There’s always an interesting dynamic that happens in sports when a team has high expectations entering a season after overachieving the year before.

Oklahoma State surprised a lot of people last year on its way to compiling a 9-3 record and making a trip to the Holiday Bowl (a 42-31 loss to Oregon). Entering this season, many pundits thought the Cowboys would contend in the Big 12 and those thoughts were confirmed after they waxed Georgia 24-10 last week.

But the Cowboys learned a huge lesson today: They’re not going to sneak up on opponents like they did last year.

Led by incredible junior quarterback Case Keenum, unranked Houston went into Stillwater on Saturday and knocked off No. 5 Oklahoma State 45-35. Keenum was 32 of 47 passing for 367 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed five times for 16 yards and a score.

While they still racked up 35 points and 436 total yards, Oklahoma State’s offense struggled at times today and couldn’t overcome costly penalties and four turnovers. Signal caller Zac Robinson was 18 of 31 for 240 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted by Jamal Robinson, who took the gift 26 yards for a score with only 3:14 remaining in the game.

OK State obviously still has a chance to win the Big 12 considering neither Georgia nor Houston were conference opponents. (Sam Bradford’s injury makes things a little more interesting in the conference as well.) But the Cowboys have issues on both sides of the ball, including being able to generate a consistent pass rush on defense and converting in the red zone offensively. OK State also lacked overall fundamentals today, which is why the Cowboys had so many dumb penalties and turned the ball over four times.

The Cowboys certainly aren’t as bad as they played today against Houston. But considering the Cougars flat out took it to them, maybe Oklahoma State isn’t as good as everyone thought either.

Breaking news alert: East Carolina is for real. For the second straight week, the Pirates pulled off the upset of the day, routing No. 8 West Virginia 24-3.

It was over when… ECU never trailed and never looked like it was going to let WVU back in the game as the Pirates ended a seven-game losing streak to WVU.
Gameball goes to… Patrick Pinkney: ECU’s QB was 22-28, throwing for 236 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Stat of the game… 11:21: ECU won the battle of the clock 35:41 to WVU’s 24:19.

West Virginia is done and Pat White (11 for 18, 72 yards passing) might have lost the Heisman in this game, too. A Big East team that loses before they even reach conference play cannot and should not be brought up in national championship discussion.

What an incredible year so far for ECU. This was the first time since 2001 that an opponent held WVU without a touchdown. And to limit White to only 72 yards passing and 97 yards rushing was amazing. The Pirates should be ranked heading into next week, although their schedule is too weak for them to be a serious title contender. Still, ECU is the talk of the college football world right now.

Notre Dame rallied in the fourth quarter to beat San Diego State 21-13 in their home opener Saturday evening. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen was 21 for 34 for 237 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw two picks.

The Irish won, but their performance was rather reminiscent of last year. San Diego State was a double-digit underdog and yet gained more total yards, turned the ball over less and flat out outplayed Notre Dame for three quarters. If it weren’t for a couple of costly mistakes in the third quarter, SDS embarrasses ND on their home turf and maybe Charlie Weis doesn’t make it out of the parking lot without his pink slip.

Look, I’m not a Notre Dame-hater. I just think it’s a little ridiculous that a football program still has their own national television contract and they put on performances like the one Saturday. The game was pathetic and it looks like the Irish are in for another long season.

The Florida-Miami rivalry isn’t quit what it used to be. The game was largely close throughout, but the Gators used a 17-point fourth quarter to top the Canes 26-3 Saturday night in “The Swamp.”

It was over when… Tim Tebow’s 14-yard TD pass to Aaron Hernandez came on the Gators’ sixth play from scrimmage and only 2:26 into the game.
Gameball goes to… Tim Tebow, who threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 55 more yards.
Stat of the game… 1.6: Miami only averaged 1.6 yards per carry and had 61 rushing yards in the game.

Randy Shannon has Miami’s football program moving in the right direction but Saturday night’s game proves the Canes have a long way to get on Florida’s powerhouse level again. Unfortunately a game like this is a killer for Miami in the Florida recruiting war. They just don’t have any offensive firepower.