ESPN Independents and Others Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

In every season there's always a tough stretch of games that makes or breaks a conference title or a major bowl berth. The following are some rough schedule stretches for teams who won their conferences last year and are expected to challenge for their conference titles and/or a possible BCS berth this year.

TCU
Nov. 14 Utah
Nov. 21 at Wyoming
Nov. 28 New Mexico

Utah against TCU was one of the best games of the Mountain West season last year because it more or less sent Utah on its way to the BCS and TCU fighting for a share of the conference title, which it didn't get. That game should have similar meaning for both teams this year. The Wyoming game is intriguing because the last time TCU went to Laramie it came away with a 24-21 loss. And no one knows what to make of New Mexico this year. Because the two teams meet late, the Lobos could put up more of a fight than they did in the early season game last year.

BYU
Sept. 5 vs. Oklahoma @Arlington, Texas
Sept. 12 at Tulane
Sept. 19 Florida State

No one expects BYU to defeat Oklahoma, which is exactly why it could be the most important game on the Cougars schedule. BYU ended last season with a two-game losing streak and it was clear that it mentally affected the team. The high expectations are going to be there again, but this stretch of games, in which they could easily come out 1-2, will make or break the confidence of the Cougars for the early part of the season and might affect their chances of winning the Mountain West.

UTAH
Nov. 14 at TCU
Nov. 21 San Diego State
Nov. 28 at Brigham Young

It's probably safe to assume that with a tough nonconference schedule, a new quarterback and a slew of new players, that Utah isn't going to have another undefeated campaign. But that doesn't mean the Utes won't challenge for the conference crown. The stretch to end the regular season will determine whether the Utes can defend the Mountain West title. It's also good that they get a respite with San Diego State.

BOISE STATE
Oct. 14 at Tulsa (Wed.)
Oct. 24 at Hawai'i
Oct. 31 San Jose State
Nov. 6 at Louisiana Tech (Fri.)

Yes, the Oregon game on Sept. 3 is huge and will undoubtedly make or break the Broncos BCS chances. But this is also a team that prides itself on winning the WAC and this is the stretch where the Broncos can make the most strides. I added Tulsa in here because that has the potential to be a shootout game with Tulsa's style, and could put a strain on a team that then has to turn around and travel to Hawaii, which is not an easy place to play. San Jose State will be much better this year with a stiff defense and an improved offense and Boise State and Louisiana Tech will be a much better game this year than it was last year. The biggest thing here is all the travel the Broncos have to do during the four-game span.

TROY
Sept. 26 at Arkansas State
Oct. 6 Middle Tennessee
Oct. 17 at Florida International

One could look at the Troy schedule and argue that the toughest games are at the end of the schedule with Florida Atlantic and Louisiana, but I think these three games, the first three of the Sun Belt season, will set the tone for the Trojans. All three teams will be better than they were a year ago, especially Middle Tennessee, which now has Tony Franklin, former Troy offensive coordinator, as its offensive coordinator. And I've been saying all offseason that no one in the Sun Belt should sleep on Florida International.

EAST CAROLINA
Oct. 27 at Memphis (Tue.)
Nov. 5 Virginia Tech (Thur.)
Nov. 15 at Tulsa (Sun.)

Yes, ECU opens the season with a tough set against West Virginia and North Carolina, but this stretch of games is absolutely brutal for not only ECU's hopes of defending their conference title, but also achieving an undefeated season. Memphis will be one of the chief challengers for C-USA East and playing on the road in that game won't be easy especially with Virginia Tech, a team the Pirates beat dramatically last season, looming. Then the Pirates have to travel to Tulsa, the team they beat to win Conference USA last year.

TULSA
Nov. 7 Houston
Nov. 15 East Carolina (Sun.)
Nov. 21 at Southern Miss
Nov. 28 Memphis

This might be one of the most brutal stretches of all that are listed here. Not only will Houston be looking to repeat its 70-30 shellacking of the Golden Hurricane last year, Tulsa will have to fend off the potential top three teams in C-USA East. Tulsa doesn't have to sweep this stretch to win C-USA West, but it would help.

BUFFALO
Oct. 24 at Western Michigan
Nov. 3 Bowling Green (Tue.)
Nov. 10 Ohio (Tue.)

Buffalo probably isn't the favorite to win the MAC East, but the Bulls weren't the favorite last year either. Playing at Western Michigan is going to be a tough task especially with two of the top East teams waiting on the horizon. Both Bowling Green and Ohio will be tough this year since both return several key players and both made strides this spring.

BALL STATE
Nov. 12 at Northern Illinois (Thur.)
Nov. 18 Central Michigan (Wed.)
Nov. 24 at Western Michigan (Tue.)

There's no doubt that this isn't last year's Ball State team, but it could be in the hunt for the MAC West as it hits this stretch at the end of the season. These four teams will all be vying for the MAC West and it's unfortunate for Ball State that two of the games are on the road. Getting Central Michigan, who will be the MAC favorite heading into the season, at home will help.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Oct. 10     Eastern Michigan
Oct. 17     at Western Michigan
Oct. 24     at Bowling Green

The Chippewas have a couple tough two-game stretches in the beginning and at the end of the year, but this little stretch might be pivotal in Central Michigan trying to win its third MAC title in the past four seasons. The Chippewas lost to Eastern Michigan each of the past two seasons and played close games with Western Michigan each of the past two seasons. Bowling Green figures to be in the hunt for the MAC East and though the Chippewas defeated BGSU in the last meeting in 2006, the Falcons had won the five meetings before that.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

As we head into the summer, it's a good time to get to know the names of some players that might not otherwise be on your radar. So I've compiled a list of 10 players that you should know in the fall.

Daryl Washington, LB, TCU -- Washington spent the past couple years in the shadow of Robert Henson and Jason Phillips, but emerged this spring and should be a key component for the Horned Frogs' defense.

Emmett Merchant, DB, Navy -- Merchant quit the team this spring because he wanted to transfer, but after talking with teammates, he was convinced to stay and should be a key component in the Midshipmen's secondary.

McKay Jacobson, WR, BYU -- Jacobson was a standout his freshman season, but spent the past two years on a mission. He figures to be the perfect replacement for Austin Collie.

Desmond Johnson, RB, Southern Miss -- With Damion Fletcher missing spring practice because of suspension, Johnson got a chance to impress coaches and earn some playing time in the fall.

Dwight Dasher, QB, Middle Tennessee -- Dasher is the full-time starter in an offense directed by new coordinator Tony Franklin. Dasher is a dual-threat that should play off the talent already on the roster.

Aiona Key, WR, Utah -- With all three of the Utes top receivers gone, Key is expected to fill the void quickly. He had a great spring and should be the go-to receiver in the fall.

DeRon Furr, DB, Memphis -- Furr, a transfer from Auburn, looked like a difference maker for the Tigers this spring. He was named MVP of the spring game and should help their struggling defense.

Brandon Bice, DE, Northern Illinois -- Bice will be called upon to make up where former defensive end Larry English left off. Bice was a third-team All-MAC player last season.

Jovonte Taylor, WR, Hawaii -- Taylor, a junior college transfer, played three games with the Warriors last season before suffering a season-ending viral infection. He also missed some of the offseason with knee surgery. But he's back and could be the top target in the Hawaii offense.

Braxton Amy, DB, UTEP -- Amy missed all of last season after tearing his ACL, but is back this season and should be a key component in a depleted UTEP defense. In 2007, Amy led the team with 9.3 tackles per game.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Spring practice is over, and it's now up to the players to determine what type of team they want to be a part of. These rankings are different from my last set because they reflect the teams' having gone through spring football and filling major needs. These rankings are probably closer to what the rankings will look like at the start of the season, but a couple of teams still have big questions to answer and holes to fill.

	AP Photo/Donna McWilliam
	Andy Dalton and the Horned Frogs have the potential to compete for a spot in a BCS bowl.

1. TCU -- This spring the Horned Frogs made up for their losses on defense and developed some good depth on both sides of the ball. The Horned Frogs have a favorable schedule and should be the frontrunner as a BCS buster when the season begins.

2. Boise State -- The Broncos have just five seniors on the team, but the young guys got it done last year and can do so again. An early win against Oregon would set the tone for the entire season.

3. Notre Dame -- It's hard not to like the Irish, especially with lots of talent returning on offense and an incredibly favorable schedule. The Irish also bring in some high-level recruits who should be able to provide immediate help.

4. BYU -- The Cougars changed their attitude this spring and decided to detach themselves from the expectations of fans and media and start focusing on the fun aspects of football. Whether that will translate into wins, especially with a tough nonconference schedule, is to be determined.

5. Utah -- The Utes still have questions on offense, mostly at quarterback, and there's a lot of young, unproven talent at the skill positions. The defensive front will be the strength, while the question is whether the secondary can be as strong as in the past.

6. East Carolina -- The reigning Conference USA champs will again be favored with almost the entire team returning. Players said they were more confident this spring and are ready to take the next step toward changing the program.

7. Nevada -- The Wolf Pack might have the best running game in the country this year with quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running backs Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott. But if Kaepernick can throw, this team could be every bit as dangerous as Boise State.

8. Houston -- The offense is going to be strong, but the defense suffered some major losses to graduation. The Cougars had a good spring, though, and developed some of the depth waiting in the wings.

9. Troy -- I know the Sun Belt isn't one of the higher-level conferences, but the Trojans are for real. Their offense will give its opponents fits and their defense is littered with potential draft picks.

10. Navy -- The Midshipmen lost their entire backfield, but quarterback Ricky Dobbs had a great spring and the rest of the team came along as spring progressed. I even think we'll see a passing game in the Navy offense this year.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

TCU had added another player to its roster for the 2009 season.

Skye Dawson, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound wide receiver from Dallas Christian School, will join the team in the fall.

At Dallas Christian Dawson had 33 receptions for 484 yards and five touchdowns, he also had five interceptions on defense.

Dawson helped lead Dallas Christian to a 14-0 record and state championship in 2008.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

One note I forgot to mention...

The NFL and the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee announced this week that TCU will be the site of team practices for the AFC champions when the 2011 Super Bowl is played at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in Arlington on Feb. 6.

Fort Worth has been designated as the AFC host city. Not only will the AFC champions practice at TCU, they will stay at the Omni Fort Worth.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

The National Football Foundation Gridiron Club of Dallas will recognize senior TCU tight end Shae Reagan tonight with a scholar-athlete award.

Reagan, who completed his eligibility at the end of last season, was a three-year letterman for the Horned Frogs. He was a 2008 Draddy Trophy semifinalist, which is often referred to as the "Academic Heisman," a first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection and a recipient of the TCU football team's G. Malcolm Louden Academic Achievement Award.

Reagan finished his career with 43 receptions for 730 yards and four touchdowns.

According to TCU, he will complete his bachelor's and master's degree in May.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

I feel like I missed a lot in the world of college football while I was in Laramie, Wyo., Tuesday, but being on the Wyoming campus was a learning experience in itself. I'll have a story up either this week or next about the transition at Wyoming and the growing pains that are literally afflicting the team.

Meanwhile, here are some links from the other marvelous things that are going on around the Independents and Others:

• Fresno State assistant coaches are switching sides of the ball, but their knowledge of both offense and defense is helping the team as a whole.

• UNLV completed its spring practices with more questions about starting personnel than answers.

• TCU freshman quarterback Casey Pachall had a rough introduction to college life, but has steadily found his groove on campus and on the football field.

• With a season under his belt, SMU's sophomore quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell said he feels more comfortable as the team's starter.

• Wyoming punter Austin McCoy finally got a chance to participate in practice after the Cowboys worked out outside for only the second time this spring.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

With many spring sessions in the books, it's time to look back and see what went right and what went wrong during several spring practices.

• Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman names his stars of Boise State spring football as his up-and-comers and things that still need to be resolved.

• Utah State finished its first spring under new head coach Gary Andersen and Wade Denniston of the Herald Journal News thought quarterback Diondre Borel made some strides.

• The Fort Worth Business Press has a story about Gary Patterson and his success with cultivating TCU players.

• Jacob Messer of the Charleston Daily Mail writes that junior Brian Anderson has taken control of the Marshall starting quarterback race.

• Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World profiles all three of the quarterbacks -- Jacob Bower, G.J. Kinne and Shavodrick Beaver -- who will continue to vie for the Tulsa starting position.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Not sure if anyone caught this yesterday, but in Bruce Feldman's column, he lists the 10 best players with no shot at the Heisman. He has two non-BCS players on the list -- TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes and Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

While I agree with him on Jerry Hughes -- he was one of the most dominant defensive players in college football last year -- I'm not sure Kaepernick would have been the other name I would have put on this list. It's not that Kaepernick hasn't shown some great stuff in the past. Heck, he and Vai Taua comprised the best running game in the country, but he was a little inconsistent in the passing game.

I will say that he came on strong with his passing at the end of the season with two 300-yard games. If he can keep that up then yes, he might be one of the best players that would never be considered for a Heisman.

I think the return of running back Luke Lippincott will help because it will allow Kaepernick to rely less on his running ability and more on his passing game. Unfortunately for Kap (as the Nevada players call him), two of his top three receivers are gone, including Marko Mitchell, who was a go-to target for the team. Still Kaepernick has shown that he can be a game-changer and could raise a lot of eyebrows with a strong performance at Notre Dame to start the season.

As for who I would have picked as the best player with no shot at the Heisman... I would have gone with Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore. He was phenomenal in his first season with the Broncos. And although he couldn't get the win against TCU in the bowl game to secure an undefeated season, he showed he was a gamer in wins over Oregon and Nevada.

I think Southern Miss receiver DeAndre Brown could also be a provisional on that list if he's able to return from the broken leg he suffered in the New Orleans Bowl last season. Brown led all freshman receivers in receiving yards and was one of the most dynamic players in the country.

A few other choices (in no particular order):

• Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen
• BYU tight end Dennis Pitta
• Utah defensive end Koa Misi
• East Carolina defensive end C.J. Wilson
• Troy quarterback Levi Brown
• Notre Dame receiver Golden Tate

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

TCU is one of the most successful programs among the non-automatic qualifying schools, so much so that coach Gary Patterson received an lucrative (and undisclosed) contract extension just to keep him with the program.

Patterson has a unique philosophy about football, where he's not afraid to get players hurt in practice and he preaches that winning a championship begins in January.

	Vladimir Cherry/US PRESSWIRE
	TCU coach Gary Patterson will again rely on his defense to lead the way.

TCU was the only other non-AQ team to finish the season ranked in the top 10, and Patterson's hopeful for an even better performance this year.

How do you replace the leadership that you lost from some of your seniors on defense?

GP: That's what's the difference between a good team and a good program. What you have to do is you have to keep bringing guys along. It's going to be a challenge, but we started it in January. Really, I think we have a very good chemistry among the whole group. We don't have as many strong, individual leaders like [Stephen] Hodge or [Jason] Phillips or [Robert] Henson, but there's a lot of guys that understand their role and probably lead by actions a little bit more. It will be interesting by September to see who those guys will be.

Your defense was the anchor of your team last year, but you lost a lot of key guys. What have you seen so far from some of the guys stepping into new roles?

GP: We only have one redshirt freshman. Everyone else who comes back has played on the defensive side of the ball. Two guys who are taking the defensive tackle places are Cory Grant and Kelly Griffin and Jeremy Coleman was the redshirt freshman. Two of those three played as true freshmen a year ago, so they come back. We have three defensive ends that are vying to complete the top four -- Wayne Daniels, Braylon Broughton and Ross Forrest. For Matt Panfil, Daryl Washington was a starter a year ago. He started and played in the bowl game and probably could have been player of the game in the bowl game. He'll take one of the linebacker's places. Tank Carter started a year ago and then we have Kris Gardner and Tanner Brock. Brock was in our 2009 class, graduated early and is here already.

What about safety? Who steps in for Stephen Hodge?

GP: Safety-wise we really feel good about Colin Jones and Sir Demarco Bledsoe. Both are probably better man-coverage players [than Hodge]. The key will be whether they'll be as good of blitzers and as physical. That's what we're working on, but we've been very happy with their progress so far.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Two weeks after Marcus Jackson began his work at safety, the TCU senior might be moving back to quarterback.

The Horned Frogs are currently on spring break, but coach Gary Patterson said when the team returns to finish spring practices, he'll move Jackson back to the quarterback position to make sure he has depth behind starter Andy Dalton.

"We're going to see how we come out of the 10-day break," Patterson said. "He'll definitely play quarterback at least one week. We've got to make sure that we have an older quarterback as a backup until those other guys develop and they've come a long way."

Patterson said the move back to quarterback is not permanent and that he hasn't made a decision about Jackson's position for the 2009 season. He did say Jackson has made strides during his time at safety and is in contention to be a starter. He's also playing on special teams, which is providing the Horned Frogs much-needed athleticism and depth.

"He's come a long way as a safety," Patterson said. "It's been interesting to see him progress and the things he's been able to do to this point. I think he's had a lot of fun doing it. It's given him an opportunity to be a starter on that side of the ball and be a part of things. We put him on special teams because he's a good athlete. So, you're just trying to build your top 60 players. How can you get the top 60 players on the field and be the best football team you can be."

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

• The family of late UCF player Ereck Plancher has decided to sue the school for the wrongful death of their son. The Orlando Sentinel has covered the story from the beginning despite being ostracized by coach George O'Leary. The Sentinel broke down the lawsuit and even talked to Plancher's roommate, who left the football team after his death. And like many, the Sentinel calls for treating athletes with sickle cell disease with more care.

• FIU, which is rounding out its first week of practices, is trying to get better in the passing game.

• TCU is still trying to find a center for quarterback Andy Dalton.

• Reno Gazette-Journal reporter Dan Hinxman profiles tight end Zach Sudfeld, who said because of his small size and injuries he was tempted to take performance-enhancing drugs, but never did.

• Jereme Brooks, one of the smallest players on the Utah roster, is hoping to make a big impression this spring.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Former TCU running back Lonta Hobbs was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to a drug charge.

According to Red River County District Attorney Val Varley in a report by the Associated Press, Hobbs, 25, was caught on tape making a drug deal with a confidential informant near the Clarksville (Texas) High School football stadium.

Hobbs played at Clarksville and worked as a coach and assistant teacher for the school until his arrest in March 2008.

Hobbs pleaded guilty Monday to delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine.

He rushed for 1,383 yards and scored 17 touchdowns for TCU from 2004-06.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

TCU backup quarterback Marcus Jackson has moved to safety.

The senior, who has played in 28 games the past three seasons (starting three), and led the Horned Frogs to wins against San Diego State and Colorado State in 2008 when starter Andy Dalton was injured, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the idea was brought up after the season.

TCU was looking for another safety and coach Gary Patterson mentioned that Jackson would be a good fit because of his size and speed.

"I told him any way I could help my team out, I definitely can do that," Jackson told the Star-Telegram.

The move is not permanent. Jackson will try the position this spring and Patterson said he could move back, depending on the quarterback situation. Currently, redshirt freshman Yogi Gallegos and true freshman Casey Pachall, who enrolled at TCU in January, are Nos. 2 and 3 on the quarterback depth chart.

Pachall, from Brownwood (Texas) High School was rated the No. 32 quarterback in the country, according to ESPN.com's Scouts Inc. He also had offers from Notre Dame, Florida and Nebraska. Gallegos was the No. 47 quarterback from the 2008 class, who had offers from LSU, Alabama, Miami and Nebraska.

Jackson is listed as the No. 2 weak safety behind Corderra Hunter in TCU's 4-2-5 defense.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Four teams open spring football in the next week, including TCU, which opens camp on Saturday. Air Force and Nevada already have started their spring drills.

I know I've done capsules on all these teams but I just wanted to touch quickly on some things these teams should focus on during spring drills.

TCU, Feb. 28

The Horned Frogs have several pieces to replace on a defense that was the best in the country in total defense and against the run. Defensive end Jerry Hughes, who was the team's top sacker last season, returns, but the Horned Frogs will have to find replacements for linebacker Jason Phillips, who led the team in tackles, and Stephen Hodge, who was the top player in the secondary.

North Texas, March 2

Offense has not been the problem for the Mean Green since coach Todd Dodge took over a couple of years ago, but he will have to break in a new quarterback after starter Giovanni Vizza decided to transfer. The most likely candidate is Riley Dodge, the coach's son who has run his father's offensive scheme since he could walk. If Riley Dodge acclimates well, it will give coach Dodge and his staff time to focus on a defense that is one of the worst in the country.

Akron, March 3

The main task for Akron this spring is finding a replacement for running back Dennis Kennedy, who had a breakout season in 2008. Kennedy rushed for 930 yards in just seven Mid-American Conference games. He averaged 132.9 yards per conference game, which ranked second in the MAC. The running game was the cornerstone of the Akron offense and it looks like Alex Allen, who missed most of last season with a hip injury, will be the top candidate to replace Kennedy.

Army, March 6

New head coach Rich Ellerson will begin teaching a new offensive system to Army, one that will likely resemble the option offense that Navy has run for several years. Ellerson has a monumental task in front of him. It's not that Army has no talent -- far from the case -- but it's probably lacking in confidence. The Black Knights have not had a winning season since 1996 and have not won more than four games during that span. There's no telling whether Army will have the personnel to run Ellerson's system right away, but he's turned around programs with his offensive scheme before.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

TCU has added Clemson as the final opponent for the 2009 non-conference schedule. The game will be played on Sept. 26 at Clemson, the second ACC school the Horned Frogs will play on the road this season.

The Tigers were 7-6 in 2008 and lost to Nebraska 26-21 in the Gator Bowl.

TCU and Clemson will face each other for the fourth time overall and for the first time since 1964. Clemson leads the overall series 2-1.

Prior to Virginia and Clemson being added to the schedule, the Horned Frogs had not played an ACC opponent since 1997.

The addition of Clemson moves the Horned Frogs rivalry game with SMU to Oct. 3.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach announced his revised Top 25 on Monday and shockingly three members of the non-automatic qualifying schools and Notre Dame appeared on his list.

TCU comes in at No. 15, Boise State at No. 17, Utah at No. 21 at Notre Dame at No. 22. Now, I don't completely agree with Schlabach's assessment and here are some of my points of contention:

• I think TCU should be ranked higher because of how well it finished the season. TCU showed that even a non-AQ school with a couple losses could be in contention for the BCS. Beating previously undefeated Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl solidified the Horned Frogs as one of the top contenders coming back. Almost the entire team returns and the recruiting class addressed a lot of the needs. The Frogs' nonconference schedule is pretty cake against teams such as Virginia, SMU, Texas State and likely Houston, though that game hasn't been announced yet.

• BYU should be on this list instead of Utah. I'm not hatin' on Utah. The Utes completed a season that turned the BCS on its head, but it also lost a ton of talent from that team including its quarterback, running back, two star receivers, the better half of its secondary and its best defensive player in Paul Kruger. Oh, and let's not forget Louie Sakoda, the top scorer in school history. It's going to be hard to replace those players and even more difficult to replicate the 2008 season. I'm not saying Utah won't be decent, but more like an eight or nine-win team.

• As for BYU, I realize I am alone on this bandwagon especially after the way the 2008 season ended. But with the exception of Austin Collie and some pieces on the offensive line, the Cougars didn't lose a lot of their playmakers and what they did lose they have the depth to fill. I know BYU ended up being one of the biggest frauds in college football last season, but I think they'll come back with a vengeance in 2009.

• Of the non-AQ schools, Boise State probably has the best chance of getting to a BCS game based on their schedule. The WAC is not good. Louisiana Tech, Nevada and Fresno State might be OK next year, but Boise State has consistently had its way with these teams and there's no reason to think it won't again. It did lose the bulk of its receiver corps and running back Ian Johnson, who was the heart and soul of the team, but quarterback Kellen Moore is truly awesome and the team has a couple good recruits coming in.

But even if Boise State runs the table -- again -- questions about how good they really are will surface simply because of the strength of their conference schedule. And the Mountain West has gained enough credibility that a one-loss team from that conference could carry more weight than an undefeated team from any of the other non-automatic qualifiers.

The Broncos do have games against Oregon, which Schlabach ranks No. 12 and Tulsa, which is an unknown at this point with a new quarterback coming in. I will say that a healthy Oregon will be a different animal than the one Boise State faced last season -- even on the blue turf.

• There's not much to say about Notre Dame. The last couple years it's gotten high-level talent and underachieved. But the win over Hawaii has given Notre Dame a glimmer of hope, and while I'm not sure voters are going to put them into the Top 25 to begin the season, there's a high probability that the Irish will appear in the Top 25 for the first time since 2006.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

The final grades are in and several non-automatic qualifying schools received high marks from ESPN's Scouts Inc. for their recruiting classes

It's no surprise that Notre Dame had the best class among the Independents and Others. The addition of top linebacker Manti Te'o pushed the Irish to No. 14 overall, which isn't great, but good considering the Irish have combined for a 10-15 record the past two seasons.

But among the non-automatic qualifying schools, it was the Mountain West that came through with some of the best classes.

Scouts Inc. declared that TCU had the best class of all the non-automatic qualifying schools. Led by athlete prospect Josh Boyce from Copperas Cove, Texas, the Horned Frogs stocked their offensive skill positions and their linebacker depth. TCU is my favorite to win the Mountain West next season, but this class ensures that they'll be a force in the conference for many seasons to come.

Not to be outdone, BYU comes in at second by filling major needs on the offensive side of the ball. Richard Wilson (Spanish Fork, Utah), the fourth-ranked tight end nationally and Terry Alleto (Ponderosa, Colo.), the fourth-ranked center, headline the class. Much of the Cougars' emphasis was on offense, but it would have been nice to see them pick up some speed on the defensive line.

East Carolina sneaks in with the third-best class among the non-AQ schools, which isn't a surprise. Coach Skip Holtz has quietly been putting together nice classes to contend with the brutal nonconference schedules he has every year. The Pirates filled all of their needs by picking up a high-level running back, defensive end and tight end. The Pirates were lacking a consistent running presence last season and Michael Dobson, the No. 25 athlete in the country, could be that guy. The addition of tight end Justin Jones, who switched his commitment from Kentucky, really solidified this class as one of the best among the non-AQ schools.

Here's the rest of Scouts Inc.'s list:

3. Tulsa
4. Utah
5. Boise State
6. SMU
7. Houston

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

TCU announced Tuesday that wide receivers coach Jarrett Anderson and running backs coach Justin Fuente have been named co-offensive coordinators.

Anderson and Fuente will fill the role that was vacated by Mike Schultz, who left last month to become the offensive coordinator at Illinois.

Anderson also will coach the running backs and Fuente will work with the quarterbacks.

Former SMU offensive coordinator Rusty Burns will fill the wide receivers coaching position. The moves had been widely speculated for the past month, but many assumed Burns would be the offensive coordinator.

Burns spent four seasons with SMU (2004-07), but was let go when June Jones took over the program. Under Burns, the Mustangs set a school record with 29 touchdown passes in 2006, and their 325 points scored ranked third all-time in SMU history.

Burns also has been the offensive coordinator at Cincinnati (2002-03), Wyoming (1999-01), Memphis (1996-98) and Connecticut (1980-88).

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

There was a time when TCU would wait for teams such as Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma to pick through the state of Texas for the best players and the Horned Frogs would battle the other FBS schools in the state for what was left.

But among those remaining players, the Horned Frogs found gems and coach Gary Patterson built a program with them as the foundation. Now TCU, the small private school in Fort Worth, has established itself as one of the most consistent programs in the state and even in the nation.

During this decade, TCU has had six double-digit win seasons. Only Texas has had more among the FBS programs in the state. And those wins have helped TCU move into an upper tier of recruits and even snag a couple.

"We were always able to get into homes, it's just that they're listening now," Patterson said. "There's a lot more listening going on as far as what we can offer and what we can do for them from an educational standpoint."

This year, TCU has secured commitments from four upper tier players, all from the state of Texas. Included on that list is Josh Boyce, a wide receiver from Copperas Cove, Texas, who is the No. 28 receiver in the country according to Scouts Inc., and Brownwood, Texas, quarterback Casey Pachall, whom Scouts Inc. ranks as the No. 32 quarterbacking prospect in the country. Both players, along with Tanner Brock (Copperas Cove), the No. 48-ranked outside linebacker according to Scouts Inc., already have signed and will participate in spring football.

"The population of that state and the enrollment in the high schools, there are so many good players that there's enough to not only service the majority of the Big 12, but there's enough really, really good players that are left that want to play their college football in Texas and right now [TCU] is the prominent program going," said Tom Luginbill, national recruiting director for ESPN's Scouts Inc.

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Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

National Signing Day is almost here and Tom Luginbill, national recruiting director for ESPN's Scouts Inc., did a Q&A with me to break down some of the recruiting by the top non-automatic qualifying schools and some of the up-and-comers.

Who's got the best class among the non-BCS?

Tom Luginbill: I think TCU right now, if you asked me, 'Who's the one mid-major school, non-BCS school, that is really on the rise from a recruiting standpoint?' I'd say TCU. And I would say that regardless of conference. Their recruiting base, where they sit, gives them some advantages over some other programs. You know, many programs of the Mountain West rely so heavily on the state of California, but they don't reside in it. So, I think that's an advantage that TCU has.

TCU usually gets a lot of high-level players. What is it about TCU that draws some of these kids in?

TL: I think what it is, is the population of that state and the enrollment in the high schools, there are so many good players that there's enough to not only service the majority of the Big 12, but there's enough really, really good players that are left that want to play their college football in Texas and right now [TCU] is the prominent program going. I would venture to say that they could be in on as many kids as maybe even a Baylor right now, and they're certainly going to get a kid over Kansas State. They have some advantages just from where they reside. There's so many good players and the big dogs can't get them all.

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Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

1. Utah: The Utes capped their perfect season with a win in the Sugar Bowl and coach Kyle Whittingham was named the American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year. Not a great trade for a national championship, but a step in the right direction.

	Vladimir Cherry/US Presswire
	Kyle Whittingham guided Utah to a No. 2 ranking in the final AP poll.

2. TCU: The Horned Frogs defeated Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl to finish their fourth 11-win season in the past six years. TCU was in the BCS hunt until the final week and several of those players return for next year.

3. Boise State: The Broncos finished their third undefeated regular season since 2004, but couldn't cap the undefeated campaign with a bowl win. The Broncos have a consistent stream of talent to continue dominating the WAC through the 2009 season.

4. Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane didn't have the greatest last third of the season, but they rallied to dominate Ball State in the GMAC Bowl and win 11 games for the first time in school history. Tulsa will have to find a new quarterback to orchestrate another record-breaking season.

5. BYU: The Cougars didn't turn out to be as good as advertised in the beginning of the season, but they still won 10 games for the third consecutive season (11 wins each of the past two seasons). The Cougars will have a lot to replace in the offseason, especially with top receiver Austin Collie going pro.

6. Rice: When November started, Rice still felt like it had a chance for a historical season and the Owls pulled it off with a dominant win over Western Michigan in the Texas Bowl. The Owls won 10 games for only the second time in the program's history.

7. Ball State: The Cardinals finished the regular season undefeated, but faded down the stretch in the Mid-American Conference championship and GMAC Bowl. Now, the Cardinals must adjust to a new head coach and a new quarterback with Nate Davis going pro.

8. Houston: The Cougars were a game away from winning Conference USA West, but made up for it with a win over Air Force in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. First-year head coach Kevin Sumlin kept Houston at a high level and that should continue through 2009.

9. East Carolina: The Pirates won the Conference USA title, but couldn't nab that 10th win with a victory over Kentucky in the Liberty Bowl. Still, the Pirates had a great season considering its tough nonconference schedule and a losing streak during the middle of the season.

10. Troy: The Trojans won their first outright Sun Belt title, but were nipped in overtime by Southern Mississippi. Still, the Trojans proved all season that they were one of the better teams in the non-BCS and that should continue with several key players returning.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

For as long as people talk about the 2008 season, Utah will be in the conversation.

The Utes' dominant win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl shocked the world and lent some credibility to the fact that non-BCS teams could compete with the super powers of college football and ultimately for the nationally championship.

But when the 2008 bowl season is really broken down from a non-BCS standpoint, Utah is really going to be the labeled as a great distracter. It took away the spotlight from an otherwise dismal bowl season both by the major non-BCS teams that had rolled through their respective conferences and by those teams that faced BCS foes.

With the exception of Utah's win over Alabama, the non-BCS was 0-6 against BCS teams, losing by an average of 13 points. Only Nevada and East Carolina stayed within a touchdown of their opponent.

Teams such as Boise State and Ball State, which had skated through their regular seasons unscathed, were both beaten in their bowl games by non-BCS teams that played in more difficult conferences. BYU, a team that was still in the hunt for a BCS berth at the end of the season and finished with 10 wins, lost by 10 to a then-6-6 Arizona team.

The non-BCS bowl picture wasn't all that bad, though. TCU, a team that was among the best in the non-BCS, defeated previously undefeated Boise State to finish No. 7 in both national polls. Tulsa, a team that started 8-0 before a disastrous final third of the season, rallied to beat a ranked Ball State team by 32 points.

First-year coaches Kevin Sumlin (Houston), Larry Fedora (Southern Miss), and Steve Fairchild (Colorado State) won their bowl games in thrilling fashion. Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen set several major records while breaking Notre Dame's 15-year bowl losing streak.

There were school and national records broken and some teams that righted the ship in preparation for 2009.

But it will always be Utah that changed the landscape for the non-BCS in 2008 and perhaps put into motion a series of events that will ultimately change college football and the way the non-BCS is perceived forever.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

• The Mid-American Conference was on top of the world at the beginning of the bowl season, but after an 0-5 bowl showing, the MAC's prestige has plummeted.

• Fresno State athletics director Thomas Boeh is holding off on a contract extension for coach Pat Hill after the 7-6 season.

• Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Randy Galloway writes that TCU deserves a place with the big boys of college football after finishing the season No. 7 in both major polls.

• Former Central Florida running back Kevin Smith talked with Florida quarterback Tim Tebow about jumping to the NFL, and Smith advised Tebow to stay for his senior season.

• Louisiana-Lafayette is putting the finishing touches on a recruiting class that coach Rickey Bustle hopes will keep the Cajuns' moving in the right direction.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

The East-West Shrine Game, one of three postseason senior showcases this season, is Saturday (ESPN2, 3 p.m.) and will feature 23 players from the non-BCS, including record-setting Rice receiver Jarett Dillard, Colorado State running back Gartrell Johnson and Boise State star running back Ian Johnson.

There are six players on the East team and 17 on the West. All of the non-BCS conferences are represented with the WAC leading the way with eight representatives. Conference USA has six, the Mountain West has five, the MAC has two and the Sun Belt has one. Army fullback Collin Mooney is the lone game representative for the Independents.

The game will be played in Houston and several NFL scouts will be in attendance. For more information, you can visit the East-West Shrine Game Web site.

EAST

David Johnson TE Arkansas State
Collin Mooney FB Army
Augustus Parrish OL Kent State
Darius Passmore WR Marshall
Jake Richardson P Miami
C.J. Spillman DB Marshall

WEST

Tom Brandstater QB Fresno State
Travis Bright OL BYU
Aaron Brown RB TCU
Jarett Dillard WR Rice
Ray Feinga OL BYU
Jarron Gilbert DL San Jose State
Mark Hafner HB Houston
Phillip Hunt DL Houston
Gartrell Johnson RB Colorado State
Ian Johnson RB Boise State
Marko Mitchell WR Nevada
Thomas Morstead P SMU
Ryan Mounton DB Hawaii
Bear Pascoe TE Fresno State
Jason Phillips LB TCU
David Veikune DL Hawaii
Sebastian Vollmer OL Houston

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Utah won over the media by finishing second in the AP, but the coaches weren't nearly as impressed.

The Utes finished fourth in the coaches' poll behind Florida, USC and Texas -- all teams with losses.

	Vladimir Cherry/US Presswire
	Utah coach Kyle Whittingham will weigh in on the final polls later today.

For the past week, a debate has been raging about the merits of Utah's 13-0 finish, which included wins over four nationally ranked teams, and whether it should be the national champion regardless of the outcome of Thursday's BCS title game.

Had Florida's defense and quarterback Tim Tebow not been so dominant against Oklahoma in the BCS national championship, it might have been a different story for Utah. Only 87 points separated the Gators and the Utes in the AP poll. It could have easily been the other way around if Oklahoma had played better and still lost.

Utah was just 18 points out of second place in the coaches' poll, but USC, which leapfrogged from No. 5 to No. 2 because of its win over Penn State, has always been a coaches favorite because of the pure politicking involved. That's not to say USC didn't deserve a high ranking, but Utah was just as dominant in its bowl game against an opponent that was ranked higher than USC, and beat the only team USC lost to this season.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham will have a press conference later this morning to discuss the final polls and his feelings about whether his team got a fair shake.

TCU finished seventh in both polls, its highest season-ending ranking since 1959, Boise State finished 11th in the AP and 13th in the coaches poll, and somehow BYU managed to hold on to its ranking, finishing No. 25 in the AP poll and No. 21 in the coaches' poll.

Of all the final rankings, BYU's is dubious. It lost to every good team it faced this season (with the exception of Air Force) and made a name for itself by beating up on teams such as UCLA and Wyoming. If a non-BCS team was going to slip in there at the end, it should have been Houston or Tulsa. Those choices would have made more sense.

The only non-BCS team to fall from the rankings was Ball State, and depending on quarterback Nate Davis' decision, it might be the last time the rankings see the Cardinals for a while. The Mid-American Conference had a tough bowl season and didn't lend any credibility to some of the accomplishments some of its teams made this season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Two more non-BCS coaches received contract extensions this week. Navy's Ken Niumatalolo was awarded a contract extension -- the details and length of the extension were not disclosed -- after he led the Midshipmen to an 8-5 season and their sixth consecutive Commander In Chief Trophy during his first year as head coach.

Under Niumatalolo, the Midshipmen earned an NCAA-record fourth consecutive national rushing title and led the nation in graduation rate for a fourth straight year.

Niumatalolo's eight wins are the most by a first-year Navy coach since 1926, and the win over No. 16 Wake Forest in September was Navy's first win over a ranked opponent since 1985.

TCU coach Gary Patterson was awarded an extension that runs through the 2014 season. The financial details were not disclosed. TCU just finished an 11-2 campaign, including a 17-16 win over previously undefeated No. 9 Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl. The Horned Frogs should finish the season ranked in the top 10 and should start next season with a Top 25 ranking.

Patterson has won at least 10 games in five of his eight seasons, including four 11-win campaigns in the last six years. He is 73-27 overall, one win shy of tying Abe Martin (74, 1953-66) for second place on the Horned Frogs' all-time victory list.

Both of these extensions are deserved and both of these coaches stand to have good teams in the coming years.

After an eight-win season last year, TCU is right back on track and was really a game away from sneaking into the BCS. It's one of the best teams in the country regardless of BCS affiliation and its defense was superb and should continue to be next year. The Horned Frogs schedule, which still has a nonconference open date, should put them in a position to be a factor in the BCS next season.

Niumatalolo had no trouble carrying on the tradition that Paul Johnson formed while he was there. Although the Midshipmen suffered injury setbacks at key positions, they pushed through and still gathered wins. A lot of key components are gone after this season, especially on offense, so it will be interesting to see how Niumatalolo is able to build on the youth that saw spot time this year. One positive is the defense should be solid with a young line that will be coming into its own next season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

TCU linebacker Jason Phillips and safety Stephen Hodge have been invited to the 2009 NFL scouting combine.

The combine will take place Feb. 18-24 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Phillips, who led the Horned Frogs with 84 tackles, is the only defensive player in Mountain West Conference history to be a first- or second-team all-conference selection in four consecutive seasons. He was a first-team selection this year.

He finishes his career with 315 tackles after starting all but one game over the past four seasons.

Hodge was second on the team this season with a career-high 81 tackles. He was a first-team All-Mountain West selection and the Most Valuable Player in TCU's 17-16 win over Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl.

During coach Gary Patterson's eight-year tenure, 16 players have been drafted and 36 are currently on NFL rosters.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

If the Poinsettia Bowl was any indication of what it would be like to have Boise State join the Mountain West, sign the Broncos up.

Tuesday's game had all the trappings of a classic matchup -- strong defense, potent offense and lots of drama. Until the very end, the game kept everyone watching on the edge of their seats waiting for that one great moment. Boise State tried for that moment but were denied by TCU's Matt Panfil. Still, it didn't diminish from a game that is sure to be talked about for the rest of the bowl season.

Unfortunately, Boise State's bid for its second 13-0 campaign in three seasons was ruined and it was done so in a wake-up call fashion, losing to the Horned Frogs, 17-16. Although the score was close, the statistics weren't. TCU outgained Boise State 475-255. The Horned Frogs top-ranked rush defense limited the Broncos 29 rushing yards. It was a defense unlike anything the Broncos had seen this season, especially in WAC play.

As an aside, I do want to offer congratulations to Boise State running back Ian Johnson for breaking the WAC rushing record for touchdowns. He scored the Broncos first touchdown of the game to give himself 58 career-rushing touchdowns, breaking Marshall Faulk's record.

Boise State shouldn't hang its head after this game. Despite not having the greatest offensive output, it hung with a team many still consider the best the non-BCS has to offer (yes, even over Utah). The Broncos are a very young team and have time to reach the goals of the 2006 squad.

TCU will finish the season in the Top 10. Its only two losses were to No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 6 Utah. It beat two ranked teams this season. With several players returning, there's no doubt that the Horned Frogs will be the top non-BCS team in the standings entering next season.

Boise State has a bright future ahead of it. It has the talent to take the WAC title again and put itself in position for a BCS bowl.

These will surely be the two best non-BCS teams come August.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Tonight's Poinsettia Bowl is one of the most anticipated bowl games of the season. No. 9 Boise State and No. 11 TCU have met one other time since the Broncos have been an FBS team -- a 34-31 Boise State win in the 2003 Fort Worth Bowl.

WHO TO WATCH: Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU

Hughes, a consensus All-American, has been a disrupting force most of this season. He leads the country in sacks with 14 and will be coming off quarterback Kellen Moore's backside, which will give him the opportunity to add to that total.

WHAT TO WATCH: Boise State defense vs. Andy Dalton

A lot has been made about TCU defense against Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, but TCU quarterback Andy Dalton is going to have an equally difficult time against a Boise State defense that is ranked third-nationally in scoring defense. It's not quite Utah in terms of total defense, but it's right up there.

WHY TO WATCH: It's a good game

This is the first game between highly-ranked teams of the bowl season and the only game between two teams ranked in the top 11 that isn't a BCS bowl. Both of these teams were in contention for a BCS bid until the final week of the season and both teams will have something to prove when the game kicks off.