College football week one

[Charley]

Yaaay its here its finally here again. My favorite time of year and maybe this year I'll get to watch more than a handful of games :)

Pleasant start to the season too, since Alabama looked really really solid on all fronts even if Clemson didn't, and methodically picked apart an overrated ACC team.

Also lol Michigan, lol Virginia Tech

[Figrin D'an]

I expected Michigan to lose. RichRod simply doesn't have the players to run his system, and Utah is actually a pretty good team. The Wolverines will take their lumps this season. The question is if their sense-of-entitlement fans will be patient or not with the process.

Pitt losing to Bowling Green was a bit of a surprise. Wannstedt had better get things on track soon, or he's going to be out of a job at the end of the year.

Ohio State could be in trouble is Chris Wells is hurt for any length of time. I'm not sure they can beat USC without him.

[CMJ]

Well, my alma mater got their butts kicked in typical Week 1 fashion. Hopefully we'll play better next week seeing as I will actually be at the game(gotta go back to TX for a Family Reunion, and am working the game in).

Too early to get too excited about any sort of national title contenders. Liked the way Missouri looked though.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Clemson looked horrible. Hopefully, they can rebound and still win that weak conference. Honestly, the ACC looks horrible this year.

[Charley]

Clemson looked horrible. Hopefully, they can rebound and still win that weak conference. Honestly, the ACC looks horrible this year.

Barring FSU not sucking, I think they still have a good chance. It was fairly obvious that for whatever reason, they didn't field a real effort last night. If they had been on point and that happened, then it might be another story, but something was just really wrong and they didn't have their heart in the game. It showed big time. I mean they didn't even run clock control offense in the 4th. I know that overcoming a 23 point deficit with the balance of the 4th expired is massively daunting, but why not at least make the effort?

[Jedi Master Carr]

Where did East Carolina come from? They just dominated West Virginia, they look amazing right now.

Not sure if the ACC is really weak this year but MTSU knocked off Maryland tonight, that is a huge win for this small school.

[Figrin D'an]

The ACC is terrible so far. Clemson can recover and win the conference, but at this point, the best team is probably Wake Forest, who barely beat an Ole Miss team which will finish at the bottom of the SEC West.

I will say, however, that the conference should watch out for Miami. They have a lot of young talent, and should be on the way back to the top of the heap in a couple of seasons.


East Carolina's win over West Virginia was pretty amusing to watch. Pat White looked so lost that entire game, and the entire team looked disinterested. They're still the best team in the Big East, but that loss was pretty embarassing, even if ECU ends up being the surprise/BCS buster team of the season.

[Charley]

Well I can safely say that most of what made Bama look good last week was Clemson looking terrible. We looked like complete butt against a Tulane team we should have crucified with our bench warmers.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I think Clemson just wasn't ready for that game, they looked a lot better against the Citadel.

[Jedieb]

GO BULLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :crack

[Figrin D'an]

USC destroys Ohio State. Can't say I'm surprised. What's really sad is that the Buckeyes will probably get their act together after tonight and go on to roll through the Big Ten schedule, win the conference, and go get pasted in the Rose Bowl (either by USC or whomever ends up there if USC ends up playing for the national title). Then we'll hear the same discussion as the past two years... the best the Big Ten could offer can't compete with the big boys from the SEC, PAC-10, Big 12, etc.


I've been a Big Ten football fan for years, and I still firmly believe that the whole conference strength argument is kind of lame because it's a cyclical thing... but right now, the Big Ten has pretty much no respect amongst the rest of the BCS. No one in the conference can win a big game against a quality opponent when it really matters. It really doesn't matter what any team from the Big Ten does this year from this point forward... they'll get no respect and won't be taken seriously at all.

The current state of my alma mater's program makes my perspective on this even more abyssmal. Purdue managed to choke away a game today that they absolutely should have won. Great effort by the defense, the running game was solid, but horrible game management by the coaching staff and poor play by the offense (ie. quarterback and WRs) when it mattered doomed them. I never thought I would say this, but I'm going to be glad when Joe Tiller retires at the end of this season. He just doesn't know how to coach in big games anymore, and he seems completely satisfied with the mediocrity he's built over the past 5 years.

[Charley]

Well, we did the football equivalent of having a cage match against a cerebral palsy kid, so I don't feel at all comfortable with my team just yet. Conference play is next week so we will finally get a good look with Arkansas. How that will pan out is anybody's guess. I'm optimistic, but tempered with a lot of realism. People are itching so hard to pin Saban as a legacy man right now and its his second year and we are a very very young team. Nobody in my state knows how to curb their enthusiasm.

Fig, if it's any consolation, I don't think either of our conferences have fared well against the PAC-10 lately. I am starting to wonder if we've been sitting on our laurels for too long.

[CMJ]

I think part of the shock is alot of folks just don't think the Pac-10 plays good ball. I mean I know when I lived back home I didn't respect the conference much. But the league is way better than it is usually given credit for....and USC is just a dynasty right now. The last....6 years or so, they've been as consistently great as anything I can remember. Even that 15 year run or so that Bowden had at Florida State(where they finished top 5 like every year) didn't feel this dominant, probably because they always seemed to lose to Miami - and took such a long time to win it all.

[Charley]

I agree that there is a bit of inappropriate disrespect to a degree. The philosophy of PAC-10 ball is a pretty wildly different game than either the Big-10 or SEC really plays, so that may have something to do with it. I may only be reading the tea leaves on a limited basis I guess. I know that the SEC has fared poorly in road games to PAC-10 teams for season openers, that's for sure.

I'm not sure if it's something that's really PAC-10 as a whole, or just USC, with possible blips of talent from Oregon, UCLA, etc. I think the assessment that the PAC-10 isn't a solidly strong conference is a correct one, even if they do have a really dominant dynasty this decade.

[CMJ]

Oh well, what can I say about anything. My alma mater just got the snot kicked out of it by LSU. But hey, we beat the spread at least. That's something.

We were almost always lousy when I was growing up(we had one or two good years, but that was it). Then when I was in college we basically still sucked. I graduate and we have four really good years, and now....we're going on four seasons back to full fledged suckage.

[Csephion Draxus]

I remember the halcyon years of UNT. We were rootin' you little fellas on :)

[CMJ]

Oh well, at least there's basketball season. And we ARE currently in the milk and honey years for that....or at least the best back to back years we've had in over a generation.

[Jedi Master Carr]

MTSU almost knocked off Kentucky. They have a good solid team although I think Troy is the best team in the conference. Notre Dame sure looks a lot better this year after stomping Michigan. I guess they are back to their former selves.

[CMJ]

If we're talking Sunbelt(since you mentioned Tory and MTSU) - don't sleep on Arkansas State. Big win over Texas A&M and almost another upset today. Throw in defending champ FAU too.

Not looking forward to conference play.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Sunbelt is sure a deep conference.

[CMJ]

We never used to be. This year we really seem to have taken a big step forward. I guess it's been in motion for a few years before this...but we really seem to be going forward now. It's nice to see really. Basically we all used to be lousy, and now we're actually gaining respect.

[CMJ]

No huge shakeups today, though there were some terrific games. I don't expect the polls to change much.

[CMJ]

I think my USC friends will stop inviting me to games about now.

Two years ago I went to the home game after they lost to Oregon State. Last year I went to the game after they lost to Stanford. And this year, I've already been invited to next weeks game vs Oregon.

Granted I did see the 2005 game when they beat Fresn State and they didn't trip up before or after(until the Rose Bowl anyways, but you can't pin that on me). However they barely won that game.

Obviously I am the USC cooler.

[Dragon]

Considering how Oregon State fared in Happy Valley, this really helps make Penn State look good. :)

Awesome performance on both sides of the ball by Oregon State. The obvious offensive standout was true freshman RB Jacquizz Rodgers, who carried the rock 37 times for 186 yards and two TDs and also caught two passes for 27 yards. A huge game from a 5'7", 185-lb. back. His older brother James contributed the other two scores at WR.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Even Duck fans can appreciate the great job the Beaver nation did last night taking out the even more hated USC. :lol

[CMJ]

Even Duck fans can appreciate the great job the Beaver nation did last night taking out the even more hated USC. :lol


I'd think Duck fans would be scared. I wouldn't want to play USC the week AFTER they lost a game they probably should've won. Oregon woulda been better off having a fat and happy Trojan team....not a angry one.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Oklahoma is now #1. I wonder if they can remain #1 for the rest of the season? They do look like they have a very good team.

[CMJ]

If Georgia beats Alabama I think they move to #1. Especially if it's a convincing win. The Bulldogs will have the more impressive resume.

OU might leapfrog them should the win the Red River Shootout next month though.

[Charley]

The Georgia / Bama game is going to be really really interesting. I hope we play well, because we really haven't been playing at the level we should. Yes, we've beaten the hell out of the teams we faced, but they weren't really any good. This is our first true test.

[Jedi Master Carr]

The Georgia / Bama game is going to be really really interesting. I hope we play well, because we really haven't been playing at the level we should. Yes, we've beaten the hell out of the teams we faced, but they weren't really any good. This is our first true test.

I disagree you guys did beat a good Clemson team. Clemson may be the best team in the AFC (its between them and Wake Forest). So I'd say they have proven they belong in the top 10.

[Charley]

The jury is still out on Clemson. I'm watching you guys to see how things go. We'll see what happens after Maryland.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I think they will beat Maryland. They have dominated who they needed to dominate. I feel the OL is getting better which will help them. I think the Wake Forest game will be huge. I am not sure about Maryland I am hoping the team that got beat by MTSU shows up lol.

Clemson is looking good in the first half winning 17-6. They have 200 yards rushing so far. Their defense has been great too. They would be up by 20-3 if it wasn't for a fumble at the goal line.

[CMJ]

Florida bites the dust.

Hey, how about some props for Northwestern still being undefeated. And maybe even more impressive Duke is 3-1.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Tebow might not repeat for that Heisman. Man my tigers stunk it up in the second half. They had some really bad play calling though. They ran for like 200 yards in the first half and then decide to mostly throw in the second. They had two turnovers though that led to 14 points and that didn't help.

[CMJ]

Ranked teams going down...

(1) USC
(4) Florida
(9) Wisconson
(16) Wake Forest
(20) Clemson
(23) East Carolina

[Jedi Master Carr]

Its upset weekend, will Georgia follow the other ranked teams?

[Jedi Master Carr]

Wow Alabama is kicking the crap out of Georgia right now. The top 5 will be very different tomorrow.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Ducks are steamrolling the Cougars right now. Man Washington State looks terrible.

[CMJ]

Ranked schools that lost this weekend.

(1) USC
(3) Georgia
(4) Florida
(9) Wisconson
(16) Wake Forest
(20) Clemson
(22) Illinois
(23) East Carolina
(24) TCU


I'll try and work on the list of unbeatens next.

[Figrin D'an]

Looks like Oklahoma will be the new #1 by virtue of being the highest rank team that didn't lose. Missouri or LSU will probably be #2.

Alabama was #8 coming into the game against Georgia, I think they'll be as high as #4 now. They pretty much steamrolled the Bulldogs; that game was not as close as the score may have indicated.

I expect Penn State to jump into the Top 10 now after soundly beating a very talented Illinois team.

[CMJ]

These are the unblemished as best as I could determine.

Alabama 5-0
Ball State 5-0
Boise State 3-0
Brigham Young 4-0
Connecticut 5-0
Kentucky 4-0
LSU 4-0
Missouri 4-0
Northwestern 5-0
Oklahoma 4-0
Oklahoma State 4-0
Penn State 5-0
South Florida 5-0
Texas 4-0
Texas Tech 4-0
Tulsa 4-0
Utah 5-0
Vanderbilt 4-0

[Jedi Master Carr]

Connecticut must have easy schedule or something. Second straight year they start out like that. I be shocked if they stay unbeaten. South Florida has a better chance. That OU-Texas game could be really big since both could be top 5 teams. Same with LSU-Alabama.

[Csephion Draxus]

Look I don't want to come off as an ingrate. I am happy that my team won, and I'm proud of my alma mater.

That being said, we still haven't played a week of good football. Tonight was not a well-played game. We have to learn how to play four quarters of football. I don't know how to make it anymore plain. We can beat the tar out of people and still not be playing proper fundamentals, and that's where we are. If we don't get better, we're going to get pantsed like Florida did against a team that we're "supposed" to beat.

Nick Saban should kick their collective butts come monday. Enjoy the victory tonight and tomorrow, but after that, it doesn't mean a damn thing.

Roll Tide!

[CMJ]

Alabama played a helluva game. Sure Georgia sorta made it competitive, but that one was never in doubt. The Tide look damn good. Damn good.

I am not sure if anyone can roll thru the SEC unscathed though. All sorts of landmines remain for Alabama and LSU. Hell, Kentucky and Vanderbilt are still undefeated!

[Jedi Master Carr]

Can anybody go unbeaten this year? I would say Oklahoma looks like the best bet but they have to get by Texas, Texas Tech, and probably Missouri to do it. I suppose South Florida or UConn could since the Big East is so weak.

[CMJ]

Maybe Penn State?

[Csephion Draxus]

I don't think it'll be Penn State, no. People want to sing funeral dirges over the Big Ten this year, and yes the conference might be weak this season, but it's still a perennial slaughterhouse much in the way that the SEC is.

[Charley]

Associated Press:


1. Oklahoma (43) 4-0 1,599
2. Alabama (21) 5-0 1,565
3. LSU 4-0 1,466
4. Missouri (1) 4-0 1,453
5. Texas 4-0 1,362
6. Penn State 5-0 1,252
7. Texas Tech 4-0 1,105
8. Brigham Young 4-0 1,098
9. USC 2-1 1,087
10. South Florida 5-0 1,035
11. Georgia 4-1 1,018
12. Florida 3-1 914
13. Auburn 4-1 860
14. Ohio State 4-1 829
15. Utah 5-0 713
16. Kansas 3-1 650
17. Boise State 3-0 549
18. Wisconsin 3-1 520
19. Vanderbilt 4-0 459
20. Virginia Tech 4-1 290
21. Oklahoma State 4-0 277
22. Fresno State 3-1 232
23. Oregon 4-1 199
24. Connecticut 5-0 126
25. Wake Forest 3-1 107

Others Receiving Votes
Maryland 46, Michigan State 42, Kentucky 40,
Ball State 38, Northwestern 32, Tulsa 32,
TCU 30, Illinois 24, North Carolina 21,
Florida State 14, OLE MISS 13, Georgia Tech 10,
California 5, Nebraska 5, Oregon State 3,
Boston College 3, Colorado 2.

Dropped From Rankings
Clemson 20, Illinois 22, East Carolina 23, TCU 24.


Coaches:


Sept. 28, 2008
Rank Team Record Points Last week
1. Oklahoma 4-0 1,520 2
2. LSU 4-0 1,399 6
3. Missouri 4-0 1,398 5
4. Alabama 5-0 1,350 10
5. Texas 4-0 1,310 7
6. Penn State 5-0 1,146 12
7. Brigham Young 4-0 1,054 11
8. Texas Tech 4-0 1,047 9
9. USC 2-1 990 1
10. South Florida 5-0 888 14
10. Georgia 4-1 888 3
12. Ohio State 4-1 854 13
13. Florida 3-1 832 4
14. Auburn 4-1 776 16
15. Utah 5-0 684 17
16. Kansas 3-1 555 18
17. Wisconsin 3-1 521 8
18. Boise State 3-0 446 20
19. Vanderbilt 4-0 351 25
20. Oregon 4-1 286 22
21. Fresno State 3-1 280 24
22. Oklahoma State 4-0 229 NR
23. Connecticut 5-0 180 NR
24. Virginia Tech 4-1 161 NR
25. Wake Forest 3-1 148 15

Dropped out
No. 19 Clemson (3-2, lost to Maryland 20-17)
No. 21 Illinois (2-2, lost to then-No. 12 Penn State 38-24)
No. 23 TCU (4-1, lost to then-No. 2 Oklahoma 35-10).

Others receiving votes
Northwestern (5-0) 98; Michigan State (4-1) 88; Kentucky (4-0) 86;
Ball State (5-0) 43; Maryland (4-1) 40; Tulsa (4-0) 38; Florida State (3-1) 31;
TCU (4-1) 25; California (3-1) 20; Georgia Tech (3-1) 18;
Illinois (2-2) 14; Nebraska (3-1) 8; Oregon State (2-2) 6;
Clemson (3-2) 5; North Carolina (3-1) 5; Notre Dame (3-1) 3;
Cincinnati (3-1) 2; Duke (3-1) 1; Mississippi (3-2) 1

Thoughts:

The AP has Bama waaaay too high. I can believe being #4. I cannot believe #2. Not yet, anyway.

Also, WHY is USC still in the top ten after getting ganked by an unranked OSU? That's stupid.

Of special note, DUKE gets a vote in the coaches poll of all teams, lol!

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah Alabama is too high in the AP Poll. USC is still in the top 10 because so many teams in the top 10 lost other wise they would have dropped farther.

[CMJ]

Yeah, USC wasn't gonna drop below any 1 loss schools. I probably would've had USF above them though. The Bulls are starting to really become a yearly factor.

And I mentioned Duke yesterday. Hey, 3-1 is pretty amazing for where they usually are.

[Charley]

Yeah, USC wasn't gonna drop below any 1 loss schools. I probably would've had USF above them though. The Bulls are starting to really become a yearly factor.

Georgia was pre-season #1, undefeated until this weekend, and lost to a top ten team, and USC ends up on the heap above that? That's insanity.



And I mentioned Duke yesterday. Hey, 3-1 is pretty amazing for where they usually are.

I agree, it's an amazing turn of events. Instead of sinking to the bottom of the toilet bowl, this year they're a floater :)

Wasn't that lone vote Spurrier? Extra lol.

[CMJ]

Georgia was annhilated at home. That final score was not indicative of how close that contest was. Ohio State was crushed on the road to a ranked team...and dropped about 8 spots.

USC lost on the road to a conference rival. You could maybe drop them a bit lower...but damn...you can't put Georgia over them IMHO because of the way they lost. Likewise Florida....loss at home to unranked school. Ohio State? USC crushed them.

Maybe Auburn could go above USC.

[Charley]

Maybe Auburn could go above USC.

Doubtful. They barely eked out a win over a horribly weak Tennessee.


Georgia was annhilated at home. That final score was not indicative of how close that contest was. Ohio State was crushed on the road to a ranked team...and dropped about 8 spots.

USC lost on the road to a conference rival. You could maybe drop them a bit lower...but damn...you can't put Georgia over them IMHO because of the way they lost. Likewise Florida....loss at home to unranked school. Ohio State? USC crushed them.

Well, I'm sure it'll even itself out due to Georgia's strength of schedule eventually, assuming Georgia continues to win. I'm just not sure that getting trashed by a team that is a close matchup is worse than getting beat by a cupcake, even if they're in-conference. That's a tricky call, and I'm just not sure about it.

[CMJ]

Doubtful. They barely eked out a win over a horribly weak Tennessee.

Well, that was my point in a way. I can't see putting USC below any of those schools based on the total body of work. Auburn has the "best loss" though, hence why I could see having them higher.

[Figrin D'an]

USC gets the benefit of the doubt because of their reputation. Right or wrong, it's the simple truth.

LSU/Alabama is going to be a very interesting game if both keep on winning. Bama will be heavily favored in every game until that point, but LSU has to go to Florida next week.

[Vipul Chandrashekar]

That game is Tebow & Mullen's to either win or lose. If they can actually correct the slow and gradual erosion of gameplay quality, I think they have the team to beat LSU, at least on paper (for what that's worth).

I hope LSU wins, because I can't imagine a bigger, nastier game than LSU & Bama being top 5 and unbeaten. That is going to be a big pile of nasty.

[Vipul Chandrashekar]

Fig, you think PSU's got the chops to run the Big Ten (11) gauntlet this season?

[Figrin D'an]

Fig, you think PSU's got the chops to run the Big Ten (11) gauntlet this season?

If Penn State shores up their run defense in time for their first big road test in two weeks (at Wisconsin), I think they'll have a decent shot at it. If they can slow down PJ Hill and the Badgers run game, they can win at Camp Randall. The biggest concern for the Nittany Lions, IMO, is facing Ohio State in Columbus later in October. Ohio Stadium has been a house of horrors for Penn State ever since they joined the Big Ten.

The good news for Penn State is that both Wisconsin and Ohio State have much tougher lead-in games to their games against PSU than vice versa.

[CMJ]

I shoulda made mention of it yesterday, but USF lost. So at the very least 1 top 10 school goes down this weekend. Utah barely escaped Thursday too. I think we might have another bloodbath weekend.

[Cneidon Mako]

I shoulda made mention of it yesterday, but USF lost. So at the very least 1 top 10 school goes down this weekend. Utah barely escaped Thursday too. I think we might have another bloodbath weekend.

I think at least four of the undefeateds go down for certain. Maybe more than that.

[CMJ]

I'm going with a friend to the USC/Oregon game, so I'll be lucky enough to see at least one game where Top 25 schools go up against each other. The downside is of course, I'll only get to see the first batch of games before I have to get ready to go. Even though the contest isn't until 5, we're gonna try and get there by 1:30-2.

[Charley]

I knew we were ranked too high, this proves it.

Gonna go throw up now.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well they won at least. I don't think the will go unbeaten but that is near impossible anyway. But I bet they only lose once.

[Cneidon Mako]

I think that's a correct assessment. Whether that's LSU or Auburn, I don't know.

(Please don't let it be to Ole Miss or Tennessee argh)

Anyhoo, we get a bye week, so I hope that Saban really kicks the crap out of them and makes them vomit up whatever kool-aid they have drunk coming into this horrible week. I knew this was going to happen to boot!

Sometimes being a Bama fan is unhealthy on the heart :(

But...

Vandy beat Auburn looooooooool

And UT almost lost to NIU. So close!

[CMJ]

15 Unbeatens

Alabama 6-0
Ball State 6-0
Boise State 4-0
Brigham Young 5-0
LSU 4-0
Missouri 5-0
Northwestern 5-0
Oklahoma 5-0
Oklahoma State 5-0
Penn State 6-0
Texas 5-0
Texas Tech 5-0
Tulsa 5-0
Utah 6-0
Vanderbilt 5-0


Top 25 schools that lost this week.

(10) South Florida
(13) Auburn
(18) Wisconsin
(22) Fresno State
(23) Oregon
(24) Connecticut

[Cneidon Mako]

Good grief, the Big 12 is going to be a slaughterhouse quite soon. FIVE unbeatens this far in the season?? That is insane.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Good grief, the Big 12 is going to be a slaughterhouse quite soon. FIVE unbeatens this far in the season?? That is insane.

I don't think Oklahoma State and Texas Tech aren't that good and won't be unbeaten for that long. OU, Texas and Missouri though are all very good.

[Cneidon Mako]

I think the Cowboys are a fluke, but I think after beating KU like that, the Red Raiders are for real. We'll see how it goes though :)

[CMJ]

Tech has a defense finally. They will be tough to beat. I believe they get Texas at home and play at Oklahoma. I think they might get a split of those 2.

I'm thinking no one will get thru the Bix XII unscathed. Maybe Mizzou since the North isn't as loaded as the South. But even they have Kansas, which despite having just 1 loss will be tough. Especially since it's a rivalry game.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well since OU has Texas Tech at home they could get through unscathed if they beat Texas. Well at least till the title game.

[CMJ]

No cakewalk for OU either. Ranked games still on tap.

(5)Texas (Nuetral Site)
(16) Kansas
(7) Texas Tech
at (21) Oklahoma State

They get 2 at home and one on the road(a Rival they've had recent difficulty with), then of course the Red River Rivalry on Saturday.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I think they can win it those games based on how they look. The Texas game I think is the toughest one.

[CMJ]

You also ride OU hard every year bro. ;)

I'm not saying they can't win all those games. Oklahoma has the talent to play and beat everybody. The problem is, probably 5-10 other schools do as well.

And with that with that many ranked teams ahead you never know with the Sooners. And that doesn't even include other potential trap games. I mean look at all the highly ranked schools that lose to conference middleweights(USC? Florida? etc).

[Jedi Master Carr]

You also ride OU hard every year bro. ;)

I'm not saying they can't win all those games. Oklahoma has the talent to play and beat everybody. The problem is, probably 5-10 other schools do as well.

And with that with that many ranked teams ahead you never know with the Sooners. And that doesn't even include other potential trap games. I mean look at all the highly ranked schools that lose to conference middleweights(USC? Florida? etc).


heh I didn't last year. I thought they were too young to go unbeaten last season.

[CMJ]

Th Red River Shootout was a really good game. had a bit of everything. Kick returned for touchdown, big plays on offense and defense & numerous blown calls by the officials.

So Texas makes a claim for #1.

[Figrin D'an]

Th Red River Shootout was a really good game. had a bit of everything. Kick returned for touchdown, big plays on offense and defense & numerous blown calls by the officials.

So Texas makes a claim for #1.


Provided Missouri holds serve tonight against Oklahoma State, it sets up a huge game in Austin next week.

[Cneidon Mako]

Damn it I hope this doesn't end up with Bama bumping into #1 because that's not what I want coming off a bye and going to Ole Miss. Hopefully Texas, LSU, or Mizzou will leapfrog. We need to stay hungry.

Also, :( @ Vandy.

And once again: LOL MICHIGAN

[Dragon]

Penn State is rolling Wisconsin 41-7 right now in the city of Madison. After the way Ohio State bumbled through their win over Purdue, I don't think there's any question who the best team in the Big Ten is - the question is how they stack up against the other elite teams in the nation.

Mizzou's down 21-14 in the 4th against Oklahoma State, and LSU's down 27-14 against Florida... heck, Penn State might jump Bama and end up at #2. I just hope they can continue to take care of business, because there's no one in the Big Ten that should beat them right now.

[Csephion Draxus]

I think Texas has the juice to leap Bama for #1, but I don't think Penn has enough push to take #2.

[CMJ]

Ranked teams to lose...

(1) Oklahoma
(3) Missouri
(4) LSU
(13) Vanderbilt
(20) Auburn

10 Undefeateds left

Alabama 6-0
Ball State 7-0
Boise State 5-0
Brigham Young 6-0
Oklahoma State 6-0
Penn State 7-0
Texas 6-0
Texas Tech 6-0
Tulsa 6-0
Utah 7-0

My top 10 this week(as if I could vote)

1. Alabama
2. Texas
3. Penn State
4. Texas Tech
5. Oklahoma
6. USC
7. BYU
8. Florida
9. Georgia
10. Oklahoma State

[Figrin D'an]

I'm not going to be surprised if Texas leapfrogs Alabama for the #1 spot. Either way, the top 3 in some order are Texas, Alabama and Penn State.

[Csephion Draxus]

Texas should leap Bama, and if I had my way with things, so would Penn State.

We're just not a #2 team yet.

[Csephion Draxus]

Coaches poll:


1. Texas (44) 6-0 1,505 5
2. Alabama (14) 6-0 1,452 4
3. Penn State (3) 7-0 1,416 6
4. USC 4-1 1,198 9
5. Texas Tech 6-0 1,195 7
6. Oklahoma 5-1 1,147 1
7. Florida 5-1 1,145 12
8. Brigham Young 6-0 1,143 8
9. Georgia 5-1 1,010 10
10. Oklahoma State 6-0 958 17
11. Ohio State 6-1 920 11
12. Missouri 5-1 886 2
13. Utah 7-0 819 13
14. LSU 4-1 776 3
15. Kansas 5-1 676 15
16. Boise State 5-0 648 16
17. Michigan State 6-1 468 19
18. Virginia Tech 5-1 467 18
19. Wake Forest 4-1 376 21
20. South Florida 5-1 334 20
21. North Carolina 5-1 321 NR
22. California 4-1 169 25
23. Vanderbilt 5-1 147 14
24. TCU 6-1 138 NR
25. Ball State 7-0 13 NR

Dropped out
No. 22 Northwestern (5-1, lost to then-No. 19 Michigan State 37-20)
No. 23 Auburn (4-3, lost to Arkansas 25-22)
No. 24 Wisconsin (3-3, lost to then-No. 6 Penn State 48-7).

Others receiving votes
Tulsa (6-0) 121; Minnesota (6-1) 55; Florida State (4-1) 49;
Pittsburgh (4-1) 45; Georgia Tech (5-1) 31; Northwestern (5-1) 21;
Cincinnati (5-1) 18; Oregon (5-2) 14; South Carolina (5-2) 10;
Boston College (4-1) 3; Connecticut (5-1) 3; Fresno State (4-2) 2;
Notre Dame (4-2) 2; Kentucky (4-2) 1; Miami (Fla.) (3-3) 1.


AP Poll:


1 Texas (39) 6-0 1599 5
2 Alabama (26) 6-0 1582 2
3 Penn St. 7-0 1492 6
4 Oklahoma 5-1 1306 1
5 Florida 5-1 1284 11
6 Southern Cal 4-1 1247 8
7 Texas Tech 6-0 1210 7
8 Oklahoma St. 6-0 1184 17
9 BYU 6-0 1131 9
10 Georgia 5-1 1081 10
11 Missouri 5-1 984 3
12 Ohio St. 6-1 908 12
13 LSU 4-1 893 4
14 Utah 7-0 834 14
15 Boise St. 5-0 714 15
16 Kansas 5-1 620 16
17 Virginia Tech 5-1 540 18
18 North Carolina 5-1 416 22
19 South Florida 5-1 397 19
20 Michigan St. 6-1 371 23
21 Wake Forest 4-1 330 21
22 Vanderbilt 5-1 258 13
23 Pittsburgh 4-1 182 24
24 Ball St. 7-0 166 25
25 California 4-1 115 NR

Others receiving votes
Tulsa 84, TCU 61, Minnesota 48,
Florida St. 38, Georgia Tech 25, South Carolina 9,
Kentucky 7, Oregon 4, Northwestern 3,
Cincinnati 1, Notre Dame 1.


I was right. Good.

[CMJ]

Still waiting for the Harris Poll.

[Jedi Master Carr]

It has been a wild season, right now I don't think anybody is going unbeaten.

[CMJ]

I'm starting to really believe in Penn State.

[CMJ]

New Harris Poll. The first BCS rankings come out next Sunday.

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/newsletters/bcsnews/BCS_Oct_12_2008.pdf

[Figrin D'an]

ESPN is reporting that Clemson has fired head coach Tommy Bowden.

Can't say I'm that surprised, although I thought they may wait until the end of the season.

[Vipul Chandrashekar]

Welp, Texas has reduced Mizzou into smaller, basic atoms and a grease puddle. They are easily the best team in the nation right now.

[Jedi Master Carr]

ESPN is reporting that Clemson has fired head coach Tommy Bowden.

Can't say I'm that surprised, although I thought they may wait until the end of the season.

I forgot to mention this but I was busy this week. I was surprised it happened when it did. It was costly though of course they shouldn't have given him that extension 2 years ago.

[CMJ]

In my yearly trip to the Rose Bowl to see UCLA afternoon, I witnessed a helluva game. Bruins scored the winning TD with 10 seconds to go. Fantastic finish.

Anyways, undefeateds left.

Alabama 7-0
Ball State 7-0
Boise State 6-0
Oklahoma State 7-0
Penn State 8-0
Texas 7-0
Texas Tech 7-0
Tulsa 7-0
Utah 8-0

Cal's game is still going on, so I'll refrain from posting the Top 25 losses, just in case the Golden Bears blow their lead.

[CMJ]

Top 25 schools to lose this week.

(9) BYU
(11) Missouri
(16) Kansas
(17) Virginia Tech
(18) North Carolina
(20) Michigan State
(21) Wake Forest
(22) Vanderbilt
(25) California

[CMJ]

BCS Standings

1. Texas
2. Alabama
3. Penn St.
4. Oklahoma
5. USC
6. Oklahoma St.
7. Georgia
8. Texas Tech
9. Ohio St.
10. Florida
11. Utah
12. Boise St.
13. LSU
14. TCU
15. Missouri
16. South Florida
17. Pittsburgh
18. Georgia Tech
19. Tulsa
20. Ball St.
21. BYU
22. Northwestern
23. Kansas
24. Minnesota
25. Florida St

[Yog]

Gooooo Crimson Tide! I will use my voodoo powers to ensure Tennessee suffers a humiliating defeat. I made an unholy pact with Charley.. :evil

[Charley]

Gooooo Crimson Tide! I will use my voodoo powers to ensure Tennessee suffers a humiliating defeat. I made an unholy pact with Charley.. :evil

Hell yes! This week, all week, I am gettin my hate on...

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Seriously guys, I hate them so much...

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HAAAAAAATE THEEEEEEM....

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[Charley]

Hey Vols
Hey Vols
Hey Vols
We Just Beat The Hell Outta You
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer
Give 'em Hell, Alabama!

[Dragon]

Raider!!! Power!!!
Raider!!! Power!!!
Raider!!! Power!!!

63-21

We Are!!! Penn State!!!
We Are!!! Penn State!!!
We Are!!! Penn State!!!

13-6

My two favorite teams had two very different kinds of games...

[Charley]

We Are!!! Penn State!!!
We Are!!! Penn State!!!
We Are!!! Penn State!!!

13-6

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/joepa.jpg

WIN GOOD! EAT BRAINS! COME TO PENN STATE!

I am pulling so damn hard for Tech and PSU right alongside you. Tech just to be UT's spoiler, and PSU because Bama fans love PSU for some reason and a BCS championship with both teams in it would be a slice of heaven.

[CMJ]

I hate the Longhorns. I hate Tech's fans. I'm gonna have to pull for the Red Raiders though.

[Charley]

Damn it, all of the Volunteer internet people I know are conspicuously away, like they're hiding or something.

COME OUT YOU JERKS I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE SICKEST BURNS EVER, WINNING ISN'T AS FUN IF I CAN'T GIVE YOU ENDLESS HELL ABOUT IT

[Yog]

COME OUT YOU JERKS I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE SICKEST BURNS EVER, WINNING ISN'T AS FUN IF I CAN'T GIVE YOU ENDLESS HELL ABOUT IT

I second that request! Where are they hiding? :shakefist

Also just for the record...

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/485/fp3728alabamacrimsontidij4.jpg

Gooooo Crimson Tide!!! :crack

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2767/sabanjq2.jpg

No one can defeat us!!! :rollin

[Charley]

Yog, you are our hidden advantage :) Keepin it real in Oslo :D

I don't think that our cupcake homecoming game against Arkansas State will be televised next week, but I'll let you know if somebody picks it up :)

[Figrin D'an]

I think Penn State is going to run the table now. Beating the Buckeyes in Columbus was the big test for them. The only game I'd be a little concerned about yet is Michigan State. But that's the final game of the year, in Happy Valley with a likely National Title berth on the line, and if the Nittany Lion defense can hold Beanie Wells to under 60 yards rushing, they should be able to contain Javon Ringer.

I don't see both Texas and Alabama going undefeated, so barring a major collapse, JoePa and Penn State will get a title shot this year.

[Charley]

Well I definitely agree that PSU is in it to win it. They don't have the amount of hurdles that Texas or Alabama have to remaining unbeaten. So really, PSU's destiny is currently in the hands of other teams. We'll see what happens.

[CMJ]

The Texas vs Texas Tech game is maybe the biggest I can ever remember between 2 Texas Universities. Even though Texas/A&M is the bigger rivalry(and I'd argue A&M/Tech is as well) I can't even imagine how jacked up Lubbock will be.

I wouldn't call Tech the most intimidating stadium I've ever sat in as a visitor(partly because NT beat them 1 of the times I traveled there), but they had the downright meanest, nastiest fans I ever encountered. They will be out in full force Saturday night.

Should be fun.

[Sanis Prent]

Yeah I've heard Tech has a reputation for nasty fans. I hope they totally gank UT that would be awesome :)

[Dragon]

It's looking like I won't be able to make it to the game... people are already camping out by the stadium in the hundreds, and I'd have to basically spend all Saturday there to guarantee myself a seat. I just don't have time. :(

[Vipul Chandrashekar]

Don't you have friends you can arrange line-holding in shifts with?

[Dragon]

Actually, I just got off the phone with a friend who's going to be waiting, and he seems to think he can save me a spot. I'm planning on getting there around 5:00 when the gates open and I'll try to burrow my way to the crowd to meet him. We don't care about getting the best seats - it's a small enough stadium that there are no bad seats, especially in the student sections.

I'm not absolutely sure we're going to get in, but we're sure going to try!

Guns up! :shootin

[Sanis Prent]

Welp, Bama got their first white-wash of the season 35-0 against Arkansas State. Yeah I know, it's Arkansas State lol, but I actually expected us to fail to cover the spread.

[Figrin D'an]

My Boilermakers have been pretty terrible this year, but at least they were still good enough to beat Michigan, thus ending the Wolverines record streak of winning seasons and bowl bids.

[Sanis Prent]

Haha yeah, when I saw that, I knew you were happy, wherever you were :)

[CMJ]

North Texas wins!!!!!

Best 1-8 school in the country.

I'll post more about the less significant games later. ;)

[Sanis Prent]

Come on Tech! Keep this lead! Guns Up!!!

[CMJ]

I had a feeling the game woould sorta play out like this. Tech gets an early big lead....but Texas slowly but surely gets back into it. I figured Texas Tech would just barely hold on, mostly because their lead would be too much.

Of course I thought they would have had more than a 19 point margin to begin with(I told my best bud "Tech gets up 24-0 and just holds on 34-31" - he thought I was nuts).

[Jedi Master Carr]

Texas Tech is looking pretty impressive so far. I didn't buy their defense was that much better, but I am surprised.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Heck of a win by Texas Tech, the last 5 minutes was insane of that game.

[Sanis Prent]

Sweeeeet!!!!

I hope Florida or Tech don't leap-frog us all, but what a great shake-up :)

[Jedi Master Carr]

I don't see Florida jumping over three unbeatens. I see Florida going to 5th. The top 5 should be this
1 Alabama
2 Penn State
3 Texas Tech
4 Oklahoma
5 Florida

[Figrin D'an]

The question now is, how far will Texas Tech rise in the rankings? Alabama rolled in a cupcake game, Penn State was idle, Florida blasted Georgia, Oklahoma was almost as impressive, USC is still hanging around... the top of the BCS is going to be pretty contentious this week.


Personally, I'd rank the top 5 this way:

1. Alabama - Undefeated, they won, they were #2, can't see anyone leapfrogging them for now.
2. Texas Tech - I think you have to reward the Red Raiders for the victory. We'll find out more about them in the coming weeks, as they still play Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
3. Penn State - They were off this week, you can't drop them because of that, but I also can't see moving them up just because Texas lost.
4. Florida - They destroyed Georgia even worse than Bama did. Best 1-loss team in the country IMO.
5. Oklahoma - Still in the mix, still a very good team, the 2nd best 1-loss team.

Texas could easily be #5 instead of Oklahoma. It's a toss up IMO. Since Texas won the head-to-head, putting the Longhorns at #5 is just as reasonable.

However, I do think that Florida is better than either of them.

[CMJ]

No, top 5 should be

1 Alabama
2. Penn State
3. Texas Tech
4. Texas
5. Oklahoma

[Jedi Master Carr]

The question now is, how far will Texas Tech rise in the rankings? Alabama rolled in a cupcake game, Penn State was idle, Florida blasted Georgia, Oklahoma was almost as impressive, USC is still hanging around... the top of the BCS is going to be pretty contentious this week.


Personally, I'd rank the top 5 this way:

1. Alabama - Undefeated, they won, they were #2, can't see anyone leapfrogging them for now.
2. Texas Tech - I think you have to reward the Red Raiders for the victory. We'll find out more about them in the coming weeks, as they still play Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
3. Penn State - They were off this week, you can't drop them because of that, but I also can't see moving them up just because Texas lost.
4. Florida - They destroyed Georgia even worse than Bama did. Best 1-loss team in the country IMO.
5. Oklahoma - Still in the mix, still a very good team, the 2nd best 1-loss team.


I disagree OU is the better one loss team. OU lost to Texas, while Florida lost to Miss. ST. If both teams won out and Penn State still unbeaten, OU goes to the NT.

[CMJ]

I disagree OU is the better one loss team. OU lost to Texas, while Florida lost to Miss. ST. If both teams won out and Penn State still unbeaten, OU goes to the NT.

I'm not sure OU would win the Big XII South! Honestly, does anyone know who has the tiebreaker if OU, Texas, and Tech all finish with 1 conference loss?

[Jedi Master Carr]

I disagree OU is the better one loss team. OU lost to Texas, while Florida lost to Miss. ST. If both teams won out and Penn State still unbeaten, OU goes to the NT.

I'm not sure OU would win the Big XII South! Honestly, does anyone know who has the tiebreaker if OU, Texas, and Tech all finish with 1 conference loss?

I was wondering that too. Who would play in that game? Honestly, there are big ifs in my previous post. I mean the way this season has gone we could see LSU beat Alabama, then Alabama beat Florida. Texas Tech lose to OU then OU get beat by OSU. I think Penn State is the only safe team right now.

[Figrin D'an]

I'm not sure OU would win the Big XII South! Honestly, does anyone know who has the tiebreaker if OU, Texas, and Tech all finish with 1 conference loss?

Depends on who Tech's loss would be. If they were to lose to OU, then it's a complicated tie-breaker between the three, probably based on ranking or BCS ranking or some such.

[Jedi Master Carr]

lol that would be fun to figure out. So is the last month going to be like last year?

[Sanis Prent]

Florida lost to Ole Miss, not Miss St. Getting Croomed is an expected means of SEC embarassment, which makes getting Nutted in the Swamp even more insane.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Florida lost to Ole Miss, not Miss St. Getting Croomed is an expected means of SEC embarassment, which makes getting Nutted in the Swamp even more insane.

whoops got the two mixed up. That loss was embarrassing. I am not sold on Florida right now, mainly because I think Georgia was vastly overrated.

[Sanis Prent]

I think Georgia was exposed in the way Clemson was earlier. That makes me nervous about Alabama because I have no idea how the hell we got where we are right now. I still have no idea. I mean we just finished only our second game of decent four quarter football, and somehow we're in consideration for the #1 slot? That's nuts. Don't get me wrong, I hope we win it all, but I have no idea how we got here.

That being said, if it's us and Florida in Atlanta for the SEC championship, it'll be Alabama. We always seem to bloody their nose when the stakes are high. Book 'em, Danno.

[CMJ]

Ranked teams to lose this week....

(1) Texas
(8) Georgia
(16) Florida State
(19) Tulsa
(20) Minnesota
(23) Oregon
(24) South Florida


Unbeatens remaining...

Alabama 9-0
Ball State 8-0
Boise State 8-0
Penn State 9-0
Texas Tech 9-0
Utah 9-0

[Dragon]

Depends on who Tech's loss would be. If they were to lose to OU, then it's a complicated tie-breaker between the three, probably based on ranking or BCS ranking or some such.

If it was a three way tie with Texas beating Oklahoma, Oklahoma beating Texas Tech, and Texas Tech beating Texas, it would be determined by BCS ranking at the end of the year, which would probably favor Oklahoma, since their loss would have been the earliest.

But I don't want to think about that now - I'm still riding the high from tonight's win! That was spectacular!

I got into the game fairly easily. Finding a seat was hard. Cell phone reception sucks at the stadium, so I wasn't able to get a hold of the friend who said he'd save a seat for me. I wandered around the stadium for about half an hour and asked an usher, who suggested I check the southwest corner of the endzone. There turned out to be an open spot right at back corner of the student section. It turned out to be an awesome seat - we had a beautiful view of the safety on Texas's first play from scrimmage and of Tech's first TD to Barron Batch.

Everyone in the student sections spent the entire game standing - or jumping - on the bleachers. Six benches lost their lives on the Charbonet INT return for a TD. We saw the crowd passing them down to the ground crew. The crowd was THUNDEROUS - it equaled the noise I remember at Heinz Field when I went to see them play the Seahawks and Browns last year. I am extremely impressed with our defense. They needed more support from the offense in the fourth quarter, which squandered several opportunities to put the game away (and the refs took away an opportunity with a truly horrendous offensive pass interference call), so they tired out toward the end. That's why it got close again.

However, even when Texas took the lead, I had a feeling they'd left too much time on the clock. That kick return was huge, especially after the last several kicks had been left to die in the endzone. We got into a rhythm and started moving handily down the field.

And then it almost came to an end when a pass was tipped up and fell into the hands of a Texas DB. I felt sick, and I felt like I wanted to just leave then and there, until the ref signaled incomplete - one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

Tech was driving toward the far endzone, and that last pass to Crabtree was on the far sideline. When I saw it, I thought, "Great! They got out of bounds, we should at least have a good shot at a field goal." I was shocked when the refs signaled the TD - and then the bench two rows in front of us collapsed.

What can you say about the idiots who charged onto the field prematurely not once, not twice, but three times? Look, once is understandable, but can you not read the giant scoreboard over the endzone that says 00:01? I'm grading essays from some of these people...

I guess we needed the two unsportsmanlike contact penalties just to make the final kickoff more interesting. Say what you will about Carona - he kicked a beautiful squib. Watching the fans LEGITIMATELY flood the field was awesome! My only regret was that I had forgotten to put the memory card back in my camera, so I had to settle for cell phone pictures... but this was an incredible win! It feels so great to be a Red Raiders fan right now!

GUNS UP!!!! RAIDER POWER!!!!

[Karl Valten]

Ranked teams to lose this week....
(20) Minnesota


[/Begin Rant]

Okay, we absolutely SUCKED today. Granted I should be glad we are even ranked to begin with, still. The Gophers made too many high school screw-ups and didn't capitalize on the turnovers like they should have. Just...ARGH...I can't talk about it.

Only plus to the game today was the guy giving in the row behind letting me have a couple swigs of schnaps to ease the horror.

[/end rant]

[Sanis Prent]

Ranked teams to lose this week....
(20) Minnesota


[/Begin Rant]

Okay, we absolutely SUCKED today. Granted I should be glad we are even ranked to begin with, still. The Gophers made too many high school screw-ups and didn't capitalize on the turnovers like they should have. Just...ARGH...I can't talk about it.

Only plus to the game today was the guy giving in the row behind letting me have a couple swigs of schnaps to ease the horror.

[/end rant]

Well, the good news is that you guys are most likely going to wrap this season up 10-2.

The bad news is that you'll probably be the worst 10-2 team in the nation. I have absolutely no idea how the Gophers have been winning games continuously. I'm sure having the rest of the Big 10 asleep at the wheel helps a lot, but you've sort of Forrest Gumped your way through every game.

I'm just hoping that a prestige season on paper at least lets the Gophers pull a better recruiting class and that Brewster doesn't just absolutely screw the pooch like he's known to do.

[Sanis Prent]

GUNS UP!!!! RAIDER POWER!!!!

Care for a rematch of 2005, this time in a BCS championship game? :)

[Sanis Prent]

Coaches poll is out:


1. Alabama (40) 9-0 1,498 2
2. Penn State (14) 9-0 1,437 3
3. Texas Tech (6) 9-0 1,409 5
4. Oklahoma (1) 8-1 1,290 4
5. Florida 7-1 1,268 7
6. USC 7-1 1,232 6
7. Texas 8-1 1,227 1
8. Oklahoma State 8-1 1,066 10
9. Utah 9-0 1,018 9
10. Boise State 8-0 958 11
11. TCU 9-1 862 12
12. Ohio State 7-2 843 13
13. Missouri 7-2 794 14
14. Georgia 7-2 693 8
15. LSU 6-2 683 15
16. Brigham Young 8-1 591 17
17. Michigan State 8-2 516 21
18. Ball State 8-0 503 19
19. North Carolina 6-2 359 22
20. Georgia Tech 7-2 289 NR
21. Maryland 6-2 243 25
22. California 6-2 192 NR
23. West Virginia 6-2 172 NR
24. Florida State 6-2 150 16
25. Northwestern 7-2 120 NR

Dropped out
No. 18 Tulsa (8-1, lost to Arkansas 30-23)
No. 20 Minnesota (7-2, lost then-unranked Northwestern 24-17)
No. 23 South Florida (6-3, lost to Cincinnati 24-10)
No. 24 Oregon (6-3, lost to then-uranked California 26-16).

Others receiving votes
Kansas (6-3) 101; Tulsa (8-1) 99; Pittsburgh (6-2) 91;
Minnesota (7-2) 52; South Carolina (6-3) 18; Connecticut (6-3) 9;
Oregon State (5-3) 9; Cincinnati (6-2) 8; Illinois (5-4) 8;
Arizona (5-3) 5; Miami (Fla.) (6-3) 4; Oregon (6-3) 3;
South Florida (6-3) 3; Kentucky (6-3) 2.


How do you justify both USC and Oklahoma over Texas? What has USC done to justify this, and especially how do you put the Sooners on top after losing directly to Texas? This blows my mind.

I guess if you're going to lose, lose early in the season?

[Jedi Master Carr]

I didn't think Texas would drop below USC. That is a steep drop.

[Sanis Prent]

Associated Press poll:



1 Alabama (46) 9-0 1600 2
2 Texas Tech (12) 9-0 1528 6
3 Penn St. (6) 9-0 1525 3
4 Florida (1) 7-1 1398 5
5 Texas 8-1 1353 1
6 Oklahoma 8-1 1324 4
7 USC 7-1 1250 7
8 Oklahoma St. 8-1 1198 9
9 Boise St. 8-0 1030 11
10 Utah 9-0 1028 10
11 TCU 9-1 958 12
12 Ohio St. 7-2 898 13
13 Missouri 7-2 830 14
14 Georgia 7-2 808 8
15 LSU 6-2 746 15
16 Ball St. 8-0 594 18
17 BYU 8-1 536 17
18 Michigan St. 8-2 456 22
19 North Carolina 6-2 418 21
20 West Virginia 6-2 303 NR
21 California 6-2 288 NR
22 Georgia Tech 7-2 286 NR
23 Maryland 6-2 242 25
24 Florida St. 6-2 128 16
25 Pittsburgh 6-2 96 NR

Others receiving votes
Northwestern 88, Tulsa 72, Kansas 60,
Minnesota 23, Cincinnati 16, Oregon St. 16,
South Carolina 10, Louisville 8, Air Force 6,
Arizona 3, Cent. Michigan 1, South Florida 1.


Ok, this makes a bit more sense.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I think OU belongs above Florida.

[CMJ]

Originally I thought OU should be above Florida, but I've changed my mind on that. OU still needs help to win their conference - Florida controls its own destiny.

[Jedi Master Carr]

OU controls its destiny too, well if Texas Tech beats OSU.

[CMJ]

OU controls its destiny too, well if Texas Tech beats OSU.


No, because a tiebreaker would involve who is the highest ranked of the 3. That could be OU or Texas.

Hell, at this point we're forgetting OSU, who ALSO could finish with only 1 conference loss.

[Jedi Master Carr]

But if OU won out they should be highest ranked of the 3.

[CMJ]

But if OU won out they should be highest ranked of the 3.


No guarantee of that. Texas very well could be - they do have a head to head vctory. On a nuetral field no less(a voter could disqualify Tech because it was a home game).

[Dragon]

The only reason OU would be the highest ranked is that their loss was earliest, which is an extremely dubious reason to get the nod. I will be extremely angry if that's what gives OU the South championship. I'll be rooting hard for Oklahoma State to beat the Sooners.

[Sanis Prent]

Harris Poll giving Florida some love:


1. Alabama (79) 9-0 2,798 2
2. Penn State (17) 9-0 2,689 3
3. Texas Tech (16) 9-0 2,644 5
4. Florida (1) 7-1 2,391 6
5. Oklahoma 8-1 2,366 4
6. Texas (1) 8-1 2,322 1
7. USC 7-1 2,273 7
8. Oklahoma State 8-1 2,021 9
9. Utah 9-0 1,864 10
10. Boise State 8-0 1,797 11
11. Ohio State 7-2 1,576 12
12. TCU 9-1 1,560 13
13. Missouri 7-2 1,416 14
14. Georgia 7-2 1,380 8
15. LSU 6-2 1,241 16
16. BYU 8-1 1,179 15
17. Ball State 8-0 1,053 17
18. Michigan State 8-2 857 21
19. North Carolina 6-2 670 22
20. Georgia Tech 7-2 561 25
21. California 6-2 432 25
22. West Virginia 6-2 369 NR
23. Maryland 6-2 249 NR
24. Florida State 6-2 237 18
25. Tulsa 8-1 234 19

Other teams receiving votes
Northwestern 212; Pittsburgh 197; Kansas 185;
Minnesota 119; Air Force 31; Cincinnati 27;
Oregon 17; Miami (FLA) 16; Boston College 14;
South Carolina 11; South Florida 11; Arizona 9;
Central Michigan 5; Oregon State 5; Virginia 4;
Fresno State 3; Louisville 2; Connecticut 1;
Navy 1; Western Michigan 1.

Dropped out
Minnesota, South Florida, Oregon.

EDIT: Just realized, Texas gets a #1 vote? Are they crazy?

[CMJ]

Only crazy if you think Florida getting a #1 vote is. Texas has beaten the #4, #8, & #13 schools in the country and lost to #3 on the road. Florida's best wins are against #14 & #15 and lost to an unranked school at home.

[Sanis Prent]

Only crazy if you think Florida getting a #1 vote is. Texas has beaten the #4, #8, & #13 schools in the country and lost to #3 on the road. Florida's best wins are against #14 & #15 and lost to an unranked school at home.

Florida with a #1 nod is also crazy, but Texas doubly so due to a fresh loss against a higher ranked contender. Both votes should be tossed out, but the case for Texas is even less believable.

[CMJ]

Florida with a #1 nod is also crazy, but Texas doubly so due to a fresh loss against a higher ranked contender. Both votes should be tossed out, but the case for Texas is even less believable.

Based on body of work, I'd say Texas has the most compelling case of the 1 loss teams. Their wins are the best, and their loss is likewise the best quality loss.

But I would never vote them #1.

[Morgan Evanar]

Canes pulled one out in OT, a great win for a very young team. They're still really small because they're so young. They'll be very dangerous in two years.

Bama should be in the number one spot, they're probably in the toughest conference in the nation.

Since the Canes are out of it, I hope the Tide Rolls all the way to a championship.

[CMJ]

BCS Standings
1. Alabama 9-0
2. Texas Tech 9-0
3. Penn State 9-0
4. Texas 8-1
5. Florida 7-1
6. Oklahoma 8-1
7. USC 7-1
8. Utah 9-0
9. Oklahoma State 8-1
10. Boise State 8-0
11. Ohio State 7-2
12. TCU 9-1
13. Georgia 7-2
14. Missouri 7-2
15. BYU 8-1
16. LSU 6-2
17. Ball State 8-0
18. Michigan State 8-2
19. North Carolina 6-2
20. Georgia Tech 7-2
21. California 6-2
22. Florida State 6-2
23. Maryland 6-2
24. Northwestern 7-2
25. West Virginia 6-2

[Yog]

Woohoooo, Alabama on top. :D

[Figrin D'an]

I can see already how this is going to play out. At the end of the season, we'll have a 1-loss SEC Champion, a 1-loss Big 12 champion, and an undefeated Penn State. Two spots for three teams.

Another BCS headache incoming...

[Figrin D'an]

In something that will probably be music to Charley's ears, it's being reported today that Tennessee head coach Philip Fulmer will be stepping down at the end of the season.

Kind of a testament to how rough the SEC can be on coaches. This is a guy with a national title, 2 SEC titles, 5 SEC East titles, and the 3rd highest winning percentage amongst active FBS coaches with at least 10 seasons... and yet, after a very disappointing year (some would argue a few years), there was pressure on him to resign.

Will be interesting to see who replaces him. Tennessee is pretty high profile job, so it should attract some significant candidates.

[Cneidon Mako]

I can't believe they canned Fulmer. I wish he would have stuck around and had a few more years to stink up the program, but that might have ended up with Tennessee getting their act back together. I hope they get Tommy Bowden or Ty Willingham or somebody terrible because it would be awesome for the dark ages to descend upon Knoxville for a decade or two :D

Whatever, I have no sympathy for that blubbering snitch. I hope he chokes on his daily butter enema.

[Dragon]

ARRGH, Penn State worked awfully hard to lose that one. They had way too many opportunities to let it come down to a last-second field goal try. Props to the Iowa quarterback for turning around his game and the Iowa defense for playing stout, but the Penn State offense was flat and gave them too many gifts. Too many dropped passes, too many missed blocks, too many awful play calls.

I will admit that the roughing the punter penalty which extended Penn State's final drive was ridiculous. It almost looked like the punter swung his leg down to make sure he'd hit the defender - at any rate, there was barely any contact at all. It was fourth and seven, so running into the punter would have been a re-kick. What the heck is the running penalty for if incidental contact with the punter's foot is called roughing?

EDIT: Well, that's one of my teams down... but let's go Raiders!

[CMJ]

What a freaking day. Alabama's escape...Iowa upsetting Penn State...USC toughing out a big win,...West Virginia's remarkable comeback, that wasn't enough...etc, etc.

Anyways...top 25 schools that lost this week.

(3) Penn State
(8) Oklahoma State
(11) TCU
(15) LSU
(20) West Virginia
(21) California
(22) Georgia Tech
(23) Maryland


Unbeatens left....

Alabama 10-0
Ball State 9-0
Boise State 9-0
Texas Tech 10-0
Utah 10-0

[Charley]

That game damn near made me sick. I knew it would be tough, but it was almost like they were trying to make it tough on purpose.

BTW, LSU's quarterback is the most terrible quarterback. Ever.

[CMJ]

BTW, LSU's quarterback is the most terrible quarterback. Ever.

Oh how you should've seen Josh Gulley(NT QB 96-98ish). Not even close for worst QB ever. What's sad is that was a QB controversy because Jason Mills wasn't as "talented" - but we usually played better with him in there.

[Figrin D'an]

Well, everything is set up now for the national title game match-up to be the SEC champ and the Big 12 champ. It's just a matter of sorting it out between 5 teams.

(Florida or Alabama vs. Texas Tech or Texas or Oklahoma)

USC has a shot to get back into the picture if most of these teams stumble between now and the conference championship games. I'd rather have them face off with Penn State in the Rose Bowl though.

[Byl Laprovik]

Guys I told you so:


I think the Cowboys are a fluke, but I think after beating KU like that, the Red Raiders are for real. We'll see how it goes though :)

Also LOOOOOOOOOL at Tennessee losing to WYOMING @ NEYLAND STADIUM.

Cry buttery tears Phil Fulmer, lose forever Vols!



Oh how you should've seen Josh Gulley(NT QB 96-98ish). Not even close for worst QB ever. What's sad is that was a QB controversy because Jason Mills wasn't as "talented" - but we usually played better with him in there.

I remember him from highlight reels as being not good at all, but Jarrett Lee is some other kind of terrible. When I say he is the worst quarterback, I mean of all time, and of the pool of anybody who has ever played or attempted to play the game of football, no matter how formal or informal. This includes girls, amputees, and possibly Hellen Keller. I initially just thought that he was some phantom twelfth player on our defense, but I think his horribleness actually makes him worth like three or four defenders.

[Byl Laprovik]

These things are always funny after the fact. Hitler parodies are old & done before, but for some reason, screaming Hitler is always a valid football parody.

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[Byl Laprovik]

USA Today Coaches Poll:



1. Alabama (44) 10-0 1,508 1
2. Texas Tech (17) 10-0 1,469 3
3. Florida 8-1 1,348 5
4. Oklahoma 9-1 1,314 4
5. Texas 9-1 1,300 7
6. Southern California 8-1 1,268 6
7. Utah 10-0 1,104 9
8. Penn State 9-1 1,074 2
9. Boise State 9-0 1,028 10
10. Ohio State 8-2 936 12
11. Missouri 8-2 883 13
12. Georgia 8-2 842 14
13. Oklahoma State 8-2 808 8
14. Brigham Young 9-1 679 16
15. Michigan State 9-2 660 17
16. Ball State 9-0 590 18
17. North Carolina 7-2 543 19
18. TCU 9-2 475 11
19. Florida State 7-2 426 24
20. LSU 6-3 409 15
21. Pittsburgh 7-2 311 NR
22. Cincinnati 7-2 183 NR
23. South Carolina 7-3 155 NR
24. Tulsa 8-1 144 NR
25. Oregon State 6-3 71 NR


Dropped out: No. 20 Georgia Tech (7-3, lost to then-No. 19 North Carolina 28-7), No. 21 Maryland (6-3, lost to Virginia Tech 23-13), No. 22 California (6-3, lost to No. 6 Southern California 17-3), No. 23 West Virginia (6-3, lost to then-unranked Cincinnati 26-23 OT), No. 25 Northwestern (7-3, lost to then-No. 12 Ohio State 45-10).


Others receiving votes: California (6-3) 50; Oregon (7-3) 49; Georgia Tech (7-3) 38; Virginia Tech (6-3) 34; Air Force (8-2) 25; Northwestern (7-3) 13; Wake Forest (6-3) 13; Arizona (6-3) 11; Kansas (6-4) 11; Maryland (6-3) 9; Connecticut (6-3) 8; Minnesota (7-3) 8; Boston College (6-3) 7; Iowa (6-4) 6; Miami (Fla.) (6-3) 5; West Virginia (6-3) 5; Western Michigan (8-2) 5.

[Byl Laprovik]

AP:

1 Alabama (44) 10-0 1,604 1
2 Texas Tech (21) 10-0 1,574 2
3 Florida 8-1 1,467 4
4 Texas 9-1 1,437 5
5 Oklahoma 9-1 1,375 6
6 USC 8-1 1,311 7
7 Penn State 9-1 1,161 3
8 Utah 10-0 1,157 10
9 Boise State 9-0 1,110 9
10 Ohio State 8-2 1,009 12
11 Oklahoma State 8-2 963 8
12 Missouri 8-2 913 13
13 Georgia 8-2 880 14
14 Ball State 9-0 677 16
15 TCU 9-2 623 11
16 Brigham Young 9-1 602 17
17 North Carolina 7-2 597 19
18 Michigan State 9-2 584 18
19 LSU 6-3 552 15
20 Florida State 7-2 380 24
21 Pittsburgh 7-2 318 25
22 Cincinnati 7-2 269 NR
23 Oregon State 6-3 124 NR
24 South Carolina 7-3 117 NR
25 Tulsa 8-1 84 NR

[Darth Decepis]

HARRIS POLL 11/9/2008


1 Alabama (75) 10-0 2,808
2 Texas Tech (38) 10-0 2,768
3 Florida (1) 8-1 2,531
4 Texas 9-1 2,471
5 Oklahoma 9-1 2,427
6 USC 8-1 2,329
7 Penn State 9-1 2,073
8 Utah 10-0 2,034
9 Boise State 9-0 1,940
10 Ohio State 8-2 1,765
11 Missouri 8-2 1,585
12 Georgia 8-2 1,581
13 Oklahoma State 8-2 1,488
14 BYU 9-1 1,335
15 Ball State 9-0 1,231
16 Michigan State 9-2 1,122
17 North Carolina 7-2 995
18 TCU 9-2 975
19 LSU 6-3 806
20 Florida State 7-2 708
21 Pittsburgh 7-2 558
22 Tulsa 8-1 342
23 Cincinnati 7-2 331
24 South Carolina 7-3 147
25 California 6-3 120

Other teams receiving votes: Oregon State 85; Virginia Tech 84; Georgia Tech 76; Air Force 70; Oregon 69; Boston College 44; West
Virginia 25; Miami (FLA) 24; Northwestern 15; Western Michigan 15; Wake Forest 14; Arizona 12; Minnesota 10; Central Michigan 9;
Kansas 9; Maryland 6; Iowa 5; South Florida 5; Navy 1; Rice 1; Virginia 1.

Dropped out of the Top 25: Georgia Tech, Maryland, West Virginia.

[CMJ]

BCS Rankings
1. Alabama (10-0)
2. Texas Tech (10-0)
3. Texas (9-1)
4. Florida (8-1)
5. Oklahoma (9-1)
6. USC (8-1)
7. Utah (10-0)
8. Penn State (9-1)
9. Boise State (9-0)
10. Georgia (8-2)
11. Ohio State (8-2)
12. Missouri (8-2)
13. Oklahoma State (8-2)
14. Ball State (9-0)
15. Michigan State (9-2)
16. North Carolina (7-2)
17. BYU (9-1)
18. TCU (9-2)
19. Florida State (7-2)
20. LSU (6-3)
21. Pittsburgh (8-2)
22. Cincinnati (7-2)
23. Tulsa (8-1)
24. Wake Forest (6-3)
25. South Carolina (7-3)

[Dragon]

On the Tech forum, people were commenting about the enigmatic and multicolored substitution signs the Oklahoma State coaching staff was using from the sideline. One of them has reportedly spotted a sign intended for the defense. But we're having difficulty decoding it...

[Figrin D'an]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ncaa/11/10/slaying.ap/index.html

...

SEC football: It's super serial business.

[Darth Decepis]

Surprised it didn't end up the other way around, with LSU having massive chips on their shoulders and whatnot. Still, crazy. Lower Alabama is just stupid.

[Charley]

Wow, and we barely eke out an ugly win over Mississippi State. Total Trap game.

[CMJ]

It was pretty much chalk city today, even though a few ranked teams had STIFF tests(like, LSU being down 28 and still winning).

[Jedi Master Carr]

Wow, and we barely eke out an ugly win over Mississippi State. Total Trap game.

I wouldn't say you eked out a win. Alabama dominated that game except for the first quarter. I have made friends with an Alabama fan and he dragged me and two girls to a sports bar to watch it. They looked impressive to me.

[Jedi Master Carr]

It was pretty much chalk city today, even though a few ranked teams had STIFF tests(like, LSU being down 28 and still winning).

I saw that, Troy was up like 31-3 in the 3rd quarter. Not sure how LSU came back from that.

[Colonel Karrnage]

I wouldn't say you eked out a win. Alabama dominated that game except for the first quarter. I have made friends with an Alabama fan and he dragged me and two girls to a sports bar to watch it. They looked impressive to me.

The only thing that looked impressive about Alabama tonight was Javier Arenas getting a blank check to run wherever he pleased on kickoff returns. That being said, we've been waiting for that sort of performance out of him all year, so it's about time. With all of his muffed punts and fair catch fiascos, this brings us about even.

JPW connected with Julio a bit, but our ground game wasn't really hot. The line had trouble with Miss St's front, and JPW got a good bit of pressure.

Defensively, we looked like hot garbage against a team we should have murdered. We were getting embarassed on big draw gains and the occasional option, which we usually smother with no problem. Also, our secondary is very hot/cold, and they got burned so bad tonight that it made me hang my head in shame. Still not much pressure up front from Cody, which is a shame. He's been pretty ineffective since coming back from his injury.

That being said, I knew this would happen. It's the most classic definition of a trap game you can dream up. We come off a clutch win against LSU, and beyond Miss St, we have the Iron Bowl, SEC Championship, and a BCS bowl bid which will possibly be for the national title. Coming to Tuscaloosa to play bowl-ineligible MSU (Croom's impressive two year streak on us notwithstanding) is asking for a shakeup.

I'm just glad we weathered it really.

[Zem Vymes]

With the Iron Bowl coming up in two short weeks, I figured this was a bit of cute perspective from the UK on one of the best rivalries in American sports :)

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[Dragon]

Hahaha, that's awesome.

I've looked up some of his other clips, and it's really quite entertaining to see the States from a UK perspective...

[CMJ]

Good stuff man. :)

My favorite college football rivalries definitely include the Iron Bowl. Always a total blast to watch on TV.

If I were to make a list of my top 5, it's probably be....

1. Army/Navy (For most it's lost it's luster recently, but I still love to watch it. If there was one football game I would love to make one day, it would be this one. Also amazingly close as far as the all-time series goes)
2. Texas A&M vs Texas (THE rivalry of Texas. I happen to usually root against both schools, but on this day everyone picks sides. Texas owns a huge lead in the overall series - mostly because back in the day A&M was an all male military school like VMI - but the last 30 years or so it's basically even)
3. Auburn vs Alabama (Probably the rivalry with the most hatred attached, from the outside looking in anyways. Probably the one that means the most to its state)
4. USC vs Notre Dame (Two of the greatest perenial schools in college football in a rivalry that dates back to the 1920's when Knute Rockne's wife wanted to shop for clothes on the West Coast. Both schools have a multitude of Heisman's and National titles)
5. Michigan vs Ohio State (The two great titans of the Big 10. Michigan with the all-time record in wins and percentage and the Big House. OSU with the tradition...the Best Damn Band in the Land and the Horseshoe)

[Jedi Master Carr]

I saw this on 60 minutes
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3708348

I doubt he has any power to do that though, unfortunately.

[Sanis Prent]

Good stuff man. :)

My favorite college football rivalries definitely include the Iron Bowl. Always a total blast to watch on TV.

If I were to make a list of my top 5, it's probably be....

1. Army/Navy (For most it's lost it's luster recently, but I still love to watch it. If there was one football game I would love to make one day, it would be this one. Also amazingly close as far as the all-time series goes)
2. Texas A&M vs Texas (THE rivalry of Texas. I happen to usually root against both schools, but on this day everyone picks sides. Texas owns a huge lead in the overall series - mostly because back in the day A&M was an all male military school like VMI - but the last 30 years or so it's basically even)
3. Auburn vs Alabama (Probably the rivalry with the most hatred attached, from the outside looking in anyways. Probably the one that means the most to its state)
4. USC vs Notre Dame (Two of the greatest perenial schools in college football in a rovalry that dates back to the 1920's when Knute Rockne's wife wanted to shop for clothes on the West Coast. Both schools have a multitude of Heisman's and National titles)
5. Michigan vs Ohio State (The two great titans of the Big 10. Michigan with the all0time record in wins and percentage and the Big House. OSU with the tradition...the Best Damn Band in the Land and the Horseshoe)

These are the usual picks that most people nod to as far as storied rivalries, and for the most part, I agree. I'd probably also put Miami vs Florida State into the mix, if only because that rivalry has managed to mean an awful lot in the rather short span its been a rivalry. Yes, it hasn't meant much in the past few years, but for a couple of decades you were looking at two of the best programs in the nation going at it.

This is one of the reasons I am a college football fan. You may have better teams in pro leagues and occasionally bigger matchups (Sox v Yankees in baseball for one), but college football gives you one crack a year at these huge games. The buildup to them is unreal.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Good stuff man. :)

My favorite college football rivalries definitely include the Iron Bowl. Always a total blast to watch on TV.

If I were to make a list of my top 5, it's probably be....

1. Army/Navy (For most it's lost it's luster recently, but I still love to watch it. If there was one football game I would love to make one day, it would be this one. Also amazingly close as far as the all-time series goes)

My dad used to teach at the Naval Academy, so we would get into Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium all the time for games. We were only there for a year, sadly, and that was around '89-'90, so we didn't get to see any Army/Navy games in Annapolis.

[CMJ]

These are the usual picks that most people nod to as far as storied rivalries, and for the most part, I agree. I'd probably also put Miami vs Florida State into the mix, if only because that rivalry has managed to mean an awful lot in the rather short span its been a rivalry. Yes, it hasn't meant much in the past few years, but for a couple of decades you were looking at two of the best programs in the nation going at it.

This is one of the reasons I am a college football fan. You may have better teams in pro leagues and occasionally bigger matchups (Sox v Yankees in baseball for one), but college football gives you one crack a year at these huge games. The buildup to them is unreal.

I thought about adding Miami/Florida State. Hell there were about 15 rivalries I wanted to fit in the "Top 5". My #1 rule was I couldn't have the same school in more than one, and quite a few of the ancient titans of the sport have more than 1 great rivalry(Texas has A&M and OU, USC has ND and UCLA, etc). I finally decided against FSU/Miami because the history isn't quite there yet. But no question, it has MEANT a helluva lot the last 30 years or so.

[Byl Laprovik]

Haha, yeah the secondary rivalries would fill a book. I mean, I myself consider the hatred in Alabama / Tennessee to be more divine than the Alabama / Auburn game, and I know that Florida / Georgia & Auburn / Georgia are huge within the SEC to boot. Then of course Florida / FSU has been worthy of note, and Cal v Stanford in the Pac-10 is one that stands out as another really great secondary rivalry (lol, the play)

[CMJ]

Just like many Texas fans consider OU as the greater rival. It almost depends inside the fanbase. I actually work with a Auburn alum here in LA, and to her the Auburn/Georgia rivalry is bigger(I think because her sister is a Georgia person).

Then a school like Kansas...it seems like half the fanbase hates Missouri more...and the other hald Kansas State(at least in football...in basketball not so much because the Wildcats don't challenege them historically like the Tigers).

Sometimes I think it's a generational thing....like who beat you when you were in school will be the rival you hate more. :lol

[Zem Vymes]

Sometimes I think it's a generational thing....like who beat you when you were in school will be the rival you hate more. :lol

That is true. Having survived the Manning dynasty and Fulmer narc saga, Tennessee became for me a lot more than a gaggle of gaudily-dressed hillbillies with annoying accents. I came to hate literally everything about them.

[CMJ]

Just like I'm sure the current students(and recent graduates) probably hate Auburn more since they have a big streak going right now.

[Zem Vymes]

I'm not sure. My sister graduated four years after I did, right in the thick of the Auburn slump. She never got to see Alabama win an Iron Bowl as a student, and she hates Tennessee more as well.

I think the Fulmer narc thing has transferrence, because people see our slump in the past half decade as sort of contingent upon Fulmer's actions. Without that, we probably can pull a better coach after Franchione cashes in his 30 pieces of silver than such hapless twits like Mike Price and Mike Shula.

Almost all of my friends are Auburn fans. I don't hate Auburn. They're our younger, dumber sibling. They're a bunch of hicks and thrive in the cool of our shadow with chips on their shoulders. They've got Shug, his one NC, Bo, and Pat Sullivan. There's going to be a bear market in Lee county with our star rising again and Tuberville firing coordinators much the same way that Darth Vader chokes Imperial Admirals.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Should Texas Tech come out in the second half? Wow, Oklahoma is just kicking their butt right now. 42-7, I thought this game would be a shootout where OU pull away in the end but not this. You think this could help them to jump Texas in the polls?

[Byl Laprovik]

I have no idea what to think right now. This is blowing my mind. I didn't expect Tech to come out of this run unscathed, but man, this is just brutal.

[Jedi Master Carr]

This game is just horrible. Stoops must have done a heck of job preparing for this game.

[CMJ]

Gotta love that classy Stoops for running up the score too. They were up like 55-14 and throwing 60 yard bombs.

Nice.

[CMJ]

Top 25 schools to lose this week.

(2) Texas Tech
(16) BYU
(17) Michigan State
(18) LSU
(20) Pittsburgh
(22) Maryland
(23) Miami
(25) North Carolina

Only four unbeatens left.

Alabama
Ball State
Boise State
Utah

[Jedi Master Carr]

Gotta love that classy Stoops for running up the score too. They were up like 55-14 and throwing 60 yard bombs.

Nice.

Well that is nothing new. Florida State and Florida are both notorious for doing that too. I would say in this case it is trying to get show points for the voters. Of course I would rather see a 8 team playoff system. The BCS is still the biggest joke in sports.

[CMJ]

The only fair playoff would be 16 teams. That way every conference champion is invited(11 champs plus 5 at large). But you'll never have one of those, because the schools in the power leagues don't want to share the money. That's the reason there has never been a NCAA sanctioned playoff - every league champion would be invited. And if a 4 or8 team playoff ever was started...the NCAA would eventually take it over - which is WHY one has never been started.

That's why you get the Conferences and School Presidents dragging their feet. Hell, most alums and fans of the Big 6 conferences don't want that sort of playoff either - but it is what would eventually happen. Hence you get the conference power brokers so adamant about not having one, even when the coaches all want one.

[Jedi Master Carr]

The only fair playoff would be 16 teams. That way every conference champion is invited(11 champs plus 5 at large). But you'll never have one of those, because the schools in the power leagues don't want to share the money. That's the reason there has never been a NCAA sanctioned playoff - every league champion would be invited. And if a 4 or8 team playoff ever was started...the NCAA would eventually take it over - which is WHY one has never been started.

That's why you get the Conferences and School Presidents dragging their feet. Hell, most alums and fans of the Big 6 conferences don't want that sort of playoff either - but it is what would eventually happen. Hence you get the conference power brokers so adamant about not having one, even when the coaches all want one.

That isn't the reason it is all about money. The bowls give crappy teams chances to make money. Great example is Clemson they plain sucked this year and could get money to play in a bowl game. And you have to take baby steps. College basketball didn't have 64 teams over night. They started with 16. Baseball went 50 years without any sort of playoff system and then slowly added teams. The current system to me rewards mediocre. Teams that wins 7 games don't belong in postseason game and then you question if the team that wins is actually the best team. The current system is just a plain joke and we need to start some where. You take the top 8 in the current BCS standings and let them fight it out. Keep a few bowls but no more 6-5 teams getting in them. Then you give that system a few years and then you add 8 more teams.

[CMJ]

No, the lesser Bowls are all about money for the Bowl itself. Lower tier bowl games don't make money for schools at all. Most schools lose money on Bowl trips unless it's either a BCS or 2nd tier game(like the Citrus, Peach or Cotton Bowl).

Mid to lower tier Bowls are about exposure, money for the host city, and saving coaches jobs.

As I said...the Big leagues are scared of a playoff because of the potential they would have to share the money with schools in the WAC and Sunbelt, etc every year - potentially losing their superiority with time.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well they shouldn't have those lower tier bowls at all then. I still disagree if they have a 8 team playoff it wouldn't make a big deal, of course the ACC and Big East would lose out right now, but they can't even compete with the other conferences at the moment anyway.

[CMJ]

No, you don't understand...if we had an 8 team playoff the Big 6 conferences would all have a representative. That would be the onlty way all Power 6 leagues(who run the BCS) would allow it. So, yes...the ACC and Big East would be represented.

Hence.

The seedings 1-8 would be like(using conference champs then 2 at larges)

(1) Alabama vs (8) Boston College
(2) Oklahoma vs (7) Oregon State
(3) Florida vs (6)Cincinatti
(4) Texas vs (5) Penn State



As far as lower tier games....then you give schools like mine absolutely nothing to play for if you take them away.

[Byl Laprovik]

Yeah, a 16 team playoff is a much better option that allows the occasionally good mid major or so to have a shot. I'm down for that.

[Sanis Prent]

Auburn fans were looking to rub "7" in our faces tonight, but it's our turn.

"7", as in 7 losses this season. Lose forever Tigers! Biggest Iron bowl blowout since the damn Cuban Missile Crisis!

[CMJ]

Alabama/Florida amounts to a semifinal, so one spot in the title game is set.

What happens if Mizzou pulls off a shocker against the Sooners tho?

[Figrin D'an]

Alabama/Florida amounts to a semifinal, so one spot in the title game is set.

What happens if Mizzou pulls off a shocker against the Sooners tho?


As much as I don't normally like the idea of a team playing for a national title who doesn't even play for their own conference title, this year's circumstances are far from normal, and I think in the event of a Mizzou upset of OU, the remaining spot would have to fall to Texas. They're the best of the remaining teams, and based upon the BCS standings, would be in position to slide up into the #2 spot.

I think it's going to be an SEC vs. Big 12 matchup in the national championship game regardless of the outcomes of the conference title games.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Alabama/Florida amounts to a semifinal, so one spot in the title game is set.

What happens if Mizzou pulls off a shocker against the Sooners tho?

I can't see Missouri doing it though, mainly because they looked terrible on Saturday. They would have to play the best game they have played all year.

[CMJ]

]
I can't see Missouri doing it though, mainly because they looked terrible on Saturday. They would have to play the best game they have played all year.

The Tigers actually played really well...that was a whale of a ballgame. And you never can tell in a rivalry game. Not to mention, the history of Big XII Title game is rife with upsets.

I doubt Missouri wins, but I wouldn't write them off. But my point is what happens "if". Hell, 2 years ago a 5-5 UCLA wasn't supposed to beat #2 USC, but it happened.

[CMJ]

As much as I don't normally like the idea of a team playing for a national title who doesn't even play for their own conference title, this year's circumstances are far from normal, and I think in the event of a Mizzou upset of OU, the remaining spot would have to fall to Texas. They're the best of the remaining teams, and based upon the BCS standings, would be in position to slide up into the #2 spot.

I think it's going to be an SEC vs. Big 12 matchup in the national championship game regardless of the outcomes of the conference title games.

I think you're probably correct, but I believe you'd have to give USC, and Penn State a long hard look nonetheless.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Another thing does Bradford win the Heisman? We can obviously throw out the sophomore thing since Tebow won last year. Bradford has been amazing and is probably the best QB in college football. I guess it could depend on what happens Saturday.

[CMJ]

Tebow deserves it for his speech to the squad after the Ole Miss game. UF has stomped everyone since he gave it. :lol

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well I think Alabama will beat Florida on Saturday, so that stomping will end :p

[CMJ]

Well I think Alabama will beat Florida on Saturday, so that stomping will end :p


Does it really matter? They absolutely annhilated like 6 straight opponents. :)

If we're being honest, I think the Heisman should goto Michael Crabtree. He is the best player in college football.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well I think Alabama will beat Florida on Saturday, so that stomping will end :p


Does it really matter? They absolutely annhilated like 6 straight opponents. :)

If we're being honest, I think the Heisman should goto Michael Crabtree. He is the best player in college football.
Yeah he is the best player and he should be one of the finalists, but unfortunately the voters are biased and will pick a QB. Its probably between Bradford and Tebow right now with Crabtree finishing third.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Could this happen?
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/BCS-Realpolitik-Oklahoma-it-is-but-a-new-route?urn=ncaaf,125550
That would be major controversy, and could lead to a split national title. I am not convinced that will happen, but who knows.

[Vipul Chandrashekar]

Vegas has Florida -9.5 going into this.

I am pleased to be shown such disrespect. Hopefully that same old verse from 1992 will soon be playing :)

[Jedi Master Carr]

Vegas has Florida -9.5 going into this.

I am pleased to be shown such disrespect. Hopefully that same old verse from 1992 will soon be playing :)

I am shocked at that spread. I think Alabama will win the game myself. I hate Florida so I hope at least.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

I found this (http://www.utexas.edu/police/campuswatch/archives/report.php?date=Dec+01+2008) pretty funny. And yes it's true.



DKR- TEXAS MEMORIAL STADIUM, 2200 Robert Dedman

Robbery: Several UT staff members, faculty, students, and Texas Ex's discovered a fraction of a percentage point had been taken and was transported across state lines. The percentage point was discovered north of the Red River at the campus of another Big 12 South University.
Stupid TUers. ;)

I'm kidding, a part of me does want a UT/OU rematch for the BCS title. But that's just the Big 12 South fan in me.

[Byl Laprovik]

Bobby Lowder cans Tubs; nuclear winter to commence for a decade on the Plains (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=3743358)


You're Auburn University and your cross-state rival Alabama, after lying dormant for a decade, has become formidable again. You've had a mediocre season and you won't play in a bowl game for the first time in nine years. But you're OK. You have a coach who has been the model of stability in an unstable business.

You've had Tommy Tuberville for 10 seasons. That became the longest tenure of any coach in the Southeastern Conference once Tennessee fitted Phillip Fulmer with a pair of cement coaching shoes. Even after going 5-7, your coach has won nearly 70 percent of his games against everyone (85-40, .680), and exactly 70 percent (7-3!) against the hated Crimson Tide.

Tuberville has won one SEC and five Western Division titles and been unbeaten one season. That 2004 team performed well enough to play for a national championship. Too bad the BCS ripped you off.

Having a coach like that is good. The last thing you want to do when facing Nick Saban Inc. is call in the moving vans and start over. Only someone with an athletic death wish would trade in a coach with 10 years of recruiting ties throughout the Southeast for a staff that might not be able to find 6A finalist Hoover High with a pack of bloodhounds and a Garmin.

You're Auburn, and you're too big, too sure of yourself to panic every time someone in Tuscaloosa raises a trophy. Once upon a time you panicked. Remember five years ago, when the university president led a secret delegation to interview Bobby Petrino at Louisville? That president and the genius boosters who egged him on forgot that Auburn still employed a football coach. They also proved to be about as clandestine as Inspector Clouseau.


Tommy Tuberville coached the Tigers to an 85-40 record during his Auburn tenure.
The media mocked you for months, and you looked even dumber when Tuberville took the team to a 13-0 record a year later.

Good thing that president is long gone. You've got a new athletic director, too. Surely they wouldn't be stupid enough to make the same mistake and run off Tuberville. During games, he barely has a pulse. They call him the Riverboat Gambler for his play-calling guts. And big games? Not only is he 7-3 against Alabama, he has won nine of his past 14 games against top-10 teams.

Off the field, his players don't get in trouble. They go to class, too. In 2007, 20 players had at least a 3.0 GPA.

It's like they say on Wall Street. When the masses are selling, the smart guys are buying. The SEC masses are selling. Tennessee is starting over with 33-year-old Lane Kiffin. Mississippi State forced out Sly Croom. You want to know what not to do? LSU fans are grumbling about Les Miles one year after he held the crystal football!

That leaves Ole Miss and Arkansas, and if you're worried about them, you're not the Auburn you claim to be.

Sure, Tuberville doomed this season to mediocrity the minute he hired that offensive coordinator, the high school guru who promised to install the spread offense. Turns out that knowledge-wise, the guy had outkicked his coverage. Tuberville fired him a month into the season, admitted his mistake, and tried to minimize the damage. He didn't pawn off the responsibility on anyone else. He took the blame and promised to fix the problem.

Yeah, those boosters, the ones who embarrassed you over Petrino, are still unhappy, but you're Auburn. You're bigger than that. No coach is going to win in the SEC every season. Tuberville has delivered for you for 10 years. Surely that engenders some loyalty from you to him.

Besides, you signed a contract that promised him $6 million if you let him go after the 2008 season. In these economic times, with people everywhere trying to hold on to their jobs and their mortgages, you surely aren't stupid enough to spend $6 million paying a guy not to coach. No one could be that insensitive to the message that would send. Talk about misplaced priorities.

What's that?

You let him go?

You're going to pay him $6 million not to coach?

And start over from scratch? Against Nick Saban?

You're kidding, right? Is there something about Tommy Tuberville that causes you to make agonizingly stupid decisions?

Forget I ever brought it up. Good luck finding a coach better than the one you just forced out. Whoever he is, give him a message:

Hoover High is just south of Birmingham.

Ivan Maisel is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Send your questions and comments to Ivan at Ivan.Maisel@ESPN3.com. His new book, "The Maisel Report: College Football's Most Overrated & Underrated Players, Coaches, Teams, and Traditions," is on sale now. For more information, go to TheMaiselReport.com.

[CMJ]

I thought Tubberville was one of the best coaches in the business. I hope for Auburn's sake they find someone good, because it seems like a ridiculous decision to me.

[Byl Laprovik]

He was a pretty good coach, as much as I hate him. I hate it for my friends who are Auburn fans, but it ends there. This is going to be AWESOME!

[Byl Laprovik]

This isn't mine, but it was pretty funny:


BCS DECLARES GERMANY WINNER OF WORLD WAR II
US Ranked 4th

After determining the Big-12 championship game participants the BCS computers were put to work on other major contests and today the BCS declared Germany to be the winner of World War II.

"Germany put together an incredible number of victories beginning with the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland and continuing on into conference play with defeats of Poland, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands. Their only losses came against the US and Russia; however considering their entire body of work--including an incredibly tough Strength of Schedule--our computers deemed them worthy of the #1 ranking."

Questioned about the #4 ranking of the United States the BCS commissioner stated "The US only had two major victories--Japan and Germany. The computer models, unlike humans, aren't influenced by head-to-head contests--they consider each contest to be only a single, equally-weighted event."

German Chancellor Adolph Hiter said "Yes, we lost to the US; but we defeated #2 ranked France in only 6 weeks." Herr Hitler has been criticized for seeking dramatic victories to earn 'style points' to enhance Germany's rankings. Hitler protested "Our contest with Poland was in doubt until the final day and the conditions in Norway were incredibly challenging and demanded the application of additional forces."

The French ranking has also come under scrutiny. The BCS commented " France had a single loss against Germany and following a preseason #1 ranking they only fell to #2."

Japan was ranked #3 with victories including Manchuria, Borneo and the Philippines.

[CMJ]

Well, we know it'll be Florida versus someone.

[Jedi Master Carr]

It will be Oklahoma and that is who I will be rooting for, I can't stand Florida.

[CMJ]

I don't like either school much. I may boycott. :lol

[Jedi Master Carr]

I don't like either school much. I may boycott. :lol
LOL it could be worse it could have been Texas :p
I don't have a problem with OU, I would have rather had OU-Alabama because I would have been happy with either team winning. I think OU can beat Florida. I know you are hearing Gator fans already taking the trophy but they better watch out for that offense. They can drop 40-50 points on anybody.

[Dragon]

Here's a preview of what we have to look forward to in the National Championship coverage. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxWFDgQyZgo)

I didn't watch the SEC Championship, but I hear this is very much what the commentary was like...

[Jedi Master Carr]

I can't stand Tebow, I guess its because how the media is in love with him. Now Bradford could rival him in the game.

[Figrin D'an]

I think Tebow is a decent enough kid, but I agree that the media hype over him is getting to be too much. It's starting to remind me of how Michael Vick was covered non stop during his days at Virginia Tech. It'll only get worse if he wins a second Heisman Trophy next weekend.

[Byl Laprovik]

I was hoping that after my sister's wedding I would be hearing good news.

:( Oh well