The winds of change: Miami's reign will end as Bob Stoops and Oklahoma return to the top spot - 2002 College Preview

Football Digest, August, 2002 by Joe Donatelli

THE GREATEST STORY GOING in college football isn't Miami or Florida State or Nebraska. It's that of the national-championship short-timer, the school that wins a title one year and fades away the next.

The lone repeat Associated Press national champion in more than two decades is Nebraska in 1994 and 1995. Overall, there have been only nine teams to repeat as the AP champ: Alabama. '78-79 and '64-65; Oklahoma, '74-75 and 55-56; Nebraska, '70-71 and '94-95; Notre Dame, '46-47; Army, '44-45; and Minnesota, '40-41.

When you look at what happened to 2001 BCS champion Miami this offseason, you begin to understand why these dynastic runs are so rare. Too much can go wrong.

Following their undefeated season, the Hurricanes endured:

* The early NFL draft declarations of running back Clinton Portis, tight end Jeremy Shockey, and cornerback Phillip Buchanon.

* Running back Frank Gore's knee injury, which will sideline him for at least part of the fall.

* The theft of their playbook, which was then posted on the Internet.

* Accusations that wide receiver Andre Johnson plagiarized a final exam paper for a class called, of all things, "Juvenile Delinquency."

Now ask yourself: Will Miami repeat? Hail to the short-timer!

Here's our preseason top 25 for 2002, with each team's 2001 record listed in parentheses:

1. OKLAHOMA (11-2)

This is the best team in the best conference in football, the Big 12. The defense is loaded with the talented likes of linebacker Jimmy Wilkerson and defensive back Derek Strait. And wide receiver Andre Woolfolk is a playmaker on offense. The return of injured quarterback Jason White is a big plus, and the running game showed real signs of life this spring. Even the schedule looks good. Although the Sooners play Texas in Dallas, Nebraska is off the schedule and Colorado travels to Norman. Two years after their return to the top, Bob Stoops and the Sooners are back.

2. TEXAS (11-2)

Circle October 12 on your calendar--in orange and red. That's the day Oklahoma travels to Dallas for what should be the game of the year. That afternoon, like Texas' season as a whole, will likely be decided by whether quarterback Chris Simms establishes himself as a topflight, better-than-my-famous-daddy quarterback. If he's not up to it, we predict a typical Mack Brown season, a 9-3 team that had 12-0 potential.

3. TENNESSEE (11-2)

"Mr. Daniel Snyder, the state of Tennessee is on line two. It called to say, `Thank you.'" No one benefits more than the Vols from the departure of Steve Spurrier from Florida to the Washington Redskins. Yes, the Vols were going to be good this season anyway, but Florida always found a way to sidetrack their most promising seasons. Not this year. Maybe not again for a long time.

4. WASHINGTON STATE (10-2)

Yes, Washington State. Our pick as this year's surprise national-title contender. Jason Gesser, a surefire Heisman candidate who threw for 3,000 yards and 26 TDs last season, is the best quarterback in the Pac-10 and should make the Cougars a lot of fun to watch on offense. And they're also stacked up front: The offensive line brings back four starters, including guard Derrick Roche. The defensive line also should be formidable, as three starters return.

5. MIAMI (12-0)

The schedule is a monster and they lost a handful of juniors to the NFL draft, but the Hurricanes still rank among the best. Heisman Trophy favorite Ken Dorsey returns at quarterback, and Jonathan Vilma is the next in the school's long line of great linebackers. Still, repeating as national champs appears nearly impossible with a schedule that includes Virginia Tech and Florida State at home and Florida and Tennessee on the road.

6. FLORIDA STATE (8-4)

The Seminoles should fare much better this year thanks to the steady improvement of quarterback Chris Rix, for whom coach Bobby Bowden must develop some receivers if the offense is to be truly explosive. FSU's normally brutal schedule this year includes a trip to Miami and home dates with Florida and Notre Dame, not to mention an intriguing. Thursday night date at upset-hungry Louisville.

7. VIRGINIA TECH (8-4)

No freshman in this year's class will be watched more closely than quarterback Marcus Vick, brother of famed former Hokies signalcaller Michael. That is if "MV2" forgoes a redshirt season and challenges incumbent Grant Noel for the starting job. Coach Frank Beamer has already said that Marcus is further along than Michael was at the same age. If that's true, Virginia Tech could contend for a national title again ... soon.

8. COLORADO (10-3)

That Colorado finished so strong last season, returns 15 starters, and is likely the third-best team in the Big 12 speaks volumes about the conference. Look for the Buffs to show increased confidence in quarterback Craig Ochs and give him more pass attempts, even though they enjoyed much success rushing last season. The secondary is a concern with underrated safety Michael Lewis gone.

9. FLORIDA (10-2)

The No. 1 sign that the Steve Spurrier era is truly over: There will be no quarterback rotation in Gainesville this season. Quarterback Rex Grossman should make new head coach Ron Zook's transition an easy one, though Gators fans will soon learn how difficult it is to replace a mad genius like Spurrier. Zook should have his hands full replacing a great corps of wide receivers, defensive backs, and offensive linemen.