ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Happy Friday...

To your letters.

King from San Diego writes: Given the controversy caused by the differences in conference scheduling, shouldn't the NCAA require all conferences to either do a round robin schedule like the Pac-10 or a division setup with a Conference Championship game at years end like the SEC, Big 12 and ACC?

Ted Miller: The NCAA doesn't have that sort of control over FBS football. It really only does rules enforcement. The BCS and the bowl games operate outside the NCAA, and the conferences mostly make their own decisions about divisions and schedules.

Moreover, round-robin schedules wouldn't work for 12-team conferences and splitting up into divisions doesn't make much sense for the Pac-10 or eight-team Big East.

I understand your sentiments. You want standardization. But I don't foresee that happening any time soon.

Jorge from Chambersburg, Pa., writes: I recently read an article on Tim Tebow and it made me think about his tremendous leadership. This, sadly, reminded me of Vince Young, his great leadership, and how far these two had taken their teams. Who will be the Trojan's leader (on offense) or will Taylor Mays be the leader for both sides of the ball? Will the new leader match Mark Sanchez's fire?

Ted Miller: There are plenty of candidates -- there are veterans at every spot on offense, other than quarterback. The offensive line is a good place to start, most particularly guys like multiyear starters Jeff Byers, Kristofer O'Dowd and Charles Brown.

But a quarterback has to be a leader. That will be a critical part of Aaron Corp's offseason -- convincing his teammates that he's the guy to follow into battle.

Michael from Tucson writes: Why no love for Arizona. Class is out and we're killing for news from the desert. But other then some features on a particular player there's nothing coming out. The team is barely making it into the lunch links more then once a week! What up in Tucson??? Why no love?

Ted Miller: Well, Arizona started and finished spring practices first. There's not a lot going on over there.

Moreover, you should probably be happy you aren't reading much about the Wildcats -- the softball team is getting all the headlines at present. If you were reading a lot of football stories right now, they would likely be bad news -- suspensions, transfers, off-field problems, etc.

Moreover, all our recent posts -- spring reviews -- have had Wildcats tidbits, and this story was about defensive end Brooks Reed.

Scott from Rochester, Minn., writes: Ted, really really disappointed in your answer to the guy from NYC about arguing the PAC 10 is better than SEC. Seriously man, there are enough people who speak without thinking you are supposed to be on our side. I am tired of the ass kissing everyone does for the SEC.

Ted Miller: Hey, the SEC is the nation's best conference, on average, over the past decade. While that can't be stated as fact, there's plenty of anecdotal and circumstantial evidence -- starting with number of different teams that have won national championships -- to support that idea.

My major contentions in this conference strength debate -- tiresome at times, but also catnip for passionate fans -- have been twofold: 1. USC is the best program in college football. If the Trojans had played in the SEC since 2002, they would have dominated and probably won three or four national titles; 2. The difference between the Pac-10 and SEC -- and Big 12 and Big Ten and everyone else -- isn't nearly as large as SEC adherents and many national commentators claim it is.

For example: Oregon would have been the second-best team in the SEC last year and California and Oregon State would have been in the top-five.

Kenny from Corvallis writes: Ted- I'd like it if you would give me an honest (not sugar coated) assessment of the Oregon State program, and its possibilities. I understand that is is going to be difficult given the size of the program to consistently win 10 games a year and became a major player. I also believe that a reason Mike Riley's underrated recruiting classes work is because that Pac-10 has been down of late, but once the Washingtons and UCLAs of the conference pick up steam, that he is going to have to get better athletes, plain and simple. What are your thoughts?

Ted Miller: Kenny, are you trying to get me into trouble?

Well, Oregon State's best team (2000) was put together when both Washington and Oregon were up. And recall that team was a nail-biting game at Washington away -- what if someone had blocked Larry Tripplett on that play! -- from being undefeated and playing for the FREAKING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

I think Mike Riley has something going in Corvallis. A down season will be around .500. The program will regularly win seven, eight or nine games. And every so often they will be in the running for a BCS bowl berth.

I don't think UCLA or Washington rising will damage the Beavers that much.

Bearcatvol from Dalton, Ga., writes: Ted, Loved the roadtrip list but it seems like you missed an amazing potential double header football day. September 19th- Utah (Sugar Bowl) at Oregon and Cincinnati (Orange Bowl) at Oregon State. If TV works the right kickoff times you could easily attend both games and they would be very good non-conference clashes.... all within an hour and 20 minute drive of each other. I'm coming across country for it, hope I get both games in.

Ted Miller: That is a good one. Can you bring me some carpet when you come to the West Coast? (Inside joke about Dalton, Ga., from an Atlanta native.)

That's also a huge twin-bill for the Pac-10, considering both are revenge matchups that the Beavers and Ducks previously lost.

Nate from Pleasanton, Calif., writes: Obviously there has not been much success with Stanford's passing game in recent years but with Andrew Luck primed to be a starter and with the receiving corps improving since the loss of Mark Bradford and Evan Moore, could this be the year were a powerful combination of Stanford's rushing game and passing game push them into the upper part of the Pac-10 and possibly into a bowl game?

Ted Miller: How upper?

My guess is Stanford earns a bowl berth this season. And I wouldn't be surprised if the Cardinal challenge for a spot in the top-half of the conference, though they may still be a year or two away.

By the time Luck is a senior and coach Jim Harbaugh's stellar recruiting settles in? Things could get interesting.

Michael from Parts Unknown writes: There is quite a bit of optimism and expectation for Arizona going into next season. I'm not so convinced. While I can certainly see the team winning eight or games because of the softer schedule, given the number of starters they have to replace on defense while also losing the heart and soul of the offense (i.e. Tuitama, Britton, Thomas), I can just easily see the Wildcats losing as many eight games in 2009. Thoughts? As a followup, I'm wondering what happens to Stoops if the latter scenario plays out considering the recent contract extension.

Ted Miller: Hey, nothing shocks me in the Pac-10.
At least not since USC lost at home to Stanford.

I'd be surprised if the Wildcats tumble. Mike Stoops has collected some good talent and I think he's transformed the culture in a positive way.

But if things did go south, and Arizona went 4-8, well, the hot-seat talk would begin anew. That's just the way it is in big-time college coaching.

Dan from Eugene, Ore., writes: Can you elaborate on why Oregon's offensive line is such a big issue? None of your previous postings have convinced me that this is true.

Ted Miller: The Ducks lost three multiyear starters from their dominant offensive lines of 2008 and 2009. Two of whom -- center Max Unger and tackle Fenuki Tupou -- were drafted. The third, 26-game starter Mark Lewis, signed a free-agent deal with Miami.

They were the Ducks' three best linemen in 2008. By far.

The returning players with experience who are expected to fill four of five starting spots -- Bo Thran, C.E. Kaiser, Jordan Holmes and Mark Asper -- have combined for 19 starts.

The fifth spot is currently manned by Carson York, who's a redshirt freshman.

Thran and Kaiser missed spring due to injuries.

Without those two, the line often looked overwhelmed this spring by a defensive line that also is replacing three starters.

In a previous mailbag, I noted that the Ducks' issues up front aren't as worrisome as they might seem -- they've got four guys back with starting experience and line coach Steve Greatwood is first-rate.

But any Ducks fans who tells you he's not worried at least a little bit is working the fan spin pretty hard.