So now that spring football has wrapped up we can start our countdown to kickoff. Here are the 10 things I'm looking forward to seeing this fall:

10. The nation's purest passer, Ben Roethlisberger of Miami-Ohio facing two Big Ten teams (Iowa and Northwestern) and Colorado State in the first three weeks of the season.

9. Reggie McNeal getting the star treatment from Dennis Franchione at A&M. Whether it's an air show with Stoney Case or a ground attack with LaDainian Tomlinson, no coach is any better than Fran at tailoring his offense to his best player, and the speedy sophomore QB is special.

8. Virginia Tech's DeAngelo Hall playing both ways. Because if he's as dynamic as some Hokie coaches say, Hall -- not Kevin Jones -- should be the Heisman candidate from Blacksburg.

7. NC State's touted Magnificent 7 (Mario Williams, Ernest Jones, Demarcus "Tank" Tyler, Yomi Ojo, LaMart Barrett and Garland Heath and one-time Ohio State recruit Derek Morris) head to Columbus in mid-September to face the defending champs.

6. Mizzou's Brad Smith with an added year of seasoning.

5. Florida State's revival. Has Chris Rix matured? Has Greg Jones healed? And will Bobby survive with his program slogging its way through the police blotter?

4. USC's Darnell Bing taking over at strong safety for the fantastic Troy Polamalu. (Anyone good enough to get Mike Garrett's old No. 20 must be pretty special.)

3. Frank Gore finally at 100 percent after recovering from a torn ACL. (As great as Willis McGahee was last season, UM running backs Don Soldinger couldn't help but gush about Gore and his preternatural "lamps.")

2. The Biletnikoff race between Rashaun Woods, Lee Evans, the three Williamses (Reggie, Roy and Mike) and Larry Fitzgerald.

1. Maurice Clarett. Whether it's in front of a bunch of microphones or eight yards deep in the backfield, you have to watch him.

Bruce Feldman covers college football for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at bruce.feldman@espnmag.com.