Category: College Football (Page 239 of 296)

USC leapfrogs over Georgia, Ohio State in latest AP college football polls

USC TrojansIn yet another example of how ridiculous college football polls are early in the season, the latest AP rankings have established USC as the top rated team in the nation. The previously No. 1 ranked Georgia is now No. 2, while Ohio State moves from No. 2 to No. 3.

The Top 5:

1. USC
2. Georgia
3. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma
5. Florida

For the rest of the AP Top 25 poll, click here.

So what, because Georgia only beat Georgia Southern 45-21, USC is now the better team because they crushed Virginia 52-7? And Ohio State’s 43-0 romp over Youngstown State wasn’t enough for them to keep the top spot?

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the AP needs to hold off on doing these polls until after every team has played at least four games. Because there’s no way the AP can suggest that USC is a better team this week than they were last week just because they beat a better opponent than Georgia did. (And I say that regardless of whether or not the Trojans really are better than the Bulldogs.)

One tired debate: College vs. Pro Football

In a recent column for FOX Sports.com, Michael Rosenberg writes that the NFL can’t compete with college football.

From now until the end of the season, I’ll write about college football every Monday here on FOXsports.com. College football is 300 times more interesting, 600 times more controversial and 900 times more fun. It is also 1,700 times more prone to hyperbole. This is part of its charm.

College football teams are a reflection of universities, fan bases, even entire states. NFL teams are a reflection of … the billionaire who owns the team. The only real difference between a Vikings fan and a Dolphins fan is that the Dolphins fan has a year-round tan. But Wisconsin fans see themselves in their Badgers.

Critics say that college football is rife with hypocrisy, cheating and dishonesty. This is also part of its charm.

This debate is tired and old. College football fans down the NFL because the athletes “only play for money.” While NFL enthusiasts crap on college football because it doesn’t have a defined playoff system.

Know what? It’s football – they’re both great. College football rivalries are fantastic, while parity makes the NFL exciting every week. I wouldn’t want to cut either to save the other; football fans need college and pro games to fill up their fall weekends and I for one am happy as hell to have both in my life.

Nick Saban has Alabama fans smiling

Was anyone really surprised when Clemson folded like a house of cards against Alabama on Saturday night? Did anyone really think Tommy Bowden wouldn’t find a way to blow it against Nick Saban? From the first series, it was clear that Alabama meant business, and Clemson just didn’t have the fire to compete.

We already knew Saban was a great college coach, but now we know he also has some real talent.

Stewart Mandel explains that Terrence Cody will likely be a star.

That Alabama may have the next Glenn Dorsey on its hands. Tide fans spent the offseason drooling in anticipation over the arrival of freshman WR Julio Jones, and while Jones did not disappoint in his debut, the truly astonishing newcomer was defensive tackle Terrence Cody. Clemson’s offensive line had no answer for the freakish 6-foot-5, 365-pound junior college transfer, who could be seen storming into the Tigers’ backfield over and over. Clemson’s vaunted rushing attack netted zero — yes, zero — total yards.

With such a rare combination of size and speed, Cody — who, as legend has it, began the year nearly 30 pounds heavier yet could be seen on the basketball court “dunking and doing 360s with the ball,” Tide center Antoine Caldwell said this summer — looks like the same kind of one-man wrecking crew as the former LSU star. Foes will have no choice to double or triple-team him, which, in ‘Bama’s 3-4 scheme, frees up all kinds of gaps for the linebackers.

We knew it was just a matter of time before Saban had Alabama back on track. We’ll see how much damage they can do this year.

UCLA opens the Rick Neuheisel era with a big win over Tennessee

The Rick Neuheisel era is off to a dramatic start with a 27-24 victory in OT over 18th-ranked Tennessee. Quarterback Kevin Craft rebounded from four first half interceptions to lead a comeback in the second half.

Craft has a nice arm and he showed some character with his performance tonight. If he keeps improving, UCLA can do some serious damage in the Pac-10. USC fans have to be a little nervous. Their days of being the only show in town might be coming to an end.

ECU shocks Virginia Tech 27-22 on blocked punt

Perhaps the biggest upset in college football’s opening weekend came Saturday when East Carolina shocked No. 17 Virginia Tech 27-22. The Pirates returned a blocked punt for a touchdown with just under two minutes left to play to pull off the upset.

It was over when… T.J. Lee blocked a punt for ECU and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown with 1:52 left to give the Pirates the 27-22. lead.
Gameball goes to… Patrick Pinkney, who threw for 211 yards and 1 TD and ran for another score for ECU — and more importantly threw zero INTs.
Stat of the game… 17. The Hokies had their 17-game winning streak broken in games in which they blocked a kick.

Amazing. Frank Beamer’s special teams units are always some of the best in the nation, so it was a surprise to see VA Tech lose this way. Parity has slowly crept its way into college football and it has made the games more meaningful and exciting.

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