All too often when talking about a weekend full of upsets -- and did we ever have some upsets in college football -- the talk revolves around the losers. Thing is, the nature of losing is that voids are created, voids which must be filled by someone. We can argue just how worthy those somebodies are, but if there's a top 10 you gotta put somebody in there at the end of the day.This week's big winners are Oklahoma and Texas. Not only did they win, but they played great against name opponents. Oklahoma cruised past TCU 35-10 (darty-quick receiver Manuel Johnson blowing by the opposition above) while Texas was the latest school to ritually flog Arkansas, 52-10. Oklahoma's questionable performances in big bowl games after high rankings is well known, but by virtue of their success here they are about to be No. 1 when the rankings come out. Texas may also slide into the top five despite serious questions about their run game and ability to be a national player without Vince Young on the roster.
Conference peers Colorado and Nebraska quietly lost, but by virtue of a bye week Missouri and Texas Tech were winners as well. That means the Big 12's four best teams (and I think we can throw in one-loss Kansas) remain strong brands as we steadily march towards the midpoint of the 2008 college football season.
As we all know, Oklahoma lost to Colorado and Texas Tech in 2007 after looking invincible early last year. But as mentioned earlier, with everyone else losing and the Sooners again destroying whatever's in front of them, there's no place else to go but up. I hunch they'll lose again at some point, as will Texas (Kansas State is a particularly sticky opponent) and the college football free-for-all will remain until the final weeks.
Crazy, but since last year that's been our game. I prefer a bit more order, but everyone seems to be having fun (nevermind my tears over what happened Thursday night) and the conversation is a bit more lively when everyone's so on edge waiting for upset losses. Roll with it, I guess.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Oklahoma and Texas have soft schedules. It isn't who you play on one weekend but the ability to win against a strong schedule. When BCS rolls around neither will have the requisite quarterback to win if the other team has a decent passing attack and they don't play each other (which will be prevented because they play each other earlier). There is only one team who has a superior quarterback and running combo and that still is Georgia. Too bad they lost only lost this weekend when they couldn't avoid penalties. Mark Richt wouldn't make excuses but Bama was fortunate just the same.
were they the only ones not to lose?seems to me PENN STATE didnt,and they beat their second quality team
Must be somethin' in the water. ----- Oklahoma , that is OKLAHOMA is the ONLY state in the entire nation that has 3 undefeated teams playing division 1 football at the end of September.(OU 4-0, OSU 4-0, and TULSA 4-0) Sure, we've played some weaker opponents from some weak conferences (PAC-10, Mtn West, WAC, Big East, Conf USA,) but at least they're not Coastal Carolina(Penn St), Ohio U. (Ohio St.), or Western Kentucky (Alabama). After all , these days everyone has trouble scheduling teams that are going to be in the top 25 five or six years from now when the games will actually be played. (and then getting those teams to honor that commitment when a big TV game deal is thrust upon them) But even so, is every team in your state undefeated? Why not? MUST be somethin' in the water.
Did you really just call TCU and Arkansas "great opponents"?
Well said, even when Alabama played Arkansas I wasn't considering that game "bigtime" other than the fact it was an SEC game. It's ok... here we are again, listening to the Big 12 talking about their "exciting" wins of St. Francis School for Girls... look up the history, SEC leads the Big 12 in match ups .54 percent... which in the scheme of things, is still over 50%, bring on the Big 12... another scrimmage for the SEC never hurt anyone :)
No, he said "name" opponents, read it again. And Georgia? Any team down 31-0 at half is eliminated from NC discussions.
georgia...lol
You know, LSU (the defending national champions) didn't lose either, beating a talentless Arkansas team and TCU who for some reason broke into the top 25 proves nothing, beat a top 10 team and then let's talk.
Yes we played a tough game against Ms. State but after last season I actually was foolish enough to this they could be the team to beat in the West.
Alabama is the top team in the country and they proved it last night, but I still believe the defending champions should still be ranked #1 until they are actually beaten.
I had a hard time rooting for 'Bama (mostly because of Saban) but I didn't see you giving them any credit for beating such a "good" Arkansas team last week.
Texas 52 - Arkansas 10
Alabama 49 - Arkansas 14
Texas backups gave up an 80 yard fumble return for TD with two left in the game. Had McCoy been in there the final score would probably have been 59 - 3
There is no doubt Texas has the better team and after #4 Texas beats #1 Oklahoma you'll be a believer too!
Bama fortunate? Admit that you got beat by a better team on that day and follow Mark Richt"s lead and make no excuses. Oh yea the funeral is over you can take the "black" off.
Kansas State might be a "sticky" opponent but you better check the schedule - Texas and K-State do not play this year.
Nice choke job Georgia. Very niiiice.
Bama will lose 2, if not 3 games. Reality will come knocking.
Keep whacking off to OU everyone.....they will stumble as well.
sec top 6 vs big 12 top 6 head to head all time. ....bama 10-15-2, tenn 4-5-1, uga 4-7, lsu 39-37-5, aub 5-12, and florida 1-6-1.
big 12.....ou 5-3-1, texas 28-12-3, neb 15-4-1, colo 2-9-1, texas am 27-33-3, and mizzou 5-2.
154 games played with 59 at sec venues, 56 bowl games, 38 at big 12 venues, and 1 pigskin classic....the big 12 leads 82-63-9.
schedules.....here are the number of 1aa programs the top 10 all time programs (minus boise st who has about 150 games against 1a opponents) have played in the modern era (1946-2007)....notre dame 0, ohio st 1, mich 1, ou 4, usc 5, texas 6, penn st 6, neb 16, bama 27, and tenn 31...notice the sec teams?
here are the number of 1aa opponents both the big 12 and sec have played in the modern era (1946-2007).....colo 3, ou 4, texas 6, mizzou 8, texas tech 15, neb 16, bay 16, ok st 16, kansas 19, texas am 21, k st 35, and iowa st 35.......lsu 7, uga 12, ark 15, florida 16, s. carolina 25, bama 27, vandy 29, tenn 31, kentucky 36, ole miss 40, aub 41, miss st 45. pathetic.
here are the number of games against the other top 9 all time programs (minus boise st).......ou 214, notre dame 183, mich 171, ohio st 162, texas 148, usc 147, neb 143, bama 138, tenn 115, penn st 100.........you dont want to compare schedules. its clear to those of us who have did the research which programs and conferences line it up with 1a opponents. the sec leads the big 12 all time 314-306-24. arkansas has an 8 game lead on the big 12 (mostly old swc).
by the documented historical facts provided by the 12 universities mentioned its clear if a super 12 conference were to be formed that bama, tenn, uga, aub, and florida would fight it out with texas am and colorado for 6th place in such a conference. the sec is all hype.
WHO is really the best only lsu plays several top 10 teams who is going to beat lsu no one talks about them and no one beats them they dont have to run up the score they just win askl auburn next florida , ala, georgia and back to thr national championship bring on ok , tex, byu, boise state, penn st or whoever missouri sc MR MILES WILL BE READY
I will give credit where credit is due. Bama has a great football team , but i don't think they should've moved up to # 2.