The Top 10 topics for college football

Fri. October 16, 2009; Posted: 09:33 PM

With a slight alteration, that's what ex-Sixer Derrick Coleman might say upon hearing about the debut of the 2009 Bowl Championship Series standings on Sunday. This will be the 12th year of the controversial system, which combines three components _ an average of six computer rankings, the USA Today coaches' poll, and the Harris Interactive Index, a poll of 114 voters. Somehow, this system will spit out the two teams that will play for the national championship Jan. 7 in Pasadena, Calif. Yes, the method is imperfect and a playoff would be far better, but it's all we have.

2. Best of the non-BCS have-nots

Admit it, you were secretly rooting for Boise State to lose the other night at Tulsa. The fifth-ranked Broncos (6-0) didn't exactly sparkle in their 28-21 victory, and now their schedule is filled with one weakling after another. Their season-opening win over Oregon still looks big, especially since the Ducks have been rising steadily in the polls. But Boise has no real shot at the national championship and will have to run the table to get in the BCS top 12 and earn a BCS bowl bid.

3. Precariously perched

Mack Brown didn't appreciate it when his Texas Longhorns were dropped from second to third in this week's AP poll. But he'll really be in a foul mood when he sees how far the Longhorns (5-0) could drop if they lose to No. 20 Oklahoma (3-2) on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl. Maybe it's because Colt McCoy (22d nationally in passing efficiency) hasn't put up Heisman-like numbers. Whatever the case, the Longhorns, one of eight remaining FBS unbeatens, are the nation's highest-scoring team (47.2 points per game) and rank fourth in total defense.

4. Mr. Difference-maker

Sam Bradford, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, threw for 389 yards last week after missing the Sooners' previous 3{ games with a sprained right shoulder. "The guy last year was the best player in college football. How does he not make a difference?" Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. Bradford's biggest problem against Texas may be his butterfingered receivers, who dropped at least 10 passes last week. "If we benched everybody for drops," offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said, "we'd be playing with six or seven players."

5. The hype machine ...

... is running full-blast for the matchup between No. 6 Southern California and No. 25 Notre Dame. That tends to happen whenever the Fighting Irish (4-1) are successful, are winning games in dramatic fashion, and have a quarterback (Jimmy Clausen) who is a legitimate Heisman contender. But the Trojans (4-1), who have outscored Notre Dame by 76-3 the last two seasons, own one of the nation's top defenses and a running game that can keep the ball away from the potent Irish offense.

6. Talking smack back

Clausen, ranked No. 1 nationally in passing efficiency, grew up in Westlake Village, Calif., about 25 miles from Los Angeles, which means he's absorbed some verbal abuse from his "friends" on the USC team. Clausen has returned the favor this week, text-messaging Trojans QB Matt Barkley about how cold it's going to be in South Bend on Saturday. "He's never played in cold weather," Clausen said. "The first day I went out there when it was freezing cold ... I couldn't really grip the ball." Replied Barkley: "It's not going to affect us."

7. Team guy Tebow

Top-ranked Florida has played anything but dazzling offense lately; the Gators (5-0) scored only 13 points against LSU and let their defense do the rest last week. While this unspectacular play may be hurting his NFL draft stock, Tim Tebow doesn't care, and hopes that scouts see how he puts the team ahead of himself. "Manage the offense, manage the team, win games, that's my focus," he said. Florida is second in the nation in rushing going into a home game against Arkansas (3-2).

8. Buddies, but not on Saturday

The game between second-ranked Alabama (6-0) and No. 22 South Carolina (5-1) matches coaches who have each won a national championship and returned to college football after failed tries at the NFL. More than that, the Crimson Tide's Nick Saban and the Gamecocks' Steve Spurrier are friends. But Saban has the edge _ a running game and a defense (second in the nation in yards allowed) that can control the game for the Tide at home.

9. Big Ten road test, part two

Penn State fans vividly remember what happened the last time Iowa faced a crucial road test and passed it by beating the Nittany Lions with big plays on defense and special teams. The 11th-ranked Hawkeyes (6-0, 10 straight wins) go into Madison to face Wisconsin (5-1), which muffed its big moment last week at Ohio State. The Hawkeyes' defense is up to 19 turnovers claimed _ tied for second in the country _ but must meet the challenge presented by the Badgers' John Clay, the top rusher in the Big Ten.

10. Drama king

You've got to love Mike Leach, coach of those pass-happy Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-2). Starting quarterback Taylor Potts, who has rolled up 340 yards of total offense per game, is healthy after a concussion. But Potts' backup, Steven Sheffield, passed for 490 yards and seven touchdowns last week against Kansas State. So, Mike, who's starting at No. 15 Nebraska (4-1)? "Nothing builds the drama and excitement like a game-time decision, so in our case, it'll be a game-time decision," he said.

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