Heisman Watch Week 5

1.  Geno Smith QB West Virginia

Last Week:  45/51 656 yards 8 TDs vs Baylor (70-63)  Next Week:  at Texas
Comments:  In what might have been the craziest game of the weekend, Geno Smith fully cemented himself as the leader in the Heisman Race.  We all knew that Smith was going to put up huge numbers against a sub par Baylor defense, but what amazed me is how good Smith was knowing that to win this game Smith was going to have to score on every drive.  And that was true seeing they won 70-63.  Smith had huge numbers, throwing for 656 and 8 TDs, but what was the most telling of how good he was the completion percentage.  88% when you throw 51 times is flat out awesome.  But I'll be very interested to see how Smith will do against Texas this next week.  They'll pose a lot more of a challenge than Baylor did.

2.  Collin Klein QB Kansas State
Last Week: Bye  Next Week: vs Kansas
Comments:  Bye weeks can go one of two ways.  The big thing is that you don't play and if guys ahead of you stumble you are in a great spot.  But you could also encounter a situation like this weekend where the guy ahead of you just flat out goes off and you don't have anything to show for it.  Collin Klein is coming off a big win against Oklahoma, but with the game that Geno Smith had without Klein playing really puts some distance between the two.  However Klein will get back into the mix next week against in state rival Kansas. Plus Klein still has an opportunity to go head to head with Smith.  That could be a fun one to watch.

3.  EJ Manuel QB Florida State
Last Week:  19/26 242 yards 1 TD at South Florida (30-17)  Next Week:  at North Carolina State
Comments:  It wasn't anything spectacular  but Florida State survived a scare in their first road game of the season and pulled out the win.  Manuel threw for 242 yards but he didn't make many mistakes and most importantly got the win.  I'm not seeing Manuel having much of a chance to win the Heisman Trophy, but as long as he keeps the Seminoles winning and puts up some good numbers he'll be a finalist.



4.  Aaron Murray QB Georgia
Last Week:  19/25 278 yards 2 TDs 1 INT vs Tennessee (51-44)  Next Week: at South Carolina
Comments:  If it wasn't for the play of Aaron Murray we could be talking about how Tennessee is still a contender for the SEC West Title.  But we aren't because Murray was huge for the Bulldogs in their win.  Murray threw for 278 yards which isn't Geno Smith esq, but it was what Georgia needed to stay perfect on the season.  Georgia has some talent with two true freshman RBs, but they don't have anymore AJ Green type WRs anymore.  That doesn't matter to Murray who distributes the ball to a lot of different receivers.  This is crucial for their success.  Right now Murray is just one of several players that are in the race, but not quite.  If Murray wants to move up into the top of this group he'll need a big game against the Gamecocks.  But a bad game and a loss could really hurt his chances.

5.  Matt Barkley QB USC

Last Week:  Bye  Next Week:  at Utah
Comments:  It's safe to say that Matt Barkley hasn't lived up to the high expectations he had going into this season.  Barkley hasn't been awful, but many people thought he'd have an Andrew Luck type of year.  Instead Barkley has been meh.  Against Stanford he really made some big mistakes towards the end of the game, while against inferior competition he was just average.  What has Barkley still in this race is the fact that other than Geno Smith and Collin Kelin there really hasn't been anybody that has put themselves into the discussion.  Add that and the fact that USC still has big games against Oregon, Notre Dame, and UCLA that with big games could really shoot his stock in the right direction.

Others to Watch

6. Braxton Miller QB Ohio State
7.  De'Anthony Thomas RB/WR Oregon
8.  Manti Te'o LB Notre Dame

NCAA Top 25 (Week 4)

1.  Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0) LW 1
If it wasn't for giving up a late TD, this would have been a perfect game for the Crimson Tide.  Both sides of the ball were really running on all cylinders.  AJ McCarron continues his development and is showing people he is far from just being a "game manager."  Defensively Alabama was at it's best, holding the Florida Atlantic to only 110 yards of total offense.  Pretty impressive no matter who the opponent is.  Next up for Alabama is the start of SEC conference action.  First up Ole Miss.  This should be fun!

2.  Oregon Ducks (4-0) LW 3
Don't get me wrong.  Oregon's 49-0 win over Arizona was impressive.  However I don't think Arizona was as good as some people were making them out to be.  But with their win and LSU's clunker against Auburn vaults the Ducks into the #2 ranking ahead of LSU.  Oregon scoring 49 points isn't a surprise.  Their offense is stacked and Arizona is dreadful.  But what impressed me the most was that the Ducks shut out Arizona.  This was an Arizona team under Rich Rod that averaged more than 46 points per game.  And the Ducks (whose defense isn't know for being good) shut them out.  Look for the Ducks to continue their momentum into this weekend where they face off against a Washington State team that gave Colorado their first win.  Should be another blowout.


3.  LSU Tigers (4-0) LW 2
LSU's game against Auburn is a true testimat of how tough the SEC is.  Auburn (who almost lost to Lousiana Monroe) isn't a very good team.  However they gave the Tigers a huge scare and almost upset the (previously) #2 ranked team.  Good thing LSU has such a good defense, because their offense was horrible in this game.  The big concern has to be the offense.  QB Zach Mettenberger was beginning to look pretty good, but he struggled in this game.  He only completed 55% of his passes and had 2 first half fumbles.  However the Tigers have this next weekends game against Towson to work out the cinks before they get into the heart of their SEC schedule. 

4.  Georgia Bulldogs (4-0) LW 4
Even though Vanderbilt is struggling, it's still a big accomplishment for the Bulldogs to lay the lumber to them.  Georgia started early and keep and often cruisng to an early 27-3 lead at halftime.  QB Aaron Murray continues to run this offense like a fine oiled machine.  He threw for 250 yards and 2 scores.  But the story is the defense.  Holding the Commadores to only 3 points is pretty good.  If the defense keeps playing at this level the Bulldogs should win the SEC East and have a good shot at winning the conference.  But they'll have to get past an improved Tennessee team before thier big showdown with South Carolina.


5.  South Carolina Gamecocks (4-0) LW 5
Even though there was some mismanagement of Connor Shaw, luckily he was alright and able to play in their game against Missouri.  And it's a good thing he did play, because Shaw was one of the biggest reasons that the Gamecocks were able to get an easy 21 point win.  Shaw was so good that he complete 20 straight passes in route to 249 yards and 2 TDs.  That's pretty good considering he hurt his shoulder two weeks in a row.  The Gamecock defense was also on theri game against Missouri.  Holding the Tigers high powered offense to only 10 points.  South Carolina now travels to Kentucky before their big time showdown with Georgia.  Kentucky isn't very good, but South Carolina cannot afford to look past the Wildcats because if this season is any indicator.  Anything can happen.


6.  Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0) LW 12
I wasn't a big believer of Notre Dame early in this season, but their wins against Michigan State and Michigan have shown us that this Fighting Irish team is their best they've had in 10 years.  And are a serious contender.  The biggest reason is the play of their defense.  Lead by Manti Te'o the Irish defense is suffacating and has help both Michigan Schools to a total of 9 points.  Pretty good considering that Michigan's Dennard Robinson is such a dynamic player.  However their downfall could be the offense.  Surprising since HC Brian Kelly is a "offensive guru."  Notre Dame needed back up QB Tommy Rees to come in to spark the team to get the win.  When they play against Stanford and USC they'll need more than 13 points to get the win.


7.  Florida State Seminoles (4-0) LW 11
In the battle for ACC supremiscy, the Seminoles came out the winner.  Their game against Clemson was suppose to be a battle between Clemson's high powered offense vs the Seminoles stout defense.  But it was Florida State's offense that got them the victory.  EJ Manuel was the star of the game.  He threw for 380 yards and rushed for another 102 yards.  Manuel's preformance has thrust him right into the Heisman Race.  Defensively the Seminoles were far from great, but they did enough to insure the win.  Florida State has an easy schedule ahead of them.  As long as they stay focused, their only two challenges will come from Virginia Tech and Florida. 


8.  Kansas State Wildcats (4-0) LW 14
After losing to Oklahoma by 41 points last year, the Wildcats were out for revenge and to show everybody that they are for real.  They sure did that in their win over the Sooners.  QB Collin Klein was his typcial self, but it was the play of RB John Hubert that allowed the Wildcats to get the victory.  Hubert rushed for 130 yards and a score to help take some of the burdeon off Klein.  Add in a TD off a fumble recovery and it was a good game all around for KState.  KState has a bye week before facing off against in state rival Kansas.  The bye week could allow the Wildcats a chance to regroup after a big win, but they can't get too big.  However they do face off against Kansas ni their next game.  So playing an in state rival could keep their focus.  But the Wildcats are for real and have a great shot at winning the Big 12.


9.  Stanford Cardinal (3-0) LW 8
After upsettting USC, the Cardinal had a week off to rest up before continuing their Pac 12 schedule.  Their opponent this weekend is a Washington team whose only loss came at LSU.  Mobile QB Keith Price will really test how good this Cardinal defense really is.  However if Stanford plays like they did against USC, they should have no issues with Washington.  But they can't take them lighly.  Washington is very underrated.


10.  USC Trojans (3-1) LW 9
After losing to Stanford, the Trojans were happy to get back to playing and took out some of their frustrations on California.  The Trojan offense focused their efforts to the ground and it payed off with Silas Redd and Curtis McNeal both going for over 100 yards and combining for 273 yards.  This is a good sign because USC struggled to run the ball last year.  Elsewhere, QB Matt Barkley continued to play sloppy throwing 2 INTs for the second straight week. USC has a bye week this weekend to get things in order before they get into the heart of Pac 12 play.  They'll need to get the offense back in order if they want to get victories over UCLA, Oregon State, and Oregon.


11.  West Virginia Mountaineers (3-0) LW 10
It wasn't the blowout or the video game like stats we thought we'd get from West Virginia's game against Maryland.  But the biggest thing was that the Mountaineers got the victory.  QB Geno Smith didn't complete 90% of his passes, but he still played at a high level throwing 338 yards 3 TDs and 0 INTs.  WR Tavon Austin had a career day against his home state team.  He caught 13 passes (sets the WV all time receptions record) for 179 yards and 3 TDs.  After a realtively weak non conference season, the Mountaineers begin their first Big 12 season and they drew a dousy to start.  Baylor and West Virginia will be a shootout between to high powered offenses.  However the Mountaineers appear to have the better defense and the game is at home.  But this will be a fun game to watch.


12.  Clemson Tigers (3-1) LW 7
Could you imagine how good Clemson could be if their defense was above average?  We may be talking about a National Championship contender.  They brought in Brent Venables (former Oklahoma DC) to be their new DC, but they haven't seen an immediate return.  The offense did their job scoring 37 points.  Which in most games will get you a win.  However the defense allowed Florida State to score 49.  That's just not going to cut it.  Luckily the Tigers don't have to face a lot of high powered offenses the rest of the season.  But if Clemson ever wants to get to the next level.  They are going to need to figure it out.


13.  Oklahoma Sooners (2-1) LW 6
Landry Jones' struggles were a big reason the Sooners lost to Kansas State.  Sure you can't place the entire blame on him, but he did make some crucial errors at the wrong time.  He had a critical fumble that KState ended up returning for a TD and then threw a INT that helped give the Wildcats the lead.  Landry was thought at one time to be a future top 10 pick in the NFL Draft, but his play since the middle of last year has left a lot to be desired.  Add in that backup QB Blake Bell's fumble at the goal line resulted in a FG instead of a TD doesn't make matters any better.  It's a shame because this Sooner defense is pretty good.  Oklahoma now has a bye this weekend for them to stew about this loss before they play Texas Tech before the Red River Shootout against Texas.  The Sooners cannot afford to look past the Red Riaders, because they've done it before and it's come back to bite them.

14.  Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0) LW 15
Ohio State gets the win over UAB to stay perfect.  However you have to wonder when or if their struggles are going to catch up to them.  In every game so far this season the Buckeyes have struggled at some point.  Their biggest struggle is slow starts.  Those are fine when you are playing UCF and UAB, but in Big 10 play teams could jump out early and take you out.  However QB Braxton Miller has sparked the Buckeyes to get the victories.  Against UAB he was just average.  He'll need to be at the top of his game this weekend against Michigan State.  The Spartan defense is one of the best in the nation and has the athletes to contain Miller.

15.  Florida Gators (4-0) LW 16
It wasn't much of a challenge for Florida in their 38 to 0 win over Kentucky.  Florida started early and never let up.  But did you know that this shut out win was the first time the Gators have shut out an SEC opponent since 2001?  That's over 10 years!  With all the crappy offenses we've seen in the SEC lately, the Gators haven't shut one out.  That's pretty remarkable.  Florida can now shift their focus towards LSU who they play in two weeks.  Having an extra week to prepare should get the Gators extra focused.

16.  Michigan State Spartans (3-1) LW 17
I know that Eastern Michigan is improving, but seriously Michigan State?  Your going to struggle against them?  I guess you were really looking ahead to the Ohio State game.  Because there is no reason that Michigan State had to score 20 straight points to sneak away with a victory.  What's even more alarming is that Le'Veon Bell got 36 carries.  This was suppose to be a game where the Spartans could rest Bell a little before the Big 10 season.  Instead they needed all 36 carries to get the win.  What's worse is that the Spartans now face an Ohio State team that has a ton of talent.  Michigan State is going to need QB Andrew Maxwell to really show up if they want to win.

17.  Texas Longhorns (3-0) LW 18
Texas enjoyed a nice weekend off in preperation for the start of Big 12 season.  Texas starts off conference play with back to back tough games against the state of Oklahoma.  Oklahoma State is up first.  This ain't your Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon Oklahoma State teams, but they still know how to score and they're going to put Texas defense to the test.  After Okie State, Texas then travels up to Dallas for the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma.  The Sooners have dominanted lately, but there coming off a loss to KState and the Longhorns now have some stability at the QB position.  Because history has told us that the team with the best QB usually wins that game.


18.  Louisville Cardinals (4-0) LW 19
Even without Teddy Bridgewater at the top of his game, the Cardinals were able to secure a victory over Florida International and get revenge from last year's defeat.  Bridgewater threw for more incompletions in this game than he had all three previous.  Add in 2 INTs and it wasn't what we've seen so far this year.  However he throw 2 TDs and rush for another one to help keep Lousiville undefeated.  Louisville now moves on to face Southern Miss who despite an 0-3 record is still a dangerous team.

19.  TCU Horned Frogs (3-0) LW 20
It was a complete game victory for the Horned Frogs.  Defensively TCU played up to their reputation.  They held Virginia to 7 points and forced 4 turnovers.  offensively QB Casey Pachall had a game.  He threw for 305 yards and 3 TDs.  WR Brandon Carter was the leading receiver and made a highlight one handed catch that put TCU ahead for good.  TCU now moves on to face in state rival SMU to finish out the non-conference schedule.  SMU should be an wasy win and give the Horned Frogs their 12 straight win.


20.  Virginia Tech Hokies (3-1) LW 21
Virginia Tech couldn't wait to get back onto the field after their horrible loss to hapless Pittsburgh.  What better way to do that then to beat up on a MAC school.  That's exactly what VaTech did in their 37-0 victory over Bowling Green.  QB Logan Thomas didn't put up eye popping numbers, but he ran and passed for 209 yards and 3 TDs.  But what is alarming is that VaTech has to rely on Thomas to help their running game.  That will be something they figure out soon because it could cost them a few games.  Especially if Thomas gets banged up.  The Hokies now travel to Cincinnati which has all the firepower to knock off the Hokies.


21.  Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1) LW 23
When you schedule a FCS opponent your suppose to be them like Nebraska did against Idaho State 73-7.  Severly overmatched the Bengals just couldn't do much against the Huskers.  Heck Nebraska even rested QB Taylor Martinez in the 1st quarter.  The game didn't accomplish much, but it did allow the Huskers to get RB Rex Burkhead back on the field and get some reps before their game against Wisconsin.  The Big 10 is wide open this year and it may come down to whose offense is playing the best.  And right now the Huskers are the only team (besides Ohio State who is ineligible) whose offense has shown that can put up points consistantly.  Add in Wisconsin's struggles so far and this should allow the Huskers to get revenge from last year's beat down in Madison.


22.  Baylor Bears (3-0) LW 24
After knocking off Arkansas and then almost getting Auburn, the Lousiana Monroe Warhawks almost got another BCS conference team.  Baylor needed two late TDs to take then lead and then get some breathing room.  Baylor was lead by QB Nick Florence's 351 yards 4 TDs.  But the big concern with Baylor is always their defense.  If they give up 42 points to Lousiana Monroe, how many are they going to give up against West Virginia?  That game could be a track meet.


23.  Tennessee Volunteers (3-1) LW 25
Everybody was real quick to write off Tenessee after their loss to Florida.  However they almost won that game and still have looked pretty impressive so far this season.  They followed up the loss to Florida with a 21 point win over Akron.  The offense continues to score a boat load of points, but if they want to make some noise in the SEC, they'll have to play some defense.  Georgia is their next opponent and that will be tough.  However they have the firepower to do so.


24.  Northwestern Wildcats (4-0) LW NR
One of the surprise teams so far this season has to be Northwestern.  The Wildcats are 4-0 and have three wins over BCS conference schools.  It's not like Northwestern's success is a product of their schedule.  They've looked impressive in wins over Vanderbilt, Syracuse, and Boston College.  The schedule also sets up where they can be 7-0 heading into the game against Nebraska.  The same team Northwestern beat in Lincoln last year.  The Big 10 is wide open right now and with the scoring they can do, they could be a sleeper in the Lengends Division.


25.  Michigan Wolverines (2-2) LW 13
Michigan was everybody's darling to start the season.  With Dennard Robinson back, Greg Mattison's defense, and Brady Hoke's personality the Wolverines were going win the Big 10 and be a contender for the National Championship.  Their dominating loss to Alabama in the first game was a huge blow, but their latest loss against Notre Dame was even more damning.  We all knew that there were questions about their defense, but the loss to Notre Dame raises questions about their ability to score.  Notre Dame has a good defense, but Michigan should be able to score at least a TD.  Michigan now moves on to face a Purdue team that is underrated.

Dropped From the Rankings:  UCLA

Heisman Watch (Week 4)

1.  Geno Smith QB West Virginia

Last Week:  30/43 338 3 TDs vs Maryland (31-21)  Next Week:  vs Baylor
Comments: It wasn't the video game numbers that Geno Smith has been putting up lately, but Smith was still spectacular in West Virginia's win over Maryland.  His 338 yards helped shred the Terrapin defense and help the Mountaineers improve their record to 3-0.  Smith continues to play at a high level and is clearly the front runner to win the award.  Right now there really isn't a close #2.  But it won't get any easier for West Virginia.  Big 12 conference play starts this weekend and Smith won't have to face any elite defenses, but they are still a lot better than anything he has seen so far.  But if he keeps up this pace he'll be fine.

2.  Collin Klein QB Kansas State
Last Week: 13/21 149 0 TDs, 79 yards rushing 1 TD vs O (24-19)  Next Week: vs Kansas
Comments:  In typical Collin Klein fashion, it wasn't pretty but the Wildcats and Klein got the job done.  Klein's stats where not amazing, but he did have a combined 228 yards, but the big thing was getting the victory over top 10 rated Oklahoma.  The win vaults KState up the rankings and showcases Klein to the national stage.  The win also avenges the Wildcats 41 point loss to the Sooners last year.  Things do get easier for Klein and the Wildcats this week as they face off against in state rival Kansas.  The Jayhawks are awful this year and should allow Klein to put up some gaudy numbers.

3.  Le'Veon Bell RB Michigan State
Last Week:  36 carries 253 yards 1 TD vs Eastern Michigan (23-7) Next Week:  vs Ohio State

Comments:  The Spartans struggled against lowly MAC Eastern Michigan, but it wasn't at any fault to Le'Veon Bell.  Despite an inability to put Eastern Michigan out of the game early, Bell was at his best rushing for 253 yards and a touchdown.  This performance is just what Bell needed to stay in the hunt for the Heisman.  He has a long ways to go to get back to being one of the favorites, but their game against Ohio State this week could give him that national boost that he needs.  And the way Ohio State's defense has been playing, Bell has as good of a chance as anybody.



4.  EJ Manuel QB Florida State
Last Week:  27/35 380 2 TDs vs Clemson (49-37)  Next Week:  at South Florida
Comments:   With Florida State needing to seize the opportunity against Clemson, the senior QB stepped up.  Manuel threw for 380 yards and rushed for 102.  The Seminoles needed every bit of those yards to out score the Tigers high flying offense.  Not only did Manuel throw for a bunch of yards, but he was just as lethal with his feet.  Manuel was a dark horse candidate to win the award, but after the Seminoles big victory over Clemson and Manuel's performance, he is now thrust into contention.  Especially with the race so wide open.  Florida State has an easy schedule ahead of them with only Virginia Tech and Florida being possible ranked teams.  If the Seminoles can get through the season unscathed, Manuel has a great opportunity to make some noise in the Heisman Race.

5.  Matt Barkley QB USC

Last Week:  22/34 192 2 TDs 2 INTs, 102 yards rushing vs California (27-9)  Next Week:  at Utah
Comments:  Looking to bounce back from their big loss to Stanford, Barkley was able to lead the Trojans to victory, but he didn't look good doing so.  With the emphasis put on the run game it came at the cost of Matt Barkley.  Not only did Barkley throw for less than 200 yards, but he threw 2 picks also.  Those aren't terrible numbers, but it's not like he was very efficient.  Barkley still has an outside shot at winning the Heisman Trophy, but his national perception isn't the greatest.  He'll have to clean his game up and elevate his passing numbers.

Others to Watch

6.  Jonathan Franklin RB UCLA
7.  De'Anthony Thomas RB/WR Oregon
8.  Braxton Miller QB Ohio State

NCAA Top 25 (Week 3)

1.  Alabama Crimson Tide (3-0) LW 2
It's easy to say now, but even if USC were to have beaten Stanford Alabama would have moved up into the #1 spot.  Even though they lost so many elite players off their team, they have dominated.  Just look at the Arkansas game.  Alabama was favored, but nobody would have guessed that they would roll to a 52-0 win.  The way that the Crimson Tide are playing they should roll into the LSU game undefeated and face a familiar situation as they did last year.

2.  LSU Tigers (3-0) LW 3
It was what it was suppose to be against Idaho.  A complete butt kicking.  Idaho never stood a chance in this one.  LSU jumped on them early and besides a 14 point 2nd quarter the Vandals didn't have much to show for it (except a check to come play there).  QB Zach Mettenberger continues to improve, completing 77% of his passes and throwing for 222 yards and 2 TDs.  As he continues to get better, the Tigers chances of getting back to the National Title game keep rising.  Their game against Auburn this weekend shouldn't be too tough, but at least tells us more of how good this team is.

3.  Oregon Ducks (3-0) LW 4
Oregon is finally done with their weak non-conference schedule which did nothing more than glorified scrimmages.  The Ducks have to hope that all these games against WAC, Sun Belt, and FCS schools where nothing more than dress rehearsals for the Pac 12 season.  All three games were blow outs with the offense putting up video game numbers.  But there has to be some concern that the defense, which is suppose to be the best Chip Kelly has had, has give up more than 20 points twice.  That could become problematic with their match up this weekend against Arizona whose offense is running on all cylinders under Rich Rod.  It could be a track meet between these two teams.

4.  Georgia Bulldogs (3-0) LW 5
To say Georgia dominated is an understatement.  Not only did Georgia win by 36, but they amassed over 700 yards of offense against FAU.  They must have felt bad for the Owls to only put up 56 points in the win.  But the game gave the Bulldogs a chance to get ready for a stretch run that will be pretty tough.  Vanderbilt is their next opponent who will give them everything they have.  That is followed up by Tennessee and South Carolina.  Georgia cannot afford a slip up, because they have a shot at a really good season.

5.  South Carolina Gamecocks (3-0) LW 6
The Gamecocks got the big win many expected by defeating UAB 49-6, however they may have been the true losers here.  Instead of sitting QB Connor Shaw against an easy win, they forced the issue and it came back to bite them.  Shaw left the game in the 2nd quarter after re injuring his shoulder.  I have no idea why they would play him in this game with the SEC starting soon.  Especially after backup Dylan Thompson played so well last weekend.  Now Shaw is likely out next week against Missouri and could be even rustier against Georgia in three weeks which could decide the SEC East.  I hope it was worth it.

6.  Oklahoma Sooners (2-0) LW 7
Oklahoma enjoyed a weekend off before their match up against #14 Kansas State.  The game against KState will be a true test to see how good both teams are.  Has Oklahoma improved from their struggles last year that had them finishing out of the top 2 spots in the conference?  Are they back to the juggernaut and regular BCS Bowl team we are use to?  What Oklahoma team are we going to see?  The team that struggled at UTEP?  Or the team that rolled over Florida A&M?  Because Kansas State is no slouch, especially if Colin Klein gets going.  We'll have to watch to find out.

7.  Clemson Tigers (3-0) LW 8
Not that Furman stood much of a chance, but the Clemson Tigers avoided a trap game in anticipation of their huge game against Florida State.  What's even better is that stud sophomore WR Sammie Watkins returned from his two game suspension and got his feet wet before facing off against the Seminole defense.  QB Tajh Boyd continued his steller play throwing for 310 yards and 2 TDs.  They'll need a big game from Boyd if they want their chance at a possible National Championship.

8.  Stanford Cardinal (3-0) LW 21
Stanford makes a huge jump here moving up 13 spots from 21 to 8.  The biggest reason is that the Cardinal had to prove that they were still the real deal after losing Andrew Luck and company.  Their narrow win over San Jose State in week 1 didn't help things out.  But they proved the doubters wrong with their big upset victory over our previous #1 USC.  Stanford's defense was especially impressive shutting down the potent Trojan offense that had so many weapons.  Stanford has the week off, which is probably a good thing after this big win.  But they still have some big games coming up and their next game, against Washington, isn't a push over.

9.  USC Trojans (2-1) LW 1
The big talk going into this season was USC possibly winning the National Title in their first year off suspension.  QB Matt Barkley was returning and the addition of Silas Redd was going to put them over the top.  However there was always questions about their run defense and that was exactly what was exposed against Stanford.  The Trojans allowed the Cardinal to rush for 202 yards which was the difference in the wni.  Add in a couple of miscues by QB Matt Barkley in the final drive and there is no wonder why they dropped the game.  But this isn't the end for the Trojans.  They still have games against 4 ranked opponents and as long as they take care of business they still have a shot to win the Pac 12 and just maybe sneak back into the National Championship picture.

10.  West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0) LW 13
It hasn't necessarily been the fact that they've beaten any "big names" that has caused the Mountaineers from rising up the rankings, but more of how they've beaten the two teams they've played.  Both games so far have been complete blowouts and the Mountaineer offense is running on all cylinders.  Add in that there isn't a lot of defense played in the Big 12 and West Virginia is going to be tough to beat.  This weekend should be no different.  They play host to a poor Maryland program that has struggled under head coach Randy Edsall.  It should be another easy win for the Mountaineers.

11.  Florida State Seminoles (3-0) LW 14
There isn't a lot to say about their win over Wake Forrest.  They were suppose to blow out a bad team.  I've yet to fully trust this Florida State team.  Many voters and "experts" have proclaimed them back and have a top 5 ranking in both the Coaches Poll and AP.  However the Seminoles haven't shown me anything yet.  Yeah they've won a few games by a wide margin, but they haven't played anybody yet (Suppose to play West Virginia last week).  Remember this is still the program that lost four games last year.  We'll find out how good they really are this weekend against Clemson.  A win there would be huge because their remaining schedule isn't very daunting (Only Virginia Tech and Florida will be ranked when they play). 

12.  Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-0) LW NR
Much like Florida Sate I'm not too quick to call Notre Dame back.  Beating Navy and Purdue are nothing to get excited about.  However their win against Michigan State was.  The Fighting Irish was able to shut down the Michigan State offense and not allow a single TD.  Everybody talks about how good of an offensive mind HC Brian Kelly is, but it's the Irish defense that is the bread and butter of this team.  If the Irish keep playing like they have, they should find their way back to a BCS game.  However they have a tough test this weekend against Michigan.  Dennard Robinson will give them fits, if they can shut him down like Alabama did, then we might be talking about the Irish in the top 10 for the first time in a while.

13.  Michigan Wolverines (2-1) LW 12
The nice thing about the non-conference games is that if you suffer a bad loss at the beginning of the season, you can get your confidence back back quickly.  That's exactly what Michigan has done this year.  This weekend they got to run up the score on UMass and get the team pumped up for a top 15 match up with the surging Notre Dame Fighting Irish.  This is exactly what the Wolverines need to show everybody that their game against Alabama was a fluke.  But they'll have to face off against a very strong Notre Dame defense that is going to pose a lot of problems for QB Dennard Robinson.

14.  Kansas State Wildcats (3-0) LW 15
You can't help but wonder if the Wildcats were looking past North Texas to their game against Oklahoma.  That could explain the dud that they put up.  If it wasn't for QB Colin Klein we could be talking about KState suffering a big time loss right before the start of conference play.  Instead we have another clutch performance from Klein that has thrust him right in the middle of the Heisman Race.  If KState wants to beat Oklahoma they are going to have to have a big game from their defense (mainly Arthur Brown) and have some offensive players not named Klein step up. 

15.  Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0) LW 11
Maybe this whole transition to Urban Meyer isn't going to happen overnight after all.  Sure they're 3-0 and Braxton Miller is looking like the perfect Urban Meyer QB.  But there is still a reason for concern.  Mainly the fact that a bad Cal team took Ohio State to the wire and gave them a real scare.  The defense was suppose to be the strong suit with a ton of talent.  Instead they give up 28 points to Cal.  What's going to happen when they face off against offenses like Michigan or Nebraska?  Luckily they have time to figure that out before conference starts.  Their game against UAB should be nothing but a blowout. 

16.  Florida Gators (3-0) LW 16
The Florida Gators are starting to really hit a stride under new HC Will Muschamp.  After welcoming Texas A&M into the conference, the Gators had the task of facing off against a surging Tennessee team.  For most of the game it looked like Tennessee was going to get the win, but the Gators exploded for 24 straight points and pulled away with the win.  RB Mike Gillislee continues to be the star of the team giving the Gators a consistent runner which has done wonders to help QB Jeff Driskel become more acclimated to the offense.  With Kentucky being their opponent this weekend it should give them a easy win before the meat of the SEC comes.

17.  Michigan State Spartans (2-1) LW 9
They had their chance to really make an early impact on the season.  Sitting at #9 a win over Notre Dame would have jolted the Spartans closer to the top 5 and we may have heard some talk about them being a National Title contender.  But then they went out and layed an egg against Notre Dame.  Actually more like they got dominated by Notre Dame.  The Irish exposed QB Andrew Maxwell and the Spartans inability to throw the ball.  That lead to them stacking the box against Le'Veon Bell and taking the Spartan offense out of the game.  However on the bright side, the Spartans are still the favorites in the Big 10 and still have the best shot of getting to the Rose Bowl.

18.  Texas Longhorns (3-0) LW 17
Texas scored early and often in their 66-31 route of Mississippi.  Ole Miss isn't a good team, but this win gave the Longhorns some road experience before they start Big 12 conference play.  QB David Ash continues to shine.  Against the Rebels Ash threw for 326 yards and 4 TDS on 19/23 passing.  Now Texas can enjoy a nice weekend off before their 1st game of conference play against Oklahoma State. But they'll need to sure up their defense, because if they gave up 31 points to Mississippi Okie State will put up double that.

19.  Louisville Cardinals (3-0) LW 18
It looked like Louisville was going to cruise to an easy win over North Carolina.  At halftime it was 36-7.  However the Cardinal offense stalled and the North Carolina offense caught fire.  It took a deflected pass in the endzone to help preserve the victory and help the Cardinals stay perfect on the season.  A close call, but something the Cardinals don't want to repeat anymore.  But the good news is that Bridgewater continues to be so efficient.  Another game another solid performance.  23/28 (82%) for 279 yards and 3 TDs.  Add in 114 yards rushing from Jeremy Wright and it was a good day.  Now if the defense would have held up their end of it.  Next week the Cardinals look to avenge a loss to the FIU Panthers from last year. 

20.  TCU Horned Frogs (2-0) LW 20
Conventional wisdom would suggest that when a new team to a conference makes their debut, they would bring everything they got.  Especially when that team is coming from a lower conference and wanting to show that they are the real deal.  So when TCU drew Kansas as their 2st opponent in the Big 12 everybody was assuming we would see a blow out.  Instead we saw an uninspired performance and only a 14 point victory over a Kansas team that is flat out awful.  If TCU wants to have a good first year, they are going to need to step it up.

21.  Virginia Tech Hokies (2-1) LW 10
After Pittsburgh lost to Youngstown State and Cincinnati (in blowout fashion) it seemed that the highly ranked Hokies would breeze past the Panthers.  Well the Hokies must have thought that too and Pittsburgh caught them.  Oh boy did they catch them.  Pitt got on VaTech early and never let up.  Jumping out to a 14 points lead, the Hokies who have started out slow never could catch up.  This loss ends the Hokies shot as a dark horse candidate for a National Championship and it also ruins QB Logan Thomas' shot at the Heisman.  But at least it wasn't a conference game (yet) and the Hokies still are right in the thick of things with Clemson.

22.  UCLA Bruins (3-0) LW 23
The combination of QB Brett Hundley and RB Jonathan Franklin have struck again.  Both players were dynamic in their 37-6 win over Houston.  The win avenges the Bruins loss to the Cougars last year.  Hundley was the star of the game.  The redshirt freshman QB continues to shine throwing for 320 yards and 2 TDs.  With their easy schedule the Bruins should continue to roll and will probably come close to the top 10 before their showdown with Arizona on November 3rd.  But they can't look past Oregon State who knocked off Wisconsin two weeks ago.

23.  Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-1) LW 25
After the debacle that was their defense against UCLA, the Huskers bounced back to take care of things against a dangerous Arkansas State team.  Even with head coach Bo Pelini being taken to the hospital (for precautionary reasons) at halftime, the Huskers made quick work and cruised to a 42-13 victory.  This was a much need victory in the sense that it got the Huskers back on the field and has the momentum going the right way.  But the Big 10 season could get long if the Huskers revert back to their poor tackling ways.

24.  Baylor Bears (2-0) LW 22
Baylor was one of the many schools who took their bye week this wee after only two weeks into the season.  Sometimes it just works that way, but you would think teams would better manage their off weeks to better utilize them, rather than just having them randomly.  But maybe they did that because the Bears face off against one of the peskiest teams in college football.  Lousiana Monroe comes to down just off of beating Arkansas and almost beating Auburn.  Baylor better be on top of things, or they could suffer the same fate as the Razorbacks.  But the thing the Bears have going for them is their explosive offense.  Something that Arkansas and Auburn don't have this year.

25.  Tennessee Volunteers (2-1) LW 19
It looked like the Volunteers were finally going to knock off their long time rival Florida and continue this great start to the year, but they just couldn't hold onto the lead and gave up 24 straight points to let the game slip through their fingers.  If Tennessee can learn from this game they still have a shot to have a great season, but if they stay too down on this game they could really go south.  Luckily they face off against Akron this weekend and can get back on track before their game against Georgia.

Dropped From the Rankings:  Arkansas Razorbacks

Heisman Watch (Week 3)

1.  Geno Smith QB West Virginia

Last Week:  34/39 411 yards 5 TDs vs James Madison (42-12) Next Week:  vs Maryland
Comments: We were beginnnig to see a trend in Heisman Winners.  The trophy was going to the top player on one of the teams in the National Title game.  Last year that trend was broken by RG3 mainly because he had such a great season compared to everybody else.  Could we see that this year with Geno Smith?  I don't see West Virvinia making it to the Nationa Championship, but it's going to be hard to think of anybody else playing as good as Smith.  Against James Madison Smith was flawless.  He completed 87% of his passes (88% on the season) and threw for 411 yards and 5 TDs.  That is just flat remarkable.  I don't see an end in sight.  Next week they play Maryland who is bad, and then the Big 12 isn't known for lock down defeneses.  With all the turmoil in college football, could we see Smith running away with this?

2.  Matt Barkley QB USC

Last Week:  20/41 254 yards O TDs 2 INTs vs Stanford (14-21)  Next Week:  vs California
Comments:  It was a bad day for Barkley and the Trojans.  In their first real test of the season they failed to get enough offense to get the victory.  Even though he had 254 yards Barkley struggled and made some poor decisons that cost them the victory.  Mainly him taking 2 sacks on the final drive and throwing the final pass out of bounds.  Add in his 2 INTs and it's not a grea day for the Heisman favorite.  Now Barkley's chances of winning the award are not gone.  But he'll have to have a steller rest of the season including a couple of big wins against Oregon, Arizona, and Notre Dame.  Otherwise it's going to be tough sailing.

3.  Colin Klein QB Kansas State
Last Week: 15/20 230 2 TDs 1 INT, 85 yards rushing 1 TD vs North Texas (35-21)  Next Week: @ Oklahoma
Comments:  The rest of the KState team may have looked sloppy against North Texas, but Colin Klein just keeps rolling.  Klein had a combined 315 yards and 3 TDs and was a clutch when the Wildcats needed him the most.  However if Klein wants a realistic shot of winning the Heisman, he's going to need a huge game this next week against top 10 ranked Oklahoma.  A big game here and a win could thrust Klein right up there with Geno Smith as the new favorites.  A dud for a game could end his chances.

4.  Le'Veon Bell RB Michigan State
Last Week:  19 carries for 77 yards, 20 yards receiving vs Notre Dame (3-20) Next Week:  vs Eastern Michigan

Comments:  The stage was set for Bell to really get his Heisman chances rolling.  However being blown out by Notre Dame has put a damper on his momentum.  However it's not really all his fault.  Without any semblance of a passing attack, Notre Dame was able to load up the box and put their focus onto Bell.  Le'Veon did get 77 yards, but wasn't able to find the endzone.  But the bright side is that even after the loss, Michigan State is still one of the top teams in the Big 10 and he'll have plenty more opprotunities to get some of the voters back on his side.

5.  Dennard Robinson QB Michigan
Last Week:  16/24 291 yards passing 3 TDs 1 INT, 106 yards rushing 1 TD vs UMass (63-13)  Next Week:  @ Notre Dame
Comments:  Robinson did what was expected of him in this game.  Passed and rushed for a combined 397 yards and 4 TDs against a UMass team in their first year as a FBS program.  Now the attention should focus onto their game at Notre Dame.  If Dennard still has a shot at winning the Heisman he'll need a huge game and win over the Irish.  Doing that will go a long ways in helping people forget about his week 1 disaster against Alabama.  But if he has a similar game against Notre Dame, it's bye bye to any Heisman talk.

Others to Watch

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6.  Jonathan Franklin RB UCLA
7.  De'Anthony Thomas RB/WR Oregon
8.  Everett Golson QB Notre Dame

College Football Top 25 (Week 3)

1.  USC Trojans (2-0) LW 1
Not even a lighting storm could stop the Trojans in their win over Syracuse at Met Life Stadium.  Behind QB Matt Barkley's 6 TDs passes the Trojans cruised to an easy victory.  This game also saw former Penn State RB Silas Redd surpass the 100 yard mark for the first time as a Trojan.  The only cause for concern may be USC's defense.  They gave up 29 points to Syracuse and even though the game was already decided it raises some red flags for bigger games.  Either way the Trojans should get their first true test with Stanford next.

2.  Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0) LW 2
In the week leading up to the game Alabama Head Coach took the local media to task about taking Western Kentucky too lightly.  It was all a motivational ploy to make sure his players didn't let up after drilling Michigan the week before.  Saban probably didn't need to do so, but none the less the Crimson Tide rolled Western Kentucky and even shut out the Hilltoppers.  Next week Saban shouldn't have any trouble motivating his players as they travel to Arkansas.  And even though Arkansas lost to Louisiana-Monroe, they are still a very dangerous team with the ability to upset the Tide.

3.  LSU Tigers (2-0) LW 3
In what what was thought to be a be a good match up between up and coming Washington and the 3rd ranked Tigers turned out to be a blowout.  Behind a strong running game, the LSU Tigers were able to manhandle the Huskies to the tune of 242 yards and 3 TDs.  Alfred Blue lead the way with 102 yards and a score while Kenny Hilliard had two scores also.  QB Zach Mettenburger also step up his game from week 1 and looked a lot more comfortable running the offense.  Next week should be an easy one for the Tigers as they play host to Idaho.  Which should serve as another warm up game to get ready for SEC play.

4.  Oregon Ducks (2-0) LW 4
The running backs were main story in Oregon's 42-25 victory over Fresno State.  Kenjon Balmer was the star of the game with his 201 yards rushing and 3 TDs.  His running mate De'Anthony Thomas chimed in with 102 yards and 2 TDs also.  Oregon was able to do what ever they wanted rushing the ball and it showed.  The Ducks have one more tune up game (Tennessee Tech) left before they start the Pac 12 season.  They'll use it to get even more experience for QB Marcus Mariota who they'll need to have a big year if they want to make it back to their 2nd National Championship game in three years.

5.  Georgia Bulldogs (2-0) LW 5
After trailing for most of the game, Georgia had to rally late to get the win.  Welcoming Missouri to the SEC.  A huge reason for the comeback was the play of start OLB Jarvis Jones.  Jones  forced a fumble when he sacked Missouri QB James Franklin and then on the next series he picked off a Franklin pass which he nearly took back for a TD.  Those two plays really jump started the Bulldogs and allowed them to cruise to a 41-20 win.  This win had to be extra satisfying mainly because Georgia had to endure Missouri players running their mouth about the Bulldogs playing "Old Man Football."  This weekend the Bulldogs should have an easier road against Florida Atlantic which should allow them to work out some cinks.

6.  South Carolina Gamecocks (2-0) LW 6
When it was announced that QB Connor Shaw wasn't going to play, I didn't get all the concern people where having.  Sure not having your starting QB is a big issue.  But when your team is build around the running game and defense and your playing a average at best CUSA team it shouldn't be too big of a concern.  That proved to be right when the Gamecocks roared out of the gates and won by 38 points and backup QB Dylan Thompson looked very good.  330 yards and 3 TDs good.  Thompson played so good I would rest Shaw in their game against UAB to make sure that he is fully rested.  UAB isn't very good and Thompson should be able to lead them to victory.

7.  Oklahoma Sooners (2-0) LW 7
It was your typical top 10 team vs FCS type of game here.  Oklahoma overwhelmed Florida A&M in route to a 69-13 victory.  It's hard to gauge much from a game like this, but Sooner fans have to be excited about the play of junior RB Damein Williams.  Williams stole the show with 156 yards and 4 TDs.  The speedster had scores from 89 and 65 yards.  The Sooners were also able to get Penn State transfer WR Justin Brown into the action and hopefully get him some chemistry with QB Landry Jones.  Oklahoma has a week off before their big showdown with #15 Kansas State. 

8.  Clemson Tigers (2-0) LW 8
Clemson's offense is really starting to take off and they still haven't had stud WR Sammie Watkins who was still serving a suspension.  QB Tajh Boyd has continued to improve his accuracy and running this team.  His play in big games could be the difference between them going undefeated or losing a key game or two.  But none the less this Clemson offense is going to be even more dangerous than last year.  The biggest key will be their defense which didn't get tested against Ball State and probably won't against next week's opponent, Furman. 

9.  Michigan State Spartans (2-0) LW 10
After their big victory over Boise State in week 1, the Spartans had an easier road against in state Central Michigan.  RB Le'Veon Bell didn't have a huge game, but Michigan State didn't need him to do so.  Instead they used this opportunity to get QB Andrew Maxwell's confidence going.  And they definitely did that here.  Maxwell passed for 275 yards 2 TDs and 0 INTs.  Right now Michigan State looks like the cream of the crop of the Big 10 and they're going to need a big season out of Maxwell if they want to continue this positive momentum.  They get a big opportunity this weekend when they host Notre Dame.  Notre Dame has played well so far, so a win by the Spartans could jump them past a few teams here in the rankings.

10.  Virginia Tech Hokies (2-0) LW 12
It's always nice to have a cupcake game right after a hard fought contest to start the year.  After beating Georgia Tech and their triple option offense the Hokies got a break facing off against FCS foe Austin Peay.  In their win it was vintage Beamer Ball.  VaTech had a blocked punt and a near punt return for a TD to help get things going before they open things up offensively in route to a 42-7 victory.  You have to wonder if slow starts like they've had both games could come back to hurt them once they get to ACC play.  We'll find out this week as they face off against Pittsburgh who is struggling now, but still has a ton of talent.

11.  Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0) LW 13
Braxton Miller continues to shine in Urban Meyer's spread offense.  This week he did it mainly with his legs.  Miller rushed for 141 yards and 3 TDs and is putting fear into defensive coordinator minds.  However he did struggle passing the ball which could hurt him come conference season.  But with a strong defense the Buckeyes are going to be one heck of a team to beat.  This upcoming weekend they'll face off against California who got back on track after losing to Nevada to start the season.

12.  Michigan Wolverines (1-1) LW 14
After being embarrassed at the hands of Alabama, the Wolverines were anxious to get back on the field and show everybody that they are a much better team that what they showed in that game.  Against Air Force their offense showed that they are still very dangerous.  QB Dennard Robinson bounced back and had a combined 426 yards and 3 TDs.  However there are still some concerns since they only beat an average Air Force team by 6 and gave up 25 points.  What will happen when they play Michigan State, Ohio State, or Nebraska whose offenses are far superior than them.

13.  West Virginia Mountaineers (1-0) LW 15
After a big blowout of Marshall, West Virginia enjoyed an off week.  I'm not a big fan of off weeks this early in the season, but at least it five st eh Mountaineers to fine some mistakes they saw in the opener.  If there were any.  This weeks match up against James Madison should be interesting.  Meaning how many points is Dana Holgerson and QB Geno Smith going to put up on the FCS school.  Will they approach the 84 that Oklahoma State put up on Savannah State or will they call of the dogs early?

14.  Florida State Seminoles (2-0) LW 17
Just think what could have been.  FSU was scheduled to play West Virginia this game, but because the Mountaineers went to the Big 12 they had to opt out of this game.  FSU then was forced to schedule Savannah State because they had no other option.  Instead of a top 15 match up we got to see FSU just steam roll a team that might be lucky to win 2 games against FCS competition.  Luckily the game was called in the 3rd quarter due to lightning and we didn't have to endure too much more of it.  As of right now we still don't know how good of a team FSU is, but we'll get a better look this weekend as they face off against a much improved Wake Forrest team.  This could be a trap game with a trip to Clemson on the horizon.

15.  Kansas State Wildcats (2-0) LW 19
With Miami coming to town everybody was primed for hard fought game between two good teams.  Well KState quickly showed that they were the better team and asserted their dominance winning 52-13 over the Hurricanes.  The Wildcats jumped on Miami right out the gate and never stood a chance.  With 281 yards and 4 TDs total, Klein has shown everybody that he is a real contender for the Heisman Trophy.  Look for more the same with the Wildcats when they face off against North Texas this weekend.  But a big time showdown with Oklahoma is right around the corner.

16.  Florida Gators (2-0) LW 21
Along with Georgia, the Florida Gators had the luxury of welcoming a newcomer to the SEC.  Here it was Florida traveling to College Station to face off against the Aggies.  It didn't start out very good for Florida who gave up 17 points in the first half and trailed 17-10 at halftime.  But the Gator defense stepped up and shut the Aggies down in the 2nd half to get their first win for HC Will Muschamp when trailing at halftime.  Along with a stellar defensive performance, the Gators were able to make the comeback largely due to their running game.  RB Mike Gillislee had another strong showing rushing for 83 yards and both Florida TDs.  But Florida won't be able to start off slow against their next opponent, because the Tennessee Volunteers offense is one of the best in this young season.  Their game should be a must watch and will really tell us where both of these teams stand.

17.  Texas Longhorns (1-0) LW 18
It was a dominant performance on both sides of the ball for the Texas Longhorns.  Defensively they did give up 241 yards to the Lobos, but they were able to shut them out and force two turnovers.  But the big story was the play of QB David Ash.  Ash threw for 221 yards and 2 TDs and even had a nice 49 yard run for a TD.  If Texas wants to get back to the top of the Big 12 they are going to need David Ash to become a big time player.  Otherwise they'll get lost in the schuffle like they have for the past couple of years.  Their game against Ole Miss should be an interesting gauge.  Ole Miss comes into this game 2-0 and a win over UTEP.  This was the same UTEP team that gave Oklahoma fits. 

18.  Lousiville Cardinals (2-0) LW 20
Sophomore QB Teddy Bridgewater used a career day to help the Cardinals soar past FCS Missouri State.  Bridgewater threw for 344 yards and 2 TDs, but what has been the most remarkable stat for Bridgewater has been his accuracy.  Against Missouri State he completed 77% of his passes.  No matter who you play that is pretty damn good.  Add in that the Cardinals defense held the Bears to only one TD and it was a pretty successful day. 
19.  Tennessee Volunteers (2-0) LW NR
One of the biggest stories to this young college football season has been the Tennessee Volunteers.  Picked by many to finish as one of the worst teams in the SEC might have a legit shot to winning the SEC West.  The biggest reason has been the play of their offense.  QB Tyler Bray is a potential top 10 pick and he has a couple very talented WRs that he can get th ball to.  In their game against Georgia State WR Justin Hunter was unstoppable grabbing 8 balls for 146 yards and 3 TDs.  But we'll really see if this Tennessee team is for real when they face off against lon time rival Florida this weekend.  A win there would really give the Vols a ton of momentum to carry themselves through the season.

20.  TCU Horned Frogs (1-0) LW 22
With their win over Grambling State, TCU head coach Gary Patterson has become TCU's all time winningest coach.  The Horned Frogs definitely decided to get him his win in easy fasion.  What's most impressive in this game is that QB Casey Pachall threw for 201 yards completing all 9 of his passes. Pretty fantastic.  But this year will be a true test of how good of a program Patterson has built.  Coming from the Mountain West to the Big 12 (Which was rated as the #2 conference last year) it's going to be a step up week in and week out.  But at least the Big 12 did them a favor by scheduling their first conference game with Kansas.  Which should be an easy win.

21.  Stanford Cardinal (2-0) LW 24
In what could have easily been a trap game, the Caridnal were able to quickly dispose of Duke without the fear of an upset.  Drew Terrell was the star of the game with a punt return for a TD and a TD reception.  So far this season the Cardinal have aired it out a lot more.  And why not, they know what they have in Stepfan Taylor and they might as well work on the pass game before their big game against USC this weekend.  This game will really show what this team will be like without Andrew Luck and company.

22.  Baylor Bears (1-0) LW 25
It was an off week for the Bears before they play host to Sam Houston State.  If Baylor can play at the same high level they did in their opener against SMU they should be able to win convinclingly against the FCS school.  However don't sleep on Sam Houston State.  It was Sam Houston State that made it to the FCS National Championship game and lost in a close game.  So they won't be a push over.  However Baylor just has too much fire power for the Bearkats to handle.  This should be an easy one.

23.  UCLA Bruins (2-0) LW NR
This doesn't look like your UCLA teams of the past 10 years.  New head coach Jim Mora Jr. has really done wonders with this roster.  The biggest difference has been the intensity.  In their win against Nebraska their defense was all over the field and laying the lumber to the Husker players.  Offensively offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone has the offense running at an extremely high level.  QB Brett Hundley is a threat both on the ground and through the air.  But the true star is RB Jonathan Franklin.  Against Nebraska he ran for 217 yards while scoring on the game clinching TD reception.  Watch out for this team, because they have a ton of talent and schedule that should allow them to get off to a great start.

24.  Arkansas Razorbacks (1-1) LW 9
It was a very bad day for the Razorbacks.  Not only did they lose a bad game to a Lousiana-Monroe team that they should have never lost to.  But starting QB Tyler Wilson suffered a concussion and may be out of action for a while.  Not what you want when you have to face off against Alabama this next week.  But if Arkansas can't fix their issues on defense it won't matter who is playing QB for them. 

25.  Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-1) LW 16
Nebraska let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers.  UCLA is a much better team than they have been in the past, but the Huskers were a better team and still should have won.  Their defense was the huge issue giving up 653 total yards.  UCLA spread them out and beat them in one on one situations.  Offensively they had things rolling in the first half, but stalled in the 2nd.  And once they got behind they became very predictable.  The sky isn't falling, but the Huskers now have to fix some major holes on defense if they want to challenge Michigan and Michigan State for the division crown.

Dropped From Rankings:  Wisconsin Badgers, Oklahoma State Cowboys

Heisman Watch (Week 2)

1.  Matt Barkley QB USC

Last Week:  23/30 187 yards 6 TDs vs Syracuse (42-29)  Next Week:  at Stanford
Comments:  Barkley may not have racked up a ton of yards passing, but that doesn't mean he wasn't spectacular.  He only threw for 187 yards, but a big part of that was Syracuse trying to take away the big play.  But Barkley was able to dink and dunk and still rack up a remarkable 6 TDs.  He also did this completing 77% of his passes.  Next week should be a good gauge of how good Barkley and this Trojan offense will be.  They travel to Palo Alto to face Stanford.  Now this isn't your Andrew Luck's Stanford team, but they still have a ton of talent on defense and that could pose some trouble.  But Barkley just has too many weapons to struggle against any defense.



2.  Le'Veon Bell RB Michigan State

Last Week:  70 yards rushing 2 TDs vs Central Michigan (41-17)  Next Week:  vs Notre Dame

Comments:  It wasn't the spectacular game he had against Boise State, but it wasn't a dud either.  Bell rushed for only 70 yards, but he was able to get 2 TDs out of it.  This shouldn't be too big of a deal because with Michigan State cruising to an easy win, the Spartans didn't feel the need to put too much of a heavy work load on Bell.  Instead using this time to get the kinks in the passing game worked out.  Next week when the Spartans play host to Notre Dame we should see a heavy dose of #24.

3.  Geno Smith QB West Virginia

Last Week:  Bye Week Next Week:  vs James Madison
Comments: .West Virginia had a bye week, so no action for Geno Smith.  Next week the Mountaineers host FCS James Madison which should be a cake walk.  Not only that, it will be a great opportunity for Smith to put up some video game Esq stats.  And you know that West Virginia head coach Dana Holgerson isn't afraid to run up the score on anybody.

4.  Dennard Robinson QB Michigan
Last Week:  208 yards passing 2 TDs, 218 yards rushing 2 TDs vs Air Force (31-25)  Next Week:  vs UMass
Comments:  A big game and a couple players struggling ahead of him puts Robinson right back into the Heisman mix.  After struggling against Alabama, Robinson bounced back against an underrated Air Force team and looked to be his old self.  Robinson torched the Falcons on both the ground and through the air.  Michigan fans had to be happy seeing Robinson race all over the field and to his signature long runs.  Those players also leave impressions in Heisman voters minds.  We should see much the same if not better next week when Michigan host FBS newcomer UMass.

5.  Colin Klein QB Kansas State

Last Week:  9/11 210 yards passing 1 TD, 71 yards rushing 3 TDs vs Miami (FL) (52-13) Next Week:  vs North Texas
Comments:  Even though Colin Klein had a great season last year, he is often overlooked.  Not anymore.  Klein has picked up where he left off last year and is even more dangerous.  Miami now knows first hand how tough he is.  Especially to tackle.  That showed in his 71 yards rushing and 3 TDs.  Anytime KState is close to the goal line you know Klein is going to keep the ball, but stopping him isn't that easy.  What might be even more impressive is that he threw for 210 yards on only 11 passes, completing 9 of them.  81% isn't too shabby.  The Big 12 should be tough again, but the Wildcats are definitely one of the best in the league.  Another strong season could get Klein an invitation to New York.

Others to Watch

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6.  Taylor Martinez QB Nebraska
7.  Aaron Murray QB Georgia
8.  Kenjon Balmer RB Oregon 

College Football Top 25 (Week 2)

1.  USC Trojans (1-0) LW 1
USC did exactly what they were suppose to do.  They dominated a lesser team.  In this case it was Hawaii.  The Trojans looked like one of the best teams in the nation.  Their offense was running on all cylinders with QB Matt Barkley throwing the ball all over the field to the tune of 372 yards and 3 TDs.  197 of those yards were to MarQise Lee.  The defensive was also showed what they have.  Holding Hawaii scoreless for the first half and only allowing 10 points to a team that has the ability to score points.  This team looks like the real deal.

2.  Alabama Crimson Tide (1-0) LW 3
I don't normally like moving a team ahead of somebody in the top 3 with both teams winning.  However it is too hard to not be impressed with Alabama's thrashing of Michigan.  Sure I know that Michigan was probably overrated, but Alabama still dominated the game.  And that's hard to ignore.  Their defense had to replace a lot of players, but they are still deep with talent and they shut down one of the most dynamic players in college football.  Watch out SEC, Alabama ain't going anywhere!
3.  LSU Tigers (1-0) LW 2
LSU moves down a spot, but it really doesn't have anything to do with them.  It's more of what rival Alabama did.  But LSU took care of their business and it was largely due to the play of their defense and RB Kenny Hilliard.  Hilliard rushed for 141 yards and 2 TDs, one of which he took to the house from 60 yards out.  This is a good sign for the Tigers because the team will only go as far as the offense takes him.

4.  Oregon Ducks (1-0) LW 4
Even with a redshirt freshman QB starting for the first time, the Ducks are still the high flying team we've come to know.  QB Marcus Mariota looked like a season pro throwing for 3 touchdowns in his first game.  I'm glad to see that Oregon is still using De'Anthony Thomas in the hybrid RB/WR role.  With so much talent at RB it is a great way to keep him on the field.  The Oregon defense did give up 34 points, which isn't great for their "best defense under Chip Kelly" but most of it was late so that could be a factor. 

5.  Georgia Bulldogs (1-0) LW 7
The good news for Georgia is that they blew out Buffalo and true freshman Todd Gurley showed some glimpse of becoming a threat at the running back position.  That bad news is that their defense gave up 23 points and 347 yards to a Buffalo team that isn't very good.  That also diminishes Gurley's accomplishments.  55 of his 100 yards were on 1 play.  But none the less once the Bulldogs got things going they played at a high level.  The Bulldogs get a big test this next weekend when they face off against SEC new comer Missouri.  Missouri has a high flying offense that should really test how good the Bulldog defense is.  Should be a good one!

6.  South Carolina Gamecocks (1-0) LW 8 
When QB Connor Shaw went down with a shoulder injury, the Gamecocks offense really struggled.  Luckily he came back and was able to lead South Carolina to a hard fought victory over an improved Vanderbilt team.  Marcus Lattimore rushed for 110 yards, but if the Gamecocks want to win the SEC Title, they'll have to develop some playmakers on offense, or it will be hard to score on the elite SEC defenses they'll see later.

7.  Oklahoma Sooners (1-0) LW 6
Sooner fans had to be sweating bullets going into the 4th quarter only up 3 points on lowly UTEP.  But two TDs later and the Sooners got out of the game with a 17 point victory.  Not what you'd expect out of a top 10 team.  Even if they did have to go to UTEP.  They should have won that game by 30 points or more.  But the bright side is that the defense was stellar.  They didn't give up a single point (only UTEP TD was on a blocked punt) and will need to keep playing at a high level if the Sooners want to get back to a BCS Bowl or in the National Title picture.

8.  Clemson Tigers (1-0) LW 10
After the debacle that was the Orange Bowl last year, the Clemson Tigers were very eager to start the season and show everybody that they are an improved team.  It wasn't a blow out, but the Tigers won a hard fought game against a top 25 contender Auburn.  They did it without their top playmaker in WR Sammie Watkins who was suspended for the game.  However they did get a huge boost from RB Andre Ellington who rushed 231 yards and WR DeAndre Hopkins who set a school record with 13 receptions.  Watkins will be back next game, but they'll need to keep having their defense step up when they need them if they are going to make noise this season.

9.  Arkansas Razorbacks (1-0) LW 11
You can really tell that the Razorbacks are anxious to move past the whole Bobby Petrino drama and have the type of season everybody was talking about before Petrino crashed his motorcycle.  QB Taylor Wilson was a big part of that setting a school record for most yards in an opening game with 367.  He did that without his top three WRs returning from last year.  The Razorbacks did get RB Knile Davis back and that will really help balance this offense out which was pretty pass heavy last year. 

10.  Michigan State Spartans (1-0) LW 13
 We learned a couple of things from Michigan State's narrow victory over Boise State.  First is that their defense is as good as advertised.  Holding Boise without a TD is pretty good.  I don't care if Kellen Moore and Doug Martin aren't there, that is still a pretty good accomplishment.  Second, Le'Veon Bell is a stud and thrust himself into the Heisman race with his 210 yard 2 TD performance.  But the real story is the play of Andrew Maxwell.  In his first start Maxwell didn't look good.  He threw 3 interceptions and threw into coverage several more times.  MSU has the chance to have a special season, but they'll need Maxwell to improve. 

11.  Wisconsin Badgers (1-0) LW 9
It took a batted down pass on 4th down in Wisconsin territory for the Badgers to escape with the win.  No this win wasn't against Michigan State or Ohio State.  It was against Northern Iowa.  No not Iowa, Northern Iowa.  The FCS school.  Yes Northern Iowa is a top FCS program, but Wisconsin is suppose to be a top FBS program.  They should be manhandling UNI with their over sized offensive line and talent everywhere.  Instead the Badgers struggled.  Badger fans better hope it was just one game, but with a practically new coaching staff and new players all over it could be a long season.

12.  Virginia Tech Hokies (1-0) LW 12
Anytime you play Georgia Tech it's going to be a long game.  Whether you have a month to prepare or just a week their triple option attack is so unique that it puts a strain on any defense.  That showed in VaTech's 20-17 win in overtime.  The star of the game was VaTech kicker Cody Journall whose kicks at the end of regulation and in overtime won them the game.  QB Logan Thomas was solid, but not spectacular.  However he came up big when his team needed him the most.  The biggest thing is that the Hokies got out with a win.

13.  Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0) LW 14
It took till the 2nd quarter, but Ohio State made quick work of Miami (OH) in new HC Urban Meyer's debut with the Buckeyes.  QB Braxton Miller was the star of the game and looks to be the perfect QB for Meyer's offense.  He rushed for 161 yards and passed for 207, but the key was that he looked very comfortable running the offense.  The Buckeyes now move on to face Central Florida in what should be a step up in competition.  However the Buckeyes have a ton of momentum.  Too bad for them they can't play in any post season competition.

14.  Michigan Wolverines (0-1) LW 5
Every year there is a team that gets over hyped.  This year it was Michigan.  It's understandable.  What they did last season was remarkable.  And with a lot of talent returning on offense many people thought they'd be one of the top teams in the nation.  Well they fell flat on their face against Alabama.  The Crimson Tide dominated the game and it wasn't close.  It could be just one game and it could be Alabama being a really good team.  But Michigan better get their stuff in gear, cause Michigan State, Ohio State and Nebraska all looked very good in their season openers.

15.  West Virginia Mountaineers (1-0) LW 18
West Virginia had so much fun scoring more than 60 points in a game against Clemson in the Orange Bowl, they decided to do it again.  This time it was against in-state rival Marshall.  QB Geno Smith was practically flawless completing 88% of his passes and throwing for 323 yards and 4 TDs.  Pretty impressive.  That performance has to have defensive coordinators in the Big 12 scrambling to think of a way to stop this offense.  But a little advise from me, good luck!

16.  Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-0) LW 19
With defending Conference USA champion Southern Miss coming to town, the Huskers knew they'd have their hands full.  However it turned out to be pretty easy for Nebraska.  QB Taylor Martinez showed off his new and improved throwing mechanics to the tune of 354 yards and 5 TDs.  Not too bad coming from a QB that use to shot put the football to the receivers.  However there was a little bad news for the Huskers in that star RB Rex Burkhead left the game in the 1st quarter with a strained MCL.  He should be fine, but the offense relies so much on him and if the injury lingers that could spell some trouble.  But if Martinez keeps playing like that they should be fine.

17.  Florida State Seminoles (1-0) LW 17
What a day to be a Florida State Seminole running back.  Especially with their top three backs each scoring at least 2 TDs a piece.  Heck maybe I could have gone out there and rushed for one?  Probably not, but it was a great sign for an offense that needs to find an idenity this year.  Defensively the Seminoles look like the dominant group that finished last season 4th overall in total defense.  Bjoern Werner lead the way with 4 sacks and the defense held the Racers to only 156 total yards and 3 points.  Pretty good day for the 'Noles, but I'm still not ready to believe they are a top 10 team.  Still have a lot to prove.

18.  Texas Longhorns (1-0) LW 15
Texas was placed on upset alert after a first quarter where they allowed 9 points and 178 yards.  However the defense stepped up and the Longhorn RBs were able to take control and roll to a 20 point victory.  Texas was lead by two headed monster Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron who both eclipsed the 100 yard mark.  This is a vast difference than the teams Mack Brown had the past several years where they struggled to find somebody that would keep defenses honest.  Now they have two!  Things are looking good for the Longhorns.  Especially after Oklahoma struggled against UTEP.

19.  Kansas State Wildcats (1-0) LW 16
Late in the 3rd quarter the Wildcats were tied 9-9 with FCS Missouri State and fans had to be thinking they could lose this game.  But then KState rifled off 42 straight points (35 in the 4th quarter) to blow the game open and cruise to a 42 point lead.  Winning by 42 points has to feel good, but you have to worry that starting the game off slow could come back to burn the Wildcats later in the season.  Especially when Big 12 game start and they are facing offenses like West Virginia, Oklahoma State, and Baylor.  Won't be able to afford to fall behind against those teams.
20.  Lousiville Cardinals (1-0) LW 22
Head Coach Charlie Strong has done a great job of building a team at Louisville.  Especially after the debacle that was the Steve Kragthorpe era.  Against in state rival Kentucky, the Cardinals blew through them on their way to a victory.  It was a pretty efficient day for Louisville.  QB Teddy Bridgewater completed 19-21 passes 232 yards while both Jeremy Wright and Senorise Perry both rushed for over 100 yards.  Louisville is clearly the class of the Big East, but I'm looking forward to their match up with FIU on Sept 22.  That will be a battle of two very underrated teams.

21.  Florida Gators (1-0) LW 20
This game was not what most Gator fans thought they were going to get.  14-14 tie in the middle of the 3rd quarter against the Bowling Green Falcons.  Yet another top 25 team struggling with a lower tiered school.  But this shouldn't be too big of a surprise considering that the Gators offense has struggled since Tim Tebow left three years ago.  Here the Gators relied on the running game to get the win, getting 148 yards from Mike Gillislee.  But the Gators are going to need QB Jeff Driskel to step up if they are going to beat the likes of Georgia and South Carolina.

22.  TCU Horned Frogs (0-0) LW 23
TCU is one of the few teams that didn't have a game this past weekend.  Instead they'll be opening up their season this upcoming weekend against FCS Grambling State who is already 0-1 to start the year.  TCU shouldn't have too much trouble with Tigers.  TCU is lead by QB Casey Pachal who got off to a slow start last year before really catching stride half way through the season.  Now he is the leader of the team and the expected star player.  They'll need him to be huge now that they are in the Big 12 and playing against top level competition game in and game out.  It should be interesting to see how they fare.

23.  Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-0) LW NR
84 points.  Those are the combined points in the Oklahoma State Savannah State game.  But the kicker is that OSU scored all 84 of them.  Sure it was a FCS team (tell that to Pittsburgh and Wisconsin) but anytime you score 84 points in college football that is quite the feat.  Oklahoma State is doing their best to show that they are going to still stick around and have success even without Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden.  And after a game like that, I believe them.

24.  Stanford Cardinal (1-0) LW 21
We quickly found out how much the Cardinal are going to miss Andrew Luck and company.  In their opening game against San Jose State the Cardinal struggled to score points and had to rely on a interception to preserve the win.  They better get things figured out because SJSU is suppose to be their easiest game of the year.  It could be a long year on the farm.

25.  Baylor Bears (1-0) LW NR
RG who?  Robert Griffin III may have brought national attention to the Baylor program, but QB Nick Florence is doing all he can to help people forget about RG3.  Florence threw for 341 yards and 4 TDs and that was only through 3 quarters.  Not too bad.  But Florence isn't a stranger to Baylor fans.  As a freshman he was their starter for the 2nd half of the season when RG3 tore his ACL.  His prior experience and all the talent around him will allow the Bears to stay right in the thick of the Big 12 and help from having Baylor slip back into anonymity.