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Everybody knows that freshman kicker Scott Bentley makes Florida State unbeatable, but how will the other 105 Division I-A schools fare? Here's how
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PHOTOMONTAGE
ELLIE DICKSON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY AL TIELEMANS (2), JOHN BIEVER, CHRIS COVATTA, J.E. SCHILLING, MIKE SCULLY AND DAVID WALBERG
TWO ILLUSTRATIONS
Rank | School | 1992 Regular Season | 1993 Projected Record | Comments |
1 | FLORIDA STATE | 10-1 | 12-0 | Three Heisman candidates and now a kicker to boot |
2 | MICHIGAN | 8-0-3 | 10-1 | Elvis has left the building, but Tyrone Wheatley & Co. have not |
3 | FLORIDA | 8-3 | 10-1 | Tennessee and Florida State visit Gainesville, where coach is 18-0 |
4 | ALABAMA | 11-0 | 10-1 | The defense lost five starters but is still tops in the nation |
5 | COLORADO | 9-1-1 | 10-1 | In '91 the Buffaloes ran. In '92 they passed. In '93 they'll do both |
6 | MIAMI | 11-0 | 9-2 | Likened to Vinny Testaverde, Frank Costa is more verde than tested |
7 | SYRACUSE | 9-2 | 10-1 | Only QB Marvin Graves, Bo and Ty have been MVP in three bowl games |
8 | TENNESSEE | 8-3 | 10-1 | If the Volunteers had a defensive backfield, they would be No. 1 |
9 | WASHINGTON | 9-2 | 10-1 | How will the Huskies react to sanctions ? By winning, that's how |
10 | FRESNO STATE | 8-4 | 10-1 | The Bulldogs will lead the nation in scoring for the third year in a row |
11 | NOTRE DAME | 9-1-1 | 8-3 | Holtz is right when he says he can't beat Michigan or Florida State |
12 | ARIZONA | 6-4-1 | 9-2 | The best D outside Alabama, and Washington isn 't on the schedule |
13A | NEBRASKA | 9-2 | 10-1 | The Huskers will look great. Then they'll go to a bowl and...kaboom! |
13B | TEXAS A&M | 12-0 | 10-1 | The Aggies will look great. Then they'll go to a bowl and...kaboom! |
15 | STANFORD | 9-3 | 7-4 | Will need all of Bill Walsh's genius against Colorado and Notre Dame |
16 | PENN STATE | 7-4 | 9-2 | The Lions are better than nine of the Big Ten. Too bad there are 11 |
17 | BOSTON COLLEGE | 8-2-1 | 8-3 | The Eagles play five teams that won a total of 11 games last year |
18 | OKLAHOMA | 5-4-2 | 9-2 | It's the 50th anniversary of "Oklahoma!" This year Oklahoma O.K. |
19 | GEORGIA | 9-2 | 9-2 | Could've won national title, but two young Dawgs left for the NFL |
20 | SOUTHERN CAL | 6-4-1 | 9-3 | Student body right? Student body wrong. Trojans still a few horses short |
21 | BRIGHAM YOUNG | 8-4 | 9-2 | Every year the Cougars are hated. This year they're good, too |
22 | WISCONSIN | 5-6 | 8-3 | Ninety-nine percent of rushing and 100% of passing yards are back |
23 | WEST VIRGINIA | 5-4-2 | 8-3 | Notre Dame transfer QB Jake Kelchner doesn 't miss South Bend |
24 | NORTH CAROLINA | 8-3 | 8-4 | Has ends (Corey Holliday and Greg DeLong) but no Means (Natrone) |
25 | N.C. STATE | 9-2-1 | 8-3 | New coach Mike O'Cain will pick up where Dick Sheridan left off |
26 | IOWA | 5-7 | 9-2 | The last year Iowa didn 't go to a bowl, it went to Pasadena the next year |
27 | ARIZONA STATE | 6-5 | 7-4 | Back from injuries. Off the police blotter. Into the Top 30 |
28 | GEORGIA TECH | 5-6 | 7-4 | Donnie Davis was equal of Heath Shuler and Eric Zeier in high school |
29 | MISSISSIPPI | 8-3 | 8-3 | The Rebels have the best set of linebackers in the U.S. |
30 | OHIO STATE | 8-2-1 | 6-5 | These days two yards and a cloud of dust would look pretty good |
31 | UCLA | 6-5 | 6-5 | Since '88 the Bruins are 23-21-1. How has Terry Donahue kept his job? |
32 | SAN DIEGO STATE | 5-5-1 | 9-3 | Nation's most disappointing team in '92. Could be the same in '93 |
33 | TEXAS | 6-5 | 5-6 | The Longhorns are a year away. Again |
34 | LOUISVILLE | 5-6 | 7-4 | Jeff Brohm is the best Cardinal quarterback since Johnny U |
35 | CLEMSON | 5-6 | 8-3 | Was last year's record a fluke or the beginning of the end? |
36 | BAYLOR | 6-5 | 7-4 | For the first time in 22 years Papa Bear is not named Grant Teaff |
37 | SOUTH CAROLINA | 5-6 | 7-4 | Can Steve Taneyhill (page 62) lead Coach Sparky out of Woods again? |
38 | MICHIGAN STATE | 5-6 | 6-5 | Best recruits since coach George Perles's megalomania began in '89 |
39 | KANSAS | 7-4 | 7-5 | Lost entire backfield and the best defensive tackles in school history |
40 | MEMPHIS STATE | 6-5 | 6-5 | No more revoltin'developments, but not much better, either |
41 | OKLAHOMA STATE | 4-6-1 | 7-4 | Much improved last season. The improvement will continue |
42 | SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI | 7-4 | 7-4 | Won four of last five and lost to 'Bama by only seven |
43 | OREGON | 6-5 | 6-5 | Not quite a poll team but, thanks to free-spending fans, a bowl team |
44 | MISSISSIPPI STATE | 7-4 | 7-4 | If the Bulldogs are healthy, middle of the SEC West; if not, bottom |
45 | RICE | 6-5 | 7-4 | Bert Emanuel is the fastest quarterback outside the state of Florida |
46 | AUBURN | 5-5-1 | 4-7 | Back to the winning ways of the '80s, right? Wrong |
47 | ARKANSAS | 3-7-1 | 5-6 | Coach Danny Ford: "Our team won't be average. "Right, it'll be below |
48 | NEVADA | 7-4 | 8-3 | After second year in Big West, Wolf Pack will have two titles |
49 | HAWAII | 10-2 | 9-3 | The pot at the end of the Rainbows' season will not be a bowl |
50 | LOUISIANA STATE | 2-9 | 3-8 | Tiger fans will be eyeing coach Curley Hallman 's scalp |
51 | KANSAS STATE | 5-6 | 4-7 | Nine starters back on offense. So what? Offense was 104th in I-A |
52 | WASHINGTON STATE | 8-3 | 3-8 | Coach Mike Price has a new contract. Good thing he got it when he did |
53 | CALIFORNIA | 4-7 | 4-8 | Brought in good defensive coordinator. Made him offensive coordinator |
54 | VIRGINIA | 7-4 | 6-5 | The swoon starts in October, just like last year |
55 | RUTGERS | 7-4 | 6-5 | This is the year the Scarlet Knights break through. Yeah, right |
56 | UTAH | 6-5 | 8-4 | The Ute movement continues. It'll be back-to-back bowls |
57 | TEXAS TECH | 5-6 | 7-4 | Great O with WR Lloyd Hill and RB Bam Morris. But where's the D? |
58 | MISSOURI | 3-8 | 2-9 | Even star QB Jeff Handy won't keep fans from ragging on the Tigers |
59 | MARYLAND | 3-8 | 3-8 | Recruiter Kyle Lingerfelt's computer flashed "recruit speed. "He did |
60 | MINNESOTA | 2-9 | 4-7 | And at quarterback, coach Jim Wacker's nephew Tim Schade |
61 | ILLINOIS | 6-4-1 | 5-6 | The Illini's best QB is new offensive coordinator Greg Landry, age 46 |
62 | AIR FORCE | 7-4 | 6-6 | The Falcons will finally use their aeronautic skills and throw the ball |
63 | IOWA STATE | 4-7 | 3-8 | Face no I-AA teams. Smart. The Cyclones were 0-1 against them in '92 |
64 | INDIANA | 5-6 | 4-7 | The Hoosier offense just isn 't the same without Vaughn Dunbar |
65 | UTAH STATE | 5-6 | 6-5 | One of three teams from the Beehive State to vie for a conference title |
66 | SAN JOSE STATE | 7-4 | 7-4 | New coach, 66-year-old John Ralston, inherits top QB Jeff Garcia |
67 | WYOMING | 5-7 | 4-7 | WR Ryan Yarborough can't get much better. But the Cowboys sure can |
68 | COLORADO STATE | 5-7 | 4-7 | Why are the Rams playing six games in a row against bowl teams? |
69 | HOUSTON | 4-7 | 4-7 | Ousted coach John Jenkins had no defense. Neither does former team |
70 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 5-6 | 9-2 | The Chips are anything but down in the MAC |
71 | EAST CAROLINA | 5-6 | 4-7 | Like his dad, TE Carlester Crumpler Jr. will be a Pirate All-America |
72 | NORTHWESTERN | 3-8 | 3-8 | Just enjoy WR Lee Gissendaner and QB Len Williams |
73 | WAKE FOREST | 7-4 | 1-10 | New coach (Jim Caldwell). New team (only 10 starters back) |
74 | TULSA | 4-7 | 2-9 | Coach Dave Rader rejected offers from two other schools. Why ? |
75 | AKRON | 7-3-1 | 7-4 | The Zips will challenge the Chips for the MAC title |
76 | CINCINNATI | 3-8 | 4-7 | The Bearcats'streak of losing seasons will reach 11 |
77 | NEW MEXICO STATE | 6-5 | 5-6 | In '92 we thought the Aggies were the worst. Now they 're 29 spots away |
78 | PURDUE | 4-7 | 1-10 | Little talent, less speed, no hope in the Big Ten |
79 | TOLEDO | 8-3 | 8-3 | Visitors to Glass Bowl shouldn 't throw; Rockets have a tough pass D |
80 | KENTUCKY | 4-7 | 4-7 | Come on, Wildcats. Coach Bill Curry deserves a winning season |
81 | BOWLING GREEN | 9-2 | 8-3 | The Falcons have nation's longest conference winning streak (16) |
82 | VANDERBILT | 4-7 | 3-8 | As usual, the first string is good enough for the SEC, the second isn't |
83 | VIRGINIA TECH | 2-8-1 | 3-8 | These are dark days in Blacksburg |
84 | MIAMI (OHIO) | 6-4-1 | 7-4 | The Redskins have a terrific runner in sophomore Deland McCullough |
85 | NEW MEXICO | 3-8 | 3-8 | For the first time in 17 years the coaching staff remained intact |
86 | ARMY | 5-6 | 6-5 | Every Cadet who carried or threw the ball in '92 is sback |
87 | NORTHERN ILLINOIS | 5-6 | 4-7 | The Big West is very big indeed to include this team from De Kalb |
88 | OREGON STATE | 1-9-1 | 1-10 | The Beavers' last winning season was the glorious 6-5 campaign of '70 |
89 | TEMPLE | 1-10 | 2-9 | The Owls lost 10 straight games to I-A foes in '92 by a score of 383-97 |
90 | WESTERN MICHIGAN | 7-3-1 | 4-7 | With only seven starters back, the Broncos are busted |
91 | TCU | 2-8-1 | 3-8 | Leap Frogs: In '92 they pounced on Texas but croaked against SMU |
92 | DUKE | 2-9 | 2-9 | Hey, Steve Spurrier's back! Oh, it's senior wideout Steve Spurrier Jr. |
93 | UNLV | 6-5 | 3-8 | The AD tried to ax the coach. You thought the hoops team was a mess |
94 | LOUISIANA TECH | 5-6 | 2-9 | Northern Illinois will end Bulldogs' 17-game home win streak Oct. 30 |
95 | PACIFIC | 3-8 | 3-8 | This year there's no Troy Kopp, Ryan Benjamin or Aaron Turner |
96 | NAVY | 1-10 | 3-8 | Looks like smooth sailing compared with last year's capsizing |
97 | TULANE | 2-9 | 2-10 | The Green Wave hasn 't had a winning record in 11 years. It'll be 12 |
98 | BALL STATE | 5-6 | 4-7 | Twin DBs Raphael and Raphaol Ball: Like they 'd go to Bowling Green ? |
99 | UTEP | 1-10 | 1-11 | The Miners brought in 15 jucos as a quick fix. Quick, yes; fix, no |
100 | EASTERN MICHIGAN | 1-10 | 1-10 | The youngest I-A coach, Ron Cooper, 32, will be sorely tested |
101 | PITTSBURGH | 3-9 | 2-9 | Johnny Majors took job to prove the Vols wrong. Vindication must wait |
102 | OHIO | 1-10 | 1-10 | The leading rusher, passer and receiver are back. They wonS't be enough |
103 | SMU | 5-6 | 1-10 | With 30 seniors gone, hey, maybe that death penalty wasn 't so bad |
104 | KENT STATE | 2-9 | 1-10 | It could be worse. The Sept. 18 game against Hawaii could be at home |
105 | SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA | 2-9 | 2-9 | After two two-win seasons, the only Cajuns ragin' are the fans |
106 | ARKANSAS STATE | 2-9 | 1-10 | New coach John Bobo's boo-boo? Taking over team that's lost 24 of 27 |
