BYU has won 22 games the last two seasons, and coach Bronco Mendenhall has the talent on hand to keep it going.

Six starters are back on offense and seven on defense from a team that went 10-3 under Dennis Erickson.

The Illini are looking for a return trip to the Rose Bowl behind Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn.

The Vols are rarely afraid to lean on their running game, and with a new quarterback, 2008 will be true to form.

Mike Leach has a solid defense and a favorable schedule to go with the nation's leading passer and receiver.

Oregon looks to climb atop another murky Pac-10 despite breaking in a new quarterback and running back.

South Florida returns most of the players that at one point made up the No. 2-ranked team in the country in 2007.

There's a QB battle in Blacksburg, but whatever the outcome, the Hokies should still win the Coastal division.

Mike Teel, Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood return to compose one of the Big East's most exciting passing attacks.

The Nittany Lions should compete for the Big Ten title behind 18 players with substantial starting experience.

With 20 wins in the last two years, Wake Forest, is enjoying the most successful period of its football history.

Fresno State will enter the season as the WAC favorite and one of the trendy picks to become 2008's BCS buster.

The nation's best team over the last five years shows no signs of slowing down this season as the Trojans take Athlon's No. 1 position in the top 25 countdown. Quarterback John David Booty returns as a top Heisman candidate along with one of the nation's fastest defenses to lead the Trojans in 2007.

Texas' defense of its national title took a wrong turn last year when sensational freshman quarterback Colt McCoy fell to an injury at Kansas State. After an offseason of bulking up, McCoy hopes to lead the Longhorns back into the BCS realm and another national championship run.

With Mike V looking down from above and JaMarcus Russell from Oakland, the Tigers will enter the 2007 season with a new live mascot and a new quarterback. Matt Flynn will likely take the latter role as LSU aims to ride a favorable schedule and a stingy defense to the SEC Championship game.

Wisconsin returns a good chunk of the team that went 12-1 last season but Joe Thomas and John Stocco are missing. P.J. Hill should provide plenty of production behind four returning offensive linemen but the Badgers must find a sufficient quarterback replacement to become the class of the league.

The Mountaineers came up just shy of a BCS bowl berth last season, but with the dangerous legs of Steve Slaton and Pat White returning to lead one of the nation's most potent all-around offenses, this year could hold outstanding results.

It might be difficult for Florida to repeat as national champions with its depleted defense, but Urban Meyer still has plenty of options to fill the gaps. And with Tim Tebow in the fold at quarterback and Percy Harvin causing havoc all over the field, the Gators should still be in the title chase.

There's a new signal-caller in Norman whose identity has yet to be named. Whoever emerges on opening day will have all the on-field benefits of being a Sooner, however, including tailback Allen Patrick, receiver Malcolm Kelly and one of the nation's top-rated defense.

Michigan returns one of the best quarterback-running back-receiver combos in the nation in Chad Henne, Mike Hart and Mario Manningham, but the Wolverines' defense, which must replace a powerful front four, will determine how far this team can go in 2007.

All-ACC running back Branden Ore headlines the list of Virginia Tech's returning starters - eight on offense and eight on defense. He'll likely shoulder the majority of the offensive load during a season where the entire team - and Hokie nation - will be filled with heavy hearts.

Rutgers fever swept the nation last year as the Scarlet Knights won 11 games for only the second time in their 137-year history. All-America running back Ray Rice returns to lead the Knights into BCS contention again, needing just 86 yards for 3,000 in his career.

Cal shared a piece of the Pac-10 title last year but Jeff Tedford's squad wants nothing less than a BCS berth this time around. One of the nation's most electric players, DeSean Jackson, and very dangerous offense return to help the Golden Bears knock down that barrier.

It's reload time at Ohio State, where only 10 starters return from its national runner-up team a year ago. But with sophomore running back Chris Wells and junior linebacker James Laurinaitis leading their respective units, look for the Buckeyes to contend once again.

New Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe did his best recruiting job immediately after he was hired by convincing QB Brian Brohm to stay for his senior season. Now, Kragthorpe and Brohm aim to keep the Cardinals among the nation's elite programs in the resurgent Big East.

Calvin Johnson is gone but Chan Gailey and Georgia Tech return plenty of offensive firepower - led by Tashard Choice - and eight starters from a defense ranked as one of the nation's best last year. Look for the Jackets to break into the top 15.

All-America DE candidate Bruce Davis headlines 20 returning starters while Ben Olson has rebounded from last season's knee injury to solidify the quarterback position again. UCLA plays only six games in the Rose Bowl this year but a favorable road schedule should have them in contention.

Matthew Stafford took full control of the Georgia quarterback position at the end of last season. Now, he returns with a healthy group of running backs to build off a late-season winning streak over Auburn, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech in 2006.

Penn State will use its Outback Bowl win over Tennessee as a springboard to an interesting 2007 season. Quarterback Anthony Morelli and his top three receivers return along with a stout defense that should be one of the Big Ten's best.

Nebraska has taken back control of the Big 12 North but couldn't get by Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship last season. A new quarterback will be directing Bill Callahan's offense this season, but talented receivers Maurice Purify and Terrence Nunn should ease the transition.

After tying the school record with 11 victories a year ago, record-setting quarterback Colt Brennan returns to help Hawaii take the next step. And with a friendly schedule - all of Hawaii's crucial games are on the islands - the Warriors may do just that.

The Vols will try to take the next step from their 9-4 2006 campaign behind the two-headed rushing attack of LaMarcus Coker and Arian Foster. QB Erik Ainge is healthy and back under center, but a tough schedule and an unproven corps of receivers could cause problems early.

Auburn quietly finished 11-2 last season and was the only team to defeat Florida. Quarterback Brandon Cox's health is key for another solid Tigers' season, but they must make up for the graduation of several key contributors.

Quarterback Matt Moore led the Beavers to seven wins in their final nine games in 2006, including their last four. Moore is gone but with Yvenson Bernard returning behind one of the nation's best offensive lines, the Beavers could make noise in the Pac-10.

Texas A&M ended a six game losing streak against its biggest rival on enemy turf last season. That left the Aggies hungry for more. With Stephen McGee, Jorvorskie Lane and Mike Goodson returning to the backfield, this year's team will again be dangerous.

Miami enters this season after a tumultuous 2006. New head coach Randy Shannon will attempt to restore the Hurricanes' winning tradition while piecing together the university's shattered public perception.

TCU's MWC championship hopes were dashed very quickly last year with consecutive losses to BYU and Utah. While they must find a replacement for QB Jeff Ballard this year, the Frogs defense, led by All-America candidate Tommy Blake, is one of the best in the nation.

Flying in under the radar come the Oklahoma Sooners, but a healthy, experienced and talented OU team lead our countdown in 2006.

Charlie Weis has got the Irish back in the national title hunt, led behind Heisman hopeful Brady Quinn at quarterback.

After four years, a 48-4 overall record, a 34 game win streak, four BCS bowl appearances, graduation and NFL draft riches, USC still has a river of talent flowing in.

Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. has the potential to join QB Troy Smith in a two-man Heisman race in 2006.

Urban Meyer looks to improve his spread option scheme behind veteran QB Chris Leak.

Fresh off an 11-1 record and rousing Sugar Bowl win, the Mountaineers have a made-to-order schedule in 2006.

Texas is coming off its fourth national title, a perfect 13-0 season and a 41-38 Rose Bowl win over USC.

A serious contender for the Pac-10 title, California returns nearly 100% of its rushing, passing and receiving production from last season.

QB Brandon Cox and RB Kenny Irons look to take a re-vamped Auburn Tiger team to the top of the SEC West.

Quarterback Brian Brohm is back after a 2,883-yard, 19-touchdown passing sophomore year despite missing the last two games of the season with a knee injury....

The last two games LSU played were both in the Georgia Dome, and neither one was a close game. Georgia thumped the Tigers 34-14 in the SEC Championship Game, then...

Clemson enters 2006 with some momentum in the form of a four-game winning streak, and wins in six of its last seven games. There are eight starters back on offense...

In his second year in the Maize and Blue, Chad Henne completed a lower percentage of his passes for fewer yards and fewer touchdowns than he did as a freshman...

There was a shakeup, no, let's make that, earthquake, on the Miami coaching staff following the 40-3 embarrassment at the hands of LSU in the Peach Bowl, when four top assistants were shown the door.

Depending on which service you subscribe to, any one of three 2006 quarterback recruits could have been No. 1 at the position. And Georgia's Matthew Stafford is one of them. Stafford enrolled at Georgia for the spring...

The concussion quarterback Drew Tate suffered in Game 2 against Iowa State last year, along with breaking in four first-time starters on the defensive line, precipitated a bit of a stumble for the Hawkeyes early on, after a preseason of such high expectations

The 2005 All-ACC team had no Seminoles on the first team. That should change this year, starting at quarterback.

TCU made quite an impression in its first season in the Mountain West Conference, rolling through at 8-0 and winning its final 10 games of the season.

This season, the Ducks aim to get back in the BCS discussion, but it will be tough after losing four players to the NFL Draft.

Tennessee is in major rebounding mode after dropping from a consensus Top 10 team in the preseason last year to a team that failed to qualify for a bowl.

Defensively, the Hokies are traditionally tough, and this year should be no exception with Xavier Adibi leading the way. A season-ending clash at Miami could determine the ACC title.

The name is going to change again this fall, but here's guessing the numbers will not.

Utah will be in contention for a Mountain West title.

Offense sparks Devils into Top 25. Athlon Pick: Fourth in the Pac-10

Huskers making strides under Callahan. Athlon Pick: First in Big 12 North.