GEORGIA HAS veterans all over the field, but will be relying on a rookie at a key spot. There's tough talk coming out of Clemson and Michigan and, despite what he says, UCLA's offensive coordinator is no idiot.

Let's head to the bookstore for some overpriced team paraphernalia as college football season is upon us. Here are 50 things to consider on the road to Miami for the BCS championship on Jan. 8:

1. Nobody is filling bigger paws this season than UGA VII, Georgia's newest bulldog mascot. His predecessor, UGA VI, was Georgia's winningest pup with an 87-27 record over nine seasons. He passed away in June of heart failure.

2. The gag around Kentucky's campus was that offensive coordinator Joker Phillips was involved when head coach Rich Brooks' fishing boat sank in June. Phillips already has been named to succeed Brooks and playfully maintains that he has an airtight alibi.

3. On a serious note, the job of replacing sixth-round pick Andre Woodson has fallen to Mike Hartline. Hartline's brother, Brian, is one of Ohio State's best wide receivers.

4. Brian Hartline says the second-ranked Buckeyes are embracing the role as serious title contenders. "We wouldn't have it any other way," he said. "That big bull's-eye on our back sounds good to me and we're ready to get after it."

5. Todd Boeckman will remain Ohio State's starting quarterback, but prized freshman Terrelle Pryor will see game action. "[Pryor] didn't look like a freshman," coach Jim Tressel said after a recent practice.

6. The Buckeyes' first major test will be at third-ranked USC on Sept. 13. Ohio State has won its last 13 road games with its last loss coming at Penn State in 2005.

7. USC starting quarterback Mark Sanchez fractured his kneecap on Aug. 8, but might return to the lineup in time for Saturday's opener at Virginia. If not, the Trojans could go with Aaron Corp or Mitch Mustain, an Arkansas transfer.

8. About a dozen members of Florida's football team have been paired with Gainesville-area at-risk youths in a mentoring program. Coach Urban Meyer preferred that his younger players participate, figuring they'd get more out of the experience than his veterans.

9. The Texas-Texas A&M game is back on Thanksgiving, where it had been contested 60 times in this storied rivalry. The reason is less about tradition and more about giving ESPN something to televise opposite the NFL game that night. By the way, the Eagles host the Cardinals in this year's NFL turkey night game.

10. Miami begins life in its new stadium by hosting Charleston Southern on Thursday at Dolphin Stadium. The Orange Bowl, which had been home of the 'Canes since 1937, was demolished in May. True freshman Jacory Harris will start in place of suspended quarterback Robert Marve for at least Miami's opener.

11. Connecticut, the defending Big East co-champs (boy, doesn't that sound odd?) gave Randy Edsall a contract extension and a $500,000 raise. Edsall is due to make $1.5 million, which is a shade less than men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun's $1.6 million and a little more than the $1.25 million earned by women's hoops coach Geno Auriemma.

12. Temple has vowed revenge for last year's controversial loss to the Huskies when UConn visits the Linc on Sept. 6. The Owls, looking for their first winning season since Wilson Goode was mayor, better not look past Friday's opener at Army.

13. Army coach Stan Brock had prostate cancer surgery in late July, but was back with his club just a few days later.

14. Ryan Perrilloux, who admits letting "a great opportunity slip away at LSU," will instead lead the Jacksonville State offense. Perrilloux, the MVP of last year's SEC championship game, was kicked off the LSU team for numerous infractions. Jacksonville State opens the season Thursday at Georgia Tech.

15. LSU junior quarterback Andrew Hatch is a transfer from Harvard. Following his freshman year, Hatch planned on a 2-year Mormon mission in Chile, but had to cut it short after 5 months when he injured his knee playing soccer.

16. "I think if we don't make it to the ACC championship, we let some people down," Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper said. Actually, the Tigers are relative experts in the disappointment department, but can start reversing that reputation with a win Saturday against Alabama at the Georgia Dome.

17. Clemson does not play Miami or Virginia Tech, but does travel to Boston College, Florida State and Virginia in November.

18. South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier will keep his title of offensive coordinator, but his son, Steve Jr., will draw up the gameplans and call the plays. The shakeup comes after a season-ending five-game losing streak that cost the Gamecocks (6-6) a bowl bid last year.