COMMENTARY

While the championship match-up in one conference was set yesterday, others--and their associated bowls--remain muddled.
Here's a look at each FBS conference and its bowl tie-ins.

	Southeastern Conference
Overview	With wins yesterday, Alabama and Florida clinched their respective divisions and will meet in Atlanta for the conference championship, where the winner is likely to earn a spot in the National Championship Game; and the loser could still get a BCS bowl.
Possible champs	Alabama, Florida
Bowl Tie-Ins (9)	Sugar, Capital One, Outback, Cotton, Chick-fil-A, Music City, Liberty, papajohns.com, Independence
Current positions	Current Record		Projected Record		Projected Bowl
Alabama	6-0	10-0	8-0	12-1	Sugar
Florida	6-1	8-1	7-1	12-1	NCG
Georgia	5-2	8-2	6-2	10-2	Capital One
South Carolina	4-3	7-3	4-4	8-4	Cotton
Louisiana State	3-3	6-3	5-3	9-3	Outback
Mississippi	3-3	5-4	4-4	7-5	Liberty
Vanderbilt	3-3	5-4	4-4	7-5	Music City
Kentucky	2-4	6-4	4-4	8-4	Chick-Fil-A
Auburn	2-4	5-5	4-6	5-7
Open bowls	papajohns.com, Independence
Unassigned	None

	Big XII Conference
Overview	Missouri should clinch the Northern division next week, beating Iowa State while Kansas loses to Texas. The powerful Southern division will be decided by two games. If Texas Tech beats the Oklahoma in Norman, the Red Raiders go to the conference championship. If Oklahoma beat Tech and then Oklahoma State, the Sooners go. If the Sooners lose to the Cowboys, the Red Raiders get the nod (because of their win over Texas).
Bowl Tie-Ins (8)	Fiesta, Cotton, Holiday, Alamo, Gator, Insight.com, Independence, Texas
Possible champs	Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas
Current positions	Current Record		Projected Record		Projected Bowl
Texas Tech	6-0	10-0	7-1	11-1	Fiesta
Texas	5-1	9-1	7-1	11-1	Cotton
Oklahoma	5-1	9-1	7-1	12-1	NCG
Missouri	4-2	8-2	5-2	10-3	Holiday
Oklahoma State	4-2	8-2	5-3	9-3	Alamo
Nebraska	3-3	6-4	5-3	8-4	Gator
Kansas	3-3	6-4	3-5	6-6	Insight.com
Colorado	2-4	5-5	2-6	5-7
Kansas State	1-5	4-6	2-6	5-7
Open bowls	Independence, Texas
Unassigned	None

	Big 10 Conference
Overview	Despite their loss to Iowa, Penn State should get the title and the Rose Bowl bid, but if the Lions lose to Michigan State (or Illinois) and Ohio State wins out, the Buckeyes go. The Spartans can only go if they beat Penn State and Ohio State loses to Illinois or (shudder) Michigan.
Bowl Tie-Ins (7)	Rose, Capital One, Outback, Alamo, Champs Sports, Insight.com, Motor City
Possible champs	Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State
Current positions	Current Record		Projected Record		Projected Bowl
Michigan State	6-1	9-2	6-2	9-3	Capital One
Penn State	5-1	9-1	7-1	11-1	Rose
Ohio State	5-1	8-2	7-1	10-2	BCS
Northwestern	3-3	7-3	5-3	9-3	Outback
Minnesota	3-3	7-3	4-4	8-4	Alamo
Iowa	3-3	6-4	4-4	7-5	Champs Sports
Illinois	3-3	5-5	3-5	5-7
Wisconsin	2-5	5-5	3-5	7-5	Insight.com
Open bowls	Motor City
Unassigned	None

	Pacific 10 Conference
Overview	Oregon State gets the Rose Bowl bid if they win out; otherwise it'll be Southern Cal.
Bowl Tie-Ins (7)	Rose, Holiday, Sun, Hawai'i, Las Vegas, Emerald, Poinsettia
Possible champs	Southern Cal, Oregon State, Oregon, Cal, Arizona
Current positions	Current Record		Projected Record		Projected Bowl
Southern Cal	6-1	8-1	8-1	11-1	Rose
Oregon State	5-1	6-3	7-2	8-4	Holiday
Oregon	5-2	7-3	6-3	8-4	Sun
California	4-2	6-3	6-3	8-4	Hawa'i
Arizona	4-2	6-3	6-3	8-4	Las Vegas
Stanford	4-3	5-5	4-5	5-7
Open bowls	Emerald, Poinsettia
Unassigned	None

	Atlantic Coast Conference
Overview	While the ACC's situation clarified a bit yesterday, there are still dozens of scenarios with eight teams still in the hunt for the conference championship game.
Bowl Tie-Ins (9)	Orange, Chick-fili-A, Gator, Champs Sports, Meineke Car Care, Music City, Emerald, Humanitarian, Eaglebank
Possible champs	Everyone except Clemson, Duke, and North Carolina State
Current positions	Current Record		Projected Record		Projected Bowl
Florida State	4-2	7-2	6-2	9-4	Chick-fil-A
North Carolina	3-2	7-2	6-2	11-2	Orange
Wake Forest	4-2	6-3	5-3	7-5	Emerald
Virginia Tech	3-2	6-3	5-3	8-4	Champs Sports
Miami	3-2	6-3	4-4	7-5	Music City
Maryland	3-2	6-3	4-4	7-5	Humanitarian
Georgia Tech	4-3	7-3	5-3	8-4	Meineke Car Care
Boston College	2-3	6-3	3-5	7-5	Eaglebank
Virginia	3-3	5-5	4-4	6-6
Clemson	2-4	4-5	4-4	6-6
Duke	1-4	4-5	1-7	4-8
Open bowls	None
Unassigned	Virginia, Clemson

	Big East Conference
Overview	Cincinnati's win over WVU put the Bears in the driver's seat, but Pitt and West Virginia can still get the Big East's BCS bid.
Bowl Tie-Ins (7)	BCS, Sun, Texas, Meineke Car Care, papajohns.com, International, St. Petersburg
Possible champs	Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Rutgers, Connecticut
Current positions	Current Record		Projected Record		Projected Bowl
Pittsburgh	3-1	7-2	5-2	9-3	Sun
Cincinnati	3-1	7-2	6-1	11-2	BCS
West Virginia	3-1	6-3	5-2	8-4	Texas
Rutgers	3-2	4-5	3-4	5-7
Connecticut	2-2	6-3	3-4	7-5	papajohns.com
South Florida	1-3	6-3	3-4	8-4	Meineke Car Care
Louisville	1-3	5-4	2-5	6-6	International
Open bowls	St. Petersburg
Unassigned	None

	Mountain West Conference
Overview	The a win over BYU, Utah wins the conference. Lose and any of the four contenders could prevail.
Bowl Tie-Ins (4)	Las Vegas, Poinsettia, Armed Forces, New Mexico
Possible champs	Utah, TCU, BYU, Air Force
Current positions	Current Record		Projected Record		Projected Bowl
Utah	6-0	10-0	8-0	12-0	BCS
Texas Christian	6-1	9-2	7-1	10-2	Las Vegas
Brigham Young	5-1	9-1	6-2	10-2	Poinsettia
Air Force	5-1	8-2	5-3	8-4	Armed Forces
Colorado State	2-4	4-6	4-4	6-6	New Mexico
UNLV	1-5	4-6	3-5	6-6
Open bowls	NONE
Unassigned	UNLV

	Conference USA
Overview	Tulsa and East Carolina have the inside tracks to the Conference USA Championship game.
Bowl Tie-Ins (5)	Liberty, Armed Forces, New Orleans, GMAC, St. Petersburg
Possible champs	Tulsa, Rice, East Carolina, Houston, UTEP, Marshall
Current positions	Current Record		Projected Record		Projected Bowl
Tulsa	6-0	8-1	9-0	12-1	Liberty
Rice	5-1	7-3	6-2	8-4	New Orleans
East Carolina	4-1	6-3	6-2	8-5	Armed Forces
Houston	4-1	5-4	6-2	7-5
Texas El Paso	3-2	4-5	5-3	6-6	GMAC
Marshall	3-2	4-5	4-4	5-7
Memphis	3-3	5-5	4-4	6-6	St. Petersburg
Southern Miss	2-4	4-6	3-5	5-7
Open bowls	NONE
Unassigned	Houston

	Mid-American Conference
Overview	Buffalo-Akron this week and Ball State-Central Michigan next are likely to decide MAC championship slots, but Western Michigan still has a shot.
Bowl Tie-Ins (3)	Motor City, International, GMAC, Eaglebank (if not ACC)
Possible champs	Ball State, CMU, WMU, Akron, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Temple
Current positions	Current Record		Projected Record		Projected Bowl
Ball State	5-0	9-0	7-1	11-1	International
C. Michigan	5-0	7-2	8-0	11-2	Motor City
W. Michigan	5-1	8-2	6-2	9-3	GMAC
Northern Illinois	4-2	5-4	5-3	6-6
Akron	3-2	5-4	5-3	7-6
Buffalo	3-2	5-4	5-3	7-5
Bowling Green	3-3	5-5	4-4	6-6
Temple	2-3	3-6	4-4	5-7
Open bowls	NONE
Unassigned	Northern Illinois, Akron, Buffalo, Bowling Green

	Western Athletic Conference
Overview	Cincinnati's win over WVU put the Bears in the driver's seat, but Pitt and West Virginia can still get the Big East's BCS bid.
Bowl Tie-Ins (3)	Hawai'i, Humanitarian, New Mexico, GMAC (if not MAC)
Possible champs	Boise State, Hawai'i, San Jose State, Nevada, Louisiana Tech
Current positions	Current Record		Projected Record		Projected Bowl
Boise State	5-0	9-0	8-0	12-0	Humanitarian
Hawai'l	4-3	5-5	5-3	6-7
San Jose State	4-2	6-4	4-3	6-6
Nevada	3-2	5-4	5-3	7-5	New Mexico
Louisiana Tech	3-2	5-4	5-3	7-5
Fresno State	2-3	5-4	4-4	7-5	Hawai'i
Open bowls	NONE
Unassigned	Louisiana Tech, San Jose State

	Sun Belt Conference
Overview	Cincinnati's win over WVU put the Bears in the driver's seat, but Pitt and West Virginia can still get the Big East's BCS bid.
Bowl Tie-Ins (1)	New Orleans
Possible champs	ULL, Troy, FIU, Arkansas State, FAU, MTSU
Current positions	Current Record		Projected Record		Projected Bowl
Louisiana Lafayette	4-0	5-4	6-1	7-5
Troy	4-1	6-3	6-1	8-4	New Orleans
Florida Int'l	3-2	4-5	4-4	5-7
Arkansas State	2-2	4-5	3-4	5-7
Florida Atlantic	2-2	4-5	3-4	5-7
M. Tennessee	2-3	3-6	4-4	5-7
Open bowls	NONE
Unassigned	Lousiana Lafayette

Assuming no major upsets or unexpected season-ending runs, nine of the ten BCS slots are filled (at least by conference). The Big XII and SEC will get two teams each--Texas Tech, Texas or Oklahoma and Alabama and Florida, respectively. The ACC, Pac-10, Big East, and Big 10 champions add four more. If Utah beats BYU, it gets an automatic "BCS-buster" slot, leaving few candidates for the final berth. No conference can have more than two representatives in the BCS games, or even if the Big XII North champion (probably Missouri) wins the conference championshp game, two Big XII South powers would be left out. Georgia can't go for the same reason.

The tenth-team candidates are probably limited to four teams:
• Southern Cal, if Oregon State wins the Pac-10
• Boise State, if they win out
• The Big Ten runner-up - Ohio State or Michigan State

If Oregon State wins the Pac-10 and therefore the Rose Bowl berth, Southern Cal will certainly be the other team, but if not, the question will be whether the bowls prefer a 10-2 Big Ten team to an undefeated WAC team, even no that provided perhaps the most exciting bowl game in history.

With the Vols humiliating loss to Wyoming (the seventh place MWC team), Tennessee joins Michigan as marquee programs that will not be bowling this year. Other major disappointments yet to earn bowl eligibility include Clemson, which must win 2 of its last 3 (Duke, Virginia, South Carolina); Arizona State, which must sweep Washington State, UCLA, and Arizona; Notre Dame, which must beat Navy or Syracuse (because they certainly won't beat Southern Cal); Vanderbilt, which started 5-1 and now must beat Kentucky, Tennessee or Wake Forest.

There are currently 50 bowl-eligible teams for the FBS's 68 bowl slots. An additional 22 teams are one win away:

With an additional 21 teams still capable of getting the requisite six wins, the NCAA may avoid the embarrassment of having to approve ineligible teams to fill their bowl slots.

Finally, here's an update of the national championship race:

In the category of everyone-loves-a-trainwreck, how about the ACC? After Maryland's loss to Virginia Tech last night, 11 of the 12 ACC teams remain in the hunt for the league championship game and an ill-deserved BCS bowl bid. To show how muddled the situation is, even Georgia Tech, the current Coastal division leader has a rocky path. Beat North Carolina Saturday and Miami in two weeks, and they're in, right? Not so fast...Virginia Tech and Virginia also only have two losses. If the Hokies beat Miami and Duke, and the Cavaliers beat Wake Forest and Clemson, then the winner of the season-ending game between those two decides the division title. Virgina win and they're in because they beat Georgia Tech. Virginia Tech wins, and Georgia Tech's in because the Yellowjackets beat the Hokies. Even Duke, despite having only one conference win at the moment (over Virginia) has a path (albeit a far-fetched one). If they win out against NC State, Clemson, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina; Georgia Tech loses to North Carolina and Miami; Miami loses to Virginia Tech and North Carolina State; Virginia Tech loses to Virginia; Virginia loses to Wake Forest or Clemson; and North Carolina loses to Maryland or North Carolina State, then the Blue Demons go to Atlanta! But I calculate the odds at about 1 out of 60,000 for all that to happen.

In the Atlantic division, at least Maryland and Boston College control their own destinies. If they win their remaining games against North Carloina and FSU (Terps) and FSU and Wake Forest (Eagles), then their season-ending match-up will decided the division. Florida State, Wake Forest, and Clemson can all win the Atlantic, but each needs some help. Only North Carolina State, currently the only team with a winless ACC record, is out of the race.

Despite Texas' loss to Texas Tech, the Longhorns remain in the national championship picture. If the Red Raiders lose and three or more Big 12 South teams finish with identical records, which could happen if Oklahoma beats Texas Tech, the title is decided based on the following rules:

1. The records of the three teams will be compared against each other
2. The records of the three teams will be compared within their division
3. The records of the three teams will be compared against the next highest placed teams in their division in order of fi nish (4, 5 and 6)
4. The records of the three teams will be compared against all common conference opponents;
5. The highest ranked team in the first Bowl Championship Series Poll following the completion of Big 12 regular season conference play shall be the representative
6. The team with the best overall winning percentage [excluding exempted games] shall be the representative
7. The representative will be chosen by draw.

So, here's an update of the national championship race:

Games likely to decide the NCG opponents
Next week: Alabama @ LSU, Okahoma State @ Texas Tech, Cal @ USC, TCU @ Utah
11/15: Texas Tech @ Oklahoma
11/22: BYU @ Utah
11/29: Florida @ Florida State, Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State
12/5: SEC Championship, Big 12 Championship

Utah's path remains open, particularly because their opponents for their two remaining big games (TCU and BYU) both won yesterday. It would, however, probably requires the Big 12's Big Four to all lose a second game (possible, but highly unlikely) and Florida to lose again or Penn State to lose. Boise State has no real chance to move up much after three of their four remaining opponents lost yesterday (and the other was idle). Tulsa, never really a factor, lost to Arkansas. Ball State, the only other remaining unbeaten, has no chance.

While the Big XII and the SEC slug it out for title honors, it seems no one wants to win the ACC (either division), the MAC East, and C-USA East. Maryland, Georgia Tech, Akron/Buffalo, and Marshall, respectively, currently sit in first place in those, but probably not for long.

Remaining national championship contenders (current combined opponent record, not including conference championships) and schedule

If Texas gets by Texas Tech, the Longhorns have a clear path to the Big XII Championship (probably a re-match with Missouri or Kansas). Texas Tech has the toughest path of the BCS-conference unbeatens - their next three opponents have a combined record of 22-2. Alabama has LSU and arch-rival and nemesis Auburn to deal with to even get to the SEC Championship. While Iowa and Michigan State aren't pushovers, Penn State has the easiest route to the National Championship Game; win out and they're probably in (assuming Alabama or Texas stumbles). The two "BCS-Busters" (Utah and Boise State) have a difficult task convincing poll voters to give them enough votes to move to #2, even if all of the BCS-conference teams lose. For Boise State, the task is particularly tough because none of their next four opponents have a winning record. Utah has a good shot at a 12-0 season because their two remaining tough games (Texas Christian and Brigham Young) are at home.

This weeks BCS bowl projections/predictions

NCG: Texas vs. Penn State
Rose: Ohio State vs. Southern Cal
Orange: Florida State vs. Utah
Fiesta: Oklahoma State vs. Alabama
Sugar: Florida vs. West Virginia

Bottom-rated teams:
FBS: North Texas (0-8)
FCS: Campbell (1-7)
D2: Cheney (0-9)
D3: Principia (0-8)
NAIA: Haskell (0-7)
JUCO: Pima (0-8)
COA: San Bernardino Valley (0-7)

In a little sidetrip from this year's season, we look at several potential schools moving into FBS football in the next few years. Western Kentucky in the final stages of the transition, playing a full FBS schedule this season, currently 2-6 and ranked 105th among the 120 FBS schools in my system. On the horizon are three possible moves from FCS to FBS: Texas State (San Marcos), Jacksonville State, and Georgia Southern, but the most audacious moves come from two schools currently not playing football. South Alabama (Mobile) plans to start playing at the FCS level next year, play a full schedule in 2010 and begin the three-year transition to FBS in 2011. In addition, the University of Texas San Antonio is studying a similar FCS to FBS start-up, perhaps in 2010. Speculation is that South Alabama would join the Sun Belt Conference, while UT-San Antonio would be in Conference USA.

After the Big XII dominated the college football news, next week's spotlight moves to the Big 10 for the Penn State Nittany Lions travel to Columbus to take on the Ohio State. The Buckeye offense finally woke up against Michigan State, and it will have to be in top form to challenge the Nittany Lions. Other big games include Georgia at LSU and, back in the Big XII, Texas vs. surprising Oklahoma State and Kansas vs. Texas Tech. Watch for the Jayhawks to knock the Red Raiders from the unbeaten ranks. A trio of big games highlight the topsy-turvy ACC schedule with Georgia Tech hosting resurgent Virginia; Boston College traveling to North Carolina, and Virginia Tech playing Florida State. While none of these have any bearing on the national championship, they might clarify the ACC.

This weeks BCS bowl projections

NCG: Texas vs. Penn State
Rose: Ohio State vs. Southern Cal
Orange: Georgia Tech vs. Utah
Fiesta: Oklahoma vs. Alabama
Sugar: Florida vs. Pittsburgh

The big game of next weekend might be in the FCS, where CAA South leaders James Madison and Villanova meet in Philadelphia. In D2 Abilene Christian and Tarleton State meet in a huge Lone Star Conference match-up. In D3, Wisconsin-Whitewater (1) and Mount Union (2) appear to be heading for another national championship match-up.

In case there's any doubt what conferences rule the Football Championship Subdivision (FBS) of Division 1 college football, consider the following:

From the data, the Big XII is clearly the top conference so far this year, with the SEC close behind followed by the ACC, the Big 10, the Big East,
the Mountain West, the PAC Ten, WAC, MAC, Conference USA, and Sun Belt.

BCS Bowl Projections (STILL very early)

NCG: Texas vs. Alabama
Rose: Penn State vs. Southern Cal
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Utah
Fiesta: Oklahoma vs. Georgia
Sugar: Florida vs. Pittsburgh

Although some are long-shots, there are probably ten remaining contenders for the two spots in the BCS National Championship Game. Here are
Their remaining schedules and the current record of their opponents:

Now that the Big XII season starts in earnest, things will probably change, but for now, the conference sports an amazing five of the top seven teams: Missouri (2), Texas (3), Oklahoma (4) , Texas Tech (5), and Oklahoma State (7). Texas and Oklahoma face each other Saturday, as do Missouri and Oklahoma State, while Texas Tech gets a Nebraska team smarting from the Missouri humiliation. At least two of these will drop a bit, although losing to an unbeaten team doesn't cost many points.

In the meantime, the not-so-Big East and the PAC Ten have replaced the ACC as weakest FBS conferences. Only Cal (16) and South Florida (21) sits in the top 25 (USC is #26), while there are now three ACC teams there: Virginia Tech (14), Georgia Tech (17), and North Carolina (20).

Remember, my ratings are strictly based on current season on-field performance. If you're wondering how USC can only rate 26th, here's a breakdown of their season to date:

Looking at the Big XII, Texas faces four consecutive currently-unbeaten team (Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech) over the next four weeks! Missouri may have the "easiest" path because they play only two (Oklahoma State and Texas) of the unbeaten five. Oklahoma State has the toughest road, playing all four other unbeatens, three (Missouri, Texas and Texas Tech) on the road.

This week's BCS projections (still very early):

Well...so much for those very early BCS projections! Tonight's shocking 27-21 upset of Southern Cal by Oregon State is one more reason to love college football.
Biggest winner (other than the Beavers themselves): Penn State, which slaughtered OSU, 45-14 three weeks ago.
Biggest loser (other than the Trojans themselves): Ohio State, which lost to USC last week because I still think the Buckeyes and Trojans will win their respective conference titles, possibly settin up a rematch in the Rose Bowl.

A VERY early look at the BCS bowls:

¹Buckeye fans wouldn't be happy about that...another January match-up with the SEC, but right now it doesn't look like any other PAC 10 team will be worthy of a BCS game.

I decided to go ahead and publish the ratings this week even though there's still a lot of instablity in the numbers with so few games. Even so, Southern Cal shows up as #1 in my numbers, but with the PAC 10's well-documented flop for far this year, they may not stay there as they enter the conference schedule. Of course, with no apparent challenger in the league, the Trojans are likely to finish the season undefeated, gaining a certain BCS Championship berth (probably against Missouri or Oklahoma unless an SEC team can finish with only one loss). Looking ahead at USC's schedule:

Oregon State (1-2 with a loss to Stanford)
Oregon (3-1, lost to Boise State yesterday)
Arizona State (2-2, lost to UNLV)
Washington State (1-3, only win over FCS Portland State)
Arizona (3-1, wins over Idaho, Toledo, UCLA; lost to New Mexico-which lost to Tulsa yesterday, 56-14)
Washington (0-3, outscored 44-127)
California (2-1, started strong but then whipped by Maryland)
Stanford (2-2, lost 31-14 to TCU)
Notre Dame (2-1, may improve as season progress, but absolutely NO offense yesterday vs. Michigan State)
UCLA (BYU 59, UCLA 0...enough said)

My conference ratings (an average of the member team ratings) also show how the PAC 10 stands:

Southeastern 109.84
Big Ten 108.48
Big XII 109.47
Atlantic Coast 107.62
Mountain West 101.51
Big East 98.24
PAC Ten 98.46
Western Athletic 95.42
Mid-American 91.41
Conference-USA 92.11
Independents 85.07
Sun Belt 87.13

The obvious big winner so far this year is the Mountain West. Its three unbeaten teams (BYU, Utah, and TCU...but they meet Oklahoma next week) look like a good bet to produce a so-called "BCS-buster." Throw in UNLV and Air Force (both 3-1 with only loss to Utah), and the conference definitely deserves its #5 spot.

And for all the talk about the ACC's weakness, it doesn't show up in the numbers. The conference is a close fourth to the big three--SEC, Big Ten, Big XII.

Not much excitement yet in college football. Only two FCS (formerly 1-AA) teams beat FBS teams: Cal Poly over San Diego State (who then almost beat Notre Dame) and New Hampshire over Army. Things start to change this week, however, with the marquee Southern Cal-Ohio State match-up, although even that may have lost a little luster with the Buckeyes narrow win over Ohio University.

Because my ratings are solely based on current year on-field performance, they don't have much meaning until more games have been played, but Southern Cal has already risen to the top (followed by Troy, Florida, Kentucky, and East Carolina). Ohio State is at 47 thanks to wins over Youngstown (which then lost to South Dakota State, 40-7) and the Bobcats. Next week's other big game - in terms of rankings - is Kansas (22) vs. South Florida (11). In the meantime, the once-mighty Florida State Seminoles play their second FCS opponent. This team Chattanooga will have a score piled up against them. As I understand it, FSU will only be able to count one of these wins toward the six required for bowl eligibility.

The 2008 college football season is just around the corner, with the defending D2 national champion Valdosta State Blazers hosting Fort Valley State tomorrow. Major college football opens Thursday, August 28. The near season brings some changes at all levels of college football.

Division 1A (Football Bowl Series) teams will be competing for two additional bowl games, the Congressional Bowl in Washington, DC and the St. Petersburg Bowl in Florida, bringing the total number of bowls in 34. The addition of these games makes it certain that a number of .500 teams will again be rewarded with post-season play. There's ever the possibility there won't be enough qualifying teams, particularly if we see some more 1AA (Football Championship Series) upsets early in the season. With the addition of Western Kentucky to the 1A status, there are 120 teams for 68 bowl spots. We can expect some compelling stinkers in the bowl season.

Nine new teams will begin or resume intercollegiate competition this season:

• At 1AA, Campbell University resumes football fifty-eight years after suspending the program because of the Korean War. The Camels will compete in the Pioneer Football League. Not surprisingly, Campbell was picked to finish last in the PFL's pre-season coaches' poll.
  
• Division 2 gains three new teams. The Colorado State Pueblo Thunderwolves will play in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (opening September 8 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State). Both the Lake Erie College Storm (opening August 28 against Gannon) and the Lincoln University (PA) Lions (opening September 6 vs. Southern Virginia after a scrimmage against Goerge Mason's club team August 30) will compete as independents. The Lions will become full members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association next year.
  
• Division 3 adds a pair of new programs. Gallaudet University will complete as an independent after climbing from club status. The Bison's season opens September 6 against Hiram. Joining the re-vamped Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, the St. Scholastica Saints take on Wisconsin Lutheran at their September 20 opener.
  
• The NAIA gets three new teams. Dordt College joins the Great Plains Athletic Conference, home of defending NAIA runner-up Sioux Falls. The Defenders begin with Northwestern (IA) on September 6. The Grand View College Vikings are scrimmaging Coe today, and will their first official game next Saturday against Briar Cliff. After a year of club preparation, the Kentucky Christian University Knights play for real on August 28 against Kentucky Wesleyan. Both GVC and KCU will be NAIA independents this season.

The NCAA's decision to allow 1A (FBS) teams to count one game against 1AA (FCS) teams has created an avalache of silly early-season mismatches. such as Arizona State-Northern Arizona, Arkansas-Western Illinois, Boston College-Rhode Island, Cincinnati-Eastern Kentucky, Colorado-Eastern Washington, Florida State-Western Carolina, Georgia (pre-season #1 in many lists)-Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech-Jacksonville State, Illinois-Eastern Illinois, Kentucky-Norfolk State, Louisville-Tennessee Tech, Miami-Charleston Southern, Mississippi-Samford, Missouri-Southeast Missouri, North Carolina-McNeese State, Ohio State-Youngstown, Oklahoma-Chattanooga, Purdue-Northern Colorado, Rutgers-Morgan State, South Carolina-Wofford, South Florida-Te