CSNbbs

http://www.philsteele.com/FBS%20Info/earlylook2008.html

Quote:Listed below are the returning starters for all the major college teams. We have even expanded the list to not only include the offensive & defensive starters but also the special teams. Of course, there are 11 starters on offense & defense, and on special teams we list 2 possibilities (Kicker & Punter). An (*) next to the offense means the quarterback is returning.

When I look at a team for the upcoming year one of the first factors I look at is the amount of returning starters. Last year there were 9 teams in the NCAA that had 18 or more returning starters and 7 of the 9 improved their record from 2006. Making the list were teams like Virginia which went from 5-7 to 9-3 and Florida Atlantic which went from 5-7 to Sun Belt Champs. Teams with 17 returning starters included Central Florida which went from 4-8 to CUSA Champs and Illinois which went from 2-10 to the Rose Bowl!!

On the other end of the spectrum there were 33 teams last year that had 12 or fewer returning starters and of the 33 only 8 managed to improve their record. Some of the less experienced teams that really dropped last year included Notre Dame which had just 9 returning starters and went from the Sugar Bowl to 3-9! Nebraska went from 9-4 to 5-7 with just 11 returning starters and Northern Illinois with 12 returning starters went from 7-6 to 2-10.

The numbers I used above accounts for just the offensive and defensive starters returning which gives you a possible high of 22. The chart I list below also counts the teams specialists (punter and kicker) and gives you 24 as a possible high for returning starters. Who are this years most experienced in terms of returning starters? Here is the complete list for 2008 ranked from high to low.

Nationally by most returning starters:

Temple - #1
NIU - #2
BSU - #4 (tied with 3 other teams)
BGSU - #8 (tied with 7 other teams, including Buffalo and Miami)
Buffalo - #8
Miami - #8
KSU - #16 (tied with 7 other teams)
CMU - #24 (tied with 14 other teams, including EMU and WMU)
EMU - #24
WMU - #24
Toledo - #39 (tied with 12 other teams)
Akron - #52 (tied with 18 other teams)
Ohio - #71 (tied with 17 other teams)

Observations:

This conference is absolutely stacked with returning starters this season. This should be a very good year for the MAC.

Looks like it might be a little tough for Ohio. They return the least amount of starters and are the only team not returning a starting QB.

Kind of scary that BSU returns its entire offense. If they get a running game this year that offense will be insane. Considering their OOC schedule, i would be very surprised if they don't win three of those four games. There's a very strong chance they beat Indiana too which only returns 14 starters. If it weren't for that soft schedule i'm not sure how much better BSU would do than last season without having that defense get much better. I think 10 wins is very possible for them if that defense gets better.

epasnoopy Wrote:http://www.philsteele.com/FBS%20Info/earlylook2008.html

Quote:Listed below are the returning starters for all the major college teams. We have even expanded the list to not only include the offensive & defensive starters but also the special teams. Of course, there are 11 starters on offense & defense, and on special teams we list 2 possibilities (Kicker & Punter). An (*) next to the offense means the quarterback is returning.

When I look at a team for the upcoming year one of the first factors I look at is the amount of returning starters. Last year there were 9 teams in the NCAA that had 18 or more returning starters and 7 of the 9 improved their record from 2006. Making the list were teams like Virginia which went from 5-7 to 9-3 and Florida Atlantic which went from 5-7 to Sun Belt Champs. Teams with 17 returning starters included Central Florida which went from 4-8 to CUSA Champs and Illinois which went from 2-10 to the Rose Bowl!!

On the other end of the spectrum there were 33 teams last year that had 12 or fewer returning starters and of the 33 only 8 managed to improve their record. Some of the less experienced teams that really dropped last year included Notre Dame which had just 9 returning starters and went from the Sugar Bowl to 3-9! Nebraska went from 9-4 to 5-7 with just 11 returning starters and Northern Illinois with 12 returning starters went from 7-6 to 2-10.

The numbers I used above accounts for just the offensive and defensive starters returning which gives you a possible high of 22. The chart I list below also counts the teams specialists (punter and kicker) and gives you 24 as a possible high for returning starters. Who are this years most experienced in terms of returning starters? Here is the complete list for 2008 ranked from high to low.

Nationally by most returning starters:

Temple - #1
NIU - #2
BSU - #4 (tied with 3 other teams)
BGSU - #8 (tied with 7 other teams, including Buffalo and Miami)
Buffalo - #8
Miami - #8
KSU - #16 (tied with 7 other teams)
CMU - #24 (tied with 14 other teams, including EMU and WMU)
EMU - #24
WMU - #24
Toledo - #39 (tied with 12 other teams)
Akron - #52 (tied with 18 other teams)
Ohio - #71 (tied with 17 other teams)

Misleading in a sense for UT.Toledo has back about 5 starters on Defense that didn't play or missed the majority of last season and 2 OL that have been starters.