am
Team: Idaho
Nickname: Vandals
Location: Moscow
Conference: WAC
Coach: Robb Akey (3rd season, 3-21)
Last season: 2-10, 1-7
Last Bowl: 1998 Humanitarian
Can it really be another season of misery for the Idaho Vandals? It sure can be, especially if the Vandals allow nearly 43 points per game like they did last season.
In what might be a make or break season for Akey, the Vandals...read more
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 - 9:15 pm
Team: Wyoming
Nickname: Cowboys
Location: Laramie, Wyo.
Conference: Mountain West
Coach: Dave Christensen (1st season)
Last season: 1-7, 4-8
Last Bowl: 2004 Las Vegas
Though the Cowboys won at Tennessee last season, they still were not able to perform well enough for Joe Glenn to keep his job. The Pokes were minus-22 on the season in turnover differential, plus got almost no production...read more
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 - 9:03 pm
Team: Army
Nickname: Black Knights
Location: West Point, N.Y.
Conference: Independent
Coach: Rich Ellerson (1st season; 60-41 as coach at Cal Poly, S. Utah)
Last season: 3-9
Last Bowl: 1996 Independence
Stan Brock brought back the option to West Point in 2007, but he didn't last long, as the Cadets lost 18 games in his two seasons. Ellerson is an option specialist from the...read more
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 - 12:44 am
Editor's note: In Tuesday, July 7's IPT, the "impact player" was listed as Greg Trent, who in fact was a senior last season. The error has been corrected.
Team: Washington State
Nickname: Cougars
Location: Pullman, Wash.
Conference: Pac-10
Coach: Paul Wulff (2nd season, 2-11)
Last season: 1-8, 2-11
Last Bowl: 2003 Holiday
In Wulff's first season, the Cougars...read more
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 - 12:41 am
Team: Miami (Ohio)
Nickname: RedHawks
Location: Oxford, Ohio
Conference: Mid-American
Coach: Mike Haywood (1st season)
Last season: 2-7, 2-10
Last Bowl: 2004 Independence
The RedHawks came into 2008 with high hopes, but those came crashing down quickly with just one win over an FBS team (27-20 over Bowling Green). Miami (Ohio) was No. 101 or worse in scoring offense and scoring...read more
Monday, July 6, 2009 - 1:39 am
Team: Louisiana-Lafayette
Nickname: Ragin' Cajuns
Location: Lafayette, La.
Conference: Sun Belt
Coach: Rickey Bustle (8th season, 32-50)
Last season: 5-2, 6-6
Last Bowl: None
The Ragin' Cajuns will be losing a lot of yardage in 2009. All-time leading rusher Tyrell Fenroy (1,375 yards, 19 touchdowns last season) and crazy-legged QB Michael Desormeaux (1,035 yards) depart. The schedule...read more
Monday, July 6, 2009 - 1:34 am
Team: North Texas
Nickname: Mean Green
Location: Denton, Tex.
Conference: Sun Belt
Coach: Todd Dodge (3rd season, 3-21)
Last season: 0-7, 1-11
Last Bowl: 2004 New Orleans
North Texas' defense was even worse last year than expected — and that's saying a lot. After giving up 45.1 ppg in 2007, the Mean Green yielded 47.6 ppg last season. Mean Joe would not approve.
Record-setting...read more
Sunday, July 5, 2009 - 1:23 am
Team: New Mexico State
Nickname: Aggies
Location: Las Cruces, N.M.
Conference: Western Athletic
Coach: DeWayne Walker (1st season; 0-1 overall)
Last season: 1-7, 3-9
Last Bowl: 1960 Sun
Hal Mumme is gone, and with him, the pass-heavy Air Raid offense departs. Walker, the former UCLA defensive coordinator, steps in with a lot of work to do. All-time leading passer Chase Holbrook is gone, and...read more
Sunday, July 5, 2009 - 1:12 am
Team: Western Kentucky
Nickname: Hilltoppers
Location: Bowling Green, Ky.
Conference: Sun Belt
Coach: David Elson (7th season, 39-32)
Last season: 2-10, 0-0
Last Bowl: none
The Hilltoppers are coming off their first 10-loss season in program history, which came in their second year of transition to the FBS level. But now that WKU is a full-fledged member of the Sun Belt, will it all start to...read more
Who's No. 1? The Idaho Press-Tribune countdowns all of college football from No. 120 to No. 1.
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