| THE REST |
| RANK |
TEAM (FINAL 2003 AP RANK) |
2003 RECORD |
RETURNING STARTERS |
| 26 |
WISCONSIN |
7-6 |
17 |
| Senior TB Anthony Davis (3,021 total rushing yards in his first two seasons) is 100% after missing five games to ankle injuries |
| 27 |
N.C. STATE |
8-5 |
17 |
| Freshman Marcus Stone is the leader to succeed Philip Rivers at QB; junior TB T.A. McLendon (11 TDs in nine games) is healthy |
| 28 |
PURDUE (18) |
9-4 |
11 |
| Senior Kyle Orton completed 60% of his passes over last two seasons; adding a 6'9" receiver, sophomore Kyle Ingraham, is a plus |
| 29 |
BOSTON COLLEGE |
8-5 |
11 |
| Winner of four straight bowls, Eagles must settle QB position and replace alltime rushing leader Derrick Knight to make a run at five |
| 30 |
OREGON STATE |
8-5 |
12 |
| Senior Derek Anderson was second Pac-10 passer to throw for 4,000 yards in a season (4,058); he must cut down on INTs (24) |
| 31 |
VIRGINIA |
8-5 |
16 |
| Speedy junior Marques Hagans takes over at QB and can look to All-America tight end Heath Miller (70 catches, 835 yards) |
| 32 |
MEMPHIS |
9-4 |
16 |
| Explosive junior TB DeAngelo Williams rushed for 1,430 yards and led nation with 192.1 all-purpose yards per game |
| 33 |
ALABAMA |
4-9 |
15 |
| Junior LB DeMeco Ryans set school record with 25 tackles against Arkansas, one of his five games with double-figure tackles |
| 34 |
LOUISVILLE |
9-4 |
16 |
| Senior WR J.R. Russell was second in C-USA with 75 catches and 1,213 yards, becoming fifth Cardinals 1,000-yard receiver in six years |
| 35 |
GEORGIA TECH |
7-6 |
14 |
| ACC Rookie of the Year QB Reggie Ball threw for 1,996 yards, fourth best alltime among conference freshmen |
| 36 |
SOUTHERN MISS |
9-4 |
13 |
| Ball hawking junior CB John Eubanks scored on a fumble return, an interception return and a kickoff return |
| 37 |
SOUTH CAROLINA |
5-7 |
15 |
| Gave up just 11 sacks thanks to hefty trio of LT Jabari Levey (320), C John Strickland (305) and RG Jonathan Alston (305) |
| 38 |
VIRGINIA TECH |
8-5 |
9 |
| Senior Bryan Randall (1,996 passing yards, 15 TDs) won't have to split time at QB, because Marcus Vick was suspended for the year |
| 39 |
TEXAS TECH |
8-5 |
15 |
| Senior QB Sonny Cumbie succeeds B.J. Symons at the helm of nation's most potent offense (582.8 yards per game) |
| 40 |
FRESNO STATE |
9-5 |
17 |
| Former walk-on Garrett McIntyre, a junior DE, had 39 tackles, including 12 1/2 tackles for loss and eight sacks |
| 41 |
NOTRE DAME |
5-7 |
14 |
| Opener at BYU offers sophomore QB Brady Quinn (nine TDs, 15 INTs) chance to convince alums he's their man |
| 42 |
MARSHALL |
8-4 |
13 |
| Senior QB Stan Hill (1,767 yards, 15 TDs despite knee injury) and senior WR Josh Davis (2,975 career yards) are a dangerous combo |
| 43 |
WASHINGTON STATE (9) |
10-3 |
6 |
| Junior LB Will Derting (86 tackles, 7 1/2 sacks) will carry Cougars defense that has just two returning starters |
| 44 |
BOISE STATE (16) |
13-1 |
9 |
| Broncos' 11-game winning streak is nation's second longest; sophomore Jared Zabranski is leader to replace Ryan Dinwiddie at QB |
| 45 |
COLORADO |
5-7 |
11 |
| Gary Barnett survived tumultuous off-season; will Buffs' last four games (Texas, at Kansas, Kansas State, at Nebraska) do him in? |
| 46 |
MICHIGAN STATE |
8-5 |
14 |
| Who will replace QB Jeff Smoker? Senior Damon Dowdell, freshman Stephen Reaves and sophomore Drew Stanton will battle it out |
| 47 |
SAN DIEGO STATE |
6-6 |
16 |
| Senior LB Kirk Morrison (115 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks) is reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year |
| 48 |
OKLAHOMA STATE |
9-4 |
15 |
| Sophomore WR D'Juan Woods looks to fill the shoes of his brother Rashaun, who caught 77 passes for 1,367 yards and 15 TDs |
| 49 |
WASHINGTON |
6-6 |
12 |
| Senior FB Zach Tuiasosopo, brother of former Huskies QB Marques, is one of the Pac-10's best blocking backs |
