Leaders of the Pac

PENN STATE
When: Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. (ET), ABC
Where: State College, Penn.
1998 record: 9-3 overall, 5-3 Big Ten
Postseason: beat Kentucky 26-14 in the Outback Bowl
Outlook: The Nittany Lions have the depth and experience to claim their third national title under head coach Joe Paterno (307-80-3, 33 years). Penn State has an incredible defense anchored by junior outside linebacker LaVar Arrington, a preseason candidate for the Butkus Award. Running the offense will be senior quarterback Kevin Thompson, who has bought into Paterno's philosophy for his quarterbacks: just don't screw it up. Penn State is the preseason No. 1 by The Sporting News, No. 2 by Football News.

TEXAS CHRISTIAN
When: Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. (CT), FSN
Where: Dallas
1998 record: 7-5 overall, 4-4 WAC Mountain
Postseason: beat Southern Cal 28-19 in the Sun Bowl
Outlook: The Horned Frogs ended last season on a high note, holding the USC Trojans to -23 rushing yards while garnering 314 of their own in a 28-19 upset. An option team, the Horned Frogs' top running back is junior LaDainian Tomlinson, who scored a team-high eight touchdowns and rushed for 717 yards.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
When: Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. (MT)
Where: Tucson
1998 record: 5-5 overall, 5-2 Ohio Valley
Postseason: none
Outlook: The Blue Raiders enter a new era as they start play in Division I-A this season. They boast a new coach in Andy McCollum, four junior college transfers who could start on offensive line, and two junior college transfers on defensive line. These may or may not be the ingredients for success but they have to start somewhere.

STANFORD
When: Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. (MT)
Where: Tucson
1998 record: 3-8 overall, 2-6 Pac-10
Postseason: none
Outlook: The Cardinal returns six seniors on offense and eight seniors on defense, all lettermen a year ago, but problems lie in the running game. The conference knows what seniors like quarterback Todd Husak, defensive tackle Willie Howard and wide receiver Troy Walters are capable of - but can junior running back Coy Wire carry the load? If not, head coach Tyrone Willingham is looking at a one-dimensional offense for the second straight year.

WASHINGTON STATE
When: Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. (PT)
Where: Pullman, Wash.
1998 record: 3-8 overall, 0-8 Pac-10
Postseason: none
Outlook: Off-season and off-field problems have plagued the Cougars. Junior running back Kevin Brown was kicked off the team by head coach Mike Price. Also gone - to the NFL - is wide receiver and special teamer Dee Moronkola who was second in the nation in kickoff returns last year. Junior free safety Lamont Thompson will team with Riley to lead one of the best secondaries in the league.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
When: Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. (MT)
Where: Tucson
1998 record: 8-5 overall, 5-3 Pac-10
Postseason: lost to TCU 28-19 in the Sun Bowl
Outlook: The Trojans will make their bid as the best offense in the Pac-10 with returnees sophomore quarterback Carson Palmer, senior wide receiver R. Jay Soward, senior running back Chad Morton. The Trojans also return their entire offensive line. The game against Arizona could determine their title aspirations.

TEXAS-EL PASO
When: Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. (MT)
Where: Tucson
1998 record: 3-8 overall, 3-5 WAC Pacific
Postseason: none
Outlook: Their record might have been 3-8 last season, but they were in position to win all but two games last year. On offense, junior quarterback Rocky Perez has been named starter and coaches believe senior running back Paul Smith is ready for a breakout season. The defensive line is the best in the WAC this year with seniors Brian Young and Leif Larsen returning. A morally victorious .500 record could be within reach for the Miners.

OREGON
When: Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. (MT)
Where: Tucson
1998 record: 8-4 overall, 5-3 Pac-10
Postseason: lost to Colorado 51-43 in the Aloha Bowl
Outlook: Losing the third overall pick in the NFL Draft, quarterback Akili Smith is not going to be easy for the Ducks to cope with. If they get senior running back Ruben Droughns back from his ankle injury, it will take some of the pressure off quarterbacks A.J. Feeley, a junior, and Joey Harrington, a sophomore. If it comes down to a field goal to win, senior Nathan Villegas is the man the Ducks are glad to have. A Lou Groza Award finalist, Villegas is one of the nation's best kickers. It could be a tough year in Eugene though, if he's their only All-Pac-10 player.

UCLA
When: Oct. 30 at 12:30 p.m. (PT)
Where: Pasadena, Calif.
1998 record: 10-2 overall, 8-0 Pac-10
Postseason: lost to Wisconsin 38-31 in the Rose Bowl
Outlook: Like Oregon, UCLA has a major void to fill at quarterback as their four-year starter, Cade McNown, graduated to the Chicago Bears. As the only quarterback on the team with experience, Junior Drew Bennett looks to be the starter for the next two years. With Larry Atkins gone, the secondary is where they could be most vulnerable as they'll start a combination of inexperienced newcomers and inconsistent veterans.

WASHINGTON
When: Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. (MT)
Where: Tucson
1998 record: 6-6 overall, 4-4 Pac-10
Postseason: lost to Air Force 45-25 in the Oahu Bowl
Outlook: With new head coach Rick Neuheisel and new, but experienced quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo at the helm, the Huskies look to break out of the middle of the league this season. It won't be easy. They have a secondary that gave up more passing yards and had fewer interceptions than any team in the conference last season.

OREGON STATE
When: Nov. 13 at 7:15 p.m. (PT), FSN
Where: Corvallis, Ore.
1998 record: 5-6 overall, 2-6 Pac-10
Postseason: none
Outlook: They had a decent year, in 1998, but the Beavers should be the bottom of the barrel in the league again this year. But with a new, experienced head coach, a solid running back in sophomore Ken Simonton (1,028 yards in 1998), a young but capable quarterback in Jonathan Smith and a bunch of junior college transfers, things could turn out okay for the Corvallis faithful.

ARIZONA STATE
When: Nov. 27 at 11 a.m. (MT), ABC
Where: Tempe
1998 record: 5-6 overall, 4-4 Pac-10
Postseason: none
Outlook: The Sun Devils have the talent to make it back to a bowl game this season with newly confident quarterback in junior Ryan Kealy and one of the best running backs in the nation: senior J.R. Redmond. If they can find someone to replace recently departed Lenzie Jackson at wide receiver, ASU should find itself somewhere in the postseason.