Thoughts and observations from the fourth week of the 2011 NCAA College Football season:
Behind their established QB Zach Collaros, Cincinnati lit up Big East foe NC State last night, and looked very good in the process. The Butch Davis-coached Bearcats might be the best team in the Big East. More will be known after a weekend of games where Big East teams could either assert themselves on the national stage or fade into mediocrity.
In the same game, NC State were horrible, simply horrible. I bet they wish they gave their old starting QB Russell Wilson - now playing lights-out for Wisconsin - some more time to decide on his baseball vs. football career path. QB Sean Glennon looked all at sea last night. Worrying times for the Pack. Some of his throws that were intercepted just should not have been made.
Still loving Urban Meyer's work as an ESPN analyst. There are few better on TV at breaking down a game and identifying defensive and offensive packages before they actually happen. I know ESPN are often pounded for some questionable decisions - continuing to have Texas Tech hater Craig James on the pay roll - but this was a smart call by the folks in Bristol, CT. They'll doubtless be hoping that Urban doesn't jet off to coach Ohio State at the end of the year.
Oklahoma State trailed 20-3 at Texas A&M but came back to win 30-29 in a fantastic game in College Station. Once more, it was QB Brandon Weeden who starred for the Cowboys, going 47-60 for 437 yards and two touchdowns, and was ably supported out of the backfield by RB Joseph Randle, who toted the rock 21 times for 82 yards. Oklahoma State might have played themselves into National Championship contention with their win today.
Despite more turnovers and three horrible quarters from QB Tommy Rees - apparently the best signal caller available in South Bend, a worrying thought - Notre Dame managed to outlast Pittsburgh 15-12 in a very uninspiring contest. When the Irish win, they really win ugly. Nothing I saw Saturday suggests that they're anywhere in the BCS ball park.
Alabama beat Arkansas behind good, smart football from QB AJ McCarron, who appears to be the undisputed starter under centre for the Crimson Tide. 15-20 for 200 yards even and 2 scores are good numbers for a guy who was splitting time at the beginning of the year. The Tide looked good against a nationally-ranked team. They have Florida next week and, of course, the greatly anticipated game against LSU on November 5. It could well be a #1 vs. #2 contest by then.
Houston QB Case Keenum had a typically big night as the Cougars routed Georgia State 56-0. Keenum, who sat late in favour of back-up Cotton Turner, was 29-34 for 412 yards and 2 TDs. Anytime the nation wants to take notice of this kid, please feel free. These are Heisman-like numbers, people! And he ratchets them up week after week!
LSU went into Morgantown, West Virginia and ran up 47 points on the Mountaineers, passing two consecutive road tests with flying colours. The only worrying thing? West Virginia QB Geno Smith threw for 424 yards (and two touchdowns) against what we all thought was a nearly-impenetrable LSU secondary. But the Mountaineers couldn't run the football, and that was what did them in. The Bayoux Bengals roll on.
UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel earned a reprieve on those in Westwood calling for his head, thanks partly to QB Richard Brehaut and partly to a horrible Oregon State team - who fall to 0-3 for the first time since 1996 - in Corvallis. The Bruins got a win, 27-19, to even out their season record at 2-2. The big problem for the Bruins? Oregon State are woeful this year, and their next opponents, Stanford, are far from it.
Oregon just told the nation that they're not done with. Every way you look at it, the Ducks smashed Arizona from pillar to post in a 56-31 victory that was closer on the scoreboard than it was on the field. RB LaMichael James was the hero. He ran the football 23 times for 289 yards and 2 touchdowns. That's an average of 12.6 yards per rush - and that's just insane. Watch out Pac-12.
Rough day for those of us who're USC fans. Not only did the Trojans turn the football over four times, losing to Arizona State for the first time since 1999. The Sun Devils took a 43-22 decision in Tempe tonight, and, making matters worse, both Notre Dame and UCLA won their games today.
Oklahoma State trailed 20-3 at Texas A&M but came back to win 30-29 in a fantastic game in College Station. Once more, it was QB Brandon Weeden who starred for the Cowboys, going 47-60 for 437 yards and two touchdowns, and was ably supported out of the backfield by RB Joseph Randle, who toted the rock 21 times for 82 yards. Oklahoma State might have played themselves into National Championship contention with their win today.
Despite more turnovers and three horrible quarters from QB Tommy Rees - apparently the best signal caller available in South Bend, a worrying thought - Notre Dame managed to outlast Pittsburgh 15-12 in a very uninspiring contest. When the Irish win, they really win ugly. Nothing I saw Saturday suggests that they're anywhere in the BCS ball park.
Alabama beat Arkansas behind good, smart football from QB AJ McCarron, who appears to be the undisputed starter under centre for the Crimson Tide. 15-20 for 200 yards even and 2 scores are good numbers for a guy who was splitting time at the beginning of the year. The Tide looked good against a nationally-ranked team. They have Florida next week and, of course, the greatly anticipated game against LSU on November 5. It could well be a #1 vs. #2 contest by then.
Houston QB Case Keenum had a typically big night as the Cougars routed Georgia State 56-0. Keenum, who sat late in favour of back-up Cotton Turner, was 29-34 for 412 yards and 2 TDs. Anytime the nation wants to take notice of this kid, please feel free. These are Heisman-like numbers, people! And he ratchets them up week after week!
LSU went into Morgantown, West Virginia and ran up 47 points on the Mountaineers, passing two consecutive road tests with flying colours. The only worrying thing? West Virginia QB Geno Smith threw for 424 yards (and two touchdowns) against what we all thought was a nearly-impenetrable LSU secondary. But the Mountaineers couldn't run the football, and that was what did them in. The Bayoux Bengals roll on.
UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel earned a reprieve on those in Westwood calling for his head, thanks partly to QB Richard Brehaut and partly to a horrible Oregon State team - who fall to 0-3 for the first time since 1996 - in Corvallis. The Bruins got a win, 27-19, to even out their season record at 2-2. The big problem for the Bruins? Oregon State are woeful this year, and their next opponents, Stanford, are far from it.
Oregon just told the nation that they're not done with. Every way you look at it, the Ducks smashed Arizona from pillar to post in a 56-31 victory that was closer on the scoreboard than it was on the field. RB LaMichael James was the hero. He ran the football 23 times for 289 yards and 2 touchdowns. That's an average of 12.6 yards per rush - and that's just insane. Watch out Pac-12.
Rough day for those of us who're USC fans. Not only did the Trojans turn the football over four times, losing to Arizona State for the first time since 1999. The Sun Devils took a 43-22 decision in Tempe tonight, and, making matters worse, both Notre Dame and UCLA won their games today.
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