The 2008 NCAA college football schedule will no doubt keep fans painting their faces and rooting for their alma mater or favorite team. There have been some coaching changes starting with Arkansas and on down the line to West Virginia. You’ve got the Dick Butkus award for the best linebacker to hand out, the Jim Thorpe award for the best defensive back and the most prestigious one of them all, the Heisman Trophy, Archie Griffin is the only running back to win it twice, 74-75. Quarterback Tim Tebow from the Florida Gators won it last year in 2007, he is the first underclassman to win such a coveted award, can he do it again?

Rankings come out after the first game of the seasons, those conference standings can be blessings or curses. This year will be no different, if you’re ranked number one, everybody is going to try and knock you off, that’s what makes college football worth watching and worth turning off, sometimes you feel like your right there in the game because these kids play for the “W”, nothing more, nothing else.

Boston College will have some rebuilding to do since the loss of their QB Matt Ryan to the Atlanta Falcons. They’ve got a senior that can toss a pig skin though, and a new running back will be tearing up the turf and things are starting good for them by winning their first away game against Kent State. They did end up with a 10-3 record for 2007. Their chances look good as long as they keep the freshman’s legs moving.

Norte Dame has a “holy war” with Boston College that dates back to 1975. They’ll play Boston College on November 8, 2008. The Leprechaun hasn’t been lucky for them, in 2007 they graduated 11 players to the NFL and for the first time since 1944 they lost to Navy and Air Force. Steeped in tradition which carries a lot of sentiment for those who attend Norte Dame might not bring them the recognition that the 2005 and 2006 seasons did. They will have to rely on guts and a pot of gold to get them close to a bowl game in 2008.

Purdue will be losing their head coach after the 2008 season, Danny Hope will replaced Joe Tiller who’s been there since 1997. Purdue won the Motor City Bowl in 2007 beating Central Michigan 51-48. Their last Big 10 championship was in 2000. Either they are waiting for their big chance or they are just grooming another quarter back to draft into the NFL.

The USC Trojans and head coach Pete Carroll are in their 8th year together. QB Mark Sanchez has a cannon for an arm and their first game against the Virginia Cavaliers was a 52-7 victor for USC. Their last two bowl games, which were Rose Bowl games they’ve won by a considerable margin, they lost by three points to Texas in the Rose Bowl of 2005. They have some impressive passed Heisman Trophy winners such as O.J. Simpson, Marcus Allen and Reggie Bush. They have nothing but talent to take them to the next bowl game. I look for them to win their six home games and battle hard for their away games.

UCLA is a Pac 10 team and they pack a heck of a punch. They will be led this year by a rookie head coach, Rick Neuheisel, he’s got a shady past but he’s got some NFL blood in him and that might help the Bruins recover from their 6-7 season in 2007. Kevin Craft has been named the starting QB since Olson and Cowen were injured in pre-season practices. I don’t look for UCLA to stomp anybody this year, let’s see how Rick does and check back with them in 2009.

Texas is part of the Big 12 and the Red River Shootout with Oklahoma is always a highlight when these two teams crack helmets. 2007 saw the Sooners dulling the horns of Texas one more time. Texas has 57 wins and Oklahoma has 40. Major Applewhite who played QB for Texas from 1998-2001 is now the running back coach for UT, he spent a few years abroad with other college teams but has returned with his passing records to help out his alma mater. Texas has been to four national championships and four divisional championships. They have lost the big games in the last two years so they have some making up to do.

Some of teams that played in bowl games last year are, USC v. Illinois in the Rose Bowl, 49-17 USC. The Sugar Bow had Georgia v. Hawaii, 41-10 Bulldogs win. The Fiesta Bowl had West Virginia v. Oklahoma, VW won 48-28. The Orange Bowl had KU v. Virginia Tech, The Jayhawks won that one 24-21.

Since nobody knows what’s going to happen during the 2008 College Football season it’s always fun to speculate. I think this year Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas will be fighting for the Big 12 crown. Florida State and Virginia Tech will claw for the top spot, a handful of other teams will no doubt shine and cause a few of us to scratch our heads while we ponder the replays and remember where we were when our team won the big one.