The Wiz of Odds

Wake Forest

Tough times in 2009 for the Demon Deacons, who lost five games by three points or less and finished 5-7. Riley Skinner, a four-year starter at quarterback, is gone, and Skylar Jones is expected to be his replacement. Running back Josh Adams gives the team a go-to guy in the backfield and the top three receivers return, but the offensive line must be rebuilt. That means the defense, which returns seven starters, will have to carry the team through the early part of the schedule.

As a run-up to the start of the season, the Wiz will display one poster each day until our supply is exhausted. Last year, the site displayed 69 posters.

Then we turn it over to readers, who will vote on the poster of the year. In the meantime, send your team's poster schedule to jayzuma (at) gmail.com. Thanks to Michael!

Click the image for an enlarged view.

Mississippi

It's backfield in motion at Mississippi. Jevan Snead and Dexter McCluster are gone, and Houston Nutt's search for replacements is ongoing. Indications continue to point toward Jeremiah Masoli transferring to Oxford, and he would challenge Nathan Stanley for the starting job at quarterback. Replacing McCluster's playmaking ability could prove more difficult. The running back rushed for over 1,000 yards and had another 500-plus yards receiving in 2009. The defense will carry the team early, with nose tackle Jerrell Powe anchoring an experienced front seven.

As a run-up to the start of the season, the Wiz will display one poster each day until our supply is exhausted. Last year, the site displayed 69 posters.

Then we turn it over to readers, who will vote on the poster of the year. In the meantime, send your team's poster schedule to jayzuma (at) gmail.com. Thanks to Brandon!

Click the image for an enlarged view.

Texas A&M Prez: Show Me the Money!

Remember that back-door deal that Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Missouri made to help keep the Big 12 together (minus Colorado and Nebraska)? Those schools guaranteed Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M at least $20 million in conference revenue beginning in 2012-13 if they would remain members of the league.

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said that Texas and Oklahoma have declined the gesture, but Texas A&M wants to make the other schools live up to the promise.

Aggie president R. Bowen Loftin, above, issued the following statement Wednesday:

"A key part of Texas A&M's decision to remain in the Big 12 earlier this summer was the commissioner's commitment that Texas A&M would receive a minimum of $20 million annually in future conference distributions. We remain committed to the conference, and fully anticipate that the Big 12 will honor its commitment to Texas A&M."

The Houston Chronicle reported that Texas A&M is prepared to go to court to get the deal in writing. A high-ranking A&M official told the newspaper that the school would consider leaving for the Southeastern Conference if its demands were not met.

Part of the reason the Aggies are pressing for the money is that the athletic department is in the early stages of paying back a $16 million loan to the university.

Rebel Yell: Is There a Legal Hitch to Masoli Transfer?

Jeremiah Masoli and Mississippi inched closer Wednesday to a union, with two reports saying the former Oregon quarterback had been admitted into graduate school in Oxford.

Joe Schad of ESPN.com and the Rivals site Rebel Grove reported that Masoli-to-Mississippi was a done deal, but Rebel coach Houston Nutt told the Memphis Commercial Appeal late Wednesday night that no decision had been made whether the school would admit the troubled quarterback.

"No [campus] visit has been set [for Masoli]," Nutt wrote in a text. "He may not even consider [being a] walk-on. I don't know."

The Oregonian reports there still could be a legal hitch to a Masoli transfer. Dan Koenig, Masoli's attorney, said the player's guilty plea last week to charges of possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and failing to stop upon exiting a driveway could be deemed a violation of a yearlong probation Masoli received earlier this year after a burglary conviction.

"There still is the potential that the district attorney could file a probation violation," Koenig said.

Thanks to Image of Sport.

Louisiana Tech

The spread offense is coming to Ruston in a big way. Sonny Dykes, who spent the past three seasons as offensive coordinator at Arizona, is the Bulldogs' new coach. Dykes has been around the spread for a long time, but he learned many of its nuances while working under Mike Leach for seven seasons. One of Dykes' first hires was Tony Franklin, who will be the offensive coordinator. Franklin spent last season at Middle Tennessee State after what will probably be remembered as his coaching low — a failed half-season as Auburn's offensive coordinator. It might take a couple of seasons, but Dykes and Franklin should be a formidable team. The two worked together in the late-1990s at Kentucky.

As a run-up to the start of the season, the Wiz will display one poster each day until our supply is exhausted. Last year, the site displayed 69 posters.

Then we turn it over to readers, who will vote on the poster of the year. In the meantime, send your team's poster schedule to jayzuma (at) gmail.com. Thanks to Malcolm!

Click the image for an enlarged view.

Football Writers Might Give USC's 2004 Title to Auburn

The Football Writers Association of American is considering a rewrite of history.

Executive director Steve Richardson said the FWAA will decide before the start of the season whether to strip USC of its 2004 national championship and give it to Auburn.

"This is unprecedented, but it's an unprecedented situation," Richardson told the Mobile Press-Register.

Oklahoma edged Auburn in the Bowl Championship Series standings to earn a shot against USC, then was routed by the Trojans, 55-19, in the title game. Auburn completed a 13-0 season by defeating Virginia Tech, 16-13, in the Sugar Bowl and finished No. 2 to USC in the BCS standings and polls.

After the season, Auburn issued rings to players with the inscription "National Champions." One turned up on eBay in 2008.

"Auburn was unbeaten and many people thought they should have been in the national championship game," Richardson said. "It would be similar to what occurs in the Olympics [when a result is vacated because of a failed drug test]."