Coaches used to react to underclassmen leaving for the NFL draft with the angst they typically reserve for protecting a two-point lead with two minutes to play in the other guy's stadium. Underclassmen had until mid-February, after signing date, to declare their availability. With one 19-year-old's decision to chase a pipe dream, a solid position on the depth chart became a void that only a coach with a tarot deck could have planned to fill.

The NFL listened to the coaches' complaints and moved the declaration date to mid-January. This season, for the first time, the NCAA gave underclassmen who walked out the door to the NFL a 72-hour window to climb back in. Say hello again to Georgia tight end Ben Watson, who dipped his toe into the pro waters but decided he would wait to go for a swim.

The system runs smoothly now. Coaches no longer consider the early entry deadline as evil as a fumble in the red zone. But with the unerring justice of a 60-minute clock, the deadline still produces winners and losers. The departing underclassmen force their coaches and teammates to pay a price. Even with the ability to recruit to fill the hole, an untested freshman isn't equal compensation for a first-round draft choice.

Some teams added simply by not subtracting. The players who thought about leaving, yet decided to stay, granted their coaches and teammates the gift of an extra season. Still others have a proven player with a shovel full of asphalt, ready to fill the pothole that opened overnight.

The Winners

Auburn
The Tigers lost junior tight end Robert Johnson but replace him with Cooper Wallace, an All-SEC Freshman who caught eight passes for 123 yards and two scores. More important, linebackers Karlos Dansby and Dontarrious Thomas decided to stay for their senior seasons and anchor a defense that stiffened in the last month of last season.

Colorado
Workhorse tailback Chris Brown has decided to get paid for his work. However, the Buffs have a surfeit of proven talent at the position, even with the decision last week by Marcus Houston to transfer. Returning senior Bobby Purify rushed for 739 yards, while sophomore Brian Calhoun finished the regular season with a pair of 100-yard games against Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Miami
The Hurricanes lost two of their biggest offensive weapons from last season: tailback Willis McGahee and wide receiver Andre Johnson. However, McGahee may not have contributed much after tearing two ligaments in his left knee in the Fiesta Bowl. While Johnson is among the best receivers in the nation, sophomore Jason Geathers won't allow defenses to focus solely on Roscoe Parrish. The decision by linebacker D.J. Williams to return for his senior season is a pleasant surprise for anyone who likes bone-jarring tackles.

Ole Miss
Quarterback Eli Manning, as did his brother Peyton before him, shunned the NFL in order to be a college kid for one more fall. With Manning, the Rebels will be in every game. Without him, they would depend on sophomore Michael Spurlock, who came onto the field for one possession last fall.

Oregon
No way returning sophomore Terrence Whitehead can do the things that departing junior Onterrio Smith did at tailback, but the 5-foot-10, 202-pound Whitehead did average 4.4 yards per carry (63 for 279). Tight end George Wrighster will be replaced by 6-4, 280-pound sophomore Tim Day, who will have to prove he has hands to go along with size. The decision by wide receiver Samie Parker to return for his senior season is a boon for quarterback Jason Fife.

Tennessee
The loss of tight end Jason Witten, a mid-first-round pick according to my colleague Mel Kiper, can't be underestimated. Witten became the only Vol receiver to make a catch in every game. However, the expected departure of egocentric wide receiver Kelley Washington will be a plus. Washington's Smoky Mountain imitation of Keyshawn Johnson caused upheaval in the Vols' locker room. He played very little last fall anyway because of a head, neck and knee injuries.

The Losers

Arizona State
While no one expected Terrell Suggs to stay for his senior season after he sacked the quarterback 24 times, his loss will be felt. The Sun Devils' returning ends, Nick Johnson and Jimmy Verdon, had four sacks each even though offenses were devoting all 11 players to Suggs. On offense, wide receiver Shaun McDonald caught 87 passes, more than double any of his teammates.

Florida
No team had more players declare than the Gators, who lose quarterback Rex Grossman and defensive linemen Clint Mitchell and Ian Scott. Grossman had a rocky transition to Ed Zaunbrecher's offense. Nonetheless, he is an outstanding leader and would have prospered behind the veteran offensive line that returns next fall. The loss of Mitchell and Scott, however, leaves the Gators with only three full-time returning starters on defense for new coordinator Charlie Strong.

Georgia
The Bulldogs also lost three big contributors. Tailback Musa Smith finally showed in the second half of the season how well he could play when healthy. However, in sophomore Tony Milton, quarterback David Greene will have a proven weapon lining up behind him. The loss of All-SEC defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan and linebacker Chris Clemons will be more difficult for the Dawgs. Their departure leaves All-American defensive end David Pollack anchoring a relatively inexperienced front seven that will feature three new linebackers next fall.

Illinois
While the decision by fourth-year junior wide receiver Brandon Lloyd isn't unexpected, the lack of experience among his replacements is. Why did the leading returnee among wideouts, Eric McGoey, have exactly one catch last season?

Notre Dame
The departure of All-American center Jeff Faine and tackle Brennan Curtin, both of whom could have stayed as fifth-year seniors, leaves the Irish with one returning starter on the offensive line instead of three. An offense with enough to learn as it is takes another step backward.

Stanford
The Cardinal had two talented players on offense last season, and both All-Pac-10 tackle Kwame Harris and wide receiver Teyo Johnson are leaving. The news just doesn't get any better for coach Buddy Teevens, does it?

Ivan Maisel is a senior writer at ESPN.com. He can be reached at ivan.maisel@espn3.com.