The BCS goes back to the alliance days which was a power grab and a money grab by certain conferences and it hasn't changed in its intent," Jackson said. "To add another game, will it resolve controversy over who's who and what's what? I really truly doubt it."

The Pac-10 and the Big Ten didn't start the fire.

They were plenty happy before the Bowl Alliance (or whatever it was called back then) came along.  They were less happy after it.  And they're a little less happy now with the BCS.  Here's guessing they'd be content with things going back to the way they were before the other conferences changed the composition of the game.  It was a bad move then and heading towards a playoff is an even worse move now.

Does anyone really think 12-team conferences are good for college football?  How about conference title games?  Schedules are finite.  College football simply cannot play a 16-week season like the NFL.  Flying in the face of logic, most of the same conferences that pushed us into this Alliance/BCS reality are also the conferences carrying twelve members.

It's obvious that round-robin play (or something close to it) is superior to split divisions (see SEC, Big 12, ACC) and possible repeat matchups in conference title games.  Can a team truly be its league champion if it hasn't faced all its league opponents?  Do you follow?

The major conferences most associated with sensible conference play (Pac-10, Big Ten, Big East) are the same ones treated as the villains in all of this, Big East excluded.  Amazing.  We had it right, once ...

"The one thing [all] of us are in agreement on is there isn't going to be a playoff"

- Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese

What would you think of a BCS Title game between Missouri and West Virginia?

Personally, given the way this season has gone, I say "fine by me".  However, my opinion isn't universal so I'm curious what you CFR readers think?  This Chris Dufresne column is about where I am in terms of dealing with an unusual BCS title game matchup.

It's frustrating to see two teams with questionable non-conference loads slowly grind their way to the top, but it's not like both aren't highly respectable football clubs.  I think maybe we've been a little spoiled by the USC/Texas type matchups where there's some clearly qualified teams playing all season like they're the best then showing it once more in the title game.  Not every season is like that though.

Last year Ohio State and Florida were two very good football teams.  I wouldn't say either was anywhere near an all-time club, a sure-fire runaway blockbuster.  But that's football.  Great teams don't come along every year.  The same goes for this year.  Certainly USC and LSU had that runaway potential, but neither ever got its act together.  In the absence of a truly great team or even a reasonable approximation like what happened in 2006, we just have to wait this out and see who makes the best case at the end of the year.

I really don't know the alternative to this year if we don't want some combination of Missouri or West Virginia.  USC and LSU have flubbed it up over and over.  Ohio State is still marked with last year's Scarlet Letter after the Florida loss.  Those two are about as good as anyone.  Get mad not at the system but the handful of teams good enough to give us a more appealing title game that didn't get it done.

Speaking of teams that didn't get it done: USC coach Pete Carroll is on top of the world after his team's victory over Arizona State and is talking playoffs.

For six years, USC coach Pete Carroll said he never understood how the Bowl Championship Series worked . . . until now.

"It’s about who’s had the most attractive season rather than who had the best team," Carroll said. "It just dawned on me that’s how it works."

Carroll’s opinion might be influenced by the fact USC dismantled Arizona State, 44-24, on Thanksgiving and the Trojans appear to be hitting their stride, albeit 11 games into the season. He might have felt different after the Stanford game.

Carroll said he did not want his comments to be construed as sour grapes because USC is not going to play in the BCS title game. But he believes the Trojans would hold their own if college football held a playoff.

"I would love to be involved with a discussion of who is the best team in the country at the end of the season," Carroll said.

This isn't the NFL, coach.  Narrowly sneaking by the majority of your easier games and building a fat win-loss record doesn't put you in the title game in college football.  Ok, it did once recently (Ohio State 2002), but that team was a severe anomaly.  USC may very well have the best football team in all the land right now, but you gotta prove it weeks one through thirteen, not just weeks twelve and thirteen.

Carroll may have had a gripe in 2002 when his team was in my mind the best in college football, but even then USC won its last eight games by healthy margins and looked completely unstoppable on both sides of the ball.  Last weekend was the first time all year aside from the games against lowly Nebraska and Washington State that USC has even looked above average.  That won't cut it.

Counting down College Football Resource's preseason top 25 teams.

***

(5) - Texas

Briefly:  Colt McCoy's a soon-to-be superstar, the defense looks to be more aggressive this year and can't play any worse against the pass and Jamaal Charles bulked up to add some power to the running game.  The 'Horns also have that mental edge of having beat Oklahoma last year.  Like Boise State, this is about the upper limit of Texas' reach in the rankings, but they're probably no worse than 10th regardless.

Phil Steele Says:  This year they have 7 starters back (on offense) and will be more potent.  The Horns have 6 starters back on D, which is their fewest since 2002 but ironically that year they allowed 16.3 ppg (fewest in last 5 years).  Despite UT's 6-2 mark in the Big 12, they only outgained Big 12 foes by 43.9 ypg (4th best), a big drop from 2005 (211.0 ypg).  The Horns are a legitimate National Title contender this year.

Preseason Consensus:  No. 3 nationally, No. 1 Big 12 South

(4) - Michigan

Briefly:  Theoretically this is a Michigan outfit not too dissimilar from last year's group.  The real issue is that the Wolverines lost some All Americans on defense.  That said, I think they can play at the same level or better this year.  Remember, last year's performance was a bit of a surprise after a deeply disappointing 2005.  The defense was exposed in the last two games last year but it was also against two incredibly talented offenses and a lot of good defenses would have suffered similarly.  Mike Hart and Chad Henne have a lot of ghosts chasing them and this should be an incredibly motivated and no-nonsense team capable of being among the nation's top 5 or so teams.  The defense will replace All Americans with some pluggers but there's still some playmakers in Tim Jamison, the great Shawn Crable and potentially Brandon Graham.

Phil Steele Says:  This year UM has 6 starters back on offense including Heisman candidates QB Henne and RB Hart.  The D does lose seven starters but is still loaded with talent and the 15.9 ppg they allowed last year was their best since their National Championship year of 1997.  This year all four road games fall into the winnable category as they get to host both Ohio St and N.  The Wolves are once again a National Title contender.

Preseason Consensus:  No. 4 nationally, No. 1 Big Ten

(3) - West Virginia

Briefly:  The Mountaineer offense has a little of that USC 2005 unstoppable feel especially if superfrosh Noel Devine can make any kind of impact.  White and Slaton are now three-year starters, and are surrounded by talents like the bruising Owen Schmitt and the elusive Darius Reynaud.  Any defensive stops are like presents, and I think one thing in the program's favor this year is that they know this could be a special year.  Count on at least modest defensive improvement which should be enough to help them through the Big East gauntlet and perhaps show enough to be in national championship game consideration.

Phil Steele Says:  The defense has just 5 starters back in the last two years and has their most veteran unit since 2001 with 8 starters back.  This year they face 7 teams that made it to bowls last year.  The Mountaineers do have to play 4 of those teams on the road including USF and Rutgers but will be favored in all 12 games, so they are a legitimate National Title contender.

Preseason Consensus:  No. 5 nationally, No. 1 Big East

(2) - Florida

Briefly:  The big talking point is that this team only returns two starters on defense.  Many had the same worries about Ohio State last year but I liked the Buckeyes' available talent then and I like the Gators' now.  Besides, this team is loaded on offense as we should see even more of Tebow (who can throw the football, believe it or not), Harvin, Fayson, Ingram, Walker, Rainey, Moore, Caldwell, etc.  Urban Meyer has taken a page from the Lou Holtz sandbagging playbook because he has what by the end of the year could be a better overall squad than last year's national champions.  Like Boise State, the underdog win has this team completely believing in itself which will help them win some close ball games.  I see a lot of 2001-2004 USC in how Meyer keeps beating expectations in his early years and loads up in recruiting before finding the special players to become his team's center of gravity (Tebow/Harvin vs. Leinart/Bush).  I see the Gators greatly surpassing lowered expectations this year and making a serious push for the BCS championship game.

Phil Steele Says:  This year the Gators have 6 starters back on offense, but lose QB Leak, their top RB and WR.  They also have just 2 starters back from the D that allowed 13.5 ppg (best since 1983).  Eleven of their top 13 tacklers are gone.  UF did have a tough schedule last year having to face Tenn, Aub, UGA, Fla St, Ark and Ohio St all away from The Swamp.  This year most of the tough opponets are at home but a couple of things trouble me.  UF benefitted from 5 net close wins last year (pg 299) and is a lot less experienced than last year's senior-laden team.  They also lose a ton of talent to the NFL.  Even with the heavy graduation losses, the Gators are clearly still one of the best teams in the country but it will be very difficult to repeat as National Champs having to face LSU, Georgia and SCar away from The Swamp.

Preseason Consensus:  No. 6 nationally, No. 1 SEC East

(1) - USC

Briefly:  Where have we seen this before?  Oh yeh, 2005.  USC is a bit more of an enigma this year, as it returns a ridiculous defense and the great John David Booty, but the offense is different and no longer as fierce as during the Chow years.  I'll address my other concerns about USC on another entry sometime soon, but it's safe to say there are questions about this team's offensive line and running game.  The talent is there at every position and USC can clearly manage expectations.  There's no doubt that on paper this is the best team in the country.  Although there are inevitable scares, USC has barely disappointed against staggering annual expectations from 2002 to the present.  How good will this team be?  It's up to them.  The all-time talk is premature if not ridiculous, but maybe this team plays effortlessly and surprises as opposed to the choppy play seen in 2005 and 2006.  I really don't know, but they're good and an easy choice to be No. 1 on here.

Phil Steele Says:  The defense has 10 returning starters which is the most they've had in over 20 years.  This is the first time since 2002 that USC did not lose a player in the first round of the draft.  Last year, Carroll called it the fastest D he's ever coached and they most likely will be among the top D's in the country this year.  USC has some tough road games including Nebraska, ND, Oregon, Cal and Ariz St but the Trojans are the most talented team in the country and will be favored to win another National Title.

Preseason Consensus:  No. 1 nationally, No. 1 Pac-10

***
Previously at College Football Resource:

CFR's 2007 Top 25 Countdown: 6-10
CFR's 2007 Top 25 Countdown: 11-15
CFR's 2007 Top 25 Countdown: 16-20
CFR's 2007 Top 25 Countdown: 21-25 

Counting down College Football Resource's preseason top 25 teams.

 ***

(10) - California

Briefly:  It's almost torture to put the Bears here, as they'll probably flub up the opener, go on some big tear, lose to somebody like Arizona, play USC close and then get redemption in a bowl like last year.  Sometimes you just gotta wait this team out.  The offense could be spectacular and there's better experience on the defense than the "returning starters" stat tells you.  All three linebackers and two defensive backs are above-average defenders but there are clearly doubts with the most important position group: defensive line.  This could be trouble on an otherwise solid team.  The Bears are well-coached and have figured out how to be consistent winners in the Pac-10.

Phil Steele Says:  When USC lost to UCLA, Cal won a share of the Pac-10 Title, their first Conf Title since 1975.  Despite the loss of RB Lynch, the offense figures to be explosive with a veteran QB and their top 3 WR's back.  Last year they averaged 32.8 ppg which was the 5th highest scoring average since 1946, but just the 4th best in Tedford's 5 years.  The defense has just 5 starters back and loses its top 3 tacklers but had just 3 starters back in 2005 and still allowed just 21.2 ppg.  Despite their 7-2 conf record Cal only outgained Pac-10 foes by 32.2 ypg, 4th best.  If the young D-line comes together quickly, Cal has a shot at defending their Pac-10 title, despite a killer schedule.

Preseason Consensus:  No. 13 (tie) nationally, No. 3 Pac-10

(9) - Boise State

Briefly:  Wha?  Huh?  The Broncos have a winning system, they play defense, with Ian Johnson they've finally found a way to consistently run the ball and now they've got that winner's swagger.  I think they're a better team than Hawaii (time will tell).  This ranking is about the upper limit of their ability, but it's not like they're prime candidates to be outside the top 25 either.  The WAC is increasingly competitive and a rising tide lifts all --- Boise should be about as good or better than last year's team even without the redeemed Jared Zabransky.

Phil Steele Says:  They are 45-3 in WAC play.  After having 17 returning starters last year, Boise returns just 11, losing their top four receivers and QB.  Ironically the last time thy returned so few starters on offense while having to replace a QB was in 2004 when they averaged 48.9 ppg, their best mark in IA football.  They do return RB Johnson but will have a tough time topping last year's 39.7 ppg.  The defense loses 3 of their top 7 tacklers.  They have the fewest amount of returning starters on D since 2001 when they allowed 23.2 ppg.  Despite those factors, Boise is once again one of the top teams in the country.

Preseason Consensus:  Unranked nationally (No. 27), No. 2 WAC

(8) - Louisville

Briefly:  New coach, same system, same quarterback, some fancy new defensive transfers and a burning desire to atone for last year's missed opportunity.  Beat Rutgers and this team might have been in the BCS title game.  Instead, they missed out on the BCS altogether.  Brian Brohm could have been a top 10 quarterback in April's draft, so he's clearly back to lead this team someplace it didn't get last year.  I think they'll get close, but West Virginia's the class of the league until someone beats them.  There were some pains, but this team found a way to run the ball and play physical without Michael Bush last year so the transition this year should be effortless.  There's a lot to like about Louisville on both sides of the ball and they carry themselves like winners.

Phil Steele Says:  The Cardinals have 8 starters back on offense and Brian Brohm turned down a shot at the NFL, so they once again should have one of the most potent offenses in the country.  Last year they "only" averaged 37.8 ppg after achieving 43.4 and 49.8 the previous two years.  They should top that total in '07.  The defense yielded just 16.3 ppg, their best mark since 1995.  They have six starters back but must replace 4 of their top 5 tacklers and six of the top nine.  Even though the Cards must play WV and USF on the road, 4 of my 8 sets of power rankings call for them to have an unbeaten season making them a legitimate National Title contender.

Preseason Consensus:  No. 9 nationally, No. 2 Big East

(7) - LSU

Briefly:  There's a lot of great things to say about this Tiger team.  Their defensive line is scary.  The numbers put up last year were fantastic and they don't appear to have taken much of a hit even after losing four players to the first round of the NFL Draft.  They play physical and run the ball well enough.  But ... I don't know, they're still led by this man.  He has but four losses in his LSU career yet almost every one has been inexplicable.  Like everyone inside the top 10, LSU has a fantastic team, but teams separate themselves with coaching and intangibles.  I'm not too worried about Matt Flynn at quarterback but I do think their defense is way above average but also a lot more vulnerable than people are willing to believe.  That Sugar Bowl performance against Notre Dame gets a lot of talk but it was basically a mirror-image of Irish losses to USC and Michigan in the same year.  I'm shocked how much mileage that game has given this team.

Phil Steele Says:  They year they return 6 starters on offense and must replace #1 DC JaMarcus Russell and their top 2 receivers, so it will be tough to top last year's 33.7 ppg.  The D has 8 starters back and allowed just 12.6 ppg with 5 starters back last season.  While LSU did not appear in the SEC Title game, they outgained conf foes by 132.2 ypg, which was 77 ypg more than the #2 team!!  The schedule is much more conducive to a big year as just 1 of their 5 road foes finished with a winning record in '06.  Seven of my 8 sets of power ratings call for LSU to have an undefeated year, so they are one of the top National Title contenders.

Preseason Consensus:  No. 2 nationally, No. 1 SEC West

(6) - Oklahoma

Briefly:  Last season's surprising Big 12 title restored some shine to Oklahoma and the coaching ability of Bob Stoops.  They proved they can play without Adrian Peterson and return a loaded defense.  The new name at quarterback would be a worry, but Oklahoma has proven over and over again that they can win games and make superstars out of anonymous passers.  There are some potential superstars on defense plus the much ballyhooed DeMarco Murray waiting in the wings on offense.  Looks good, right?  Now they just have to prove they can beat Texas.

Phil Steele Says:  This year OU has 8 returning starters on offense but lose their QB and star RB Peterson.  The defense must replace 4 starters.  The Sooners have one of the top D's in the country and lose just 10 lettermen (fewest in Big 12).  Provided they have a better summer than last year and better fortune during the season, they have a shot at an undefeated year.

Preseason Consensus:  No. 10 nationally, No. 2 Big 12 South
***
Previously at College Football Resource:

CFR's 2007 Top 25 Countdown: 11-15
CFR's 2007 Top 25 Countdown: 16-20
CFR's 2007 Top 25 Countdown: 21-25 

I did this last year and with another year of college football it's worth another try as we head into the final week before the 2007-2008 college football season.

1. Artists and Mechanics 2006
2. Whit's Response: Artists and Mechanics 2006

See above for a full background of what follows.  In brief: Sun Sports TV's Whit Watson came up with an intuitive but rarely discussed concept called Artists and Mechanics.  He wrote about it, fleshed it out a bit and that's kind of how this internet thing works.

In short, I believe that the world is split into two groups: Artists and Mechanics. Some might call it right-brain and left-brain, but I think Artists and Mechanics is much more lyrical and descriptive. Artists tend to be big-picture types, unconcerned with mundane details. They're strong on the "why," but weaker on the "how." Process is irrelevant; experience is everything...

...A Mechanic, on the other hand, thrives on process. The "how" supercedes the "why." Details bring joy. Learning how to accomplish a new task is a thrill...

...Artists need Mechanics, and vice versa. One cannot survive without the other.

I saw it, loved it, responded and he was kind enough to respond back with his takes.  I looked at college football's big picture, and he nailed down the Florida schools and dabbled with SEC/ACC notables.

Time to try it again, as it's a new year and we have new names and faces to talk about.  I'm going to write this up and pass it along to Whit Watson and if he's got the time (he's a busy man right about now), he'll send us a reply to which I'll gladly reproduce on here.  Sound good?

***
There's no better way to start out than talking about the preseason favorite USC Trojans.  Although he's lauded for his aggressiveness and risk-taking, USC coach Pete Carroll is a mechanic.  The man is still in love with the NFL (nothing if not a mechanic's league) and conservative, let the defense win it football.  Notably, he's edged even further towards the mechanic camp in recent years, transforming the vision of the USC offense from Norm Chow's artist's interpretation to a more grinding pro style.

His right hand man in the new offense is Steve Sarkisian.  Although a Chow "disciple", Sarkisian speaks a lot about execution and mastery of an increasingly complex system.  Their system is now less about daydreams and "what could be" and more about NFL 101 and "what we're going to do".

Down in the Bayou, I've got a funny feeling that LSU coach Les Miles is a bit more of an artist than he lets on.  Behind that bravado and huff-puffing is a guy who 1)wears his hat real funny and 2)hired freaking Gary Crowton to run an SEC offense.  That takes some imagination.  His mind was also flexible enough to permit both a pass-happy and run-happy offense in separate years at Oklahoma State.  Dogma is the realm of mechanics and Miles doesn't strike me as a repeatedly dogmatic person.

I talked last year about Arkansas coach Houston Nutt being an artist - that hasn't changed.  Whit Watson has alluded to how pairing artists with mechanics can create a synergistic harmony.  Well, pairing artists with artists or mechanics with mechanics may be bad medicine.  I think that may have been part of the issue last year with former offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn (artist!).  Malzahn liked his art one way (the forward pass), Nutt liked his the other way (run, run, run).  Thus: splittsville.

Malzahn's gone, but Arkansas has dusted off some old school tricks and made them modern with its Wildcat offense (now renamed WildHog).  Tell me that's not an artist at work?

New Alabama coach Nick Saban is an almost overbearing Mechanic.  Last year I said the 'Tide was too mechanical.  So what'd they do?  They went out and got another mechanic.  Here's hoping new offensive coordinator Major Applewhite is an artist to balance things out.

Now, for some players.

Leading Heisman Trophy candidate Darren McFadden strikes me as an artist.  His game isn't all that fancy, but he's creative enough to play multiple roles as returnman, tailback and quarterback at the D-I level.  He drives a funky, tricked-out car.  And he wears dresses on the side.  Artist.

Out west, quarterback John David Booty is an artist.  His game isn't all that fancy, but here's a guy who ditched his senior year of high school at age 17 to compete for a starting quarterback job at a major program.  That's vision at work.  As a high school passer, he was magnificent in a gimmick offense.  Somehow he was able to transform himself from a shotgun/gunslinger into a pure pocket passer.  It's one of the most remarkable transformations I've ever seen and something that stumped guys like Brock Berlin, Brent Rawls, Josh Booty and so many others.  Kid's got some imagination.

Another signal caller worth mentioning is Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen.  He's a big-time mechanic.  He's been groomed since birth to be a quarterback and by the end of high school had all but mastered college-level mechanics and understanding of defenses.  He's very polished (which also means he has a low ceiling) and a ready-made product.  Artists tend to be more freewheeling and prone to mistakes whereas Clausen's had that tunnel-vision of a grinding mechanic.

At Michigan, one player who really stood out last year was linebacker/defensive end Shawn Crable.  His versatility alone speaks to artistic tendencies.  He plays decent in space and can run with tight ends and backs.  But he can also stuff the run and has a real knack for getting to the quarterback.  His game is imaginative and freewheeling.  Need more?  He was born in Buckeye country and was one of those rare high high high profile Ohio ballers to give serious thought to programs around the country before settling on hated rival Michigan.  Independence?  Check.  Creativity?  Check.  Artist.

Who else would you like to discuss?  Leave a comment below and let's get the conversation started.  Some wild cards: Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit (broadcaster or player), Mack Brown, Colt McCoy, Arrelious Benn, Andre Woodson, Pat White, DeSean Jackson, Frank Beamer.

In the meantime, here are some possible questions for Mr. Whit Watson: You spoke last year about Urban Meyer, Bobby Bowden, Mickey Andrews, Jeff Bowden, Larry Coker, Chris Leak, George O'Leary, Jim Leavitt and Andre Hall.  With some new players and coaches emerging, how about these names: Randy Shannon, Jimbo Fisher, Rick Trickett (are there any artists among FSU's new coaches?!), Tim Tebow, Matt Grothe, Percy Harvin, Myron Rolle and Terry Bowden?

Also: How would you assess the great Tailgate Overtime show?  More artist or mechanic?  How about co-hosts Brady Ackerman and Terry Norvelle?  Or guests like Mike Bianchi or the myriad former Gators, Noles and Canes who make guest appearances?  Plus: wild cards.

My quick takes: Rolle is a tough-nosed defender, but I could see him dropping football tomorrow to follow some other pursuit.  He's a renaissance man and an artist in my book.  Shannon appears to be a big-time mechanic, same with Trickett.  Fisher strikes me as a mechanic, Grothe an artist (people keep comparing him to Joe Montana!), Harvin an artist, Tebow a great artist who is also a mechanic (keeps winning all the offseason hard-work awards).  Bowden's a bit of a renaissance man - surprisingly - went to Oxford and did law school and seemed surprised by the hours he's had to put in as a low-level assistant coach at Florida State.  Let's call him a closet artist.

The covers have been released and the theme is "The Year of the Runningback".

Five regional covers have been made (see gallery in link) with representation by Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden, West Virginia tailback Steve Slaton, Michigan tailback Mike Hart, Oklahoma tailback Allen Patrick and a trio of USC rushers in C.J. Gable, Chauncey Washinton and Emmanuel Moody.

Needless to say, McFadden was an easy choice for the coveted slot below. 

SportsIllustrated.com

(H/T: RazorBloggers Network)

Final Count: 40 out-of-conference (OOC) games for all Big East teams in 2007.

Of those 40, we have 25 home games (.625), 15 road games (.375) and no neutral games.

Games against BCS conference opponents (and Notre Dame): 15 (.375).

Of those games against BCS conference opponents, six are at home (.400), nine are on the road (.600) and none are at neutral settings.

The Big East has lined up six games (.150) against teams that aren't in D-IA.

***
Opponents by Conference:

ACC - 7 (Maryland x 2, Virginia x 2, North Carolina State, North Carolina, Duke)

Big 12 - 0 (!!!)

Big Ten - 3 (Michigan State, Iowa, Illinois)

Pac-10 - 2 (Oregon State, Washington

SEC - 3 (Kentucky, Mississippi State, Auburn) 

Independents - 3 (Navy x 2, Army)

Mountain West - 2 (Utah, San Diego State)

WAC - 0

Conference USA - 8 (Miami of Ohio x 2, Buffalo x 2, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Temple, Akron)

Sun Belt - 2 (Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee State)

***
Shameful Non-DIA opponents (6): Murray State, Norfolk State, Elon, Southeast Missouri State, Grambling State, Maine

***
Games I like: Louisville/Kentucky, Louisville/North Carolina State, Louisville/Utah, West Virginia/Marshall, West Virginia/Maryland, Rutgers/Navy, Rutgers/Maryland, USF/UCF, Cincinnati/San Diego State, Pittsburgh/Michigan State, Pittsburgh/Virginia, Pittsburgh/Navy, Syracuse/Washington, Syracuse/Iowa, Syracuse/Illinois

***
Per usual I'll add the actual OOC schedules below in my first comment/reply to this entry.

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Previous:

2007 Out of Conference Schedules: Big 12 Edition
2007 Out of Conference Schedules: ACC Edition
2007 Out of Conference Schedules: Big Ten Edition
2007 Out of Conference Schedules: SEC Edition
2007 Out of Conference Schedules: Pac-10 Edition