PLAYER OF THE WEEK
James White, Wisconsin, RB
Playing behind 2009 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year John Clay, freshman White (5-10, 198) was destined for a redshirt season, but was impressive enough in the preseason for the Badgers to scrap that idea. White now is playing lightning to the 255-pound Clay’s thunder. Both figure to play key roles when No. 18 Wisconsin hosts No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday. White has carried 63 times for 485 yards (7.7 average) this season.
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 12 Arkansas at No. 8 Auburn, 3:30 p.m.
This SEC showdown features two super-sized and productive quarterbacks — 6-6, 250-pound Cam Newton of Auburn and 6-7, 240-pound Ryan Mallett of Arkansas — who rank Nos. 2 and 7 respectively in passing efficiency. Both started their college careers elsewhere, Newton at Florida and Mallett at Michigan. Arkansas upset Auburn last year, handing the Tigers their first loss, 44-23, as Mallett completed 24 of 37 passes for 274 yards.
Washington Examiner Top 25 poll
Alabama makes big statement
With the fall of Alabama, who’s No. 1? It’s not easy. For all the talk of Boise State’s cupcake schedule, the Broncos have more wins over ranked opponents (two) than Ohio State (one) or Oregon (one). With two straight shutouts, TCU deserves consideration too. Boise and TCU have wins over Oregon State, a nice resume booster, especially with the Beavers’ victory at then No. 8 Arizona. But we’ll rank them by tradition. By the end of the year, Ohio State and Oregon will have played tougher schedules and will deserve to be ranked ahead of the two non-automatic (BCS) qualifiers if they all remain undefeated.
| Rank. Team » Comment » Pvs Rank 1. Ohio State (6-0) » Buckeyes have handled Wisconsin the last three years » 2 2. Oregon (6-0) » LaMichael, not Jacquizz, is best little RB in Oregon » 3 3. Boise State (5-0) » QB Moore has a nice TD (14) to interception (1) ratio » 4 4. TCU (6-0) » Back-to-back shutouts for the first time in 55 years » 5 5. Nebraska (6-0) » Huskers now the most physical team in the NCAA? » 6 6. Oklahoma (5-0) » Four Sooners wins have come by eight or fewer points » 7 7. LSU (6-0) » QB now looks like a position of strength for Tigers » 9 8. Auburn (6-0) » DT Fairley — SEC Defensive Player of Week twice » 10 9. South Carolina (4-1) » RB Lattimore, WR Jeffrey outdueled Jones-Ingram » 18 10. Iowa (4-1) » Hawkeyes are ranked No. 1 in defense (10.2 points) » 11 11. Alabama (5-1) » Only 36 yards on 29 rushes against South Carolina » 1 12. Arkansas (4-1) » Arkansas, Auburn have never met as ranked teams » 12 13. Utah (5-0) » The 68 points vs. ISU was most for Utes since 1983 » 15 14. Michigan St. (6-0) » Perhaps it’s time to start taking Spartans seriously » 16 15. Florida State (5-1) » Seminoles have outscored three ACC foes, 110-21 » 22 16. Stanford (5-1) » With some Luck, PK Whitaker got a second chance » 17 17. Oklahoma St. (5-0) » Should be 6-0 when Cowboys host Nebraska Oct. 23 » 20 18. Wisconsin (5-1) » Going for two with a 26-point lead with 6:39 left? » 21 19. Florida (4-2) » Lost two straight for only second time under Meyer » 13 20. Oregon St. (3-2) » At Arizona, a star was born in Beavers QB Ryan Katz » NR 21. Nevada (6-0) » Wolf Pack’s 6-0 start their best since 1991 as a I-AA » 23 22. West Virginia (4-1) » Mountaineers offense now resembles a video game » NR 23. Arizona (4-1) » Cats lost at home to Oregon State despite 541 yards » 8 24. Missouri (5-0) » Tigers are not just about Gabbert. How about that D? » 25 25. Air Force (5-1) » Falcons replicating the triple-option success of Navy » NR |
HEATING UP
South Carolina
Also » LSU, FSU, Oregon State
COOLING DOWN
Alabama
Also » Florida, USC, Arizona
STORYLINES
1. Down goes Bama » Just when the FBS looked like Alabama and everyone else, the Old Ball Coach, South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier, shook up the status quo, guiding the Gamecocks to a 35-21 victory over the top-ranked Crimson Tide. South Carolina beat Alabama at its own game, winning the line of scrimmage, holding Alabama to 36 yards on 29 rushes, and exposing the Tide’s Achilles’ heel: its inexperienced defense. “They played with more intensity,” Bama coach Nick Saban said. “They played physical.” Alabama has time to recover, with games against Ole Miss and Tennessee, then a bye before facing No. 7 LSU.
2. MSU, Dantonio on the rise » Michigan State’s 34-17 victory over Michigan was all about the stock of two head coaches going in opposite directions. In winning for the third straight time over Michigan, Mark Dantonio has established himself as a rising star, while Wolverines’ coach Rich Rodriguez’s seat gets a little hotter. With Dantonio in the press box Saturday, recovering from a heart attack he suffered three weeks earlier after beating Notre Dame, Michigan State prevailed by being the more disciplined, methodical team, winning the turnover battle 3-0, outgaining the Wolverines 536-377, and controlling Michigan supernova QB Denard Robinson (215 yards passing, 86 yards rushing).
3. Running quarterbacks » Dual-threat quarterbacks are all the rage. Coming into the season, we knew about Terrelle Pryor (often compared to Vince Young). But how about the dynamic stuff produced by Cam Newton (Auburn), Denard Robinson (Michigan), Taylor Martinez (Nebraska) and Colin Kaepernick (Nevada)? All rank among the top 30 in the nation in total offense. All but Pryor are in the top 25 in rushing. And until Saturday, when Michigan lost to Michigan State, all were leading undefeated, ranked teams. With spread offenses still the rule in college football, it’s clear that the quarterback is more important than ever.
LOCAL CAPSULES
Maryland
Freshman QB Danny O’Brien gets his first start in a hostile environment Saturday at Clemson (2-3) as Maryland (4-1) revisits the site of its last road win, more than two years ago. The Tigers have lost three straight, all to ranked teams. The Terps lone 2009 ACC win came against Clemson. Up next » @ Clemson, noon, ACC TV
Navy
This year has been a struggle for QB Ricky Dobbs, but on Saturday the senior showed the stuff that made him a preseason Hesiman Trophy candidate as he rallied the Midshipmen to a 28-27 victory at Wake Forest, accounting for all four Mids’ TDs. Navy (3-2) next hosts run-and-shoot SMU (4-2). Up next » vs. SMU, 3:30 p.m., CBSCS
Virginia Tech
QB Tyrod Taylor broke Bryan Randall’s record for wins as a starting QB with his 27th Saturday in a 45-21 victory over Central Michigan. Taylor rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Next up is visiting Wake Forest (2-4), which has lost four straight and has not traveled to Blacksburg since 1983. Up next » vs. Wake Forest, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU
Virginia
The Cavaliers defense was no match for the triple-option offense of Georgia Tech, which produced 477 rushing yards in a 33-21 victory. It was the most rushing yards for the Yellow Jackets in an ACC game. Virginia (2-3) tries for its first ACC win under Mike London against UNC (3-2). Up next » vs. North Carolina, 6 p.m., ESPN3
Georgetown
The Hoyas led Wagner 13-3 late in the fourth quarter when lightning struck. The Seahawks scored 10 points in the final three minutes of regulation, including a 54-yard field goal with six seconds left, then got the winning points on an 80-yard interception return in overtime for a 22-16 victory. Up next » vs. Bucknell, 1 p.m.
