(Sports Network) - College football fans across the country
have waited patiently (tongue planted firmly in cheek) for the 2008 season to
arrive. The anticipation is that much greater for programs that surprised the
country in 2007 and really made names for themselves, expanding their
respective fan bases in the process. Can that success last for these
newcomers, and which programs will take a step back in 2008?


STAYING POWER:

KANSAS: Mark Mangino has built something special in Lawrence. The Jayhawks
really came out of nowhere last season to capture the imagination of college
football fans everywhere. The team went an unbelievable 12-1 on the year and
certainly had its chance to play for a national title. A loss to Missouri
prevented that from happening, but the Jayhawks validated an enormously
successful season with a win over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Kansas is
ready for an encore performance, and while no one can expect another 12-win
campaign, this could be a double-digit win team. Of course, the schedule is
harder, but Mangino has this team clicking on both sides of the ball and that
is certainly a recipe that provides staying power.

SOUTH FLORIDA: The fact that the Bulls have only been a Division I team since
2000 still boggles the mind. Head coach Jim Leavitt enters 2008 with back-to-
back nine-win seasons under his belt. That kind of success is infectious and
being in the Sunshine State doesn't hurt either. The talent in the state of
Florida is second to none, but it is no longer a three-team race for that
wealth. USF is starting to get home-grown players to look past Miami,
Gainesville and Tallahassee and really take a long look at what Tampa has to
offer. A couple more strong recruiting classes, and the Bulls could very well
treat the Big East like their own personal china shop.

MISSOURI: The Tigers were at the pinnacle of the sport last season, earning a
number-one ranking and getting within one game of playing for a national
title. The loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship derailed those plans,
but Gary Pinkel has a team worthy of mention again. Playing in the Big 12
North will once again be a plus, as the other programs are probably still a
year or two away from really contending, with the exception of Kansas. Throw
in a Heisman hopeful in Chase Daniel and Missouri could wind up in another Big
12 Title game.


THE PARTY'S OVER:

HAWAII: In 2007, the Warriors finished the regular season with an unblemished
record, the only program in the country to do so. Of course, running the table
in the WAC isn't exactly like doing so in the Big Ten or the SEC, but still, a
remarkable season for Hawaii. The Warriors were an offensive juggernaut under
June Jones, but Jones has left the South Pacific. Add the loss of standout QB
Colt Brennan and a slew of talented receivers, and that leaves Hawaii in a
whole lot of trouble in 2008. The team gets started in Gainesville this week
and could give the team flashbacks of the Sugar Bowl against Georgia (41-10).
New head coach Greg McMackin certainly has his work cut out for him.

VIRGINIA: Al Groh has done a nice job in his time in Charlottesville,
culminating in a nine-win season a year ago. The Cavaliers set an NCAA record
with five wins by two points or less and boasted perhaps the nation's most
dominant defensive performer in Chris Long. Well, Long has moved on to the NFL
and the Cavaliers return just 11 starters from the 2007 squad. They won't only
take a step back, but perhaps three or four steps back. Groh will certainly
have to do a supreme job just to remain competitive this year. It certainly
won't do much for the team's confidence to open up against USC this week.

MICHIGAN: Before the Maize and Blue Nation gets all up in arms, remember how
much the Wolverines lost from last year. The team is under new leadership with
Rich Rodriguez taking over. It will utilize different schemes on both sides of
the ball in 2008 and will be without the services of stars like QB Chad Henne,
OT Jake Long, RB Mike Hart and WR Mario Manningham. The team did win nine
games last year and beat Florida in the Capital One Bowl and recorded its 40th
straight non-losing season. With so many unknowns heading into this season, it
won't be easy to reach 41.


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