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1998 College Football Preview: Part I

© Chuck Bednar

The NCAA football season kicks off on Aug. 30, with Purdue battling USC in the Pigskin Classic. To get fans ready for the upcoming season, Suite 101 NCAA football will be running a two-part series previewing last season's Top 10. The series begins this week with a look at how the 1997 Top 5 will fare in 1998.

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (12-0)
Last season, the Wolverines captured their first national championship in 50 years. This season, the key to repeating that feat will be an excellent class of new recruits. Despite the loss of star QB Brian Griese and Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, Michigan has nine of eleven starters returning on defense as well as six on offense. Coach Lloyd Carr has plenty of firepower for the upcoming season.

The true task for the Wolverines will be replacing Griese. While Griese may not be the physical caliber of some quarterbacks, he knew just how to run the Michigan offense. The leading candiate to fill his shoes is currently junior Tom Brady, but if incoming freshman Drew Henson doesn't leave to play baseball, he could well be at the reigns of the defending co-champs.

Also look for 6-1, 185-pound freshman running back Justin Fargas to make an impact. As a high school senior, Fargas rushed for 2,818 yards and scored on 35 occasions.

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (13-0)
Potential is the key word in Nebraska, as the "other" defending champs return only three starters on offense. Sophomore quarterback Bobby Newcombe takes charge after an impressive spring, and running back DeAngelo Evans returns from a stomach pull. Will he still be the impact player who ran for over 700 yards as a freshman in 1996? Another big question mark looms around an inexperienced offensive line boasting four new starters. Can they give the young Newcombe enough time?

The most notable new face in Nebraska this season will be head coach Frank Solich. Solich, an assistant with the Huskers for the past 19 seasons, takes over for the retired Tom Osborne. He inherits the expectations of the three national titles and a 60-3 record over the past five seasons, and is haunted by the fact that only one major college football coach has ever directed a team to a national championship in his first season - Bennie Oosterbaan, who ironically led Michigan to a 9-0-0 record and the Associated Press national title in 1948.

Nine starters return on defense, led by defensive end Michael Rucker, who had 7.5 sacks and 38 tackles a year ago.

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