PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Daniel Thomas, Kansas State, RB
Thomas had to jump through multiple hoops — three junior colleges in three years — to finally qualify academically. But No. 24 Kansas State (4-0) is glad he did. The Wildcats converted him from QB to RB last year and he ran for 1,265 yards. This year, he averages 157 yards per game, ranking fifth in the nation, and is getting interest from NFL scouts who love his speed and elusiveness. Thursday night on ESPN he leads KSU against No. 6 Nebraska (4-0).
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 22 FSU at No. 14 Miami, ABC, 8 p.m.
This rivalry doesn’t have the heat of the previous decade (Wide Right I, II and III), when the teams were always ranked in the top 10. But this year’s game could match the two best teams and most talented quarterbacks in the ACC. Christian Ponder has FSU rolling. The Seminoles have outscored their last three foes, 99-24. Jacory Harris and Miami have been inconsistent and error prone, but the defense can dominate and intimidate in the tradition of The U.
Washington Examiner Top 25 poll
Alabama makes big statement
No surprises here. Alabama solidified its stronghold on the No. 1 slot with a show of force against Florida. After that, the top six remain unchanged, though No. 3 Oregon is gaining on No. 2 Ohio State. Among top-25 teams that lost (Florida, Wisconsin, Stanford, Texas, Penn State) none was a surprise as all fell to ranked teams. N.C. State and USC lost at home to unranked squads, but both were suspect. With a lack of quality teams to round out the bottom, three undefeated, unproven teams from the Big 12 enter the rankings — Oklahoma State, Missouri and Kansas State.
| Rank. Team » Comment » Pvs Rank 1. Alabama (5-0) » Next Up: At South Carolina with all the trappings? » 1 2. Ohio State (5-0) » The Big Ten — it’s not exactly running the gauntlet » 2 3. Oregon (5-0) » Can the Ducks outscore everyone in the Pac-10? » 3 4. Boise State (4-0) » Broncos sked still full of Os (Toledo, Idaho, Fresno) » 4 5. TCU (5-0) » Frogs held Colorado State to 161 yards, 8 first downs » 5 6. Nebraska (4-0) » Next four opponents have combined record of 15-2 » 6 7. Oklahoma (5-0) » Four OU victories have come by total of 20 points » 8 8. Arizona (4-0) » Two weeks to prepare for OSU’s Rodgers brothers » 9 9. LSU (5-0) » Sources confirm, Les Miles is living in a tree » 10 10. Auburn (5-0) » Is that a ball under Newton’s arm or a laptop? » 12 11. Iowa (4-1) » Hawkeyes did exactly what No. 1 Bama did to PSU » 15 12. Arkansas (3-1) » More style points than Florida in their loss to Bama » 16 13. Florida (4-1) » At Alabama, Gators were who we thought they were » 7 14. Miami (3-1) » In ACC, cream (Miami, Virginia Tech, FSU) » rises » 17 15. Utah (4-0) » Utes to be tested — five of their next seven on road » 14 16. Michigan St. (5-0) » In the absence of Dantonio, the Spartans “Tread” well » 21 17. Stanford (4-1) » At Oregon, did anyone get the number on that bus? » 11 18. S. Carolina (3-1) » Coming off a bye, the right time to face No. 1 Bama? » 19 19. Michigan (5-0) » Rich Rod guns for his first win over Michigan State » 20 20. Oklahoma St. (4-0) » Should be 6-0 when Cowboys host Nebraska on Oct. 23 » NR 21. Wisconsin (4-1) » Won the turnover battle, 3-0, but lost at Michigan St. » 13 22. Florida State (4-1) » Will FSU at Miami be a preview of ACC title game? » NR 23. Nevada (5-0) » Thanksgiving Friday vs. Boise looms for Wolf Pack » 24 24. Kansas State (4-0) » A litmus test at home Thursday vs. No. 6 Nebraska » NR 25. Missouri (4-0) » Bunny schedule: Tigers at 4-0 for fifth straight year » NR |
HEATING UP
Oklahoma State
Also » FSU, Iowa, Oregon
COOLING DOWN
Wisconsin
Also » Florida, Stanford, USC
STORYLINES
1. Crowded Big 12 » The Big 12 may be on its way to extinction, but so far this season, it has the best non-conference record (38-5) in the FBS. Five teams (Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Missouri) are undefeated and three appear significantly improved (Baylor, Colorado, Texas A&M). Even Kansas (2-3), the team with the worst record in the conference, owns a win over then-ranked Georgia Tech. Nebraska (North) and Oklahoma (South) remain the class of the conference. They will not play each other in the regular season, but could meet in the Big 12 title game.
2. Oregon, wow » They may not be the best in the nation, but no one is more explosive than the No. 3 Oregon Ducks (5-0). Trailing 21-3 in the second quarter was no problem as Oregon sprinted to a 52-31 win behind RB LaMichael James (257 yards) and QB Darron Thomas (20 of 29, 238 yards passing, 117 yards rushing). Oregon also has been undeterred by 10-point deficits in the second quarter of wins over Tennessee and Arizona State. The Ducks have not missed departed QB Jeremiah Masoli. They lead the nation in turnovers forced (21) and turnover margin (plus-11).
3. Undefeated teams » Are we destined to have multiple undefeated teams and a great debate on who belongs in the BCS championship game? There are 18 undefeated programs in the FBS, including 17 in The Washington Examiner Top 25. At this point in the season in each of the last eight years, there have never been this many perfect teams ranked by the AP. In the BCS doomsday scenario, as many as six conferences could be won by teams with perfect records — Alabama (SEC), Ohio State (Big Ten), Nebraska or Oklahoma (Big 12), Oregon or Arizona (Pac-10), TCU (Mountain West), and Boise St. (WAC). Imagine the mayhem.
LOCAL CAPSULES
Maryland
In a 21-16 win over Duke, freshman QB Danny O’Brien took a step backward (9 of 26, 170 yards, one touchdown) from his impressive starting debut, but still led an offense that didn’t have a turnover for the second straight game. Maryland (4-1) has a bye this week before traveling to Clemson (2-2). Up next » @ Clemson, Oct. 16, noon, ACC TV
Navy
Coming off their first loss in 16 games to a service academy team, 14-6 at Air Force, the Mids (2-2) try to solve their offensive woes at Wake Forest (2-3). QB Ricky Dobbs’ struggles continued at Air Force as he completed 6 of 18 passes, had two intercepted, and gained just 43 yards on 18 carries. Up next » @ Wake Forest, 6:30 p.m., ESPN3
Virginia Tech
The Hokies (3-2) staged the biggest rally of the Frank Beamer era, coming from 17 down to hand N.C. State its first loss, 41-30. Tech DB Jayron Hosley had three interceptions and won Walter Camp national defensive player of the week honors. The Hokies next face Central Michigan (2-3) for the first time. Up next » vs. Central Michigan, noon, ESPNU
Virginia
The Cavaliers’ 34-14 loss to Florida State was a sobering reminder that coach Mike London’s rebuilding efforts will take time as Virginia (2-2) was dominated in every phase. The Cavs try to rebound Saturday at struggling Georgia Tech (3-2). Virginia won its last trip to Atlanta, 24-17 (2008). Up next » @ Georgia Tech, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU
Howard
After 11 straight losses, the Bison got off the schneid with a 28-14 win over Lincoln (Pa.) as sophomore Charles Brice, in the first start of his career, carried 31 times for 161 yards and three touchdowns, all in the second quarter. Next for Howard (1-3) is Furman (2-2) of the Southern Conference. Up next » @ Furman, noon
