Here’s what comes to mind after a near-perfect Saturday with picture-in-picture and a fridge full of beer…
The Auburn victory over LSU was by far the best 7-3 game I’ve ever seen. It proves why SEC football will always be so great to watch, even when no one scores. Those were two physical teams with stingy defenses and hard-nosed, between-the-tackles offenses; say what you will about SEC power football, but that game was more enjoyable than any West Coast game I’ve seen this year. Auburn will win the SEC hands-down and this time they won’t get snubbed by the BCS.
My Sooners got hosed twice in the last minute of their game against Oregon. I think replay in college football stinks, if only because it fails to work way too often, and always when the game is on the line. If you’re going to institute replay in college football, at least have competent officials reviewing the video. The onside kick review was conclusive from every angle, and yet the referee announced it was “conclusive” in the wrong direction. The pass interference call where the ball was apparently tipped at the line looked obvious, but was arguably inconclusive. Even still, Oregon scored twice in the final two minutes and blocked the potential winning field goal to stay undefeated. Â
While Brady Quinn can likely forget his NYC invite to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in December, the Irish aren’t out of the hunt for a national championship just yet; it will be very difficult for any team to finish undefeated this season. However, next up for the Irish is a road trip to Michigan State, who played a solid and complete game in its victory over Pitt Saturday. A loss to the Spartans will certainly have Notre Dame looking at a second-tier bowl.
Conversely, Michigan was impressive all-around and is a contender as well. They appear to have fixed their offensive issues from 2005 and they have a favorable schedule with Wisconsin (next week), Iowa, and Michigan State at home. That finale in Columbus will be huge, as usual.
Clemson did what they do best, play inconsistent football. The best part of that whole game was Tommy Bowden saying at halftime that he wouldn’t kick again for any reason. The solution to a winning field goal? Running the ball in for a touchdown from the one yard line with 0:08 to play. They kept their ACC title hopes alive, but will need help; Boston College, who needed 2OT again against BYU, will have to lose twice.
Chris Leak played with poise and finesse against Tennessee, and the Gators look tough and should be in everyone’s national championship conversations…Nebraska may be better, but they are definitely not back, which is understandable with a playbook where every audible is a short essay…USC is definitely a contender, especially in a per-usual lopsided PAC-10…TCU held Texas Tech to a field goal, which is absolutely mesmorizing…
And last, and certainly least, a call into Terry Harvey’s post-game call-in show:
Caller: “Terry, is it possible that Southern Miss is just significantly better than what we thought?”
Terry: “No.”