Compiled by PAUL MONTELLA
NO. 1 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Trojans – 2006 (11-2)
Pete Carroll (65-12, 6 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 10.
Conference: Pac-10.
Site: Los Angeles. Stadium: LA Memorial Coliseum (92,000)
Strengths: Quarterback; linebacker; running back; secondary; offensive line.
Question Marks: wide receiver; kicking game.
Schedule: Sept. 1 Idaho; Sept. 15 at Nebraska; Sept. 22 Washington St.; Sept. 29 at Washington; Oct. 6 Stanford; Oct. 13 Arizona; Oct. 20 at Notre Dame; Oct. 27 at Oregon; Nov. 3 Oregon St.; Nov. 10 at California; Nov. 22 at Arizona St.; Dec. 1 UCLA.
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NO. 2 LSU
Tigers – 2006 (11-2)
Les Miles (22-4, 2 years; 50-25, 6 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 8.
Conference: Southeastern.
Site: Baton Rouge, La. Stadium: Tiger (91,600)
Strengths: Defensive line; offensive line; wide receiver; running back.
Question Marks: Quarterback; kicking game; secondary.
Schedule: Aug. 30 at Mississippi St.; Sept. 8 Virginia Tech; Sept. 15 Middle Tennessee; Sept. 22 South Carolina; Sept. 29 at Tulane; Oct. 6 Florida; Oct. 13 at Kentucky; Oct. 20 Auburn; Nov. 3 at Alabama; Nov. 10 Louisiana Tech; Nov. 17 at Mississippi; Nov. 24 Arkansas.
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NO. 3 WEST VIRGINIA
Mountaineers – 2006 (11-2)
Rich Rodriguez (50-24, 6 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 8.
Conference: Big East.
Site: Morgantown. Stadium: Mountaineer Field (60,000)
Strengths: Quarterback; running back; defensive line; secondary, special teams.
Question Marks: Defensive line; wide receiver.
Schedule: Sept. 1 W. Michigan; Sept. 8 at Marshall; Sept. 13 at Maryland; Sept. 22 East Carolina; Sept. 28 at South Florida; Oct. 6 at Syracuse; Oct. 20 Mississippi St.; Oct. 27 at Rutgers; Nov. 8 Louisville; Nov. 17 at Cincinnati; Nov. 24 Connecticut; Dec. 1 Pittsburgh.
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NO. 4 TEXAS
Longhorns – 2006 (10-3)
Mack Brown (93-22, 9 years; 179-96-1, 23 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 6.
Conference: Big 12.
Site: Austin. Stadium: Memorial (85,123)
Strengths: Quarterback; running back; wide receiver; defensive line.
Question Marks: Offensive line; secondary; linebacker.
M.
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NO. 5 MICHIGAN
Wolverines – 2006 (11-2)
Lloyd Carr (113-36, 12 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 4.
Conference: Big Ten.
Site: Ann Arbor. Stadium: Michigan (107,501)
Strengths: Quarterback; running back; offensive line.
Question Marks: Linebacker; wide receiver.
Schedule: Sept. 1 Appalachian St.; Sept. 8 Oregon; Sept. 15 Notre Dame; Sept. 22 Penn St.; Sept. 29 at Northwestern; Oct. 6 E. Michigan; Oct. 13 Purdue; Oct. 20 at Illinois; Oct. 27 Minnesota; Nov. 3 at Michigan St.; Nov. 10 at Wisconsin; Nov. 17 Ohio St.
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NO. 6 FLORIDA
Gators – 2006 (13-1)
Urban Meyer (22-4, 2 years; 61-12 career, 6 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 2.
Conference: Southeastern.
Site: Gainesville. Stadium: Ben Hill Griffin (88,548)
Strengths: Wide receiver; offensive line;
Question Marks: Defensive line; linebacker; secondary; quarterback.
Schedule: Sept. 1 W. Kentucky; Sept. 8 Troy; Sept. 15 Tennessee; Sept. 22 at Mississippi; Sept. 29 Auburn; Oct. 6 at LSU; Oct. 20 at Kentucky; Oct. 27 at Georgia (Jacksonville); Nov. 3 Vanderbilt; Nov. 10 at South Carolina; Nov. 17 Florida Atlantic; Nov. 24 Florida St.
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NO. 7 WISCONSIN
Badgers – 2006 (12-1)
Bret Bielema (12-1, 1 year)
Returning Starters: Offense 9, Defense 7.
Conference: Big Ten.
Site: Madison. Stadium: Camp Randall (80,321)
Strengths: Defensive line; secondary; special teams.
Question Marks: Quarterback; safety.
Schedule: Sept. 1 Washington St.; Sept. 8 at UNLV; Sept. 15 The Citadel; Sept. 22 Iowa; Sept. 29 Michigan St.; Oct. 6 at Illinois; Oct. 13 at Penn St.; Oct. 20 N. Illinois; Oct. 27 Indiana; Nov. 3 at Ohio St.; Nov. 10 Michigan; Nov. 17 at Minnesota.
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NO. 8 OKLAHOMA
Sooners – 2006 (11-3)
Bob Stoops (86-19, 8 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 7.
Conference: Big 12.
Site: Norman. Stadium: Memorial (82,112)
Strengths: Offensive line; secondary; special teams.
Question Marks: Quarterback; defensive line.
M; Nov. 10 Baylor; Nov. 17 at Texas Tech; Nov. 24 Oklahoma St.
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NO. 9 VIRGINIA TECH
Hokies – 2006 (10-3)
Frank Beamer (156-82-2, 20 years; 198-105-4, 26 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 9, Defense 8.
Conference: Atlantic Coast.
Site: Blacksburg, Va. Stadium: Lane (66,233)
Strengths: Wide receiver; linebacker; defensive line; secondary.
Question Marks: Offensive line; kicking game.
Mary; Sept. 29 North Carolina; Oct. 6 at Clemson; Oct. 13 at Duke; Oct. 25 Boston College; Nov. 1 at Georgia Tech; Nov. 10 Florida St.; Nov. 17 Miami; Nov. 24 at Virginia.
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NO. 10 LOUISVILLE
Cardinals – 2006 (12-1)
Steve Kragthorpe (First year; 29-22, 4 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 5.
Conference: Big East.
Site: Louisville, Ky. Stadium: Papa John’s Cardinal (42,000)
Strengths: Wide receiver; quarterback; offensive line; defensive line; kicker.
Question Marks: Secondary; running back.
Schedule: Aug. 30 Murray St.; Sept. 6 Middle Tennessee; Sept. 15 at Kentucky; Sept. 22 Syracuse; Sept. 29 at N.C. State; Oct. 5 Utah; Oct. 13 at Cincinnati; Oct. 19 at Connecticut; Oct. 27 Pittsburgh; Nov. 8 at West Virginia; Nov. 17 at South Florida; Nov. 29 Rutgers.
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NO. 11 OHIO STATE
Buckeyes – 2006 (12-1)
Jim Tressel (62-14, 6 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 5.
Conference: Big Ten.
Site: Columbus. Stadium: Ohio (101,568)
Strengths: Defensive line; secondary; special teams.
Question Marks: Quarterback; wide receiver; running back.
Schedule: Sept. 1 Youngstown St.; Sept. 8 Akron; Sept. 15 at Washington; Sept. 22 Northwestern; Sept. 29 at Minnesota; Oct. 6 at Purdue; Oct. 13 Kent St.; Oct. 20 Michigan St.; Oct. 27 at Penn St.; Nov. 3 Wisconsin; Nov. 10 Illinois; Nov. 17 at Michigan.
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NO. 12 CALIFORNIA
Golden Bears – 2006 (10-3)
Jeff Tedford (43-20, 5 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 4.
Conference: Pac-10.
Site: Berkeley. Stadium: California Memorial (72,516)
Strengths: Wide receiver; running back; special teams.
Question Marks: Defensive line; secondary.
Schedule: Sept. 1 Tennessee; Sept. 8 at Colorado St.; Sept. 15 Louisiana Tech; Sept. 22 Arizona; Sept. 29 at Oregon; Oct. 13 Oregon St.; Oct. 20 at UCLA; Oct. 27 at Arizona St.; Nov. 3 Washington St.; Nov. 10 Southern Cal; Nov. 17 at Washington; Dec. 1 at Stanford.
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NO. 13 GEORGIA
Bulldogs – 2006 (9-4)
Mark Richt (61-17, 6 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 4.
Conference: Southeastern.
Site: Athens. Stadium: Sanford (92,756)
Strengths: Secondary; quarterback; special teams.
Question Marks: Wide receiver; offensive line; linebacker.
Schedule: Sept. 1 Oklahoma St.; Sept. 8 South Carolina; Sept. 15 W. Carolina; Sept. 22 at Alabama; Sept. 29 Mississippi; Oct. 6 at Tennessee; Oct. 13 at Vanderbilt; Oct. 27 Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.); Nov. 3 Troy; Nov. 10 Auburn; Nov. 17 Kentucky; Nov. 24 at Georgia Tech.
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NO. 14 UCLA
Bruins – 2006 (7-6)
Karl Dorrell (29-21, 4 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 10, Defense 10.
Conference: Pac-10.
Site: Los Angeles. Stadium: Rose Bowl (91,500)
Strengths: Secondary; linebacker; wide receiver.
Question Marks: place-kicking; defensive line.
Schedule: Sept. 1 at Stanford; Sept. 8 BYU; Sept. 15 at Utah; Sept. 22 Washington; Sept. 29 at Oregon St.; Oct. 6 Notre Dame; Oct. 20 California; Oct. 27 at Washington St.; Nov. 3 at Arizona; Nov. 10 Arizona St.; Nov. 24 Oregon; Dec. 1 at Southern Cal.
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NO. 15 TENNESSEE
Volunteers – 2006 (9-4)
Philip Fulmer (137-41, 15 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 5.
Conference: Southeastern
Site: Knoxville. Stadium: Neyland (102,038)
Strengths: Running back, offensive line; linebacker.
Question Marks: Defensive line; wide receiver; secondary.
Schedule: Sept. 1 at California; Sept. 8 Southern Miss.; Sept. 15 at Florida; Sept. 22 Arkansas St.; Oct. 6 Georgia; Oct. 13 at Mississippi St.; Oct. 20 at Alabama; Oct. 27 South Carolina; Nov. 3 Louisiana-Lafayette; Nov. 10 Arkansas; Nov. 17 Vanderbilt; Nov. 24 at Kentucky.
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NO. 16 RUTGERS
Scarlet Knights – 2006 (11-2)
Greg Schiano (30-41, 6 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 6.
Conference: Big East.
Site: Piscataway, N.J. Stadium: Rutgers (41,500)
Strengths: Running back; offensive line; defensive line; secondary.
Question Marks: Wide receiver; punting; return game.
Schedule: Aug. 30 Buffalo; Sept. 7 Navy; Sept. 15 Norfolk St.; Sept. 29 Maryland; Oct. 6 Cincinnati; Oct. 13 at Syracuse; Oct. 18 South Florida; Oct. 27 West Virginia; Nov. 3 at Connecticut; Nov. 9 at Army; Nov. 17 Pittsburgh; Nov. 29 at Louisville.
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NO. 17 PENN STATE
Nittany Lions – 2006 (9-4)
Joe Paterno (363-181-3, 41 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 9, Defense 6.
Conference: Big Ten.
Site: University Park, Pa. Stadium: Beaver Stadium (107,282)
Strengths: Wide receiver; linebacker; secondary.
Question Marks: Offensive line; defensive line.
Schedule: Sept. 1 Fla. International; Sept. 8 Notre Dame; Sept. 15 Buffalo; Sept. 22 at Michigan; Sept. 29 at Illinois; Oct. 6 Iowa; Oct. 13 Wisconsin; Oct. 20 at Indiana; Oct. 27 Ohio St.; Nov. 3 Purdue; Nov. 10 at Temple; Nov. 17 at Michigan St.
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NO. 18 AUBURN
Tigers – 2006 (11-2)
Tommy Tuberville (72-29, 8 years; 96-49, 12 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 4, Defense 6.
Conference: Southeastern.
Site: Auburn, Ala. Stadium: Jordan-Hare (87,451)
Strengths: Defensive line; secondary.
Question Marks: Wide receiver; special teams; offensive line.
Schedule: Sept. 1 Kansas St.; Sept. 8 South Florida; Sept. 15 Mississippi St.; Sept. 22 New Mexico St.; Sept. 29 at Florida; Oct. 6 Vanderbilt; Oct. 13 at Arkansas; Oct. 20 at LSU; Oct. 27 Mississippi; Nov. 3 Tennessee Tech; Nov. 10 at Georgia; Nov. 24 Alabama.
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NO. 19 FLORIDA STATE
Seminoles – 2006 (7-6)
Bobby Bowden (293-81-4, 31 years; 366-113-4, 41 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 6.
Conference: Atlantic Coast.
Site: Tallahassee. Stadium: Doak-Campbell (82,300)
Strengths: Secondary; wide receiver.
Question Marks: Defensive line; offensive line.
Schedule: Sept. 3 at Clemson; Sept. 8 UAB; Sept. 15 at Colorado; Sept. 29 Alabama; Oct. 6 N.C. State; Oct. 11 at Wake Forest; Oct. 20 Miami; Oct. 27 Duke; Nov. 3 at Boston College; Nov. 10 at Virginia Tech; Nov. 17 Maryland; Nov. 24 at Florida.
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NO. 20 NEBRASKA
Cornhuskers – 2006 (9-5)
Bill Callahan (22-15, 3 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 7.
Conference: Big 12.
Site: Lincoln. Stadium: Memorial (81,067)
Strengths: Linebacker; offensive line.
Question Marks: Quarterback; defensive line; secondary; special teams.
M; Oct. 27 at Texas; Nov. 3 at Kansas; Nov. 10 Kansas St.; Nov. 23 at Colorado.
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NO. 21 ARKANSAS
Razorbacks – 2006 (10-4)
Houston Nutt (67-44, 9 years; 103-66, 14 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 4.
Conference: Southeastern.
Site: Fayetteville. Stadium: Razorback (72,000); War Memorial, Little Rock (53,715)
Strengths: Running back; defensive line.
Question Marks: Wide receiver; linebacker.
Schedule: Sept. 1 Troy; Sept. 15 at Alabama; Sept. 22 Kentucky; Sept. 29 North Texas; Oct. 6 Chattanooga (Little Rock); Oct. 13 Auburn; Oct. 20 at Mississippi; Oct. 27 Fla. International; Nov. 3 South Carolina; Nov. 10 at Tennessee; Nov. 17 Mississippi St. (Little Rock); Nov. 24 at LSU.
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NO. 22 TCU
Horned Frogs – 2006 (11-2)
Gary Patterson (54-20, 6 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 9.
Conference: Mountain West.
Site: Fort Worth, Texas. Stadium: Amon G. Carter (44,008)
Strengths: Offensive line; defensive line; linebacker; secondary
Question Marks: Wide receiver; special teams.
Schedule: Sept. 1 Baylor; Sept. 8 at Texas; Sept. 13 at Air Force; Sept. 22 SMU; Sept. 29 Colorado St.; Oct. 6 at Wyoming; Oct. 13 at Stanford; Oct. 18 Utah; Nov. 3 New Mexico; Nov. 8 at BYU; Nov. 17 UNLV; Nov. 24 at San Diego St.
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NO. 23 HAWAII
Rainbows – 2006 (11-3)
June Jones (64-40, 8 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 6.
Conference: Western Athletic.
Site: Honolulu. Stadium: Aloha (50,000)
Strengths: Quarterback, running back, wide receiver.
Question Marks: Defensive line; special teams; offensive line.
Schedule: Sept. 1 N. Colorado; Sept. 8 at Louisiana Tech; Sept. 15 at UNLV; Sept. 22 Charleston Southern; Sept. 29 at Idaho; Oct. 6 Utah St.; Oct. 12 at San Jose St.; Oct. 27 New Mexico St.; Nov. 10 Fresno St.; Nov. 16 at Nevada; Nov. 23 Boise St.; Dec. 1 Washington.
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NO. 24 BOISE STATE
Broncos – 2006 (13-0)
Chris Peterson (13-0, 1 year)
Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 7.
Conference: Western Athletic.
Site: Boise, Idaho. Stadium: Bronco (30,000)
Strengths: Running back; offensive line; Linebacker; defensive line; secondary.
Question Marks: Kicking game; wide receiver; quarterback.
Schedule: Aug. 30 Weber St.; Sept. 8 at Washington; Sept. 15 Wyoming; Sept. 27 Southern Miss.; Oct. 7 New Mexico St.; Oct. 14 Nevada; Oct. 20 at Louisiana Tech; Oct. 26 at Fresno St.; Nov. 3 San Jose St.; Nov. 10 at Utah St.; Nov. 17 Idaho; Nov. 23 at Hawaii.
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M
Aggies – 2006 (9-4)
Dennis Franchione (25-23, 4 years; 100-78, 15 years)
Returning Starters: Offense 9, Defense 7.
Conference: Big 12.
Site: College Station. Stadium: Kyle Field (82,600)
Strengths: Quarterback; running back; offensive line; defensive line.
Question Marks: Wide receiver; linebacker.
Schedule: Sept. 1 Montana St.; Sept. 8 Fresno St.; Sept. 15 Louisiana-Monroe; Sept. 20 at Miami; Sept. 29 Baylor; Oct. 6 Oklahoma St.; Oct. 13 at Texas Tech; Oct. 20 at Nebraska; Oct. 27 Kansas; Nov. 3 at Oklahoma; Nov. 10 at Missouri; Nov. 23 Texas.
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