University Daily Kansan, August 21, 1980
Page 5
Buckeyes tabbed No.1
By DAVID LEWIS
Sports Writer
To win college football's mythical national championship, a power needs more than solid football players. Teams nowadays need good schedule makers.
Last year, Alabama plowed through a pitifully weak Southeastern Conference with patry non-conference games to boot. The Crismon Tide then handled No. 8 Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl and claimed to a national title. The Razorbacks held solid, hardly a test worthy of a national champion.
The preseason top 20 college football teams:
This season, the schedule once again
will play an important role. And the
schedule will change.
1. OHIH STATE—The Buckeyes, behind Heisman Trophy candidate Art Schliccher, the favorites to win the mythical title. Schliccher, a rifle-arm quarterback, has thrown for 3,066 yards in his first two seasons.
The schedule could not be better. The Buckeyes have only four road games, and those are against opponents who are ranked by a combined point total of 156 to 14.
Because Southern Cal is one of the naughty five of the Pacific Coast Conference, the Buckeyes should not have a tough time ending the Big 10's Rose Bowl blues Jan. 1, Southern Cal, Oregon, Ohio State, UCLA and Arizona State are ineligible for the Pac-10 title, and they are the Pac-10's best.
2. ALABAMA—Although Alabama has lost 10 offensive starters from last year’s championship squad, seven defensive starters return. And the Tide plays on its defense. Last year, Alabama gave up a mealy 4.5 point a game.
Seven of Alabama's games will be played in friendly Bear Bryant country. The schedule is tougher, but not much. If Ohio State falters, the Crimson Tide probably will be in the position to collect the spoils.
Top Twenty
1. Ohio State
2. Alabama
3. Pittsburgh
4. Oklahoma
5. Southern Cal
6. Houston
7. Nebraska
8. Purdue
9. Notre Dame
10. Arkansas
11. Michigan
12. Texas
13. Penn State
14. North Carolina
15. Missouri
16. Florida State
17. Indiana
18. Stanford
19. Auburn
20. Brigham Young
P. TITTSBURGH—The Panthers, who finished 11-1 last season, return virtually the entire squad. The returners will be the best defensive player in the country.
Pittsburgh is solid in all areas, but road games against Florida State, Penn State, Syracuse and Tennessee will be a big spot. But the Panthers may claw it out.
4. OKLAHOMA—Sooner or later, Oklahoma will not win the Big Eight crown. But for the Sooners, those prospects will be faced much—much later.
5. SOUTHERN CAL—Despite losing Heisman Trophy winner Charles White and their eligibility for the Rose Bowl, the Trojans are nevertheless a national power. But without a bowl bid, a championship is impossible.
6. HOUSTON—Since Houston joined the Southwest Conference four years
ago, the Cougars have quietly won or shared three conference championships. They should quietly do the same again this year.
Coach Bill Yeoman, the most underrated college football coach in the country, returns seven offensive starters. Terry Elston, quarterback miracleworker, will take over the signal caller duties.
7. **NEBRASKA-A-Running back** Jarvis Redwine most likely will be the toast of Nebraska this season. And with a chance to play on the bumper-crop team of the Big Eight.
In Nebraska's favor is the conference schedule, which has Oklahoma and Missouri, the Big Eight's other two title threats, traveling to unfriendly Lincoln.
8. PURDUE—Fourteen of 22 starters return to Purdue this season, including quarterback Mark Herrmann. The Boilermakers should engineer another good season, at least as good as last year's10-2 mark
Herrmann's passing game is superb and could lead Purdue to a Big 10 title. Once again, Ohio State is not on the road because they squeeze by Michigan on the road, they could pack up for Pasadena and not worry about the Buckeyes.
9. NOTRE DAME—It was a lean year for the Fighting Irish in 1979, but a strong defense may set Notre Dame back on its bowl appearance course. But the luck of the Irish once again will be tested to the limit. The Irish must face Purdue, Southern Cal, Alabama and Michigan.
10. ARKANSAS—With 10 defensive starters returning, the Razorbacks will have a tough team. But Arkansas will meet Texas and Houston on the road, so they'll need to be unhappy unlikely. However, a top 10 finish and a major bowl appearance do.
The second 10 is Michigan, Texas,
Penn State, North Carolina, Missouri,
Florida State, Indiana, Stanford,
Auburn and Brigham Young.
Predictions add to college football
During the 1980 football season, the University Daily Kansan will once again provide weekly game predic- tion regardless of what they may be worth.
The predictors this season are Patti Arnold, associate sports editor; Kevin Bertels, sports writer; Dave Lewis, sports editor; Eric Meeley, sports editor; and Matt Seeley, sports writer.
Here are the preseason Big Eight games and a guess at the national champion.
Arrael's picks
Big Eight
1. Nebraska
2. Michigan
3. Missouri
4. Oklahoma State
5. Arizona
6. Colorado
7. Kansas State
8. Iowa State
Nationals: Alabama
Bertels' picks
Bertels' picks
1. Nebraska
2. Oka hora
3. Missouri
4. Oka hora State
5. Kansas
6. Kansas State
7. Colorado
8. Iowa State
National champion: Ohio State
Lewis pleks
1. Oklahoma
2. Nebraska
3. Missouri
4. Kansas
5. Kansas
6. Iowa State
7. Kansas State
8. Colorado
National champion: Ohio State
4. Oklahoma State
5. Kansas
6. Colorado
7. Iowa State
8. Kansas State
National championship: Pittsburgh
Myers' picks
1. Oklahoma
2. Missouri
3. Nebraska
Seelye's picks
1. Oklahoma
2. New Mexico
3. Kansas
4. Missouri
5. Oklahoma State
6. Oklahoma City
7. Colorado
8. Iowa State
9. National Championship
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