Cincinnati @ Fresno State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2009 ) Fresno State 20, Cincinnati 28

Saturday's Cincinnati-Fresno State game won't look much like last year's meeting. All the big names from last season's game have gone on to bigger and better things.

Fresno State running back Ryan Matthews, and Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike are now in the NFL, while coach Brian Kelly left for the top job at Notre Dame. The latter may be the key factor in this one.

Kelly's departure before the Bearcats' bowl game angered the players. They were dealt their lone defeat to Florida in the Sugar Bowl, but how will they respond now?

Kelly didn't leave a bare cupboard as quarterback Zach Collaros, who filled in admirably for Pike last season, is back after completing 75 percent of his passes in 2009. Unlike Pike, Collaros also is a threat to run. Leading rusher Isaiah Pead also returns to the backfield. They combined for 1,150 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.

Last year's leading receiver Mardy Gilyard also has moved on to the NFL, but Armon Binns and D.J. Woods are back.

Defense is the big challenge facing new UC coach Butch Jones. The Bearcats are switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4. There may be a learning curve, but they do return four of their top six tacklers, led by linebacker and Nagurski Award nominee JK Schaffer.

Cincinnati beat Fresno State 28-20 last season, sending the Bulldogs to a disappointing 8-5 season that was capped by a double-overtime loss to Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl.

The Bulldogs are 6-0 when opening a season at home and have won five straight season openers overall under coach Pat Hill, who got his 100th win last season.

While one Ryan is gone (Matthews rushed for more than 1,800 yards and 19 TDs last year), another one returns in quarterback Ryan Colburn, who passed for more than 2,400 yards and 19 TDs in 2009. Leading receiver Seyi Arijitutu is gone, so Colburn will count on Jamel Hamler (503 yards and five TDs) as his primary target.

Running back Robbie Rouse will be called on to replace Matthews, and the Bulldogs return their entire starting offensive line, which helped pave the way for Matthews' success. Rouse rushed for 479 yards and four touchdowns and averaged almost six yards per carry in limited action in 2009, so he could pick up where Matthews left off.

Leading tackler Ben Jacobs and sack leader Chris Carter return for the Bulldogs, who ranked 84th nationally on defense last season.