7 questions for a new season

After one of the wildest offseasons in its history, college football — the kind actually played on the field — has the spotlight again.

Since Alabama and coach Nick Saban won the Bowl Championship Series national title in January, a soap opera of coaching changes, NCAA enforcement and conference realignment has dominated the headlines. But with the new season kicking off Thursday, here are seven questions to ponder:

1. Will a team from a non-BCS conference make the BCS national title game?

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If it’s ever going to happen, this might be the season. But No. 3 Boise State or No. 6 TCU would have to go undefeated in the regular season and there couldn’t be more than one undefeated team from a BCS conference. And while both teams’ overall schedules don’t match up to those of teams in many BCS conferences, remember that Boise State opens against No. 10 Virginia Tech at Landover, Md., and hosts No. 24 Oregon State on Sept. 25. TCU gets its shot at Oregon State in its opener Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

Finally, keep in mind that since 2000, only four of the 20 teams that played in BCS title game were ranked No. 10 or worse in the preseason Associated Press top 25 poll. Last season when Boise State went undefeated and handed TCU its lone loss in the Fiesta Bowl, it started as No. 14. The Horned Frogs started as No. 17. This season, both begin near the front of the pack.

2. Who are the other BCS title-game contenders?

Unlike previous years, there’s not a dominant team at the top. Defending champion Alabama starts No. 1, but Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram will miss the team's season opener against San Jose State, putting the burden on Trent Richardson for the time being. 'Bama also must navigate the brutal Southeastern Conference with nine new starters on defense and plays its last six conference games against teams coming off bye weeks.

No. 2 Ohio State figures to be right there in the top-heavy Big Ten, but plays road games at No. 12 Wisconsin and No. 9 Iowa. The Buckeyes also must get more consistent play from quarterback Terrelle Pryor and avoid being too conservative under coach Jim Tressel. No. 4 Florida and No. 5 Texas are breaking in new quarterbacks in John Brantley and Garrett Gilbert, but both players are talented enough to keep their teams in the mix. No. 11 Oregon, No. 7 Oklahoma, No. 10 Virginia Tech and No. 9 Iowa also could emerge.

3. Will Alabama running back Mark Ingram repeat as the Heisman Trophy winner?

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History says no; the lone player to accomplish the feat is former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin, who did it in 1974 and 1975. And it won't help now that Ingram is starting the season on the sideline with a knee injury.

Last season played out as the perfect scenario for Ingram, who rushed for 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns while becoming Alabama’s first Heisman Trophy winner. Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford’s repeat bid ended with a shoulder injury and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who won the award in 2007, struggled.

The talk that sophomore Trent Richardson, not Ingram, might be the Crimson Tide’s best running back has merit. And now it’s even more likely that Richardson will get more carries this season, which will cut into Ingram’s statistics.

4. So who wins the Heisman Trophy?

In the BCS era, a player from a non-BCS conference has never won the Heisman, but if Boise State makes the BCS title game, it’ll be hard not to give it to Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore. Again, Ohio State’s Pryor must be more consistent, but he has the name recognition and figures to be in the hunt as long as the Buckeyes remain in the national title race.

Bruising Wisconsin tailback John Clay also could be a factor, but he had offseason surgery to relieve pain in his ankles. Houston quarterback Case Keenum and Pittsburgh tailback Dion Lewis are capable of video game-like numbers, but their statistics would need to be so gaudy that they couldn’t be ignored or their teams would need to make BCS bowl appearances. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett has the cannon arm to be a factor, while Oregon State tailback Jacquizz Rodgers finally has enough buzz entering the season to be considered.

Don’t rule out a throwback patriotic push on behalf of Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs or Texas Christian quarterback Andy Dalton being a candidate if the Horned Frogs make the BCS title game.

5. What’s the deal with USC this season?

The once mighty Trojans are not eligible to play in a bowl this season or next after the NCAA in June placed them on four years probation for improper benefits involving Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush. But that’s not stopping ever-controversial first-year coach Lane Kiffin from the pursuit of a national championship this season. Of course, it’d have to come from the Associated Press voters. That’s a remote possibility, but there’s always a chance if USC were to go undefeated in dominating fashion.

The Trojans have a fairly favorable schedule and no doubt the most talent in the Pac-10, so the biggest question is, can Kiffin really coach? After his lackluster results at Tennessee and with the Oakland Raiders, we’ll see.

6. Which coaches are in danger of being fired?

Among high-profile coaches, Michigan’s Rich Rodriguez tops the list. His 8-16 record in his first two seasons has marked the Wolverines’ worst two-year stretch and is the lowest winning percentage (.333) in school history. His tenure also has been riddled by off-the-field issues, and Michigan has a new athletic director in David Brandon, who was hired in January. Rodriguez expects his team to play in a bowl this season, but that alone may not be enough. He would probably survive with six wins if one of them is against Ohio State; otherwise he will need at least seven.

The heat is also on in the SEC for LSU’s Les Miles and Georgia’s Mark Richt. Since winning the national title in 2007, Miles has just a 17-9 record, which doesn’t bode well with predecessor Nick Saban having the Crimson Tide rolling at rival Alabama. Richt has won at least eight games in each of his nine seasons at Georgia, but last claimed an SEC title in 2005. Since then, rival Florida has won two national championships under coach Urban Meyer. That may matter now more than ever before with the hiring of Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity from Florida in August. Other coaches in danger are Colorado’s Dan Hawkins, Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen and Illinois’ Ron Zook.

7. Which coaches might land better coaching jobs?

It’s probably time for Houston’s Kevin Sumlin to move up after this season. He’s been seamless succeeding former Cougars coach Art Briles and loses star quarterback Case Keenum after this year. If Texas A&M tanks this season under third-year coach Mike Sherman, the Aggies might want to bring back Sumlin, who was their offensive coordinator in 2002.

Temple’s Al Golden also deserves to be in the running for top jobs after his miraculous turnaround of a program that was arguably the worst in college football when he arrived four seasons ago. But the former Penn State tight end might be holding out in hopes of succeeding legendary Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno.

Connecticut coach Randy Edsall isn’t the gregarious type, but he’s impressed by leading the Huskies through their transition from NCAA I-AA to a threat to win the Big East this season.

Of course, Boise State’s Chris Petersen and TCU’s Gary Patterson could choose to move up at any time, but both seem content at their respective programs.

And with both of their teams legitimate contenders in the BCS title race, college football's chaos may be far from over.