TOP 25
Cornhuskers on the move
There wasn’t much change this week as only one of the top 23 teams lost (Iowa), and that was hardly a shocker as No. 16 Arizona did the deed at home behind QB Nick Foles. While the Wildcats jumped to No. 11, Iowa fell from No. 7 to No. 16. Nebraska might have had the most impressive performance of the weekend, dominating Washington and Jake Locker to advance from No. 9 to No. 7, leapfrogging unimpressive winners Florida and Oklahoma. Lots of unbeaten candidates for No. 25 including those left out — Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Boston College.
| Team » Comment » Previous rank 1. Alabama (3-0) » Rugged stretch — Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina » 1 2. Ohio State (3-0) » What was ABC thinking? OSU (3-0) vs. EMU (0-3)? » 2 3. Texas (3-0) » Do the Longhorns have the best defense in the nation? » 3 4. Oregon (3-0) » Of their 24 TDs, 15 have been plays of 20-plus yards » 4 5. Boise State (2-0) » Now Oregon State will have to be their Virginia Tech » 5 6. TCU (3-0) » Dalton (21-23 vs. Baylor) made like Slingin’ Sammy » 6 7. Nebraska (3-0) » Martinez averaging 10.5 yards per rush, 9.1 per pass » 9 8. Oklahoma (3-0) » Have longest home win streak (33 games) in FBS » 10 9. Florida (3-0) » Next three foes are unbeaten — Kentucky, Bama, LSU » 8 10. Arkansas (3-0) » Mallett’s next scary assignment — swim against Tide » 13 11. Arizona (3-0) » Was Wildcats’ win over Iowa a program-changer? » 16 12. LSU (3-0) » Speed of No. 18 West Virginia will be a challenge » 12 13. Wisconsin (3-0) » Big Ten Badgers are undefeated and unimpressive » 11 14. Utah (3-0) » Should be 7-0 when they play at Air Force on Oct. 30 » 14 15. S. Carolina (3-0) » Alabama two-step — No. 20 Auburn, No. 1 Bama » 15 16. Iowa (2-1) » Vaunted D-line didn’t apply enough heat at Arizona » 7 17. Stanford (3-0) » In a 68-24 win over Wake, plenty of Luck involved » 20 18. Auburn (3-0) » Third straight year Tigers have started off 3-0 » 18 19. West Va. (3-0) » Best in the Big East. Is that like being Miss Iowa? » 22 20. Michigan (3-0) » Yielding 37 points to UMass — not good for Michigan D » 17 21. Miami (1-1) » Thursday at Pitt, a chance to regain some lost luster » 19 22. Oregon State (1-1) » Failed first test vs. non-AQ TCU. Now it’s Boise St. » 21 23. USC (3-0) » Even Kiffin’s mom doesn’t like him. Dad undecided » 23 24. Michigan St. (3-0) » Fake FG vs. Irish: “Gutsiest move I ever saw, Mav” » NR 25. Temple (3-0) » Improved QB Stewart (DeMatha) feeling Golden » NR |
HEATING UP
Nebraska
Also » Arkansas, Arizona, Stanford
COOLING DOWN
North Carolina
Also » Clemson, Iowa, Notre Dame
TOP 25 GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 1 Alabama at No. 11 Arkansas
Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett, who rallied the Razorbacks at Georgia, will get most of the attention heading into this SEC clash. But don’t be shocked if Alabama’s Greg McElroy emerges. Often viewed as a “game-manager,” McElroy is managing nicely, completing 43 of 60 passes and ranking No. 1 in the FBS in passing efficiency (200.0) and yards per attempt (11.7). He will be joined by Heisman winner Mark Ingram, who is back after undergoing knee surgery.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Andrew Luck, Stanford, QB
He was born to play for Notre Dame (Luck of the Irish), but on Saturday the junior will lead Stanford (3-0) into South Bend. Luck has completed 45 of 70 passes for 674 yards and 10 touchdowns, without an interception, ranking No. 3 in the nation in passing efficiency (192.3). Winning in dramatic fashion in South Bend was a star-turn for Michigan QB Denard Robinson. Is it time for Luck to get a similar bump and join Robinson in the Heisman race?
STORYLINES
1. Heart stopper » Hours after making the gutsiest call of the season — opting for a fake field goal in overtime against Notre Dame — and beating the Irish, 34-31, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio suffered a mild heart attack. The 54-year-old had surgery to place a stent in a blocked blood vessel in his chest early Sunday morning. In his absence, offensive coordinator Don Treadwell will take over the team. Dantonio is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days. He has a 25-17 record and three bowl appearances in four seasons, but had been haunted by losses in close games.
2. Houston, we have a problem » For Houston, bad things happened in threes. Not only did the Cougars lose to UCLA, 31-13, they also lost prolific quarterback Case Keenum for the season with a torn ACL and his backup, Cotton Turner, for the season with a broken collarbone. Keenum, who suffered his injury making a tackle after a UCLA interception, was on pace to break NCAA career records for passing yards (held by Timmy Chang of Hawaii) and touchdowns (held by Graham Harrell of Texas Tech). The previous week, in a rout of UTEP, Keenum suffered a concussion, also defending after an interception.
3. Awful ACC » It was a storyline earlier in the year, but it bears repeating: The ACC has been putrid. In nine games against ranked teams, teams from the ACC are winless. In games against teams from other BCS conferences, ACC teams are 1-9. Five ACC squads have been ranked this year, but only one (No. 21 Miami) remains in The Washington Examiner Top 25. This weekend there was no shame in Duke’s 62-13 loss to No. 1 Alabama. But the same couldn’t be said for losses by Wake Forest to Stanford, 68-24, and by Maryland to West Virginia, 31-17.
AREA INTELLIGENCE
MARYLAND
The goodwill the Terps (2-1) bought with their quick start dissipated with a humbling 31-17 loss at West Virginia, in which many of the faults of the disastrous 2009 season resurfaced. The defense appeared ill prepared and the offensive line surrendered eight sacks to a team that entered with none. Up next » vs. FlU, Sat., noon, ESPNU
NAVY
Ricky Dobbs threw for a career-high 219 yards and slot back Gee Gee Greene had 145 yards on nine touches as the Midshipmen won at Louisiana Tech, 37-23. Navy (2-1) has a week off before traveling to Air Force (2-1), which leads the FBS in rushing by mimicking the Mids’ triple-option offense. Up next » @ Air Force, Oct. 2, 2:30 p.m., VERSUS
VIRGINIA
RB Dominique Wallace (Chancellor) has left the team. Wallace, a redshirt freshman who contributed on special teams, will remain at Virginia and has no plans to transfer. The Cavs (1-1) renew a historic rivalry Saturday, playing VMI (1-1) for the first time since 1991. Virginia leads series 55-23-3. Up next » vs. VMI, Sat., 1:30 p.m., ESPN3
VIRGINIA TECH
CB Rock Carmichael (Gwynn Park) was named ACC defensive player of the week after intercepting two passes and returning one 68 yards for a touchdown, in a 49-27 victory over East Carolina. Tech travels to Boston College (2-0) on Saturday and may be without RB Ryan Williams (hamstring). Up next » @ Boston College, Sat., noon, ACCTV
GEORGETOWN
Hoyas (2-1) had the lead late on Yale, but surrendered a touchdown on the final play — a one-yard quarterback sneak — and fell 40-35 in an entertaining game in which Georgetown QB Scott Darby (340 yards) and Yale QB Patrick Witt (407 yards) threw for career highs. GU hosts Holy Cross (1-2) on Saturday. Up next » vs. Holy Cross, Sat., 2 p.m.
