ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Here's a look at the SEC's five best clutch performers entering the 2008 season. The players are listed alphabetically:

Eric Berry, S, Tennessee: He was the best player on Tennessee's team last season as a true freshman and the kind of player that when he intercepts a pass, you think he's going to the house every time. There are rumblings that the Vols are going to use Berry on offense in certain situations. Wherever he lines up, he's a big play waiting to happen.

Percy Harvin, WR, Florida: Watch and see how much the ball ends up in Harvin's hands this season. Have you seen the recent pictures floating around of him on the Internet? He looks like an NFL running back after bulking up to 200-plus pounds. He can beat you so many different ways, and like all the great ones, wants the ball in his hands when the game's hanging in the balance.

Brett Helms, C, LSU: Some might not think of offensive linemen when they're thinking about clutch performers, but Helms is the rock of the Tigers' offense. He's a leader, great player and a guy the LSU coaches and players trust to come through every single time HE snaps the ball.

Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn: He's sliding inside to tackle this season and possesses that rare trait for an interior lineman of being able to rush the passer and shut down the run. Marks showed flashes of brilliance last season with nine tackles for loss. Watch him take off this season.

Tim Tebow, QB, Florida: Whenever the Gators needed the tough yardage en route to the 2006 national championship, they called on Tebow. His 20 touchdowns passing and running a year ago speak for themselves. He's the ultimate go-to guy in a league full of go-to guys.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

	AP Photo/Andy Manis
	P.J. Hill rushed for over 1,200 yards and 14 TDs last season.

Here's a party of five not to bet against at crunch time this season: 

P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin -- Hill rushed for 73 second-half yards against Iowa as Wisconsin rallied in the fourth quarter to win 17-13 last September. The next week, he racked up 155 yards and two touchdowns as the Badgers held off Michigan State. 

Curtis Painter, QB, Purdue -- Big games have been Painter's bugaboo thus far, but he'll have plenty of chances to redeem himself as a senior. Coming off a record-setting performance in Purdue's 51-48 win in the Motor City Bowl, Painter should improve his clutch status this fall. 

Austin Starr, PK, Indiana -- Don't give this guy a chance to beat you. Last season he made 21 of 23 field-goal attempts, including a game-winner against Purdue. He didn't miss once on 48 extra-point attempts. 

Beanie Wells, RB, Ohio State -- Wells saved his best for big games last season, punishing Michigan for 222 yards at the Big House. He also was one of few bright spots for the Buckeyes in the BCS title game, racking up 146 rushing yards, including a 65-yard scoring dash. 

Juice Williams, QB, Illinois -- Williams earned more clutch cred in one game than most players garner in a career. He threw for four touchdowns in a road upset of No. 1 Ohio State and convinced coach Ron Zook to go for it on fourth-and-inches in the closing minutes. Williams got the first down and the win, which helped Illinois reach the Rose Bowl. 

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

	AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens
	After collecting 10.5 sacks as a backup in '07, the Beavers expect big things from Victor Butler (right) this season.

Who's going to be clutch in 2008? Here are six guys we're betting on. 

Victor Butler, DE, Oregon State: Butler had 10.5 sacks as a backup. What will he do as a starter? Probably end a lot of drives. 

Rey Maualuga, LB, USC: The two-time All-Pac-10 LB and 2008 Preseason All-American was the Rose Bowl MVP after recording three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. In the victory over UCLA, he led all defenders with eight tackles. 

Chris McGaha, WR, Arizona State: McGaha is the guy QB Rudy Carpenter turns to when he needs to move the chains. We know this because 48 of McGaha's 61 receptions in 2007 went for first downs. That's a conversion rate of 79 percent.

Tavita Pritchard, QB, Stanford: Sure, he's fighting just to hold onto his starting job, but the drive Pritchard engineered to beat USC suggests he's got a clutch future. Or did you miss the two fourth-down passes he made, including a 10-yard touchdown to Mark Bradford with 49 seconds left?

Walter Thurmond III, CB, Oregon: Some fans took issue with our ranking fellow Ducks cornerback Jairus Byrd higher in our position rankings. Well, consider this a tip of the cap to Thurmond, a playmaker. The only Oregon defender to score two TDs in 2007, he broke up 18 passes with five interceptions and also recorded eight a tackles for a loss.

Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA: When the Bruins need a big play in the secondary, Verner is there -- and their green group in 2008 is going to need him. His 76-yard INT return for a touchdown clinched the upset of California last year. He's returned three of his six career picks for TDs.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Again ... alphabetically ...

James Davis, Clemson, running back -- He's already accounted for two game-winning plays in his career (2005, 2006). Davis enters this season needing 837 yards to become the program's all-time leading rusher.

Jacoby Ford, Clemson, wide receiver -- Look for more out of this do-it-all track star who has been injured and overshadowed by teammate Aaron Kelly. He's even faster now that his fibula has healed and can be used just about anywhere the Tigers need him.

Victor "Macho" Harris, Virginia Tech, cornerback -- Plays like his 100-yard kickoff return at Clemson make Harris clutch. He finished second in the ACC in passes defended last year (16), and tied for the team lead with five interceptions.

Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest, cornerback -- There might not have been a bigger clutch play last season than Smith's 100-yard interception return against Maryland that sparked his team to rally from a 24-3 deficit to a 31-24 overtime win. He's already set a school-record with eight interceptions in 2007, including three touchdown returns.

Sam Swank, Wake Forest, placekicker -- You have to have a guy who makes field goals on this list, and the Demon Deacons' all-time leading scorer (286 points) is the best choice. Swank is the nation's active career leader with 60 field goals.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

The following are five clutch performers to watch this season. Again, there are far more than five players who could make clutch plays this season, but these five are the best for their team's success. These are in no particular order.

Max Hall, QB, BYU -- Several BYU quarterbacks have made clutch plays to make the Cougars great and Hall has a chance to carry on that legacy. The schedule sets up nicely for BYU to make a run at another undefeated season.

Eugene Jarvis, RB, Kent State -- No one is expecting a lot out of Kent State this year, but Jarvis could be the spark the team is looking for. He is the nation's top returning running back and could be the MAC's Offensive Player of the Year.

Tom Brandstater, QB, Fresno State -- Fresno State will go as far as Brandstater will take them, and it won't be easy with a brutal nonconference schedule. He'll need to pull out some clutch wins to keep Fresno State afloat.

Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State -- Johnson was plagued by injuries last year, but says he can return to 2006 form this season. Johnson has been the team's catalyst for the last few years and will need to return to that form to return Boise State to the top of the WAC.

Rusty Smith, QB, Florida Atlantic -- Smith led the Owls to the Sun Belt championship last year and has the talent to do it again. The Owls are just starting to gain national attention, but a great season by Smith could make FAU a non-BCS sleeper.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

The Big 12 will have numerous players with a knack for delivering in clutch situations. Here are the five players with proven track records coming into the season.

Missouri QB Chase Daniel -- He's been leading comeback victories since his freshman season, but a big one in a big game could cement his Heisman hopes.

Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell -- Hopeful of building on two dramatic fourth-quarter bowl comeback victories in his last two seasons.

Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin -- Started making key plays from his first game last season and didn't stop until he had set a freshman record for all-purpose yardage.

Texas QB Colt McCoy -- Six second-half comebacks in his first two seasons speak to his clutch play, including two huge fourth-quarter rallies against Nebraska and Oklahoma State last season.

Texas A&M QB Stephen McGee -- Underrated leader who has led the Aggies -- with his feet and his arm -- to five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime in the last two seasons. His biggest was when he led A&M to a game-winning, 16-play scoring drive at Texas in 2006, scoring the game-winning TD with 2:32 left to lead the Aggies to their first victory there since 1994.