Ted S. Warren / AP

Washington is 11-25 in three seasons under coach Tyrone Willingham and the Huskies' schedule is one of the toughest in the nation this season.

Q: Is Paul Johnson’s option offense going to work in the ACC? This Georgia Tech fan is nervous.
— Steve from Texas
A: Give it time, Steve. Remember a few seasons back, when people said Urban Meyer’s spread option would never succeed in the physical SEC? Well, Florida won a national title, and Meyer subtly adjusted his scheme to his players (Chris Leak, not exactly Mr. Mobility, was the starter for that title team, remember).

Johnson’s option, obviously, requires excellent play at quarterback. So all eyes will be upon Josh Nesbitt, the apparent starter, who seems nimble enough. But the Yellow Jackets probably need to go through an entire season before hitting a higher level.

Johnson’s version of the option is interesting — almost a double-wing look with backs flanked off each tackle and the quarterback under center. At its best, the offense will offer precision, misdirection and frustration (by the opposing defense).

Georgia Tech had to do something after several seasons in the ACC quicksand. Chan Gailey’s best season (2006, ACC Championship Game appearance) still produced a sour taste (three straight defeats at the end). And during Gailey’s tenure, the Yellow Jackets never beat Georgia (0-6).

So don’t feel nervous, Steve. Georgia Tech is trying to move in a more successful direction. Johnson seems to have the pedigree — building a nice program at Navy and finishing 62-10 (with two national titles) at Division I-AA Georgia Southern.

Q: Do you think Houston Nutt has enough talent and support to win at Ole Miss? After falling on hard times since Eli, what are the chances of Ole Miss ever being truly relevant in college football again?
— Don Butler from Harford, Pa.
A: Relevance in this case, Don, might be an 8-4 or 7-5 season. Frankly, that would be cause for a parade in Oxford.

Nutt can manage a seven-victory season, maybe even immediately. Ed Orgeron, the former coach, could never get things moving on the field, but the recruiting was upgraded. Some of that talent is just now maturing. In that manner, Nutt’s timing is very good.

Ole Miss may also have stumbled onto an excellent quarterback, Jevan Snead (the transfer from Texas, who was running neck-and-neck with Colt McCoy before losing out in the 2006 Longhorn sweepstakes). Snead has a decent offensive line, led by tackles Michael Oher and John Jerry. The defense, particularly on the line, shows promise.

Bottom line: It’s going to take some time.

Remember, Ole Miss resides in the SEC West, where LSU, Auburn and Alabama (for starters) make for some pretty formidable competition. That’s not going to change in the foreseeable future.

The Eli Manning-led Rebels caught lightning in a bottle in the 2003 season, when they finished 10-3, pushed LSU to the limit and defeated Oklahoma State at the Cotton Bowl. But that type of season is the exception, not the norm.

Since then? Ole Miss has gone 14-32 (6-26 in the SEC). And the Rebels remain the only SEC West team never to reach the league’s championship game.

Let’s be realistic. To Ole Miss, football relevance isn’t going to be a trip to the BCS Championship Game. It’s going to be annual bowl trips, winning records, pulling the occasional surprise against LSU or Auburn and staying firmly on top of the rivalry game against Mississippi State.

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