A look at college football around the rest of the country

Big East

Overview: Let the "Big Least" jokes commence. Without a team ranked in either the coaches' poll or The Associated Press Top 25, expect even more griping from conferences such as the Mountain West. So which team will get the league's automatic BCS berth? It looks as if Cincinnati, South Florida, Rutgers and Pittsburgh are grouped at the top, with Cincinnati getting the nod because of the return of quarterback Tony Pike. Last season, the Bearcats won 11 games despite having three quarterbacks attempting at least 66 passes; stability at the position will help them deal with replacing 10 starters on defense. At Rutgers, Anthony Davis anchors one of the country's top offensive lines. West Virginia running back Noel Devine will need to improve on last season's 1,289 yards to help fans forget losing Pat White. Coach Dave Wannstedt of Pittsburgh had a breakthrough season but has to replace his best players on offense and defense. Quarterback Matt Grothe and defensive end George Selvie give South Florida star power.

Player to watch: Receiver Mardy Gilyard of Cincinnati led the conference with 11 touchdown catches last season.

Game to watch: Cincinnati at Rutgers (Sept. 7). Things get started quickly with these two contenders meeting in the first week.

Big Ten

Overview: The Big Ten could struggle to put a team in the BCS championship game, but the competition for the conference title figures to be entertaining. Ohio State and Penn State will battle for the top spot, with both teams needing to replace a ton of talent. The Nittany Lions have a narrow edge because they have quarterback Daryll Clark and running back Evan Royster, as well as a schedule that gives their newcomers time to develop and has the Buckeyes playing at Beaver Stadium. On defense, Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman will lead one of the best linebacking corps in the nation. Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor seems poised for a big season, but the loss of every other skill player certainly dampens any enthusiasm. Linebacker Greg Jones of Michigan State will lead a defense that needs to shine, and the Spartans must fill holes at quarterback and running back. Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn of Illinois are one of the more dangerous quarterback/receiver duos in the nation. Iowa has the best offensive line in the conference. The Hawkeyes lost four games last season by a total of 12 points.

Player to watch: Minnesota's Eric Decker led the conference with 89.5 receiving yards a game last season.

Game to watch: Ohio State at Penn State (Nov. 7). Sorry Michigan fans, right now this is the Big Ten's best rivalry.

Big 12

Overview: How good is the Big 12? Since winning a BCS national title three seasons ago, Texas has gone 32-7 and has not played in a conference-title game. Last season, Texas defeated Oklahoma, but lost to Texas Tech on the final play and had to watch the Sooners play for the BCS national championship. And then quarterback Colt McCoy of Texas finished second to Oklahoma's Sam Bradford in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Now, Texas looks poised not only to win the conference, but also to possibly get McCoy some hardware. The Longhorns will need to find a ground game, but the return of McCoy combined with a huge offensive line and an experienced group of receivers ought to compensate. Bradford was only the second sophomore to win a Heisman, joining Tim Tebow of Florida, but inexperience on the offensive line and at receiver might make his junior season less memorable. The play of tackle Gerald McCoy and his defensive teammates will determine the Sooners' success. Oklahoma State has one of the most dazzling offenses in the nation with quarterback Zac Robinson, receiver Dez Bryant and running back Kendall Hunter. The Cowboys will play Texas in Stillwater on Halloween. In the North Division, Nebraska will play at Kansas in mid-November in a game that could decide the division title. Nebraska nose tackle Ndamukong Suh is one of the conference's best defensive players.

Player to watch: Left tackle Russell Okung is the key to Oklahoma State's flashy offense.

Game to watch: Texas vs. Oklahoma in Dallas (Oct. 17). No surprises here. This is the game of the year every year in the Big 12.

Pacific-10

Overview: Is this the year that a team other than Southern California wins the Pac-10 outright? Don't bet on it. Pete Carroll and the Trojans will field another strong team with talent to burn. Still, new faces abound. The defense will break in a nearly entirely new front seven, but the secondary will again rank among the best in the country because of safeties Taylor Mays and Josh Pinkard. Heralded freshman Matt Barkley beat out Aaron Corp to start at quarterback. California and Oregon are strong contenders to make the BCS, but each is a shade behind the Trojans in the Pac-10. Cal has the league's best offensive player in running back Jahvid Best but has been uncharacteristically average at quarterback the past two seasons. Oregon promoted last season's offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly, to replace Mike Bellotti as head coach. He will have plenty of talent to work with in his effort to match Bellotti's success. Jacquizz Rodgers paces a superb running game at Oregon State, and his brother, James, is the team's leading receiver. Stanford is ready to return to bowl play in its third season under Jim Harbaugh. The same can be said of UCLA and Rick Neuheisel, but the Bruins have question marks on offense. Arizona State hopes to rebound from a disappointing 5-7 finish.

Player to watch: Arizona's Rob Gronkowski is the nation's best tight end.

Game to watch: Southern California at California (Oct. 3). Another choice could be Southern Cal at Oregon four weeks later.

Southeastern

Overview: College football's premier power conference includes defending BCS national champion Florida and four other teams in The AP's top 13 — Alabama, Louisiana State, Georgia and Mississippi. As deep as the league is, the story will be the Gators, winners of two of the last three BCS national championships and favorites to repeat. Quarterback Tim Tebow dominates the headlines, but linebacker Brandon Spikes leads a defense that lost only one starter. Florida's stiffest challenge from within the East Division will come from Georgia, whose title hopes went unrealized in 2008. The Bulldogs hope that less flash and more substance will yield another 10-win season and a potential BCS berth. Lane Kiffin has achieved his goal of getting Tennessee back into the national conversation, but none of his bluster will matter come Saturday. The West is deep. Alabama enters Year 3 of the Nick Saban era trying to build on last season's success, which included a division title and a loss to Florida in the SEC title game. Ole Miss is the trendy pick, thanks to its upset of Florida, a strong finish last season and quarterback Jevan Snead. LSU should be very good, especially if it can improve upon the quarterback play that defined last season's disappointing 8-5 record. Even teams out of SEC title contention — such as Arkansas, Auburn and South Carolina — have the potential to win nine games.

Player to watch: Safety Eric Berry of Tennessee is the best defensive player in the nation and could make a trip to the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

Game to watch: LSU at Alabama (Nov. 7). The Tigers will be hungry for revenge after losing to the Tide in overtime last fall.

Conference USA

Overview: The league's BCS hopes are centered on Houston and East Carolina, but both are extreme long shots. Houston has the better chance of the two, but its offense will need to outscore Oklahoma State and Texas Tech in nonconference play, a tall order. Houston's biggest rival in the West Division is Tulsa, whose deep receiver corps is the best in the conference. Damaris Johnson, for example, has the potential to lead the Golden Hurricane in receiving and rushing. Texas-El Paso will welcome back safety Braxton Amy, who missed last season after tearing his ACL. His presence will boost a questionable defense. Southern Methodist could take a big step forward in June Jones' second season but still appears a year away from challenging for the West crown. East Carolina won the league last season coming out of the East but will be tested by Southern Mississippi. The Golden Eagles have a rising star in wide receiver DeAndre Brown. Memphis has been nothing if not consistent, winning at least six games in five of the last six seasons, and this season will be no different. Alabama-Birmingham and Central Florida will battle for the third spot in the division. For Coach George O'Leary of UCF, it might be bowl or bust.

Player to watch: Alabama-Birmingham's Joe Webb is one of three returning quarterbacks in the FBS who threw for 2,000 yards and ran for 1,000 in 2008.

Mid-American

Overview: Despite MAC teams' having four wins against Big Ten teams last season, the chances of the conference even sniffing a BCS appearance are minuscule. Still, with five new head coaches and nine returning quarterbacks, there are plenty of stories. The quarterback discussion starts at Central Michigan with Dan LeFevour, who can be one of the best in the nation if healthy and makes the Chippewas favorites in the East. Nipping at their heels is Western Michigan and QB Tim Hiller, who is less heralded than LeFevour, but who led the conference with 36 touchdown passes and 3,725 yards passing last year. The loss of Nate Davis will make it hard for Ball State to re-create last year's magic. In the West, Buffalo is the defending champion, but a season-ending injury to running back James Starks hurts the Bulls' chances of repeating. Ohio returns a ton of talent and could be a sleeper pick. Bowling Green quarterback Tyler Sheehan and receiver Freddie Barnes are a dangerous combo. Nose tackle Andre Neblett leads a tough Temple defense that ought to help the Owls continue their turnaround.

Player to watch: Central Michigan linebacker Nick Bellore is the conference's biggest hitter and probably its best defender.

Mountain West

Overview: With Texas Christian, Utah and Brigham Young, the Mountain West has a great chance at putting a team into the BCS. Of course, Utah was that team in 2008, and the Utes could make a repeat appearance. Utah lost a lot of production on offense and defense, but Coach Kyle Whittingham is sure to put together a defense stout enough to keep the team in the top three in the MWC and the Top 25 in the nation. Utah's bitter rival, BYU, has the most explosive offense in the conference. Max Hall returns, again a Heisman contender, as do the makings of an improved defense. But the class of the conference is TCU. The Horned Frogs return all the important pieces from last season's top-10 team, including receiver Jimmy Young and All-America DE Jerry Hughes. The Mountain West's top three can play with anyone — and in any conference — but there is a bit of a drop-off after that. Air Force and quarterback Tim Jefferson are returning bowl participants, as is Colorado State. The Rams are excellent at wide receiver and on the offensive line. UNLV is ready to make the jump to bowl eligibility, but San Diego State, New Mexico and Wyoming are in rebuilding mode under first-year coaches.

Player to watch: Wyoming DT John Fletcher, a two-time All-Mountain West selection and maybe the most underrated interior lineman in the country.

Sun Belt

Overview: No Sun Belt team has any misconception of making the big time, but a program like Troy has been known to make things difficult for bigger opponents in nonconference play. The Trojans enter the season as the defending conference champions and the prohibitive favorites to repeat, thanks to a talented offense, led by quarterback Levi Brown, and the strongest front seven in the Sun Belt. This season will see Troy travel to Florida and Arkansas in hopes of an upset, but Troy's chances of reaching the BCS are very slim. Florida Atlantic serves as the biggest threat to Troy's hopes to repeat. The Owls, 2007 Sun Belt champions, can score. The question is, can they stop anyone?

Player to watch: Defensive end Alex Carrington of Arkansas State. He was the 2008 Sun Belt defensive player of the year after finishing with 10 1/2 sacks.

Western Athletic

Overview: Boise State will try to continue its reign atop the conference, but a tough schedule and question marks on both lines will make it difficult for the Broncos to return to the BCS. Yes, the offensive line will take some time to round into form, but Boise State will continue to field one of the nation's most prolific offenses. Quarterback Kellen Moore hopes to build upon his impressive freshman season. Nevada is equally proud of its offense, run to perfection by quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Fresno State, Louisiana Tech and Hawaii occupy the middle of the WAC. Louisiana Tech is experiencing a rebirth under Coach Derek Dooley, who put quarterback Ross Jenkins into the starting lineup midway through last season to terrific results. Hawaii, now two years removed from its trip to the Sugar Bowl, returns only two starters on defense. The WAC's bottom three — Utah State, New Mexico State and Idaho — are as weak a bottom third as any in the country, but Utah State is headed in the right direction.

Player to watch: The Ihenacho brothers of San Jose State — defensive end Carl and safety Duke — are the stars of an underrated defense.

Independents

Overview: The only one of these teams that has any real BCS aspirations is Notre Dame, and the only thing making those aspirations possible is a schedule featuring two teams that finished in the Top 25 last season. And both those games (Michigan State and Southern California) will be in South Bend. The Irish will be dangerous on offense with Jimmy Clausen. He will be throwing to a group of quality receivers, led by Michael Floyd and Golden Tate. Most of the offensive line returns, which could help make the running game more consistent. On defense, the secondary will have to be strong in order to give the front time to jell. Notre Dame might not be beating Southern Cal in October, but if the pieces fall into place, the Irish could make a run at a BCS bowl. At Navy, Coach Ken Niumatalolo helped the Midshipmen win their sixth consecutive Commander-in-Chief's Trophy — and go to a sixth straight bowl game — in his first season last year. Quarterback Ricky Dobbs will be leading the triple-option attack, always one of the most prolific offenses in the country. Coach Rich Ellerson takes over at Army, where he has installed the double-eagle flex defense (which he popularized at Arizona) to take advantage of team speed and aggressiveness. Still, expect a 13th straight losing season.

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