EXAMINER TOP 25
Previous unbeatens fall hard
The top five remain unchanged. Tumbling out of the top 10 were previously unbeaten Missouri and Michigan State, which fall to No. 17 and No. 18 respectively. The biggest advancement was made by No. 11 Nebraska, a 31-17 winner over Missouri. No. 14 Iowa jumped six places for its 37-6 destruction of Michigan State. No. 10 Utah had its most impressive win, 28-23, at Air Force, but moves up just one slot. The Utes have a chance to replace No. 4 TCU in the rankings, however, with a victory Saturday over the Horned Frogs. No. 25 Hawaii entered the ranking for the first time.
| Team » Comment » Pvs Rank 1. Oregon (8-0) » Ducks have produced at least 42 points in every game » 1 2. Auburn (9-0) » After his TD catch, is there anything Newton can’t do? » 2 3. Boise State (7-0) » Can resurgent No. 25 Hawaii (7-2) run with Broncos? » 3 4. TCU (9-0) » Frogs’ No. 1 ranked defense vs. Utes’ No. 3 offense » 4 5. Alabama (7-1) » Tough SEC slate — at LSU, Mississippi State, Auburn » 5 6. Wisconsin (7-1) » Finish up with four of the bottom six teams in Big Ten » 7 7. Ohio State (8-1) » Game at Iowa likely to decide who gets to a BCS bowl » 8 8. Stanford (7-1) » Have two of the three shutouts this year in the Pac-10 » 14 9. LSU (7-1) » 1-2 vs. former coach, Saban, and want to even the score » 10 10. Utah (8-0) » 28-23 at AF was Utes’ closest thing to a quality victory » 11 11. Nebraska (7-1) » Helu (307 yards) ran circles around undefeated Mizzou » 18 12. Arizona (7-1) » Must face Stanford, USC, Oregon, ASU without Foles » 16 13. Oklahoma (7-1) » Finish up with Baylor, OSU to decide the Big 12 South » 12 14. Iowa (6-2) » Riled up Hawkeyes kept Rose Bowl hopes alive vs. MSU » 20 15. Arkansas (6-2) » All three SEC games left come against ranked teams » 15 16. S. Carolina (6-2) » SEC East likely will be decided Nov. 13 in The Swamp » 17 17. Missouri (7-1) » Last time Tigers were treated that rudely was by Navy » 9 18. Michigan St. (8-1) » No title game possibilities, but Rose Bowl still in play » 6 19. Oklahoma St. (7-1) » Got by at KSU minus WR Blackmon, but not by much » 21 20. Miss. State (7-2) » Can Mullen reprise Croom’s 06-07 success vs. ‘Bama? » 22 21. Baylor (7-2) » First win over Texas since 1997 legitimizes the Bears » 25 22. Virginia Tech (6-2) » Ga. Tech triple-option will test Hokies’ porous defense » 23 23. N.C. State (6-2) » Their chance to atone for six straight losses to Clemson » NR 24. Florida State (6-2) » A step back at N.C. State, but ’Noles still lead ACC Atlantic » 13 25. Hawaii (7-2) » QB Moniz (25 TD passes) is making like Timmy Chang » NR |
HEATING UP
Baylor; Also » Mississippi State, Stanford
COOLING DOWN
Michigan State; Also » Missouri, Florida State
TOP 25 GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 4 TCU at No. 10 Utah
This meeting of Mountain West unbeatens is an elimination game. While the loser will be out of the BCS bowl picture, the winner will be positioned for a possible berth in the championship game. Something has to give between two outstanding defenses. TCU ranks first in the NCAA in total defense (217.3 yards per game) and scoring defense (8.7), while Utah ranks sixth in both categories. QBs Andy Dalton (TCU) and Jordan Wynn (Utah) can expect lots of pressure.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Nick Foles, Arizona, QB
With Foles back after missing three weeks with a dislocated knee, No. 12 Arizona (7-1) travels to No. 8 Stanford (7-1). In his absence, Matt Scott (64 of 91, 772 yards) has guided the Wildcats to three straight wins. But those came over the bottom three in the Pac-10. Now comes the hard part — Stanford, followed by USC, No. 1 Oregon and Arizona State. With a stronger arm, Foles gives Arizona more downfield capability against the Stanford defense led by two-way marvel, LB/FB Owen Marecic.
STORYLINES
1. BCS flip-flop » At the top of the BCS standings, Oregon and Auburn changed places, the Ducks taking over the top spot after running another track meet, 53-32, at USC. The next two teams in the standings, Boise St. and TCU, also exchanged positions, with the Horned Frogs moving up to third. The switch is bad news for the Broncos, who likely need both Auburn and Oregon to lose to get a berth in the BCS title game. Even that might not be enough. Last year Boise was undefeated when it was leapfrogged in the final BCS standings by one-loss Florida. Could Alabama do the same this year?
2. Irish eyes frowning » Three days after the tragic death of video assistant, Declan Sullivan, Notre Dame suffered on-field embarrassment, losing at home to Tulsa 28-27. In both, the decision-making of coach Brian Kelly is being questioned. After his choice to have Sullivan film the Irish practice from a tower in wind gusts reaching 50 mph, some including FoxSports.com columnist Jason Whitlock, called for Kelly to be fired. On Saturday, Kelly decided to throw in the final minute, producing an interception when Notre Dame was in position to kick a game-winning field goal. It was Tulsa’s first win over a BCS team since 1998.
3. Pretenders » Two of the four remaining BCS conference unbeatens fell, to the surprise of few. Cinderellas Missouri and Michigan State lost on the road to ranked teams. Missouri was the first team this season to surrender 300 rushing yards to a back, as Nebraska’s Roy Helu Jr. (28 carries, 307 yards, 3 touchdowns) ran roughshod over the Tigers in a 31-17 win. Michigan State was treated even more rudely in Iowa City, going down 30-0 in the first half of a 37-6 loss to Iowa, making the Big Ten a scramble as four teams enter Week 9 with one conference defeat.
AREA INTELLIGENCE
MARYLAND
Quarterback Danny O’Brien was named ACC Rookie of the Week after throwing four touchdown passes in a 62-14 win over Wake Forest. Maryland (6-2, 3-1) will battle FSU (6-2, 4-1) and N.C. State (6-2, 3-1) down the stretch for a berth in the ACC title game. The Terps play both at home, the final two weeks of the season.
Up next » at Miami, Sat., noon (ESPNU)
NAVY
The Midshipmen (5-3) had a power-outage in the first half against Duke on Saturday, falling behind by 24 points en route to a 34-31 loss. Navy (5-3) will try to right the ship at East Carolina (5-3), with both teams looking to gain bowl eligibility. ECU is led by prolific QB Dominique Davis (21 touchdown passes).
Up next » at ECU, Sat., 3:30 p.m. (MASN)
VIRGINIA TECH
After six straight wins and a bye Saturday, the Hokies are geared up for another run to the ACC Championship Game. Tech (6-2, 4-0) can take a giant step toward clinching the ACC Coastal with a win Thursday over visiting Georgia Tech (5-3, 3-2). The teams have split their last four meetings.
Up next » vs. Georgia Tech, Thurs., 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
VIRGINIA
Juniors Corey Mosley and Chase Minnifield were named ACC co-defensive backs of the week. Both had two interceptions each as the Cavaliers turned their season around with a 24-19 upset of No. 19 Miami. The Cavaliers (4-4) are thinking bowl eligibility as they face Duke, Maryland and BC the next three weeks.
Up next » at Duke, Sat., noon (ESPN3)
RICHMOND
This has been a topsy-turvy season in the Colonial Athletic Association as perennial powers and former national champions Richmond (4-4, 2-3) and James Madison (4-4, 1-4) are mired in the conference’s bottom half. Saturday at Richmond, the rivals meet to keep their faint hopes for a playoff berth alive.
Up next » vs. JMU, Sat., 3:30 p.m.
