7. Yale:

Carm Cozza's back for his 30th season, and Yale's woes should continue. Last year's Bulldog team went a horrible 3-7, its second-worst record in 30 years. Although it beat Harvard, it did little else, and it should do even less this year.

The Eli offense returns only six starters from last season. It lost its quarterback, fullback, three linemen and laser-quick wide receiver Dave Iwan, who set a single-season record with 873 yards on 46 catches. A few members of the backfield sidelined with injuries last season will return, including quarterback Chris Hetherton, but whether the team's Swiss cheese line gives them time to shake off their rust is another question.

The team's defense should be slightly better. The squad returns four defensive linemen, the leading tackler of 1993 in senior Carl Ricci (166 stops) and the entire defensive backfield.

8. Columbia:

When you think of a loser in college football, you think of Columbia. The Lions have not had a winning season in 23 years and are one of only two programs in the country that has been in existence for more than 20 years and still has a winning percentage below 400. This year will be no exception: the Lions will be praying for even one win in a much-improved league.

Last year the team went 2-7 overall, so any boasting of "returning starters" smacks of pointlessness. Still, by Lion standards, the team's offense will be good. It will return two good quarterbacks in senior Jamie Schwalbe and junior Mike Cavanaugh, will replace only the center position on the line and will feature maybe the best tight end in the league in senior Brian Bassett.

Through defense, though, the team should regain its place in the Ancient Eight criler. The team loses its entire line, two linebackers and two defensive backs.

It could always surprise with a brilliant recruiting class, but 23 years of futility is likely to put bets in the other corner.