Dreaming of kickoff

As summer begins, here's a starting lineup of questions to consider while in the hammock, waiting for autumn:

1. Are you willing to commit to LSU as a top-10 team just because quarterback Matt Mauck played one good half against Tennessee in the SEC Championship Game? Hey, Mauck replaced an injured Rohan Davey and led the Tigers to a 31-20 upset. He's also 23 years old and a former minor league baseball player, which is almost becoming a required entry on the college quarterback résumé. But with tailback LaBrandon Toefield coming back from major knee surgery and wide receiver Josh Reed taking early leave for the NFL, that's a lot of responsibility to place on some inexperienced shoulders.

2. Would we have expected as much from Chris Simms if his name were Chris Jones? I think not. The Texas senior has one season left to fulfill the demands that the media -- and coach Mack Brown -- placed on him three years ago when he arrived in Austin.

3. Will Washington State's visit to the Horseshoe on Sept. 14 serve as a preview of the Rose Bowl? Yep. Ohio State is as good as any team in what will be a second consecutive mediocre year for the Big Ten.

4. Will Bobby Bowden pass Joe Paterno in career victories this season? Ten years ago, Bowden trailed Paterno by 24 victories, 240-216. Five years ago, Bowden had made up only five games, 289-270. The Florida State coach begins this fall with 323 victories, only four behind the legend from Penn State. This is the year, if only because the Seminoles play 13 regular-season games, one more than the Nittany Lions. Florida State is also better.

5. Is Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville on a short leash? Hey, you don't lose the Iron Bowl at home 31-7 and enjoy your offseason. Last winter Tuberville fired both of his coordinators, which bought him some time. However, the Tigers open their season at USC on Labor Day before a national TV audience. It's hard to imagine a transcontinental must-win in the opener. You don't know the meaning of a long flight home until you consider what Auburn will deal with if it plays poorly against the Trojans.

6. Speaking of which, can USC make a first down? The Trojans' offense stunk last year. Carson Palmer never dialed into new coordinator Norm Chow's scheme. Palmer looked mediocre, Chow looked for another job ... but now they are back together. The arrival of tailback Justin Fargas, the transfer from Michigan, is supposed to help. But he hasn't had a healthy season yet.

7. Will Maryland repeat its 10-2 record of a year ago? The team's best players, linebacker E.J. Henderson and tailback Bruce Perry, are back to lead the Terps. But storybook seasons only happen once in a lifetime.

8. Will Duke win a game for the first time this century? You know, I was all ready to say, "Absolutely." Coach Carl Franks has stuck with his young talent, even as the Blue Devils have gone winless over the last two years. But after starting quarterback D. Bryant flunked out (now we know what the D stood for -- his grades), you have to wonder whether Duke's 23-game losing streak is just a warmup.

9. Can the BCS rankings regain any respect after the debacles of recent years? What am I, nuts? The BCS will remain a target of ridicule as long as formulas override common sense. Anyone who saw Nebraska play before the Rose Bowl knew that the 'Huskers were not the second-best team in the country. When the BCS allows people, not computers, to make decisions, the controversy will end.

10. Which non-BCS team will threaten to break into the at-large pool this season? Two years ago TCU fell victim to a rainy upset at San Jose State. Last year Fresno State and BYU nearly made it to the top. This season watch out for Conference USA defending champion Louisville. The Cardinals have one of the best defenses in the nation and an outstanding quarterback in Dave Ragone.

11. Can anyone in Division III beat Mount Union? Better question: After six D-III titles in seven seasons and 82 victories in its last 83 games, can anyone in Division I-AA beat Mount Union?

Sports Illustrated senior writer Ivan Maisel covers college football for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.

 

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