College football preview: A look at the other state schools

Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

Website: b-cuathletics.com

Area players: Ryan Davis, Sr., LB (Blake); Kevin Grier, So., OL (Central)

Outlook: The Alvin Wyatt era is over, and the "Wyattbone" offense is officially kicked to the curb. Brian Jenkins — a former Rutgers assistant — is taking his first head coaching job and making it his own. Jenkins' biggest task is replacing Wyatt, who amassed a program-best 90 wins in a 13-year span. The fact Wyatt produced just one winning team the past four seasons might help Wildcats fans with the change at the top. There is a quarterback battle among Matthew Johnson, Jackie Wilson (a Utah State transfer), David Blackwell, Anthony Jordan and Troy Dannehower. LB Reggie Sandilands returns as the team's top tackler with 71 in 2009.

Saturday: vs. Edward Waters, 4

Sept. 18: vs. Savannah State, 4

Sept. 25: vs. Norfolk State, 4

Oct. 2: at Morgan State, 4

Oct. 9: vs. Delaware State, 4

Oct. 16: at South Carolina State, 1:30

Oct. 23: at North Carolina Central, 2

Oct. 28: vs. North Carolina A&T, 7:30

Nov. 6: at Hampton, 2

Nov. 13: vs. Howard, 4

Nov. 20: vs. Florida A&M, 2:30

Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

Website: famurattlersports.com

Area players: Jerod Brisbon, Fr., LB (Hillsborough); Jonathan Sanders, So., WR (Middleton)

Outlook: The Rattlers' season opener is Thursday against No. 13 Miami, clearly a challenge after last season's 48-16 loss to the Hurricanes. FAMU managed an 8-3 season, but even a 42-6 win against Florida Classic rival Bethune-Cookman wasn't enough to reach the postseason. The Rattlers will go with Martin Ukpai to replace QB Curtis Pulley, who finished with 2,705 yards of total offense and 18 touchdowns. And look for RB Philip Sylvester to get plenty of work.

Thursday: at Miami, 7:30

Sept. 11: at Delaware State, 6

Sept. 18: at Howard, 1

Sept. 25: vs. Tennessee State, 4

Oct. 2: vs. South Carolina State, 6

Oct. 16: vs. Savannah State, 3

Oct. 23: at Norfolk State, 2

Oct. 30: vs. Morgan State, 3

Nov. 6: at North Carolina A&T, 2

Nov. 13: vs. Hampton, 3

Nov. 20: vs. Bethune- Cookman, 2:30

Conference: Sun Belt

Website: fausports.com

Area players: Dino Cox, Sr., DL (Wharton); Malik Eugene, Sr., LB (Freedom); Chad Hill, Fr., LB (Palm Harbor); Jamere Johnson, Jr., DE (Wharton); Ronnie Lane, So., WR (Lakewood); Justin Raymond, Fr., LB (Freedom); Ed Wertepny, Sr., OL (Sickles); Garrett Wolfe, Fr., OL (Jefferson)

Outlook: The Owls have suffered some injuries in the preseason, including the loss of first-string C Jordan Sessa and backup Jimmie Colley. That's discouraging for a young offensive line trying to protect a new starting quarterback in Jeff Van Camp. He takes over for Owls all-time passing leader Rusty Smith, though he started last year after Smith had a season-ending injury. Van Camp has thrown for 1,446 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career. The Owls are coming off a 5-7 season after back-to-back bowl bids. The defense returns nine starters, including junior SS Marcus Bartels, who had 112 tackles in 2009.

Thursday: at Alabama- Birmingham, 8

Sept. 11: vs. Michigan State (Ford Field), noon

Sept. 25: vs. North Texas, 7

Oct. 2: at USF, 7

Oct. 9: at Louisiana- Monroe, 7

Oct. 23: at Arkansas State, 1

Oct. 30: vs. Florida International, 4

Nov. 6: at Western Kentucky, 4:30

Nov. 13: vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 7

Nov. 20: at Texas, TBA

Nov. 27: at Middle Tennessee State, 3:29

Dec. 4: vs. Troy, 2

Conference: Sun Belt

Website: fiusports.com

Area players: Kreg Brown, Sr., DB (Admiral Farragut); Greg Ellingson, Sr., WR (Robinson); Chuck Grace, Jr., DB (Hillsborough); Greg Hickman, Fr., LB (Tampa Bay Tech); Mitch Wozniak, Fr., WR (Pasco)

Outlook: The Golden Panthers continued to eke out improvement under Cristobal, finishing the 2009 season 3-9. That's when you consider FIU's two-year stretch in which it won just one game. The big story this fall is the quarterback battle between Wesley Carroll and Wayne Younger. Both will likely play, trying to spark an offense that finished 100th in the nation averaging 320.9 yards per game. Look out for KR T.Y. Hilton, who ranked 13th nationally averaging 28.7 yards.

Sept. 11: vs. Rutgers, 8

Sept. 18: at Texas A&M, 7

Sept. 25: at Maryland, TBA

Oct. 2: at Pitt, TBA

Oct. 9: vs. Western Kentucky, 3:30

Oct. 16: at North Texas, 7:30

Oct. 30: at Florida Atlantic, 4

Nov. 6: vs. Louisiana- Monroe, 6

Nov. 13: at Troy, 3:30

Nov. 20: at Louisiana-Lafayette, 7

Nov. 27: vs. Arkansas State, TBA

Dec. 4: vs. Middle Tennessee, TBA

Conference: Pioneer Football League

Website: judolphins.com

Area players: Will Burbridge, Fr., LB (Gulf); Erick Cuoco, So., K (Lakewood); Rolando Fines, Jr., DL (Freedom); Tyler Peak, Fr., RB (Land O'Lakes); Carl Saunders, So., OL (Freedom); Larry Thompson, Jr., WR (Freedom); Nicholas Verleni, Fr., OL (Sickles); Colby Walden, So., WR (Hillsborough)

Outlook: The Dolphins finished 7-4 in 2009 and appear ready to improve on that mark. Three key components return on offense, beginning with junior QB Josh McGregor. He threw for 2,693 yards, 31 touchdowns and just seven interceptions and will have top target Josh Philpart to throw to once again. Philpart had 912 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Also returning is RB Rudell Small, who rushed for 1,074 yards and nine touchdowns. There are some questions on the defensive side, where some inexperienced players will be expected to make an immediate impact.

Saturday: at Old Dominion, 6

Sept. 11: at Appalachian State, 3:30

Sept. 18: vs. Webber International, noon

Sept. 25: at Davidson, 1

Oct. 2: vs. San Diego, noon

Oct. 9: vs. Drake, noon

Oct. 16: at Valparaiso, 1

Oct. 23: vs. Marist, noon

Oct. 30: at Morehead State, 1

Nov. 6: at Butler, 1

Nov. 13: vs. Campbell, noon

Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

Website: b-cuathletics.com

Area players: Ryan Davis, Sr., LB (Blake); Kevin Grier, So., OL (Central)

Outlook: The Alvin Wyatt era is over, and the "Wyattbone" offense is officially kicked to the curb. Brian Jenkins — a former Rutgers assistant — is taking his first head coaching job and making it his own. Jenkins' biggest task is replacing Wyatt, who amassed a program-best 90 wins in a 13-year span. The fact Wyatt produced just one winning team the past four seasons might help Wildcats fans with the change at the top. There is a quarterback battle among Matthew Johnson, Jackie Wilson (a Utah State transfer), David Blackwell, Anthony Jordan and Troy Dannehower. LB Reggie Sandilands returns as the team's top tackler with 71 in 2009.

Saturday: vs. Edward Waters, 4

Sept. 18: vs. Savannah State, 4

Sept. 25: vs. Norfolk State, 4

Oct. 2: at Morgan State, 4

Oct. 9: vs. Delaware State, 4

Oct. 16: at South Carolina State, 1:30

Oct. 23: at North Carolina Central, 2

Oct. 28: vs. North Carolina A&T, 7:30

Nov. 6: at Hampton, 2

Nov. 13: vs. Howard, 4

Nov. 20: vs. Florida A&M, 2:30

Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

Website: famurattlersports.com

Area players: Jerod Brisbon, Fr., LB (Hillsborough); Jonathan Sanders, So., WR (Middleton)

Outlook: The Rattlers' season opener is Thursday against No. 13 Miami, clearly a challenge after last season's 48-16 loss to the Hurricanes. FAMU managed an 8-3 season, but even a 42-6 win against Florida Classic rival Bethune-Cookman wasn't enough to reach the postseason. The Rattlers will go with Martin Ukpai to replace QB Curtis Pulley, who finished with 2,705 yards of total offense and 18 touchdowns. And look for RB Philip Sylvester to get plenty of work.

Thursday: at Miami, 7:30

Sept. 11: at Delaware State, 6

Sept. 18: at Howard, 1

Sept. 25: vs. Tennessee State, 4

Oct. 2: vs. South Carolina State, 6

Oct. 16: vs. Savannah State, 3

Oct. 23: at Norfolk State, 2

Oct. 30: vs. Morgan State, 3

Nov. 6: at North Carolina A&T, 2

Nov. 13: vs. Hampton, 3

Nov. 20: vs. Bethune- Cookman, 2:30

Conference: Sun Belt

Website: fausports.com

Area players: Dino Cox, Sr., DL (Wharton); Malik Eugene, Sr., LB (Freedom); Chad Hill, Fr., LB (Palm Harbor); Jamere Johnson, Jr., DE (Wharton); Ronnie Lane, So., WR (Lakewood); Justin Raymond, Fr., LB (Freedom); Ed Wertepny, Sr., OL (Sickles); Garrett Wolfe, Fr., OL (Jefferson)

Outlook: The Owls have suffered some injuries in the preseason, including the loss of first-string C Jordan Sessa and backup Jimmie Colley. That's discouraging for a young offensive line trying to protect a new starting quarterback in Jeff Van Camp. He takes over for Owls all-time passing leader Rusty Smith, though he started last year after Smith had a season-ending injury. Van Camp has thrown for 1,446 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career. The Owls are coming off a 5-7 season after back-to-back bowl bids. The defense returns nine starters, including junior SS Marcus Bartels, who had 112 tackles in 2009.

Thursday: at Alabama- Birmingham, 8

Sept. 11: vs. Michigan State (Ford Field), noon

Sept. 25: vs. North Texas, 7

Oct. 2: at USF, 7

Oct. 9: at Louisiana- Monroe, 7

Oct. 23: at Arkansas State, 1

Oct. 30: vs. Florida International, 4

Nov. 6: at Western Kentucky, 4:30

Nov. 13: vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 7

Nov. 20: at Texas, TBA

Nov. 27: at Middle Tennessee State, 3:29

Dec. 4: vs. Troy, 2

Conference: Sun Belt

Website: fiusports.com

Area players: Kreg Brown, Sr., DB (Admiral Farragut); Greg Ellingson, Sr., WR (Robinson); Chuck Grace, Jr., DB (Hillsborough); Greg Hickman, Fr., LB (Tampa Bay Tech); Mitch Wozniak, Fr., WR (Pasco)

Outlook: The Golden Panthers continued to eke out improvement under Cristobal, finishing the 2009 season 3-9. That's when you consider FIU's two-year stretch in which it won just one game. The big story this fall is the quarterback battle between Wesley Carroll and Wayne Younger. Both will likely play, trying to spark an offense that finished 100th in the nation averaging 320.9 yards per game. Look out for KR T.Y. Hilton, who ranked 13th nationally averaging 28.7 yards.

Sept. 11: vs. Rutgers, 8

Sept. 18: at Texas A&M, 7

Sept. 25: at Maryland, TBA

Oct. 2: at Pitt, TBA

Oct. 9: vs. Western Kentucky, 3:30

Oct. 16: at North Texas, 7:30

Oct. 30: at Florida Atlantic, 4

Nov. 6: vs. Louisiana- Monroe, 6

Nov. 13: at Troy, 3:30

Nov. 20: at Louisiana-Lafayette, 7

Nov. 27: vs. Arkansas State, TBA

Dec. 4: vs. Middle Tennessee, TBA

Conference: Pioneer Football League

Website: judolphins.com

Area players: Will Burbridge, Fr., LB (Gulf); Erick Cuoco, So., K (Lakewood); Rolando Fines, Jr., DL (Freedom); Tyler Peak, Fr., RB (Land O'Lakes); Carl Saunders, So., OL (Freedom); Larry Thompson, Jr., WR (Freedom); Nicholas Verleni, Fr., OL (Sickles); Colby Walden, So., WR (Hillsborough)

Outlook: The Dolphins finished 7-4 in 2009 and appear ready to improve on that mark. Three key components return on offense, beginning with junior QB Josh McGregor. He threw for 2,693 yards, 31 touchdowns and just seven interceptions and will have top target Josh Philpart to throw to once again. Philpart had 912 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Also returning is RB Rudell Small, who rushed for 1,074 yards and nine touchdowns. There are some questions on the defensive side, where some inexperienced players will be expected to make an immediate impact.

Saturday: at Old Dominion, 6

Sept. 11: at Appalachian State, 3:30

Sept. 18: vs. Webber International, noon

Sept. 25: at Davidson, 1

Oct. 2: vs. San Diego, noon

Oct. 9: vs. Drake, noon

Oct. 16: at Valparaiso, 1

Oct. 23: vs. Marist, noon

Oct. 30: at Morehead State, 1

Nov. 6: at Butler, 1

Nov. 13: vs. Campbell, noon