Quarterback The past two seasons, Taylor has missed a combined five games because of ankle injuries. But former starter Sean Glennon was available as Taylor’s...

Ayear ago, Virginia Union was the clear choice to capture the CIAA championship. But the Panthers came unglued midway through the 2008 season. With its...

James Madison quarterback Justin Thorpe (right) congratulates Rodney Landers. Thorpe, a Varina grad, is in a battle with Drew Dudzik to replace Landers,...

2008 records: 5-3 CAA, 7-4   Offense: Senior QB R.J. Archer anchors an offense that has loads of experience, save for sophomore RB Jonathan Grimes....

Last year’s record: 1-7 ACC, 4-8   Coach: David Cutcliffe (4-8 in one season at Duke, 48-37 in seven seasons overall)   Last bowl appearance:...

2009 records: 4-3 CIAA, 5-5   Offense: The Trojans have solid RBs in Taron Hampton and Babaside Onadipe. QB Leonard Johnson showed flashes of brilliance...

Hampton University seeks stability at the top of its football program. HU this season will have its third coach in three years. From 1992-2007, the Pirates...

Offense The Cavaliers have a new system, the spread, and a new quarterback, Vic Hall, who spent the past three seasons at cornerback. But Hall was one...

Sept. 5 vs. Alabama, 8 p.m., ABC, This is the Hokies’ biggest opener since 2004, when they lost to Southern California.

Last year’s record: 4-4 ACC, 8-5 Coach: Butch Davis (12-13 in two seasons at UNC, 63-33 in eight seasons overall)   Last bowl appearance: 2008...

Last year’s record: 5-3 ACC, 9-5   Coach: Frank Spaziani (1-0 at Boston College as interim coach in 2006 bowl game)   Last bowl appearance:...

Last year’s record: 4-4 ACC, 6-7   Coach: Tom O’Brien (11-14 in two seasons at N.C. State, 86-59 in 12 seasons overall)   Last bowl...

Last year’s record: 4-4 ACC, 8-5   Coach: Jim Grobe (54-44 in eight seasons at Wake Forest, 87-77-1 in 14 seasons overall)   Last bowl...

Hampden-Sydney running back Kirk Rohle will become the main ground threat in the Tigers’ offense this season. Kirk Rohle toiled in the deep shadows...

Liberty lost its first two Big South Conference games in 2006 under new coach Danny Rocco. It hasn’t lost a conference game since. That 11-game...

2008 records: 5-3 MEAC, 6-5   Offense: Junior QB Herbert Bynes set school records for passing yards (2,713), total offense (2,616 yards) and completions...

2009 records: 3-4 CIAA, 5-5   Offense: The Panthers will have a tough time replacing QB Lamar Little, but if they lean on their running game, it won’t...

On the good days of practice, Liberty coach Danny Rocco sees a team capable to sustaining the Top 25 profile the Flames have built the past two years....

Last year’s record: 4-4 ACC, 8-5   Coach: Ralph Friedgen (64-36 in eight seasons at Maryland)   Last bowl appearance: 2008 Humanitarian,...

U.Va. senior Vic Hall (4) was a one-man wrecking crew against Virginia Tech in his only start at quarterback last season. Hall, who called signals for...

Last year’s record: 4-4 ACC, 7-6   Coach: Randy Shannon (12-13 in two seasons at Miami)   Last bowl appearance: 2008 Emerald, lost to California...

Last year’s record: 5-3 ACC, 9-4   Coach: Bobby Bowden (295-91-4 in 33 seasons at FSU, 368-137-4 in 43 seasons overall)   Last bowl appearance:...

The ACC media’s predictions for this season (first-place votes in parentheses)  COASTAL DIVISION ATLANTIC DIVISION

Last year’s record: 5-3 ACC, 9-4   Coach: Paul Johnson (9-4 in one season at Georgia Tech, 116-43 in 12 seasons overall)   Last bowl appearance:...

Some of the top Football Championship Series competition in the country happens in the CAA, and that’s both on and off the field. A mini arms race...

2009 records: 3-4 CIAA, 5-5   Offense: The offense, led by WRs Emory Addison and Jason Davis, will have to generate more points after finishing last...

2008 records: 3-5 MEAC, 5-7   Offense: The Spartans are expected to open up their offense with QB Dennis Brown, in his second season as a starter...

2008 records: 8-0 CAA, 12-2   Offense: Quarterback is the big question mark entering the season, but Matthews will install the same spread offense...

There will be no talk this year of returning stars or veteran leadership at Old Dominion. That’s what happens when your record in the last 69 years...

Last year: 4-4 ACC, 7-6   Coach: Dabo Swinney (4-3 in one partial season at Clemson and overall)   Last bowl appearance: 2008 Gator, lost to...

Sept. 5 William and Mary 6 p.m. ESPN 360 The Tribe could be a pesky opponent for the Cavaliers in this opener for both teams.

They lug it around like a 100-pound backpack on a late-night run. Virginia Military Institute’s football team hasn’t had a winning season since...

Need further proof of just how tough the CAA is? William and Mary enters the season ranked No. 14 nationally, even going as high as No. 11 in some polls....

2008 records: 4-2 ODAC, 8-2   In the spotlight: Fifth-year QB Corey Sedlar (Mills Godwin) enters his final season at H-SC as the second-most prolific...

UR quarterback Eric Ward cools off in practice. He figures to throw more this season for a Spiders backfield without an obvious successor to Josh Vaughan....

The sound of his shoulder bones grinding together still occupies a prominent enough place in Jason Worilds’ memory that he describes it like a recurring...