Week three saw a few upsets, but to be honest, it’s still early in the season to be thinking that they could make that much difference.
Both USC and BYU went down this week, but those of you that following college football know that it’s not real unusual to see USC lose to a Pac-10 opponent early in the year, recover and make the Rose Bowl. However, USC certainly is in a rebuilding phase this year and Cal looks poised to make that a really competitive race.
BYU’s collapse (5 turnovers) against Florida State really was a bit of a surprise, and perhaps could have permanently hurt their chances for any BCS activity this year. Anything can happen, but BYU’s schedule doesn’t look to be conducive to helping them out.
The big dogs won and that’s all that was really needed. The top 10 is a bit rearranged and here comes Oklahoma charging back. Texas showed vulnerability even in winning. Thus we have our new Top 25.
#1 Florida (3-0) defeated Tennessee (1-2) 23-13 at home. Next week: At Kentucky (2-0)
Tebow had a rough day passing, and his string of 30 straight games with a TD pass came to an end, but it was a Gator rushing game that racked up over 200 yards that was the difference. Tennessee managed only 93 yards passing and 115 rushing, a testament to the stingy Florida defense who finally gave up a TD with a little over 8 minutes remaining in the game. One TD in 12 quarters ain’t bad folks.
#2 Texas (3-0) defeated Texas Tech (2-1) 34-24 at home. Next week: UTEP (1-2) at home.
Texas again underperformed, and had it not been for a Taylor Potts fumble and generally poor coaching and discipline (14 penalties for 108 yards) on the Tech side of the ball, the Longhorns might have had to work a miracle. The Texas defense gave up 420 yards passing, which is to be expected, but held the Red Raiders to -6 yards rushing. It wasn’t one of Colt McCoy’s better efforts throwing for a little over 200 yards, but he had 2 interceptions. Texas looked vulnerable, and Tech beat the spread.
#3 Alabama (3-0) defeated North Texas (1-2) 53-7 at home. Next week: Arkansas (1-1) at home.
Always nice to have a gimme game at home, but you have to put away those gimme games too. The Crimson Tide did just that, throwing up 30 unanswered points in the first half alone. Bama’s defense held UNT to under 200 total yards, while the offense rolled up 523.
#4 Penn State (3-0) defeated Temple (1-1) 31-6 at home. Next week: Iowa (3-0) at home.
Another work-man type week for the Nittany Lions, sporting a balanced offense of 186 yards rushing and 173 yards passing, combined with a smothering defense that held Temple to only 46 yards rushing and 2 field goals. PSU RB Evan Royster carried the ball 19 times for 134 yards and a TD. Things get harder…much harder next week though.
#5 Mississippi (3-0) defeated SE Louisiana (2-1) 52-6 at home. Next week: At South Carolina (2-1).
QB Jevan Sneed finally got in a groove, going 15/28 for 209 yards passing and 3 TDs to pace a 500 yard offensive effort in the rout of the Lions. The Rebel defense still looked vulnerably against the pass, however, allowing 216 yards. The Lions turned the ball over 5 times, however, which pretty much dooms any team to a miserable night.
#6 California (3-0) defeated Minnesota (2-1) 35-21 in Minneapolis. Next week: At Oregon (2-1).
It was pretty much the Jahvid Best show on Saturday as he accounted for all 5 of the Golden Bears’ touchdowns while rushing for 131 yards on 26 carries. QB Kevin Riley was 16/25 for 252 yards. The Golden Gophers made a game of it keeping the game tied at 21 mid-way in the final quarter, before Best scored twice within 5 minutes to lock the game away.
#7 LSU (3-0) defeated Louisiana-Lafayette (2-1) 31-3 at home. Next week: At Mississippi State (2-1).
A good solid game for the Tigers all the way around. The star was DB Chad Jones who had two interceptions, helping a dominating defense overwhelm the Ragin’ Cajuns. LSU has defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 22 times in as many meetings with a combined score of 988-25. Almost isn’t fair is it?
#8 Boise State (3-0) defeated Fresno State (1-2) 51-34 at Fresno. Next week: At Bowling Green (1-2).
The Broncos needed all four quarters to put away a very pesky Bulldog team. The BSU defense gave up over 500 yards of offense to Fresno State (320 yards of that was on the ground), but used a couple of turnovers to gain the momentum they needed. It was a game of big plays. Jeremy Avery had three plays of longer than 60 yards, while Fresno State had TD runs of 69, 60 and 68. All told, 987 yards of total offense was generated by both teams.
#9 Oklahoma (2-1) defeated Tulsa (2-0) 45-0 at home. Next week: Idle.
Look out folks, OU fans are beginning to care less and less about Sam Bradford after a surprise blow out of Tulsa. We had predicted that this might be a scary game for OU because of their susceptible pass defense, but that wasn’t the case at all. It’s hard to say “backup” QB Landry Jones now, especially since he set a school record throwing six TD passes on his way to a 336 yard day, while the OU pass defense only allowed 153 yards in the air.
#10 Miami (2-0) defeated Georgia Tech (2-1) 33-17 at home. Next week: At #11 Virginia Tech (2-1).
Georgia Tech found that an option offense has to be able to do more than run if it is to survive and strong defensive front and fast secondary. Miami’s Jacory Harris is emerging as a QB to watch now, after throwing for 270 yards and three TDs. Miami controlled the game through out and put it away late in the 3rd quarter and coasted in. The Hurricanes are for real, and they will get a chance to prove to everyone in the next two weeks when they go against top 25 opponent Virginia Tech and Oklahoma.
#11 Virginia Tech (2-1) defeated #23 Nebraska (2-1) 16-15 at home. Next week: #10 Miami (2-0) at home.
Credit the Hokies for just never giving up. Their defense held Nebraska to only 5 field goals all day, and then QB Tyrod Taylor (12/27/192) found Danny Coale streaking down the right sideline for an 80-yard TD pass with 1:11 remaining to set up the winning TD moments later. Nebraska QB Zac Lee threw two costly interceptions.
12 USC (2-1) lost to Washington (2-1) 16-13 in Washington. Next week: Washington State (1-2) at home.
The Trojans passed for 110 yards, the fewest by a USC team in the Pete Carroll era, due to the injury to starting QB Matt Barkley. Washington QB Jake Locker was 21/35 for 237 yards and engineered a final game-winning drive using Chris Polk, who had 71 rushing and 22 receiving yards. He was instrumental in leading UW into FG range on the final drive.
#13 Ohio State (2-1) defeated Toledo (1-2) 38-0 at Toledo. Next week: Illinois (1-1) at home.
The game ball here goes to QB Terrelle Pryor who threw for a career-high 262 yards (17-of-28) and ran for 110 yards on the way to a 522 total offense day. The Buckeye defense held Toledo to only 13 rushing yards. Enough said.
#14 Cincinnati (3-0) defeated Oregon State (2-1) 28-18 at Corvallis, OR. Next week: Fresno State (1-2) at home.
QB Tony Pike completed 31 of 49 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns, while also running for a TD. The Bearcat defense held down the Oregon State prolific running game to only 104 yards en route to the victory. Cincy snapped Oregon State’s streak of 26 straight nonconference victories at Reser Stadium, dating back to a 67-28 win over Northern Illinois on Nov. 16, 1996.
#15 TCU (2-0) defeated Texas State (1-1) 56-21 at home. Next week: At Clemson (2-1).
RB Joseph Turner ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries and Jerry Hughes had three sacks as the Horned Frogs won their home opener. A 21 point fourth quarter by the Frogs expanded14 point lead. The TCU defense held the Bobcats to a mere 30 yards rushing.\
#16 Oklahoma State (2-1) defeated Rice (0-3) 41-24 at home. Next week: Grambling State (2-1) at home.\
QB Zac Robinson was 14/20 for 227 yards and 2 TDs, becoming the QB with the most passing TDs in the team’s history. However, OSU’s passing defense is still a major concerned as it allowed 301 yards in the air. Also, the offense was a very meager 2/9 on third down conversions in the game.\
#17 Florida State (2-1) defeated #19 Brigham Young (2-1) 54-28 in Salt Lake City, UT. Next week: South Florida (3-0) at home.\
The Seminoles were far too fast for the Cougars in this game and scored every time they got inside the 20. They also forced five turnovers crushing BYU’s BCS hopes. QB Christian Ponder went 21-of-25 for 195 yards and two touchdowns and ran the ball for 76 yards on 11 carries and a TD. FSU’s offense had the ball 10 minutes longer than the Cougars, making the victory complete.
#18 Georgia (2-1) defeated Arkansas (1-1) 52-41 at Arkansas. Next week: Arizona State (2-0) at home.
QB Joe Cox threw five touchdown passes, tying a school mark and leading the Bulldogs to a wild victory. Georgia turned the ball over three times in the first half but moved the ball at will in the second. Arkansas QB Ryan Mallet had a big night also, going 21/39 for 408 yards and 5 TDs, setting two school records.
#19 Brigham Young (2-1) lost to Florida State (2-1) 54-28 at home. Next week: Colorado State (3-0) at home.
See above # 17 Florida State.
#20 North Carolina (3-0) defeated East Carolina (1-2) 31-17 at home. Next week: At Georgia Tech (2-1).
Erik Highsmith had six catches for 113 yards and a touchdown while Jheranie Boyd hauled in a 59-yard TD in the second quarter to pace a 433-yard offensive effort. Ryan Houston also ran for a pair of touchdowns, part of a balanced day from a young offense that had been plagued by dropped passes and bad blocking in its earlier games.
#21 Kansas (3-0) defeated Duke (1-2) 44-16 at home. Next week: Southern Miss (3-0 at home.
The star for KU was Dezmon Briscoe who had six catches for 117 yards and a 14-yard touchdown reception. QB Todd Reesing was 28/41 for 338 yards and three TDs. The Jayhawk defense, however, allowed almost 300 yards passing, which needs addressing pronto considering the likes of Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas and Missouri are all on the schedule.
#22 Michigan (3-0) defeated Eastern Michigan (0-3) 45-17 at home. Next week: Indiana (3-0) at home.
After an amazing game against Notre Dame last week, freshman QB Tate Forcier had a typical freshman outing(7/13 for 68 yards) but got help in the running game from Carlos Brown who ran wild for 187 yards on 13 carries and 2 TDs, including a 90-yard run for TD in the second quarter. The Michigan offense was out possessed by twenty minutes in the game.
#23 Nebraska (2-1) lost to #11 Virginia Tech (2-1) 16-15 at Blacksburg, VA. Next week: Louisiana-Lafayette (2-1) at home.
See # 11 Virginia Tech.
#24 Houston (2-0) was idle.
#25 Washington (2-1) defeated #12 USC (2-1) 16-13 at home. Next week: At Stanford (2-1).
See # 12 USC above.
Dropped from the T25: Georgia Tech, Utah, Oregon State
On the Bubble: Missouri, Auburn, Pittsburgh
Most Impressive: Cal, Oklahoma, Miami, Florida State.
Least Impressive: USC, BYU, Nebraska
Top 25 Composition: SEC: 5; Big-12: 5; ACC: 4; Pac-10: 3; Big-10: 3; MWAC: 2; Big East: 1; WAC: 1; C-USA: 1
