Examiner Top 25
Make your case for the top spot
With Ohio State’s loss to Wisconsin, we have a new No. 1 for the third straight week as Oregon assumes the spot, though it’s hardly clear-cut. Cases can be made for any of the top five teams. No. 1 Oregon has won in the most dynamic fashion. No. 2 Boise State has the nation’s longest winning streak (20 games). No. 3 TCU has been utterly dominant on defense, yielding three points combined in its last three games. No. 4 Oklahoma has played the toughest schedule of the top five, while No. 5 Auburn plays in the toughest conference.
| Team Comment Pvs Rank 1. Oregon (6-0) » Ducks beware: UCLA has upset a pair of ranked teams » 2 2. Boise State (6-0) » Have nation’s longest regular-season win streak (31) » 3 3. TCU (7-0) » Will anyone score a TD on Horned Frogs in October? » 4 4. Oklahoma (6-0) » A national title looks more winnable than ever for OU » 6 5. Auburn (7-0) » An SEC Cat Fight — LSU’s Tigers at Auburn’s Tigers » 8 6. LSU (7-0) » At Auburn, LSU encouraging Miles to use annual leave » 7 7. Alabama (6-1) » What happened to the Mark Ingram we used to know? » 11 8. Iowa (5-1) » Hawkeyes host No. 10 Wisconsin, then No. 9 Michigan St. » 10 9. Michigan St. (7-0) » Heading west — at Northwestern (5-1), then at Iowa (5-1) » 14 10. Wisconsin (6-1) » After upset of No. 1, tough to keep the edge at Iowa City » 18 11. Ohio State (6-1) » Rosy expectations no longer in the beefed up Big Ten » 1 12. Florida State (6-1) » Bound for first ACC title game since inaugural (2005)? » 15 13. Utah (6-0) » Utes litmus test — Air Force, TCU, ND — coming soon » 13 14. Oklahoma St. (6-0) » Cowboys remaining foes have a combined 27-10 record » 17 15. Stanford (5-1) » Good Luck not a requirement at lowly Washington State » 16 16. Arkansas (4-2) » Rugged SEC West a headache for Mallett, Razorbacks » 12 17. Arizona (5-1) » Face Locker, who has upset pair of ranked Pac-10 teams » 23 18. Missouri (6-0) » No. 4 OU on Saturday, then at No. 20 Nebraska (Oct. 30) » 24 19. Texas (4-2) » Horns defense swarmed Martinez (13 carries, 21 yards) » NR 20. Nebraska (6-1) » Cancel Huskers from BCS race, Martinez from Heisman » 5 21. S. Carolina (4-2) » After trapping No. 1 Bama, Gamecocks were trapped at UK » 9 22. West Virginia (5-1) » What would an 11-1 record mean in the lowly Big Least? » 22 23. Miss. State (5-2) » ’Dogs losses have come to No. 5 Auburn and No. 6 LSU » NR 24. Michigan (5-2) » Wolverines losses have come to No. 8 Iowa and No. 9 MSU » 21 25. Miami (4-2) » ’Canes losses have come to No. 11 OSU and No. 12 FSU » NR |
HEATING UP
Wisconsin; Also » Oklahoma State, Texas
COOLING DOWN
Nebraska; Also » Ohio State, Arkansas
TOP 25 GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 6 LSU at No. 5 Auburn, 3:30 p.m.
For the second straight Saturday, Auburn occupies the afternoon slot on CBS. But going against the LSU defense, don’t expect Auburn (7-0) to repeat last week’s electric performance when it beat Arkansas in the highest-scoring non-overtime game in SEC history, 65-43. How will Auburn’s Heisman Trophy-candidate QB Cam Newton fare against a defense that is ranked No. 3 in the nation (242 yards per game)?
PLAYER TO WATCH
Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State, QB
The junior leads an offense that ranks No. 2 in total offense (535 yards per game) and points (49.5 per game), and will be tested Saturday by the rugged defense of visiting No. 20 Nebraska. Weeden, who ranks No. 6 in the nation in passing (1,966 yards, 19 touchdowns), throws to sophomore WR Justin Blackmon, who leads the nation in receiving (159 yards per game) and hands to senior RB Kendall Hunter, who ranks No. 5 in rushing (138 yards per game).
STORYLINES
1. Sooner than expected » For what it’s worth, the first Bowl Championship Series rankings are out, revealing a surprise No. 1: Oklahoma. The Sooners vaulted to the top — and past last week’s projected No. 1 Boise State — thanks to their high computer rating, a figure weighted heavily toward strength of schedule. OU (6-0) owns victories over four teams that have been ranked at some point this year. What seems clear from the first BCS ranking is that any school from a BCS conference that remains undefeated will finish ahead of non-BCS conference schools Boise State and TCU (currently at Nos. 3 and 5) in the standings.
2. One and done Buckeyes » Ohio State’s stay at No. 1 didn’t last long — one week to be exact. Wisconsin dealt the Buckeyes the sort of physical whipping that South Carolina laid on previous No. 1 Alabama the week before. Wisconsin backs John Clay and James White got 160 of their 179 rushing yards between the tackles in a 31-18 victory. And once again the inadequate arm of Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor (14 of 28, 156 yards) was exposed, while Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien (13 of 16, 152 yards) was efficient. In an upgraded Big Ten, Ohio State will be hard pressed to win a sixth straight crown.
3. Channeling Les Miles » Questionable calls by coaches Steve Spurrier (South Carolina) and Mike Riley (Oregon State) contributed to upset losses on the road. In a 31-28 defeat at Kentucky, Spurrier called his team’s last timeout with 11 seconds left and the clock already stopped. It left the Gamecocks with no choice but to try for a touchdown instead of kicking a field goal to get to overtime. In his team’s 35-34 loss at Washington, Riley went for a two-point conversion in overtime. Ryan Katz’s pass slid through the hands of tight end Joe Halahuni. In a 2006 Sun Bowl win over Missouri, a similar choice worked for Riley.
AREA INTELLIGENCE
MARYLAND
The Terps (4-2) must make hay now as all four of their October games are against ACC teams with losing records. Saturday’s 31-7 loss at Clemson was Maryland’s 10th straight on the road, a streak that dates to Sept. 2008. The Terps get another chance to break the string at BC (2-4), which has lost four straight. Up next » at BC, Sat., 1 p.m. (ESPN3)
NAVY
Alex Teich took over at FB for Vince Murray (sprained knee) and rushed 21 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-21 win over SMU. Despite several injuries, the Mids (4-2) have the same record they had at this point last year. Navy now faces Notre Dame (4-3) at the New Meadowlands Stadium. Up next » vs. Notre Dame, Sat., noon (CBS)
VIRGINIA
North Carolina snapped its 14-game losing streak at Scott Stadium, 44-10, not by dominating the line of scrimmage, but by out-throwing the Cavaliers. While T.J. Yates went 17 of 22 for 325 yards and three touchdowns, Mark Verica was 15 of 25 for 139 yards and three interceptions. Up next » vs. E. Michigan, Sat., 6 p.m. (ESPN3)
VIRGINIA TECH
The healing continues for the Hokies (5-2, 3-0), who have won five straight behind QB Tyrod Taylor. After playing Duke on Saturday, Tech’s fate in the ACC Coastal will be determined in a rugged November against division foes Georgia Tech (5-2, 3-1), North Carolina (4-2, 2-1) and Miami (4-2, 2-1). Up next » vs. Duke, Sat., noon (ESPN3)
HOWARD
The Bison (1-4) have lost 10 straight MEAC road games, a streak that dates to Oct. 2007, but can end it Saturday at North Carolina A&T (0-7), which has lost 10 straight after beating Howard 30-19 last October. The Aggies and the Bison rank Nos. 109 and 110 in the 117-team FCS in total offense. Up next » at N.C. A&T, Sat., 1:30 p.m.
