ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

A host of fat-free links for you...

• We rated California's offensive line No. 2 in the Pac-10 and UCLA's No. 10, but that didn't stop JC lineman Donovan Edwards from changing his mind at the eleventh hour and head to Berkeley after previously committing to UCLA. That's bad news for the Bruins because they need Edwards this season more than the Bears.
• The good news for UCLA fans is Norm Chow is sticking around. The LA Daily News reports his contract is worth $1.24 million over three years. Reporter Brian Dohn also notes this: "[It was a] crowning stroke of creative hiring by coach Rick Neuheisel, who was able to put together an impressive staff on basically the same budget as former coach Karl Dorrell's last staff. Neuheisel's staff is guaranteed $1,705,000. Dorrell's final staff was paid $1,620,000."
• While we're trying to perk up UCLA fans ... The Orange County Register considers the Bruins' best moments in their rivalry with USC.
• ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel asked me at Pac-10 Media Day whether QB Rudy Carpenter played for Frank Kush. Sure seems like Rudy's been there forever... but this is his last run. Dan Bickley checks in. And here's a fancy graphic thingy from the Arizona Republic on eight key Sun Devils.
• Need to know the Oregon State scoop heading into fall camp? The Oregonian's Paul Buker provides this nifty notebook, which includes this item on touted JC recruit Simi Kuli, who was expected to immediately compete for a starting job at DE:

" ... the much-anticipated arrival of junior college All-America defensive end Simi Kuli will be later than expected because of academic issues. 'I'd say Sept. 1 at the earliest,' said [Mike] Riley of a player who was counted on to be part of the defensive rotation. 'At this time, I'm not counting on him for the season.' Really? 'That's a worst-case scenario,' said Riley. 'With everything going right [paperwork, and Kuli's adjustment] that could change.'"

• Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters he wants to know who his QB will be in "seven, eight, nine days." Tavita Pritchard and Alex Loukas are the leaders with Jason Forcier still in the mix.
• Who is USC's secret weapon? The OC Register weighs in on one of Pete Carroll's favorite players.
• The San Francisco Chronicle reports Cal's inexperienced crew of receivers might be getting one deeper:

"Verran Tucker, considered the No. 57 junior college prospect in the nation by Rivals.com, also could [get significant playing time]. The former El Camino Community College receiver is in summer school, and Tedford expects to know soon whether Tucker has enough qualifying credits to enroll."

• Glenn Dickey looks at how and why Cal may recover from last year's second-half implosion.
• Sunday Morning Quarterback's "All-Up-and-Coming Team: Offense" features four Pac-10 players: Oregon QB Nate Costa, California RB Jahvid Best, USC WR Ronald Johnson and USC C Kris O'Dowd.
• The Wildcats will report to camp... healthy.
• The LA Times Chris Dufresne combs the schedule for any upset specials to start the season. Mentions LSU's marquee non-conference game with Appalachian State. Perhaps LSU will look at film of the Mountaineers losses to Wofford and Georgia Southern last year for pointers, seeing that this is such a huge game on the Tigers schedule, according to LSU fans.
• We don't go to Oklahoma very often, but Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman takes up our pet cause: weak non-conference scheduling.
• Finally... don't say we've never done anything for you. If you love college football, this is the greatest thing in the world (other than free season tickets). Customize your own college football schedule.