One To 112

Team

1996 Record

Returning Starters

1 Penn State

11-2

13

Seventy, pleasant, no sign of gray: a favorable weather forecast? Nope. Joe Paterno

2 Tennessee

10-2

15

Give LB/DE Leonard Little lots of credit for sparking the SEC's top defense (236.6 yards allowed per game in '96)

3 Washington

9-3

16

Last 11 Huskies quarterbacks have gone on to play pro ball; Brock Huard will be the 12th

4 Florida

12-1

12

Steve Spurrier, the winningest SEC coach in history, is 53-6 in conference games and 41-2 in the Swamp

5 Colorado

10-2

15

With games at Michigan, Texas and a season finale at home against Nebraska. Buffaloes hard-pressed to match '96 record

6 Florida State

1 1-1

14

Four-year starter and Butkus Award candidate Daryl Bush will anchor defense that was No. 1 against the rush in '96

7 North Carolina

10-2

17

Cornerback Dre' Bly was named first-team AP All-America on defense, the first freshman to earn that honor

8 Nebraska

11-2

11

Big game: Sept 20 at Washington, the only foe Tom Osborne (0-2) hasn't beaten in a regular-season game in the past decade

9 Notre Dame

8-3

15

Why Ron Powlus really returned: an offensive line that includes four starters who average 6'6½", 297 pounds

10 Louisiana State

10-2

18

SEC's best ground team (211.1 yards per game in '96) has all its rushers back and could make a run for conference title

11 Ohio State

1 1-1

9

Junior safety Damon Moore was first nonlinebacker since World War II to lead Buckeyes in tackles

12 Alabama

10-3

10

For opposing QBs, tackle Michael Myers (13 sacks last season) is scarier than his Halloween namesake

13 Texas

8-5

14

Austin powers James Brown (QB), Ricky Williams (TB) and Phil Dawson (K) will lead the Longhorns' scoring explosion

14 Miami

9-3

12

Hurricanes lost three games in Orange Bowl in '96, one more than their total from 1985 through '95

15 Arizona

5-6

18

Keith Smith not only most efficient passer among returning Pac-10 quarterbacks but also Arizona's No. 2 rusher (546 yards) in '96

16 Michigan State

6-6

17

Tailback Sedrick Irvin tries to improve on his 1,067 yards rushing last fall, a record for a Spartan freshman

17 Syracuse

9-3

12

The Orangemen have never won the Big East title outright. Could this be the year?

18 Michigan

8-4

15

Why does junior cornerback-flanker Charles Woodson wear number 2? Because he's the best two-way player in the game

19 Stanford

7-5

13

Smart choice, Chelsea Clinton: Princeton has no home games in '97; Cardinal has six, including one against Notre Dame

20 Auburn

8-4 7-5

18

Tigers have 10 starters back on a defense that tied for Division l-A lead with 36 forced turnovers

21 Clemson

7-5

16

Junior linebacker Anthony Simmons has reached double figures in tackles in 21 of his 24 games

22 Virginia Tech

10-2

11

In light of numerous run-ins with the law by Tech athletes, Blacksburg jail now called Hokie Pokey

23 UCLA

5-6

16

No Bruin was chosen in April's NFL draft, the first such shutout since 1942

24 Northwestern

9-3

11

Gary Barnett lost 13 starters but reeled in Evanston's best recruiting class

25 Colorado State

7-5

17

Go up, Moses: Senior quarterback Moses Moreno is WAC's top returning passer in efficiency (141.4 rating in '96)

26 Brigham Young

14-1

15

Cotton Bowl champs risk nation's longest Division l-A winning streak (12) in season opener vs. Washington

27 Kansas State

9-3

12

Eric Hickson, the team's leading rusher in '95, returns from a broken leg that forced him to sit out last season

28 USC

6-6

16

Trojan quarterbacks have one career completion, a fact their first foe, Florida State, is well aware of

29 Wisconsin

8-5

11

Great Dayne: Tailback Ron Dayne rushed for an NCAA freshman-record 1,863 yards in '96

30 Texas A&M

6-6

16

Aggies greet new offensive and defensive coordinators; three easy nonconference games precede showdown at Colorado

31 Iowa

9-3

15

Tim Dwight stands just 5'9" but is Hawkeyes' top wideout and perhaps the country's best return man

32 Virginia

7-5

9

Cavaliers lost starting backfield to graduation and could find it difficult to score 300 points for a ninth straight year

33 Georgia Tech

5-6

14

Biletnikoff Award candidate Harvey Middleton led all ACC wrteouts last season, with 64 receptions

34 West Virginia

8-4

15

The Battle of West.Virginia win be joined nn Aug. 30, when Mountaineers host I-A newcomer and I-AA champ Marshall

35 Arizona State

11-1

14

Leapin' Lizards: Junior wideout Kenny Mitchell also.halds Arizona s high school hign jump record of seven feet

36 Georgia

5-6

16

Versatile offensive threat Hines Ward may be first to reach T.000 yards each in passing, receiving, rushing and kick returns

37 South Carolina

6-5

16

Parris island recruits won't have this tough a November: at Tennessee, then Florida and Clemson at home

38 Washington State

5-6

14

Cougars open against UCLA and USC, whom they have never swept in the same season

39 East Carolina

8-3

9

Pirates will ride Scott Harley. the nation's leading returning rusher, with 158.6 yards per game, to Conference USA title

40 Navy

9-3

14

Chris McCoy is the first Midshipman signal-caller to rush for more than 1.000 yards (1,228,16 TDs rushing) in a season

41 Mississippi State

5-6

15

Three straight AA meetings in November-At Auburn, At Alabama. At Arkansas-will prove sobering

42 Boston College

5-7

17

Is this Rose an annual? Tim Rose is Eagles' fifth defensive coordinator in as many years

43 Oregon

6-5

11

Rain-weary Ducks are constructing Pac-10's first indoor practice facility

44 San Diego State

8-3

14

Aztecs have a special concern: They must replace kicker, punter, long snapper and returner

45 Rice

7-4

15

Nation's third-best rushing backfield (305.4 yards per game) returns intact for Owls, who had most wins since '61

46 Army

10-2

9

Fullback Joe Hewitt leads the Cadets into West Point's final season as an independent. Army joins Conference USA in '98

47 Nevada

9-3

15

The Wolf Pack, with 527.3 yards per game in '96. has had the nation's top-rated offense three of the past four years

48 Southern Mississippi

8-3

16

The Golden Eagles must endure SEC death march with trips to Gainesville, Fla.: Birmingham; and Knoxville, Tenn.

49 Oklahoma

3-8

13

A 3-8 record? The Joads would have fled. Coach John Blake must restore Sooners' luster soon

50 Texas Tech

7-5

14

Zero: departed All-America rusher Byron Hanspard's GPA last fall and Red Raiders' chances of winning opener at Tennessee

51 Louisville

5-6

13

Homegrown quarterback Chris Redman must deliver since the Cards' featured tailback, Rico Williams, is a former walk-on

52 Utah

8-4

15

One third of incoming recruits are defensive linemen, and with good reason: Utes yielded 214.4 rushing yards per game in '96

53 Arkansas

4-7

18

Hogs' career marks for catches, receiving yardage and touchdowns are within wideout Anthony Eubanks's grasp

54 Marshall

15-0

10

The defending I-AA champs ascend to I-A with the best receiver in any division, Randy Moss (page 130)

55 Maryland

5-6

13

Ron Vanderlinden. a Gary Bamett protege, takes command in College Park

56 Missouri

5-6

16

Tailback Brock Olivo needs 260 yards to surpass Darrell Wallace (2,607) as Mizzou's alltime leading rusher

57 Kansas

4-7

15

Turnover: Jayhawks must replace best passer, rusher, receiver, defender and offensive lineman as well as head coach

58 North Carolina State

3-8

17

Senior tailback Tremayne Stephens has a career average of 5.1 yards per carry

59 Air Force

6-5

9

Quarterback Blane Morgan replaces his brother, Beau, in wishbone attack. Favorite play: the not-my-brother's keeper

60 Wyoming

10-2

12

Tough first day on the job: I-A's youngest head coach, Dana Dimel, 34, launches career at Ohio State

61 Baylor

4-7

11

Surrendered un-Bear-able 285.9 rushing yards per game in '96, the most in the nation

62 Cincinnati

6-5

14

Every week is Rush Week: Bearcats welcome back their offensive line and the team's four leading ballcarriers

63 Oklahoma State

5-6

17

Tight end Alonzo Mayes (6'6", 265 pounds) is the best this state has seen since Keith Jackson

64 Minnesota

4-7

15

Senior Cory Sauter is this season's Jim Druckenmiller, the best quarterback you've never heard of

65 Houston

7-5

19

In Conference USA preseason coaches' poll, Cougars received one first-place vote... from their coach, Kim Helton

66 California

6-6

15

New coach Tom Holmoe inherits the 105th-ranked defense and an offense hurt by graduation of quarterback Pat Barnes

67 Vanderbilt

2-9

16

New coach Woody Widenhofer. a defensive guru, inherits the nation's worst offense

68 Illinois

2-9

15

In spring game, offense could earn points by getting three straight first downs; defense won 50-0

69 Tulsa

4-7

15

Golden Hurricane allowed an average of more than 41 points per game in its last five losses in '96

70 Purdue

3-8

16

Senior Brian Alford (63 catches) welcomes new coach Joe Tiller, whose Wyoming team was No. 1 in pass offense in '96

71 Mississippi

5-6

14

Rebels are off probation for the first time since Tommy Tuberville took over in '95

72 Central Florida

5-6

16

Is 6'5" Daunte Culpepper, who can sling the pigskin 80 yards, the best quarterback in the Sunshine State?

73Toledo

7-4

14

When the Rockets host 1-10 Northern Illinois in the Glass Bowl, will it be half empty or half full?

74 Miami (Ohio)

6-5

12

RedHawks have ranked first ('95) and second ('96) in nation in pass-efficiency defense the past two years

75 SW Louisiana

5-6

14

Uoacn s son. Brandon stokley (156 catches, 2,281 yards in '96), is on pace to Become I-A'S most prolific receiver

76 Memphis

4-7

11

Despite talented tailbacks Teofilo Riley and Darrius Blevins, Tigers are headed for third straight losing season

77 New Mexico

6-5

14

Lobos aiming for back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1970 and 71

78 Kentucky

4-7

13

Moribund Wildcats could be given new life by a Mumme (Hal), the first-year coach who plans to revive SEC's worst air attach

79 Iowa State

2-9

14

All-America tailback Troy Davis is gone, leaving big shoes for his brother, sophomore Darren Davis (30 carries, 204 yards in '96), to fill

80 Eastern Michigan

3-8

16

Walt Church became MAC co-freshman of the year after replacing injured junior starter Charlie Batch

81 Indiana

3-8

11

Knight and dazed: New coach Cam Cameron, a two-sport star in Bloomington, was coached by the General and Lee Corso

82 Oregon State

2-9

13

The last time the Beavers enjoyed a winning season, new coach Mike Riley was the quarterback at Corvallis High

83 Central Michigan

5-6

15

Hits by twin inside linebackers Jason and Jeremy Gold have opponents seeing quadruple

84 Wake Forest

3-8

19

Last year's win over Northwestern was the Deacons' first victory over a ranked team since '79; another such upset is unlikely in '97

85 Fresno State

4-7

13

Linebacker A.J. Gass led the WAC last season in tackles, with 150

86 Louisiana Tech

6-5

17

Biggest man on any campus? The Bulldogs' 6'10", 390-pound "quick tackle" Chris Crudup

87 Bowling Green

4-7

18

Falcons lost an NCAA-record-low one fumble in '96, but rushing game was abysmal (2.8 yards per carry)

88 SMU

5-6

11

NCAA has granted oft-injured quarterback Ramon Flanigan a sixth year of eligibility

89 Pittsburgh

4-7

17

Panthers, beaten 72-0 last fall by Ohio State, hired Buckeyes' quarterbacks coach, Walt Harris, as coach

90 Utah State

6-5

15

Wideout Nakia Jenkins (82 catches last season) will help the Aggies challenge Nevada for the Big West crown

91 Texas Christian

4-7

12

Incumbent signal-caller Jeff Dover will battle transfers Derek Canine (SMU) and Kevin Colon (Texas A&M) for starting job

92 Tulane

2-9

12

With yet another Bowden (Tommy) now running the show, only Waffle House is a bigger franchise name in the South

93 UNLV

1-11

18

Leading Las Vegas: Jon Denton, who set 10 NCAA freshman passing records, including yardage (3,591) and TDs (25)

94 Idaho

6-5

13

Sophomore free safety Bryson Gardner, the Vandals' leading returning tackier (67), will be busy again

95 Duke

0-11

19

Bedeviled by a school-record 13 straight losses and the graduation of leading tackier Billy Granville

96 Ohio

6-6

15

Quarterback Kareem Wilson was MAC offensive player of the year, but Bobcats were league's worst passing team

97 Hawaii

2-10

15

Why leave the island? Rainbow Warriors are losers of 16 straight WAC road games

98 Ball State

8-4

8

MAC champs, the only school from Indiana to play in a bowl game last year, deflated by loss of nine offensive starters

99 Rutgers

2-9

14

Nick Mike-Mayer, whose dad, Nick, was an NFL veteran, missed six of nine field goals but led the team in scoring (26 points)

100 Alabama-Birminghc

5-6

15

The Blazers play seven of their 11 games on the road and open the season with visits to Kansas, Memphis and Arizona

101 NE Louisiana

5-6

15

Independent, indefatigable Indians have as many SEC road dates (four) as home games

102 Kent

2-9

17

New defensive coordinator John Bowers inherits eight starters from a squad that yielded 62 TDs-5.64 per game-in '96

103 Akron

4-7

16

Zips must cut down on turnovers (Mid-American-high 31 in '96); brutal schedule includes visits to Nebraska and LSU

104 Temple

1-10

15

Owls, 8-58 since 1991, can expect seventh straight season with no more than two wins

105 North Texas

5-6

14

Mean Green will repeatedly call the name of junior running back Hut Allred (907 yards last season)

106 Western Michigan

2-9

15

Two-time All-MAC offensive tackle Joe Lewandowski is the best of the line's four returning starters

107 Texas-El Paso

2-9

12

Miners, 0-8 in WAC in '96, need lamps on their helmets to see if there's light at the end of the tunnel

108 New Mexico State

1-10

12

Tony Samuel, late of Nebraska, was the only African-American hired to fill any of the 24 off-season I-A coaching vacancies

109 Boise State

2-10

14

The Broncos will have trouble duplicating their two-win season of a year ago

110 Arkansas State

4-7

13

Indians hired Ohio State offensive coordinator Joe Hollis as coach but will still have trouble improving their record

111 San Jose State

3-9

11

Junior quarterback Brian Vye attended three other colleges before he found his way to San Jose

112 Northern Illinois

1-10

16

After a 12-year absence, Huskies return to the MAC with a squad that is 70% freshmen and sophomores