For years, it has become common in college football for a quarterback to lead his school to double-digit win seasons, a BCS bowl victory and gaudy statistics – only to either be completely ignored by NFL teams come draft time, or to be selected late and eventually spend a career stylishly holding a clipboard.

So how does that thought process translate to some of the best draft-eligible college quarterbacks in college football today?

In particular, let’s say for the Top 25 Draft-Eligible Quarterbacks according to Phil Steele – who if you haven’t read him, is the best in the business when it comes to preseason college football rankings and projections.

Will each of these players be remembered for their time as an NFL quarterback, or instead as the “Big Man On Campus”?

Certainly, with examples like Ryan Leaf at the top of an NFL Draft, or Tom Brady near the bottom of one – it can be an inexact science predicting QB success – but let’s give it a shot anyway:

Top 25 Draft-Eligible QB’s in College Football: Future NFL Star or Just BMOC?

25. Kevin Prince – UCLA – 6-2 229

Prince has the size and frame as a pro-style quarterback, but has been injury prone throughout his career with the Bruins thus far – and hasn’t impressed with his numbers, either.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

24. Adam Weber – Minnesota – 6-3 221

Sure, he’s 6’3” and has pocket presence, but with more picks than touchdowns in ’09, one has to wonder how much it was Eric Decker (pre-injury) saving him more than anything else.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

23. Scott Tolzien – Wisconsin – 6-3 208

Tolzien is often overlooked with John Clay also in the Wisconsin backfield.  Still, he struggled against big boys Iowa and Ohio State, so he could easily be compared to Penn State’s Daryll Clark, who had the same struggles – and wasn’t drafted.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

22. Jordan Jefferson – LSU – 6-5 220

First thing’s first: Eliminate the fact that Ryan Perrilloux and JaMarcus Russell were packed with hype – and will likely jade your image of LSU QB’s.  That, plus Jefferson himself hasn’t been anything short of mediocre, but he does have the frame of an NFL quarterback – and has limited his mistakes, so there’s still a good chance he could turn things around… but for now…

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

21. Pat Devlin – Delaware – 6-4 217

Many forget that Devlin led a game-winning drive for Penn State on the road against the Buckeyes a few seasons ago.  He transferred that offseason and wound up at Delaware, the same place where Ravens QB Joe Flacco played in college.  He also possesses an arm and talent similar to that of Flacco, too.

NFL QUARTERBACK

20. Kirk Cousins – Michigan State – 6-3 202

Cousins is a 6’ 3” pro-style guy who – with all the talent around him – could develop his game at Michigan State, but for now, unless he can improve on his completion percentage and be more consistent, he’ll just be another one of Dantonio’s solid signal callers.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

19. Kevin Riley – California – 6-2 223

Riley has decent size for a prospect, but no skills that immediately jump off the page and scream pro star.  It will also be interesting to see how he performs without Jahvid Best this coming season – and at this point, an elite NFL career would be a surprise.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

18. Jacory Harris – Miami – 6-4 190

Harris has been arguably the most inconsistent college quarterback – featuring moments of explosiveness in one game, mixed with inconsistency and poor decisions in another.  That kind of mobility coupled with inaccuracy makes me think of a guy like Quincy Carter, who was a bust at the pro level.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

17. Nick Foles – Arizona – 6-5 245

Foles has a large intimidating presence in the pocket – and certainly could continue to develop and improve on his game, but an awful performance in last year’s Holiday Bowl is the freshest thing in many minds.  He’ll need to play that performance out of critics’ heads.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

16. Landry Jones – Oklahoma – 6-4 216

The Sooners suffered a number of injuries last season – including one to star QB Sam Bradford, which paved the way for Landry Jones to get a shot – and some experience.  With some extra time under center at OU, he’s only going to get better – and has the skillset and the frame to become something special years down the road.

NFL QUARTERBACK

15. Tyrod Taylor – Virginia Tech – 6-1 217

Taylor is drawing comparisons to Mike Vick – mostly due to his size, mobility and the fact that he’s also a Hokies QB.  Still, while he can throw the deep ball fairly well, his game suffers when the running game isn’t clicking – and a Vick-like NFL career seems possible… hopefully without the additional drama.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

14. John Brantley – Florida – 6-3 218

Following in the footsteps of a legend like Tim Tebow can derail some players, but Brantley doesn’t appear to be one of those types.  He has the skills to succeed and the talent around him to assist with his development.  With Tebow fresh in Gator minds, it’s safe to say Brantley will be more known for his pro career, no matter what happens.

NFL QUARTERBACK

13. Greg McElroy – Alabama – 6-3 225

He doesn’t blow you away with any of his skills, but that doesn’t mean that he couldn’t stick around in the NFL for a number of years.  Still, with one national title already – and a top ranking heading into 2010, it’s more likely that McElroy will be remembered as the BMOC – and not for his accomplishments in the pros.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

12. Kellen Moore – Boise State – 6-0 186

Many will quickly dismiss Moore for his size and frame, saying that he’d never make it in the NFL.  But take a look at the success of Super Bowl-winning QB Drew Brees, and also Colt McCoy – who got drafted and could get a shot with the Browns in the near future.  Moore is extremely accurate, and has been a great leader.  My gut tells me he could be the next undersized quarterback to become something.

NFL QUARTERBACK

11. Ricky Stanzi – Iowa – 6-4 230

Stanzi has the size and frame to make an impact in the NFL – and while he certainly kept Iowa in a lot of games last season, he also made way too many mistakes passing the ball.  In the end, an average NFL signal caller like a Chris Chandler comes to mind more than anything.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

10. Andy Dalton – TCU – 6-3 215

He certainly doesn’t have the biggest frame of all the quarterbacks that will enter his class, but Dalton is hard-nosed player that has become a proven winner for a program that made a BCS bowl last year – and open in the top ten this year.  Success in the NFL could definitely happen.

NFL QUARTERBACK

9. Blaine Gabbert – Missouri – 6-5 240

He may be the most underrated QB in the college game – and if it wasn’t for an ankle injury last season, he could have posted the best numbers in his conference.  Gabbert will need to improve on his completion percentage to eventually make it in the pros, but his size and talent is enough to get him there if he can stay healthy.

NFL QUARTERBACK

8. Colin Kaepernick – Nevada 6-6 215

No quarterback in the college game combines this kind of height with this kind of mobility, and that’s the kind of trait that will draw NFL scouts towards him.  If he’s drafted into the right situation, an NFL team could certainly find a way to hone his skillset, get him to learn a pro offense and turn him to a legitimate NFL QB.

NFL QUARTERBACK

7. Terrelle Pryor – Ohio State 6-6 233

Many say Pryor grew into something special late last season – specifically against Penn State and Oregon.  But while the talent and athleticism has always been there, one can’t help but think of how he succeeded against the Nittany Lions – in some cases with deep passes that were nowhere near on target, but the receivers were just that wide open, that the receptions were made anyway.  NFL superstar?  Don’t see it, but that could change after this year.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

6. Jerrod Johnson – Texas A&M 6-5 243

If you saw Johnson against the Longhorns last year, you will know how good he can be.  Featuring big-play ability, plus an NFL frame, it’s a good bet that Johnson could wind up as one of the better – if not the best – quarterbacks in his draft class.  He’s a darkhorse – and you heard it here, first – but just as long as he can translate his game and learn a pro system.

NFL QUARTERBACK

5. Christian Ponder – Florida State 6-3 227

He has a pro-style QB frame, combined with the smarts that could allow for him to easily learn in an NFL system, but there has been a lot of inconsistency at times throughout his college career – which in the end might be what he’s most known for.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

4. Case Keenum – Houston 6-2 210

Keenum has done nothing but light up the scoreboard at Houston, posting gaudy statistics that most college quarterbacks would never come close to seeing in a career – let alone one season.  Still, while he has a lot of tools to become a solid NFL quarterback – he seems to be more of a product of his school’s system, instead.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

3. Ryan Mallett – Arkansas 6-7 238

Let’s see, the kid has the kind of frame, coupled with a cannon arm that NFL scouts will just drool over – and many have slated him as a potential top pick in next year’s draft.  The biggest strike against him has been some injuries over the last few years – but all in all, whether he pans out or not, he does seem destined to be a high NFL draft pick with loads of hype.

NFL QUARTERBACK

2. Andrew Luck – Stanford 6-4 235

Luck already has the talent and the frame of an NFL quarterback – and combine that with being under the tutelage of Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh, one can point towards a successful pro career in his future.

NFL QUARTERBACK

1. Jake Locker – Washington 6-3 226

Locker is quite mobile and also possesses top-notch arm strength.  If he can stay healthy and continue to grow within Coach Sark’s system, Locker also has an outside shot to be the top pick in the NFL Draft.

NFL QUARTERBACK

* Also posted to my B/R page

As last year’s football season came to its end, the Big Ten conference shunned away from being the familiar obedient dog that rolled over and played dead, particularly upon January’s arrival.

Guess there won’t be Ubu (of 80’s sitcom fame) earning any endorsement deals as the future Big Ten mascot.

Certainly, the conclusion of the 2009 season was a positive one, what with Ohio State and Iowa reeling in BCS victories, Penn State knocking out the SEC’s LSU Tigers on New Year’s Day and other teams pushing teams to the brink during the bowl period.

Entering 2010, there are a handful of Big Ten teams that are considered to be in the mix for the national championship game – specifically The Ohio State University, plus teams such as Iowa and Wisconsin could be darkhorses, too.

So what are some possible factors that could keep the door shut on the Big Ten conference’s chance at a national championship? These first came to mind:

7 Factors That Could Lock Big Ten Champion Out of BCS Title Game

SEC Bias

Let’s face it: The majority of voters covet the SEC powers like JaMarcus Russell craves two-dozen donuts washed down by an ice-cold glass of “purple drank”.

That’s why there’s a likely shot that unless the conference beats itself to a pulp – trading loss after loss – the SEC will flill in one of the title game spots, leaving the doorway that much smaller for the Big Ten champ.

Specifically, there’s a deep pool of talent in the SEC again – with many critics picking Alabama and Florida to again face off in the SEC title game.

Boise State Runs the Table

QB Kellen Moore is of 1 of 21 starters returning for Boise State in 2010

Let’s toss out some numbers that will further cement the idea of Boise State heading to the big game.  First, it’s likely that the Broncos will start the season ranked in the top five.

Next, Boise State returns 21 starters from last season – and yes, that’s no typo.  Only five lettermen are departed from last year’s team – which is a stat that puts the “smurfy” in Idaho’s “Smurf Turf”.

To top it off, if Boise State knocks off its two legit BCS opponents in Virginia Tech and Oregon State, that further adds credibility to the team’s strength of schedule.

Afterward, it would be a cruise through the conference schedule leading to November, when the Broncos will need to get by Fresno State at home, followed by Nevada on the road.

TCU Goes Undefeated

Like Boise State, the Horned Frogs are a talented bunch that will likely land themselves near the top of the polls when the season begins – likely in the top ten.

TCU returns 17 starters from last year’s team and also has Oregon State on its pre-conference schedule (the Beavers are a glutton for punishment, apparently).

Then on, the Horned Frogs’ biggest roadblocks are October 16^th vs. BYU and a November 6 road game at Utah.

Oregon Dominates the Pac-10

Sure, while the gifted troublemaker Masoli is gone and there have been a number of other off-the-field distractions, the Ducks are still loaded with talent – returning 17 starters, including the beastly back LaMichael James.

With the Trojans bagged from the postseason – and chock full of their own issues – the doorway is open for Oregon to take control of the conference, potentially going as far as the national championship game.

The biggest challenge for the Ducks will be its road schedule, featuring Tennessee, Arizona State, USC, Cal and – you guessed it – those pesky Oregon State Beavers again.

Miami Clinches ACC, Hands Buckeyes A Loss

Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes will have their hands full with Miami

The ‘Shoe is a tough place to play, but road teams can and do win there – and it’s possible to clip the Bucks early in the season when the team isn’t quite in sync yet.

The Miami Hurricanes – a team that hasn’t had a double-digit winning season since 2003 – are becoming relevant again.

This very talented ‘Canes team has a legitimate chance to upset the Buckeyes in Columbus – but only if QB Jacory Harris can limit his mistakes and post one of the best games in his career.

Combine that win with being the class of the ACC, and the Hurricanes – with their tough schedule – could pass any of the Big Ten powers in the polls.

Big 12 Champ Finds A Way

It’s no secret that the Big 12’s elite teams have lost significant pieces from last season – Oklahoma losing Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham, Texas losing Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley and Nebraska losing Ndamukong Suh.

However, each team features loads of talent heading into 2010 – and any of these three could emerge as a clear conference title winner – potentially pushing it to the big game.

Specifically, Nebraska still has a loaded defense, plus a schedule that doesn’t feature Oklahoma, yet has both Missouri and Texas at home.

Texas QB Garrett Gilbert got priceless national championship experience when McCoy went down – and can translate that onto the field in 2010.

Finally, Sooners QB Landry Jones also got plenty of experience and has 8 other starters returning on the offensive side of the ball.

The Big Ten Beats Itself

Finally, there’s the roundabout reason that the Big Ten gets locked out of the championship game – that being that the conference beats itself.

Look at some of the obvious choices for the Big Ten’s best teams and what will likely keep them from the national championship:

Penn State: Inexperience at QB, plus a brutal road schedule that features 3 BCS winners from last year in Alabama, Iowa and Ohio State.

Wisconsin: Returning 17 starters and not having to face Penn State is a PLUS, but returning only 6 defensive starters and facing Ohio State and Iowa during back-to-back weeks is going to be a major challenge.

Iowa: Sure, the Hawkeyes have all the conference powers at home this season, but this is a team that escaped a number of times in 2009 – and that good fortune may not translate to the 2010 squad.

Ohio State: The home game against Miami will be tough during the second week, and road tests against Wisconsin and Iowa are no cakewalk either.

* Also posted to my Bleacher Report page

The grass is always greener on the other side, right?

Sure it is – and Les Miles is ALWAYS on time.

Perhaps that question should be directed to the fans, supporters and teams of college football – in particular those who enjoyed sunny days in the recent past – followed by a whole heck of a lot of gloomy days heading into the present.

We’re talkin’ raining cats and dogs – and not ‘Dawgs.

So upon diving into this topic for a second, if there were coaches that many wish they had back and running particular college football programs, who would they be?

Here are some coaches that come to mind – in the latest Sexy Seven (plus a BONUS one this week):

College Football: Coaches That Teams Wish They Had Back

Bobby Petrino (at Louisville)

Bobby Petrino was 41-9 as head coach at “The Ville”, including four bowl game appearances and an 11-3 record as a member of the Big East conference.

In a matter of months, the Cardinals went from a breeding ground for NFL quarterbacks to a festival of football follies.

Therefore, it would come as no surprise to hear that no one wants a coach back more than Louisville wants Petrino – though there may be some intrigue and excitement with brand spankin’ new hire (and former Gators DC) Charlie Strong.

Lloyd Carr (at Michigan)

This season, Michigan football celebrates its official return to being the owner of the largest capacity crowd in the college game.

(Photo Credit: Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated)

Translation: 2010 seems destined to be “The Big House featuring Little Football.”

In a few seasons, the Wolverines have transformed from a model of consistency (under Lloyd Carr) to a model of conspiracy under Rich Rodriguez – ranging from players transferring, to rules being broken, to self-imposed sanctions and so on.

Lloyd Carr may not have been perfect in the eyes of the maize and blue, but his career record of 122-40 is looking like Brooklyn Decker in a bikini compared to Rich Rod’s Rosie O’Donnell-like career at Michigan.

Phil Fulmer (at Tennessee)

Many will be quick to criticize, saying that Phil Fulmer’s recruiting efforts were fading, and the team was sinking further and further towards football mediocrity.

Two words to counter that argument: Lane Kiffin.

Say what you want about Fulmer, he still made 15 bowl games in 17 seasons and he won a “Natty” in 1998 for UT – when Kiffin couldn’t even manage to cheer up a “Natty Ice” with any of the Vols faithful.

Instead, Lane simply left the entire state of Tennessee with “bitter beer face.”

Terry Donahue (at UCLA)

Under Donahue’s watch, the Bruins won 151 games, including five conference titles and seven straight bowl victories from 1982-1987.

After his departure, UCLA’s new coach was Bob Toledo – and while there were back-to-back seasons of brilliance in 1997 and 1998 – the rest of his tenure was, well… Toledo-esque.

Karl Dorrell’s stretch was nothing to write home to Mom about and current headman Rick Neuheisel’s run is still in its infant stages.

Holy Toledo – where for art thou, Terry?

Nick Saban (at LSU)

LSU certainly hasn’t been a doormat under Les Miles, but many could easily question his far-from-elite regime.  After all, the national title was won with Saban’s recruits.

Worse, Miles hasn’t been able to tell time to save his life.  Not only have there been the late game blunders with clock management, Miles was even late to his press conference during the 2010 SEC Media Days.

Someone needs to giftwrap a replica of Flava Flav’s clock, so that Les can wear it during the upcoming football season.

Maybe then he’ll get a better idea of the time – and before his own time is up.

TWHS thinks Les Miles needs a replica of Flava Flav's clock to assist with his clock management

R.C. Slocum (at Texas A&M)

The majority of critics would be quick to point out that Slocum’s bowl record (3-8) was reminiscent of something to be flushed down a different type of bowl – but looking back on his ability to maintain a clean program, while also showing compassion in comforting his players through tragic events such as the bonfire disasater, Slocum’s record would be welcomed back with open arms.

11 bowl games and a record of 123-47-2 over 14 seasons, that’s leaps and bounds over the Aggies’ performances over the last decade.

The 12^th man would simply love to have more than a dozen reasons to party on New Year’s Day again.

June Jones (at Hawai’i)

The Warriors went from aerial attack to verbal attack – as June Jones (75-41 as coach) developed lethal offenses featuring quarterbacks like Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan, while Greg McMackin only has launched a handful of derogatory comments and slurs.

What bigger collapse could anyone deliver in college sports – losing a former NFL coach and replacing him with a guy that many likely would still rather see roasted with an apple in his mouth.

Paul Pasqualoni (at Syracuse)

Syracuse is like the Apple of college football – cruising along, steady as a rock and then… BOOM… iPhone 4.

There was a bevy of success under Pasqualoni (who amassed 107 victories), and also Dick MacPherson before him.

The actual real beginning of the orange crush was 2005, when the ‘Cuse mustered just one victory in Greg Robinson’s first season as head coach.

Over four seasons, Robinson couldn’t even crack a dozen wins – and instead was left with egg on his face.  And while the Orange have been more competitive under Doug Marrone, a bowl game still feels like miles away – and saying that is very realistic – and not walking on eggshells.

It can easily be referred to as the craziest June in the history of college football – what with all the rumors swirling around regarding conference expansion and realignment across just about all of the major conferences.

But now that the dust has mostly settled, we can move on and attempt to assess the winners and losers as college football currently stands.

Here they are, in no particular order – starting with the winners:

College Football Conference Realignment Aftermath: Winners and Losers

WINNER: Big 12 Conference

The most obvious choice of all is obviously the Big 12 Conference, because well… it’s still alive and ticking.  Credit Texas for being the glue that kept the conference with ten teams – or credit someone else – but either way, the BCS still has one of its strongest conferences intact, and with just two minor casualties in Colorado and Nebraska.

WINNER: Texas

The Longhorns played the role of the hot girl that everyone wants to go to prom with – from the Big Ten courting them, to the Pac-10 making them the top desire, and to the Big 12 conference wanting to keep them.

When it was all said and done, not only does Texas stay, but they also will reel in a ton of extra cash for the university, and the conference in the form of a future TV deal that’s in the works.

WINNER: Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten was one of the biggest winners of the week – adding the Nebraska Cornhuskers and their tradition-rich football program to the mix.

On top of that, the Big Ten gets its 12^th team, which now can lead to a conference championship, more revenue, more exposure – and in the end, a likely bigger step towards major bowl victories, as each conference champion will have a shorter layoff between the end of the regular season and BCS bowl week.

WINNER: Nebraska

The Big Ten is a great fit for the Huskers, who find themselves as a part of the very lucrative Big Ten Network, plus one could argue they are in a conference that features a more cultural fit than they had when a part of the Big 12.

Also, the geographic nature of the Big Ten should potentially help Nebraska with the recruiting process going forward.

WINNER: Kansas Basketball

Many haven’t touched upon this one, but one of the biggest powers in college hoops may have found themselves without a major conference, and losing some big time programs to play against on a regular basis.  Instead, the Big 12 conference remains intact and the Jayhawks will still have Oklahoma and Texas frequenting their schedule during the winter months.

WINNER: The Big 12 Leftovers

Teams like Missouri, Baylor, Kansas and Kansas State were rumored to be hours from being without a conference.  The result would have likely been a move to a conference with significantly less competition, and also less money for their respective programs.

Instead, each school (and their representatives) can breathe a giant sigh of relief.

WINNER: The BCS

Honestly, if you look at the BCS, there could have been a significant change in the balance of conference power – and with the way the system is set up currently, it was a great possibility that a significantly weaker conference could have been earning an automatic berth with the changes that almost occurred.

Therefore, the minimal changes that did go through should keep legit automatic berths in play for all the major conferences – and everyone’s favorite BCS can continue to put mostly big-time schools in the major bowl games.

LOSER: Pac-10 Conference

This is the most glaringly obvious choice among the list of losers, considering that throughout the week, the Pac-10 was rumored to be hours from becoming a superconference featuring 16 teams, including Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12.

Now, not only did they lose out on the Big 12’s best, they are also having issues with their own elite schools, mainly USC and the sanctions it is currently facing.

Fortunately, there are rumors that Utah may be moving to the Pac-10 – and combined with Colorado, they can boost the conference up to 12 teams.

LOSER: Mountain West Conference

Listen, the addition of Boise State to the MWC is a good thing – a great thing, actually.

However, there are several rumors pointing to Utah departing for the Pac-10, especially after the Big 12 powers decided to stay put.

On top of all this, the Mountain West appeared primed to steal away a major BCS berth if the Big 12 fell apart – and now that opportunity may have faded away as well.

LOSER: FOX Network

The rumors of a Pac-10 super conference also were pointing to FOX teaming up to form a network for the new and improved group of schools, but now that deal doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as lucrative as it could have been – and instead of stealing away some revenue and figures from ESPN, little has changed as the situation stands now.

LOSER: USC

With the Trojans facing sanctions, there could have been a boost for the school to be coupled with some of the biggest powers in college football, mainly Texas and Oklahoma moving to the Pac-10.  Having teams that travel well and bring in big money may have helped soften the blow that will result from the pending sanctions against the Trojans.

For those that don’t buy into this, think outside the box.  It may be two years without a bowl game, but adding in the loss of scholarships – and it is possible USC could be years from being elite again.

LOSER: Big 12 Conference

Finally, the conference realignment goes full-circle, with the Big 12 conference emerging also as a loser on my list.

It’s a winner for staying alive, but it’s a loser due to the fact that after losing Colorado and Nebraska, the Big 12 is in a position to lose its conference championship game.  Now, they can see how tough it can be to have such a long layoff before a major bowl game.  This has been a major sticking point for the Big Ten over recent years.

Now that the dust is somewhat settling on the recent conference realignment frenzy, there are new questions to be addressed in the upcoming months, one of which involves the new Big Ten member Nebraska.

The Big Ten features a handful of natural rivalry games at the end of the season, as most conferences do.  Ohio State and Michigan plus Purdue and Indiana are just a few examples.

So what about the Huskers?

While many may push for Wisconsin or Iowa to step in and be a natural rival for Nebraska in college football, I’m putting in my vote for Penn State.

It does make sense for the Nittany Lions to be rivaled up with Nebraska – and not just because these are the newest members to the conference, the 11^th and 12^th teams, respectively.

Currently, Penn State is coupled up with Michigan State, and the two teams play the last game of the regular season every year – specifically for the Land Grant Trophy.

Trophy or not, this rivalry has always been forced – and this is coming from the mouth of a Penn State grad who knows.

Listen, the Nittany Lions faithful don’t care about Michigan State.  It’s not meant to be a cold statement, but the natural conference rivals for the Lions are the Ohio States and the Michigans – and now, Nebraska, too.

Penn Staters do not like Nebraska – in fact, they loathe them.

Hey, it has nothing to do with the “corn faithful”, as I’m sure the majority of them are good people.

This hatred has been brewing for 16 years now – dating back to 1994.

Get it now?

The Nittany Lions had a powerhouse team that year, one that deserved to at least have a share of the National Championship.

But alas, if you think the current BCS system is severely flawed, at least it wasn’t like years ago, when a team like Penn State didn’t even get a chance to fight for the title.

Ki-Jana Carter was a key to Penn State's success in 1994

Instead, it came down to a bowl game – and then a final vote.

Penn State, loaded with a lethal offense featuring QB Kerry Collins, RB Ki-Jana Carter and company, faced Oregon in the Rose Bowl, while Nebraska took on Miami in the Orange Bowl.

Each team cruised to victory, with the Nittany Lions defeating the Ducks 38-20 and the Cornhuskers knocking off Miami 24-17.

Then, the votes were tallied and the heartbreak began to settle in.

Nebraska was named national champs – and Penn State didn’t even get a share.

Since then, the hatred has been brewing – and some of it was relinquished with a 40-7 win in 2002 when the Nittany Lions took out their frustrations on a hapless Huskers team.

But a home-and-home isn’t enough to quench the thirst of the blue and white faithful.

These two teams are a natural fit for a rivalry, no matter what anyone says – and with that, a new trophy should be born – perhaps called the ‘94 Trophy – where each year, the Nittany Lions and Cornhuskers can fight for that 1994 national title.

Nebraska was the sole National Champion in 1994

I don’t care if this trophy has a giant dairy cow coupled with a couple of corn stalks – it just needs to exist, so that the winner can parade it around the stadium at the end of each season.

So, regretfully Sparty, you can have all the land you want – and I understand that there may be some kind of deal in place between MSU and PSU, but there can be a way to get around it.  Heck, each of the power conferences certainly has found ways over the last few days.

Consider this a petition for Nebraska vs. Penn State at the end of each football season starting in 2012 – and feel free to sign it below, via the comments section.

If enough support is generated, The Wife Hates Sports can push this concept further and let it be known to the powers that be in the Big Ten conference.

For now, welcome to the Big Ten Huskers fans – it’s going to be a wild ride, so fasten your seatbelts.