College football scouting reports: Central Florida vs. South Dakota, Bethune-Cookman vs. Edward Waters

UCF vs. South Dakota, 6: The Knights are optimistic about contending for the Conference USA title with the return of 17 starters. UCF, which has won four consecutive openers, begins this season with questions, including how effective junior quarterback Rob Calabrese can be as the starter. Twice Calabrese has been named the starter, and twice he has then lost the job, as a freshman and sophomore. He played sparingly in seven games last season. His best performance was in a 35-3 loss at Texas: 10 for 19 passing for 76 yards. For the season he was 25-of-46 for 260 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Calabrese has been pushed by freshman Jeff Godfrey, who is expected to see playing time.

Bethune-Cookman vs. Edward Waters, 4: This is the Bethune-Cookman coaching debut of Brian Jenkins, who replaced 13-year veteran Alvin Wyatt. Wyatt, fired after last season, left as the program's coach with the most career wins (90). Jenkins knows he has to turn around the Wildcats, who finished with a losing record in three of the past four seasons. Jenkins has vowed to transform the offense into a diversified attack with more emphasis on passing. The Wildcats ranked 112th in the nation in passing in Division I-AA in 2009. Edward Waters, an NAIA program, is coming off a 53-27 loss at Brevard (N.C.) College.

Izzy Gould, Times staff writer