Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson
As we'll all be enthralled with college football on Saturday, here are a few things to watch while you're checking out the many games of the non-BCS:
- TCU vs. New Mexico: By the end of Saturday, one team will be at the top of the Mountain West standings and one will be at the bottom. The one at the top might be the team Utah and BYU should be watching.
- East Carolina: The Fresno State of the East begins its bid to be the dark horse in the race for the BCS with a winnable game against Virginia Tech. East Carolina was two turnovers away from winning the game last year, but it's leading rusher Chris Johnson is gone.
- David Johnson: All offseason Tulsa fans have been wondering who will replace superstar quarterback Paul Smith, and David Johnson has assumed the challenge. He'll face UAB, which almost knocked the Golden Hurricane off last year. Will the Tulsa offense be as potent without Smith?
- Ian Johnson: It was an OK season last year by Ian Johnson standards, but he's said this offseason that he's poised to break out and show he's the top running back in the WAC and maybe the country. He'll be able to put up some big numbers against Idaho State.
- Hot seat: Mike Sanford (UNLV), Joe Glenn (Wyoming), and Chuck Long (SDSU) are all considered coaches fighting for their jobs this season. San Diego Sate plays Cal Poly, but the other coaches have formidable opponents in Ohio (Wyoming) and Utah State (UNLV). The quest to keep their jobs begins Saturday.
- One-hit wonder, Hawaii: Hawaii is in a rebuilding year and a season opener at Florida is going to do nothing for the Warriors' confidence. The Warriors were embarrassed by Georgia at the end of last season, not sure they're going to avoid another embarrassment to begin this one.
- Florida Atlantic: Howard Schnellenberger (allegedly) had some big words for Texas, and now his team has to march into Darryl K. Royal and back up their coach's words. Will they do it? I like the Owls chances.
- The Big House: Utah is presented with a golden opportunity this weekend to pick off Michigan while the Wolverines are still trying to get their bearings. A win at Michigan would bump the Utes up in the eyes of pollsters and maybe drop them in the Top 25 next week.
- Monday matchup: All eyes will be on Fresno State as they travel to Rutgers for the first game of a grueling non-conference schedule. This is quarterback Tom Brandstater's chance to silence some critics in front of 13 NFL scouts and millions of viewers.
- Coaching debuts: Seven new non-BCS coaches take the field this weekend, but not all of them will come away unscathed. Watch June Jones' debut tonight as SMU opens with Rice, but Houston's Kevin Sumlin, Southern Miss' Larry Fedora and Northern Illinois' Jerry Kill also are coaches to watch.
