W. Kentucky favored to win

The Indiana State Sycamores, last season's worst team, are picked to finish last.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The Gateway Conference, already one of the strongest in Division I-AA, got a little deeper with the addition of Western Kentucky this season.
The Hilltoppers, coming off an 11-2 season and an appearance in the I-AA playoffs, were picked by the league's coaches, sports information directors and a panel of media to win the Gateway Conference.
Western Kentucky coach Jack Harbaugh, in his 13th season, returned 20 starters and 45 lettermen from last season.
The Hilltoppers feature a veteran quarterback, senior Jason Johnson, running backs DeWayne Gallishaw and Keith Brooks, and the entire offensive line.
Junior cornerback Bobby Sippio, a Buck Buchannan Award candidate, returns along with two honorable mention All-Americans, cornerback Joseph Jefferson and free safety Mel Mitchell.
YSU picked No. 2: For Youngstown State (9-3, 4-2) the biggest off-season change came at the top. Jim Tressel, who led the Penguins to four national championships and two runner-up finishes in 15 seasons, moved on to Ohio State. Jon Heacock, who was the defensive coordinator, was named coach and inherited a wealth of talent.
The Penguins return 12 offensive players who started four or more games last season. Leading the list is senior quarterback Jeff Ryan, who was named preseason all-conference but sat out spring drills after having surgery on his right shoulder. He should do well behind an experienced offensive line.
Youngstown State returns seven players -- including the entire secondary -- from a unit that ranked 15th nationally in scoring defense. The Penguins will be strong up front with defensive tackle Matt Mechling, a two-time first-team All-Gateway selection.
The Penguins will play host to Western Kentucky on Oct. 27.
Western Illinois: Western Illinois (9-3, 5-1) was picked to finish third after losing Gateway offensive player of the year Charles Tharp and defensive player of the year Edgerton Hartwell.
Sophomore Attley Lawson and Carlos Daniels, a transfer from Wisconsin, will battle to replace Tharp at tailback. Lee Russell, the Gateway freshman of the year last season, will attempt to fill the void left by Hartwell. Russell primarily played outside linebacker last season but moved inside during the spring.
The Leathernecks help at wide receiver will come from Washington transfer Terry Tharps and Northwestern transfer Rob Johnson.
Illinois State: Illinois State (7-4, 4-2) finished third last season after a 1-4 start. The Redbirds have been picked to finish fourth in the conference, and the key to placing that high rests with quarterback Dusty Burk. The junior must replace the school's all-time leading passer, Kevin Glenn. Otherwise, opponents will stack the line to defend running back Willie Watts, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season.
Northern Iowa (7-4, 3-3) breaks in a new coach, Mark Farley, who must find a new starting quarterback. The Panthers welcome back junior tailback Adam Benge, who sat out the 2000 season for personal reasons. Five starters return on offense, including senior receiver Jake Soliday, who was a preseason all-conference selection.
Nine defensive starters return, including linebacker Adam Vogt, who missed four games last season with a knee injury.
The Bears: Southwest Missouri State (5-6, 2-4) has posted back-to-back five-win seasons under coach Randy Ball. The Bears return eight players on offense who have starting experience, including what may be the conference's best offensive line. Senior guard Jake Harriger and senior tackle Eric Owens were named preseason all-conference.
Southern Illinois (3-8, 2-4) returns running back Tom Koutsos, receiver Mark Shasteen and defensive tackle Bryan Archibald -- all named preseason all-conference.
Indiana State (1-10, 1-5) hopes major changes will help it avoid the conference cellar.
The Sycamores hired a new offensive coordinator, Scott Anderson. The former Kentucky State offensive coordinator scrapped the wishbone that averaged just 11 points last season.
The Sycamores return nine starters on defense and will return to a 4-4 alignment after experimenting with a 4-3 last season. The Sycamores allowed a conference-worst 37 points per game.