Ohio State coach Jim Tressel

Few college football coaches work under as big a microscope as Ohio State’s Jim Tressel, whose job was once thought to be in jeopardy after he blew a second BCS Title game in three years.

Imagine that — the coach of your favorite school in trouble for finishing the year in the runner-up chair.

Ohio State demands BCS berths, and accepts nothing short of a Big Ten title. And, during much of his tenure in Columbus, Tressel has delivered. On Saturday, assuming things go as they normally do for the Buckeyes, Tressel will become the 13th Big Ten coach to win 100 games. And he’ll be the third-fastest to get there: Michigan’s Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr accomplished the feat in 119 games; if successful Saturday, it will have taken Tressel 121 games. And among conference coaches with 10 or more years under their belts, only Michigan’s Fielding Yost has a better winning percentage than Tressel’s .825.

One of Tressel’s most likeable qualities isn’t that he wins, but rather how he wins. His teams can go blow-for-blow with the power clubs of the Big Ten, and as evidenced in a win over Miami, Tressel’s teams can go step-for-step with the country’s finest finesse clubs. And Tressel-coached teams are always as classy as his sideline sweater vest.

At some schools, the legends of past coaches are so overbearing that no one can exist outside of their shadow. But Tressel has done nothing but embrace Woody Hayes and the rest of Ohio State’s rich history. That has helped him to build his own legacy, outside of Hayes’ reach. And on Saturday, Ohio State fans may have reason once again to embrace Tressel, and reflect for a day on the history he has helped to build for Ohio State’s program.

The Week That Was

Scoreboard

Northwestern 29, Minnesota 28

Ohio State 24, Illinois 13

Michigan 42, Indiana 35

Michigan State 34, Wisconsin 24

Iowa 24, Penn State 3

Buckeye backfield continues to sputter

Ohio State has not found consistency out of any of its backs so far this season, and on Saturday got just 109 yards from Dan Herron and Brandon Saine combined (most of it coming from Herron). Through five games, neither back is on pace to gain more than 700 yards this season, and only Saine has a 100-yard game to his credit.

Chappell and Doss go to work on Wolverines

One of the silver linings in Indiana’s loss to Michigan was the success quarterback Ben Chappell and wide receiver Tandon Doss shared. Chappell completed 45-of-64 passes for 480 yards — all Hoosier records; Doss caught 15 of those passes for 221 yards. Somewhat overshadowed, Damarlo Belcher caught 10 balls for 91 yards. The receiving duo rank Nos. 1 and 2 in the conference.

Gophers find a weapon in Lair

One of the Big Ten’s fastest-rising prospects is Minnesota tight end Eric Lair, who last week caught seven passes for 94 yards against Northern Illinois. On Saturday, the junior caught three for 75 yards, two of them for scores.

Team of the Week:Michigan State

Even without coach Mark Dantonio, who returned to the hospital to take care of a blood clot, the Spartans stepped up in their Big Ten opener against fellow Top 25 foe Wisconsin. Despite committing early turnovers, Michigan State beat Wisconsin at its own game, with hard-nosed defense and a ball control offense (the Spartans actually out-gained the Badgers, 175 to 165 yards).

Disappointment of the Week:Penn State

Just three crummy points. The Nittany Lions converted only three of 13 third down attempts (although, it’s only fair to point out Iowa converted two of 10) and gained just 54 yards on the ground. It was one of the worst offensive performances by a Penn State squad in some time.

Offensive Player of the Week:Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan

Nothing out of the ordinary — just another 200-yard passing and 200-yard rushing day to help Michigan get to 5–0. The Heisman talk is starting to grow louder.

Defensive Player of the Week:J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin

It’s rare to give defensive player honors to someone from a losing team, but Watt’s performance was difficult to ignore. He applied pressure to Kirk Cousins all afternoon, played thick against the run and even batted a couple of passes. He might be the conference’s most underrated player.

Freshman of the Week: James White, RB, Wisconsin

White was the best freshman for a second straight week. With John Clay noticeably hobbled by a bum ankle, White gave the Wisconsin offense its bounce back, averaging 9.8 yards on 10 carries and scoring two touchdowns.

The Week Ahead

Upset Alert:Wisconsin

Reeling from its BCS-busting loss to Michigan State, the Badgers are vulnerable against a hungry Minnesota club that gave Northwestern all it could take. The Battle for the Axe is a week before Wisconsin’s highly anticipated matchup against Ohio State. Possible the Badgers will peek past the Gophers? Sure. It’s also possible the Badgers are just plain overrated.

Player to Watch:Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois

Leshoure took a step back in last week’s contest (19 carries for 80 yards) and now must regroup in order to help Illinois in its trip to Penn State. The Nittany Lions currently rank fifth in the Big Ten in defending against the run, allowing 3.7 yards per carry. But the Illini’s 230-pound junior is as good as every back Penn State has faced thus far (with the exception of Trent Richardson) and could take Nittany Lions fans by surprise.

Additional Notes

Only three schools in the conference are averaging better than 10 yards per punt return; thanks in part to its explosive player, Keshawn Martin, Michigan State is averaging a deadly 17.2 yards. Martin is averaging 18.5 yards on his returns, including last week’s 74-yard game-changing score against Wisconsin.

At present, three Big Ten quarterbacks are leading their respective schools in rushing. Both Denard Robinson (Michigan) and Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State) rank among the conference’s top 10 in the category, while Northwestern’s Dan Persa is not far off.

Predictions

Penn State 20, Illinois 14

Wisconsin 28, Minnesota 24

Ohio State 36, Indiana 10

Michigan 34, Michigan State 31

Northwestern 21, Purdue 13

Oregon's LaMichael James is an emerging Heisman candidate.

Stanford is considered the up-and-coming program of the Pac-10 Conference. Saturday’s game in Eugene proved just that — the Cardinal are coming, but they’re not there yet.

After shocking Oregon early by racing out to a 21–3 lead, Stanford simply didn’t have enough defense to ultimately stop the Ducks’ scoring machine. Behind 355 total yards from quarterback Darron Thomas and a career-best 257 yards rushing by tailback LaMichael James, Oregon sent a message that the conference crown still goes through the Pacific Northwest with a 52–31 victory.

The Cardinal dominated their first four opponents on both sides of the ball, and while they had quality road wins over UCLA and Notre Dame, Oregon provided a whole new challenge, unlike anything Stanford had seen so far. Stanford’s offense was still able to keep rolling, at least in the first half (the Cardinal were held scoreless in the second half). It just couldn’t keep up with the Ducks’ seemingly unstoppable attack.

The Cardinal had moved into the top 10 in the national rankings, and some were even beginning to mention Stanford as a possible national title contender. After the first quarter Saturday, that notion didn’t seem so far-fetched. But ultimately, the better team won.

It will now be interesting to see just where Stanford falls in the Pac-10 pecking order. If the Cardinal truly consider themselves one of the conference’s elite teams, they need to beat USC at home this Saturday.

As for the Ducks, not only are they solidly in the national championship race, but they may also have a situation on their hands similar to USC’s in 2005. Both Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart were in the thick of the Heisman Trophy race all season, with Bush ultimately winning and Leinart finishing fifth in the voting (as we all know now, Bush no longer has the Heisman).

They haven’t got a ton of attention so far, but it may not be long before Thomas and James move up the Heisman watch lists and earn the attention of voters across the country. Both are vital to making Oregon’s machine go, and the Ducks’ on-field success should keep both heavily in the mix.

Thomas added the running threat to his arsenal against the Cardinal, while James simply may be the best running back in the country this side of Tuscaloosa. James is second nationally in rushing at 178 yards per game.

Scoreboard

UCLA 42, Washington State 28

Oregon State 31, Arizona State 28

Washington 32, USC 31

Oregon 52, Stanford 31

Split Personality

One week, UCLA goes on the road and cruises to a benchmark win against one of the top programs in the country. The next week, the Bruins stay home and have trouble putting away one of the worst teams in the country.

Call it a letdown or inconsistency, but UCLA’s 42–28 win over Washington State was both alarming and puzzling.

Sure, the Bruins win at Texas the previous week was partly a result of the Longhorns’ own follies. But the bottom line is UCLA capitalized on Texas’ mistakes, and its defense was sharp.

Just being competitive has been a struggle for the Cougars since the start of the 2008 season. And although Washington State has been making incremental improvements, it was stunning to see it lead 28–20 in the third quarter against the Bruins.

UCLA ultimately made the comeback to pull out the win — it needed a goal-line stand on 4th-and-1 from the 1 to prevent the Cougars from taking the lead once again early in the fourth quarter — but the game must have left Bruins fans wondering if their team was more like the one that was dominated by Stanford earlier in the season or the one that had its successful trip to Austin.

UCLA should have a good measuring stick game this week at Cal. Both teams were picked to finish in the bottom half of the conference but each has shown signs it could be better than that.

True Colors

As USC was winning its first four games of the season, there was a sense that it wasn’t necessarily playing like an undefeated team. That sense was confirmed Saturday when Washington came into the L.A. Coliseum and left with a 32–31 victory.

Once again, the Trojans served a reminder that their defense isn’t what it once was. USC was sliced apart by Washington quarterback Jake Locker, who had a nightmare of a game the previous week against Nebraska. Locker threw for 310 yards and rushed for another 110, while also leading the Huskies on a final drive that culminated in a 32-yard field goal by Erik Folk as time expired.

It was the second year in a row Folk beat USC with a last-second field goal. The difference this year was that it just didn’t feel that surprising when it happened.

UConn's Jordan Todman

Much of the buzz last week surrounding the Big East had to do with expansion and a possible invitation to TCU. Odds are, that will continue to be the case this week, but the league’s teams did go a combined 4–1 in the last full week of non-conference games.

There were no matchups like the previous week, when league teams faced opponents like LSU and Oklahoma, but Connecticut managed a victory over the SEC’s Vanderbilt. For the second straight week, the Huskies found themselves tied at halftime before delivering in the second half in moving to 3–2 with a 40–21 win at Rentschler Field. Now it’s on to league play for UConn, starting with Rutgers on Friday.

“I think we’re heading into (league play) in the right frame of mind, in the right direction,” said Connecticut coach Randy Edsall. “I think in these last two games we’ve done things to get better.”

The Huskies scored the last 21 points in last week’s win against Buffalo and closed against Vandy with 26 unanswered points. Jordan Todman had a career-high 37 carries for 190 yards and two touchdowns against the Commodores.

The league’s biggest disappointment came via Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights suffered the loss of both quarterback Tom Savage and a 17–14 decision at the hands of Conference USA opponent Tulane, which entered 1–2. Green Wave coach Bob Toledo’s staff called a trick play — backup QB Joe Kemp threw a 10-yard lateral to wideout D.J. Banks, who then fired another pass back to Kemp for a 24-yard score — that left Rutgers coach Greg Schiano taking blame afterward. “It’s on me,” Schiano said. “I was unable to get our team ready to go... So as the head coach, everything falls on me.”

Savage didn’t return after being tackled out of bounds in the second quarter.

Otherwise, league teams had few problems against Florida Atlantic, Florida International and Arkansas State. South Florida, now 3–1, defeated FAU 31–3 at Raymond James Stadium. The Bulls registered seven sacks, forced three turnovers and scored a touchdown on a blocked punt return. Bulls QB B.J. Daniels threw for 155 yards and a touchdown while completing 14-of-19 passes. Running back Moise Plancher had 20 carries for 93 yards and two TDs.

Pitt had no trouble despite the absence of incumbent Big East offensive and defensive players of the year Dion Lewis and Greg Romeus, both sidelined with injuries. Panther tailback Ray Graham ran wild, rushing for 277 yards and three touchdowns — the second-best effort by a Pitt runner in school history. Graham added 78 yards on kickoff returns and 19 receiving yards to finish with 374 all-purpose yards in the 44–17 victory over FIU.

Louisville, meanwhile, raced to a 31–7 halftime lead on its way to a 34–24 win at Arkansas State. The Cardinals reeled off 575 yards of offense — their best performance in more than two years. Quarterback Adam Froman completed 20-of-33 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns. The U of L had two 100-yard rushers in tailbacks Bilal Powell (157 yards) and Victor Anderson (108 yards).

Scoreboard

Connecticut 40, Vanderbilt 21

Tulane 17, Rutgers 14

Pittsburgh 44, Florida International 17

Louisville 34, Arkansas State 24

South Florida 31, Florida Atlantic 3

A real rush

The Big East may not have a lot going for it this season, but it does have two of the nation’s top four rushers. The 277-yard outburst by Pitt back Ray Graham helped lift him to third among this week’s national rushing leaders, behind only Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson and Oregon tailback LaMichael James. He’s now averaging 164 yards a game. Connecticut’s Jordan Todman, meanwhile, is fourth nationally, averaging 159.5 yards. In all-purpose running, Graham is No. 1, while Todman is No. 5.

A grand return

South Florida’s Dontavia Bogan returned from an ankle injury in style against Florida Atlantic. Bogan caught a 38-yard touchdown pass on a flea-flicker, had five receptions for 66 yards and moved passed the 1,000-yard career receiving mark in the victory.

A grand return II

When Connecticut tailback Jordan Todman ran for 190 yards — two fewer than his career best — against Vanderbilt, it wasn’t just another day at the office. Todman missed last week’s game against Buffalo with a hyper-extended left elbow, but didn’t rest much against the Commodores, carrying the ball a career high 37 times.

Defense, anyone?

Tag this a season of defense within the Big East. While offense usually grabs the headlines, three league teams have performed well on the other side of the ball. West Virginia is ranked eighth nationally in total defense, allowing an average of 249.25 yards. In scoring defense, Rutgers is fourth, allowing an average of 12 points. Connecticut, meanwhile, is tied for seventh in interceptions (nine) and ninth in tackles for loss (8.2 per game).

A sigh of relief

When Louisville held off Arkansas State on Saturday, it snapped a 10-game road losing streak that had been going on since defeating Memphis on Oct. 10, 2008.

Injury report

Rutgers quarterback Tom Savage’s status is uncertain for Friday night’s game against Connecticut because of an injury to his throwing hand. On Monday, RU coach Greg Schiano said Savage would be a “game-time decision for sure.”

Connecticut offensive tackle Jimmy Bennett hurt his hand last week. Running back Robbie Frey had arthroscopic surgery on his knee Monday.

Moving on

The Big East is the only league yet to start conference play. That changes this week when Connecticut visits Rutgers Friday for a 7:30 p.m. ESPN game. Syracuse returns from a bye to visit South Florida noon Saturday.

Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor

Role Reversal
NC State was on its way to a special season. There was no other way to look at it. The team had a 4–0 record, a 17–0 lead over Virginia Tech at home and winnable games against Boston College and East Carolina upcoming. The Wolfpack were going to be 7–0 heading into their Thursday night showdown with Atlantic Division rival Florida State on Oct. 28.

It all sounded good in theory to many in the crowd of 58,083, the third-largest gathering in the history of Carter-Finley Stadium. But Virginia Tech ruined the dream scenario, rallying for a 41–30 victory to register the biggest comeback win in Frank Beamer’s 24 seasons as head coach of the Hokies.

“It was very impressive,” Beamer said. “I’ve had a lot of great moments, proud moments and great players. I don’t know if there is ever a time I’m any more proud of our players than tonight in this dressing room. With the way we started out, we hung in there and battled, we kept believing and never gave up.”

Virginia Tech (3–2, 2–0 ACC) had plenty of chances to quit early in this game — and early in this season. After all, this was the team that started the year 0–2 with a heartbreaking loss to Boise State and a head-scratching defeat at home to Football Championship Subdivision member James Madison. But the Hokies kept chipping away at NC State’s lead until they took the first lead of their own at 28–27 early in the fourth quarter.

NC State’s Russell Wilson and Virginia Tech’s Tyrod Taylor each made plenty of big plays in a matchup of two of the ACC’s best quarterbacks; Wilson passed for 362 yards and three touchdowns while Taylor rushed for 121 yards and passed for three scores. But it was Wilson, the closest thing the ACC had to a Heisman Trophy contender, who made more mistakes. Cornerback Jayron Hosley intercepted three passes from Wilson, including one in the final two minutes that set up Virginia Tech’s clinching score.

“Hopefully we can learn from this and get back on track next Saturday,” NC State coach Tom O’Brien said. “We’re 4–1. We’ve got to pick up our heads. Our goal now is to play these guys again.”

For that to happen in the ACC championship game, NC State (4–1, 1–1) must do what Virginia Tech already has done: Get back on track after an extremely difficult defeat. The Hokies have no chance at the national championship — the first two weeks dashed those hopes. But they served notice to the Wolfpack — and the rest of the ACC — that they are very much alive in the race for the league title.

Scoreboard
Florida State 34, Virginia 14
Miami 30, Clemson 21
North Carolina 42, East Carolina 17
Virginia Tech 41, N.C. State 30
Maryland 21, Duke 16
Georgia Tech 24, Wake Forest 20
Notre Dame 31, Boston College 13

Hurricanes get big win
Virginia Tech-N.C. State was a big game in terms of early positioning in the ACC standings, but Miami-Clemson was just as important. The victory for the Hurricanes (3–1, 1–0) left them and Virginia Tech as the only undefeated teams in conference play in the Coastal Division. The Tigers (2–2, 0–1), meanwhile, now have less margin for error in their upcoming Atlantic Division matchups.
Miami quarterback Jacory Harris threw four touchdown passes in the first half — three of them to wide receiver Leonard Hankerson — but the difference in the game was the Hurricanes’ defense. Miami forced Clemson, which had turned over the ball just twice in its first three games combined, into six turnovers. The Tigers couldn’t overcome those miscues despite limiting Miami to just three points and 96 total yards in the second half.

Seminoles surging
Florida State has bounced back in fine fashion from its 47–17 loss at Oklahoma on Sept. 11. The Seminoles, who extended their winning streak to three games with a convincing victory at Virginia, have been solid on both sides of the ball.
Florida State was supposed to be explosive on offense this season, but credit goes to first-year defensive coordinator Mark Stoops for how that unit has performed in the aftermath of the Oklahoma embarrassment. The Seminoles (4–1, 2–0) entered the weekend with an NCAA-best 19 sacks, and they added six more to their total while shutting down Virginia.
Florida State was especially dominant in the first half, outgaining the Cavaliers 294-42 en route to building a 27–0 lead. Virginia ended up with 304 total yards, but just 25 of those yards came on the ground.
On the flip side, Florida State has run the ball so effectively with tailbacks Jermaine Thomas, Chris Thompson and Ty Jones that quarterback Christian Ponder hasn’t had to shoulder the burden. The Seminoles churned out 256 rushing yards against Virginia, rushing for at least 200 yards in three consecutive games for the first time since 2000. That production helped them reach the 30-point plateau for the third consecutive game — something they hadn’t accomplished since 2004.
Florida State’s ability to run the ball also has helped its defense — the Seminoles have possessed the ball more than 20 minutes longer than their opponents over the last three weeks.
“The offense ate the ball and kept them off the field,” Fisher said. “The defense got some three-and-outs. They played together. That’s what we keep saying: offense, defense. Here’s what you’ve got to understand. Defense is getting three-and-outs, and offense is taking six-minute drives, which keeps an offense out of whack for the other team.”

Eagles, Deacs still struggling with QB situations
Injuries and ineffectiveness at quarterback continue to plague Boston College and Wake Forest.
The Eagles started true freshman Chase Rettig under center against Notre Dame in place of struggling sophomore Dave Shinskie, and they were down 21–0 before they knew it. Rettig went three-and-out on the first three series of his career before offering some hope with a 58-yard touchdown strike to fellow freshman Bobby Swigert late in the first quarter.
The problem is that once Rettig got going, he had to leave. He suffered a sprain to his left ankle early in the second quarter — x-rays were negative — and spent the rest of the game standing on the sideline with his foot in a protective boot. Rettig completed 5-of-10 throws for 72 yards and the touchdown before giving way to Mike Marscovetra, who was 22 of 37 for 193 yards and two interceptions the rest of the way.
“(Rettig) looked like the guy we thought he was,” BC coach Frank Spaziani said. “He did some good things and made some freshman mistakes. Once again, I know we all want to talk about who the quarterback is and what the situation is, but there were other problems that were not the quarterback.”
The Eagles (2–2, 0–1) must begin fixing those problems, one of which was blocking for tailback Montel Harris in the running game. Harris managed just 28 yards on 15 carries against the Fighting Irish, almost 75 yards below his season average entering the game. With Rettig’s status in doubt and trips to Atlantic Division rivals NC State and Florida State on tap for the next two weeks, the Eagles need to give their quarterback position all the help they can.
The same is true in Winston-Salem, where Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe has been playing musical chairs at quarterback most of the season.
True freshman starter Tanner Price missed the Georgia Tech game Saturday because of a concussion he suffered the week before against Florida State. His backup, sophomore Ted Stachitas, started against the Yellow Jackets before departing in the second quarter with a back injury. The No. 3 QB, redshirt freshman Brendan Cross, left the game and didn’t return after injuring his non-throwing shoulder on a scramble. And the fourth quarterback, former wide receiver Skylar Jones, had to gut his way through a sore foot because the team had nowhere else to turn.
“I don’t know what it’s going to take to find someone that’s durable enough to make it through a football game,” Grobe said. “We went through three of them tonight. It’s hard to go through a week giving a third of the reps to each quarterback, hoping that one of them will come through and stay healthy.”
Jones completed 9-of-20 passes for 105 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions against the Yellow Jackets, avoiding the big mistake and giving the Demon Deacons (2–3, 1–2) a chance to win. But Georgia Tech’s Joshua Nesbitt made plays that Jones didn’t, throwing a pair of touchdown passes as the Yellow Jackets outscored Wake Forest 18–3 in the fourth quarter.

Tar Heels hit stride in running game
North Carolina’s first possession against East Carolina was nothing short of bizarre. After an incomplete pass on first down and a 3-yard run on second down, the Tar Heels acted out of character. Quarterback T.J. Yates turned and handed the ball off to tailback Shaun Draughn, who ran straight up the middle. On third and 7.
Draughn gained just 2 yards, and the Tar Heels had to punt. But they had established their offensive mindset for the rest of the day, and the plan paid off in a big way. UNC rushed for 263 yards on 46 attempts against East Carolina after totaling 258 rushing yards on 95 attempts in its first three games combined.
Senior Johnny White rushed for a career-high 140 yards on 16 carries, and Draughn tallied 137 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries. It was the second time in the last 16 seasons — and the first time since 2004 — that two UNC players rushed for 100 yards in the same game. The Tar Heels were especially strong in the second half, with White rushing for 102 yards in the third quarter and Draughn rushing for 98 yards in the fourth.
“At halftime we said we were going to stick to the game plan, and our game plan was to come in here and run the ball on them a whole lot,” Yates said. “We just knew that could be a big strength for us coming into this game.”

Extra points
• Atlantic Division teams had performed better than their Coastal Division counterparts through the first month of the season, but that wasn’t the case this weekend. The Coastal went 3–2 against the Atlantic in five interdivisional matchups.
• Clemson tailback Andre Ellington turned in another strong performance against Miami, rushing for 107 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on 17 carries. Ellington, who also caught three passes for 39 yards, now has 380 rushing yards this season. For the sake of comparison: C.J. Spiller, the 2009 Heisman Trophy contender whom Ellington has replaced as Clemson’s top offensive threat, had 288 rushing yards through four games last season.
• Georgia Tech overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Wake Forest, its first victory since 1998 when trailing by that many points in the fourth quarter. The Yellow Jackets improved to 11-2 under Paul Johnson in games decided by five points or fewer.
• Maryland improved to 4–1 heading into its bye week, doubling its win total from last season while picking up its 200th victory at Byrd Stadium. The Terrapins have been outgained by their opponent in four of five games this season, including Saturday against Duke, but they have a sparkling record thanks in part to their plus-8 turnover margin and two punt-return touchdowns by Tony Logan.
• Miami kicker Matt Bosher saw his streak of 105 consecutive extra points, the second-longest streak in school history, end in the second quarter against Clemson. Defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins blocked Bosher’s kick after Mike James’ 18-yard touchdown catch.
• How much has North Carolina missed the players who have been held out as a result of the NCAA investigation into the program? Senior safety Da’Norris Searcy, who was cleared to play after missing three games, provided a quick answer against East Carolina. With his team trailing 14–7 in the second quarter, Searcy intercepted a pass and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown to ignite a 35–3 scoring surge for the Tar Heels. More good news for UNC: The team’s other starting safety, senior Deunta Williams, will be back this week against Clemson after completing his four-game suspension for accepting improper benefits.
• Wide receiver Kris Burd has caught a touchdown pass in each of Virginia’s first four games, becoming the first Cavalier to accomplish that feat since Heath Miller had a touchdown catch in the first five games of the 2002 season. Burd, who had four receptions for 118 yards against Florida State, became the first Virginia player with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since Miller in 2003.
 

QB Nathan Enderle, Idaho

Athlon sums up a full slate of college football with the five most important things to take away from this weekend.

1. Alabama makes a statement – Following Saturday’s victory over Florida, the gap between Alabama and the SEC looks pretty wide. The Gators were dominated by the Crimson Tide, managing less than 300 yards of offense and turning the ball over four times. Alabama’s rushing attack didn’t post huge numbers, but both sides of the ball combined for a methodical, dominating victory over Florida. The Gators were limited on offense with an injured Jeff Demps at running back and quarterback John Brantley still finding his way in his first season as the starter. The offensive line was supposed to be a strength for Florida, but has struggled in every game. Assuming both teams win out in SEC play, the Gators will have another crack at the Crimson Tide. However, this Florida team has a lot of improving to do before it can think about challenging Alabama. With the win over the Gators, the Crimson Tide now turns to a road contest at South Carolina. The Gamecocks played Alabama tough last season, losing 20-6 in Tuscaloosa. However, if Alabama continues to play like it did on Saturday night, don’t expect Nick Saban’s team to stumble along the way to a national championship appearance. 

2. Oregon pulls ahead in the Pac-10 – Stanford-Oregon was hyped as one of the most anticipated games of Week 5 and didn’t disappoint. The Cardinal raced to a 21-3 lead, but the Ducks continued to fight back and pulled away in the second half behind the playmaking ability of quarterback Darron Thomas and running back LaMichael James. Oregon’s offense wasn’t the only factor in the victory, as the defense pitched a shutout in the second half and picked off Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck twice. With the win over Stanford, the Ducks have separated from the rest of the conference and the upcoming schedule is favorable. After taking on Washington State and UCLA, the Ducks hit the road for a game against USC, before facing key games against Arizona and Oregon State in the final two weeks. As long as Oregon keeps winning, this is a team that could have something to say about the national title picture.

3. Virginia Tech, Miami win key conference road games – The ACC’s season got off to a rough start with disappointing losses in non-conference play, but the race to win the Atlantic and Coastal divisions is about to heat up. Virginia Tech rallied from a 17-0 deficit to knock off previously unbeaten NC State. The Hokies have won three in a row, with their next four games at home. The offensive line is still a major question mark, but the Hokies seem to have found some answers on defense. The last three meetings in the Miami-Clemson series needed overtime to decide the outcome, but extra time wasn’t needed this time around. Quarterback Jacory Harris certainly takes some risks with eight interceptions on the year, but also makes up those mistakes with touchdowns and big plays. The Miami defense struggled to stop Clemson running back Andre Ellington, but ranks sixth in the nation in pass defense and 12th in total defense. The Hurricanes have a big test against Florida State this Saturday, and an improving Virginia Tech waiting for them on November 20.

4. Oklahoma takes control of Big 12 South – The annual matchup at the Cotton Bowl between Texas and Oklahoma plays a major role in deciding the Big 12 South champ and usually has an impact on the national title race. However, some of the luster surrounding this matchup wore off with Texas’ defeat against UCLA and Oklahoma’s struggles against Cincinnati last week. After going 1-4 in its last five games against the Longhorns, the Sooners used 115 rushing yards and two scores from DeMarco Murray to earn a 28-20 victory. The Sooners have been involved in some close calls this year and nearly let Texas steal the victory with a sloppy fourth quarter. However, the Sooners were simply the better team, particularly on offense and Saturday’s win puts them in the driver’s seat for the Big 12 South title. After a bye week, the Sooners take on Iowa State, before heading on the road for a key game against Missouri. The Longhorns opened up the offense for quarterback Garrett Gilbert in the second half, but it was too little, too late. The bye week comes at a good time for Texas, with a date at Nebraska on October 16. The Longhorns need to decide if they can continue to use a power rushing attack that isn’t working, or open up the passing game for Gilbert. Should the Longhorns drop that contest to Nebraska, it will be the first three-game losing streak since 1999.

5. Michigan-Michigan State setup showdown – With Michigan posting below .500 records over the last two seasons, this rivalry hasn’t garnered much national appeal. However, that’s about to change this Saturday. Both teams come into this game 5-0 and riding momentum following last week’s victories. The Spartans are powered by a deep backfield, a solid quarterback in Kirk Cousins and a stingy run defense that is allowing 101 yards per game. The Wolverines have been a mess on defense all year, but continue to ride sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson. The Spartans have won the last two matchups in this series, but have to travel to Ann Arbor this Saturday. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez has watched his seat cool with each Robinson touchdown, but a win over the rival Spartans would be a huge boost for the program. Will the Wolverines’ leaky defense finally come back to haunt them? Will the Spartans have an answer for Robinson? There’s a lot of questions surrounding Saturday’s game, but this is easily one of the most intriguing matchups on the schedule.

Other thoughts from Week 5

BYU is off to a 1-4 start and after Friday night’s loss to Utah State, defensive coordinator Jaime Hill was fired. Hill was named BYU’s coordinator in 2008 and due to his departure, head coach Bronco Mendenhall will assume the playcalling duties on defense.

An under the radar win from this week was Utah State’s victory over BYU on Friday night. This was the Aggies first win in the series since 1993 and a big one for coach Gary Andersen. Although Andersen is 6-11 in his tenure in Logan, the Aggies have made significant progress and should contend for a winning record this year.

Is quarterback Jerrod Johnson’s shoulder an issue for Texas A&M? In Thursday night’s loss to Oklahoma State, Johnson threw four interceptions, giving him eight on the season. The senior had eight interceptions all of last year. Johnson had shoulder surgery in the offseason and appeared to struggle at times with arm strength in Thursday’s game.

Six teams remain without a win this season – Akron, Eastern Michigan, Florida International, New Mexico, New Mexico State and Western Kentucky. By next Saturday, this list will be cut by at least two teams, as New Mexico takes on New Mexico State and Florida International plays Western Kentucky.

A rough start for the Big East didn’t get any better with Rutgers falling to Tulane. The Scarlet Knights continue to struggle in each area on offense, putting too much pressure on the defense. The loss to Tulane is even more disappointing when you consider the Green Wave will probably struggle to reach four wins and squeaked by FCS foe Southeastern Louisiana in the season opener.

Although LSU beat Tennessee 16-14 and stands 5-0, the seat under Les Miles continues to heat up. The Tigers rotated Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson at quarterback with mixed results and continue to underutilize receiver Russell Shepard. Another clock blunder is embarrassing for Miles, which is something that has to be corrected with Florida, Auburn and Alabama coming up on the schedule.

Should there be a running back controversy in Pittsburgh? With Dion Lewis sitting because of a shoulder injury, Ray Graham rushed for 277 yards and three scores in Saturday’s win over Florida International. Lewis has struggled all season, rushing for 143 yards and averaging 3.0 yards per carry. Graham has 492 yards and five scores, with an average of 9.5 yards per carry. Although coach Dave Wannstedt continues to insist Lewis is the starter, Graham has proven he is the better option due to the offensive line issues.

Looking ahead to Week 6

A small sample of what’s ahead

Nebraska vs. Kansas State (Thursday)
Nebraska run defense has struggled and now faces one of nation’s best backs in Kansas State’s Daniel Thomas.

Connecticut vs. Rutgers (Friday)
After losing to Tulane, it’s hard to imagine Rutgers contending for the Big East title.

Alabama vs. South Carolina
Can the Gamecocks slow down Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson?

Michigan State vs. Michigan
Can the Spartans find an answer for Denard Robinson?

Florida State vs. Miami, Fla.
Last nine matchups have been decided by eight points or less – expect another tight one on Saturday.

Tennessee vs. Georgia
Volunteers and Bulldogs a combined 3-6 and both desperately need a victory.

LSU vs. Florida
LSU’s anemic offense faces uphill battle against Florida defense.

Arkansas vs. Texas A&M
Looking for offense? Jerrod Johnson vs. Ryan Mallett should be one of the top quarterback matchups from Week 6.

Oregon State vs. Arizona
Are the Beavers starting to find their rhythm after a traditionally slow start?

Pittsburgh vs. Notre Dame
If the Panthers can’t find any improvement on offense, it will be a long afternoon against the Irish.

USC vs. Stanford
Shaky USC defense will be tested once again by Andrew Luck.

Infirmary Report

Taking a look at some of the key players suffering injuries this weekend.

Boston College QB Chase Rettig (ankle)
Colorado State RB Raymond Carter (knee)
Florida QB John Brantley (ribs)
LSU DE Sam Montgomery (knee)
Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor (quad)
Rutgers QB Tom Savage (hand)
Stanford WR Chris Owusu (undisclosed)

Teams of the Week

Alabama — Just in case there were any doubters, Alabama made another statement Saturday night, cruising past Florida, 31–6, with alarming ease. This game was all about efficiency in the red zone: Alabama scored on all four trips inside the 20-yard line, with three TDs and one field goal, while the Gators went 1-of-4 in the red zone, with one field goal. Nick Saban’s club is the no-doubt-about-it No. 1 team in the nation.

Washington — The Huskies became the first team to beat USC in consecutive seasons since Kansas State pulled the trick in 2001-02. Washington was led by senior quarterback Jake Locker, who bounced back from a nightmare performance against Nebraska by throwing for over 300 yards and rushing for over 100. With home games against Arizona State and Oregon State looming, the Huskies have an opportunity to be a factor in the Pac-10 race early in the season.

Utah State — The Aggies snapped a 10-game losing streak to BYU, rolling past the Cougars 31–16 on national television Friday night. Utah State quarterback Diondre Borel, who threw for 341 yards in a seven-point loss to Okahoma in Week 1, was a very efficient 10-of-13 for 192 yards and one touchdown. The Aggies also picked up 242 yards rushing on 59 carries. It was Utah State’s first non-conference win against an FBS school since a 31–24 victory over UNL in September 2005.

Disappointments of the Weekend

Rutgers — The Scarlet Knights’ 2010 season took a very bad turn last weekend with a stunning 17–14 loss at home to Tulane. With quarterback Tom Savage knocked out with a hand injury (to go along with a rib injury), freshman Chas Dodd was forced into meaningful action for the first time this season. He completed only 13-of-29 attempts for 176 yards with one TD and one interception. Lost in the wreckage of the Knights’ second straight home loss was a banner performance from sophomore utilityman Mohamed Sanu, who rushed for 121 yards on nine carries and caught five passes for 70 yards.

Georgia — The Bulldogs are in the midst of the school’s first four-game losing streak since the final four games of the 1990 season. The latest setback, 29–27 at Colorado, was arguably the most painful. Trailing by two with under two minutes remaining, Georgia lost the ball on a fumble at the Colorado 30-yard line, well within field goal range for All-SEC kicker Blair Walsh. The Dawgs’ defense is taking plenty of heat, but the offense is averaging only 17.3 points against non-Sun Belt conference competition.

Texas A&M — The Aggies had a chance to make a statement that there was, in fact, progress being made in Year 3 of the Mike Sherman era. Didn’t happen. Despite rolling up 535 yards of offense, Texas A&M dropped a 38–35 decision at Oklahoma State Thursday night. One loss does not make a season, but it’s clear that the Aggies aren’t quite ready to be considered a contender in the Big 12.

Player of the Week — Denard Robinson, Michigan
Once again, “Shoelace” could not be tied up, as the Wolverines’ Heisman Trophy candidate completed 10-of-16 passes for 277 yards, three TDs and zero INTs through the air, while tucking the ball 19 times for 217 yards and two scores on the ground — including the game-winning TD with 17 seconds left — during a 42–35 win at Indiana.

Freshman of the Week — James White, Wisconsin
It wasn’t a great week for freshmen around the nation, but White was solid, rushing for 99 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries in the Badgers’ 34–24 loss at Michigan State. White has 244 yards and six touchdowns over the past two games.

Notes
• LSU has only given up three touchdowns in its last four games, all against BCS-conference opponents.
• Six of Vanderbilt’s eight second half drives went for three yards or fewer in the Commodores’ loss at UConn.
• Duke has lost eight straight games against FBS competition dating back to last season.
• Iowa State scored 24 points in the second quarter and 28 in the fourth quarter in its 52–38 win over Texas Tech. The 52 points were the most ever scored by the Cyclones in a Big 12 game and the most they have scored in a conference game since beating Kansas State, 55–22, in a Big Eight showdown in 1972.
• Notre Dame held Boston College tailback Montel Harris to 28 yards on 15 carries in a 31–13 win in Chestnut Hill.
• UCLA has averaged 322.3 yards rushing in its three-game winning streak over Houston, Texas and Washington State.
• Three teams are averaging over 230 yards passing and rushing — Michigan, Oregon and USC.
• Oregon State still has not committed a turnover this season.
• Northwestern has already missed four extra points this season.
• Western Kentucky has only forced eight punts in four games.