With college football's fall practice in full swing around the nation, it's really the first time names made famous on recruiting websites are showing up in actual practice reports. When it comes to picking which freshmen will make an impact in their first season on campus, it's really all about who can pick up the playbook the fastest and who fits a need. The Big East saw names like Teddy Bridgewater and Lyle McCombs produce excellent rookie seasons last fall. Bridgewater, who claimed Big East Rookie of the Year honors in 2011, now enters his sophomore season with eyes on a BCS bowl.

We're halfway through the Athlon Sports conference realignment draft with the first four rounds on Monday and rounds five through eight on Tuesday.

-by Braden Gall (follow at @BradenGall)

There is no doubt this is the era of the Quarterback.

Notre Dame had almost everything go wrong that could go wrong in its 23-20 loss to South Florida. Despite doubling the Bulls in total yardage, the Irish had five turnovers and two weather delays on a dreary Saturday in South Bend.