Game 1 - Aug. 31 - Northern Arizona @ Arizona Stadium

Location: Flagstaff, Ariz.
2001 Record: 8-4 (5-2 Big Sky)
Enrollment: 20,000
Head Coach: Jerome Souers (fifth year)
Player to watch: WR Johnny Marshall

The Division I-AA Lumberjacks are one of the best teams in the Big Sky Conference. Last season, they finished second in the conference, earning a post-season playoff bid · NAU's roster features 43 former Arizona prep players - by far the most for any team in the country ·The Lumberjacks' strength lies in their wide receivers. Marshall is a former track athlete who can burn most corners in single coverage, and No. 2 receiver Clarence Moore is a beast at 6-foot-five. He boasts an 83-inch wingspan and a 33-inch vertical, making him a difficult matchup for all but the tallest corners. Unfortunately, the pair will have inexperienced juco transfer Clint Womack under center · Since 1957, the Lumberjacks have compiled a 7-34 record against Division I opponents, with their last victory coming against Tulsa in 1987.

Game 2 - Sept. 14 - Utah @ Arizona Stadium

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
2001 Record: 8-4 (4-3 Mountain West)
Enrollment : 25,391
Head Coach: Ron McBride (13th season)
Player to watch: DT Garrett Smith

The strength for the Utes this season will be their defense, where they seem to have few weaknesses. Their line, in particular, is the best in the Mountain West and can hold their own with most offensive lines in the county. Smith is a legitimate All-American candidate after posting 53 tackles, an ungodly number for that position. He also finished fourth in the league with 13 tackles for a loss. The line also features standout end Jason Kaufusi, who was the Mountain West's Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2001 · Unfortunately for the Utes, their offense isn't going to scare anyone. While QB Lance Rice put up solid numbers last season, the running game lost 200 yards per game when Dameon Hunter and Adam Tate graduated. Look for the last season's 18th-ranked rushing attack to take a nosedive as coaches figure out who's going to take the carries.

Anthony Davis Sophmore Tailback

Game 3 - Sept. 21 - Wisconsin @ Camp Randall Stadium

Location: Madison, Wisc.
2001 Record: 5-7 (3-5 Big Ten)
Enrollment: 41,000
Head Coach: Barry Alvarez (13th season)
Player to watch: RB Anthony Davis

The Badgers dropped out of the top-25 after barely squeaking out a win against Fresno State, 23-21. But the game provided an opportunity for Davis, the Big Ten's leading rusher in 2001, to shine, as he rushed 37 times for 184 yards. Alvarez has made a career out of riding stud running backs to the Rose Bowl, and David appears to have the ability to do the same · QB Brooks Bollinger is sturdy, if not spectacular, in directing the Badgers' offense. The best thing that can be said about Bollinger is that he doesn't beat himself - he threw only four picks last season over nine games · Wisconsin's defense was uncharacteristically bad last season, finishing 10th in total defense in the Big Ten. Expect the unit, especially the linebackers, to bounce back this season and reclaim their post as one of the conference's stingiest units · The Badgers are built for bad weather. Their running backs run straight ahead behind monstrous o-lines, and their quarterbacks don't take chances with the passing game. The defense is built to capitalize on opponent's mistakes, not force them. Any warm-weather team that doesn't change their game plan when coming into Camp Randall could be in for a world of hurt once the winter hits.

Game 4 - Sept. 28 - North Texas @ Arizona Stadium

Location: Denton, Texas
2001 Record: 5-7 (5-1 Sun Belt)
Enrollment: 27,909
Head Coach: Darrell Dickey (fifth season)
Player to watch: RB Kevin Galbreath

Remember when everyone was complaining about teams with losing records earning bowl bids last season? North Texas was one of those teams. Despite going 0-6 in non-conference play, the Mean Green finished 5-1 in conference play to take the Sun Belt title and a berth in the New Orleans Bowl against Colorado State. While there's something wrong with the idea that a team two games under .500 earning a postseason berth, as long as conference winners get automatic bowl bids, there's nothing that can be done about. Except for a playoff, that is · Galbreath took the Sun Belt by storm, running for 1,119 yards. He was a unianimous first-team choice for the All-Sun Belt team · The Mean Green lost Sun Belt Defensive Player of Year Brad Kessell to graduation in the offseason, leaving a gaping hole in their linebacker corps · North Texas has a losing record against every conference in Division I-A except its own.

Game 5 - Oct. 5 - No. 15 Oregon @ Arizona Stadium

Location: Eugene, Ore.
2001 Record: 11-1 (7-1 Pac-10)
Enrollment: 19,091
Head Coach: Mike Bellotti (eighth season)
Player to watch: RB Onterrio Smith

Surprise, surprise - the Ducks are a preseason favorite to win the conference title. Of course, things will be a little different this year for Oregon, who lost Heismann Trphy runner-up Joey Harrington to the NFL over the offseason. This year, the headlines are going to be made by the best running back/wide receiver punch in the Pac-10, if not the country, Wideout Keenan Howry replaced Harrington on the Times Square mural, but its Smith that this season hinges on. Last season, the running back split carries with the since-drafted Maurice Morris and still gained over 1,000 yards. This year, he's going to have all the carries to himself, provided he can keep his nose clean off the field. That might be difficult for Smith, who was suspended last year after getting a DUI. Before that, he lost his scholarship at Tennessee after testing positive for marijuana. The only reason this guy's still on a college roster is because of his incredible upside - pundits are saying with a straight face that this kid could break Barry Sanders' single-season record of 2,628 yards rushing. Wow · The All-Pac-10 Howry is the real deal. The only question is how many opportunities he'll get with new QB Jason Fife under center.

Game 6 - Oct. 12 - No. 11 Washington @ Husky Stadium

Location: Seattle, Wash.
2001 Record: 8-4 (6-2 Pac-10)
Enrollment: 37,000
Head Coach: Rick Neuheisel (fourth season)
Player to watch: WR Reggie Williams

Huskies fans can be thankful that Williams is still in college. With his size, speed and talent, he would have probably been a top-15 pick in the 2002 Draft. But he's back, automatically making him the best wide receiver in the Pac-10, and probably one of the three best in the country. This guy is a Terrell Owens clone, so Huskies fans better enjoy him while he's still there · Williams wasn't the only Husky that could have easily left during the offseason. It's been long thought that Neuheisel would be a perfect fit at Notre Dame, but when the Domers came calling this off-season, Neuheisel turned them down. He's one of the best coaches in the game, and as long as he's strolling the sidelines, Washington won't be far from the top-25 · QB Cody Pickett took a lot of criticism last year, but he played essentially the entire season with a dead shoulder that affected his accuracy (14 picks). Expect he'll be quite better this season with a healthy arm and another season under his belt · What happened to Rich Alexis last season? Basically, he got fat. Coaches say he shed some of the extra baggage and should return to the form that netted him over 6-yards per carry his freshman year.

Teyo Johnson Sophmore Wide Receiver

Game 7 - Oct. 19 - Stanford @ Stanford Stadium

Location: Stanford, Calif.
2001 Record: 9-3 (6-2 Pac-10)
Enrollment: 13,075
Head Coach: Buddy Teevens (first season)
Player to watch: WR Teyo Johnson

This will likely prove to be an interesting season down on The Farm. Out is Ty Willingham, who bolted in the off-season to take the head post at Notre Dame. In is Teevens. Never heard of the new coach? Not surprising. The highlight of his coaching resume to this point is being the offensive coordinator for Steve Spurrier, which is roughly equivalent to being the Queen of England - nice name, no authority. What makes Teevens an even more befuddling pick is the fact that offense isn't a problem for the Cardinal, as they led the conference in total offense last season. It's the defense that lost games last year. Things aren't looking much better for the unit this season, as there were no significant upgrades during the off-season · Johnson is a freak. The wideout was flat-out unstoppable at times last season, as his height and athleticism make him an impossible assignment for any cornerback one-on-one. He'll need to get better at running routes this season, but in a pinch, QB Chris Lewis knows he can throw up a jump-ball and 99 percent of the time Johnson will come down with the rock · Lewis is talented, but he threw an interception for every 10 completions last season. If this team is going to compete for the top spot in the conference that has to change.

Game 8 - Oct. 26 - No. 12 Washington State @ Arizona Stadium

Location: Pullman, Wash.
2001 Record: 10-2 (6-2 Pac-10)
Enrollment: 22,000
Head Coach: Mike Price (13 years)
Player to watch: QB Jason Gesser

WSU head coach let the media know they finally got something right when they picked the Cougars to win the Pac-10 in the media poll. It's the first time in 41 years that WSU has been picked to win the conference · The Cougars ride their quarterback Jason Gesser, who is going to embark on his third season as the starter. The Honolulu native has tossed 42 touchdowns passes the last two years, including a career-high 26 six in 2001 · Gesser and the Cougars will have to find a replacement for 1,000-yard receiver Nakoa McElrath, who led the Pac-10 in receptions last year. They will count on their star basketball player Mike Bush to fill in for McElrath · As the dean of the Pac-10, Mike Price will once again rely on his defense to help keep his offense on the field. Last season's defensive unit led the conference in turnovers forced (35) and interceptions (22) and was the co-leader in quarterback sacks with 36. The Cougars top player on defense is the speedy Marcus Trufant. The senior cornerback will be relied upon heavily this year in the pass happy Pac-10 · WSU has not been to the Rose Bowl since the 1997 Ryan Leaf-led squad.

Game 9 - Nov. 2 - Oregon State @ Reser Stadium

Location: Corvallis, Ore.
2001 Record: 5-6 (3-5 Pac-10)
Enrollment: 18,000
Head Coach: Dennis Erickson (3 years)
Players to watch: CB Dennis Weathersby

With expectations up the wahzoo in 2001, the Beavers had a disappointing year. Maybe with the expectations lower in 2002 OSU can thrive again. The Beavers return a solid defense core with senior cornerback Dennis Weathersby and tackle Eric Manning leading the way. They are just two of eight starters returning on the defensive side of the ball. That will be important because in 2001 the Beavers only returned 10 starters on both sides · The offense will have to help the defense out more in 2002 and put some points on the board. After disappointing years by quarterback Jonathan Smith and Heisman candidate Ken Simonton, the Beavers will turn to youth this year especially at the quarterback position. That job will go to a 6-foot-6 flamethrower with the name Derek Anderson. He got in four games in 2001 · It would be a good year if OSU returns to the national rankings and plays in a significant bowl game, which is a far cry from the lofty expectations in 2001. Maybe the potential won't spell disappointment in 2002.

Cory Paus Senior Quarterback

Game 10 - Nov. 9 - UCLA @ Arizona Stadium

Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
2001 Record: 7-4 (4-4 Pac-10)
Enrollment: 34,000
Head Coach: Bob Toledo (6 years)
Player to watch: tight end Marcedes Lewis.

He might not spell his name the same but the kid is sure as powerful and as slick as a Mercedes Benz. The athletic, 6-foot-6, 240-pound Lewis figures to contribute immediately, either at tight end or as a pass rusher. He is comes into an already deep tight end group with Mike Sideman and Blane Kezirian · The question remains who will throw these guys the ball? It could be Cory Paus if he can not only stay mentally stable but also out of trouble. His two DUIs have not made his coach happy and Toledo has still been reluctant to name a starter · The Bruins bring back one of the top defenses in the conference. Led by tackle Rodney Leslie and end Dave Ball, the Bruins bring size and speed · The most exciting player on the UCLA defense is Matt Ware. The sophomore to be flew all over the field in 2001 and even saw some snaps at quarterback. Expect Ware to move to safety in 2002 · How long will the fans in Westwood put up with Toledo not making a bowl game? With no bowl game in 2001 another year spending the holidays at home could give new athletic director Dan Guerrero reason to get rid of Toledo.

Game 11 - Nov. 16 - California @ Memorial Stadium

Location: Berkeley, Calif.
2001 Record: 1-10 (0-8 Pac-10)
Enrollment: 31,100
Head Coach: Jeff Tedford (first year)
Player to watch: tailback Terrell Williams

The Bears have been placed on probation by the NCAA this season for various violations, thus preventing them from going to a bowl game. Not that it matters - the play on the field would have ensured the Golden Bears weren't going to a bowl anyway · First year coach Jeff Tedford inherits the worst defense and offense in the Pac-10, and things aren't looking much brighter · Quarterback Kyle Boller has been a downright flop after being called "Baby Jesus" when he came to the program as one of the top prep signal callers in the country. Then again, Boller has had nothing to work with, as the Golden Bears have been unable to recruit Pac-10 caliber talent around him. The skill positions on offense are still iffy - sophomore Terrell Williams comes into this season as the team's leading returning rusher, but senior Joe Igber will likely take away carries · And even if Tedford can work some magic and lead Boller into the type of season he was expected to have for the past three years, the Bears still have to play defense at some point, and there's little hope on that end of the ball · Opponents feasted on a secondary that lacks the athleticism to keep up with the speedy, pass-oriented style most Pac-10 teams employ, and their inability to consistently rush the passer leaves them prone to getting blown out. Much of the defense's success will rest on Lorenzo Alexander, their athletic sophomore defensive tackle. But at best, Alexander can be the difference between this unit being the worst defense in the Pac-10, or the worst defense in the country. Good thing no one will witness this team's play this season, as Cal boasts quite possibly the worst fan base in the conference. Every team in the conference will circle the Golden Bears as a perfect time to give their second unit some quality minutes.

Game 12 - Nov. 29 - Arizona State @ Arizona Stadium

Location: Tempe
2001 Record: 4-7 (1-7 Pac-10)
Enrollment: 44, 255
Head Coach: Dirk Koetter (second year)
Player to watch: tailback Cornell Canidate

As is the case with Arizona, this will be the second year of a new coaching regime in Tempe. However, the Sun Devils face a little more uncertainty than their in-state rivals. Dirk Koetter enters the season with five new offensive linemen and a quarterback with no experience after last year's starter, Jeff Krohn, jumped ship, reportedly due to personal problems with the demanding head coach. Redshirt freshman Chad Christiansen has been penciled in as the starter, but he was pulled in the season opener against Nebraska for backup sophomore Andrew Walters. Expect this to be the theme of the season, as Koetter has made it clear that Christiansen's job is not all that secure. However, if one of the team's quarterbacks can step up and deliver, they'll have an excellent target in junior wide receiver Shaun McDonald, who piled up over 1,100 yards receiving last year. The Sun Devils used Cornell Canidate in the backfield against Nebraska and he showed some success against the bigger Husker defenders · The Sun Devils' defense, which gave up almost 33 points a game last season, looks like it might be on the upswing. Four freshmen started in the secondary last year, an area of the defense that is vital under Koetter's unorthodox 4-2-5 system · Coming out of spring practices, Koetter seemed optimistic about the defenses improved tackling, but miracles aren't exactly expected. The defenses best player - likely the best player on the team - is sophomore defensive end Terrell Suggs, who led the team with 10 sacks last season and is widely considered one of the best pass rushers in the conference · Having already been slaughtered in their season opener against Nebraska, things are looking a little grim for Arizona State this season.