| Rk. |
School |
Comment |
| 26 |
UNLV
|
With QB Jason Thomas, Rebels could surprise.
|
| 27
|
Colorado |
Veteran team has exciting young QB making plays.
|
| 28
|
Louisville |
2000 C-USA champs return plenty of talent. |
| 29 |
Georgia |
Can new coach Mark Richt win the big ones? |
| 30 |
N.C. State |
Philip Rivers' passing makes anything possible. |
| 31 |
Purdue |
Boilermakers count on 'D' while offense matures. |
| 32 |
USC |
QB Carson Palmer due for a breakthrough. |
| 33 |
East Carolina |
Pirates could break through for C-USA title. |
| 34 |
Illinois |
Which was the aberration: 8-4 in '99 or 5-6 in '00? |
| 35 |
Texas Tech
|
Pass-happy offense will supply plenty of points.
|
| 36
|
Ole Miss |
Eli Manning gets his turn at SEC greatness.
|
| 37
|
Pittsburgh |
Soft early slate launches Panthers to another bowl. |
| 38 |
Southern Miss |
Tough non-league games give Eagles glass ceiling. |
| 39 |
Ohio State |
Welcome Jim Tressel; just don't lose any games. |
| 40 |
Texas A&M |
Aggies seem to lack difference makers. |
| 41 |
Syracuse |
Must solve QB problems to make real progress. |
| 42 |
Michigan St. |
Spartans need points to go with rugged defense. |
| 43 |
North Carolina |
Last chance for Ronald Curry to reach greatness. |
| 44 |
Minnesota
|
Can the Gophers make it three bowls in a row?
|
| 45
|
Auburn |
Could go from first to worst in SEC West.
|
| 46
|
Virginia |
Al Groh goes home to take over solid program. |
| 47 |
BYU |
Post-Edwards era begins under Gary Crowton. |
| 48 |
Marshall |
Still best in MAC, thanks to QB Byron Leftwich. |
| 49 |
Arkansas |
After all the injuries, Hogs are due some breaks. |
| 50 |
Penn State |
JoePa will find a way to win this time ... won't he? |
| 51 |
Boston College |
Third straight bowl hinges on improved defense. |
| 52 |
Fresno St. |
WAC's top team must win key road games. |
| 53 |
Washington St.
|
Cougs hitting an up cycle; bowl game within reach.
|
| 54
|
Oklahoma St. |
QB Aso Pogi as fun to watch as his name is to say.
|
| 55
|
San Diego St. |
Experienced group needs to be more consistent. |
| 56 |
Arizona |
For now, John Mackovic lacks big-time QB. |
| 57 |
UAB |
Strong defense fuels hopes of first bowl bid. |
| 58 |
Arizona St. |
New coach Dirk Koetter inherits solid talent base. |
| 59 |
Temple |
Owls look to leave mark in Big East swan song. |
| 60 |
Iowa |
Can Hawkeyes build on solid last month of 2000? |
| 61 |
Tulane |
Green Wave keep improving under Chris Scelfo. |
| 62 |
New Mexico |
Own offense stands between Lobos and a bowl. |
| 63 |
Maryland |
Can Ralph Friedgen revive the struggling Terps? |
| 64 |
West Virginia |
Rich Rodriguez needs weapons for his air attack. |
| 65 |
Toledo |
Nifty backfield gives wings to MAC West's best. |
| 66 |
TCU |
Rebuilding Frogs hop into the mix in C-USA. |
| 67 |
Indiana |
It seems anything can penetrate the IU defense. |
| 68 |
Utah
|
Difficult schedule is no comfort for rebuilding 'D'.
|
| 69
|
Cincinnati |
K Jonathan Ruffin's leg can pull out the close ones.
|
| 70
|
Cal |
With 17 starters back, Tom Holmoe needs to win. |
| 71 |
Missouri |
New coach Gary Pinkel finds his Tigers lack bite. |
| 72 |
UCF |
Improved defense a boost for QB Ryan Schneider. |
| 73 |
Western Mich. |
Didn't think Gary Darnell would be back, did you? |
| 74 |
Vanderbilt |
Commodores won't break through this year. |
| 75 |
Air Force |
Falcons typically struggle with a new QB... |
| 76 |
Iowa State |
Out to show they weren't one-year bowl wonders. |
| 77 |
Rice
|
Owls return top RB's and a nice, deep defense.
|
| 78
|
Kentucky |
Prolific QB Jared Lorenzen won't have much help.
|
| 79
|
San Jose St. |
Deonce Whitaker is back, but defense is the key. |
| 80 |
Kansas |
Could be improved and still win just 2-3 games. |
| 81 |
Houston |
Cougars could be the sleeper in deep C-USA. |
| 82 |
Middle Tenn. |
Raiders look like the best team in new Sun Belt. |
| 83 |
Baylor |
Kevin Steele still looking for his first Big 12 win. |
| 84 |
Hawaii |
Exciting QB Timmy Chang could spark results. |
| 85 |
Boise St. |
Broncos enter new league after 10-win season. |
| 86 |
Wyoming
|
Cowboys finding rebuilding is an arduous process.
|
| 87
|
Ohio |
Bobcats return 18 starters from promising squad.
|
| 88
|
UTEP |
Miners must rebuild after breakthrough season. |
| 89 |
Wake Forest |
Jim Grobe inherits 19 starters back from 2-9 team. |
| 90 |
Memphis |
Tommy West gets another shot as a head coach. |
| 91 |
SMU |
Why aren't Mustangs a perennial WAC power? |
| 92 |
Rutgers |
James Gandolfini TV ad jump starts new era. |
| 93 |
New Mexico St. |
Need some defense to go with varied offense. |
| 94 |
Tulsa |
With 17 starters back, could be a surprise team. |
| 95 |
Miami, Ohio |
Veteran line will help transition to new quarterback. |
| 96 |
Duke |
With opener against FSU, losing streak will hit 13. |
| 97 |
Nevada |
David Neill is for real, but Wolfpack will struggle. |
| 98 |
Akron |
Zips fall back after nearly catching Marshall. |
| 99 |
Louisiana Tech |
Will have eyes opened in first year of WAC play. |
| 100 |
Idaho
|
QB John Welsh is good, but Idaho in Sun Belt?
|
| 101
|
Navy |
QB Brian Madden's return makes Middies better.
|
| 102
|
Ball State |
After five-win season, no sneaking up this year. |
| 103 |
Army |
Transforming into a throwing team could take time. |
| 104 |
Utah State |
Aggies have RB Emmett White, but no conference. |
| 105 |
No. Illinois |
Huskies return 1,000-yard RB Thomas Hammock. |
| 106 |
North Texas |
Veteran lines have Mean Green's hopes up. |
| 107 |
Bowling Green |
Speed upgrade needed before victories come. |
| 108 |
Kent State |
Woeful offense puts Flashes near MAC basement. |
| 109 |
Arkansas St. |
Indians need to find themselves a defense. |
| 110 |
Central Mich.
|
Chippewas just can't score enough to move up.
|
| 111
|
Troy State |
I-AA power sports new "Trojan Spread" offense.
|
| 112
|
Eastern Mich. |
Eagles search for some form of ground attack. |
| 113 |
South Florida |
Recruiting advantages fuel hopes for future success. |
| 114 |
Buffalo |
Bulls hope this is the year they escape MAC cellar. |
| 115 |
La.-Lafayette |
Perhaps joining league will give Cajuns a focus. |
| 116 |
Connecticut |
So much depends QB Ryan Tracey's left knee. |
| 117 |
La.-Monroe |
Worst team in worst league: A dubious distinction. |
