The Hangover Cure: Week 11

Key Takeaway. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Ohio State knows this. Jim Tressel is Jim Tressel, incorrigibly and without even a fleeting thought of evolution, but his intelligently designed attack of attrition keeps winning Big Ten titles. Change the parts -- swap clunky Todd Boeckman for pterodactyl-sleek Terrelle Pryor, or bruising Beanie Wells for fleet Brandon Saine -- and the results are the same.

Florida, Alabama, and Texas know that their stock fluctuations this season are just blips for blue-chip properties. The Gators trended down by letting South Carolina hang around, while the Tide and 'Horns blew Mississippi State and Baylor away, but none of it matters as long as they win all of them, ugly or pretty.

TCU remained this year's mid-major mayhem merchants, subjecting Utah to the sort of abuse that BCS battleships usually deliver. Could the Horned Frogs compete with the big boys? Well, yes, probably, but: Haven't we asked this question of all the BCS busters in their time? (And are we ever going to stop marveling at Boise State? All the Broncos do is win.)

Even with USC going down -- hard, with flames and without dignity -- the Pac-10 remains a conference of one dominant team and a slew of good offenses, with Oregon once more operating at full efficiency. (Maybe they will give up all-white for good?)

And though Cincinnati and Georgia Tech appear in control of the Big East and ACC, just enough chinks in either's armor exist for Pittsburgh and Clemson to make off with conference titles, because these two conferences combined haven't had one truly dominant team since some of the Big East became the ACC. 

It's unpredictability at its most predictable: Get the basic plot outlines of college football right, and you can just fill in the actors when necessary. The BCS whining will supply itself. 

Delirious. Remember when USC's resilience against an offensively inept Ohio State team was enough to make them a national championship contender? Remember when Oregon looked like they would never gain over 200 yards again? Remember when Wake Forest beat Stanford by holding them to 17 points? When Mississippi looked fraudulent? When BYU was the world-beater? When Florida State and Miami were unquestionably back?

Isn't it great that no sport does week-to-week turnover like college football?

Tremendous. Best provenance for a miniature star from this Saturday: Ohio State's former Tampa Bay Mutiny kicker, Devin Barclay; Tom Thompson, the 61-year-old extra point kicker from Austin College; or TCU's Tank Carder's BMX roots?

Blacked Out. Texas Tech's Jamar Wall put some concussive force on Oklahoma State's Zac Robinson last night:

Unfortunately, it seems he got the worst of it: Watching that, the fencing response from Wall seems clear, while Robinson looks to the naked eye like he got clobbered. Hopefully, both will be fine. (Video via Dr. Saturday.) 

Meanwhile, even Buffalo is getting into the dirty play parade this year, says The Wiz. (That's a chop block if I've ever seen one.) 

Impaired Judgment. I come not to bury Kirk Ferentz, but to praise him. Some talking heads have already yapped about the Iowa coach's decision to let the air out of the ball with 50 seconds and one timeout left and take his chances in overtime, but with a backup quarterback who had been up-and-down in the second half and an offense working on auxiliary linemen and running backs, it was probably fine for Ferentz to not risk his offense giving scoring chances to Ohio State's defense; venturing one more unlikely drive might have exhausted the Hawkeye's valor in more crushing fashion than the get-stopped-and-concede-a-field-goal overtime, and Iowa stood a better chance of trading blows from the 25 than going full-field on the Buckeyes. 

Potent Quotables. Cincinnati RB Isaiah Pead, on his close replay call: "John Goebel came to me, said I went from a zero to hero. I was praying when I was sitting on the sideline saying, "I hope I got in." 

Florida DE Justin Trattou, on his fortuitous interception: "When that ball popped up in the air it felt like it was up there for like five seconds, but once I got it, it all happened real fast." 

Pryor, on his neutered offense: "It's about taking check downs and not worrying about the big play. Coach Tressel and his staff, especially (offensive coordinator Jim Bollman), they came up with a good game plan. We really didn't have to attack them because we were getting running lanes, and the linemen and blocking, and (Brandon) Saine and Boom (Herron) were running all over the place. We really didn't have to pass the ball." 

Proof. TCU's dominance was in all phases against Utah: Their running game threshed up 342 yards, Andy Dalton was much better than in past games against the Utes, and their defense allowed under 300 yards. I'm now confident that should two of Florida/Alabama/Texas lose, there will be another excellent team in the BCS title game. 

And, please, put Toby Gerhart atop any Heisman lists made this week. Not only is he third in the country in rushing, he's been effective without the sort of skill position talent around him that can draw defensive attention (try naming a Stanford wide receiver) and without the highly-touted linemen Mark Ingram gets to follow. Gerhart has been hotter than anyone of late, too, pounding out 401 yards and six touchdowns in two November games against top-ten foes. He deserves to lead off lists now and make the short list for New York in December.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.