Top 25 capsules

By Paul Montella
Associated Press

Oklahoma

• Sooners 2002: 12-2
• Coach: Bob Stoops (43-9, 4 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 4, Defense 10.
• Players to Watch: LB Ted Lehman; DT Tommie Harris; CB Derrick Strait; QB Jason White; OT Wes Sims; DE Dan Cody; OT Jamaal Brown; LB Lance Mitchell; KR Antonio Perkins; WR Will Peoples; S Brandon Everage.
• Conference: Big 12.
• Strengths: Linebacker; wide receiver; offensive line; defensive line; secondary.
• Questions: Quarterback, running back.
• Key Games: Sept. 6 at Alabama; Oct. 11 vs. Texas; Oct. 25 at Colorado; Nov. 1 Oklahoma State; Nov. 8 at Texas A&M.

OHIO STATE

• Buckeyes 2002: 14-0
• Coach: Jim Tressel (21-5, 2 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 11, Defense 6.
• Players to Watch: RB Maurice Clarett; QB Craig Krenzel; G Adrien Clarke; DE Will Smith; DT Tim Anderson; WR Michael Jenkins; G Bryce Bishop; WR-CB Chris Gamble; K Mike Nugent.
• Conference: Big Ten.
• Strengths: Defensive line; running back; wide receiver.
• Questions: secondary; linebacker; Clarett's eligibility.
• Key Games: Aug. 30 Washington; Sept. 13 N.C. State; Oct. 11 at Wisconsin; Nov. 1 at Penn State; Nov. 15 Purdue; Nov. 22 at Michigan.

MIAMI

• Hurricanes 2002: 12-1
• Coach: Larry Coker (24-1, 2 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 7.
• Players to Watch: DT William Joseph; LB D.J. Williams; TE Kellen Winslow Jr.; DT Vince Wilfork; OT Vernon Carey; RB Frank Gore; LB Jonathan Vilma; S Maurice Sikes; CB Antrel Rolle; S Sean Taylor.
• Conference: Big East.
• Strengths: Linebacker; secondary.
• Questions: Quarterback; defensive line; kicking game.
• Key Games: Sept. 6 Florida; Oct. 11 at Florida State; Nov. 1 at Virginia Tech; Nov. 8 Tennessee; Nov. 29 at Pittsburgh.

MICHIGAN

• Wolverines 2002: 10-3
• Coach: Lloyd Carr (76-23, 8 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 6.
• Players to Watch: QB John Navarre; RB Chris Perry; DB Marlin Jackson; WR Braylon Edwards; DT Norman Heuer; LB Carl Diggs; DE Larry Stevens; G David Baas; OT Tony Pape.
• Conference: Big Ten.
• Strengths: Wide receiver; quarterback; offensive line; linebacker.
• Questions: Tight end; fullback.
• Key Games: Sept. 13 Notre Dame; Oct. 25 Purdue; Nov. 1 at Michigan State; Nov. 22 Ohio State.

TEXAS

• Longhorns 2002: (11-2)
• Coach: Mack Brown (49-15, 5 years; 135-89-1, 19 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 6.
• Players to Watch: RB Cedric Benson; WR Roy Williams; DL Marcus Tubbs; LB Derrick Johnson; PR-CB Nathan Vasher; WR B.J. Johnson; DT Rodrique Wright; G Tillman Holloway; DE Kalen Thornton; TE David Thomas.
• Conference: Big 12.
• Strengths: Running back; wide receiver; offensive line.
• Questions: Quarterback; kicking game; defensive ends.
• Key Games: Sept. 13 Arkansas; Oct. 4 Kansas State; Oct. 11 vs. Oklahoma; Nov. 1 Nebraska; Nov. 8 at Oklahoma State; Nov. 28 at Texas A&M.

AUBURN

• Tigers 2002: 9-4
• Coach: Tommy Tuberville (30-19, 4 years; 55-39, 8 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 8.
• Players to Watch: RB Carnell Williams; LB Karlos Dansby; LB Dontarrious Thomas; QB Jason Campbell; G Monreko Crittenden; DT DeMarco McNeil; DE Reggie Torbor; CB Carlos Rogers.
• Conference: Southeastern.
• Strengths: Linebacker; running back; offensive line; defensive line.
• Questions: Quarterback; kicking game; secondary.
• Key Games: Aug. 30 Southern Cal; Oct. 4 Tennessee; Oct. 25 at LSU; Nov. 15 at Georgia; Nov. 22 Alabama.

KANSAS STATE

• Wildcats 2002: 11-2
• Coach: Bill Snyder (116-51-1, 14 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 5.
• Players to Watch: QB Ell Roberson; DE Andrew Shull; RB Darren Sproles; LB Josh Buhl; S Rashad Washington; C Nick Lecky.
• Conference: Big 12.
• Strengths: Quarterback; running back; linebacker.
• Questions: Offensive line; defensive line.
• Key Games: Oct. 4 at Texas; Oct. 11 at Oklahoma State; Oct. 18 Colorado; Nov. 15 at Nebraska.

SOUTHERN CAL

• Trojans 2002: 11-2
• Coach: Pete Carroll (17-8, 2 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 6.
• Players to Watch: WR Mike Williams; DT Shaun Cody; TE Alex Holmes; LB Matt Grootegoed; G Lenny Vandermade; OT Jacob Rogers; DE Kenechi Udeze; OT Winston Justice; DE Omar Nazel; RE Reggie Bush; S Darnell Bing.
• Conference: Pac-10.
• Strengths: Wide receiver; offensive line; defensive line; tight end.
• Questions: Quarterback; running back; secondary; special teams.
• Key Games: Aug. 30 at Auburn; Oct. 4 at Arizona State; Oct. 18 at Notre Dame; Oct. 25 at Washington; Nov. 22 UCLA.

VIRGINIA TECH

• Hokies 2002: 10-4
• Coach: Frank Beamer (117-69-2, 16 years; 159-92-4, 22 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 9.
• Players to Watch: RB Kevin Jones; CB-WR DeAngelo Hall; QB Bryan Randall; TE Keith Willis; PK Carter Warley; OT Jon Dunn; DL Nathaniel Adibi; WR Ernest Wilford; C Jake Grove; DT Kevin Lewis; DE Cols Colas; LB Vegas Robinson; LB Mikal Baaqee.
• Conference: Big East.
• Strengths: Running back; quarterback; special teams.
• Questions: Linebacker; secondary
• Key Games: Sept. 18 Texas A&M; Oct. 22 at West Virginia; Nov. 1 Miami; Nov. 8 at Pittsburgh; Nov. 29 at Virginia.

PITTSBURGH

• Panthers 2001: 9-4
• Coach: Walt Harris (36-35, 6 years; 47-59, 9 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 7.
• Players to Watch: QB Rod Rutherford; WR Larry Fitzgerald; CB Shawntae Spencer; DE Claude Harriott; TE Kris Wilson; DT Matt Morgan; RB Brandon Miree; S Tyrone Gilliard.
• Conference: Big East.
• Strengths: Quarterback; wide receiver; tight end.
• Questions: Linebacker; return game.
• Key Games: Sept. 27 at Texas A&M; Oct. 11 Notre Dame; Nov. 8 Virginia Tech; Nov. 15 at West Virginia; Nov. 29 Miami.

GEORGIA

• Bulldogs 2002: 13-1
• Coach: Mark Richt (21-5, 2 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 3, Defense 5.
• Players to Watch: DE David Pollack; WR Fred Gibson; TE Benjamin Watson; S Sean Jones; WR Damien Gary; PK Bill Bennett; QB David Green; QB D.J. Shockley; S Kentrell Curry.
• Conference: Southeastern.
• Strengths: Quarterback; tight end; secondary; placekicker.
• Questions: Running back; linebacker.
• Key Games: Sept. 13 South Carolina; Sept. 20 at LSU; Oct. 4 Alabama; Oct. 11 at Tennessee; Nov. 1 vs. Florida; Nov. 15 Auburn.

TENNESSEE

• Volunteers 2002: 8-5
• Coach: Phillip Fulmer (103-25, 11 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 3.
• Players to Watch: QB Casey Clausen; CB Jabari Greer; RB Cedric Houston; C Scott Wells; LB Kevin Burnett; WR Tony Brown; OT Michael Munoz; S Rashad Baker.
• Conference: Southeastern.
• Strengths: Secondary; quarterback; running back; offensive line.
• Questions: Wide receiver; defensive line; placekicker.
• Key Games: Sept. 20 at Florida; Oct. 4 at Auburn; Oct. 11 Georgia; Oct. 25 at Alabama; Nov. 8 at Miami.

FLORIDA STATE

• Seminoles 2002: 9-5
• Coach: Bobby Bowden (259-64-4, 27 years; 332-96-4, 37 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 4, Defense 10.
• Players to Watch: RB Greg Jones; WR Craphonso Thorpe; DT Darnell Dockett; DL Travis Johnson; LB Kendyll Pope; PK Xavier Beitia; QB Chris Rix.
• Conference: Atlantic Coast.
• Strengths: Linebacker; defensive line; secondary; placekicker.
• Questions: Wide receiver; offensive line.
• Key Games: Sept. 6 Maryland; Sept. 20 Colorado; Oct. 11 Miami; Nov. 1 at Notre Dame; Nov. 15 N.C. State; Nov. 29 at Florida.

LSU

• Tigers 2002: 8-5
• Coach: Nick Saban (26-12, 3 yrs; 69-38-1, 9 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 5.
• Players to Watch: WR Michael Clayton; G Stephen Peterman; C Ben Wilkerson; DE Marcus Spears; P Donnie Jones; DT Chad Lavalais; CB Corey Webster.
• Conference: Southeastern.
• Strengths: Wide receiver; offensive line; defensive line; punter.
• Questions: Running back; secondary; placekicker.
• Key Games: Sept. 20 Georgia; Oct. 11 Florida; Oct. 25 Auburn; Nov. 15 at Alabama; Nov. 29 Arkansas.

MARYLAND

• Terrapins 2002: 11-3
• Coach: Ralph Friedgen (21-4, 2 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 9.
• Players to Watch: RB Bruce Perry; TE Jeff Dugan; LB Leon Joe; DT Randy Starks; C Kyle Schmitt; CB Domonique Foxworth; G C.G. Brooks; PK Nick Novak.
• Conference: Atlantic Coast.
• Strengths: Running back; tight end; linebacker; secondary; placekicker.
• Questions: Offensive line; defensive line.
• Key Games: Sept. 6 at Florida State; Sept. 20 West Virginia; Nov. 13 Virginia; Nov. 22 at N.C. State.

NO. CAROLINA ST.

• Wolfpack 2002: 11-3
• Coach: Chuck Amato (26-12, 2 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 5.
• Players to Watch: QB Philip Rivers; RB T.A. McLendon; WR Jerricho Cotchery; OT Chris Colmer; DE Mario Williams; S Andre Maddox; P Austin Herbert; RB-WR Tramain Hall.
• Conference: Atlantic Coast.
• Strengths: Quarterback; running back; wide receiver; linebacker.
• Questions: Offensive line; defensive line.
• Key Games: Sept. 13 at Ohio State; Nov. 1 Virginia; Nov. 15 at Florida State; Nov. 22 Maryland.

WASHINGTON

• Huskies 2002: 7-6
• Coach: Keith Gilbertson (first year)
• Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 7.
• Players to Watch: WR Reggie Williams; QB Cody Pickett; WR-KR Charles Frederick; RB Richard Alexis; LB Marquis Cooper; S Greg Carothers; C Todd Bachert.
• Conference: Pac-10.
• Strengths: Quarterback; wide receiver; offensive line; linebacker.
• Questions: Running back; secondary; special teams.
• Key Games: Aug. 30 at Ohio St.; Oct. 4 at UCLA; Oct. 18 at Oregon St.; Oct. 25 Southern Cal; Nov. 22 Washington St.

VIRGINIA

• Cavaliers 2002: 9-5
• Coach: Al Groh (14-12, 2 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 6.
• Players to Watch: QB Matt Schaub; LB Ahmad Brooks; TE Heath Miller; DE Chris Canty; G Elton Brown; LB Darryl Blackstock; OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson; RB Wali Lundy.
• Conference: Atlantic Coast.
• Strengths: Quarterback; wide receiver; tight end; defensive line.
• Questionks: Secondary; kicking game.
• Key Games: Oct. 18 Florida State; Nov. 1 at N.C. State; Nov. 13 at Maryland; Nov. 29 Virginia Tech.

PURDUE

• Boilermakers 2002: 7-6
• Coach: Joe Tiller (46-28, 6 years; 85-58-1, 12 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 9.
• Players to Watch: S Stuart Schweigert; WR John Standeford; DE Shaun Phillips; LB Niko Koutouvides; LB Landon Johnson; WR Taylor Stubblefield; DT Craig Terrill.
• Conference: Big Ten.
• Strengths: Wide receiver; defensive line.
• Questions: Offensive line; running back; placekicker.
• Key Games: Sept. 27 Notre Dame; Oct. 11 Penn State; Oct. 18 at Wisconsin; Oct. 25 at Michigan; Nov. 8 Iowa; Nov. 15 at Ohio State.

NOTRE DAME

• Fighting Irish 2002: 10-3
• Coach: Tyrone Willingham (10-3, 1 year; 54-39-1, 8 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 8.
• Players to Watch: QB Carlyle Holiday; RB Ryan Grant; TE Gary Godsey; LB Mike Goolsby; LB Courtney Watson; P-PK Nicholas Setta; WR Omar Jenkins;
• Conference: Independent.
• Strengths: Linebacker, running back, kicking game, defensive line.
• Questions: Offensive line; secondary.
• Key Games: Sept. 13 at Michigan; Sept. 27 at Purdue; Oct. 11 at Pittsburgh; Oct. 18 Southern Cal; Nov. 1 Florida State.

WISCONSIN

• Badgers 2002: 8-6
• Coach: Barry Alvarez (92-61-4, 13 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 7.
• Players to Watch: RB Anthony Davis; WR Lee Evans; DT Anttaj Hawthorne; G Dan Buenning; LB Jeff Mack; CB Scott Starks; KR Jim Leonhard; S Ryan Aiello; DT Jason Jefferson.
• Conference: Big Ten.
• Strengths: Defensive line; kicking game.
• Questions: Quarterback; offensive line.
• Key Games: Aug. 30 at West Virginia; Oct. 4 at Penn State; Oct. 11 Ohio State; Oct. 18 Purdue; Nov. 22 Iowa.

ARIZONA STATE

• Sun Devils 2002: 8-6
• Coach: Dirk Koetter (12-13, 2 years; 38-23, 5 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 8.
• Players to Watch: QB Andrew Walter; CB R.J. Oliver; S Jason Shivers; G Regis Crawford; C Drew Hodgdon; WR Daryl Lightfoot.
• Conference: Pac-10.
• Strengths: Offensive line; quaterback; secondary.
• Questions: Linebacker; placekicker; tight end.
• Key Games: Sept. 20 at Iowa; Sept. 27 at Oregon State; Oct. 4 Southern Cal; Oct. 25 at UCLA; Nov. 28 Arizona.

COLORADO STATE

• Rams 2002: 10-4
• Coach: Sonny Lubick (84-37, 10 years; 105-56, 14 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 7.
• Players to Watch: CB-KR Dexter Wynn; QB Bradlee Van Pelt; LB Drew Wood; TE Joel Dreessen; C Mark Dreyer; DT Bryan Save; PK Jeff Babcock; LB Eric Pauly.
• Conference: Mountain West.
• Strengths: Quarterback; offensive line; linebacker.
• Question Marks: Running back; defensive line.
• Key Games: Aug. 30 vs. Colorado; Oct. 4 Fresno State; Oct. 9 at BYU; Oct. 16 Air Force; Nov. 7 at New Mexico.

OKLAHOMA STATE

• Cowboys 2002: 8-57
• Coach: Les Miles (12-12, 2 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 6.
• Players to Watch: WR Rashaun Woods; G Marwan Hage; RB Tatum Bell; PK Luke Phillips; DT Brad Girtman; QB Josh Fields;
• Conference: Big 12.
• Strengths: Wide receiver; secondary.
• Questions: Offensive line; defensive line.
• Key Games: Aug. 30 at Nebraska; Oct. 11 Kansas State; Oct. 25 at Texas A&M; Nov. 1 at Oklahoma; Nov. 8 Texas.

TCU

• Horned Frogs 2002: 8-6
• Coach: Gary Patterson (16-9, 2 years)
• Returning Starters: Offense 4, Defense 6.
• Players to Watch: S Marvin Godbolt; DE Bo Schobel; DT Chad Pugh; RB Lonta Hobbs; G John Glud; RB Robert Merrill; PK Nick Browne; QB Tye Gunn;
• Conference: Conference USA.
• Strengths: Running back; offensive line; defensive line.
• Questions: Wide receiver; secondary.
• Key Games: Sept. 27 at Arizona; Oct. 10 at South Florida; Nov. 15 Cincinnati; Nov. 20 at Southern Miss.