The Big Two is becoming the Big Three now that Cincinnati has practically muscled even with perennial Conference USA stalwarts Louisville and Southern Miss. All three could distance themselves from the rest of the C-USA field this season, leaving only the question of order:

Will it be Louisville-Southern Miss-Cincinnati? Or Cincinnati-Louisville-Southern Miss?

Or ...

	John L. Smith and Louisville are ranked No. 17 in the coaches' poll.

"I'd like to think we're getting to that point, where we can be mentioned in the same breath as programs like Southern Miss and Louisville," said Cincinnati coach Rick Minter. "That's the goal."

That's the reality. The Bearcats have finished second in the league the past two seasons, and this year Cincinnati returns 16 starters, plus former Lou Groza Award-winning kicker Jonathan Ruffin, from a 7-5 team (5-2 in the league). The key returner is quarterback Gino Guidugli, who replaced injured starter Adam Hoover in the second week of the season and threw for 2,573 yards and 16 touchdowns -- as a true freshman. Guidugli has back three senior receivers and will play behind three returning starters on the line.

All of that is the good news for Cincinnati.

The bad news: Neither Louisville nor Southern Miss suffered heavy losses from last season, either. The Cardinals return 15 starters, including 10 from a defense that, over the past two seasons, has produced a national-best 44 interceptions. Another key Cardinal is quarterback Dave Ragone, of course. He is the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, and probably the league's best pro prospect. Not a bad core for a team that went 11-2 last season and won the league with a 6-1 mark.

Southern Miss returns more starters than Cincinnati or Louisville, welcoming back 17 first-teamers from last season's 6-5 group that, frankly, underachieved. Then again, running back Derrick Nix's absence -- he was sidelined with a kidney problem - contributed to the Eagles' struggles. But Nix is back, and he's not even one of the 17 "official" returning starters. Yes, Southern Miss is loaded.

"The conference will be very tough at the top this year," said East Carolina coach Steve Logan. "We know we're going to have some battles."

The Pirates also have been consistently tough, but they suffered extensive losses from last season's 6-6 team, including the graduation of record-setting quarterback David Garrard. Logan has a knack for developing those guys, though, and his choice to replace Garrard is sophomore Paul Troth, one of the highest-rated quarterbacks ever to sign with East Carolina.

Also jockeying for position should be Memphis, which returns 13 starters from a 5-6 team; and TCU, which has won 31 games over the past four seasons and returns 13 starters from its 6-6 team in 2001.

Game of the Year
The conference title will be decided by the three-way series between Louisville, Southern Miss and Cincinnati, but if you're looking for one huge game this season, try Sept. 26. That's the day Florida State visits Louisville. With a game against Clemson the following week, the Seminoles might not be totally focused on the Cardinals -- which would be a mistake.

Offensive Player of the Year
Until Louisville quarterback Dave Ragone graduates, we're going to keep giving the preseason (and probably postseason) award to him. Good news to the rest of the league's underclassman offensive players -- Ragone graduates after this season.

Defensive Player of the Year
Southern Miss linebacker Rod Davis is a punishing hitter who has the luxury of experience in front of him (three of four starting defensive linemen return) and behind him (three of four defensive backs, too). Surrounded by such experience, Davis will be set free to roam the field, looking for knockout blows.

Gregg Doyel covers college football for the Charlotte Observer.