If Spring Football attendence was the measurement of success in College Football, then Nebraska would be among the best!

Most Big Ten spring experiences don't compare to NU's - Omaha World Herald

The Iowa-Nebraska rivalry should be a good one in time. For the fans, it will start immediately, but we will have to wait and see if three's a charm. Iowa will replace Oklahoma, then Colorado, as the Nebraska Cornhuskers final regular season opponent. Historically in the old Big 8, it was always Oklahoma-Nebraska. In the Big 12, it became Colorado-Nebraska on Black Friday, the day after Thanksfiving. Now, with the Cornhuskers debut in 2011 in the Big Ten, it will be Iowa-Nebraska on Black Friday. The Big Ten enters the post Thanksgiving era with division play and the first Big Ten title game in 2011.

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Interesting Football week approaching: National Signing Day on Wednesday, with Super Bowl XLV on Sunday

The Class of 2011 will see many sign on the dotted line on Wednesday. Unlike college basketball, there isn't an early signing period in college football. Players who are eligible for January term from junior colleges or graduating early from high school can sign in December or prior to enrollment, but Wednesday is huge in the College Football world with National Signing Day.

The Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, January 30Th in Hawaii. For the second season, the Pro Bowl is now played the Sunday ahead of the Super Bowl. The NFL typically makes good moves and moving the Pro Bowl, within the window of the season was another example of a good move by the NFL.

Super Bowl XLV should be a great match up, spotlighting two of the better franchises in NFL history.

• Pittsburgh Steelers (7-1 in Super Bowl history, the all-time winning franchise)


• Green Bay Packers (3-1 in Super Bowl history and winners of the first two games)

It should be a good week for those who enjoy football. There will be some joys and some likely sorrows, as players sign with various colleges throughout the NCAA and the biggest football game of the year is played in Arlington, Texas. The Super Bowl has something for everyone ...

• Football
• Commercials
• Food
• A gathering with friends and family
• Music - Black Eyed Peas will be the halftime show
• Fill in the blank

The only thing missing is a national holiday, after all, the Super Bowl is America's Game!

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FBS Football: Conference reallignment continues with BYU and two members of the WAC

It began earlier this year with one WAC program announced it was moving to the MWC. Then, it was the two Big 12 teams leaving and one MWC leaving. Now, there is news out of the MWC and WAC again ...

• Boise State was moving from the WAC to the MWC, after '10


• Nebraska is moving from the Big 12 to the Big Ten, after '10


• Colorado is moving from the Big 12 to the Pac Ten, after '10


• Utah is moving from the MWC to the Pac Ten, after '10

Now, BYU is planning to become an independent in football and will move to the WAC for all other sports. The decision isn't official yet, regarding BYU, but the discussions are clearly on the table. While the MWC is going to likely lose both Utah and BYU, the WAC will lose not only Boise State, but Fresno State and Nevada appear headed now to the MWC, as 2010 is turning out to be a big year for conference realignment.

@Mark_Schlabach Fuzzy math....MWC sits at 10 for '11
(Utah, BYU gone; Boise, Fresno, Nevada coming in). Need two more for conf. title
game .. if BYU leaves ~ Twitter from Mark Schlabach of ESPN

BYU's quest for independence proves conference realignment isn't over - ‎NewsOK.com
BYU's happy feet are merely the latest example of why conference realignment has not checked in its equipment. It's only taken a timeout. ...

Latest: MWC invites Fresno and Nevada, and Fresno accepts while ... ‎- Salt Lake Tribune (blog)
Fresno State and Nevada-Reno to join its conference, an obvious shot across the bow at the WAC for taking BYU. ... In fact, it is changing by the minute.

Video: MWC-WAC dance resumes - KRQE.com
Sources: BYU to join WAC for all sports except football ‎ - The Herald Journal
Fresno St., Nevada plan to join Mountain West - ESPN
Report: Fresno State has agreed to join the Mountain West Conference ‎ - Los Angeles Times (blog)
Nevada, Fresno State accept offers to leave WAC and join Mountain West ‎ - USA Today

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Minnesota-Texas Football Series Canceled

The University of Minnesota official web site has reported that the Minnesota-Texas football series for '15 and '16 has been canceled.

"We are extremely disappointed that the series with Texas will not take
place. Our institution, student-athletes and fans were very excited about
having a nationally respected program like Texas on our schedule. However there
are complex rights issues in play that are beyond our control. It's unfortunate
that a mutually acceptable resolution could not be found that would have allowed
the games to be played." - Minnesota AD Joel Maturi

Minnesota-Texas football series canceled ‎ - Dallas Morning News
AP Two football games between Minnesota and Texas have been canceled due to a contract impasse over video rights. The announcement was made Wednesday by the ...

The loss of Nebraska to the Big Ten in 2011 likely had very little to do with this decision. But, the University of Texas developing their own television network likely did. Why would the University of Minnesota desire to have this game limited to the State of Texas network for at least one game in the series?

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National Signing Day for College Football

The day has finally arrived for high school football athletes, with the first Wednesday in February. The *** star ratings will be discussed. Who succeeded, who failed, but the real questions will be answered this fall and over the next 1-5 years, since college football players, often redshirt, then complete up to four seasons of competition at the collegiate level.

Of course, some athletes will not even make it to campus, due to academic and other issues. But, they will be the talk of the town today.

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Thought of the Day?

From the Rivals Network
fsu1jreed
Warchant.com
Gulf Breeze/Pensacola Beach Florida

The Bowl Season is soon approaching America!

http://twitter.com/cidsports

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Here's one way to get a Cyclone into a bowl...

The Iowa State Cyclones will not be going to a bowl this year, but their fans can enjoy the bowl at home, with a little Cyclone Crunch...

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Iowa State to play Service Academies in the future...

Iowa State will host Nebraska this weekend in a Big 12 football game, but in the future, the OOC schedule will include Army, Air Force and Navy.

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Cy-Hawk Football Rivalry Extended Through 2017

The Iowa-Iowa State Football series has been extended per various news sources today through the 2017 season.

The Football series was renewed in 1977, after being off the schedule, since 1934. Iowa hosted the 1977 game and beat the intrastate rival, 12-10, at sold out historic Kinnick Stadium.

Games will continue to be alternated between ISU's Jack Trice Stadium and Iowa's Kinnick Stadium.

This year's game is scheduled for Saturday, September 14th at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. Kickoff Time has yet to be announced.

It's interesting to note that for the next 5 years, the guest will continue to receive 20% of the gate. ISU benefits more from the arrangement, since ISU's Jack Trice is less than 80% the capacity of Iowa's Kinnick. ISU will continue to benefit from the next 3 trips to Kinnick, including this season, with the 20% split.

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Athlon Sports Annual: College Football National Edition

Well, with the canceled church softball game tonight... I decided
to take one of my children to the store to pick up some assessors for bike riding. We included a pit stop at Barnes & Noble for a CD and of course, a sports magazine. This time I purchased the National Edition of Athlon Sports College Football 2008.



Athlon Sports Top Ten in 2008 consists of: 1. Florida, 2. Ohio State, 3. Oklahoma, 4. USC, 5. Georgia, 6. Missouri, 7. West Virginia, 8. Auburn, 9. LSU and 10. Clemson.



In contrast, my Top 25 launched on 5/31 has: 1. Georgia, 2. USC, 3. Ohio State, 4. Texas (as OU fans have reminded me... too high), 5. Ohio State, 6. LSU, 7. West Virginia, 8. Oklahoma, 9. Virginia Tech, and 10. BYU.

Looking over my own Top 25 and Athlon Sports... I think one or both of us have a couple of teams too high (certainly, a couple of Tiger teams):

• 6. Missouri (I have them #17, better spot, but still maybe high) - Clearly a breakout year in '07 for the Tigers, but most years under Coach Gary Pinkel (42-37, 7 years), this is a program that underachieves. Five starters have departed on Offense and the Defense in '07 only ranked 59th nationally. They do have a favorable schedule.
• 9. LSU (my #6, ouch) - Some reason, the defending champ should be ranked #1, until someone on the field beats them, but Coach Les Miles has lost a lot of leadership from the 2007 BCS Title winners. 6 Offensive, 7 defensive starters and their DC have departed. Why did I move them back into the Top 10? They will likely finish #16 in 2008.

Some highlights from this year's National Edition: Iowa's Mitch King 6'3" 264 Sr. defensive tackle is listed as 2nd team all-American (page 25). Like many magazines, the Coaching Carousel is highlighted with pages 26-30 giving insight on the 18 new Division I-A football coaches; from Rich Rodriquez to Michigan, Bo Pelini to Nebraska and former Green Bay Packer head coach Mike Sherman to Texas A&M.

All 119 Teams are ranked from 1-110 (page 32): Iowa 38th and Iowa State 81st. First and second teams for each conference, in addition to conference position ratings. Followed by a page of information for all 119 Division I-A teams from Florida to Florida International.

Throw in the soon to be the 120th Division I-A team: the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, who will be playing a Division I-A schedule (only 2 teams not among the 119). Of course, looking at the Division I-A schedules (FBS), as the NCAA wants it called now, so do some full members (play 2 outside the 119), see pages 181-183:

• Clemson plays The Citadel and South Carolina State (covers just about all in SC)
• Florida State opens with Western Carolina and Chattanooga
• Georgia Tech has Jacksonville State and Gardner-Webb
• Virginia Tech hosts Furman and Western Kentucky (they are not a full FBS yet)
• Indiana opens with Western Kentucky and Murray State
• Texas Tech faces Eastern Washington and Massachusetts
• Ball State tackles Northeastern and Western Kentucky (not listed as 120th yet)
• Kentucky invites Norfolk State, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky as OOC home opponents (they travel to in-state rival Louisville to open season)
• Troy welcomes Alcorn State and Western Kentucky (soon to be a full FBS member)
• Western Kentucky visits Eastern Kentucky and hosts Murray State

Athlon Sports throws in some Sideline Spirit (pages 184-188) for good measure. Recruiting news (pages 190-192) and of course this year's top rising high school seniors (page 195), which includes our own Top 20 WR Keenan Davis 6'3" 195 from Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Washington High School).

Like the Big Ten edition of Athon Sports for 2008, the same College Football Fantasy information (pages 196-198)

In closing on the back page (page 200), What the ?... We all remember last year's shocking upset on opening weekend... Appalachian State 34, Michigan 32. The page highlights ten other shocking scores involving UCLA (twice), Louisville, Oklahoma, USC, Nebraska Miami-FL, Kansas State, Alabama and finally special mention, Navy 48, Notre Dame 44 (OT).

By the way, August 30, 2008: defending Division I-A champ (FBS) LSU hosts defending Division I-AA (FCS) champ Appalachian State to open the season. Will we be in for another What the ?

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Parity Knocks... Picking non-BCS teams in the Top 25

Is BYU ready to be the next non-BCS team to finish in the Final Top 10 Poll for a season?

I wrote on May 31st, my preseason Top 25 College Football Poll for 2008. I included Brigham Young (11-2 in '07) at #10 for the preseason entering '08. BYU has finished in the final AP Poll the past two seasons at #14 and #16, respectively, in 2007 and 2006.

In additional to BYU as non-BCS teams in the Top 25, I have Fresno State (9-4, NR) at #22, Utah (9-4, NR) at #23 and Tulsa (10-4, NR) at #25.

In additional to BYU's #14 finish in '07, Hawaii finished #19 in the final AP Poll. Boise State missed after earning #30 in points in the AP Poll.

Between 2003 and 2006, a non-BCS team has finished in the Top 10, three out of four seasons. In 2003, Miami-Ohio (13-1) finished 10th, while Utah (12-0) finished 4th in 2004 and Boise State (13-0) in 2006.

In 2006, in addition of Boise State at #5 and BYU at #16, TCU finished #22 and Hawaii just missed earning #26 in total points in the AP's final poll.

In 2005, the non-BCS teams were shut out, though Toledo (#26), Tulsa (#27), Nevada (#29) and Navy (#30) were just on the outside of the AP final poll.

In 2004, Boise State at #12, Fresno State #22 and Navy #24 joined #4 Utah for four non-BCS teams finishing in the AP final Top 25 Poll.

In 2003, Boise State at #16, Utah #21, Bowling Green #23 and TCU #25 joined #10 Miami-Ohio for five non-BCS teams in the AP final Top 25 Poll.

We will have to see the 2008 Season played out to see, if four is on the mark for this season? However, we certainly have seen more parity throughout the current decade in college football. In part, the current 85 scholarship limit has lead to a lot more parity around the NCAA. Heck, even Division I-AA, Appalachian State, received votes in last year's AP Top 25 Poll. Of course, a lot of that was likely fueled by a huge win over Michigan to kick off last year's first week of the season and Appalachian State winning another I-AA National Championship.

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The 2008 Draft is certainly not about Headliners, but solid depth...

Where's the Headliners?

Nothing against Michigan's Jake Long, but the 3rd offensive tackle taken #1 in NFL Draft history isn't what headlines are supposed to be about. Solid pickup for the Miami Dolphins, especially when we begin to talk about Miami's additional picks, especially Long's teammate QB Chad Henne, taken in the 2nd round.

The NFL Draft in 2008 is about the business. It's not headliners, but a Draft that appears to filled with depth and opportunities for a variety of teams and players.

First, the NFL did everyone a favor by cutting down the amount of time and rounds for Day 1. Further, Day 2 starting with the 3rd Round will provide better format. Six hours for Day 1 is enough. Glad to see shorter time between picks in Round 1. Glad to see Green Bay trade down and gain another pick in the 2nd round.

Jake Long should be a good offensive tackle for Miami. If his career falls somewhere between Ron Yary and Orlando Pace, the Dolphins should be happy and Long should have a very solid NFL career. Yary in 1967 out of USC and Pace in 1997 out of rival Ohio State, were the two previous offensive tackles taken with the first pick of the draft.

Iowa's CB Charles Godfrey was selected by Carolina in the 3rd Round. A good example of depth of the 2008 Draft. Godfrey played both cornerback and safety while at Iowa.

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What are the Top 10 College Football Jobs?

Surfing the Rivals Network, I came across the following question: what do you think are the top 10 head coaching jobs in D1 college football? This question was posed by a Nebraska fan, who hired former assistant and most recent LSU DC Bo Pellini as their new head football coach.

What are my Top 10 programs?

1.) Michigan - they are the winninest program to date and just hired Rich Rodriguez as there new coach! While the search was poorly handled in some people's eyes, the final hire by Michigan was very good one.

2.) Southern Cal - not always at the top, but with Coach Pete Carroll bringing the Trojans back to national prominence and the fact LA has no NFL franchises... hard not to put them near the top!

3.) Oklahoma - another program that fell, but Coach Bob Stoops has elevated OU again. This program certainly may be #1, but will give Michigan props today!

4.) Texas - recruiting grounds in the State of Texas make the Longhorns program a very solid one. If Coach Mack Brown exited today, the Longhorns would find a solid replacement (see Michigan)!

5.) LSU - had Coach Les Miles left the Tigers for Michigan, there placement this high on the list would be tested, but with two BCS title appearances in the last 6 years under two different coaches places, LSU is a Top 5 program.

6.) Ohio State - the Buckeyes are under great hands with Coach Jim Tressel and the fact that Big Ten-Pac Ten are tied into the BCS, along with Tressel's success places the Buckeyes up there.

7.) Florida - hard to go against the program that is the current defending national champs. Both Coach Urban Meyer and Coach Steve Spurrier won MNC here... titles in both football and basketball in the same year... doesn't hurt the Gators!

8.) Georgia - location, location, location helps the Bulldogs as a SEC school and when it comes to recruiting. A BCS title is only missing aspect for Georgia.

9.) Tennessee - Rocky Top has the facility (100 plus stadium) and is coming up on ten years removed of a MNC.

10.) Notre Dame - the glitter in South Bend is fading a little, but with its history and NBC television contract I would be remiss not to include the Fighting Irish in the Top Ten. Replacing Charlie Weis shouldn't have the same implications as replacing Coach Ty Willingham.

Two programs that need to find there mojo again: Alabama and Nebraska. Alabama's Coach Nick Saban was a big $$$ coaching hire, but can he win another BCS title at his 2nd school? Nebraska's Coach Bo Pelini has never been a head coach before. He certainly is a better fit than Bill Callahan in Lincoln, but the Huskers haven't won a MNC for 10 years and are on their 3rd coach, since Dr. Tom Osborne retired.

Two programs that have Hall of Fame Coaches, but appear to be showing there rust: Florida State and Penn State. Both programs appear to be on a similar path as Nebraska post-Osborne?

Where's Miami-FL these days? A 5-7 record (2-6 ACC) to close 2007 and a tough road hiring a new coach after the 2006 season certainly knocked the Hurricanes out of the Top Ten.

Bo Pelini to be next Head Football Coach at Nebraska

Bo Pelini to be named new Head Coach at Nebraska-Lincoln today at 4 pm.

Pelini is a former Ohio State football player.

He began his coaching career as GA under J. Hayden Fry at Iowa.

Coached one year as DC at Nebraska under Coach Frank Solich. Pelini served as interim coach after Frank Solich was dismissed in '03. He enters the full-time position, 1-0 as a Husker Coach, leading Nebraska to victory over Michigan State in '03 Alamo Bowl.

Pelini served a year at OU, as well as the year at Nebraska, so he will bring some experience in the Big 12 to the table. How well he will develop his staff in recruiting will be very important.

Currently DC at LSU, who will likely be heading to play Ohio State in the BCS Title Game, pending a surprise in the Final BCS Poll today.

Dr. Tom Osborne goes outside his own tree of former players and assistants to hire the first-time head coach. Certainly the boosters and fans are happy now in Lincoln.

I know a former Husker football player under Osborne and his wife here in Cedar Rapids will likely be very happy. Certainly, hindsight is 20/20, but Pelini likely needed some seasoning between '03 and '07 to get the head coaching position at Nebraska.

While the 4 years under Bill Callahan wasn't a success or Nebraska, the future is likely brighter having Callahan as a transition coach as opposed to moving Pelini up in '03 to replace Coach Frank Solich, who former AD Steve Pedersen fired, despite a winning season in his sixth year.

The Blackshirts get a defensive minded coach. Will have to wait and see how high the Huskers go under a first-time head coach. The defense needs rebuilding, but the entire program needs leadership and a direction in all three phases of the game.

Peace

Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings says: OU vs. Ohio State

Who are the right final two teams for this year's BCS Championship Game?

I think the time is right for a Plus One format to be introduced, but who should be in this year's BCS Title Game?

It's likely Ohio State, but who should they play?

Jeff Sagarin says OU is #1, with the Buckeyes #2.

Oklahoma Sooners 11-2 (7-2) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes 11-1 (7-1) would be an entertaining match up.

OU Coach Bob Stoops played his college football in the Big Ten (Iowa) and is a native and high school product of the State of Ohio.

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Rose Bowl should always be for Champions

The 2007 College Football season has shown the BCS needs to be changed, once again.

USC and Ohio State should be facing one another in the 2008 Rose Bowl. Champions of the conferences should face one another each.

Ohio State will go to the BCS Championship, most likely, after Black Saturday for teams like West Virginia, Missouri and others throughout the season.

The BCS should be about #1 vs. #2 only. We need to get back the traditional bowl system, with a plus one game, with the final #1 vs. #2 in that one final game. The BCS Championship Game shouldn't eliminate the Big Ten or Pac Ten champion playing in the Rose Bowl in any year.

The Rose Bowl should be for the Champions of the Big Ten and Pac Ten. The Fiesta would likely have the Big 12 Champion, the Sugar would have the SEC and so forth.

A plus one system would eliminate a team coming off a loss from playing in the BCS Championship. It would allow everyone to play a bowl game, win in that bowl game, and than the final #1 vs. #2 always being two teams that are coming off a win.

It won't happen this year, but the '08 season should get back to traditional champions and a Plus One System. Make it happen BCS!

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Next Weekend - College Football officially kicks off

Sorry for those who follow Division II or whatever, but Labor Day weekend will be the official kickoff of NCAA College Football '07.

Remember the days of the Kickoff Classic and Pigskin Classic.

Those days are of course long gone. The Big Ten, the Unversity of Iowa, Big 12, Iowa State, Gateway and Northern Iowa... the action will return.

My wife celebrates her birthday next Saturday, so we will not be in Chicago. Soldier Field should see plenty of Black and Gold hit the Windy City next weekend.

On the TV front, the Big Ten Network will debut at the end of the week. Plenty of Big Ten action will be on the tube.

Will Mediacom here breakdown and launch the network. We'll have the wait and see. I haven't joined the DirecTV crowd yet, but I know others that have.

Less than 7 day! I guess the weather today wasn't the only sign that Fall is coming!

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Interesting Attendance Rules at 'Bama

Don't get drunk attending the University of Alabama football games... you may cost you your seat and the right to have season tickets.

Could you imagine, if our world required such state of affairs?

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Who's #2 through 5 in College Football in '07

We all know who #1 should be entering the '07 College Football Season, right! The USC Trojans (11-2, last year) are clearly the choice for opening the season at the top spot!

But, I can't say any team deserves an automatic slot in the Top 5 other than the Trojans.

The 2007 USAToday Preseason Coaches Poll is out and USC is #1, with LSU, Florida, Texas and Michigan rounding off the Top 5. I see the Iowa Hawkeyes picked up 12 votes coming off a disappointing 6-7 season in '06, including a 24-26 loss to Texas in last year's Alamo Bowl.

Is the Defending Champions ready to rebuild defensively and with a new QB under center to finish in the Top 5 again? Like Florida, LSU will have a new QB at the helm in '07.

Michigan returns plenty on offense, but must rebuild their defense. Does defense win championships? Will that theory be tested in '07?

The media's AP Top 25 Poll is out. West Virginia and Florida swap places from the AP and USA Today positions. The Montaineers are #3 in the AP Poll, while the defending national champs are outside the Top 5 at #6. The media isn't giving any props to Iowa this season!

Interesting from the AP Top 25... the runner-ups from '06, Ohio State, are outside the Top 10 at #11. All 25 teams in the coaches poll made the AP Top 25, though some positions are flipped or different.

Another great season will unfold again in under two weeks!

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College Football '07 - The Division I-A Independents

3 remain today as Independents in all of College Football in Division I-A. Notre Dame is the #1 independent, along with Navy and Army.

I thought it would be interesting to see what the skyline was like 25 years ago. Pulling information from my 1982 issue of Street and Smith Official Yearbook for College.

Opening to page 114, coverage of the Atlantic Coast. There were seven ACC teams in 1982. Georgia Tech was not eligible for the championship in 1982 and would make 8 ACC teams.

The Independents in the Atlantic Coast region were 9 teams, not all Division I-A teams today:

1. Virginia Tech
2. South Carolina
3. East Carolina
4. William & Mary
5. Richmond
6. James Madison
7. Wofford
8. Guilford
9. Towson State

In the West (page 26), I will not mention any of the 7 teams, since they are all Division I-AA type teams. By the way, there were 10 teams in the Pac Ten in 1982.

Turning next to the Midwest on page 67. There are three independents in the Midwest:

1. Notre Dame
2. Cincinnati
3. Dayton

By the way, the talk in the Big Ten was the ending of the "Ohio State-Michigan monopoly" in the Big Ten. During the 1981 season, Iowa finished first with Ohio State and won the trip to Pasadena and the 1982 Rose Bowl. Illinois was projected as the next team to watch.

Now, on to the Deep South on page 92. The SEC had 10 teams back in 1982. The Independents in the Deep South in 1982 were:

1. Miami-FL
2. Florida State
3. Tulane
4. Southern Mississippi
5. Louisville
6. Memphis State
7. Tennessee State

Turning to the Big Eight on page 133, there were no mention of any Independents in this region, but the Missouri Valley Conference still existed with 8 teams: Wichita State, Tulsa, Indiana State, Drake, Southern Illinois, West Texas State, New Mexico State and Illinois State. fwiw

Moving to the East Section on page 148. A haven for Independents in 1982:

1. Pittsburgh
2. Penn State
3. West Virginia
4. Syracuse
5. Boston College
6. Navy
7. Rutgers
8. Temple
9. Army
10. Colgate
11. Holy Cross

Finally, the Rockies and again, no Independents. The Western Athletic Conference and Big Sky Conference were highlighted. BYU and Boise State, respectively, were picked as the top teams in each conference. Not much different than last year's MWC and WAC, respectively, for BYU and Boise State.

If you are keeping score:

1982 : 30 schools mentioned

Today: 3 schools, who were also Independents back in 1982

This season's top Independent schools:

1. Notre Dame
2. Navy
3. Army

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