Five who could surprise

Florida State: Coaching changes take longer than an offseason to take effect. Everyone who was predicting a Seminoles revival after the additions of Jimbo Fisher, Rick Trickett and Chuck Amato to the coaching staff has soured on FSU after a 7-6 season. Even the ACC writers are down on the Noles, who for the first time since joining the league were not picked to win either the division or the conference title.

Bobby Bowden may have worn a leather helmet and played against Red Grange, but if there's one thing the old man can still do it's motivate. The talent's still there. The wins will return in 2008.

Michigan State: The Spartans have a smart coach (Mark Dantonio) and a good quarterback (Brian Hoyer). In college football, that equation adds up to a good season. After going 7-6 in Dantonio's first season, the Spartans take another step to the top of the Big Ten.

Ole Miss: Ed Orgeron couldn't coach, but he could recruit. Houston Nutt has an itchy text trigger finger, but he can coach. Combine Nutt's know-how with Orgeron's talent, and the Rebels, who were close in '07, should break through with Texas transfer Jevon Snead at quarterback.

Utah: Boise State and Hawaii crashed the BCS bowl scene the past two seasons, but the Utes invented the BCS remix, winning the Fiesta Bowl in 2004. They could make a return BCS appearance if they can supplant BYU as the best Mountain West Conference team.

Washington: Charlie Weis took what would have been Ty Willingham's fourth Notre Dame team to the Fiesta Bowl. This is Willingham's fourth Washington team, and he'll coach them in a season with his job on the line. Lucky for the North Carolina native he has quarterback Jake Locker, the West Coast's version of Tim Tebow.