Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Before noting the on-field stuff, take a second to note the classy, dignified remembrance of Jasper Howard from West Virginia on Saturday. You'll feel better.
Key Takeaways. Even ugly as sin, a win is a win.
Most of the nation's unbeaten teams can win ugly, we know, because they have had to. Florida bludgeons with Tim Tebow and a stingy defense; Alabama does the same with Mark Ingram on offense and a unit led by relentless line play and heat-seeking linebackers on defense. Texas shuts down the run and lets Colt McCoy win games with his arm. Iowa's Heart Attack Hawkeyes display no particular offensive talents other than scoring more points than the other team. Boise State and TCU win their showdowns (Oregon and BYU) when they avoid crippling turnovers and struggle in mismatches (Tulsa and Air Force) when they don't.
But we also know that Cincinnati doesn't have to. They don't have to weather offensive problems (28+ points in every game), don't struggle despite time of possession issues (still last in FBS), don't falter when their Heisman candidate quarterback gets injured (Zach Collaros was 15-of-17 for 253 yards and three scores on Saturday), don't stumble on the road (28-18 over Oregon State; 34-17 over South Florida), and don't win by fewer than eight points.
This is a season that should see the death of style points: Wins are wins are wins, and the good teams keep accumulating them. But it's hard to argue that any team is doing a better job of winning convincingly than Cincy. If I had to pick a "best" team in the country today, it would be the Bearcats.
Delirious. If Notre Dame and Iowa played a game this year, it might require fourteen overtimes, because two teams waiting for the other side to make mistakes would probably play to a skull-numbing tie until someone got bored and forfeited. On Saturday, the Irish had only to come back against Boston College, then wait for the inevitable interception to seal a 20-16 win, while the Hawkeyes claimed another last-second win by waiting for Michigan State's man coverage to inevitably fall apart for a play. Whether these wins can be attributed to exceptional endurance or fortuitous circumstances is up for debate, but it's probably not worth deciphering the delirium: It's fun to watch.
USC is still ranked fourth in the country in the latest AP Poll. The Trojans' best win is against a team that lost to Purdue; their loss is to a team that has been 1-4 since. And yet the USC pedigree continues to earn them lofty preseason perches that make bouncing back from losses easier than rising from obscurity as an unbeaten. Question for fans: Would you rather have a playoff system, or no polls taken before October?
Tremendous. Freddie Barnes is a receiver on a MAC team that has an outside shot at .500 this season. He also has 99 receptions for 1,054 yards and nine TDs. That's 37 receptions and 173 yards more than any other FBS player. It's kind of impressive, no?
The shootout of the week happened in the WAC. Nevada beat Idaho 70-45, in a game that featured 1,156 yards of total offense and a distinct distaste for field goals: The Wolf Pack and Vandals combined for 16 touchdowns and one three-pointer.
Blacked Out. You probably missed it if you were watching Alabama and Tennessee stage a field goal duel for the ages, but the afternoon window had Saturday's best game. Clemson edged Miami in a 40-37 thriller that had three non-offensive touchdowns and 11 lead changes, the last on a 26-yard touchdown pass in overtime to Jacoby Ford. The ACC may not have any relation to reason, but it sure is fun!
Impaired Judgment. Tennessee had the ball on Alabama's 27 with almost a minute left, had the hot hand with Jonathan Crompton (l6-of-8 for 89 yards and a TD on the last two drives), and had a kicker who saw his low kick blocked earlier that quarter. So, of course, Lane Kiffin makes no effort to advance the ball, setting up for a third-down field goal try that he sabotages by letting the clock run to 0:04, not nearly enough for a second chance at the field goal if it were blocked behind the line. The field goal is blocked, Alabama wins, and Tennessee squanders the best luck anyone will have against the Tide all year. Surely, that's a bad coaching decision, right?
Potent Quotables. Kiffin, on all that, with a tenuous grasp on what "taking it out of their hands" might mean: "You risk turning the ball over right there or you risk a penalty. All of the sudden you get a penalty and you knock yourself out (of field-goal range). I didn't want to do that to our guys. I didn't want to take it out of their hands."
Nick Saban, on Alabama's close shave: "That's how fragile a season can be."
Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen, on Dustin Doe's touchdown interception that probably should have been a fumble: "I don't even know why we have replay right now in the Southeastern Conference if they're not going to utilize it. That's twice now that they've blown calls on the replay with our games, resulting in big plays, and I think that's unexcuable for that official. I hope he's severely punished if he ever works another SEC game again, because I think it's completely unacceptable."
Ricky Stanzi, Iowa's magic man: " I was thinking before we went out for the two-minute drive, this is what you want to do. You're obviously nervous. But at the same time, hey, it's an all or nothing shot. You've got to go down and make plays, take some risks. I wasn't worried about the outcome. I was just worried about the play I was going to call and making sure everybody heard it."
Proof. Even if a great defense plays well, an incompetent offense can screw it up. Ask Nebraska, whose eight turnovers, including four within the Iowa State 5, cued a 9-7 self-destruction that wasted a defensive effort that forced more punts (nine) than it allowed receptions (eight) and stifled the Cyclones into just 231 yards on 69 plays.
Nebraska fans probably went for the higher-proof stuff in a search for solace after that one.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
11 comments
Comments
I would go for no polls before October, but the truth is USC would still be up there because they are good.Watch the games. It is pretty easy to see who the best teams are when you see them play. Would you really bet on Cincinnati against USC in the BCS title game? Give me a break.
by Sexy Pete on Oct 25, 2009 5:37 PM EDT reply actions
I would like a playoff, but that’ll never happen. No polls until mid-October would be alright though. East Coast Bias? That broken record could sell as a comedy act. USC gets an enormous pass year in and year out. Ohio State loses to Purdue, and they Bucks drop from #7 to #19. USC loses to WASHINGTON, and they don’t even drop out of the top ten. The Big Ten is the one facing a bias. And it’s a mammoth of a bias.
Florida or ‘Bama struggle with bottom half SEC teams, and it’s because of the "depth" of the conference, and "great teams simply find a way to win". But when Iowa gets a last second win in a defensive struggle, it’s because Iowa is overrated and the Big Ten is weak. The human polls are trying to lock the Hawks out of the big game. They rank #1 in Sagarin’s ELO_CHESS ratings. Boise State is being held above Iowa in the human polls because the computers won’t let the Broncos play for it all anyway. That keeps Iowa lower in the human polls, which are all that stand between Iowa and the top 2 spots right now.
by tm33_08 on Oct 25, 2009 5:38 PM EDT reply actions
What exactly does it matter? Last time I checked Florida, Alabama, Texas, Iowa, and Cinci are all undefeated. Since USC lost there is very little chance they will get to play in the title game.
That being said, lets just say if there was a playoff I’d take USC to run the table. I love how USC has played the majority of its schedule on th road and still has only one loss with so much turnover and its still overrated.
News alert: Consistancy is not overrated. When you win 24 times and only lose 4 of them in the last 3 years….the question of good is kind of a dumb question don’t you think?
by SailorGabe on Oct 25, 2009 7:39 PM EDT reply actions
Especially after they get whipped in Eugene on Halloween. USC is WAY overrated, but I am kinda glad, because it will make the Ducks look better next week. But I’m sure they will just say the Pac-10 is weak, and SEC is the best. Broken record. What a scam.
by MRCUTLASS on Oct 25, 2009 8:23 PM EDT reply actions
tm33_08: To say that there is no bias against USC is retarded. EVERY year in recent memory they have the same record as the two teams in the BS NC game and USC is the odd team out. USC then goes to the Rose Bowl and beats the Big-10 champ by 30 points. And that’s just by halftime.
Get a clue. Are you telling me that teams really, deep down, want to face USC in a bowl game? And as for being "over rated" at the present time, I doubt if USC gives a crap on being 4th right now. They already know that the "East coast bias" a.k.a. Matt Hayes will screw them even if all the teams in the top ten do have a loss.
by truman_sparks on Oct 25, 2009 9:16 PM EDT reply actions
Who did you pay to get an actual spot to right an article like this?!!!! USC is clearly the better team than alot of the undefeated teams. Other than LSU, who has Florida really faced? Tenessee? Texas has face how many teams ranked?! Alabama sure looks good against mediocre teams Ill tell ya!! But half way thru the season USC has already faced Cal who was ranked at the time, Notre Dame who was ranked at the time, and oh yeah OHIO IN THERE COURT who is STILL RANKED, all together USC will have finish with a schedule that consists of 6-8 teams that were/are ranked throught out the season. Speak smart pal as you will see how USC takes out Oregon yet another top 15 ranked team out of the way…………
by Dodgers2020 on Oct 25, 2009 9:36 PM EDT reply actions
Lets see… Alabama barely beats Tennessee (who last place Pac-10 team UCLA beat on the road) and the author Andy Hutchins chooses to write an article with an unflattering picture of Pete Carrol and rip into USC as over rated as the 4th ranked team. And then states, oh by the way, there are other teams that are over rated as well.
Bias? This is just example #243 this season alone of the ridiculous bias against USC and the Pac-10. While Hayes leads the way, Hutchins is closing fast. I think subscribers and readers of the Sporting News deserve fair and honest reporting, not continual hatchet jobs primarily on the Pac-10.
by Phil_Hicks on Oct 26, 2009 12:06 AM EDT reply actions
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. USC gets knocked not because of their one loss, but usually who to whom they own that one loss (UCLA, Stanford, Washington, etc.) To simply say that they had one loss and have the same record as other teams who played for the NC without recognizing that fact is just dishonest.
Media bias: Simply put, USC are media darlings. They get so much good press that to say that the media is out to get them is delusional. After a loss to Washington, to not fall out of the top 10, and to then be as high as they currently are, you would have to be out of your mind to say that there is a conspiracy against USC. Don’t get me wrong, USC is a great program and team, and deserve the benefit of the doubt due to their scheduling and performance, but enough of the USC against the world theories.
You can’t have the media buck the BCS and award you the national title and then with a straight face turn around and say they hate you. It just doesn’t pass te gigle test.
by finkle is einhorn on Oct 26, 2009 2:16 AM EDT reply actions
Early in season all the defenses are ahead of the offenses mostly. But halfway thru now offenses are catching up and to tell you the truth, winning 12-10 is ugly, Just like winning 42-36 is ugly in its on way. But both is a win for someone. Thats all that matters is a W, only way we can slow down all this griping and complaining is to have a mini play off AFTer the BCS bowls, a 4 or 8 team playoff, but I say cancel the BCS championship game ad create (6) six BCS bowls, already have 4, make two more and creates 12 slots. Have the big 6 auto tie ins and make it 2 non big 6 auto tie ins, that leave 4 slots open. All games completed NLT Jan 2nd, then quick BCS poll or have an NCAA group seed the 4 or 8 teams for mini play off starting the same week tht the BCS championship game is played now. Only go one more week for 4 team and 2 more weeks for 8 team but with a total of 9 (4 team) or 13 (8 team) BCS bowls thats alot more revenue for teams and conf’s to share, AD’s should like that and fans too. But key is to have original SIX BCS bowls (12 teams) and be done NLT Jan 2nd, just my dream keep talking about, don’t mess with Dec playoff, mess up other bowls, cancel them etc, so create more bowls AFTER the BCS bowls….1-4, 2-3 or 1-8, 2-7 etc for mini playoff, rotating bowl locations…….just a thought..
by kraal2004 on Oct 26, 2009 2:27 AM EDT reply actions
Ya gotta love usc fans. They don’t take defeat for an answer. Lose to Washington…"CLEARLY you can see that the university of south central is the best team….CLEARLY!!" Lose to Stanford, "Well ANYone can see that the condoms are better than anyone else." Lose to Oregon State, "It’s OBVIOUS that no one else in ALL of America plays anyone but junior high girls powder puff teams!!"
Sorry guys, sc isn’t allowed a do-over after getting beat by far inferior opponents…………….every year. And the rest of us look at the season without the red/gold colored glasses…and see plenty of flaws with usc. Maybe they need to show up each week so your chirping has some merit.
And oh yeah…they don’t beat EVERY team they play in January. 41-38. Hook ’em!
by JoeT63 on Oct 26, 2009 12:05 PM EDT reply actions
We will see what USC is made of thes last 5 game. So to everybody fighting about USC now, wait until December to make your BCS arguments. USC will have taken all the arguing awy by then.
by jcurtis on Oct 26, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions
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