Wyoming Cowboys Football

Understanding that this headline reinforces the improper pronunciation of the name of our fair city—it still serves as a public notice to Bronco fans who plan on attending tomorrow night's game.

In 2005, the Bowling Green Falcons made the trip from Ohio only to be buried 48-20 by the Broncos. The Falcons had highly-touted QB Omar Jacobs and a scary spread offense that had nearly beaten Wisconsin the week prior...and they had the no-huddle.

The no-huddle doesn't work in Bronco Stadium (at least for visitors)...and the Falcons still ran it.

Remember last year's win over a no-huddling Wyoming team that had coach Joe Glenn claiming that the Broncos were illegally "piping in" crowd noise to throw them off their game?

Well, Bronco fans now know that Joe Glenn was/is nuttier than a fruitcake and no crowd noise was actually being pumped in, but we certainly don't blame Glenn for thinking that—the stadium was a-rockin' and the no-huddle wasn't a-knockin'...on the door....of the end zone...ahh, forget it.

My point is that the no-huddle offense (which the Broncos are fiddling with this season) didn't work for Wyoming in Bronco Stadium last season and it certainly didn't work for Bowling Green in 2005—stands to reason that we should get a little loud tomorrow night, eh? Who's with me?

Now seems like a good time to reinforce some fundamentals of stadium noise-making.

Catch the fever.

My top four most likely FCS over FBS upsets for the 2008 season. Be sure to check out parts one and two if you haven’t already!

#4: Richmond at Virginia (September 6^th)

Al Groh’s Cavaliers were one of the better stories in college football last year, spending much of the 2007 season in the ACC title hunt while finishing the year with a 9-4 record. Their success was deceiving however, as Virginia pulled out four net close wins (wins of a touchdown or less) including one point wins over Wake Forest, Maryland, and Connecticut to go along with a two point win over always powerful Middle Tennessee State.  Virginia figured to be rebuilding in 2008 with the loss of all everything defensive end Chris Long (who, to put it bluntly, won several games basically by himself for Virginia last year), but further and unexpected losses on both sides of the ball this off-season have left Groh’s squad desperately inexperienced. Aside from having to break in a new quarterback in 2008, Virginia must replace three offensive linemen and all three defensive linemen, including rising star Jeffery Fitzgerald, who left the team abruptly this spring. 

Richmond, meanwhile, is fresh off an 11-3 season in the ultra-competitive Colonial Athletic Conference in which the Spiders made it all the way to the National semi-final game where they lost to Appalachian State. Richmond returns eight starters on both sides of the football and gets two more back in OL Tim Silver and DE Sherman Logan, both of whom sat out much of 2007 due to injury. They do lose All-American running back Tim Hightower and have a new Head Coach at the helm with Mike London, but the Spiders are no strangers to playing quality competition as their six wins against FCS Top 25 teams were the most of any team in the country last year. Rising senior Josh Vaughan ran for more than 700 yards and nine touchdowns last season, and should fill in nicely for Hightower while duel-threat quarterback Eric Ward continues his development.

After what figures to be a crushing loss to USC in week one Virginia will still be searching for an offensive identity when they return to Charlottesville on September 6^th, while their promising but young defensive line will likely be going through some growing pains. I like Richmond’s rushing attack (12^th nationally in the FCS last year) to shore up Virginia’s front seven, and for the Richmond defense to give Virginia’s already fairly pedestrian offense some problems. In a close game like this matchups matter but despite the coaching matchup of a veteran like Groh and a rookie like London, I give Richmond a great chance of pulling the upset here.

#3 North Dakota State at Wyoming (September 13^th)

After being one of about seventeen people on the East Coast to watch Wyoming dismantle Virginia to begin the 2007 season I was thoroughly convinced on Joe Glenn’s ability to lead the Pokes to a winning season, and after a 4-1 start my suspicions seemed to be confirmed. Yet it was not to be, as Wyoming went on the drop six of their last seven including and embarrassing 50-0 crushing at the hands of Utah. The prospect of watching his team bludgeoned on the field offended Glenn so much that he flipped the bird to Utah head coach Kyle Wittingham during the contest, an act which this blogger eagerly applauded. Still, Wyoming’s downfall in 2007 went largely unnoticed, as the Pokes struggled offensively down the stretch en route to being out-gained by more than 80 yards per game in conference play. Quarterback Karstan Sween was woefully inconsistent, tossing 17 picks to just 12 touchdowns, and the team sputtered under a -12 turnover margin. They do get 14 starters back in 2007 including an explosive running back tandem in Devin Moore and Wynel Seldon, as well as an offensive line which returns its entire two-deep. Defensively Wyoming figures to be strong once again in 2007, although the Pokes will have to deal with the loss of two top flight corners in Michael Medina and Julius Stinson. With so much attention focused on North Dakota State’s running game, Wyoming’s inexperienced cornerbacks could struggle against the experienced and talented NDST receiving corps.

North Dakota State was in a transition state from Division II to the FCS last year and the program wasn’t even eligible for the playoffs. That was probably a good thing for numerous teams throughout the FCS, as the Bison only cruised their way to ten consecutive wins before losing a close game to rival South Dakota State to finish out the year. While all the team’s featured in our countdown are coming off of winning seasons, what separates North Dakota State from virtually every other FCS program in the country was the team’s ability to win two games against FBS competition in 2007, a feat which I believe was never before accomplished since the classifications were established (if I’m wrong on this one, let me know.) North Dakota State’s 27-21 win over Minnesota was well documented by the world wide leader, but an equally, if not even more impressive win came in week three when the Bison shellacked bowl bound Central Michigan 44-14, in the process holding the potent Chippewas offense to 150 yards and sixteen points below their yearly average. North Dakota State spent six weeks as the top ranked FCS team in 2007, and while they lose quarterback Steve Walker to graduation they do return their top skill position players, including one of the best running backs in the FCS in Tyler Roehl (1431 yards, 21 TD last year.) A solid receiving corps returns all the leading pass catchers from last season, including All-American candidate Kole Heckendorf. Defensively they will be adjusting to life after linebacker Joe Mays, but there is a veteran enough presence to keep the team in games and to let the offense go to work. 

This is the one all the FCS fans have circled. It’s not that Wyoming is a bad team, it’s just that North Dakota State looked so dominant in wins over bowl-bound Central Michigan and Big Ten member Minnesota last season that they’ve built a reputation of being able to beat FBS teams. While this could work against them against Wyoming (especially considering Glenn’s background as a NAIA, D-II, and FCS coach) it remains to be seen whether Karstan Sween has furthered his development enough to overcome the inconsistency and turnovers which stalled Wyoming’s offense last season (-12 in 2007.) North Dakota State is a veteran team with senior leadership, and considering the talent level even a solid defense like Wyoming’s could struggle if kept on the field too long. North Dakota State’s potent offense and penchant for upsets make this my third most likely FCS upset of 2008, especially considering continued questions of the productivity of Wyoming’s offense.

#2 New Hampshire at Army (September 6^th)

It’s been a long and frankly depressing slide into mediocrity for the Cadets of West Point, as the once proud team that was producing National Championships and Heisman trophy winners some 60 years ago now struggles to post wins over lower tier MAC teams. Head coach Stan Brock hopes to begin a turnaround similar to the run engineered at Navy under Paul Johnson six years ago, making the transition to an option offense while downgrading the schedule, a move which should actually have Army looking up. Nevertheless the Black Knights are likely to have a very difficult time in 2007, as they’ll have only four starters back on offense while attempting to make the switch to the wishbone. The fact that last year’s starting quarterback Carson William’s is not exactly the most fleet-o-foot individual around compounds Army’s offensive issues going into the year, putting the Black Knights in a potentially no-win situation of making the decision to go with the ill-adapted Williams or a true freshmen in Paul McIntosh. In either case, Army will have to rely on solid fundamentals and scheme work to overcome a lack of playmakers on offense, a point exceptionally tough to accomplish in the first year of a new system (for comparisons sake, see Paul Johnson’s 2-10 season at Navy in ’02.) Defensively Army has been o.k. the past few years, but the loss of seven starters from a unit which allowed over 30 points per game in 2007 will likely drop them to the bottom of the FBS defensive rankings. What concerns me the most is the secondary, which will break in four new starters in 2007 against what was the FCS’ 13^th ranked passing offense and 4^th ranked passing efficiency offense last season.

New Hampshire isn’t an overwhelming FCS power like Appalachian State or Montana, but they’ve been a perennial winner under headman Sean McDonnell (60-47 in nine years of work) and more importantly have had a knack for beating FBS teams. New Hampshire has actually won their last three games against FBS opponents, with the latest being a win over Marshall 48-35 in 2007. New Hampshire runs a spread style passing attack that is more than capable of exposing Army’s defensive limitations, including a revamped Army secondary which must break in four new starters. While Ricky Santos does leave for the CFL after a record setting career at UNH the offense figures to still be potent, with Mississippi State transfer Kyle Aufrey coming in to compete for the starting job. UNH did struggle defensively last year but seven returning starters should help shore up the defense. The good news for New Hampshire is that they see an option offense every year with Rhode Island, so adjusting to the presumed Army wishbone look shouldn’t be too radical of a defensive gameplane.

Army has struggled with CAA teams in the recent past, with the Black Knights squeaking by UMass by a touchdown in 2005 and just getting by a mediocre Rhode Island team in overtime last season. Unlike those two teams New Hampshire has the resume of knocking off FBS teams on a regular basis and has the experience on offense to move the ball against Army even with a new quarterback. New Hampshire is arguably a better team than Army talent wise and with the Black Knights undergoing a transformation in offensive schemes it’s tough to see Army having that much success against a UNH defense which returns seven starters. As an Army fan I hate to go against the Cadets like this but we could see a lot of balls on the ground for Army, something which will cost the Black Knights dearly against a perennially explosive UNH offense.

Check back tommorow for my most likely FCS over FBS upset of 2008!

Which Junior College transfer Quarterbacks have what it takes to produce at the next level? History tells us very few. Here are the top JC QB transfers for 2008.

Arkelon Hall (Memphis Tigers) RS Junior 6'1 220

Hall was an Elite 11 QB camp invite in 2004 and signed with Washington State out of high school. He couldn't cut it in the classroom up in Pullman and elected to play the 2007 season at College of the Sequoias (Calif.) where he had a solid season and signed with the University of Memphis.

The Situation: Memphis loses heralded QB Martin Hankins, who set several school records during his three-year tenure as the Tigers' signal caller. Hall's situation is favorable because the guy he was competing with in spring ball (Matt Malouf) has transferred. Hall's main competition now will be senior Will Hudgens who has played sparingly in his career.

The Verdict: When the Tigers travel to Oxford to play Ole Miss in late August Arkelon Hall will be starting at Quarterback. Expect a decent campaign from this well traveled and highly regarded kid from Fresno, Calif. I believe he has the tools to excel in the Tiger spread offense and  will utilize the talent he has around him to win enough games and put up some pretty good numbers while doing so in this quarterback-friendly system.

Bold Prediction: Hall resurrects his college career while leading Memphis to a bowl game and earns second-team All Conference USA.

Kevin Craft (UCLA Bruins) RS Junior 6'5" 220

Craft's story is interesting. He also came highly regarded out of Valley Center High School in San Diego. He signed with San Diego State, where his dad Tom Craft, was the head coach.

The elder Craft was later fired and his son transferred to Mt. SAC Junior College in Pasadena, Calif., to garner some playing time where his dad ended up as OC.

Craft enjoyed a fantastic 2007 season at Mt. SAC, where he earned JC-All American honors while throwing for 35 touchdowns and leading Mt. SAC to the Cailifornia League Crown.

Craft chose UCLA over Hawaii and Miami (Ohio). The prospects of playing for Norm Chow proved to be the deciding factor for the laser-armed quarterback out of San Diego.

Spring Ball: Craft came to a UCLA club who already had quarterbacks Ben Olsen, Patrick Cowan, Osar Rashann and Chris Forcier. Before spring ball began, Craft was told by Norm Chow that he was competing for the backup job.

That all changed when Patrick Cowan suffered a career-ending knee injury and Ben Olsen injured his knee as well on the same day. Olsen is expected to be back by fall camp.

Cowan and Olsen's misfortunes became Craft's opportunity. He seized it and finished spring ball on a high note in the spring game while demonstrating a rocket arm UCLA has not seen since Cade McNown. Craft still has a lot of work to do this summer, but coaches say he is progressing rapidly and has all the physical tools needed to be a top-flight Pac 10 quarterback.

Chow has a proven track record with quarterbacks and don't be surprised if he takes Craft and UCLA to new heights in 2008 and beyond.

Bold Prediction Craft becomes the starter by Week 3 and throws for a ton of yards and 15 to 20 touchdowns during the season and comes off the bench in week 1 to lead an upset win over Tennessee at the Rose Bowl.

UCLA will be too young on defense and will end up in a low-tier bowl game, while Craft earns Honorable Mention all-Pac 10 in a QB-laden conference. After the season, UCLA fans will be talking about a potential National Championship run in 2009. That may be a bit far-fetched. Nonetheless, Kevin Craft will impress in the powder and gold this fall.

Other names to watch for

Dax Crum 6'1" 195 (Wyoming) Played JC ball for Scottsdale CC in Arizona where he led the nation in passing efficiency and yards. A pure passer who is very cerebral behind center. Enters an open competition with incumbent Karsten Sween.

Boo Jackson 6'1" 190 (Ohio) Like Kevin Craft, Jackson played JC ball in the highly competitive California League at powerhouse El Camino. He is a dual-threat guy who will add a spark to Ohio's offense immediately.

Tyson Lee 6'0" 210 (Mississippi State) After a stellar season at Itawamba CC in Mississippi, Lee decided to walk on at MSU, where he joins a muddled QB position with no clear-cut starter.

Lee is a strong kid who can spin the ball very well and is athletic enough to put some pressure on SEC defenses. Expect him to Redshirt even though he has the tools to play well this year (MSU would rather groom him and have him ready to roll in 2009).

David Pittman 5'10" 186 (Minnesota) Another dual threat QB/Athlete  who could see time at WR, QB and RB for the Golden Gophers. Truly a special athlete who is a better passer than people think. Will take snaps at QB for the Golden Gophers this season but will not start. Comes from Pasadena City College. Originally from Georgia.

Greg Cross 6'2" 215 (Pittsburgh) Big strong-armed gunslinger who has impressed head Coach Dave Wannstedt with his leadership skills and toughness. All great Pitt Quarterbacks have been tough, from Marino all the way to Tyler Palko. Expect Cross to be the Panther QB by midseason. Played at Fort Scott CC in Kansas in 2007.

Chris Todd 6'2" 205 RS Junior (Auburn) Played at Texas Tech in 2005- 2006. Played JC ball at Hutchinson CC in Kansas, the same JC that former Nebraska QB Zac Taylor came from.

Situation Has a relationship that goes back to his high school days with AU offensive coordinator Tony Franklin when Franklin was a consultant for Todd's high school team in Kentucky. Franklin uses a spread offense that is foreign to Auburn football and different from Al Borges past Power I scheme. An elbow injury slowed Todd in spring ball but he was able to play in the spring game and be efficient in leading the offense down the field consistently and fitting balls into tight spots. Has the experience factor over fellow QB Kodi Burns who is more athletic than Todd. Simply put, Todd is a more refined passer than Burns and his skills will be used at Auburn this fall.

Prediction Auburn will use a two quarterback system and make it work for the most part. They will be in contention for the SEC west again and the offense will be much more exciting than it was last year with Todd flinging it around Jordan- Hare stadium.

To go along with ESPN, here is my three things to look for:

1. Can anyone dethrone BYU—or at least beat them once this year? New Mexico and Utah look to have the best chance to do that. Utah has 10 of their 11 starters back on offense, and get Matt Asiata and Brent Casteel back after early injuries. New Mexico always plays BYU close, and they do get Rodney Ferguson back after being ineligible for their bowl game last year. BYU has to play at Utah, TCU, and Air Force in conference play.

2. Can Steve Fairchild, the new coach at Colorado State, do what Troy Calhoun at Air Force did in his first year? Fairchild will have one of the best running attacks in the conference, with Kyle Bell fully recovered from his ACL tear. Toss in Gatrell Johnson III and super stud TE Korey Sperry, who will be back after an early-season knee injury.

3. Will Wyoming ever live up to the hype? The Cowboys have a talented defense that only allowed one player all last year to allow a 100-yard rusher.  Also, the Pokes need to finish strong—instead of faltering like last year's team, which started 4-1 and did not even qualify for a bowl game. 

Wyoming has a realistic chance to go 6-1, with home games against a rebuilding Air Force, I-AA North Dakota State, Ohio, San Diego State, and Utah.  If Wyoming can go at worst 4-3 at home and somehow manage to go 3-2 on their road, that would be a great year.

But their road schedule is tough, with games at BYU, New Mexico, TCU, Tennessee, and UNLV.  With a non-conference schedule of Ohio, North Dakota State, Bowling Green, and a tough one at Tennessee, the Cowboys have a good chance of going bowling.

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What makes no sense to me is how many players get drafted and the number of free agent signings that San Diego State produces. It could be that they do not develop fully until a few years in at SDSU, but then why do they have a team that is not competitive every year. Just an observation about that program. Most of these players will not make a roster, but the rookie mini camps are time for these undrafted players to make an impression to make this team or get noticed by coaches who may move on to keep these players in mind.

Atlanta Falcons Jimmie Kaylor, P, Colorado State

With the uncertainty of the kicking position on the Falcons, the Rams needed to bring in multiple players to audition for punting. At Colorado State Kaylor averaged 43 yards per punt.

Carolina Panthers Damon Morton, WR, Colorado State

The panthers desperately need depth at wide receiver, because after Steve Smith there really is no one there. Morton was the Rams leading receiver who scored 6 touchdowns, 774 yards receiving and is a deep threat who averaged 19 yards per catch. Morton has a chance to make the team as a 4th to 6th wideout to help create depth.

Chicago Bears Caleb Hanie, QB, Colorado State

Hanie looks to be the closest thing to a lock out of this group. The Chicago QB situation is so dicey with Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman. The main competition for the third spot will be between Hanie and the other invitee Nick Hill from Southern Illinois.

Miami Dolphins Kelly Poppinga, LB, Brigham Young

Poppinga also looks to have a good shot at making the Dolphins roster, with almost every spot open if Poppinga impresses he should make the team. At BYU Poppinga made huge plays at all of the linebacker spots and has the run stopping ability to make the squad with his work ethic. A side note is that his brother Brady Poppinga play for the Green Bay Packers.

Washington Redskins Devin Clark, OL, New Mexico

Redskins need all the help they can get to protect QB Jason Campbell. The New Mexico offensive line was solid last year, so Clark gets a look to impress the team with his skills.

New Orleans Saints Jason Boone, OL, Utah

Boone was a good prospect as a Senior, but he tore his ACL in fall practice and has not played since the Armed Forces Bowl in December of 2006. If he has recovered from this Boone could be a steal for the Saints.

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 BYU aims to crash the BCS party this fall and looks to be head and shoulders above everyone else in the Mountain West Conference. Utah has some important spots to fill and could be the Cougars’ main competition this fall. Here’s a look at the league as its teams go through spring football.

NEW COACH 

Steve Fairchild, Colorado State: He played and coached with the Rams, and while the program has sagged in recent seasons, Fairchild also knows how good it can be. He had spent the past seven seasons in the NFL, including the past two as offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills. He was offensive coordinator for Colorado State from 1997-2000 under Sonny Lubick, who he is replacing. Fairchild re-hired former CSU defensive coordinator Larry Kerr to be his defensive coordinator. Though the Mountain West is a better league than most think, Fairchild will have the Rams contending for league titles quickly.

BIGGEST POSITION BATTLES THIS SPRING

BYU: There will be six new starters in the back eight on defense. Finding two new starting linebackers is the key.

Colorado State: Fairchild’s first priority is finding a new starting quarterback.

New Mexico: Both starting wide receivers are gone. Roland Bruno looks like the front-runner at one spot. But what about the other?

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San Diego State: The Aztecs’ first priority is finding a new starting quarterback. Junior college transfer Drew Westling may be the guy.

TCU: The Horned Frogs lost both defensive ends. Jerry Hughes looks like a good bet to take over one spot, and redshirt freshman Braylon Broughton has the potential to be a star on the other side.

UNLV: The Rebels need two new starting defensive ends and a linebacker to replace star Beau Bell. Jason Beauchamp should be UNLV’s star linebacker this season.

Utah: The Utes need to find a new go-to receiver, and Bradon Godfrey may be the guy. Utah also must find a new starting defensive end (Greg Newman?) and two new linebackers. Mike Wright would seem to be the likely guy at one of the linebacker spots.

Wyoming: Finding two new starting wide receivers and two new starting cornerbacks is important. Keith Lewis is a front-runner at cornerback. The receiving jobs are wide open.

FIVE PLAYERS WHO SHOULD EMERGE THIS SPRING

Colorado State LB Ricky Brewer: He played well down the stretch as a redshirt freshman last season and has the potential to be the Rams’ leading tackler this season. He’s still a little on the light side (he’s listed at 210 pounds), but he can run and he packs a wallop.

New Mexico WR Roland Bruno: The Lobos lost both starting wide receivers, meaning it’s a wide-open slate for Bruno - a former walk-on who’s now a junior. He finished the season as the No. 3 receiver, but has the potential and quickness to be the go-to guy this season.

Air Force G Nick Charles: He started all 13 games as a sophomore last season. He started at both guard spots and at left tackle. If he is allowed to settle in at one spot, he should make the jump to legit all-conference performer this season. He’s a dean’s list student, too.

Utah WR Bradon Godfrey: Utah’s top two receivers are gone. Godfrey, a senior, is the Utes’ leading returning receiver and should be their go-to guy this fall. He began his career at Division I-AA Southern Utah, then transferred to Utah and walked-on, eventually earning a scholarship. He doesn’t have great speed, but he has good hands, good size (6-3/197) and is physical.

TCU DT James Vess: Vess, who will be a junior this fall, sat out last season for a violation of school policy. He had played well late in 2006 and his absence was felt last season. He has good quickness for a tackle and has all-league potential.

FIVE IMPACT NEWCOMERS THIS SPRING

New Mexico OT Byron Bell: Coaches rave about Bell’s potential. He’s a redshirt freshman who is expected to nail down a starting spot at one of the vacant tackle spots.

TCU DE Braylon Broughton: The Horned Frogs lost both starting defensive ends. Junior Jerry Hughes has first dibs on one starting spot, and the rangy Broughton – a redshirt freshman – should strongly be in the hunt for the other spot.

BYU RB J.J. Di Luigi: Di Liugi, who redshirted last season, rushed for 2,159 yards and 34 TDs as a senior at Canyon Country (Calif.) Canyon High in 2006, when he was a three-star prospect. He’s not going to beat out Harvey Unga for the starting job, but Di Liugi should be a nice change-of-pace back who also could be split out wide and used some as a receiver.

Colorado State DT Sevaro Johnson: Johnson, a junior college transfer, already is enrolled and will get a shot to fill one of the two vacant starting defensive tackle spots.

San Diego State QB Drew Westling: The Aztecs are going to have a new quarterback. The question is which “new guy” gets the job. Westling, a junior college transfer who already is enrolled, began his career at Tulsa before moving on to a junior college. He’s expected to battle redshirt freshman Ryan Lindley and sophomore Kelsey Sokoloski for the starting job left vacant by the graduation of Kevin O’Connell.

The numbers from Chris Brown weren't anything special: 67 yards on 13 carries.

For the Oklahoma Sooners though, those 67 yards made the difference against Missouri.

While Oklahoma had no problems throwing the ball—Sam Bradford went 24-34 with 2 TDs and no interceptions—Oklahoma’s running attack had been inconsistent for the first 33 minutes of the game.

Brown’s entry into the lineup allowed the Sooners to grind out the win.

Brown only had two carries in the third quarter, but one produced a touchdown that gave the Sooners a 23-10 lead.

Two Missouri touchdown drives sandwiched around a muffed Juaquin Iglesias kick left the Sooners behind the eight-ball—and that’s when Brown went to work.

After Bradford maneuvered the Sooners to the Missouri 30, Brown caught a 12-yard pass on a 3rd-and-7 to keep the drive alive. The next three plays were Brown for 12, Brown for seven, and Brown for a one-yard touchdown to give Oklahoma the lead.

After OU returned a fumble for a score, the Sooners called on Brown for one last series to seal the win. He responded by making three simple runs for 24 yards and the clinching touchdown.

With back-to-back wins over Texas and Missouri, and with the rest of the top teams in the country dropping like flies, the Sooners are back in the National Championship hunt.

Meanwhile, you have to wonder if Oklahoma’s third string tailback will kick off Missouri’s annual swoon.


I understand Ohio State looks really good this year. I understand the Buckeyes have one of the best defenses in the country. And I understand that while their offense got off to a slow start, it looks like the Buckeyes have replaced last season’s NFLers with a crop of future pros.

What I can’t understand is why Ohio State is ahead of South Florida in the polls right now. I mean, compare their schedules.

Take out Youngstown State, Akron, Kent State, and Minnesota from the Buckeyes' schedule. Those teams are all horrible. Do the same with Elon and FAU from South Florida’s schedule.

In other words: Ohio State has two more joke opponents than the Bulls.

Next, compare the meat of their schedules.

Ohio State has wins at Washington, against Northwestern, and at Purdue. South Florida has wins over UCF, North Carolina, West Virginia, and at Auburn.

Northwestern and Purdue have no defense whatsoever; the Boilermakers' 5-2 record is a product of their blitzing weak opponents. And despite all the positive buzz surrounding Washington, they’re 2-4 right now.

On the other hand, North Carolina might be on par with Washington in terms of talent and resume, while wins versus West Virginia and Auburn are much more impressive than wins at Washington and Purdue.

Ohio State is ranked No. 1 is because the Buckeyes have name recognition. That’s well and good, and gives the Buckeyes a great tiebreaker over a team like Boston College—but it doesn't give them an edge over USF

Nobody is arguing the Buckeyes shouldn’t be a top-ranked team right now. If they win out, they have an excellent chance at earning at least a No. 2 ranking and punching a ticket to the National Championship Game.

But right now, even one-loss LSU, Oregon, and Oklahoma have resumes that outshine Ohio State’s. Those teams are Ohio State’s competition for the No. 2 spot.

And there’s no competition for the No. 1 spot at all.

It’s South Florida’s easily.


Just because LSU lost to Kentucky doesn’t mean their resume isn’t better than everyone else’s.

Where are Virginia Tech, Florida, and South Carolina in your polls? LSU has beaten them all. Their loss came on the road to a Top 10 team in triple overtime. Besides maybe USF, what teams out there have those credentials?

Oklahoma really needed their win over Missouri to legitimize them. Texas has been average at best this year, and Miami had one good week. Now the Sooners have to hope Missouri doesn’t collapse, making their lone big win lose its luster.

One thing I noticed watching Iowa beat Illinois? Wisconsin’s linebackers are either really undisciplined, really slow, or both. They’ve been outrun to spots by running backs, or they’ve taken bad angles all season long. They were helpless to stop Illinois’ option, and they had no idea how to contain lanes as Rodney Kinlaw and Evan Royster gashed them for a combined 31 rushes for 183 yards and two scores.

By the way, I love how a few of Iowa’s fans were chanting "overrated" during the final stages of their upset win over Illinois. What’s their record the last two years? Who’s lost to Iowa State this year? If a Big Ten team is leading Iowa 42-7 in the 4th quarter, that team’s fans have the right to chant “you suck Iowa” until the clocks hit :00. I mean it’s only fair right?

Michigan was up on Purdue 34-7 at the end of the third quarter. This is why nobody took Purdue seriously after they beat a bunch of nobodies to start 5-0. They always schedule a bunch of patsies and show off their offense and get off to great starts. And then a legitimate team comes in and knocks them back in their place.

Does the SEC know how to play exciting football games or what?

Speaking of exciting, every Northwestern game should be televised from here on out. Minnesota was up 35-14 in the 3rd quarter before Northwestern scored the last 21 points in regulation and won in overtime. C.J. Bacher channeled Bret Basanez with a 41-58, 470 yard 4 TD (3 passing), 0 INT game. Everything the Wildcats have done this year has been exciting.

I wanted to rank Wyoming, and then they go out and lose at home to New Mexico 20-3. And we thought the SEC was cannibalistic.

Classy move by Mark Richt, immediately stopping some of his players from jumping on Vanderbilt’s logo after Georgia pulled off a last minute comeback win. Richt has always been someone who “gets it,” and he understands his team has no right to disrespect themselves, their opponents, and their opponent’s fans by jumping up and down on an opponent’s logo.

Besides, Georgia was outplayed by Vanderbilt the entire game, and Vanderbilt had the ball at the Georgia 18 with 3 minutes to go in a tie game before Cassen Jackson-Garrison caught a pass and fumbled it to Georgia. The loss really hurts Vanderbilt’s bowl chances. Besides Miami of Ohio, there are no future games the Commodores are expected to be favored in. They’ll need to beat Miami of Ohio, Wake Forest, and pull off an SEC upset to go bowling.

If Kevin Riley isn’t a freshman, Cal might be the No. 1 team in the nation right now.

And it’s about time Oregon State got its act together and played a complete football game. Sean Canfield didn’t throw an interception, and the Beavers controlled the clock by giving Yvensen Bernard 33 carries for 110 yards. The Beavers also got a 4th and goal TD run from Bernard to give the Beavers the lead for good in the 4th.

When Louisville plays any defense, they’re tough to beat. They only allowed 24 points to Cincinnati which is enough with their offense.

Somebody predicted Vanderbilt would beat Georgia. Like Cassen Jackson-Garrison, I fumbled the prediction.

But I don’t make key mistakes in crucial moments when making my Top 25 poll. It’s guaranteed to produce in the clutch!

Top 25

1) USF
2) LSU
3) Ohio State
4) Oklahoma
5) Oregon
6) Arizona State
7) South Carolina
8) Kentucky
9) West Virginia
10) Boston College
11) Cal
12) Florida
13) Virginia Tech
14) Auburn
15) Missouri
16) Tennessee
17) Kansas
18) USC
19) Kansas State
20) Georgia
21) Virginia
22) Cincinnati
23) Michigan
24) Boise State
25) Texas Tech

Monday night’s 24-18 FSU loss at Clemson was the same old result for the Seminoles: Another game against a competent defense, and another inept offensive performance.

In the past, the blame has been laid squarely at the feet of Drew Weatherford. But blaming Weatherford for FSU’s anemic offense would be taking the easy way out. Not only was he not the problem for the Seminoles against Clemson—he actually played reasonably well.

No, the problem for the Seminoles is their god-awful offensive line.

Three times in the first quarter, Clemson got pressure in the backfield and stopped runs behind the line. The only time Weatherford had a chance to step into a throw the entire game was on 15-yard touchdown pass to Richard Goodman...and even then he was hit in the mouth by a Clemson defensive tackle.

Other than a brief period extending from late in the third quarter to early in the fourth, the offensive line couldn’t create any running lanes, and over the course of the game allowed six sacks to six different Clemson defenders.

Sure, Weatherford doesn’t look like a potential Heisman trophy winner. He threw a couple of bad balls to the wrong shoulders of his receivers, and took a couple of sacks too many.

But he made a number of nice plays on the run (he was always on the run), made several big throws as the ‘Noles were trying to struggle back into the game, and kept his composure in difficult circumstances.

Weatherford can lead Florida State to success if he gets a little bit of time. But with the offensive line he has, particularly freshman left tackle Daron Rose, he'll be running for his life all year.

Clemson, for its part, had a flawless plan to start the game: Every play had a reverse or decoy reverse to keep the aggressive FSU linebackers honest.

C.J. Spiller and James Davis were explosive running the football, with Davis on one play breaking a tackle and making four separate cuts to get into the end zone. Once the linebackers stepped up to fill, bubble screens like the 41-yard touchdown to receiver Aaron Kelly, went for huge gains.

Cullen Harper managed the game smartly and made some good throws on some short passes, but doesn’t look like a guy who will make big plays. Still, his composure and his intelligence allowed Clemson's playcalling and talent to win the game.

Most importantly, Clemson’s secondary was solid, and the front seven was dominant. The Tigers blew up the line of scrimmage repeatedly, chased down the Seminole athletes, and generally made things miserable for Weatherford.

If Clemson can play a complete 60-minute game and shore up a few special teams gaffes, they can be dangerous in the ACC. Their lack of a great quarterback and their overall inconsistency will hurt them against more polished teams like Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.

It took a little while to kick in, but the LSU Tigers showed us exactly why they're predicted by many to face USC for a national championship.

Last Thursday night, they dominated Mississippi State in every facet of the game.

The Bulldogs ran the ball 26 times. For 10 yards. QB Matt Henig threw the ball 26 times. Six of those throws were caught by LSU defenders.

Matt Flynn didn’t set the world on fire, but remember that this was his first start in two years—and it came against a respectable Miss State defense. Flynn went a solid 12-19 for 128 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.

The running game by committee rushed for nearly 200 yards. Ryan Perrilloux scored three touchdowns.

Flawless? Maybe not. Ruthlessly efficient? Absolutely.

Critics will argue that almost of all LSU’s scoring drives were the result of short fields. Why should LSU’s offense be blamed for scoring most of their points as a result of a short field?

Good teams force opponents into mistakes and then on them. LSU’s offense was excellent in that respect.

And even if the offense isn’t great at grinding out 80-yard touchdown drives, what teams will score on LSU? Virginia Tech will try this week, but they only put up 10 offensive points against ECU. Saturday’s game will be ugly for Tech’s offense.

And with the offensive playmakers the Tigers have to augment their defense, expect a lot of ugly games for SEC teams facing LSU this year.

QB Sean Canfield looked awful for Oregon State in their 24-7 win over Utah.

Though the Beavers have a talented defense and a sensational running back in Yvenson Bernard, star WR Sammie Stroughter left the team for personal reasons, and Canfield has a ways to go.

Suddenly my sleeper Pac-10 pick doesn't look so good.

One Pac 10 team that looked great was Cal. Their offense was fast. FAST. DeSean Jackson is lightning, and Nate Longshore looks more comfortable in the offense than he did at any point last year.

Cal's defense still needs to get better, but they made every important play this weekend. Things are definitely looking up in Berkeley.

Washington is going to be good next year. Their schedule and inexperience will lead to some growing pains in the Northwest, but the Huskies should come together by the end of the year—and will have some talented, confident players heading into 2008.

Michigan's loss isn't the end of the world. Appalachian State gets all the good athletes who aren't good enough to play for elite teams like Michigan and would rather play for championships than play on a middling BCS conference team, or a good non-BCS team.

In all honesty, Appalachian State would probably destroy Arizona, Stanford, UConn, Minnesota, Indiana, and Miss State. This doesn't excuse the loss—it just tempers it a bit.

Think of it as Michigan losing to Illinois instead of Michigan losing to "We Suck University."

Virginia Tech still doesn't have an offense. Their defense and special teams alone will beat a number of teams, but can Va Tech beat a squad with a decent defense and playmakers on offense? It doesn't look that way. Next week's game at LSU will be an ugly win for the Tigers.

Wyoming is looking to crash the Mountain West party this year. They got off to a good start and were a brick wall in their 23-3 win over Virginia.

Wisconsin is faster than people give them credit for. Their power running game will be great once they get cranked up, and the Badgers always have good defenses. This year, they might have the playmakers to really challenge for the Big 10.

Did any teams look more impressive in their opening week victories than Nebraska and Oklahoma?

Did any teams look more pathetic than Notre Dame?

The Irish offensive line was a wreck, and their playmakers are all in the NFL. Charlie Weis makes his living by setting up defenses with a short and clever passing game, with big strikes and running plays scattered here and there. 19 runs in 20 plays isn't Weis.

The run defense was horrible, the entire offense was horrible, and Weis' squad looks like they're in for a horrible 2007.

BYU's defense shut down Arizona 20-3, and TCU manhandled Baylor 27-0. Granted Arizona and Baylor aren't USC and Texas, but TCU, BYU, and Wyoming all demolished BCS conference teams. What's more Utah hung close with a good Oregon State team, UNLV knocked off Utah State, Colorado State took Colorado to overtime, and Air Force destroyed South Carolina State. We know you can ball, Mountain West.

NC State had about a three- or four-year period where it had Philip Rivers, T.A McClendon, and a filthy defense. They accomplished nothing during that time frame. Now, they are losing at home to UCF.

What was Arkansas State doing losing by only eight to Texas? Every year there's a random Sun Belt team (read Troy State) that manages to either upset or at least stay close to some team it has no business playing. This year was Arkansas State's turn.

Vanderbilt is five wins away from a bowl. Yes, I'm counting.

Yeah, ummm, why were so many people predicting Oklahoma State to beat Georgia? Mark Richt coached up a very young defense very quickly this summer, and Georgia neutralized everything Oklahoma State wanted to do. That's why Mark Richt is an elite (and very underrated) coach, and Oklahoma State is a midlevel Big 12 team.

Every game Auburn plays is ugly. The thing that makes it worse is that they make their opponents play just as ugly as they do. Kansas State played tough, physical, mistake-filled football. The problem is that Auburn makes its living by playing tough, controlling the special teams, making mistakes, forcing you into making worse mistakes, and then breaking off a random big play that breaks your back.

Beating Auburn isn't about playing great football. It's about surviving torture. Few teams are mentally tough enough to handle it.

Someone predicted San Jose State would go on the road and beat Arizona State. Yeah, that was (looks around room), that was that guy (points at nobody and runs away).

Before I go, here's My Top 25 after Week 1:


Top 25:

1) USC
2) LSU
3) Florida
4) West Virginia
5) Louisville
6) Cal
7) Wisconsin
8) Texas
9) Virginia Tech
10) Oklahoma
11) Nebraska
12) Rutgers
13) Arkansas
14) Ohio State
15) TCU
16) Boise State
17) Georgia
18) UCLA
19) Georgia Tech
20) Tennessee
21) Auburn
22) Oregon State
23) Penn State
24) Michigan
25) Hawaii