Week 6 National Notebook

Vanderbilt —The Commodores passed yet another test, edging Auburn 14–13 in a defensive struggle in Nashville. The win improves Vanderbilt to 5–0 overall and keeps Bobby Johnson’s club all alone atop the SEC East with a 3–0 mark. Once again, the Commodores fell behind early — digging a 13–0 hole in the first quarter — and once again they finished strong. Vanderbilt has allowed a total of 10 points in the second half this season, including shutouts in each of the past three games.

High Honorable Mention

Pittsburgh — There’s no doubt that Pitt’s shocking win over then-No. 2 West Virginia late last year — a victory that kept its bitter rival out of the national title game — will go down as one of the most memorable in the program’s history. But you could make a strong argument that the Panthers’ 26–21 victory at No. 10 South Florida last Thursday night was more significant. With the win — the Panthers’ third straight against a ranked foe — Pittsburgh is now 4–1 overall (2–0 Big East) with very winnable games against Navy and Rutgers on the horizon. That surprising loss at home to Bowling Green is now a distant memory for a team that began the season with high expectations.

Honorable Mention

Georgia Tech — The Yellow Jackets continue to impress under first year boss Paul Johnson. Last Saturday, Tech ran its record to 4–1 with a surprisingly easy 27–0 win over an improved Duke club. The Jackets completely dominated every phase of the game and outgained Duke 454 to 132. After relying so heavily on its rushing attack in previous weeks, the Jackets proved they could move the ball the air when necessary. With Duke crowding the line of scrimmage, freshman quarterback Jaybo Shaw threw for 230 yards on only nine completions — all to wideout Demaryius Thomas. Running the ball will still be the hallmark of Georgia Tech’s offense, but opposing defenses will be forced to respect the forward pass.

Disappointments of the Week

Maryland — How do you go from winning at Clemson one week to losing 31–0 at Virginia the next? This is a UVa club that lost 31–3 at Duke the week before and 45–10 at UConn the week before that. Maryland had no answer for the Cavs offense, which rolled up more than 200 yards passing and 200 yards rushing behind quarterback Marc Verica, making his second career start. The schizophrenic Terps are now 4–2 overall and 1–1 in the ACC with a home date against Wake Forest looming in two weeks.

North Texas — This game was a bit off the national radar — OK, way off the national radar — but North Texas dropped to 0–5 with a stunningly one-sided 42–10 loss at home to suddenly explosive Florida International. The Mean Green have lost their last five games by an average score of 52–13, including a 77–20 loss to Rice and a 56–26 setback at home to Tulsa. Todd Dodge won a ton of games on the prep level at Southlake Carroll in Texas but is having a tough time in Denton.

Fresno State — The Bulldogs entered the season with plans of being the third WAC team in as many years to bust into the BCS. Those hopes took a huge hit with a Week 3 loss to Wisconsin and then were crushed last Saturday with a 32–29 overtime loss at home to struggling Hawaii. Fresno State is 3–2 overall and 0–1 in league play and must now focus on winning the first outright WAC title of the Pat Hill era.

Player of the Week

Graham Harrell, Texas Tech — The senior ripped apart the Kansas State secondary for 454 yards and six touchdowns (and one rushing) to lead Texas Tech to a dominating 58–28 win over the Wildcats in Manhattan. Harrell surged past former Red Raider great Kliff Kingsbury as the school’s all-time leading passer.

Freshman of the Week

Kellen Moore, Boise State — Moore completed 20-of-28 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Broncos to a 38–3 nationally televised win over Louisiana Tech. Boise State is off to a 4–0 start (with a win at Oregon) and is putting itself in position to make a run at another BCS bowl.

High & Lows

• Six of Auburn’s eight second-half possessions vs. Vanderbilt lasted four plays or less and none of the drives went for more than 20 yards.

• Louisiana-Lafayette tailback Tyrelle Fenroy had three touchdown runs of 50 yards or longer in the Ragin’ Cajun’s 44–35 win over rival Louisiana-Monroe.

• They haven’t exactly tackled the most difficult slate, but the Minnesota Golden Gophers are 5–1 after beating Indiana 16–7 Saturday. Last season, the Gophers won only one game in the first season of the Tim Brewster era.

• Iowa has lost three straight games by a total of nine points.

• Kansas State and Nebraska, which combined to win the first five Big 12 North titles, each surrendered more than 50 points in lopsided losses to league foes. K-State was ripped by Texas Tech 58–28, while Nebraska lost at home to Missouri 52–17.

• Boston College quarterback Chris Crane had quite a day in Raleigh, N.C. The senior threw for 428 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 42 yards and three scores, including the game winner in the final minute, in the Eagles’ 38–31 win.

• Arkansas has lost its three games vs. BCS conference opponents by an average score of 46–10.

• Oregon State freshman Jacquizz Rodgers topped the 100-yard mark for the third straight games, rushing for 101 yards and a score on 25 carries in a 31–28 loss to Utah.