Everyone seems to be ranking something this preseason. Not only have ESPN’s dream team of bloggers been counting down the top players by conference all spring, but now Rivals.com is naming their Top 100 players in college football. To top it all off, The Sporting News‘ Matt Hayes recently released his picks for the Top 25 players in the sport, with (guess who?) Tim Tebow earning the top spot. And while the obsessions with ratings and rankings may very well speak to the growing disconnect between reporters and actual players, it’s just as likely a byproduct of the 365 day a year cycle of college football analysis we find ourselves in. Is it objective? Of course not. Is it scientific? Not really. Is it interesting? Well hell, I guess it must be.

Lost within the shuffle of all these ratings and rankings is a comprehensive list of the Best Non-BCS Conference players from around college football. Well, that is until now. Over the next 50 days here at ITB, we will be rolling out our thoughts on the best players from the Mountain West, Western Athletic, Mid-American, Sun Belt, and Conference-USA. Army and Navy? No worries, we’ve got them covered too. And to kick things off we’re headed to Annapolis, Maryland, to check the data sheet on a linebacker who not only led his team in tackles a year ago, but who has also been described as “the nicest dude you will ever meet.”

Number 50: ILB Ross Pospisil, Navy

The Verdict: Pospisil might be one of the most underrated linebackers in the college game today. At only a hair above six feet tall he flew under most programs’ radar out of Temple high school in Texas, but has since become an impact defender in two years of action in Navy’s 3-4 defensive scheme. Recently elected Defensive Captain for the 2009 season, Pospisil posted 67 tackles (including two for a loss) during his sophomore season before exploding for over 100 tackles a season ago. He finished 2009 with 106 total tackles, but his timely plays may have been what ultimately saved the season for Navy. Not only did he record a key interception to help secure a Navy upset over Rutgers in week four, but his forced fumble of Temple running back Kee-ayre Griffin helped to prolong an incredible 20-point comeback against the Owls which ultimately led to a Navy becoming bowl eligible. Not just an “instinctive” player with a “nose for the ball,” Pospisil uses his combination of quickness and reckless abandon to more than make up for his size while on the field. Versatile in that he can both fight off blocks while retaining his gap presence and cover tight ends and running backs out of the backfield, Navy’s Ross Pospisil is clearly one of the best linebackers enrolled at any non-BCS conference school.

Check back tomorrow as we reveal our 49^th Best Player from the Non-BCS Conferences!

Ok, so it may be shameless self promotion on my part, but the early consensus is that it does. Some interesting thoughts in my latest at GoMids.com.

With the United States finding itself in arguably the greatest economic recession since the Great Depression, the value of a football scholarship has become much more than a luxury for hundreds of American families; it has become a necessity. Yet for a university like the Naval Academy, does the country’s economic downturn hold previously unforeseen recruiting benefits?
According to some it does, as both the prospect of a free college education and post graduate job security have attracted more high school football recruits to consider taking their skills to the likes of Army, Navy, and Air Force. Count Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo amongst those who say they have seen an upturn in interest for the three programs since the economy went south last year, as the second year headman recently testified to his belief that the poor economy had “opened up doors” for his own team in recruiting bigger, faster, and stronger athletes.

“I think the economy has helped us,” said Niumatalolo during a recent interview. “Before [the economy went south] there were people who would not even talk to us. There were some parents who would say ‘my son is not going to a military school’ but now they are like ‘hey this might not be a bad option.’ I think that has opened up other doors that in prior years were closed.”

While recruiting experts aren’t certain of the exact level of increased interest on the part of recruits in attending service academies, they do admit that Niumatalolo’s assessment stands to reason given the country’s current economic circumstances. Not only does the incentive of a free education make sense in winning parents over to the idea of sending their sons to a service academy, but the recruiting “sells” commonly associated with schools like Army and Navy take on increased significance given the prevailing job market for college graduates. This dynamic, say experts, gives schools like Army and Navy a “leg up” in recruiting forward thinking young men to the gridiron, as more recruits realize that a degree from similar academic institutions may not automatically assure them of immediate post graduate employment.

 I think it is a dynamic to keep an eye on over the next few years. Don’t get me wrong - I’m not saying a return to the days of Army and Navy notching up national titles is immanent - but may could see a rise in win totals for all three schools in the near future.

Sports Illustrated’s Cory McCartney recently revealed his list of “players poised to become college football’s next household names.” Nice list Cory, but you weren’t exactly going out on a limb in selecting guys like Baylor’s Robert Griffin or Michigan’s Brandon Minor now, were you? Here’s a few more under-the-radar names (and some familiar faces too) to add to the ridiculously early preseason hype list.  

QB Ricky Dobbs, Navy- Ask any Navy fan and they’ll tell you there is just something special about the junior-to-be quarterback. While maybe not the most technically sounds Navy quarterback to command the option offense in recent years, Dobbs shined in the few opportunities he had to play in 2008, sparking Navy’s unthinkable comeback against Temple while powering the Mids past SMU and Northern Illinois. He’s a physical runner inside who isn’t afraid to take on linebackers, while his arm strength and accuracy in the passing game give Navy’s run heavy offense another dimension. If he can continue his progress in learning the option reads he should be in for a monster year in 2009.

RB Joe Martinek, Rutgers- It may be all too easy for some fans and media members to stereotype the 6-foot, 215-pound redshirt sophomore as your run-of-the-mill ‘fullback’, but New Jersey’s all-time leader in prep rushing yards was among the leaders that sparked the Scarlet Knight resurgence during the second half of last season. Not just a bruiser, Martinek averaged 5.3 yards per rush in limited duty last season, and recently ran for 124 yards on just 18 carries in a Rutgers spring scrimmage. He’s the most complete rusher on the Scarlet Knight roster and despite the likelihood of having the split carries with two other backs should earn the starting job come September.

WRs David Nelson/Riley Cooper, Florida- On a team known for a battering ram quarterback and the dangerous presence of a bunch of shifty “little guys” who allegedly run in the 4.2 range, it’s not hard to see why the 6′5” David Nelson and the 6′3” Riley Cooper are often overshadowed when one begins a conversation of the Gator offense. But don’t overlook either of these receivers, as both return for their senior seasons in 2009. Nelson and Cooper combined for just 30 catches a year ago, but the two seniors also sported eight touchdown grabs between them. With Tim Tebow looking to refine his passing game and Percy Harvin moving on to the NFL expect Urban Meyer’s offense to look more to their senior leaders on the outside next season.

RB Jewell Hampton, Iowa- Replacing Shonne Greene is not going to be easy, but the Hawkeyes do have a proven role-player from last year’s squad ready to step in full-time in sophomore running back Jewell Hampton. While undersized at only five-foot, nine inches tall, Hampton runs with deceptive lower body strength and a tremendous burst which make him difficult for defenders to tackle. He finished last year with seven rushing touchdowns in limited duty, and should be the go-to playmaker for the Iowa offense next year.

FS Harrison Smith, Notre Dame- Let’s just get this out of the way; Harrison ‘Hayseed’ Smith was good as a “hybrid” defender in Notre Dame’s defense last year, but this guy is way too athletic to just be a situational player. The fact that he recorded 57 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and seven passes defended was certainly impressive given the fact that he wasn’t playing his natural safety position, making this year’s move to free safety all the more conducive to his continued success. He should have no trouble reminding Irish fans of a bigger and more athletic version of former Domer standout Tom Zbikowski.

WR McKay Jacobson, BYU- Perhaps as if to follow in the footsteps of another impact receiver at BYU who took his two year mission trip for the LDS church following a fantastic freshmen campaign, Jacobson returns to Provo this season just as Austin Collie departs for the NFL. BYU already has an All-American tight end candidate in Dennis Pitta, a fact which should allow the 5′11” Jacobson (who is among the fastest players on BYU’s roster) to flourish as an immediate weapon for returning quarterback Max Hall. Jacobson averaged 19.5 yards a catch as a freshmen in 2006, and despite coming off of his mission trip should be poised to put up big numbers in 2009.

LB Malcolm Smith, USC- The Trojans lose arguably one of the best linebacking corps in Pac-10 history with the departures of Brian Cushing, Ray Mauluaga, and Clay Matthews, but a new generation of USC linebackers looks primed to step up. A former running back, Smith should fill in nicely as the weakside ‘backer in USC’s defense, as the 6′2” junior possesses outstanding athleticism and lateral quickness which make him a playmaker against the run and the pass. He has been the most noticeable standout thus far for USC’s defense in spring ball, and should continue his success into the season. 

QB Andy Schmitt, Eastern Michigan- The Eagle signal caller has been one of the MAC’s best kept secrets for some time, but despite going into his senior season in 2009 has never garnered much attention outside of Ypsilanti. That all should change come September, as Schmitt returns fully healthy to lead new head coach Ron English’s EMU offense. Schmitt is an elite athlete for his size and one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks in the ranks of the non-BCS, and could be the difference between another losing season and a breakthrough campaign for the Eagles.

QB Bo Levi Mitchell, SMU- It’s not easy coming into an FBS school and starting at quarterback as a true freshmen, which is exactly what June Jones’ rookie signal caller found out last year in the Mustangs’ disastrous 1-11 campaign. Despite his struggles Mitchell still completed 56% of his passes for over 3000 yards a season ago, and with receivers Alderick Robinson and Emmanuel Sanders back in 2009 Mithcell should only get better. With a season of June Jones’ run-and-shoot system under their belts expect Mitchell and the Mustang offense to put up Hawaii like numbers in 2009.

WR Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M- The Big 12 South loses its most high profile target in Michael Crabtree to the NFL, but look for another physical and athletically gifted wideout to step out of the Lone Star state in A&M’s Fuller. He was a Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection as a true freshmen a season ago, and set an Aggie receiving record with nine touchdowns on the year. At 6′4” he has the frame to be an elite red zone threat, while the continued progression of quarterback Jerrod Johnson under Mike Sherman’s guidance should lead Fuller to an even better sophomore season.

…Those Irish fans sure know how to write. Even if you’re not a fan of the Golden Domers, a trip to The Blue-Gray Sky should be in order for anyone looking beyond the usual “yea, duh” analysis that seems to dominate the calender during this time of year. Not only do Pat and Jay do phenomenal work throughout the season and offseason in evaluating all things Notre Dame football, but a recent guest article by John Walters challenges any lingering mainstream media dobuts that college football bloggers not only write extremely well, but write extremely well while providing useful and compelling analysis. And that’s not even taking into account Michael’s latest feature, which takes a comprehensive and enlightening look at the “devolution” of the Irish offense in 2007 and 2008 based on personnel packages. Try busting out terms like “Detroit” and “Jax” the next time you line up against your friends as the Irish in NCAA ‘09. I know I sure will.

Ok, enough rubbing it in on my part, but because his Nittany Lions are in the NIT Final in basketball I thought I’d surprise Brian and let the closet Irish fan in me out for one afternoon…

More ITB Spring Question Previews:
[ACC]
[SEC]
[BIG XII]
[Big East]

Will BYU be able to replace four offensive line starters?

While the departure of wide receiver Austin Collie leaves the Cougar’s without their biggest offensive weapon from a season ago, BYU is by no means short on skill position talent. Veteran quarterback Max Hall returns along with All-Mountain West tight end Dennis Pitta, while the Cougars also get back speedster wide receiver McKay Jacobson after a two year Mormon mission. And the backfield? Still loaded with 250 pounds of thunder and lightning as Harvey Unga returns for his junior year. The biggest question mark for Bronco Mendenhall’s team will be whether or not the Cougars can find a working offensive line this spring, as the unit must replace four full time starters from a year ago.  With eight coming back on a defense that has nowhere to go but up, successfully retooling the offensive line could mean the difference between just another winning season and the ever elusive BCS bowl berth.

Which perennial doormat is on its way up?

The faces are different but the names (not to mention the losses) have stayed the same. Programs like Eastern Michigan, Utah State, San Diego State, Army, and New Mexico State have had a torrid history of losing seasons in recent years, and all look to rebuild (or is that just build?) after coaching changes during the offseason. And while the process of putting a program together after multiple seasons of 2, 3, or maybe 4 wins is a difficult task to do within the course of only a year, there is precedence for non-BCS teams to find success right away. My pick for the team that could surprise? Watch out for the Utah State Aggies, as former Utah defensive coordinator Gary Anderson steps into a fairly wide-open WAC conference with 16 starters back from last year’s team.

Will Notre Dame find a running game?

Notre Dame’s running woes over the past two seasons have been well documented, as even a stable of former four star recruits hasn’t helped the Irish offense move the ball consistently on the ground during the program’s recent decline. Notre Dame was 100^th in rushing yards per game in the country last season, but there may be reason to expect improvement in 2009. A revamped coaching staff that includes Frank Verducci and Tony Alford should improve the Irish offensive line play, which in turn should help the Irish establish a more physical mentality in the running game. Coach Weis will still need a back to step up and assert himself for the job however, with Armando Allen, Robert Hughes, and Jonas Gray likely to fight over the job this spring. Allen looked to have the most promise a season ago, but if none of Notre Dame’s running backs can provide the answer Weis is looking for expect the field to widen over the summer, when much-heralded true freshmen Cierre Woods arrives in South Bend.

Is Ball State rebuilding, or reloading?                

As if finishing the year without a MAC Title and losing head coach Brady Hoke wasn’t enough, the Cardinals also have to replace the MAC’s top quarterback in Nate Davis along with six other offensive starters from last year’s double-digit win team. Offensive coordinator Stan Parrish takes over the reigns of the team, which should be solid on defense with seven coming back from a year ago. Yet despite a plethora of talent to include running back Miquale Lewis and wide receiver Briggs Orsbon on offense, Parrish will have to find a quarterback and retool the offensive line for the Cardinals to stay atop the MAC. That means it is sink or swim for highly regarded sophomore Kelly Page, who could be pushed by true freshmen and early enrollee Aaron Mershman for the starting job.

Who will be Navy’s fullback?

Going back to 2003 the Midshipmen have had a string of NFL caliber talent at the “B” back position in the triple option offense, with last year’s star Eric Kettani proving to be no exception. But Kettani, who accounted for 88% of carries by a Navy fullback a season ago, moves on this spring, leaving head coach Ken Niumatalolo without a steady heir-apparent. While it’s too early to tell who will step in for Kettani or how successful they will be, keep an eye out for the battle between sophomore Alex Teich and senior Kevin Campbell. Campbell gives the Mids the safer option at fullback, but the explosive Teich gives Navy a home-threat with his speed, quickness, and vision at the second level.

For a complete list of spring game dates for non-BCS conference teams, as well as spring game dates for all 120 FBS programs, click here.

Wake Forest 7-5 (4-4), 3rd ACC Atlantic Division
vs

Navy 8-4, Independent

Saturday, December 20 11am ESPN

Back on September 27th, Navy beat Wake Forest 24-17. The Inaugural EagleBank Bowl will have a rematch of that game since Maryland was unable to fulfill this spot due to the fact that their players have finals this week. Wake Forest quarterback, Riley Skinner had one of his worst games of his career that day against Navy. He threw four interceptions, but the fact that the Demon Deacons could only muster 43 yards on the ground, did not help him any.

Navy on the other hand 292 yards on the ground and a healthy Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, who ran for two touchdowns that day. Although Kaipo came back against Army, one has to think that he is still a bit banged up and might not be as effective as he was early in the season.

In my opinion, Wake Forest peaked early in the season with their win against Florida State. The ACC really didn’t have any powerful offenses or strong rushing games like Navy. Riley Skinner is going to have to have a good game and take advantage of a weaker Midshipmen secondary. Last game he had 4 INTs (he only had 3 more the rest of the season) and they only lost by 7. Close game, and I am giving the edge to the Deacons.

Tale of the Tape

Wake Forest
Offense - 300 ypg, 188 ypg passing, 112 ypg rushing
Defense - 300 ypg, 184 ypg passing, 116 ypg rushing
Quality Wins versus Bowl Teams - Mississippi, Florida State, Clemson, & Vanderbilt

Navy
Offense - 361 ypg, 63 ypg passing, 298 ypg rushing
Defense - 341 ypg, 215ypg passing, 126 ypg rushing
Quality Wins versus Bowl Teams - Wake Forest, Air Force, & Northern Illinois

Prediction: Wake Forest 27 Navy 21

Erin Andrews is excited for the season to start

By today most if not all of the college football fall preseason camps will be open and in business. Since rules do not allow full pads until after the first 3 practices, we most likely won’t hear the the cracking of the pads in the distance for a few more days. But never the less, we are one more day closer to the start of the 2008 college football season.

If you haven’t already, head on over to College Football News and check out what they have going on there. One of ITB’s very own, Adam Nettina, has been blogging over there about Navy. Adam was lucky enough to attended Navy’s media day last Thursday and got to sit down with their new coach Ken Niumatalolo and talk about the upcoming season.

Another ITB writer, Eric, has been working hard over at Saturday Sound Offs doing his two-a-days for every team in the FBS and FCS, well maybe not ever FCS team, but all the important ones. His latest two are Rutgers and Delaware, head on over and see what he predicts for those two teams.

All systems are go for TCU, SMU, and North Texas to begin practice. College Football Top 10 has all the information you need for those teams and more. He has more information about Texas football on his blog than most people I know.

When our friend Big Head isn’t fawning over Missouri Tigers on myspace, he’s at Tigers’ practice trying to Chase around the cheerleaders. Practice for the Tigers opens at 7:30 AM CST, and Big Head is up early like a kid at Christmas time!

Kate is flashing her bling

Another great part about preseason practice is how there is so much optimism for every team in the country. All of the teams start out undefeated, and they all have dreams of BCS titles dancing in their heads. Out in Lincoln, the big boss man Tom Osborne is no different. Over at Corn Nation, they found a quote from Osborne where he says they will be better. Does better mean not giving up 70 points in a game, or does it mean making a bowl game? Head over to Corn Nation and vote!

If you thought your team made it through last season without getting made fun of by John Radcliff’s College Football Songbook, check out the one he has this year. John is a good friend, good song writer, and burns one heck of a coach. I’m not sure we’ll be friends too much longer if he keeps ripping on the Big Ten though. Check out his lastest College Football Songbook over at the AOL Fanhouse.

In case you weren’t aware, the LSU Tigers will be host to the Appalachian State Mountaineers, the first game of the season. It would be pretty surprising if the Tigers don’t take this game seriously because of what ASU did to Michigan in the Big House last year. However, I do like the fact that this game will have the BCS Champion playing against the FCS Champion from last year. That should sell some tee-shirts. To read more about Appalachian State, head over to AppFan.

The Georgia Bulldogs were recently ranked #1 by the USA Today Coaches poll. They have no time to rest with the schedule they have out in front of them. To get a full rundown on the Bulldogs this year, head over to the Georgia Sports Blog.

Hey, this is Eric from the blog Saturday Sound Offs.  I’m glad to have joined the crew over here at In the Bleachers!

Here, we have, at least what I consider to be, the ten most underrated non-conference games of the 2008 season.  So, yeah, most on the list will consist of non-BCS programs.  These games are listed mainly due to a mixture of the meaning of the game, how good it will actually be, and the hype surrounding it.  So let’s begin:

10.  Central Michigan @ Georgia

This is a game that could have larger implications than you might think.  First off, Central Michigan isn’t going to win.  Let’s get that out of the way.  The Chippewas, ever since Butch Jones took control of the program, have forgotten how to play defense.  But, that doesn’t mean the Chips won’t put up a fight.  This has the potential to be Dan LeFevour’s coming out party.

If you’re not familiar with LeFevour, you have obviously shied away from anything Mid-America football-related.  He’s basically, as I’ve said on my blog, a poor man’s Tim Tebow which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  He’s only one of two quarterbacks to ever throw for 3,000 yards and rush for another 1,000 (Vine Young being the only other).  He has a chance to shine in week two against a nasty Georgia defense.

Realistically speaking, the Chippewas won’t be capable of hanging with the Bulldogs if they can get Knowshon Moreno going.  He’ll probably run through Central’s defense like a hot knife through butter and it might remind fans of that night Between the Hedges that Boise State was supposed to put up a fight.  But the reason this game is important is the fact that LeFevour hasn’t had a huge stage to show off his skills.  He’s played solid games in the MAC championships, had great games in both Motor City Bowls, almost beat Boston College, and got hammered by Michigan in 2006.  That’s about his resume on a national scale.  A competitive showing against the Bulldogs could launch his college career even further.

9.  Ball State @ Indiana

The Cardinals don’t have a rigorous schedule this year and if they can navigate it well enough, this could be a BCS team.  Don’t laugh!  The Cards are lead by budding superstar QB Nate Davis.  He doesn’t have a superfluous amount of help on the other side of the ball, but if you look at the fact that Indiana is the only BCS conference team they play this year, it’s not all that nutty to think that Ball State does have a chance.  Their defense is great at creating turnovers (fourth in the nation) and they get just about everybody back on offense.  They seriously return everybody.  If that’s not enough to get you excited, eight guys come back on a sub-par defense.

As for Indiana, the Hoosiers are in a bit of a daze after the Insight Bowl shellacking that Oklahoma State handed to them.  It was never close.  Last year was an emotional rollercoaster ride for sure, but the players handled it in a professional manner and would have made Coach Hep proud.  This year, Bill Lynch is the man and he’ll have to ward off a team as stingy as Ball State.  It will be crucial to their bowl hopes as well.

8.  Louisville @ Memphis

Why is this game important?  Well, it’s important in a sense that Steve Kragthorpe’s future may be affected by the outcome of this game.  These two former C-USA rivals will meet again at the Liberty Bowl.  The last time Louisville went to the Liberty Bowl (regular season) was 2004 when Stefan LeFlors and Danny Wimprime slugged out a 56-49 final score in which the Cardinals prevailed.

What’s worse is that Memphis should remain pretty powerful on offense.  The defense returns plenty of guys that should only get better with more experience.  If Louisville pulls off another Middle Tennessee defensive performance, that might send a signal to the administration that the team has quite on Steve Kragthorpe and I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see him fired at the end of this year.  Of course that’s any game that can happen in.  Louisville has much tougher opponents on the schedule than Memphis, but another awful defensive game against a non-BCS foe would just be another hit this program doesn’t have to take.  The only reason I choose this game as being underrated is the fact that the recipes are there for disaster.

7.  Troy @ Ohio State

Appalachian State:  Part Deux.  If Buckeye fans are worried about this game, they would be right to harbor those particular emotions.  Troy is a dangerous team.  If we point to Exhibit A, we show Troy stunning Missouri.  Exhibit B shows Troy blasting Oklahoma State.  The problem?  Well, those two games were played at Movie Gallery Stadium and this is in the Horseshoe.  Well, Troy has done fine on the road in the past against LSU, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Florida State.

They aren’t going to win though.  Mainly because of the losses on the offensive side of the ball.  Kenny Catthouse, Gary Banks, and Omar Haugabook are all missing and that presents a problem.  The defense isn’t experienced enough to pull off an upset of this magnitude.  But I’d watch for the Trojans to really compete with the Buckeyes and make it a game.

6.  SMU @ Navy

This game is interesting on so many levels.  First off, you can’t get two more diametrically opposed offenses on a football field than the Run n’ Shoot and the triple option flexbone.  It can’t be done.  And we sorta saw this with North Texas and Navy last year, but the whole June Jones thing brings another element to this ballgame.

We all saw what Jones did with Hawaii.  The Warriors couldn’t even beat the lowliest of the low opponents but the instant Jones got there, they were competitive.  He won a WAC title in his first year, one of the most stunning turnarounds in college football history.  Now, an SMU team that flat out stunk will be turning to him for guidance to the postseason and it’s a real possibility.  Navy on the other hand will be without Paul Johnson and that brings Ken Niumatalolo into the picture.  The rookie head coach will try to keep the momentum that Johnson gained during his stay going.  This game is so important to both schools and their aspirations.

5.  Florida Atlantic @ Michigan State

If there’s any moment for Howard Schnellenberger to get his biggest win with the program that he’s managed from the get-go, this is it.  Michigan State in East Lansing will be no easy task, but Rusty Smith and the Owl offense are up to it.

FAU not only should be the best team in Sun Belt history, they should be able to compete with some BCS schools.  We saw how Minnesota was defeated by Florida Atlantic and how USF was pushed to the absolute brink.  This game will be a lot tougher because it will be away from the friendly confines of Boca Raton.  Mark Dantonio preaches tough defense and that just happens to be Florida Atlantic’s forte.   Anyway, if there’s a moment for the Sun Belt to really gain some national commendation, it could come in the form of an almost brand new program knocking off a mainstay in the Big 10.  Don’t count the scrappy Owls out of it.

4.  BYU @ Washington

At least for non-BCS teams, this non-conference game could have the most impact on the entire Bowl Championship Series.  Brigham Young figures to have everything in place for a run towards the coveted BCS slot that Utah, Boise State, and Hawaii have played in before.  But Washington is no pushover.

We saw what happened when Boise State traveled to the Huskies home field.  Personally, I thought the Broncos were the better of two teams but the start they got off to threw everything else off.  BYU might be susceptible to that.  I’ve long said that there would be so many more upsets if non-BCS schools got opportunities to host, but this game does not fit that description.

Jake Locker was borderline potent at different times in the season and should come into 2008 at full strength.  I actually like Washington’s defense coming into this year.  BYU’s strength is also on that side of the ball, so those may equal each other out.  Anyway, a tough road game against a BCS conference foe could be the make-or-break game for the Cougars’ BCS designs.

3.  USF @ UCF

UCF has a tuneup game against South Carolina State to start, but the season kicks off with a bang in week two against in-state rival USF.  The Bulls have already risen to prominence in the state with Jim Leavitt creating the program into a Big East conference contender.  Central Florida on the other hand is still trying to become one of the big boys and that’s even more difficult now that Florida Atlantic is surging.

This game has a load of importance for both schools.  For USF, another win against UCF would assert their dominance in the series and a win for UCF would mean the Golden Knights are capable of taking the next step in their quest to become one of Florida’s state powers.

The only problem here is that UCF is short a QB with experience and Kevin Smith.  Smith was one of the better backs in the entire nation and he was basically George O’Leary’s offense.  Even so, they are one of the better teams in C-USA and the fact that they got drilled last year against the Bulls should only add fuel to the fire.  Hopefully, a change of scenery will allow for a more competitive game.  Hey, we saw what happened to Texas, right?

2.  North Texas @ Rice

Here’s a game I’d pay the price of admission for.  I was hoping for a New Mexico State/North Texas game earlier this year when both teams had an opening on the slate, but most fans of high-octane passing attacks will settle for this.

Neither of these two teams are that great right now.  North Texas struggled to stop anybody and had the worst defense in the nation by far, I don’t care what the stats say regarding total defense.  Okay, maybe not.  Perhaps it was Rice with the worst defense in the nation.  Either way, it doesn’t matter because these omnipotent passers of potency (Chase Clement and Giovanni Vizza/Riley Dodge) should have their way with two pass defenses that don’t even have a prayer.  North Texas ranked 18th in passing offense and lit up multiple Sun Belt teams.  Rice’s was actually better statistically (15th) even though the Mean Green passing game may have gotten more publicity.

Basically, if you like passing and points, this game may shatter the records.  If you thought the 74-62 scoring fest of Navy and North Texas was fun (to at least read about, tough to watch it), this game could be even better.

1.  Tulsa @ Arkansas

This game would be a lot of fun to watch, wouldn’t it?  The much-awaited return of Gus Malzahn.  After getting ousted from Arkansas after a dismal passing attack led by Mitch Mustain and/or Casey Dick, the former Razorback offensive coordinator returns to Fayetteville with his ideal offense developed at Tulsa.  The Golden Hurricane might rely on Jacob Bower without Paul Smith, but there should be no halt in progress for the Tulsa offense.

Arkansas is another story.  They’ll be without the head coach at the time, Houston Nutt.  Bobby Petrino had a much-maligned exit from the NFL when he returned, basically without saying goodbye, to the college game.  Petrino’s team doesn’t have a whole lot going for them as of right now besides the fact that Ryan Mallett is waiting in the wings.

This game could be one of the most entertaining all year and it certainly has the storylines and potential drama to back up that prognostication.  These reasons make the Tulsa/Arkansas game the most underrated non-conference game of 2008.

Be sure to check out my blog, Saturday Sound Offs-The Blog for the College Football Junkie.

Former LSU and oft-troubled quarterback Ryan “Hunk Fiji” Perrilloux has officially transferred to FCS middleweight Jacksonville State.

What This Means: While I can’t say I’ve had much sympathy for Perrilloux, I think this is a mutually beneficial situation that he’s stepping into. Considering Jacksonville State didn’t have any scholarship quarterbacks on the roster he’s clearly doing them a favor by stepping into a tough situation, while Head Coach Jack Crowe is doing him a favor by virtually guaranteeing him a starting spot. But don’t just assume Perrilloux will dominate at a lower level and play his way back into NFL prospectdom. He’s bound to be on a short leash considering he’s taking over for a quarterback who was kicked off the team, and has shown a propensity for finding trouble in the past even when he knows he’s run out of fifth chances. If nothing else, this gives us another reason to tune into the Jacksonville State-Georgia Tech matchup on August 28. Something tells me Bristol is scrambling to get involved in this one.

BYU running back Manase Tonga was ruled academically ineligible for the 2008 season, and will have to take a redshirt before reapplying to the University if he wants to play in 2009.

What This Means: Not a whole lot. Don’t get me wrong, in an offense based on role players Tonga was one of BYU’s best last year. A solid blocker and receiver out of the backfield, he ran for 305 yards and eight touchdowns for the Cougars in limited duty. But BYU is stacked in the backfield, returning both MWC Freshmen of the Year Harvey Unga (1227 yards, 13 TD) and a finally healthy Taufui Vakapuna (252 yards in ’07, 445 yards in ’06.) Unga is truly as talented as they come, while Vakapuna, when healthy, is an absolute load to bring down. When you throw in highly touted redshirt freshmen J.J. DiLuigi to the mix, BYU has one of the best backfields in the entire country even without Tonga.

The Big East reportedly was in negotiations to bring Memphis into the conference as a possible expansion team, then reportedly was not.

What It Means: It seems like just yesterday we were still writing Big (L)east and never missing an opportunity to make the constant aside about how much the new Big East sucks. That being said dumping Temple and moving to an eight team football conference hasn’t been bad at all for the Big East, and despite basically perpetual calls for adding a ninth team by fans and media members I don’t know if this is something that needs to be rushed along. I do know one thing, and that’s that Army, Navy, and Notre Dame aren’t going anywhere, so when the Big East does decide to expand, it will either have to come internally (like ‘Nova moving up from the FCS) or will have to come from Memphis or East Carolina.

ACC Athletic Directors decided to scrap possible plans for adding a ninth conference game.

What This Means: Boo-hoo. I know the folks in SEC and Pac-10 country are whining over this as usual, but being from ACC country I applaud this move. Why? Because we have great regional games here on the east coast, games that often feature matchups between the ACC and Conference-USA or the highly competitive Colonial Athletic Conference. People love to knock these “lower” matchups because of how easily they perceive the ACC slate to be, but God forbid the sport of college football be extended out of hallowed SEC conference. Personally, I’d much rather see a highly motivated CAA team try to knock off a mid-level ACC team than be subjected to seeing Clemson put up 70 on Duke.

League Commissioner John Swofford has announced that the ACC will no longer participate in the Humanitarian Bowl after 2008, a move which will terminate one reluctant ACC team’s annual pilgrimage to the Smurf Turf.

What It Means: With the approval of the Congressional Bowl this was bound to happen, as the ACC is now affiliated with nine (count them: NINE) bowl tie-ins for 2008. Considering the ACC probably won’t have nine bowl eligible teams, it makes sense to cut ties with Humanitarian Bowl, which has always been looked on as something of a punishment by fans and media members. For the record, I hate it when people knock Boise, which really is a pretty awesome city in one of the coolest regions of our country. Maybe not a cup of tea for some Miami fan in December, but hopefully my Midshipmen can jump on this in 2009 and give me a decent excuse to get out to Sun Valley for some skiing.

Mailbag, did you say Mailbag?

I like to think myself a fairly astute observer of the college football game, especially the non-BCS conferences. So, in an effort to make our slow crawl into the college football preview season a little more interesting, I’ve decided to set up a “Non-BCS Conference Mailbag” over here at ITB. Basically we can do this one of two ways. One, you send your questions, comments, concerns, or queries to guyontheright-at-gmail.com and I answer them here on the blog, OR I make up questions by people named A. Howard Rogers and post the answers on the blog. Frankly I’d rather try the first option, so let’s have at it.

DB Andrew Sendejo, Rice- A rock at 6’1, 213, Sendajo is also one of Conference USA’s best kept secrets. Incredibly active, he’s one of the most versatile defensive backs in the entire country, intercepting five passes (one returned for a touchdown) and notching up 107 tackles in 2007 as a true sophomore. Sendejo is one of the rare combinations of a guy with great range who also happens to be a ferocious hitter, and looks primed to lead what figures to be a much improved Rice Owl defense is 2008.

DE Larry English, Northern Illinois- NIU may have struggled through an injury plagued 2007 campaign, but for the second consecutive year defensive end Larry English was all but unstoppable for opposing offensive lines. The rising senior recorded 10.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and recovered a fumble for a touchdown in 2007. At 6’3, 254 he figures to be a classic tweener at the next level, but for now he remains one of the most relentless defensive ends in the game. With NIU rebuilding under new head coach Jerry Kill, I look for English to lead a refocused defense in 2008.

OLB Clayton Mullins, Miami (Oh)- The reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Mullins played like a man possessed in 2007 for the Red Hawks, totaling 143 tackles (69 solo, 16 tfl), four sacks, and six passes defended. At 6’2, 235 he has next level size for his position at outside linebacker, and more than enough speed and recognition ability to make plays both between the lines and on the perimeter. The leader of the MAC’s best defense, Mullins and Miami should contend for the MAC title yet again in 2008.

LB Frantz Joseph, Florida Atlantic- A big part of FAU’s unlikely turnaround in 2007, Joseph finished 28th in the country in tackles per game last year with just over 10 per contest. He also led the Sun Belt conference in tackles for loss (17) while recording two interceptions and two and a half sacks. Originally a transfer from Boston College, Joseph is a tremendous competitor with great range and instincts who should have FAU back in contention for the Sun Belt crown in 2008.

LB Adam Leonard, Hawaii- A first team all WAC selection in 2007, Leonard is not only one of the WAC’s hardest hitters, but one of its biggest defensive playmakers. Second on the team with 105 tackles last season (53 solo, 11.5 tfl) Leonard also took two interceptions back for touchdowns and broke up four passes. Not the tallest player, he nevertheless has a great feel for the game and the always underrated ability to shed blocks with ease. He’s a versatile player can play either the “mac” or “buck” linebacker positions as they’re known in Honolulu, and should be a major asset in new head coach Greg McMackin’s efforts to keep the program competitive.

DT John Fletcher, Wyoming- One of the major factors in Wyoming’s defensive dominance over the past two years, Fletcher is the 6’6, 275-lb stonewall that anchors the Cowboy defensive line. A dominating force inside with long arms and a powerful upper body, Fletcher registered an unusually high 10.5 sacks from the defensive tackle position last year, in addition to 14 tackles for a loss. His size and athleticism makes him a potential NFL sleeper down the road, but for now he remains the anchor on one of the country’s best and most underrated defensive lines.

FS Ryan Downard, Eastern Michigan- When commentators use the term “playing center field” to describe the actions of a free safety, their explaining the way rising sophomore Ryan Downard played in 2007 to a tee. Downard is one of those guys who has the uncanny ability to just make plays on the football, picking off six passes as a redshirt freshmen last year. I love his feel for the game at free safety, and he shows maturity beyond his years in reading quarterbacks. His continued progression gives perennial MAC bottom feeder Eastern Michigan a chance to be competitive in the MAC next season.

CB Joe Burnett, Central Florida- A rising senior who originally declared for the 2008 NFL draft, Burnett instead chose to return to Central Florida for his senior season after a monster junior campaign in 2007. An aggressive corner who excels against both the pass (12 career interceptions) and the run (148 career solo stops), Burnett also doubles as one of the nation’s most explosive punt returners with three career touchdown returns. His versatility and nose for the football make him not only one of the best defenders in the conference, but also a potential Day 1 draft pick in next year’s draft.

DB Wyatt Middleton, Navy- While I’m willing to admit that this is a blatently homeristic call on my part, I truly believe Middleton is the second coming of former Navy great Josh Smith, who recorded about a bazillion tackles for the Mids between 2002-2004 and was basically a one-man wrecking crew who I swear could have made it in the NFL had he wanted to. Middleton isn’t overly flashy (at least not yet) but he does do what 95% of college defenders can’t- he tackles with proper form. In a day and age where defenders almost always leave their feet, forget to bring their arms, and most of the time get truly and disgustingly high pad level, Middleton displays proper form and good courage against much bigger players. While my esteemed colleague has often noticed his habit of being out of position in the passing game, a solid spring should pay dividends on the field in 2008.

Note: UCF cornerback Johnell Neal was to be included in this list until a recent shooting on May 10th left him injured and put his status in jeopardy for the 2008 season. Neal, who recently graduated early from UCF, picked off six passes in 2007 and broke up another ten. We wish him a speedy recovery and return to the field, whether it be on the college level or the next.