Didn't you just know the BCS system would get tinkered with this off-season after the dual national championship debacle of 2003? It's as if tinkering with the system will fix a situation where you have multiple teams with the same record complaining. In a highly questionable move, NCAA heads have now removed SOS and "Quality Win" totals out of the formula. In other words, it doesn't matter who you play…just win, baby.

Southern California - Thumbs down for the USC Trojans and the non-championship game Pac Ten conference. As ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit was quoted as saying last fall when Oklahoma and LSU were awarded the BCS Championship Bowl slots, "Don't cry for USC...they don't play a conference championship game." Yes, the Trojans face ONE Top 25 opponent in 2004, that being 20th ranked Cal. This can be reflected in their paltry 64th schedule ranking. In defense of USC, the Pac Ten is down in terms of Top 25 competition and the non-conference slate of Virginia Tech, Colorado State, BYU and Notre Dame is nothing to scoff at during most seasons. But, it just so happens that these teams are all on the current preseason downswing.

Utah - OK, maybe not a BCS title shot, then again...just win baby (see above note). The Utes can be found in many of the current Top 25 preseason polls. In fact, Ivan Maisel of ESPN.com even has Utah as his #10 team. Hmmmm...Utah finished #21 in last year's AP Poll...Utah has a hot second-year coach in Urban Meyer...Utah has 14 starters back from a 10-2 campaign...Utah plays the nation's 104th ranked schedule! Besides our own foresightfulness (see our 2004 Utah preview), our hats are off to Ivan Maisel for having the fortitude to see this one coming. If the Utes get by the Labor Day Weekend Thursday opener on ESPN versus Texas A&M, it could be the start of something real special in Salt Lake City - not one Top 50 team would be left on the list.

West Virginia - A large buzz was created when Athlon Sports picked WVU as their #5 team. If we had 25 cents for every time the question "why" came up, arcade games could be free for the rest of our lives. So why? With 16 starters back, including practically an all-senior lineup at their offensive skill positions, and the 81st SOS rank, the Mountaineers play the weakest schedule of anyone in our Top 24. The toughest opponent is #19 Maryland in Morgantown, versus a team that has manhandled WVU the last four outings. Watch out Coach Friedgen! The entire Big East was decimated by the departure of Miami and Virginia Tech. In fact, on only three occasions since 1991 has a team other than Virginia Tech or Miami won the Big East outright (WVU 1993, Syracuse 1997 & 1998). You really cannot blame the remaining conference teams for their lack of a 2004 schedule while trying to piece one together on such short notice. But maybe, just maybe, the cause and effect of these departures could turn out to be the biggest blessing in disguise for a team like WVU in 2004. Burn those couches down in Sunnyside.

The Naval Academy finishes last in the NationalChamps.net SOS rankings. Thus is the case for any low-major independent. Well, Navy is the only low-major independent since UConn joined the Big East and Troy State joined the Sun Belt. Head coach Paul Johnson took a 2-10 Navy team in his first season to an 8-5 bowl team in his second season. Was it a product of schedule? Maybe so, but I-AA opponents surely cannot be the sole reason for the low ranking as the Delaware Blue Hens made an unfitting Homecoming opponent for Navy last fall by visiting Annapolis and marching out with a 21-17 victory. Delaware marched all the way to a I-AA championship. The Blue Hens remain on the Navy 2004 schedule and could be one of the toughest opponents on the list.