Can Virginia Tech seal up another conference title, or will perennial underachiever Clemson or new power Wake Forest step in the way? After the success of last year, what’s next for Boston College? Can Georgia Tech, Virginia or Maryland finally break through on the national stage? Will Florida State or Miami resemble the powerful squads of the early part of this decade? Can Research Triangle neighbors Duke, NC State and North Carolina make some noise? Answers follow in our 2008 ACC preseason preview.

Atlantic Division

Boston College Eagles (last season – 11-3, won Champs Sports Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – at Kent State (Cleveland) (W)
Sept. 6 – Georgia Tech (W)
Sept. 20 – UCF (W)
Sept. 27 – Rhode Island (W)
Oct. 4 – at NC State (W)
Oct. 18 – Virginia Tech (W)
Oct. 25 – at North Carolina (W)
Nov. 1 – Clemson (L)
Nov. 8 – Notre Dame (W)
Nov. 15 – at Florida State (W)
Nov. 22 – at Wake Forest (L)
Nov. 29 – Maryland (W)

Eleven starters return from a squad that finished with 11 wins, the most in Chestnut Hill, Mass. since 1940, and won BC’s eighth straight bowl game, the longest active FBS streak. Star quarterback Matt Ryan, the 2007 conference player of the year and the Unitas Golden Arm Award winner, and free safety Jamie Silva, who was a first-team All-American and recorded 125 tackles and eight interceptions last year, are among a strong crop of last year’s seniors that laid a strong foundation but will be sorely missed this season. Chris Crane, a three-year backup, looks to be the leading candidate to replace Ryan under center. Another solid season is in store for the Eagles, who will be ready to challenge for the conference title again in the near future.

Clemson Tigers (last season – 9-4, lost Chick-fil-A Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Alabama (Atlanta) (W)
Sept. 6 – The Citadel (W)
Sept. 13 – NC State (W)
Sept. 20 – South Carolina State (W)
Sept. 27 – Maryland (W)
Oct. 9 – at Wake Forest (L)
Oct. 18 – Georgia Tech (W)
Nov. 1 – at Boston College (W)
Nov. 8 – at Florida State (W)
Nov. 15 – Duke (W)
Nov. 22 – at Virginia (W)
Nov. 29 – South Carolina (W)

The Tigers are perhaps the poster child for underachievers everywhere, with an 8-8 record in their last 16 games as a favorite. With the talent at Clemson, there is no reason why it should not be among the best teams in the conference or even the nation. However, coach Tommy Bowden and the Tigers have not finished with a better conference record than 5-3 since 2000. Seven offensive and eight defensive starters return, including running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller, who prognosticators to a man believe could be better utilized, and quarterback Cullen Harper. Clemson has all the pieces in place to make a run at the league title and is capable of competing for BCS glory, but there will be plenty of opportunities for the Tigers to lose games they should win. Is this the year they can finally put it all together? Bowden, who presumably is already on a short leash, needs his veteran squad to deliver.

Florida State Seminoles (last season – 7-6, lost Music City Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Sept. 6 – Western Carolina (W)
Sept. 13 – Tennessee-Chattanooga (W)
Sept. 20 – Wake Forest (L)
Sept. 27 – Colorado (Jacksonville, Fla.) (L)
Oct. 4 – at Miami (FL) (W)
Oct. 16 – at NC State (W)
Oct. 25 – Virginia Tech (L)
Nov. 1 – at Georgia Tech (W)
Nov. 8 – Clemson (L)
Nov. 15 – Boston College (L)
Nov. 22 – at Maryland (L)
Nov. 29 – Florida (L)

Seven offensive and seven defensive starters will be back for the Seminoles. However, seven starters will be ineligible for at least the first six games due to either the academic scandal that struck at the end of last season or other legal issues. Drew Weatherford, who has been inconsistent at best under center, returns but will be pushed for the starter’s job by redshirt sophomore Christian Ponder. Amidst on- and off-field turmoil, Coach Bobby Bowden will have to watch the once-proud program he built continue to slowly spiral back to mediocrity.

Maryland Terrapins (last season – 6-7, lost Emerald Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Delaware (W)
Sept. 6 – at Middle Tennessee State (W)
Sept. 13 – California (L)
Sept. 20 – Eastern Michigan (W)
Sept. 27 – at Clemson (L)
Oct. 4 – at Virginia (L)
Oct. 18 – Wake Forest (L)
Oct. 25 – NC State (W)
Nov. 6 – at Virginia Tech (L)
Nov. 15 – North Carolina (L)
Nov. 22 – Florida State (W)
Nov. 29 – at Boston College (L)

Nine offensive and five defensive starters return under coach Ralph Friedgen, who is statistically one of the best coaches in Maryland history but has seen his squads finish under .500 three of the last four years. The Maryland squads in the Friedgen era have been notoriously difficult to predict, with the more recent editions falling short of lofty objectives. Jordan Steffy, who won the quarterback job last year, has had five concussions and must fight off Chris Turner, who started the last eight games of 2007 while Steffy was out with an injury, not a good sign for a team that needs a clear, defined leader with a tough slate down the stretch. As always, take any Terps football predictions with a grain of salt, but this team just has the look of an underachiever; they look like they will have to struggle mightily just to reach bowl eligibility.

North Carolina State Wolfpack (last season – 5-7)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – at South Carolina (L)
Sept. 6 – William & Mary (W)
Sept. 13 – at Clemson (L)
Sept. 20 – East Carolina (L)
Sept. 27 – South Florida (L)
Oct. 4 – Boston College (L)
Oct. 16 – Florida State (L)
Oct. 25 – at Maryland (L)
Nov. 8 – at Duke (W)
Nov. 15 – Wake Forest (L)
Nov. 22 – at North Carolina (L)
Nov. 29 – Miami (FL) (L)

The Wolfpack return six offensive and seven defensive players for coach Tom O’Brien’s second season. Injuries were an issue last season, and the depth is better this year, though a good old-fashioned quarterback controversy may be brewing, with incumbent Daniel Evans, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, Russell Wilson and Mike Glennon, the brother of Virginia Tech’s Sean Glennon, all fighting for the job. The schedule early is brutal, with a tough slate altogether, and the Wolfpack will have to cut down on turnovers are throwing 23 interceptions last year. The team is getting better and becoming more accustomed to O’Brien’s system, but it looks like another rebuilding year is in store for NC State.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (last season – 9-4, won Meineke Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – at Baylor (W)
Sept. 6 – Ole Miss (W)
Sept. 20 – at Florida State (W)
Sept. 27 – Navy (W)
Oct. 9 – Clemson (W)
Oct. 18 – at Maryland (W)
Oct. 25 – at Miami (FL) (W)
Nov. 1 – Duke (W)
Nov. 8 – Virginia (L)
Nov. 15 – at NC State (W)
Nov. 22 – Boston College (L)
Nov. 29 – Vanderbilt (W)

Fourteen starters return for the Deacs, including nine on defense. Quarterback Riley Skinner, who threw for over 2,200 yards last season with the best completion percentage in the nation, is back to try to lead the offense to its third straight bowl game and another ACC title after winning the conference and playing in the Orange Bowl two years ago. The offensive line in particular is deep, which will help Skinner, 2007 leading rusher Josh Adams and a relatively-inexperienced offense. Look for Wake Forest to post another surprising record and challenge for the conference crown again under coach Jim Grobe.

Coastal Division

Duke Blue Devils (last season – 1-11)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – James Madison (W)
Sept. 6 – Northwestern (L)
Sept. 13 – Navy (W)
Sept. 27 – Virginia (L)
Oct. 4 – at Georgia Tech (L)
Oct. 18 – Miami (FL) (L)
Oct. 25 – at Vanderbilt (L)
Nov. 1 – at Wake Forest (L)
Nov. 8 – NC State (W)
Nov. 15 – at Clemson (L)
Nov. 22 – at Virginia Tech (L)
Nov. 29 – North Carolina (L)

As the old saying goes, hope springs eternal. Never has that felt truer in Durham, N.C. than now, as David Cutcliffe, heralded as the savior of the Blue Devils, arrives to take the helm of what has unquestionably been among the worst few power-conference programs of the BCS era, with only 10 wins so far this decade. The defense was nothing short of atrocious last year, yielding over 40 points six times. Ten starters are back from that defense, along with seven offensive starters. Quarterback Thaddeus Lewis and deep threat Eron Riley, who led the ACC in yards per catch with 20.8, are back and should excel under Cutcliffe. The success of the 2008 Duke football team cannot accurately be measured in wins and losses; the record will not look good, but expect a foundation to be laid for the Blue Devils to become competitive in the future.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (last season – 7-6, lost Humanitarian Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – Jacksonville State (W)
Sept. 6 – at Boston College (L)
Sept. 13 – at Virginia Tech (L)
Sept. 20 – Mississippi State (L)
Oct. 4 – Duke (W)
Oct. 11 – Gardner-Webb (W)
Oct. 18 – at Clemson (L)
Oct. 25 – Virginia (L)
Nov. 1 – Florida State (L)
Nov. 8 – at North Carolina (L)
Nov. 20 – Miami (FL) (W)
Nov. 29 – at Georgia (L)

The Paul Johnson era begins this season in Atlanta with a couple of questions. First, can the triple-option attack the Navy and Georgia Southern offenses ran so well under Johnson work in the ACC, where the competition will be significantly stronger? And secondly, can Johnson lead the Yellow Jackets to play their best week in and week out, which Chan Gailey often could not do? It will help if Johnson can win bowl games and beat bitter rival Georgia; Gailey was 2-4 in bowls and 0-6 against the Bulldogs. Quarterback Taylor Bennett, less-than-thrilled with the idea of running the triple option, left for Louisiana Tech, with Josh Nesbitt and Calvin Booker set to do battle to replace him. Tashard Choice, the two-time conference leading rusher, also is gone due to graduation. Only four starters return on each side of the ball, making the transition to Johnson’s offense and new defensive coordinator Dave Wommack easier, though wins will be hard to come by. The Yellow Jackets will have to rebuild this year, but expect them to be right back in the ACC picture next year.

Miami (FL) Hurricanes (last season – 5-7)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 28 – Charleston Southern (W)
Sept. 6 – at Florida (L)
Sept. 20 – at Texas A&M (L)
Sept. 27 – North Carolina (L)
Oct. 4 – Florida State (L)
Oct. 11 – UCF (W)
Oct. 18 – at Duke (W)
Oct. 25 – Wake Forest (L)
Nov. 1 – at Virginia (L)
Nov. 13 – Virginia Tech (L)
Nov. 20 – at Georgia Tech (L)
Nov. 29 – at NC State (W)

Year two of the Randy Shannon era will begin after a down year, but with expectations sky-high as always. Unfortunately, only four offensive and six defensive starters are back, with quarterback Kyle Wright among the departures. Robert Marve will be the new starter under center. Shannon has notably underscored the importance of discipline in his new program, but fans are going to have to become patient for at least another year to see the fruits of that discipline begin to show on the field and in the win-loss record.

North Carolina Tar Heels (last season – 4-8)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – McNeese State (W)
Sept. 11 – at Rutgers (L)
Sept. 20 – Virginia Tech (W)
Sept. 27 – at Miami (FL) (W)
Oct. 4 – Connecticut (L)
Oct. 11 – Notre Dame (W)
Oct. 18 – at Virginia (L)
Oct. 25 – Boston College (L)
Nov. 8 – Georgia Tech (W)
Nov. 15 – at Maryland (W)
Nov. 22 – NC State (W)
Nov. 29 – at Duke (W)

Butch Davis begins his second season at the helm of the Tar Heels program with 10 starters back on offense and eight on defense, with plenty of depth on both sides of the ball. Ten offensive and eight defensive starters return to a squad that also finally has some depth behind them. The Tar Heels must play better in close games; they lost six games by a touchdown or less last year. Quarterback T.J. Yates will lead the offense, with Hakeem Nicks providing a big-play threat at receiver. The non-conference schedule is not ideal, but a late-season run will be enough for the Tar Heels to break out with a solid season.

Virginia Cavaliers (last season – 9-4, lost Gator Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Southern California (L)
Sept. 6 – Richmond (W)
Sept. 13 – at Connecticut (L)
Sept. 27 – at Duke (W)
Oct. 4 – Maryland (W)
Oct. 11 – East Carolina (W)
Oct. 18 – North Carolina (W)
Oct. 25 – at Georgia Tech (W)
Nov. 1 – Miami (FL) (W)
Nov. 8 – at Wake Forest (L)
Nov. 22 – Clemson (L)
Nov. 29 – at Virginia Tech (L)

Five starters are back on each side of the ball from a club that rode its lights-out defense to a nine-win year. Chris Long, among the nation’s best defensive players, is gone. The toughest stretch will come late in the year, so improving as the season progresses will be key. Virginia continues to assert itself as a consistent ACC contender with another solid season, quite an accomplishment given all the talent lost.

Virginia Tech Hokies (last season – 11-3, lost Orange Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – East Carolina (Charlotte, N.C.) (W)
Sept. 6 – Furman (W)
Sept. 13 – Georgia Tech (W)
Sept. 20 – at North Carolina (L)
Sept. 27 – at Nebraska (W)
Oct. 4 – Western Kentucky (W)
Oct. 18 – at Boston College (L)
Oct. 25 – at Florida State (W)
Nov. 6 – Maryland (W)
Nov. 13 – at Miami (FL) (W)
Nov. 22 – Duke (W)
Nov. 29 – Virginia (W)

The Hokies’ defense, which was third in the nation in scoring last season, lost seven starters, but still should be loaded with young talent. Six men are back on offense, including quarterback Sean Glennon. The offense will be weaker, which should not affect things too much, as Tech has always relied on its defense under coach Frank Beamer and defensive coordinator Bud Foster, who is renowned for his ability to mold young defenses into outstanding units, to win games. The Hokies will lose at least a couple of games because of a weak offense, but they will win a lot more because of their defense and will again be a force in the ACC.

Conference championship game: Clemson knocks off surprising North Carolina to keep its dream season alive and, depending on how other outcomes shake out across the country, perhaps advance to its first BCS title game.

Next week – 2008 Big 12 football preview

Some information used from The New York Times and ESPN.com in this report.

Can Fresno State bust the BCS? Will Hawai’i or Boise State have enough to win another conference title? Can Louisiana Tech, Nevada and/or San Jose State return to postseason play? Will Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State establish respectability? The sixth installment of our 2008 college football preseason preview series tackles these questions and more with a couple of surprising predictions.

Boise State Broncos (last season – 10-3, lost Hawai’i Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Idaho State (W)
Sept. 13 – Bowling Green (W)
Sept. 20 – at Oregon (L)
Oct. 1 – Louisiana Tech (W)
Oct. 11 – at Southern Miss (W)
Oct. 17 – Hawai’i (W)
Oct. 24 – at San Jose State (W)
Nov. 1 – at New Mexico State (W)
Nov. 8 – Utah State (W)
Nov. 15 – at Idaho (W)
Nov. 22 – at Nevada (W)
Nov. 28 – Fresno State (L)

Only four offensive starters return from last year’s squad, including Ian Johnson, best known for his role in the Broncos’ stunning upset of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl two seasons ago, with seven defenders back. Notably, four offensive line starters and the quarterback must be replaced, with Bush Hamdan and Kellen Moore leading a four-man race for the open job under center. The run defense was far from excellent last season, allowing 396 rushing yards to Nevada and 322 in the bowl loss to East Carolina. The de facto conference title game Nov. 28 could match two excellent squads with BCS aspirations; from here, it looks as though Fresno State has an edge in that matchup. Thus, the Broncos should have an excellent year, though short of the lofty expectations they have set for themselves.

Fresno State Bulldogs (last season – 9-4, won Humanitarian Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Sept. 1 – at Rutgers (W)
Sept. 13 – Wisconsin (L)
Sept. 20 – at Toledo (W)
Sept. 27 – at UCLA (W)
Oct. 4 – Hawai’i (W)
Oct. 11 – Idaho (W)
Oct. 25 – at Utah State (W)
Nov. 1 – at Louisiana Tech (W)
Nov. 7 – Nevada (W)
Nov. 15 – New Mexico State (W)
Nov. 21 – at San Jose State (W)
Nov. 28 – at Boise State (W)

Fresno State and coach Pat Hill, who has the reputation of taking his squad to play “anyone, anytime, anywhere,” have a typically-ambitious schedule that could either all-but-ensure a third-straight WAC BCS bid, or, with early losses to any or all of a trio of power-conference heavyweights, prevent that very dream from coming true. The Bulldogs have 12 wins over BCS-conference schools this decade, but have yet to claim as much as a share of the conference title since 1999. This year should give them as clear an opportunity to win the WAC as any in recent memory, with fellow conference heavyweights Boise State and Hawai’i rebuilding and everyone else still a step or more shy of that level. Fifteen starters will return, including quarterback Tom Brandstater, who piloted the offense to 33 points and 419 yards per game last year. The Bulldogs will win the WAC, but they will probably fall shy of the BCS-buster mantle the national media has begun to lay at their feet.

Hawai’i Warriors (last season – 12-1, lost Sugar Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – at Florida (L)
Sept. 6 – Weber State (W)
Sept. 13 – at Oregon State (L)
Sept. 27 – San Jose State (W)
Oct. 4 – at Fresno State (L)
Oct. 11 – Louisiana Tech (W)
Oct. 17 – at Boise State (L)
Oct. 25 – Nevada (L)
Nov. 1 – at Utah State (W)
Nov. 8 – at New Mexico State (W)
Nov. 22 – Idaho (W)
Nov. 29 – Washington State (W)
Dec. 6 – Cincinnati (L)

Last season was nothing short of a dream season for the Warriors – several hard-fought victories, UH’s first outright WAC title, a Heisman campaign for quarterback Colt Brennan and a BCS bowl bid under coach June Jones. However, it looks like a classic “back to earth” season is in store for Hawai’i, as Brennan is headed for NFL riches, Jones, having completed his reclamation project in Honolulu, is in Dallas trying to turn around SMU and only four starters return on each side of the ball. The defense was greatly improved last season, and quarterback Tyler Graunke, who has served three years as a backup, has demonstrated that he can run the offense capably, if he can keep his head above water academically after being suspended in the winter. The schedule, unlike last season, will do the Warriors no favors. Look for a relatively solid season, though after last year, most anything short of a 10-win season is a dramatic step back.

Idaho Vandals (last season – 1-11)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – at Arizona (L)
Sept. 6 – Idaho State (W)
Sept. 13 – Western Michigan (L)
Sept. 20 – at Utah State (L)
Sept. 27 – at San Diego State (L)
Oct. 4 – Nevada (L)
Oct. 11 – at Fresno State (L)
Oct. 18 – at Louisiana Tech (L)
Oct. 25 – New Mexico State (L)
Nov. 1 – San Jose State (L)
Nov. 15 – Boise State (L)
Nov. 22 – at Hawai’i (L)

The good news: 11 offensive starters return for the Vandals, a year more experienced than last season. Sophomore Nathan Enderle started 10 games under center last year to lead the offense. The not-so-good news: The defense was in the bottom 10 in the nation last season in points allowed per game, and will have only five starters back. The meeting with FCS power Idaho State comes at the right time, with a win perhaps generating momentum going into a stretch with some winnable games. Under second-year coach Robb Akey, the program is undergoing improvement but is still a year or two away from even respectability, much less anything greater.

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (last season – 5-7)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Mississippi State (L)
Sept. 6 – at Kansas (L)
Sept. 20 – Southeastern Louisiana (W)
Oct. 1 – at Boise State (L)
Oct. 11 – at Hawai’i (L)
Oct. 18 – Idaho (W)
Oct. 25 – at Army (W)
Nov. 1 – Fresno State (L)
Nov. 8 – at San Jose State (W)
Nov. 15 – Utah State (W)
Nov. 22 – at New Mexico State (W)
Nov. 29 – Nevada (W)

The Bulldogs return 13 starters, including eight on offense, from a squad that finished one win shy of bowl eligibility last season. Surprisingly, the final game of the year was a 49-10 defeat at the hands of Nevada; a win would likely have meant that Tech would have taken the Wolf Pack’s bowl bid. The defense has improved from 2006’s unit, which was statistically the worst in the nation, but still leaves something to be desired. Last year’s offense loses only three starters, including quarterback Zac Champion, but Georgia Tech transfer Taylor Bennett, who is eligible immediately, should be able to run the offense. This season, the early-season schedule is ruthless as usual, but the Bulldogs, who appear to be a step behind the most powerful teams in the conference but on roughly the same level as Nevada and San Jose State, have made progress under coach Derek Dooley, have enough in the tank for bowl eligibility and will be looking for some serious revenge when Nevada comes to town Nov. 29.

Nevada Wolf Pack (last season – 6-7, lost New Mexico Bowl)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – Grambling State (W)
Sept. 6 – Texas Tech (L)
Sept. 13 – at Missouri (L)
Sept. 27 – at UNLV (W)
Oct. 4 – at Idaho (W)
Oct. 11 – New Mexico State (W)
Oct. 18 – Utah State (W)
Oct. 25 – at Hawai’i (W)
Nov. 1 – at Fresno State (L)
Nov. 15 – San Jose State (W)
Nov. 22 – Boise State (L)
Nov. 29 – at Louisiana Tech (L)

Eight starters return on offense, while two experienced quarterbacks, Colin Kaepernick, who won the WAC freshman of the year last season and posted a 19-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and Nick Graziano, a former starter who suffered a foot injury, are back. The defense was lousy at times last year, allowing over 32 points per game. The Wolf Pack went to their third consecutive bowl for the first time in school history, but laid an egg in the bowl loss to New Mexico. Last year’s offense registered over 465 yards per game last season, good for 11th in the nation, though they were shut out by the Lobos. The offense will be outstanding again, but a weak defense will keep Nevada from advancing into the upper echelon of the WAC.

New Mexico State Aggies (last season – 4-9)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Sept. 4 – Nicholls State (W)
Sept. 13 – at Nebraska (L)
Sept. 20 – at UTEP (L)
Sept. 27 – New Mexico (L)
Oct. 11 – at Nevada (L)
Oct. 18 – San Jose State (W)
Oct. 25 – at Idaho (W)
Nov. 1 – Boise State (L)
Nov. 8 – Hawai’i (L)
Nov. 15 – at Fresno State (L)
Nov. 22 – Louisiana Tech (L)
Nov. 29 – at Utah State (W)

Senior quarterback Chase Holbrook, who had an outstanding sophomore year but had a sub-par season by those standards in 2007, leads 15 returning starters for the Aggies, who are three seasons removed from a 0-12 unmitigated disaster in Hal Mumme’s first season in Las Cruces, N.M. The defense has been awful but should improve under new coordinator Joe Lee Dunn. The Aggies are distancing themselves from Idaho and Utah State in the conference basement but are still light years away from serious competition for the WAC title.

San Jose State Spartans (last season – 5-7)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – UC Davis (W)
Sept. 6 – at Nebraska (L)
Sept. 13 – San Diego State (W)
Sept. 20 – at Stanford (L)
Sept. 27 – at Hawai’i (L)
Oct. 11 – Utah State (W)
Oct. 18 – at New Mexico State (L)
Oct. 24 – Boise State (L)
Nov. 1 – at Idaho (W)
Nov. 8 – Louisiana Tech (W)
Nov. 15 – at Nevada (L)
Nov. 21 – Fresno State (L)

Six offensive and six defensive starters are back for the Spartans, who will be without the services of departed quarterback Adam Tafralis. The defense will be strong, led by a stout pass rush, but a weak offensive line derailed a suspect running game last season and doesn’t look much improved this year. Coach Dick Tomey, who has the fourth-most wins of any active FBS coach, remains at the helm. The defense will keep San Jose State in a lot of games, but the question is, can they generate enough offense to make a charge in conference play?

Utah State Aggies (last season – 2-10)
Schedule (Predicted Outcome)
Aug. 30 – at UNLV (L)
Sept. 6 – at Oregon (L)
Sept. 13 – Utah (L)
Sept. 20 – Idaho (W)
Oct. 3 – BYU (L)
Oct. 11 – at San Jose State (L)
Oct. 18 – at Nevada (L)
Oct. 25 – Fresno State (L)
Nov. 1 – Hawai’i (L)
Nov. 8 – at Boise State (L)
Nov. 15 – at Louisiana Tech (L)
Nov. 29 – New Mexico State (L)

The Aggies were not quite as terrible as their record might indicate last season, dropping several close contests. The defense did perform quite poorly at times last year, though nine starters are back from that unit with a year’s worth of lumps. Linebacker Jake Hutton finished eighth in the conference with 102 stops last season. The Aggies face seven teams that went bowling in 2007, and with a bad defense and few playmakers on either side of the ball, coach Brent Guy, who is 6-29 in three years at the Utah State helm, will likely find himself looking for employment elsewhere come winter.

Next week – Coverage of the BCS conferences begins with our 2008 ACC football preview.

Some information used from The New York Times and ESPN.com in this report.