ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett


Quick programming note: The mailbag will be taking up permanent residence on Fridays once we get into regular-season mode next week, though I may occasionally break out some interesting questions earlier in the week for discussion.

Now let's get to some of your e-mails:

Randy from Annapolis, Md., writes: What do you see as the top three Big East games early in the season that will give a good indication of how the season will go and establish a clear favorite for the championship?


Brian Bennett: Well, obviously Rutgers-Cincinnati on Labor Day is the one early-season game that will tell us the most. There won't be any other Big East games until October. But assuming you mean nonconference games, here are the three that I think will tell us the most about the contenders (leaving Cincinnati and Rutgers out because of the opener):
1. East Carolina at West Virginia, Sept. 12: The Pirates simply out-toughed the Mountaineers last year at home. This early-season rematch could show us how far West Virginia has come in its attempt to prevent a repeat of those problems.
2. South Florida at Florida State, Sept. 26: Are the Bulls for real? If they go into Tallahassee and win, they'll certainly announce themselves as a legitimate contender.
3. Pitt at NC State, Sept. 26: The Panthers shouldn't have too much trouble in the first three weeks against Youngstown State, Buffalo and Navy. We'll find out how good they really are when they go into this hostile environment.

Matt from Middletown, N.J., writes: Would it be safe to expect the winner of the Rutgers/Cincy game to be ranked in Week Two?


Brian Bennett: Possible? Yes. Safe? No. As you no doubt know, pollsters can be very stubbornly attached to their original opinions, so if teams don't lose, they usually hold onto their positions from week to week. That means some teams in the bottom of the Top 25 will have to lose to create an opening, and the first week is often filled with cupcakes. Second of all, whoever wins the Rutgers-Cincinnati game will have to do so convincingly. A 13-10 type of game like last year won't impress many people. And lastly, it may depend on who wins and which poll you're looking at. Cincinnati is 29th in the coaches' poll but only 33rd in the AP poll, while Rutgers is 30th according to the writers and 32nd with the coaches. Seven or eight spots might be too big of a jump for one week.


Joe from Gillette, N.J., writes: Brian, enjoy the blog, it's a daily read for me. Regarding pre-season rankings, I've read you mention that they don't carry much weight. However, I see you sitting on both sides of the fence with this issue. If they don't carry much weight, then why care if the Big East is not represented in the preseason poll? On the other hand, if not seeing a Big East team crack the preseason Top 25 is a concern (even in the slightest) doesn't that imply that preseason rankings are important?


Brian Bennett: It's mostly a perception thing, Joe. And unfortunately, the Big East always has to worry about perception since critics want to attack its worthiness. Not being in the Top 25 also means less national media exposure for your league, since a lot of newspapers and TV highlight shows will spend most of their time on the ranked teams. All in all, it's a headache the league doesn't need.

Are preseason polls important in the grand scheme of things? Only in the sense that the farther down you start, the harder it is to climb up. But since I don't think there are any legitimate national title or at-large BCS contenders in the league this year, it shouldn't really matter in the end.


Daniel from Walkersville, Md., writes: What kind of season do you think the Big East needs to have to get two teams into BCS bowl games? Does it take a team going undefeated and one having one loss? Or could a team like WVU go 11-1 and Pitt go 10-2 and both get to the BCS?


Brian Bennett: The only way it's going to happen is if two teams finish in the top 8 of the BCS, which is another reason polls matter. For that to occur, one team that plays a decent out-of-league schedule, like Cincinnati or West Virginia, for example, would have to go 12-0. The other team would have to be 11-1 with its only loss coming to the champ and with impressive nonconference wins. Then you'd need absolute catastrophe to occur in the SEC, Big 12, Pac-10 and ACC. In other words, don't hold your breath.


Mohammed N. from Jersey City, N.J., writes: First things first, love the work that you're doing, Brian. I have a two-parter for you:1. Since the Big East has been shutout completely in the preseason polls, how many teams do you think can legitimately break the Top 25 by midseason? And where do my Scarlet Knights fall in that same timeline? 2. Which team, Louisville or Syracuse, would you be more shocked to see go to a bowl game? Keep up the good work, but please give me more Rutgers coverage!


Brian Bennett: I think as many as three or four teams can get into the Top 25 by midseason, but that all depends on nonconference performance. Rutgers is going to have to beat Cincinnati in the opener to get in the poll before late in the year, because the Scarlet Knights simply won't have impressive wins on their soft schedule to make up for it if they lose. As for your second question, I'd be much more shocked if Syracuse made a bowl. Remember Louisville was bowl eligible in 2007 and one win away last year. The Cardinals are not that far off from getting to the postseason, which doesn't take much these days. The Orange, however, haven't been anywhere near bowl eligibility the past four years, have a thin roster and a tough schedule.


Ken from Philadelphia, Pa., writes: Hey, Brian, while I agree with your assessment that there is a dropoff in QB ranking after your third team, I think your order is wrong. Did Bill Stull play badly toward the end of last year? Yes. Did Zach Frazer have ups and downs last year? Yes. But he led a comeback vs. Louisville, and Stull did lead the team to eight wins, whereas the Rutgers QBs have yet to throw a meaningful pass on Saturdays.


Brian Bennett: It's all opinion, of course, and you may be proven right. I just like the talent that Rutgers has. Tom Savage can be a big-time player, though he is a true freshman. Dom Natale is a fifth-year guy who was well regarded out of high school and originally went to Michigan State. I intentionally ranked Frazer low because he did not play well when given the chance to start last year, and he has to run a new offense. But he does have the ability. And maybe I'm being a little hard on the Pitt QBs, but we've seen some awfully erratic play from those guys, and the practice reports have not been encouraging thus far.


Chris G. from Beckley, W. Va., writes: Hey, B, just wondering what's the latest with Tevita Finau, and if or when he may surface, thanks!!!


Brian Bennett: Like the Sasquatch, reports of Finau sightings seem to pop up every now and then, but they're usually sketchy and light on evidence. At least Sasquatch is in those beef jerky commercials. Wonder if he has any eligibility?


Hopper from South Riding, Va., writes: You know WVU has the beast defense in the Big East right? Just checking.


Brian Bennett: That's good to know, in case any beasts attack the rest of the league. Sasquatch, you've been warned.