2002 RECORD: 12-1, 7-0 (Big East champion). Lost to Ohio State 31-24 in double overtime in the Fiesta Bowl national championship game.
NOTES: Miami has been in the national championship picture the past three seasons, losing only two games this decade, and should be in the thick of things again. There are considerations, however, such as replacing a huge group of talented players including quarterback Ken Dorsey and his gaudy 38-2 career record, record-setting tailback Willis McGahee, receiver Andre Johnson, center Brett Romberg, the entire starting defensive line and both kicking specialists. Everyone's eyes will be on junior quarterback and ex-Florida Gator Brock Berlin. The coaches love his strong arm and fiery nature, but he hasn't been consistent in practice. Junior Frank Gore looked like a future star in the backfield before a serious knee injury opened the door for McGahee to shine. Gore's back but will have to fend off true freshman Tyrone Moss and senior Jarrett Payton, who's finally healthy, for the starting job. The receiving corps - led by likely starters Roscoe Parrish and Kevin Beard - doesn't appear as strong as in years past and injuries haven't helped.
Virginia Tech
COACH: Frank Beamer, 17th season (117-69-2; 159-92-4, 22 seasons).
2002 RECORD: 10-4, 3-4 (tie for fourth). Defeated Air Force 20-13 in the San Francisco Bowl.
NOTES: The Hokies had a bit of a down year in 2002. They opened 8-0, but dropped three in a row against conference foes. It would be foolish to expect a repeat. Beamer returns 16 starters. Junior quarterback Bryan Randall is the returning starter, but is expected to receive a stiff challenge from redshirt freshman Marcus Vick. Randall started the final 12 games, passing for 2,134 yards and 12 touchdowns. He completed 63.7 percent of his passes, the second best season mark in Big East history, while rushing for 507 yards. But Vick, the younger brother of former Tech All-American and current Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick, has shown promise and could wind up the starter if Randall falters. Junior Kevin Jones will take over full-time at tailback after sharing duties with Hokies record-setter Lee Suggs. Jones has rushed for 1,828 yards over two seasons, including 871 with nine touchdowns last year. Whoever plays QB will have a big-time threat to throw to in senior wide receiver Ernest Wilford, who set a Virginia Tech record with 51 receptions last season.
Pittsburgh
COACH: Walt Harris, seventh season (36-35; 47-59 in nine seasons).
2002 RECORD: 9-4, 5-2 (third). Beat Oregon State 38-13 in the Insight Bowl.
NOTES: The talent is there, the coaching stability is there, and most of the truly tough games don't come until November. . The Panthers came closer than anyone to defeating Miami in the Orange Bowl last year as Rod Rutherford's fourth-down pass barely missed a diving Yogi Roth in the end zone. Harris has 17 starters back - most in the conference - from a core group that won back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 1980-81. For the first time in recent years, Pittsburgh is without a QB controversy. Rutherford, now a senior, is entrenched after throwing for 2,783 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2002. Among a stable of talented receivers is last season's Big East Rookie of the Year, Larry Fitzgerald. He was first in the conference with 12 touchdown catches, and finished with 1,005 yards on 69 receptions. In the backfield, senior Brandon Miree (943 yards) is expected to be the primary weapon.
Boston College
COACH: Tom O'Brien, seventh season (40-31).
2002 RECORD: 9-4, 3-4 (tie for fourth). Beat Toledo 51-25 in the Motor City Bowl.
NOTES: The Eagles are seemingly respectable every year. They should be able to rack up yards this season behind senior running back Derrick Knight, who became the fifth straight BC tailback to surpass the 1,000 yards when he rushed for 1,432 last season. He's also a threat in the passing attack. Seniors Horace Dodd and Greg Toal (fullback) also return. There are holes throughout the offense though, not the least of which is at quarterback where junior Quinton Porter is favored to replace the graduated Brian St. Pierre. O'Brien also must find a pair of starting wideouts and three starters on the line.
West Virginia
COACH: Rich Rodriguez, third season (12-12; 57-48-2 in 10 seasons).
2002 RECORD: 9-4, 6-1 (second). Lost to Virginia 48-21 in the Continental Tire Bowl.
NOTES: What a difference a year made. Few expected much out of West Virginia last season after it won only three games in Rodriguez's first season, but the Mountaineers delivered the Big East's biggest one-year turnaround since 1993, going from 1-6 in league games to 6-1. The season's four losses were to quality teams - Wisconsin, Maryland, Miami and Virginia. The question is, can West Virginia make some magic again? The answer is, anything's possible. Junior quarterback Rasheed Marshall is a threat both through the air (139-of-259 passing for 1,616 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago) and on the ground. After just two seasons, Marshall ranks second on the Mountaineers career rushing list for quarterbacks with 876 yards. He won't have All-Big East tailback Avon Cobourne, who helped the team set conference rushing records, to hand off to, though; senior Quincy Wilson will try to replace him. West Virginia's biggest problem likely will be stopping other teams. Only four starters return from a defense that wasn't superlative a year ago.
Syracuse
COACH: Paul Pasqualoni, 13th season (95-47-1; 129-64-1 in 17 seasons).
2002 RECORD: 4-8, 2-5 (tie for sixth).
NOTES: There was a time when Syracuse was considered one of the better teams in a weak conference. Not anymore. Other than a triple-overtime win over Virginia Tech, there wasn't much to be happy about. This season could bring more of the same. Syracuse will be hard-pressed to avoid back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1981-82. If it does, it likely will be due to a strong rushing attack led by junior Walter Reyes and sophomore Damien Rhodes. They combined for 1,703 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2002. Senior quarterback R.J. Anderson doesn't scare anyone and threw for only four touchdowns last season.
Rutgers
COACH: Greg Schiano, third season (3-20).
2002 RECORD: 1-11, 0-7 (last).
NOTES: Schiano, the ex-UM defensive guru, has Miami brought intensity and a desire to win to a moribund program. He has inspired respect. In other words, he has done a heck of a lot of things - except win. There's some talent now, though. Senior Nate Jones led the Big East and was fifth nationally with a 28.3-yard kickoff return average in 2002. He might become the conference's all-time leader in that category this year. The backfield also has three players who rushed for at least 100 yards in a game last season in junior Clarence Pittman and sophomores Markis Facyson and Jason Nugent . Last season, Schiano's squad won one game in decisive fashion (44-0 over Army) while losing the other 10 by a combined 397-123. Beyond the numbers there was some improvement. Visiting Miami had a fight on its hands for two quarters before winning 42-17. This season, Rutgers has games against Buffalo, Army, Navy and Temple. The Knights should be able to win at last three of them, and who wouldn't take tripling their win total?
Temple
COACH: Bobby Wallace, sixth season (16-40; 98-76-1 in 15 seasons).
2002 RECORD: 4-8, 2-5 (tie for sixth).
NOTES: The Owls will be hard-pressed to match last season's level of success. Eight bowl teams await, and one of the top backs ever to play at Temple, Tanardo Sharps, has departed. Junior quarterback Mike McGann has his moments. Last year he threw for 13 TDs and rushed for another three. On defense, the best are sophomore defensive end Rodney Wormley, sophomore linebacker Rian Wallace and senior corner Yazid Jackson.
