BG #78 on CFN's 2008 Pre-Season Rankings from 1-119

[BGSU33]

College Football News’ 2008 Pre-Season Rankings From 1-119: http://cfn.scout.com/2/720771.html

Here a look at the entire MAC and BG’s 2008 OOC opponents:

34. Pitt 2007 Record: 5-7
The team was totally average and underachieved, but it's now one of the hot programs going into the off-season thanks to the win over West Virginia to screw up Mountaineer national title hopes. LeSean McCoy is one of the nation's best young running backs, but he loses his main man to run behind, top tackle Jeff Otah, early to the NFL. The quarterback derby this spring between Pat Bostick and Kevan Smith will be worth watching to run an attack with just about everyone coming back. Big-hitting LB Scott McKillop leads a solid defense that needs to replace the ends and CB Kennard Cox.

61. Boise State 2007 Record: 10-3
The defensive front will undergo a bit of an overhaul, but the offense could be impressive if the line can retool in a hurry. QB Michael Coughlin will likely be the new man at the helm, but Bush Hamdan and Nick Lomax will battle for the right to hand off to Ian Johnson.

66. Central Michigan 2007 Record: 8-6
Dan LeFevour, who joined Tim Tebow as the only quarterbacks to run and throw for 20 touchdowns in a season, will shoot for a third straight MAC Player of the Year honor while trying to lead the team to a MAC title three-peat. The defense has to be far, far better, and it'll at least be experienced with eight returning starters, but the losses, linebackers Red Keith and Ike Brown along with DT Steven Knight, will hurt. Nine starters are back on the high-powered offense.

72. Ball State 2007 Record: 7-6 UU
The offense should explode with everyone coming back, EVERYONE, including QB Nate Davis and top targets Dante Love and Darius Hill. The defense loses a few players here and there, but all the key parts are back. Punter Chris Miller will be on the All-America short list.

74. Minnesota 2007 Record: 1-11
The first year under Tim Brewster can be written off to being young and trying to build for the future. That works once. This was a young, young, young team that now gets eight starters back on offense including QB Adam Weber and rising WR Eric Decker. For good and bad, eight starters return on one of the nation's worst defenses, but the best player, SS Dominique Barber, is gone.

78. Bowling Green 2007 Record: 8-5
If the team can get off the mat after the GMAC Bowl embarrassment to Tulsa, it should be strong with QB Tyler Sheehan running a loaded offense with all the skill players returning along with all the depth. The issue early on could be on the line losing C Kory Lichtensteiger and tackles Drew Nystrom and Kevin Huelsman. Nine starters are back on defense including the entire secondary.

85. Western Michigan 2007 Record: 5-7
The team showed tremendous potential over the second half of last year including a win at Iowa. Now the expectations will be raised with almost all the top skill players back including QB Tim Hiller and WR Jamarko Simmons. The problem is on the line with both tackle and center Robbie Krutilla gone. The defense was a disappointment, but it'll be experienced with 11 returning starters, all seniors.

86. Wyoming 2007 Record: 5-7
After last year's mega-disappointment, there's hope for a quick turnaround with the entire offensive line returning along with QB Karsten Sween and RBs Devin Moore and Wynel Seldon. The defense has to replace the starting corners and LBs Sean Claffey.

88. Miami University 2007 Record: 6-7
The defending East champion should be even better if QB Daniel Raudabaugh can take the offense by the horns. The receivers are in place and they'll need to be fantastic with the running game sure to be an issue early on. Nine starters return on defense including Clayton Mullins, Joey Hudson and Caleb Bostic forming the MAC's best linebacking corps.

91. Toledo 2007 Record: 5-7
Last year, it was simple. Offense really, really good. Defense really, really bad. The three best offensive players, OT John Greco, RB Jalen Parmele, and TE Chris Hopkins, won't be easily replaced, and the quarterback situation has to be settled immediately with Aaron Opelt, Clint Cochran and D.J. Lenehan battling for the job. The defense will get all the attention, and if nothing else it'll be experienced with eight starters returning.

96. Temple 2007 Record: 4-8
After a major turnaround, and with head coach Al Golden still around, Temple is one of the MAC's hot teams. Fullback Josh Bundy is gone. That's it. All eleven starters are back on defense and ten return on an offense that had its moments. Getting QB Adam DiMichele back and healthy is a must, but Vaughn Charlton has the experience to push for the job.

97. Buffalo 2007 Record: 5-7
After a great stepping-stone season under Turner Gill, now Bulls might be the favorites in the MAC ten starters returning on offense, only losing C Jamey Richard, and with eight starters back on D. The offensive nucleus of QB Drew Willy, RB James Starks and WR Naaman Roosevelt is the best in the MAC outside of Central Michigan.

98. Northern Illinois 2007 Record: 2-10
New head man Jerry Kill should immediately turn around one of 2007's most banged up teams. The defense gets everyone back including star DE Larry English, while the offense can't help but be better with nine starters returning. If NIU is as good as Kill's Southern Illinois teams were at the lower level, this should be a MAC favorite.

99. Ohio 2007 Record: 6-6
You don't get better by losing RB Kalvin McRae. QB Theo Scott has to be steady and the right side of the offensive line needs work. The defense gets most of the top players back with seven starters returning, but the inside will be an issue with three of the top tackles gone. The corner tandem of Mark Parson and Julian Posey should be good.

103. Kent State 2007 Record: 3-9
When 6-0, 195-pound QB Julian Edelman is healthy, the offense rocks. If he's banged up again, there will be problems. 5-5, 170-pound Eugene Jarvis might also be wee, but he'll be one of the nation's leading rushers behind a good O line. Even though the receivers aren't used, they're experienced. Nine starters return on defense, but losing NT Colin Ferrell hurts.

104. Akron 2007 Record: 4-8
Losing seven starters on defense isn't a positive, but the offense should be better if experience counts. Getting more consistent quarterback play is a must with the battle between Chris Jacquemain and Carlton Jackson the key to the off-season. Eight starters return, but there's no replacing WR Jabari Arthur.

110. Eastern Michigan 2007 Record: 4-8
If a team can be on the upswing with a 4-8 record, this is it. The Eagles lose a few offensive linemen and RB Pierre Walker, but QB Andy Schmitt should blossom and provide more pop. The defensive line will be the early concern with top tackle Jason Jones gone, but LB Daniel Holtzclaw is back along with the rest of the back seven.

[bgsufalcon24]

#78 isn't terrible compared to the rest of the MAC and where we were last year at this time. I'm sure we'd be up even higher if it wasn't for our complete and utter debacle at the GMAC Bowl.

[Class of 61]

If these write ups prove to be accurate, the MAC should be extremely competitive AND improved a lot compared to '07. Think of all the Soph QB's that started, including Sheehan.... and think how good they could potentially become with another year of seasoning...and most teams seem to have a LOT coming back. This isn't always good, but in the case of most of the MAC, I think it shows a much improved league for '08....now, all they'll have to do is PROVE it, especially in the OOC games.