Mike Leach was the subject of many coaching rumors this year, but it appears he’ll be staying put for the next five years, and he’s got close to 13 million reasons to celebrate. He’ll have a job on his hands next year with the losses of Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, but I figure that offense will work against any defense not named Oklahoma.

It’ll be hard to stay in the national title talk next year; Texas returns McCoy and bunches, and Oklahoma will probably be everyone’s preseason No. 1 or No. 2. Couple that with the fact that Ok. State should be better, and the Big 12 will be a tough division to compete in.

In what’s a surprising move, Sam Bradford has decided he’s going to return for his junior year, which has to give Oklahoma the early edge on preseason rankings (maybe right behind Florida). With Bradford coming back, Oklahoma is now returning TE Jermaine Gresham, OT Trent Williams, and DT Jermaine Gresham.

“After looking at all the information and the opportunities, I feel that it’s in the best interest for me to come back,” Bradford said.

“I’ve dreamed about playing at Oklahoma since I was little,” Bradford said. “My three years here been probably the three of best years of my life. … I feel there’s no need to cut this experience short.”

This definitely makes Matthew Stafford the first pick taken in the 2009 NFL Draft. And it’ll get Detroit off the hook for blowing a pick, because there won’t be a quarterback close to Stafford as far as skills go.

My early guess for next year’s preseason rankings: Florida (1), Oklahoma (2), Texas (3), and USC (4).

As an SEC/ACC guy — hey, I’m in the Southeast and I like UT and Georgia Tech — I don’t pretend to know a whole lot about the Big 12. I know of Graham Harrell, know Sam Bradford, know Colt McCoy (and his girlfriend). I also know there’s not a single team in the Big 12 that plays defense. Not a single one. A quote from Dominique Franks, second team all-Big 12 corner who doesn’t fear Tim Tebow on his best day.

Franks said Tebow, who is already miffed he finished third in Heisman voting last month, ranks behind Sooners teammate and Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, Texas’ Colt McCoy and Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell. Franks added that preparing for McCoy and Harrell was tougher than getting ready to face the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Tebow.

“If you look at the three best quarterbacks in the country, (they) came from the Big 12,” Franks said. “The three best receivers in the country came from the Big 12. The three best tight ends came from the Big 12. So we’ve faced some great offenses, and a lot of people don’t understand that other conferences don’t have what we face.”

I understand this guy’s point. On paper, the three best quarterbacks did come from the Big 12. But one of those best quarterbacks (Graham Harrell) just played the fourth best SEC team (Ole Miss), and he looked rather pedestrian.

I won’t go out on a limb and say Florida will win this game handedly, but I will go way the hell out on a limb and say Florida will win this game handedly.

After Florida won and Oklahoma hung 60 again, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion, but with the BCS you never know when they’ll piss off a fan base. It’s gonna be Florida/Oklahoma for all the marbles, even though I am hearing that if Alabama blows out Utah, Texas blows out Ohio State, and USC blows out Penn State, things could get a bit dicey.

It’s funny, because the BCS was created to have one National Champ, and this year we might end up with 12 of them.

Most of my friends, who are all largely sports experts, are predicting Oklahoma in a shootout. This game feels kind of like that Florida/Ohio State game a few years back, when Ohio State had the great quarterback, the great offense that couldn’t be stopped, and beat a Michigan team that was thought to be the second best in the nation.

Well, we know how that story ends, with Ohio State getting killed and Troy Smith leaving the field never the same man again.

Both didn’t have much of an outter conference schedule, but the nod would have to go to Florida, who played Miami and Florida State, over Oklahoma, who just played Cincinnati.

If you’re an Oklahoma fan, there’s one thing that has to worry you: You’re only tough road game came against Oklahoma State, who put 41 points on the board. I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news, but if Florida hangs 41 — which I’m guessing they will — that defense won’t give up 60.

There’s always the playoff-playoff-playoff talk in college football, and I couldn’t agree more with this idea. I thought Auburn to snubbed years ago when Oklahoma played USC instead, and I can’t say at the end of each year that the team that won it wouldn’t have lost to any other team in the nation (take the NFL, for example, where last year’s Wild Card Giants went on to one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets of all time; no one called them at the beginning, and no one even gave them a shot once they got there).

Anway, I wanted to go to the BCS standings and see what a college playoff would look like at this point. If there was a playoff, the most popular idea I’ve heard is taking the top eight teams. If that was the case, this is the first round matchups we’d be watching.

#8 Utah vs #1 Alabama: This is the one game I don’t salivate over, because we know the outcome of this one. Oklahoma State is a close No. 9, though, and by the end of their regular season they’d surely jump.

#7 USC vs #2 Texas Tech: Are you telling me you wouldn’t want to see this offensive battle? It’d be pretty humorous to see Vegas set the over/under at 90.

#6 Oklahoma vs #3 Penn State: This would be your first round “upset,” if you could call it that. Penn State has played well, but they just don’t have the firepower to stick with Oklahoma.

#5 Florida vs #4 Texas: Are you kidding me? And this is only the first round…

The best thing about this system? No Ohio State, which means the games should at least be competitive.

Opening weekend of college football is just about done, but the game I’ve really been looking forward to — when my Vols head to California to face UCLA — will close the weekend tonight (and Rutgers and Fresno St. are about to go at it right now).

With that said, here’s a few thoughts on what’s transpired thus far.

Jackonsville State 14, Georgia Tech 41: The Jackets were able to run for 385 yards in its first game running the triple option. You don’t watch a D-I school beat Jackonsville State and say a system will work, but if Thursday night was an indication, then the system will work.

UGA 45, Georgia Southern 21: This isn’t the kind of game you want to see from the No. 1 team in the nation. That offensive line of Georgia has got to be a question mark.

Youngstown State 0, Ohio State 43: The biggest thing about this game wasn’t the score but the health of Chris Wells. If he’s out for a duration of time, and from what I saw from USC, you’ve gotta give the Trojans the nod during their showdown in two weeks.

USC 52, Virginia 7: Ouch. The ACC really showed that they’re an inferior conference this weekend.

Chattanooga 2, Oklahoma 57: Sadly, the score wasn’t even this close. It was 50-0 at halftime, and then the reserves came in.

Hawaii 10, Florida 56: They didn’t look as sharp as I expeted, but keep in mind that Percy Harvin is still out, but expected to play next week against Miami.

Illinois 42, Missouri 52: Chase Daniel had 323 yards and 3 touchdowns. As good a start as that was, he was outplayed by Juice Williams, who had over 400 yards throwing and 5 TD’s.

Appalachian State 13, LSU 41: There wasn’t going to be another miracle this year. Not against that defensive size and speed.

Villanova 21, West Virginia 48: They’re one of the teams I’ve said will play in the BCS Title game. It wasn’t the best showing, but a win’s a win.

Alabama 34, Clemson 10: Again: The ACC just didn’t show up. The Clemson game was never close, and Tommy Bowden proves again why you can’t rely on Tommy Bowden. You can’t say Alabama has more talent, but they sure did look like it Saturday night.

Louisiana Monroe 0, Auburn 34: I watched this game, and though the score shows a blowout, this game was a lot closer. Auburn’s offense never did click, and that’s hopefully just some rust in the new spread system they’re implementing.

Northern Arizona 13, Arizona State 30: Does anyone really think Arizona State will beat UGA? I hope they do, but I’m not really buying into it.

Virginia Tech 22, East Carolina 27: Again: Wake up, ACC.

Washington 10, Oregon 44: Say goodbye to Ty Willingham. He’s on thin ice as is, and losing by 34 points in the opener isn’t the way to start the season.

ESPN has a group of “experts” together to make their picks, and they range widely. There’s a common theme of teams in the BCS Title game: Oklahoma, UGA, Florida, USC, Ohio State, Georgia, and one brave soul picking Missouri, but some of the picks seem off. Two people say Ohio State will win it, and if there’s anything history’s taught us about Ohio State being in a national title game, it’s that won’t not just win, but they’ll get absolutely blown out.

To Todd McShay’s credit — he picked THE Ohio State University to win it all — he at least has them victors over Oklahoma, and not a team from the SEC. Other predictions throughout:

-If they’re right, Clemson will dominate the ACC. If I’m right, Clemson will be a dark horse all year long, and maybe the team that busts the BCS (think Auburn a few years back when they went undefeated in the SEC and got shafted). If Clemson beats Alabama, they’ll be a decent sized favorite the rest of the year.

-Recent odds calculated Georgia of having a 6.2 percent chance of reaching the BCS Title game. It seems low until you look at their schedule, and then you have to wonder if Vegas shot a little high. They play at South Carolina, at Arizona State, Tennessee and Alabama in back-to-back-to-back-to-back games. They get a breather with Vandy, and then it’s off to a gauntlet the likes college football has never seen: At LSU, Florida in Jacksonville — and don’t think Mighty Tim Tebow has forgotten last year — Kentucky in Lexington and then Auburn on the road. So, if you think they’ve got a 6.2 percent chance of going undefeated or only losing one, then you’re clearly no mathmetician, and you’re obviously a tad insane.

-Pittsburgh and South Florida are being picked to win the Big East. Have we forgotten about West Virginia? The team that was one game away from playing for the national title? I know South Florida has had WVU’s number over the last couple of years, but if you think they’re going to have an overall better record than WVU, then you’re smoking that same stuff the guys and gals at UGA are.

-Oklahoma seems to be a lock by these guys to win the Big 12. Missouri has a lot of talent returning, and OU is kind of notorious for late season melt downs (of course, that usually happens in a bowl game).

-Where’s some pub on my Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets? No love for my Tennessee Vols? These guys don’t know anything.

Signings have come and gone, except for Terrelle Pryor, who has decided to continue torching the Wolverines and Buckeyes with patience, and there were a few surprises. A Georgia Tight End, whose name I don’t know because he’s going to Georgia and he’s only in high school, screwed the Dogs and went to Clemson instead.

Look: I don’t keep up with college football recruiting much. To me, it’s one of those things that’s a lot of hype and not a lot of substance. So many of these kids come in highly recruited and we never hear from them; others, kids that were three and four stars, blow up in college and end up the best players in the NFL. Regardless, I’m forced to do a job, even if it’s half-ass. Here’s the Top 5 recruiting classes this year, according to ESPN.

1. Miami Hurricanes
2. Clemson Tigers
3. Florida “Urban Meyer Pays Well” Gators
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
5. Georgia “We Would Be Better If It Wasn’t For Clemson” Bulldogs

According to Rivals, here’s how it goes:

1. Alabama
2. Notre Dame
3. Florida
4. Miami
5. Oklahoma

Like I said: I don’t think recruiting means that much. How they play against another level is something Rivals or ESPN can’t tell us. That said, it’s nice to see Miami getting talent again. There was something always fun about watching a team with speed, and then watching Miami. It’s the old saying: “There’s speed, and then there’s Miami speed.” Say hello to seven more 1st Round NFL Draft Picks.

After Oklahoma’s humiliating loss to Boise State last year — though, while it was probably embarrassing, it provided for one of the most memorable college football games ever — in the Sugar Bowl, the Sooner vowed to show up this year. They were going to show the nation just how far they’d come, and they weren’t going to lose to a heavy underdog for a second consecutive year.

So much for that notion.

Under interim coach Bill Stewart, the Mountaineers pasted the Sooners, 48-28, sending another question to BCS supporters: Is West Virginia the best team in the nation?

I know a lot of people are hopping on the USC and UGA bandwagons right now. UGA beat a team that a local high school could compete with, and USC beat up on a Big Ten team that’s two years away from being considered a national threat. West Virginia, on the other hand, has just as many losses as the aforementioned, and beat up on an Oklahoma team that probably ranks in a higher echelon than Hawaii and Illinois.

The rumor is that Stew — that’s what the players know Bill Stewart as — will be the next head coach at West Virginia, and hey, why not? The players love him, and it could be a luring point to draw Steve Slaton back.

One thing I do know, if this guy is hired, he’s the smartest and luckiest guy in America. West Virginia, whether Slaton returns or not (it’s not like Noel Devine is a shabby ‘back), will be a top 5 team in the nation next year. They were my pick to win it this year, and they’ll probably be my pick to win it next year.

Oh, and I think it’s about time we stop inviting Oklahoma to the BCS games. You can’t lose to Boise State one year, get blown out the next, and expect to keep getting invites.

My guess is the same will be said about Ohio State and National Championship games after Monday’s sure-debacle.

(PS: As a Georgia Tech fan, I can’t stand the “Georgia is the best team talk.” Look, the best team they beat had 4 losses — that would be Florida — and in their hardest road game of the season, they got it handed to them by Tennessee. They didn’t lose. They got it handed to them. So stop with the “they’re so hot” talk. They’re only hot because of who they’re playing.)

There were a lot of skeptics out there when it was announced that Hawaii and Illinois would both play in a BCS game, especially given the teams they had to suit up against. I, for one, thought that Illinois had a chance. I hadn’t seen Illinois a whole lot, but I did see them beat Ohio State, and the spurts and clips I saw throughout the season always made them out to be a very fast, quick team.

I was wrong.

Though I wasn’t as wrong as those people that really believed Hawaii actually had a shot. I said when that game was first announced that they’d get killed, and watching last night’s debacle did nothing to disprove that. Colt Brennan, thought to be one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, looked like a scared high schooler running around with no clue of where to throw it.

Two BCS games, two blowouts by the first quarter (in Illinois’ defense, they began to come back in the second half, but I don’t think anyone wearing Trojan red was ever very concerned). Tonight features two teams that should be a bit more evenly matched. I’m a little concerned with how West Virginia will play after a.) somehow losing to a 28 point underdog when they were a game away from playing on January 7 and b.) losing their coach because of that pitiful performance, only to have no replacement to date and c.) because Steve Slaton and Pat White could probably sprain an ankle if a stiff breeze came by these days.

Don’t get me wrong: I like WVU. I picked them at the beginning of the year to win it all, and when healthy, they’re as good and as fast as any team in the nation. Oklahoma packs a serious D, and with the question marks surrounding Morgantown, I just don’t know if they can win it.

At any rate, it’ll be better than any of the two that were played last night. For all the BCS proponents who say January 1 is just “so exciting,” they apparently weren’t watching the same TV I was. I had the USC game turned off by the third quarter, the UGA game by the second.

My pick tonight: I’ll say Oklahoma by 3. WVU is more talented, but Oklahoma’s had a much more. . . well, normal month than the Mountaineers.