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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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