Texas Longhorns News

Analyzing what Monday's buzz means to college football: A plug for Pryor In early October 2004, Vince Young and the Texas Longhorns got shut out in the annual rivalry game with Oklahoma. It would be the last game Young would lose as a college player. Maybe that gives Mack Brown some credence to make a similar prediction for Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, whose career sits near the point Young's was when he started his run. Brown has some knowledge of Pryor from Saturday night highlight... shows and from facing him in January's Fiesta Bowl. And Brown said on Monday's Big 12 coaches teleconference that from his observations, Pryor will enjoy a bright future as a Buckeye. "Before he leaves Ohio State, he'll lead them to a national championship," Brown said. "He's that kind of player." That's a bold statement, sure, but it comes from the leader of a program that's rolling toward another national title opportunity. And after such an endorsement, giving up on Pryor seems like an activity better suited for 2010 than 2009. Soft on Spikes Shame on Florida and the SEC for not extending linebacker Brandon Spikes' suspension to at least a game. As Dan Wetzel from Yahoo! Sports pointed out Monday afternoon, the eye gouge Spikes attempted on Georgia running back Washaun Ealey is illegal in mixed martial arts. (Time for a new adage: What's illegal in the octagon is a felony on the gridiron.) A boost of his punishment, plus a little creativity — maybe some community service involving the blind residents of Alachua County in Florida? — would hammer home that such activity has no place in football. The subplot here is teammate Tim Tebow's comment Monday that the Gators were doing nothing that Georgia wasn't trying on them. Even if Tebow is accurate, it seems like turning the other cheek would be the prudent move for Florida. Instead, Spikes lashed out and pretty much got away with it, placing a temporary black stain on the orange and blue. Not so Happy Valley Ohio State figures to face its toughest road challenge of this season this weekend at Penn State. But take it from veteran offensive tackle Jim Cordle — the hard part starts well before opening kickoff. Here are some reflections from Cordle on OSU's 2007 visit to Beaver Stadium. "The term we use around here is black flag city. You obviously have to keep your head on a swivel, close ranks and just focus in. On the bus ride there, you come up a hill, then down by the stadium, and our bus is getting rocked. We're getting all kinds of beers thrown at us. "Then you get to the locker room, and it's pretty bad. It's this old little shack under the bleachers. When you're walking out to the field, they have old steel bleachers you can see through, and people just line up and let you have it. "Then, on the field, you see the whiteout. They get 'Zombie Nation' going, and obviously, that's the most feared stadium to play in. There's a lot of fierceness in those fans."more>>

Each week, Sporting News' Matt Hayes ranks the Division I-A conferences and the teams within each league. Conf. rankings No. 1 SEC No. 2 Pac-10 No. 3 Big Ten No. 4 ACC No. 5 Big 12 No. 6 Big East Nos. 7-11 5. Big 12 1. Texas 2. Oklahoma 3.... Oklahoma State 4. Texas Tech 5. Kansas State 6. Kansas 7. Texas A&M 8. Nebraska 9. Missouri 10. Iowa State 11. Colorado 12. Baylor Rising Texas A&M: One day Mike Sherman is fighting off firing rumors; the next, the Aggies are winning back-to-back games and need to win at Colorado this week to become bowl-eligible. Falling Colorado: The issue isn't the coach's son at quarterback or the backup fans crave. It's a defense that has given up at least 30 points five times this season. Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

The reign is over for USC and the redemption likely complete for Texas. And then there is Florida, in its familiar position of SEC East champions. The race for college football's national championship took a defining turn Saturday with three routs: No. 10 Oregon 47, No. 4 Southern Cal 20 No. 3 Texas 41, No. 13 Oklahoma State 14 No. 1 Florida 41, Georgia 17 "We're excited about where we're headed," Florida wideout Riley Cooper said. All three should be. The impact of those routs could be... felt all the way into the postseason. Related Links Curtis: Pac-10's new stud duck So who needs Blount anyway? Recap: Oregon 47, Southern Cal 20 Hayes: Florida foes, fear the wrath of Tim Recap: Gators 41, Georgia 17 Recap: Texas 41, Oklahoma State 14 Samson: Week 9's top players, Heisman Watch Samson: Week 9's top teams, Poll Vault SN's full college football scoreboard Oregon over Southern Cal What it means for the BCS: Non-BCS heavyweight Boise State, which beat Oregon in Week 1, gets a boost. But Oregon's win was so thorough, so convincing, don't be surprised to see the Ducks leapfrog a handful of teams. Texas over Oklahoma State What it means for the BCS: The Longhorns cleared their last hurdle in the watered-down Big 12. Texas just needs to avoid a major upset now and has better odds than Florida or Alabama of reaching the BCS championship game. Florida over Georgia What it means for the BCS: The stale Gators found a little of last year's dynamic offense, and the timing could not be better. Another second-half run like 2008, and Florida will play for its third national title in four years. This story appears in Nov. 1's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free. Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

Place: Stillwater, Okla. Time: 8 p.m. ET TV: ABC/ESPN2 Line: Texas by 9½ Three reasons Oklahoma State will win 1. Forget history: Where do we begin? Mack Brown is 11-0 vs. OSU as the Texas coach, and some of those victories have been gut punches. Oklahoma State led 35-7 in 2004— and lost 56-35. The Cowboys led 28-9 a year later—and lost 47-28. Last year in Austin, OSU closed to 28-21 in the third quarter and could do nothing with two Texas turnovers—and lost 28-24. This Cowboys team knows it... can beat Texas, and has confidence from a game it could've won last season. Keith Toston has been a strong replacement for the injured Kendall Hunter. 2. Be multiple on offense: Texas has been terrific on defense but hasn't played an offense that can force tempo by throwing and running. The Cowboys have moved on without suspended star WR Dez Bryant, and Hubert Anyiam had big games against Missouri and Baylor as the No. 1 receiver. Texas obviously is a bigger challenge, but OSU can give its receivers help by grinding away with bruising TB Keith Toston and using QB Zac Robinson in the run game. 3. Shut down Shipley: We keep hearing about the Texas struggles in the passing game, yet QB Colt McCoy still is completing more than 70 percent of his passes. Here's where Oklahoma State can make a difference: CB Perrish Cox vs. Texas WR Jordan Shipley. When McCoy gets in trouble, when he needs a big play, he looks to Shipley. Cox has become more consistent in his coverage and has learned when to take chances instead of trying to make a big play every play. If Cox takes Shipley out of the game, Texas becomes more predictable on offense. Three reasons Texas will win 1. Redemption overflowith: You didn't really think the Oklahoma game was the only prove-it point for the Longhorns, did you? This team has been feeding off last year's BCS national championship game snub, and that has allowed a team with various distractions—questionable running game, McCoy not playing to the significant bar he set last fall—to persevere and grind out victories. This team is well aware of what happens when you let someone else decide who plays in the big game. Related Links Texas' passing game not 'back' yet Hayes' picks: 'Horns will take it Sporting News expert picks Picks: Davis Curtis vs. Grams Texas could wrap up South with win 2. Stopping the run: If Oklahoma State can't run the ball consistently and keep Texas guessing on defense, the rout is on. The Longhorns are the nation's No. 1 team against the run (41.3 ypg.)—a full 23 yards better than No. 2 Alabama. But Texas hasn't faced a team with athletes (even without OSU injured TB Kendall Hunter) at both tailback and quarterback who can beat you to the perimeter. 3. Gaining momentum: They're baby steps, but the incremental improvement from TBs Fozzy Whittaker and Cody Johnson is beginning to give Texas a bit of an identity in the running game. And more than anything, taking pressure off McCoy to make plays in the zone-read game or by scrambling. Whitaker is the zone-read back who runs the perimeter game, and Johnson is the bruising, pile mover. There's little deception when either is in the game, but Texas is fundamentally sound enough on the line to make it all work. Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

Attention folks in the Providence area: Don't be frightened later this afternoon if Bobby Bowden starts popping up and passing out candy to the area children. Yeah, he's supposed to be busy in Tallahassee trying to supervise his Florida State Seminoles against N.C. State. But the guy's been coaching since the Taft Administration, right? So maybe he can pull off two places at once. "You really think I look like him?" Grams B asked Thursday afternoon. Well, maybe it's the other way around.... Between his folksy personality and jowly looks, Bowden always seemed like the guy who could be bringing a pitcher of lemonade to the table. With sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat, Grams is a ringer. She hopes, however, that her Saturday luck continues to be better than Bowden's. Here are this week's selections, all straight up. No. 1 Florida vs. Georgia at Jacksonville, 3:30 p.m., CBS The skinny: Grams never liked neutral site games; kitchens and home cooking always trumped restaurants. But Tim Tebow loves playing in his backyard, and unless the Jags draft him, it might be his last game there for a while. Grams B: Florida, 33-10 Dave: Florida, 34-17 No. 12 Penn State at Northwestern, 4:30 p.m., ESPN The skinny: Why not JoePa as a costume? "I'm not that old," Grams said. "It's tougher for me to look like that." Painting herself purple, which figures to be popular at Ryan Field today, didn't score points with her, either. Grams B: Penn State, 37-21 Dave: Northwestern, 24-21 No. 21 South Carolina at Tennessee, 7:45 p.m., ESPN The skinny: The SEC used to be about great players and better football. Now, it's defined by field goals and whining about the officiating. "I don't like it when they complain about the refs," Grams said. So shut up, guys, and figure out this red zone stuff. Grams B: South Carolina, 24-17 Dave: Tennessee, 16-10 No. 3 Texas at No. 13 Oklahoma State, 8 p.m., ABC/ESPN2 The skinny: Time for the Cowboys to bust some ghosts. UT has won 11 straight in the series, including a fourth-quarter rally from 35-14 down two years ago in Stillwater. "It sounds like Oklahoma (State) can't beat those guys," Grams said. Related Links Key conference could get wrapped up Hayes' Week 9 story lines Hayes' Week 9 picks Sporting News expert picks Spotlight game: Texas vs. Oklahoma St. Spotlight game: USC vs. Oregon Grams B: Texas, 44-21 Dave: Texas, 30-20 No. 4 USC at No. 10 Oregon, 8 p.m., ABC/ESPN2 The skinny: Every Ducks game ends up a color war—how about tie-dye tonight against the Trojans? Seriously, it's crazy that with all the debate around the unbeatens, the day's biggest game (this one) features two one-loss teams. Grams B: Oregon, 38-24 Dave: USC, 28-23 Last week Grams B: 3-2 Dave: 3-2 Season Grams B: 26-14 Dave: 19-21 Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

It's fitting that college football and Halloween intersect Saturday. After all, what provides more tricks than the BCS? As the day wears on, though, some of the nation's top programs could find themselves with sweet treats. Here's a look at what to watch between apple bobs: No. 1 Florida vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m., CBS If Georgia manages to pull the upset of No. 1 Florida, it will be thanks to its defense. What it means: Florida clinches the SEC East with a victory in Jacksonville, Fla., and a... South Carolina loss at Tennessee. Halloween theme: Pranks. Two years ago, every Bulldog stormed the field to celebrate an early TD. Last year, Florida coach Urban Meyer called late timeouts to rub in a 49-10 win. How Georgia wins: The Dawgs regrouped during a bye week, and they boast the talent to keep the Gators' offense in a statistical slump. "That's as good as defensive personnel as there is in college football," Meyer said of Georgia on a teleconference. No. 3 Texas at No 13 Oklahoma State, 8 p.m., ABC/ESPN2 What it means: The winner takes sole possession first place in the Big 12 South; Texas should roll to the conference title game if it survives Stillwater. Halloween theme: Eeriness. A year ago this weekend, the undefeated Longhorns lost at upstart Texas Tech on a last-second touchdown. "Everything is similar," Texas coach Mack Brown said on a teleconference. "It's a very good team. … It's a game they've been looking forward to all year." How Oklahoma State wins: Even with star WR Dez Bryant suspended, Cowboys QB Zac Robinson and his strong offensive line can hang with Texas' top-ranked scoring offense. No. 4 USC at No. 10 Oregon, 8 p.m., ABC/ESPN2 Related Links Hayes' Week 9 story lines Hayes' Week 9 picks Picks: Dave Curtis vs. Grams Sporting News expert picks Spotlight game: Texas vs. Oklahoma St. Spotlight game: USC vs. Oregon What it means: The winner emerges as the Pac-10 favorite and the one-loss team best positioned to reach the BCS national championship game. Halloween theme: Haunted houses. Autzen Stadium hosts one of the nation's rowdiest crowds, and the Ducks beat the Trojans 24-17 there in 2007. How Oregon wins: QB Jeremiah Masoli. If his performance matches the Cal game (21 of 25, three TDs), Ducks win. If he puts up another Utah stinker (4-for-16, 1 INT), USC rolls. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Sporting News Sporting News college football columnist Matt Hayes looks at five major story lines heading into Week 9. 1. The season-breaker Tim Tebow and the Gators haven't been the flawless offensive machine many expected. We've heard the excuses and seen the results. And frankly, it doesn't look good for the defending national champions. One is an anomaly; two is a trend. What we have here in Gainesville, everyone, is a full-blown... trend. The Florida offense, one of the most feared in the nation the last two seasons, is sputtering and hiccupping along like your crazy uncle's tired Torino. "It's kind of new and it's frustrating," Florida quarterback Tim Tebow told reporters this week. "But we're getting the wins." For how long? Everyone has theories about the offensive struggles, but two things stand out for me going into the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party this weekend in Jacksonville: • Florida's most successful offensive play in an ugly victory last week at Mississippi State was an I-formation, isolation handoff that produced a red-zone touchdown. It was the complete opposite of the spread option and the first snap Tebow has taken under center in his four years in Gainesville. • The Gators' struggles the last two weeks were against the No. 9 (Mississippi State) and No. 12 defenses (Arkansas) in the SEC. Up next: No. 10 defense Georgia. What makes anyone think Georgia can beat Florida? Here's what: The Bulldogs' problem on defense is defending the pass. When Jonathan Crompton throws for 310 yards and four touchdowns on you, you've got issues. The Plan to Win—using the Urban Meyer axiom—is simple for Georgia: Load up to stop the run and force Florida's receivers to beat you in man coverage. More often than not, that isn't going to happen. Riley Cooper doesn't have the deep speed to stretch defenses, and Deonte Thompson hasn't earned the trust of the Florida play-callers (a convoluted system with too many people to list). The Dawgs must be patient, protect the ball and wait for Florida to make mistakes within the 15-yard box the offense is forced to work within because of a lack of proven deep speed. Arkansas played that plan perfectly (zero turnovers) and lost on a last-second field goal. Mississippi State didn't (three turnovers) but still was within striking distance late in the game. Georgia, with two weeks of preparation and healing time, won't make the same mistakes. 2. A passing statement There's this perception that all is well again in Austin. Colt McCoy had a breakout game against Missouri, and the path to the national championship game is free of obstacles. "We've got the Colt of old back now," Texas coach Mack Brown said at a press conference this week. Only there's one little problem: The A.G. Bulldogs, my nephew's middle-school team in Charlotte, would go up and down the field on the Missouri defense. Now let's all take a long, deep breath and reassess. Reality: the Texas offense still isn't close to the efficient, dynamic unit of last fall. But don't blame McCoy. Much like Florida, Texas doesn't have the deep speed to stretch defenses. So Brown has moved speedy underclassmen wideouts Malcolm Williams and Marquise Goodwin in the starting lineup and moved senior Jordan Shipley into the slot to find better matchups for this week's key game at Oklahoma State. You're not making significant lineup changes midway through the season if there aren't issues. Texas has found a legitimate tailback in Fozzy Whitaker, provided he can stay healthy. The issue isn't the running game: McCoy led the team in rushing last year, and the Longhorns lost one game by six points. If the Texas receivers can't create separation and finish plays, then the Longhorns will be in another fourth-quarter game with Oklahoma State (see: 2008). 3. All about the defense more>>

With seven teams still unbeaten and nearly as many intriguing one-loss teams still alive, the prospect of a classic BCS national championship game matchup looms. There's a flip side, though. Check out the BCS standings and you'll notice a handful of non-traditional powers near the top. Yup, the BCS system could spit out a title bout that would infuriate fans and devastate television executives. Here's a look at five title games that -- brace yourselves -- really, truly could happen: 1. Iowa vs.... SEC champ/USC This has a little bit to do with the Hawkeyes and a lot to do with recent history. When folks outside Big Ten country think of the league, Ohio State's title-game losses to SEC teams -- and the Big Ten's annual Rose Bowl pounding against USC -- pop up first. Placing Iowa in the game would produce a double-digit point spread. Not even a continuous loop of Ohio State's Craig Krenzel and Maurice Clarett winning the 2003 Fiesta Bowl would convince the nation Iowa has shot. Heck, even coach Kirk Ferentz is not sure about his squad. "I still have a hard time even picturing us in the top 10," he said on a Tuesday teleconference. The Hawkeyes might deserve a spot in the big game, but it wouldn't make many people happy. 2. TCU vs. Alabama Putting the Frogs against the Tide would throw college football back to the days of Mr. Inside, Knute Rockne and scoreless ties that ended up as all-time great games. Given the two great defenses, Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin would likely dominate the night. Everyone cringes at the thought of a 12-10 or 9-7 outcome on the nation's biggest stage. TCU would sell out against the run, and they have the speed and scheme to slow Mark Ingram. And while Andy Dalton has improved at quarterback, TCU's offense remains a far cry from, say, Texas Tech's. Spare the world this matchup, BCS gods. We beg you. 3. Oregon vs. Oklahoma State With so much football left, don't forget some of the one-loss teams on the fringe of contention now. The Ducks need a Boise State loss to hurdle the Broncos, who beat Oregon in the opener. A 12-1 Cowboys team would challenge for the top two with wins over Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma and possibly Nebraska or Kansas. The game might be fun on the field, but with no major media markets and no familiar personalities, the buildup would be lackluster. This matchup is meant for the Holiday Bowl. 4. Florida vs. Alabama Maybe these will end up being the two best teams in America. Who knows? But college football couldn't handle an all-SEC national championship game that's a rematch of the SEC title game played five weeks earlier. Why should the SEC champion need to beat the loser again? And if they split, why should the second win trump the first? It also wouldn't be fair to the Big Ten, which lost out on an Ohio State-Michigan title game after the 2006 season, in part because of resistance to an intra-conference pairing. America went on to learn quite clearly that Michigan and Ohio State were not the best two teams in the country, after all. Rose Bowl: USC 32, Michigan 18; BCS title game: Florida 41, Ohio State 14 5. Texas vs. Cincinnati If a Big Ten team in the big game would frustrate fans, then a Big East team would horrify them. Again, this is about reputation and perception, not the statistics or the reality of how teams look on the field. But even if the Bearcats go 12-0 with late-season victories over West Virginia (which lost to 5-3 Auburn) and Pittsburgh (which lost to 3-4 N.C. State), seeing Cincy in the title game wouldn't sit well with fans of a one-loss SEC or Pac-10 champ. The Longhorns would face similar scrutiny thanks to a weak nonconference schedule. Its two marquee wins would have come against Sam Bradford-less Oklahoma (for most of the game, at least) and Dez Bryant-less Oklahoma State. Even with two undefeated teams, this matchup would leave most of the country shouting for a playoff. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

With a game at Ohio State looming, Iowa is a long shot to stay undefeated. Seven undefeated teams remain in Division I-A, and ranking them is tougher than differentiating shades of black. Sporting News conducted a brief statistical analysis Tuesday of the perfect teams. The breakdown included a look at statistical categories that coaches for years have deemed most important to winning. Criteria included third-down performance, turnover margin, run defense and red-zone efficiency. A... strength-of-schedule component was also included. The results provided a clear ranking of the Magnificent Seven, from best to worst by the numbers. Drum roll, please … 1. Texas (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) Why here: The nation's top rush defense and third-down defense trumps a shaky schedule. UT also leads the nation in scoring offense. Odds of remaining undefeated: 3-to-1. Oklahoma State has only beaten the 'Horns twice—1944 and 1997. Next game: Saturday, at Oklahoma State 2. Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) Why here: Tide have the nation's No. 2 run defense, and their road/neutral wins have come against Virginia Tech (No. 12 Sagarin), Kentucky (No. 21) and Ole Miss (No. 35). Odds of remaining undefeated: 5-to-1. Auburn, in a charged Iron Bowl, could play spoiler the day after Thanksgiving. Next game: Nov. 7, vs. LSU 3. Iowa (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) Why here: A plus-11 turnover margin is tied for best among the unbeatens. "Coaches talk about not turning the ball over and mistakes to cost you a game," Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said on a teleconference. "You see it with them." Odds of remaining undefeated: 15-to-1. Hawkeyes haven't won at Ohio State since 1991. Next game: Saturday, vs. Indiana 4. TCU (7-0, 3-0 MWC) Why here: Blasting BYU 38-7 for a fourth road win against a top-70 Sagarin team impressed the Mountain West. "The No. 1 word is surprised," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said on a teleconference. "I was surprised the scoring difference was what it was." Odds of remaining undefeated: 3-to-1. Outside of Utah, remaining opponents have combined 10-19 record. Next game: Saturday, vs. UNLV 5. Florida (7-0, 5-0 SEC) Why here: Tim Tebow, even in an inconsistent, concussion-stained year, helps a bunch. Too many turnovers and rough times in the red zone bump the Gators to this spot. Odds of remaining undefeated: 4-to-1. Win at South Carolina, and the Gators go to Atlanta with a perfect record. Next game: Saturday, vs. Georgia at Jacksonville 6. Cincinnati (7-0, 3-0 Big East) Why here: Bearcats score on more than 85 percent of red-zone chances. But a so-so run defense, ranked 40th in the country, will haunt them down the stretch. Odds of remaining undefeated: 10-to-1. Big East buzz already promoting Cincy at Pitt for a league title on Dec. 5. Watch out for West Virginia in mid-November. Next game: Saturday, at Syracuse 7. Boise State (7-0, 2-0 WAC) Why here: Win over Oregon keeps these guys afloat in the national title race. Plus-9 turnover margin and No. 17 rush defense help, but WAC competition drags down BSU. Odds of remaining undefeated: 2-to-1. Bowl-bound Nevada and Idaho both come to the blue turf. Next game: Saturday, vs. San Jose State. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Each week, Sporting News' Matt Hayes ranks the Division I-A conferences and the teams within each league. Conf. rankings No. 1 Pac-10 No. 2 SEC No. 3 ACC No. 4 Big East No. 5 Big Ten No. 6 Big 12 Nos. 7-11 6. Big 12 1. Texas 2. Oklahoma 3.... Oklahoma State 4. Kansas 5. Kansas State 6. Iowa State 7. Nebraska 8. Texas Tech 9. Texas A&M 10. Colorado 11. Missouri 12. Baylor Rising Kansas State: That's right, everyone. The team that lost at home to Louisiana-Lafayette leads the rock'em, sock'em North Division. Falling Missouri: We knew there had to be a step back from the success in 2007-08. But not this bad, this quickly. Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

Somewhere in the hallowed halls of Congress they're waiting for this. They want it—they need it: If Oregon beats USC this weekend, the Ducks, in all likelihood, will jump Boise State in the BCS poll. The same Boise State team that held Oregon without a first down into the third quarter of an ugly loss. It's just the juice the folks in Washington are looking for to ramp up the rhetoric against college football's postseason. As if Boise State's fall from No.4 to No.7 in this week's BCS poll—after... a 54-9 victory at Hawaii—isn't enough. "If we play that way on defense," says Boise State coach Chris Petersen, "We will be hard to stop." On the field, maybe. Off the field, that impressive victory over Oregon in the season opener looks smaller with each passing week. Don't panic Pete Carroll's USC Trojans still have time to make a move in the BCS standings. No. 5 USC. With a win over No. 10 Oregon, don't be surprised if the Trojans jump No.4 Iowa. The points difference is minimal (.8249 to .7944), and a win over Oregon will significantly impact USC's computer ranking (currently No.9). No. 6 TCU. The computer polls love the Mountain West (see: Utah, 2008); the Frogs simply have to keep winning to improve in the human polls. It's early, and it's hypothetical: the way the frontrunners are playing, TCU could find a way into the top two spots by November. Start to panic No. 8 Cincinnati. For now, anyway. The game with Syracuse this week will drop computer numbers that are pulling up overall ranking. Future games against BCS top 25 West Virginia (No. 21) and Pitt (No. 15) will help in November. The Big 12. An underwhelming, bizarre season could get much worse this weekend in Stillwater. If Texas does what many think it will—win easily over Oklahoma State—the Big 12's hopes for a second BCS bowl take a serious hit. OSU would have to win out (and win at Oklahoma) to give the league a second 10-win team. Underrated No. 9 LSU. Tigers only loss is to No.1 Florida, but it may not matter. If LSU wins out—with victories over Alabama, Ole Miss and No.1 Florida in the SEC Championship game—the Tigers likely will jump all one-loss teams and any non-BCS unbeaten. Overrated Related Links Hayes: Cincinnati is in the BSC argument What We Learned: Texas-Oklahoma State will be showdown Play of the day The Hangover Cure: Week 8 The SEC. That's right, the SEC. Florida and Alabama have looked mighty average (see: beatable) the last two weeks, and neither offense is difficult to figure out. More than a few traps still out there for the Gators and Tide before a potential unbeaten matchup in the SEC Championship Game. Iowa. The Hawkeyes have been resilient, and at times, impressive. But this is not the fourth-best team in the nation. Iowa likely will have problems holding off surging one-loss teams.more>>

Sporting News' Dave Curtis analyzes what Sunday's buzz means to college football: Crouching Tigers Clemson has teased college football like this before. But maybe, just maybe, 2009 marks the Tigers' breakthrough into their first ACC Championship Game in school history. Saturday's 40-37 overtime victory at then-No. 8 Miami shows that eternally inconsistent Clemson might have some stability. And with November wins over Florida State, N.C. State and Virginia—not quite a murderer's row—the Tigers... will win the Atlantic and play Dec. 5 in Tampa. "We're not there yet," senior receiver Jacoby Ford told Sporting News on Sunday. "That's what's happened in the past, when we haven't done well. We've thought ahead." Still, Ford concedes he's most optimistic about this year's squad. The vibes start with new coach Dabo Swinney, who has the team practicing better and promised his players before Saturday's game that if they played to their potential, they would "wow a lot of people," Ford said. There's improvement on the field, too, with left tackle Chris Hairston healthy and redshirt freshman Kyle Parker looking comfortable no matter the situation. Saturday, he shook an interception and a lost fumble in regulation to hit Ford on third-and-11 for the OT game-winner. "He's more mature," Ford said. "If he made a bad play before, he'd get a little upset and keep it on his mind. He's showing a lot of poise." Full-circle Cowboys It's no stunner that Saturday night's Texas-Oklahoma State clash qualifies as a showdown. The surprise comes with a glance at the OSU stats. The Cowboys are 6-1 despite Kendall Hunter ranking fifth on the team in rushing and Dez Bryant third in receiving. Bryant's suspension has cost him three games so far and Hunter's sore right ankle has kept him from five, adding to what Mike Gundy on Sunday deemed the most injury-plagued set of Cowboys in his five years as head coach. Production has come from players unknown around the country when the season started—backs Keith Toston and Beau Johnson, plus receivers Hubert Anyiam and Dameron Fooks have become Gundy's go-to players. "We felt good about them as prospects," Gundy said on his teleconference Sunday. "But you never what a young man's going to do (in a game)." The new guys might get some help this weekend, with Hunter set to practice again this week. Bryant's status remains in the NCAA's hands. Regardless, Gundy said he expects this week's atmosphere in Stillwater to rival the August lead-up to the Georgia game. OSU entered the national spotlight by beating the Bulldogs. A win Saturday would put the undermanned Cowboys there again. Enough already Attention, SEC coaches—please pipe down about the officiating in your league. Mississippi State's Dan Mullen fell in line with some of his peers Saturday by blasting the officials that worked his team's game with Florida and Houston. Maybe the calls stunk, guys, but the media isn't the forum to rip the refs. Go nuts on commissioner Mike Slive or league officials chief Rogers Redding if it feels right. But save the public from the bickering. You look silly, and we don't care. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>