Steve Spurrier's guys may think of themselves as underdogs, but other teams who do risk getting Gator-bit

Schedule strength: 19th of 114

For the first time in his tenure with the Gators, Spurrier has a club that is mildly suspect and inexperienced. And he's loving it. This could be the surprise team of the year.

No longer intimidated by high-ranked opponents, the Aggies and their fierce defense should strike fear in others

Schedule strength: 50th of 114

The Aggies are capable of winning the Big 12 championship game and going to a major bowl.

The powerful Yellow Jackets have with it takes to make history repeat

Schedule strength: 54th of 114

Hamilton can carry the team only so far. If the defense can't improve on last season's shaky performance, the Yellow Jackets will be spending New Year's at home.

Gary Barnett knows he must toughen up the Buffaloes if they're to return to glory

Schedule strength: 55th of 114

Moschetti and a swarming defense will put Colorado in contention in the Big 12, but unless the Buffaloes somehow discover a running game, they will go no further.

All eyes will be on Ron Dayne as he goes for the NCAA career rushing record

Schedule strength: 65th of 114

The lack of an established passing game will prevent the Badgers from returning to the Rose Bowl.

The success of a new option offense will determine the pluck of these Irish

Schedule strength: 20th of 114

Jackson and the defense will keep the Fighting Irish in most games, but they will be hard-pressed to match last season's 9-3 record.

The Hurricanes are stoked for the likes of Ohio State, Penn State, and Florida State

Schedule strength: 32nd of 114

The schedule is challenging, but the Hurricanes have the talent and depth to compete. A New Year's Day bowl may be in the cards.

The Bruins have the nation's top receivers, but who will throw them the ball?

Schedule strength: 6th of 114

This is a year for the Bruins' young talent to develop. UCLA will put a scare in some good teams, but it won't be a serious national championship contender until next year.

The Wolverines are loaded up front but must avoid early-season stumbles

Schedule strength: 3rd of 114

Back-to-back meetings with Penn State (away) and Ohio State (home) will be too big a hurdle for the Wolverines to clear.

With a one-two punch at quarterback and running back, the Tide should be up

Schedule strength: 5th of 114

The Crimson Tide might win the SEC West crown but won't get past the SEC East winner in the conference championship game.

A freshman quarterback could put some flash in the Hokies' offense

Schedule strength 70th of 114

If Vick helps the offense catch up with the defense, Virginia Tech will be looking at 10 wins this season.

These Dawgs'll hunt if they can surround their young quarterback with some talent

Schedule strength: 43rd of 114

A weak nonconference schedule will prove to be fool's gold. Georgia could match last year's 9-3 record; improving upon it is unlikely.

The Trojans ride in with an eclectic mix of offensive weapons and a retooled D

Schedule strength: 12th of 114

A more experienced Palmer and an improved running game will help the Trojans challenge for the Pac-10 championship. Winning that crown, however, will be another story.

Ricky who? The Longhorns won't be shot on talent despite losing Williams

Schedule strength: 25th of 114

Sans Williams, the Longhorns won't win any championships this season, but it's only a matter of time before the nation's top recruiting class turns Texas into a power.

The Boilermakers got fat on a light schedule but now must play the big boys

Schedule strength: 8th of 114

Give Brees a ground game, win two of four in October, and Purdue will be playing in a bowl.

It took a Nutt to lead the Razorbacks out of the wilderness and into bowls

Schedule strength: 47th of 114

Stoerner and his teammates, have the talent and motivation to go where they could have gone in '98: the SEC championship game and a BCS bowl.

An inexperienced offense means the Wildcats will have to score with defense

Schedule strength: 68th of 114

K-State is no one-year wonder and could go to a New Year's Day bowl, but its best chance to win a national title came—and went—last year.

The Thundering Herd may play at a small school, but it has big ambitions

Schedule strength: 113th of 114

The Thundering Herd has a shot to be undefeated and will go as far as Pennington's golden right arm carries it.

The Sun Devils hope their offense can cover up sins committed by their defense

Schedule strength: 10th of 114

With a healthy Redmond and an improved defense, the Sun Devils should earn their third bowl berth in four seasons.

OUR RANKING, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

Conferences are listed in order of strength. Each team's SI national ranking is in parentheses

Jan. 1 Rose Bowl, at PasadenaJan. 1 Orange Bowl, at MiamiJan. 2 Fiesta Bowl, at Tempe, Ariz.Jan. 4 Sugar Bowl, at New Orleans

LOWER DIVISION RANKINGS

THE NBA

Brink of DisasterThe Clippers made some nifty late moves to plug a looming talent drain

NEW COACH Doc Rivers lobbied hard to keep Penny Hardaway, but by the time Magic ownership relented, Hardaway had made up his mind to go to the Suns. Rivers also wasn't thrilled with the package...

Strong ArmedUnderappreciated starters have kept the injury-plagued Astros on top

Tigers manager Larry Parrish says he's considering giving rookie righthander Jeff Weaver a month off to rest his arm and regain his early-season form. Weaver, who began the year 6-3 with a 2.89...

Young slugger Erubiel Durazo has added razzmatazz to the Diamondbacks

Fingers CrossedAfter two near misses, Team Yates has a Winston Cup title in sight

213%The increase in Pontiac's top five finishes on the Winston Cup tour thus far this season (25) compared with last season (eight). Pontiac's four wins are already double last season's total.

Congratulations, Los Angeles, you're the worst sports city in the country! Arsenic for everybody!

September 4, 1989

David Robinson may have been blessed with size and talent, but his values are what I respect the most.—DAN EASTMAN, Baton Rouge

Letters to SPORTS ILLUSTRATED should include the name, address and home telephone number of the writer. They may be mailed to The Editor, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, Time & Life Building, New York,...

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This Miami tight end, only a junior, has left lasting impressions on would-be tacklers

If his surgically repaired knee holds up, the Tennessee back will be hard to bring down

Grandma knew best when she nudged this Florida State defensive end into football

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Add this big, quick tackle to the list of Alabama's storied offensive linemen

This Louisville quarterback is smart and tough—like an old Cardinal named Unitas

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For complete Division I schedules, stats, rosters and scores, go to cnnsi.com/football/college/teams. Plus, send your college football questions to Ivan Maisel's mailbag.

In the wide-open scramble for a national title, each top team has a bread-and-butter play it depends on to give it a decisive edge

There are four key blocks in the Volunteers' signature running play. The first is the hit that the fullback lays on the play-side outside linebacker. The second is the block that the play-side...

In this blitz the two outside linebackers rush from the perimeter. The inside linebackers (including Cornelius Anthony, below) take a step forward, cross (or stunt, as the coaches call it), then...

This West Coast offense mainstay succeeds by spreading the defense and providing the quarterback with numerous options. The quarterback, Carson Palmer (left), has four options: His first is the...

"Because we run the option so much, teams tend to get outside-conscious against us," says coach Frank Solich. "This creates good angles and creases for our trap." The key blocker is the play-side...

The Gators usually run this play out of a five-wide-receiver set, or what Steve Spurrier calls the Tiger formation. The play starts with a far wideout—this season that will usually be John Capel...

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THE TOP 25

Paterno's best team since the 12-0 '94 squad could give him some championship hardware for his new building

Schedule strength: 14th of 114

If Thompson is anything better than adequate at quarterback, Paterno's dominating defense will send the Nittany Lions to the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4 for a shot at his third national championship.

The painful memories of a title that got away will be a powerful motivator for Chris Weinke and the Seminoles

Schedule strength: 24th of 114

If the Seminoles can avoid their usual costly slipup and Weinke can stay healthy, the Sugar Bowl should come calling.

An old recipe—overachieving with homegrown talent—may finally vault the Wildcats into college football's elite

Schedule strength: 30th of 114

Tomey has his best team since arriving in Tucson in 1987. If you don't see the Wildcats in Pasadena on Jan. 1, look for them in New Orleans three days later, playing for the national championship.

If the Volunteers hear one more time how lucky they were last season, they might go and win another national title

Schedule strength: 29th of 114

Everything went right for Tennessee last season. Don't expect the Volunteers to get as many breaks this fall, and don't expect them to repeat as champions.

The Buckeyes lost eight starters to the NFL but still have enough talent to make another strong run at the national title

Schedule strength: 22nd of 114

If Bellisari or Moherman develops a hot hand at quarterback, the Buckeyes could become this season's Tennessee.

If the Cornhuskers can sidestep the injury bug, they should have no trouble returning to their dominating ways

Schedule strength: 13th of 114

If Newcombe can return to form and the defense regains its bite, you'll see the Cornhuskers of old.

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