College Football Preview: Does Anyone Care?? What To Look For??

As we settle into the first week of August, sports fans begin to gear up for what some feel are the best 3 months of the year. As the July 31st trade deadline passed, baseball, which has already consumed 4 months of our lives, finally starts to become relevant and the playoff races begin to take some sort of shape . NFL training camp kicked off this week igniting team debates, fantasy football drafts and DVR's being set to HBO for Hard Knocks (Starring the New York Jets every Wednesday starting Aug 11 at 10PM). August also signifies the beginning of College Football. The real question is, does anyone care?

The 2010-2011 College Football season is still a month away, but in an offseason filled with scandals, coaching changes, and conference realignment, people already seem to be disinterested. Blame it on ESPN's over-barring coverage 365 days a year or the lack of a big name superstar, but for the first time I can recall, College Football lacks the intrigue. If you were to ask the average College Football fan what they're most excited for entering the year, your normal answers would be; the Heisman race, the Conference and National championship picture, or will Notre Dame ever gain relevance again? Entering 2010 after a scandal lated offseason, the main question is what's next for College Football?

The 2010 offseason brought displeasure to fans in the form of NCAA violations (USC and Reggie Bush) and teams being rumored to every conference in the nation. It also brought the departure of some of the greatest and most recognizable players in College Football history. America's golden boy Tim Tebow headlined a group of stars headed to the NFL that included the highest rated defensive player in years Ndamukong Suh, the All-Time winningest QB in Bowl Championship Subdivision history Colt McCoy, and Heisman trophy winner Sam Bradford. With the superstar power of these names headed to the NFL, it leaves fans wondering who is the next College Football superstar?? The obvious answer would be last years Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram, but the questions about Ingrams' star status still linger. No one can discount the incredible numbers that Ingram put up a season ago, but many wonder how he will perform now that everyone

will be gunning for him. The most talented player in this years crop may be someone that 80% of this country has never seen play. University of Washington QB Jake Locker sits atop almost every expert's big board for the 2011 NFL Draft. A dual threat QB, Locker has the talent to be the face of College Football, but plays on a mediocre UW team which is located in the Pacific Northwest media market. In an East Coast media dominated country it will be really hard for fans to rally behind a player that they rarely, if ever, get to see play. The most intriguing player of the season and someone who can ignite fan interest is University of Florida Quarterback John Brantley. Brantley, the 2006 Gatorade National High School player of the year, may have the toughest job in decades, replacing Heisman Trophy winner and 2x national champion Tim Tebow. Brantley has all of the tools to be one of the nations best players, but it waits to be seen if the shadow of Tebow is too much to bare. If Brantley is able to excel and lead UF on a run towards the SEC and National title, he may be able to capture the heart of the nation and become the superstar everyone craves.

Along with the lack of a pure superstar, another cloud hanging over the upcoming season is the lack of a legitimate threat to Alabama's National Title defense. Alabama returns 10 starters (8 on Offense, 2 on Defense) including Heisman Trophy winner RB Mark Ingram, QB Greg McElroy, and LB Dont'a Hightower. 10 starters may not seem like many but with Nick Saban at the helm you should expect this team to be ready the first day of camp. Alabama may be tested early with a week 2 matchup vs. Penn State in Tuscaloosa, but signs show Penn State may not be as strong as the past few years. I have a hard time seeing someone knocking off 'Bama but here's a list of teams with a chance:

SEC: Florida, Auburn

BIG 10: Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa

BIG 12: Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma

ACC: Miami, Virginia Tech, Florida State

BIG EAST: NO ONE! Honestly I don't think anyone is an actual threat in the Big East

PAC 10: Oregon, Oregon State

NON BCS CONFERENCES: TCU, Boise State, Notre Dame (Notre Dame is only here because they are the wild card every single year, and Brian Kelly is a boss!)

As we sit here preparing for a season with the anticipation level of Piranha 3D, there are 2 teams I feel have the ability to save the 2010 season. America's sweethearts Boise State and perennial powerhouse turned whipping dog turned team back on the rise Miami.

Boise State will be a preseason top 5 team and have a week 1 matchup with Virginia Tech at Fed Ex field in DC. If they are able to head back to Boise with a W and then defeat Oregon State on the Blue Turf on September 25, they may be able to boast a schedule that puts them in the National Title talk. Boise State in the national title game would be a story even non sports fans would be talking about

The Hurricanes are something special. 7 years ago Miami was playing OSU for back-to-back National Titles. Since then they are 3-3 in bowl games, with 1 BCS bowl vicory, and bowless 2007 season. If the Hurricanes are able to put together the season that many experts think they can, America might once again fall back into the craze of THE U!