Foremost among the Big Green's Class of 1993 was quarterback Jay Fiedler. Fieldler took virtually every snap the last three years and set 12 school records, including Ivy League marks for touchdown passes in a game (five) and career (45) and total yardage (5,371). His departure leaves a gaping hole in the team's offense, made worse by key losses on the offensive line and among the receiving corps.

On defense, the team promises to be stronger. Senior leading tackler Josh Bloom returns to anchor a linebacking corps that may be the best in the league, and the defensive line seems to be in solid shape, too. The only question mark is the backfield, but some solid recruits are eventually supposed to fill the three holes left by graduation.

3. Cornell:

Cornell's is the program to watch in the league these days. The team was downrights miserable up until a few years ago, but has climbed back to respectability. Last year it went 4-6 overall, 3-4 in league play and whipped the Crimson 27-0. This season, expect the Big Red to make similarly large strides.

On offense, the team loses star quarterback Bill Lazor but returns just about everybody else. Nine players who have started for the Big Red on offense return to action this fall. Foremost among those are sophomore tailback Chad Leavitt (475 yards) and senior wideout Aaron Berryman (38 catches).

Defensively, the team will be similarly well off. It loses all-American linebacker Chris Zingo, but Zingo's two linebacking partners, seniors John Vitullo and John Wagner, are back and should almost compensate for his loss. The squad's defensive line and secondary--both extremely experienced--should take up the rest of the slack.

4. Princeton:

Attention, Yalies and Harvardians: this is the year to get back at our mutually-hated rival to the south. The Tigers will be in for a tough year across the board as they return fewer players than any other team in the league. Still, the team's recruiting proficiency should ensure it a spot in the middle of the league standings.

The offense will be starting from square one. It lost six starters to graduation last year, including running back Krith Elias, now of the New York Giants. Elias solidified his reputation as one of the best players in league history last season by rushing for 1,731 yards (second in the nation) and scoring 21 touchdowns. In addition to Elias, the team lost virtually everyone at the skill positions and half of its offensive line. Senior tackle Carl Teter, an NFL prospect, is a big exception.

Defensively the Tigers will be even worse off. Only three starters return from last year: junior linebacker Dave Patterson, senior strong safety Mark Berkowitz and senior cornerback Jonathan Reid. Princeton also lost its defensive coordinator, Mark Harriman, who has joined Murphy's Harvard staff.

5. Brown:

Like Harvard, Brown enters a new era this season. Mark Whipple, a former-Brown quarterback, assumes the coaching duties, promising a more wide-open offense. Expect him to deliver to the tune of a middle-of-the-pack finish: his University of New Haven team averaged 50.5 and 52.5 points per game, respectively, the past two years.

Whipple should have plenty of bodies around to fill his explosive offense. Brown returns ten starters on offense from a team that tied with Cornell for fourth in the league last year (4-6 overall, 3-4 Ivy). Heading that list are senior quarterback Trevor Yankoff and sophomore second-team all-Ivy running back Marquis Jessie. The line should be strong, too, as it is one of the largest and most experienced in the league.

On defense the Bears will also return 10 starters. Headlining that unit will be senior defensive and Brett Atkins (eight sacks), junior linebacker Bill Robertson (66 tackles) and senior linebacker Mike Youssef. In addition, the entire secondary returns, led by honorable mention all-Ivy corner back Eugene Smith.

6. Harvard