College Football Teams You'll Need to Watch

August is almost here, and with it comes the new college football season. Last season brought more upsets and general mayhem than perhaps any other season in history, and if we're lucky we might get to see more of the same this time around.

Before things officially get underway on August 28th, here's a look at one team and one player to keep an eye on in each of the BCS conferences.

Big 12
Team: Missouri -- The Tigers were one of the surprise stories of 2007, coming out of nowhere to post a 12-2 record and come up a game short of a chance at the national title. This season, almost all the key pieces return -- including QB Chase Daniel, who enters the year with Heisman hype already building after he was a finalist last season. The schedule certainly helps things, with the toughest game looking to be a mid-season trip to Texas. Mizzou has a much bigger target on its back this year, but early predictions suggest that a Big 12 North title could be in order for the Tigers.

Player: Michael Crabtree -- To call this sophomore Texas Tech receiver an "athletic freak" would be to put it mildly. As a freshman last year he was a nightmare for opposing defenses, racking up nearly 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns on 134 receptions, all of which led the nation for wideouts. This season he should be just as prolific -- and just as much fun to watch, thanks to the pass-happy Tech offense and the return of senior QB Graham Harrell. Of course, see him while you can, because if Crabtree puts up another season like the last he'll be a sure-fire top-10 draft pick and more than likely gone from the college ranks.

Big East
Team/Player: West Virginia/Pat White -- The biggest question team and player questions in the Big East come out of West Virginia, where the Mountaineers are looking to shake off remains of the Rich Rodriquez saga and welcome in their new coach, Bill Stewart, who looks to build on the job he did coaching the team to a resounding Fiesta Bowl to close out last season. But playmaking running back Steve Slaton is no longer in the backfield, putting all eyes on equally electric QB Pat White. Without Slaton behind him to shake things up, White will need to rely on the pass much more than his feet, something that hasn't been seen in Morgantown in quite a few years. If he can remain healthy (always a question for the fragile White), he should get some good help from speedy sophomore RB Noel Devine, and put West Virginia back in the driver's seat in the Big East.