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Boston College: The inconsistency of the quarterback position has been at the heart of the Eagles' recent struggles, but with the maturation of Chase Rettig and hire of Kevin Rogers, coach Frank Spaziani said they're in a much better position than when he was hired. "We're moving forward there. Certainly, we're light years ahead of where we were two years ago when I was sitting here. … Chase has separated himself a little, if you will."

Clemson: There are several positions freshmen will have a legitimate chance to earn playing time at this summer, starting with wide receiver. "We need some help there," Dabo Swinney said. He also said the team needs immediate help at linebacker, and running back Mike Bellamy will "really spice things up for us." The defensive line is another area of opportunity and possibly one in the secondary. Clemson redshirted 15 players last year and will use 12 to 13 freshmen this fall.

Duke: David Cutcliffe's three-year record with the Blue Devils is 12-24. That's not great -- but it's a heck of an upgrade from the three previous years, when the program went 2-33. "I'm not writing home to my mother about 12 wins in three years," Cutcliffe said. "But we've won six times as many games [as from 2005-07]. There's a lot to be excited about for the future. … I'm glad people talk about [Duke not playing in a bowl since 1994]. They should question it. I tell our players, 'Quit talking about it and go do it. Win more than you lose.' "

Florida State: The Seminoles are among the programs that officials of the Chik-Fil-A Kickoff Game would like to bring to Atlanta for a season opener in the future. (The game is currently booked through 2014.) When someone casually suggested to coach Jimbo Fisher that Florida-Florida State would make a nice season starter instead of the traditional season ender, Fisher was not overly opposed. He pointed out the difficulty of playing an emotional rivalry game, then -- if either team is good enough -- turning around a week later and playing with peak intensity in the league title game. Fisher also opined that the Florida State-Miami game should be anchored in a permanent spot on the season schedule, instead of being moved around. He favors the midseason slot the rivalry enjoyed in its heyday during the 1980s and '90s.

Georgia Tech: Even after 32 years of marriage, Paul Johnson still doesn't wear his wedding ring. So the absence of his 2009 ACC title game ring is hardly a surprise, even after the NCAA forced him to vacate the title. Johnson said the school hasn't decided yet if it will appeal the sanctions, but because there was no loss of scholarships he said it won't affect his program moving forward.

Maryland: The NCAA has cut 2.5 hours of practice time per week from first-year coach Randy Edsall, so he has adjusted by cutting down film time on Sundays and shortened his practice plan in anticipation of the sanctions. "It's not going to affect us," he said. "We're not going to make any excuses. We're just going to go play. I have a schedule put together for what we need to get done and what we need to comply with, we'll comply with it."

Miami: Coach Al Golden said offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson has a back injury that has been bothering him since mid-March, and defensive tackle Marcus Forston had surgery. "I don't know what the timetable on them is, but I do know they're probably not going to be full-go as we kick off camp." Golden said Henderson was 388 pounds in January, but is 341 now and has responded well to the adversity and developed maturity.

North Carolina: Coach Butch Davis said a leadership committee was formed by the players to help those within the program make good decisions. They meet every Wednesday, and Tony Dungy has been a guest speaker for them. Davis said they were going to start it a year ago, but it was tabled until this spring because of the NCAA investigation. The coaches chose the initial leaders.

NC State: Coach Tom O'Brien said the decision to release former quarterback Russell Wilson from his scholarship was probably the most scrutinized decision he's ever made as a head coach. Still, he said "we're happy with the decision. … We're confident with the team we have coming in with the decision we made, and certainly we wish Russell the best. I hope he wins a Big Ten championship. I think that would be great for him."

Virginia: Defensive end Cam Johnson has a sickle cell anemia trait, coach Mike London said, and it could be affecting his cardiovascular performance. "You can go, go hard for two or three plays and then on that fifth or sixth play be gassed," London said. The staff will closely manage how many snaps Johnson gets and rotate him after fewer plays. It's something Johnson has been aware about for a few years, London said.

Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said he's still not sure who his punter is going to be, but he's got one advantage in the uncertainty of the position:

"The only thing we know is people will not return punts against us because [if] we don't know where it's going, they don't know where it's going," he said. "There's not a chance in the world for guys to be returning punts on us. That's the only good thing I see out of it."

Wake Forest: Coach Jim Grobe said he is still looking for a go-to receiver, and based on this past spring, Michael Campanaro could be the guy. Chris Givens is one of the fastest players on the team, but has been inconsistent and needs a better work ethic. The Deacons could use as many as four receivers this fall, but Grobe said if they don't earn the playing time, "we're going to have a fullback and a tight end on the field all the time."

Ranking offensive linemen is not easy. But hey, either is being an offensive lineman. Here are your best "big uglies."

1. North Carolina: Three starters and one part-time starter return from last year’s team, and this line could be the biggest and best since Butch Davis was hired. Guard Jonathan Cooper (22 starts), center Cam Holland (20) and tackle James Hurst (12) have combined for 54 career starts. Travis Bond has four starts and is the leading candidate to take over at the other guard position.

2. Miami: The Canes return nine of their top 10 offensive linemen including four starters from last year, and Joel Figueroa was granted a sixth season of eligibility. Even with the coaching change, the Canes should be strong up front. Center Tyler Horn is a veteran, Brandon Washington is a difference-maker, and there’s enough competition that Seantrel Henderson spent most of the spring as a backup.

3. Clemson: First-year offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell has four returning starters to work with in Landon Walker, Antoine McClain, Dalton Freeman and David Smith. They also have top reserve Mason Cloy, who has 19 career starts and has played in 38 games. There is plenty of depth for a dependable rotation.

4. Virginia Tech: All four returnees started every game last year, and there is enough depth that the Hokies should be able to rotate the most players up front they ever have. It’s a veteran group led by Blake DeChristopher, Andrew Lanier, Jaymes Brooks and Greg Nosal.

5. Florida State: Despite the losses of Rodney Hudson and Ryan McMahon, there’s experience up front. This fall, the starting lineup will consist of tackle Andrew Datko, left guard Bryan Stork or David Spurlock, center Jacob Fahrenkrug, right guard Spurlock or Stork, right tackle Zebrie Sanders. Just how good they’ll be remains to be seen as the majority of them were out with injuries this past spring.

6. NC State: The Pack lost Jake Vermiglio and will be without injured left guard Andrew Wallace for about half of the season, but Zach Allen, Camden Wentz and R.J. Mattes are returning starters. There’s also a lot of talent waiting to emerge with young players like Duran Christophe, Rob Crisp, Tyson Chandler, Torian Box and Andy Jomantas.

7. Virginia: Four players return with a combined 64 career starts in Anthony Mihota, Austin Pasztor, Oday Aboushi and Morgan Moses, who started the final seven games of the season as a true freshman. Pasztor is in his fourth season as a starter and has 32 career starts.

8. Boston College: Despite the losses of Anthony Castonzo, Thomas Claiborne and Rich Lapham, the Eagles are almost settled up front, it’s the experience behind the starters that’s reason for concern. The No. 2 offensive line is comprised entirely of redshirt freshmen. Mark Spinney returns at center, the projected starting guards are Nathan Richman and Ian White, who started three games as a freshman, and the tackles are Emmett Cleary and John Wetzel.

9. Maryland: It’s been an injury-prone group the past two seasons and that didn’t change this past spring. Left tackle Justin Gilbert, one of the top linemen on the team, reinjured the same knee he had ACL surgery on and will be out until October. R.J. Dill was also injured this spring, though he played in the spring game, and Justin Lewis was rehabbing from offseason surgery. Pete White also missed practices, so the group needs to solidify the two-deep roster.

10. Georgia Tech: The Jackets return three starters in guard Omoregie Uzzi, guard Will Jackson and tackle Phil Smith. Sophomore Jay Finch played extensively last season and Ray Beno and Nick McRae were key reserves. Redshirt freshmen Catlin Alford and Morgan Bailey could also work their way into the rotation. Uzzi will be the leader of the line, but they were outplayed by the defense this spring.

11. Wake Forest: Four starters are back, but the Deacs will sorely miss the experience and leadership of former center Russell Nenon. Garrick Williams started the final three games of 2010 -- two at guard and one at center, but he struggled with the snaps towards the end of spring and isn’t where the staff needs him to be yet.

12. Duke: The Blue Devils should take another step forward this season under offensive line coach Matt Luke, and they need to -- Duke’s running game was last in the ACC last year and 104th in the country. Brian Moore replaces a three-year starter at center, but given his experience at right guard the past two seasons, it should be a smooth transition. That will leave a hole, though, at the right guard position, where Laken Tomlinson and John Coleman are the top candidates.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Miami had its second spring practice under coach Al Golden on Tuesday afternoon, and a few things stood out:

• Quarterbacks Jacory Harris and Spencer Whipple were both wearing green jerseys worn by first-team offensive players and took snaps with the first team.
• True freshman defensive back Thomas Finnie was wearing a black jersey, designated for the starters on defense, for the second straight practice.
• Offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson lost about 35 pounds, and yet he is still massive. The offseason conditioning program has truly transformed him.
• Golden said a lot of the leadership from the offseason program has carried over. Ryan McNamee, the Canes' director of player development, told me that the players have done everything this staff has asked them to.
• It's just plain fun to watch the offensive line go against the defensive line because of the two coaches involved. Defensive line coach Jethro Franklin and offensive line coach Art Kehoe are two of the more colorful personalities on staff.
• There was a lot of teaching of technique and fundamental work, like positioning of hands, leverage, ball security, etc.

When Virginia offensive lineman Morgan Moses lined up at right tackle against North Carolina this past weekend, he became just the third true freshman in school history to start at an offensive tackle position.

D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Brad Butler both did it in 2002.

There’s a simple reason Moses is in select company -- it’s hard. Very hard.

“It’s very difficult to come in and play as a freshman on the offensive line,” said NC State coach Tom O’Brien, who spent the first 16 years of his coaching career with offensive linemen at Navy and Virginia. “Not a lot of people are able to do it or can do it. In most of the cases it’s by necessity. There are a lot of very good prospects or good talented kids coming in, but it’s something that you don’t want to be in the situation to have happen if you’re coaching a football team.”

That’s why it’s even more impressive that of the eight true freshmen to have started at offensive tackle in the country this year, four are in the ACC: UNC’s James Hurst, NC State’s Robert Crisp, Miami’s Seantrel Henderson and Virginia’s Moses.

Moses wound up playing every snap against North Carolina.

“The speed of the game, things like that, he had to adjust to,” London said. “… I would say Morgan had a couple of mental errors, which is probably the case for any true freshman that took close to 60 snaps. But I think overall his play was very good in terms of knowing assignments, getting on the defender he had to block. But like anything else, the more reps, the more opportunities he has to play, I think he’ll develop into being a really, really good player here.”

The question is whether it will be at tackle or guard. Moses had moved to tackle because of an injury to Landon Bradley.

Henderson has helped Miami’s depth and stability at the position. He played the entire game against Duke.

“Anytime you play as a freshman it’s always difficult,” Miami coach Randy Shannon said. “He’s big, he’s athletic, and he’s got a lot of things that are positive. Like anything he has to still learn and keep going because of so many different defenses you see and different ways they try to attack you. I’ve got to expect North Carolina will do those things to confuse him, to have some hesitation.”

Crisp has since taken the backseat to veteran starter Jake Vermiglio. O’Brien said pass protection is the most difficult part of the playbook to digest from the left tackle position, and all of the intricacies that go with each different protection as they relate to the defense the player sees.

“He’s somewhat of a special young guy,” O’Brien said of Crisp. “He’s very mature for his age and has very good physical talent. He did a nice job for us. He’s learning each and every week for us and getting better. He’s in a backup role now, so he’s about where he should be.”

After all, that's where most true freshman offensive linemen in the country usually are.

Here are 10 things to keep an eye on this week in the ACC, in no particular order:

1. Miami freshman offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson. He made his first career start last week in the win at Clemson, and impressed coach Randy Shannon. He’s likely to continue to see more playing time, sharing snaps at right tackle with Jermaine Johnson.

2. Defenses in Miami. Florida State and Miami are among the nation’s best at getting pressure on their opponents. FSU leads the nation in sacks and is second in tackles for loss, while Miami is first in tackles for loss and second in sacks. Quarterbacks Christian Ponder and Jacory Harris will be playing under pressure. Harris has thrown eight interceptions in the past three games while Ponder and E.J. Manuel have been interception free over the past 89 pass attempts.

3. Ailing quarterbacks. Wake Forest is hoping Tanner Price (concussion) is healed in time for Saturday’s game against Navy and the status of Boston College quarterback Chase Rettig (ankle) is expected to be learned today. The injury-laden position has been a disaster for the Deacs, as three have been sidelined. Just when the Eagles seemed to find someone who could manage the offense without turning it over, Rettig hurt his ankle and they’re “back at square one.”

4. Clemson sophomore running back Andre Ellington. He needs 129 more yards in his next 19 rushing attempts to break C.J. Spiller’s school record for fewest rushing attempts to reach 1,000 yards. Ellington leads the ACC in rushing (95.0) and touchdowns (7) so far this season. For his career he has 871 yards in 122 carries. It took Spiller 142 carries to reach that milestone in 2007.

5. NC State’s third-down defense. NC State leads the ACC and ranks seventh nationally in third-down conversion defense. The Wolfpack is allowing opponents to convert on just 26.6 percent of third-down attempts (17-of-64). The Wolfpack has also forced opponents into 23 three-and-outs this season, an average of 4.6 per game. That mark ranks sixth in the nation.

6. North Carolina’s secondary. The Tar Heels will have both starting safeties in the lineup against Clemson with the return of strong safety Da’Norris Searcy and free safety Deunta Williams. Searcy, who missed the first three games of the season, came back last week with a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown. Williams ranks third at UNC with 12 career interceptions.

7. Virginia’s offense vs. the 3-4 defense. The Cavaliers should be well-prepared as they face their former coach in Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Al Groh. Groh said this week that Virginia has the advantage because of coach Mike London’s familiarity with Groh’s philosophies.

8. Clemson’s receivers. Coach Dabo Swinney made a change this week. Out: Xavier Dye, Terrance Ashe and Brandon Clear. In: DeAndre Hopkins, Bryce McNeal and Jaron Brown. Why? It took nine minutes into the third quarter until a Clemson receiver caught a pass against Miami. The Tigers will face a similar challenge against the Tar Heels.

9. BC’s running game. Or lack thereof. Despite a veteran offensive line and one of the most productive running backs in the ACC in Montel Harris, the Eagles rank 108th in the country in rushing offense at just 87.5 yards per game. NC State’s rushing defense took a hit against Virginia Tech and is now allowing 164 yards per game. The Hokies ran for 317 and 8.6 yards per carry.

10. Virginia Tech’s secondary. Nine different players have broken up passes this season, and Jayron Hosley is coming off an impressive performance in which he tied a single-game school record with three interceptions against NC State. Central Michigan has the No. 19 passing offense in the country with 290.8 yards per game.

CLEMSON, S.C. -- It's still early, but this game has the makings so far of another down-to-the wire game. Thanks to a 71-yard touchdown run by Andre Ellington -- the longest run of his career -- the game is now tied at 7. That was the longest run by a Clemson player since C.J. Spiller in the Chick-fil-A Bowl during the 2007 season. Both teams have scored thanks to their running games, have made key stops defensively and have struggled in the passing game. Miami freshman lineman Seantrel Henderson has been holding his own every other series, and Allen Bailey has again lined up at both end and tackle.

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Miami freshman right tackle Seantrel Henderson will get his first career start, a school spokesman said. He has been working with the first team most of practice this week and will rotate with Jermaine Johnson. Running back Graig Cooper is still out. There are no lineup changes for Clemson.

Miami and Ohio State on Jan. 3, 2003 provided one of the most exciting and talked-about games in recent college football history. Ohio State's double-overtime victory in the Fiesta Bowl secured a national title and marked the beginning of a surge under The Vest (Jim Tressel). It also signaled the end of Miami's amazing run of success. The teams reunite Saturday in Columbus (ESPN, 3:40 p.m. ET), as Ohio State continues its push for the national title and Miami aims for another signature win to prove that yes, The U is back.

Bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Heather Dinich break down the matchup in Columbus.

Adam Rittenberg: HD, always a pleasure. Tough first weekend for the so-close league, I mean the ACC. Both Ohio State and Miami looked impressive against weak competition Thursday night. We've got to start this off with the two quarterbacks, Terrelle Pryor and Jacory Harris. Both are Heisman Trophy candidates in my mind, and they're friends off the field who text each other from time to time. What are the big keys for Harris against an always stout Ohio State defense?

Heather Dinich: Ahh, Ritt, the pleasure is all yours. First, he has to get the protection he needs -- something he hasn't always had, but that appeared to improve in the season opener against Florida A&M. Second, Harris has to continue to play mistake-free like he did in the first half last week. Turnovers were a big issue for him last year -- 17 interceptions -- and Cameron Heyward and the rest of the Buckeyes' D are more than capable of getting him flustered. He’s got to stay on his feet and make smart decisions. What about Pryor? Miami's rushing defense is coming off its best performance in three years, with eight sacks against FAMU. Is Ohio State’s front ready to hold off the Canes and make Pryor look worthy of the Heisman Hype?

AR: Pryor looked much more comfortable with the offense in the opener, but he faced virtually no pressure from Marshall and could sit back and wait for wideouts Dane Sanzenbacher and DeVier Posey to get open. That should change against the Canes, and it'll be interesting to see how often Pryor takes off and runs -- his old method for dealing with pressure -- or stands in the pocket and makes a tough throw. Ohio State's offensive line finally seems to be coming together after several years of underachieving. It's a group filled with blue-chip recruits that boasts good experience now, especially at the guard spots with Justin Boren and Bryant Browning. A big key will be whether left tackle Mike Adams can protect Pryor's blind side.

Speaking of highly recruited offensive linemen and Ohio State, how is our pal Seantrel Henderson doing? Let's just say Buckeye Nation is waiting. Moreover, how do you see Miami's O-line matching up with Heyward, John Simon and Ohio State's front four?

HD: Miami’s pass protection was pretty good against FAMU, giving up just one sack, and Mount Henderson got some snaps in which he swallowed up some smaller, less athletic players. He's still got a learning curve, though, and the truth is it's too hard to judge that group until it lines up against the Buckeyes. Some might have made too much of the power versus speed plotline in the Champs Sports Bowl against Wisconsin, but I’m wondering if that won’t be a factor with Ohio State’s defensive front in putting the pressure on Harris. The Buckeyes' run defense is solid, but can they stop this deep backfield with or without Graig Cooper?

AR: Heather, I'm glad you brought up the Champs Sports Bowl. I know this is a different and supposedly better Miami team, but I have a hard time forgetting how Wisconsin outclassed the Canes in that game, and would have won by more points if not for a Garrett Graham fumble near the goal line. If Wisconsin's defense makes Harris look like that, I can't imagine what Ohio State's will do to him. You also bring up a good point about Cooper, who missed most of the Wisconsin game. He's a tremendous athlete and could be a big factor on Saturday if he plays. Ohio State running back Brandon Saine is another guy who looks better and better as time goes on and had a great performance in the opener.

OK, you're on the spot. What happens in this one?

HD: Well, one of two things: A.) Miami wins and is an instant surprise contender for the national title, or B.) The Hurricanes lose and ACC fans flip the channel to the Florida State game, clinging to desperation that somebody can represent on the national level. I think Miami is good, but I don’t think they're ready for Ohio State -- especially not in the Shoe. I'm still in believe-it-when-I-see-it mode with these guys when it comes to national relevance. Can they win the ACC? No doubt. But the Canes need to win the Coastal before they're in the same realm as the Buckeyes. Do you see any upset in the making?

AR: Miami certainly has the talent to win this game. The Canes must win the turnover battle, force Pryor into some bad decisions and hold the edge on special teams, which surprisingly might be Ohio State's biggest weakness this year. While I forecast a great game, I don't see the upset. Ohio State is simply too strong up front on both sides of the ball and wins the battle at the line of scrimmage. Ohio State got over its big-game hump in the Rose Bowl against Oregon, and the Buckeyes aren't a slow Big Ten team, as they're often portrayed. The Buckeyes win this one by a touchdown.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Now for some quick post-game analysis from Miami’s 45-0 win over Florida A&M on Thursday night.

How the game was won: This was never really a game. The Rattlers play in the FCS and were totally overmatched. Jacory Harris looked good, going 12-of-15 for 210 yards with three touchdown passes. Only one of the incompletions was a really awful pass. It probably should have been intercepted. Despite the good showing, it is hard to get a good gauge for how Miami is going to look against Ohio State given the level of competition. One thing that should be heartening for Hurricanes’ fans -- it looked like Harris’ surgically repaired right thumb was just fine.

Player of the game: Harris gets the nod here, though he had great chemistry with Leonard Hankerson, who caught six passes for 115 yards.

Unsung hero of the game: Watch for redshirt freshman running back Lamar Miller. The Hurricanes are loaded at running back, with Damien Berry, Mike James and Graig Cooper ahead of him on the depth chart. But Miller can move. He predominantly played in the second half and ended up as the team’s leading rusher with 65 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown.

Bright spots: Cooper did get into the game, as Randy Shannon promised, but he only had a handful of carries. Right tackle Seantrel Henderson got into the game in the second half, and towered over the competition with his 6-foot-8, 355-pound body. He appeared to block very well. Defensive end Olivier Vernon had a monster game, with 3.5 sacks. Allen Bailey, who has gotten more of the preseason hype, was relatively quiet.

What Miami learned: It’s tough to learn much in a game where you are the clear favorite. But at least it knows Harris is OK, and Berry is pretty solid as a starter. Spencer Whipple appeared to outplay Alonzo Highsmith as the two played quarterback behind Harris. There was also was some shoddy tackling early on in the game that is going to have to get tightened up before the Buckeyes game. One other area to note: FAMU had early success with swing passes out of the backfield, so Miami will need to clamp down before next week.

Injury report: Defensive lineman Jeremy Lewis left the game on crutches, unable to put weight on his right leg.

What it means: It’s time to start talking about Ohio State.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- We are live from the Miami-Florida A&M game here at Sun Life Stadium in beautiful South Florida. Both teams are on the field now doing their pre-game warmups. Jacory Harris is working on shotgun snaps from center. There is no bandage on his surgically repaired right thumb.

Harris took the bandage off earlier this week in practice. He had planned to play with it but his thumb felt so good, he got rid of it. There are high expectations on the junior from Miami going into this season. Though he is not expected to play for the entire game, what part of the game he does play will be especially judged heading into next week's game at Ohio State.

Not many folks here yet, and this game is not expected to be a sellout. The sun is shining and it really is going to be a nice night for some football.

A few other notes:

• We will have to wait and see whether Graig Cooper gets into the game. Coach Randy Shannon said earlier this week he would try to get his running back in as long as the weather holds up. Cooper is coming off a knee injury in the Champs Sports Bowl. It was initially feared he would be out for the season, but his rehab has gone ahead of schedule. There is plenty of depth at running back. Damien Berry and Mike James are expected to carry the rushing load early on.
• When does freshman right tackle Seantrel Henderson get into the game? Henderson, one of the most highly touted prospects in the country last season, ended up at Miami after being let out of the letter of intent he initially signed with USC. He was listed on the third team, but backup Jermaine Johnson isn't dressed so Henderson could get into the game earlier than anticipated.
• The starting linebacking rotation list on the pregame flip chart shows Kylan Robinson on the strongside, Colin McCarthy in the middle and Sean Spence on the weakside.
• Several other Hurricanes are not dressed, for unspecified reasons: DLs Curtis Porter, Andrew Smith and Micanor Regis, LB Jordan Futch, RB Storm Johnson, DBs Jared Campbell and Keion Payne and OL Malcolm Bunche.

My colleague Bruce Feldman made his way around the country this summer, and included a few stops at ACC schools along the way. There were a few lessons learned from his 19-day summer college football tour.

Here are a few excerpts:

No 1. There isn't a college football program in the country with two better representatives than what the Boston College Eagles have in cancer survivor Mark Herzlich and Rhodes Scholar candidate/projected first-round OT Anthony Castonzo, who certainly wasn't shy about calling out his old school coach for not believing in him.

No. 5. The Duke Blue Devils have moved up to respectability under David Cutcliffe; they may take a side step this season but don't be surprised if they're a seven or eight win team in 2011. The Blue Devils staff loves their two young QBs, Sean Renfree and Brandon Connette, and when you look at their depth chart in their staff room it seems like 75 percent of the name plates are blue. (Like most programs, each player tag is colored by position and blue at Duke designates freshmen, both first-year and redshirts.)

How big is Seantrel Henderson? Check Feldman's blog for the answer and more.

It’s back.

Miami and Notre Dame have officially agreed to a three-game series that will begin at Soldier Field in Chicago on Oct. 6, 2012. Game 2 of the series is scheduled for four years later, with the Hurricanes traveling to Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind., on Oct. 8, 2016. The final game of the contract will be played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Nov. 25, 2017.

We don’t know who the quarterbacks will be. Heck, we don’t even know who the coaches will be. What we do know is what each program has in place now – three things that will help each of them ascend back to the national stature that once made this rivalry one of college football’s best. There was a time when it defined national championship seasons for both programs.

In order for the series to carry such weight again, here are three things Miami needs to continue to build upon, as the pieces are already in place for the Hurricanes to return to elite status:

1. Recruiting. This is the whole key, and it’s a Catch 22 – you can’t win without the players, and you don’t get the players unless you win. The more the Hurricanes win this fall and the following season, the more elite talent they’ll be able to bring in. It’s time now, for the staff to reap the rewards of its 2008 recruiting efforts and build upon that. The addition of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to the 2011 class, and the late arrival of offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson to the 2010 class gives the staff two players it can build the foundation for the future with. These are the kinds of athletes Miami needs to continue to lure in.

2. Staff stability. Miami has finally found two coordinators it can improve with, and coach Randy Shannon was recently awarded a four-year contract extension, which immediately helped with his recruiting efforts because it ended speculation about his future with the program. Now, of course, he has to earn it. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt is expecting championships and he’s expecting them this season or next. If the program is going to show significant progress, it has to do it now because another staff overhaul would have Miami looking then like Notre Dame is now.

3. Aggressive scheduling. While facing the likes of Ohio State, Pitt – and now eventually Notre Dame – will only make an undefeated season more difficult to attain, it also affords ample opportunities to boost strength of schedule and climb the BCS standings. It also puts the program in the national spotlight, which naturally helps with No. 1. Of course, it doesn’t help to line up the big boys if you can’t knock them down.

With Miami having already made inroads in all three of these areas, it’s clear the Canes are ahead of the Irish in the race back to the top of the BCS Standings …

Here's what my colleague Brian Bennett had to say about Notre Dame's status:

Notre Dame has more work to do than Miami to get back to elite status. The Irish, after all, haven't had a winning record in the regular season for the last three years. But here are three reasons why Notre Dame can return to the heights it scaled during the old "Catholics vs. Convicts" days:

1. Brian Kelly: If Kelly can't get it done in South Bend, then there's legitimate reason to ask if anyone ever will. He's straight out of central casting: An charismatic Irish Catholic who's won championships at every level in college football. There's little doubt that ineffective leadership has held this program back of late. Not since Lou Holtz has a coach seemed like such a perfect fit for the Irish, and Kelly is the best reason to think that the Golden Dome will shine again.

2. Recruiting: Whatever Charlie Weis' problems were, landing highly regarded talent wasn't one of them. Notre Dame's classes were ranked in the top 10 nationally by ESPN's Scouts Inc. from 2006-2008 and checked in at No. 14 in 2009. Are some prospects overrated simply because they choose Notre Dame? Sure. But that also shows that elite players like Jimmy Clausen, Michael Floyd and Manti Te'o will still come from all over the country to play for the Irish. If Kelly can build on that -- and bring in more blue-chip linemen, which he has made a priority -- then Notre Dame will have the ability to play with anybody.

3. Improved facilities: An underreported development of the Weis era was the significant upgrade in the school's football facilities, including the sparkling Guglielmino Complex. One of the first changes made when Kelly arrived was the installation of a long-overdue football-only training table. We know Notre Dame has the money, the tradition and the fan base to succeed. Until recently, though, it lacked some of the crucial infrastructure.

1. The USC-Tennessee game that won’t happen next year is a win-win. Trojans coach Lane Kiffin is shrewd to pursue his old team for the 2011 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic. Kiffin is extending an olive branch to the Vol fans he ditched. The matchup would suck all the oxygen out of the college football preseason. But Tennessee is just as shrewd to say no. With Cincinnati and North Carolina already on the non-SEC schedule, the rebuilding Vols will be busy enough.

2. Has there been a recruit as talented and pursued as offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson who popped onto the market this late? I’m betting that Henderson signs with a coach who treated his initial decision to go to USC with respect. I’m betting that coach wished him luck and never badmouthed him. Henderson’s decision on a Plan B school will be de facto evidence of a classy staff.

3. Joe Starkey has been the play-by-play announcer at Cal since the days of Pappy Waldorf, or maybe it just seems like it. Starkey, on the job actually since 1974, is as much a part of Cal as Strawberry Canyon. His call of The Play in the 1982 victory over Stanford remains must-listen radio nearly three decades later. The National Football Foundation announced Wednesday that Starkey will receive its Chris Schenkel Award. The only surprise is that he hasn’t already won it.

As signing day mania reached a fever pitch Wednesday, the Big Ten almost seemed like a forgotten conference.

Big Ten teams certainly signed their share of top prospects, but the landscape around the league seemed much quieter than the ones in the SEC, Pac-10, ACC and Big 12. If I had to list the major newsmakers on signing day, it would look something like this: Urban Meyer, Lane Kiffin, kid picking from several hats, Mack Brown, Seantrel Henderson, kid mispronouncing the name of his new school, Derek Dooley, Kiffin, Meyer, Jimbo Fisher, Mack, Gene Chizik. Did I mention Kiffin? Kiffin!

You get the point.

Aside from Demar Dorsey's surprise signing with Michigan and the testy Rich Rodriguez news conference that ensued, the Big Ten was completely out of the spotlight.

Is that a bad thing? I don't think it is.

"There hasn't been much drama or excitement," Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said, "which is OK with me."

Fact: the Big Ten didn't have a banner year in recruiting. The league certainly lost some key homegrown players (Henderson, Jordan Hicks) to other programs. And recruiting plays a major role in winning national championships. I get that. But so does coaching. And player development. And guys truly blossoming after they arrive at college.

I don't think the hoopla of signing day matters as much to the Big Ten as it does to teams from other leagues. How many times have you heard how great Clemson will be after signing day? Or North Carolina? Or Mississippi? Or Auburn? Or California? When was the last time those teams won anything significant?

The Big Ten doesn't need to make a lot of noise about new players who might be good. Certain Big Ten teams like Wisconsin and Iowa make noise when it counts, during the season, largely with unheralded recruits.

"I'd rather be ranked at the end of the year than the start of the year, and the same thing holds true in recruiting," Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema told me Wednesday. "It doesn't really matter, coming in, how many stars you have behind your name. It's about what you do while you're there. We recruit to that motto a little bit.

"It was brought to my attention today, we're ranked by one recruiting service at 30th and another at 83rd. There's so many factors into this recruiting that are off-the-wall ridiculous."

And some of those things take place on signing day.

"I don't cohabitate very well with prima donnas," Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "The hat charade and the decommitting and the recommitting, I'm not looking to recruit those kind of young people. Those aren't the things that we believe in and value in our program. ... I don't really care what anybody ranks our class right now. They fit us, we believe in who they are, and more importantly, we trust our evaluation."

Although Ohio State was involved in post-signing day drama with Terrelle Pryor in 2008, several of the Buckeyes' recent stars (James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins) weren't big names on the day they signed. A bunch of first-team All-Big Ten players in 2009 -- Daryll Clark, Greg Jones, Tyler Sash, Tandon Doss, Sherrick McManis -- arrived as largely unheralded recruits.

Does a quiet signing day really hurt the Big Ten? Doubtful.

"I don't want to win signing day," Fitzgerald said. "I want to win on Saturdays in the fall."

USC's class of 19 -- and one HUGE oral commitment -- ranks seventh in the nation and features 11 players (including said commitment) on the ESPNU 150 list.

That commitment is Seantrel Henderson, the nation's No. 1 offensive lineman, who will wait to sign until after USC meets with the NCAA later this month.

Lane Kiffin's first class after the departure of Pete Carroll was stronger than just about everybody thought it would be.

The Trojans had three top needs. They hit a grand slam at receiver and tight end. They did fairly well at defensive back. They fell short at linebacker.

Top prospects: Robert Woods is the nation's No. 1 receiver. Markeith Ambles was No. 4. Kyle Prater was No. 9. Xavier Grimble leads a list of three top-10 tight ends. Help is coming for quarterback Matt Barkley. Speaking of quarterbacks, the Trojans signed the No. 2 guy, Jesse Scroggins.

Under the radar: Not really a USC category. Fullback Soma Vainuku, recruited as a linebacker by a number of schools, signed as a fullback, perhaps positioning himself as the next Stanley Havili.

Issues? It's hard to quibble with the nation's No. 7 recruiting class, particularly when the school was dealing with a coaching transition to Kiffin from Carroll, but there are two things. First, linebacker was a need area that wasn't sufficiently addressed. Second, the Trojans lost out on a number of prospects to rival UCLA, most notably safety Dietrich Riley and linebacker Jordan Zumwalt

Notes: Kiffin said he expects linebacker Glen Stanley, the lone JC transfer, to play immediately... USC signed players from five states... Kiffin took a shot at the players who picked UCLA over USC in his signing day press conference: "I think, I've been gone three years but much hasn't changed. As you meet the kids there is a sense and I was reminded of the kids that go to UCLA and the kids that come to USC, and to be back here, I watched it over the weekend just to see if it's the same, and it's really still the same. I guess we waste time continuing to recruit them, we know within the first 10 minutes whether they're the type of guys that want to play here or there."