Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football is bigger and better than ever.

In fact, it's bigger than everybody.

The PSAC has expanded by three teams this season, welcoming Gannon, Mercyhurst and C.W. Post to the circuit, and its 16-member league is now the biggest in all of NCAADivision II.

"Our league is so competitive,"California (Pa.) coach John Luckhardt said. "What we wanted to do was elevate our program so that we're a factor in the league race every year.

"We feel we've done that. ... That doesn't mean we're going to win it."

The Vulcans are coming off a school-record 13-1 season, their third consecutive PSACWest title and a trip to the Division IIsemifinals, where they dropped a 28-24 decision to eventual national champion Valdosta State.

California is picked to win the league again in the preseason coaches poll and the American Football Coaches Association has the Vulcans ranked fifth nationally.

West Chester is picked to win the PSACEast and is ranked 16th in the AFCApoll. Other PSACteams ranked in the AFCApreseason Top 25 are Indiana (Pa.) (21) and Bloomsburg (25).

"This is a great coaches league,"Luckhardt said. "And now that our scholarship numbers can increase to the national limit of 36, the talent in this league will grow."

The PSAC's previous scholarship limit was 22 before the league raised the national limit to match incoming schools Gannon and Mercyhurst.

No PSACteam has won a national championship.

"I didn't like the (scholarship) increase at first, but I've changed my mind,"IUPcoach Lou Tepper said. "It gives the schools that choose to compete a viable chance to compete at the national level."

The PSACis also bringing back the state championship game this year. The PSACEast and West division leaders will play each other in the final game of the regular season for the first time since 1987.

"Ask me if I like that at the end of the year,"Tepper said. "If it doesn't cost one of our teams a playoff spot, I'm all in favor."

Here is a look at PSACWest teams this season:

The Vulcans return only five starters on offense, but are replacing three-time all-PSACWest quarterback Joe Ruggiero with Pine-Richland product Kevin McCabe, a transfer from Division IVirginia.Two top running backs, Daine Williams (1,102 yards, nine TDs) and Brandon Lombardy (954 yards, 12 TDs) are will play in 2008. Perry Ivery (18 catches, 140 yards) is the top returning receiver.Six starters are back on defense from a team that allowed PSACopponents only 45 total points a year ago. Defensive back Terrence Johnson has eight interceptions over the past two seasons.

The Crimson Hawks reached the NCAAplayoffs for the first time since 2002 and return starting quarterback and North Allegheny graduate Andrew Krewatch, who threw for 3,100 yards and 29 touchdowns a year ago."With every championship team, there's an outstanding quarterback,"Tepper said. "That's where it always begins."Eight starters return defensively, including linebackers Rob Plowman and Terrence Jackson, and tackle Anthony Guerra, who combined for 44 tackles for loss in 2007.

The Fighting Scots return 14 starters, including eight on offense. Junior quarterback Trevor Harris threw for 3,268 yards and 30 touchdowns last year.Running backs Houston Brown and Ulysee Davis combined for 827 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns a year ago.Knoch graduate Josh Bzorek returns for his senior season at guard having started 30 of Edinboro's last 31 games.Defensively, the Scots bring back their three leading tacklers from 2007 in linebackers Greg Sondag and Y'Hoshua Murray, and safety Dan Skelton.

Coming off a 4-7 season as a member of the Great Lakes Interscholastic Conference, the Lakers bring back 16 starters, including 1,177-yard running back Richard Stokes.Receivers Aaron Haynes and Josh Szeluga combined for 82 catches and 1,112 yards last season, but must deal with a first-year starter at quarterback in Joe Laffey.Linebacker Jimmy Kokrak missed all of 2007 with an injury, but was a Street and Smith's Preseason all-American in 2006.

The bad news is that the Golden Eagles were 0-11 last season. The good news is they're returning a league-high 18 starters, including 10 on defense.Defensive lineman Jimmy Simmons was second in the league with 27 tackles for loss last season. Running back Eddie Emmanuel rushed for 722 yards and receiver Alfonso Hoggard had 48 catches for 505 yards.

The Golden Knights started several freshman and went 1-10 in the GLIAC last season. The team has 45 lettermen and 19 starters coming back.Running back Jon Richardson rushed for 698 yards and seven TDs. Two freshmen, Bob Bartley and Zach Boedicker, split time at quarterback last year.

The Bald Eagles snapped a 12-game losing streak with a win over Clarion to close the 2007 season. Ilio DiPaolo returns as a third-year starter at quarterback.Eight starters return on defense, including leading tackler Shane Barie, who made 75 stops as a defensive back.