Category: College Football (Page 268 of 296)

Even with Darren McFadden performing like a one-man wrecking crew, Arkansas won’t be playing for a national title in ’06. The Razorbacks were defeated by SEC rival LSU 31-26 Friday, which dropped AU to two losses and virtually out of national championship contention. McFadden rushed for 182 yards, was 2 for 2 passing for 33 yards and scored twice. However, the AU defense couldn’t stop JaMarcus Russell (14 of 22 for 210 yards and two TDs) or Trenton Hilton early in the fourth quarter. After an 80-yard McFadden touchdown run that brought the Razorbacks within eight, Hilton returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards to put the Tigers up for good.

What the Arkansas loss means to the BCS has a resounding effect on the Notre Dame-USC game Saturday. A win over the Irish might be enough for USC to knock Florida out of contention, even if the Gators beat the Razorbacks in the SEC Championship game. A loss by the Trojans, and Florida might be able to set a date with Ohio State if the Gators beat Arkansas. To further complicate things, Michigan still has a shot if both USC and Florida fall. I doubt a one-loss Notre Dame leapfrogs a one-loss Wolverines team after Michigan dismantled the Irish earlier in the season. But hey, this is the BCS, where anything can happen.

It didn’t take the University of Miami more than 15 hours after finishing the 2006 season 6-6 to fire head coach Larry Coker. Even after the Hurricanes topped Boston College 17-14 Thursday night, the writing was obviously on the wall for Coker, who will finish with a 59-15 mark at Miami. Coker won more games in his six years than any other Hurricane coach other than Dennis Erickson.

A Miami official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Coker’s firing would be announced later today. Coker was informed of the decision by athletics director Paul Dee early Friday. Coker has three years remaining on a contract that pays him nearly $2 million annually, and the school will owe him between $2.4 million and $3 million in a buyout.

It’s high time “The U” gets a disciplinarian in its program and cleans up all of the off the field crap that goes hand in hand with Miami football. Although, it should be noted that Coker’s athletes had a higher graduating percentage under him than in year’s past. However, shootings, deaths, on-field fights and robberies have haunted this program over the past decade and while Coker can hardly take the brunt of all the problems, he was obviously never part of the solution either. Hopefully Coker’s firing will signify much more than just a win-loss record or I’m afraid we might not be seeing the last of Miami’s issues.

In honor of the 2006 College Football Season, Bullz-Eye.com will preview an up-and-coming game of the week, each week, for the entire length of the NCAA season.

Each week a game will be highlighted and broken down by each teams strengths and weaknesses vs. its opponent. Plus, no preview would be complete without a forecasted score – you’ll find a prediction on the game at Bullz-Eye.com as well.

Major BCS implications are on the line this week as Notre Dame hooks up with rival USC. Both programs have a shot at playing Ohio State in the national championship game with a win. Anybody down for a good ole’ fashion college football shootout?

On tap this week: (#6) Notre Dame at (#3) USC.

Anyone tired of all the controversy surrounding the BcS yet? Playoffs anyone?

1. Ohio State (12-0)
Previous Rank: #1
Buckeyes 42, Wolverines 39. Troy Smith – 29 for 41 for 316 yards and four touchdowns. Jim Tressel’s game plans. ‘Nuff said.

2. Michigan (11-1)
Previous Rank: #2
That vaunted Michigan defense that everyone talked about got shredded for 503 yards, including 187 on the ground. The Wolverines offense deserves credit for racking up nearly 400 yards and 39 points on a tough OSU defense, but why was Michigan’s game plan to get into a shootout with arguably the most explosive offense in the country?

3. Florida (10-1)
Previous Rank: #3
Urban Meyer is one of the loudest supports for bringing a playoff system into college football. Meyer can officially change his title from head coach of the Florida Gators to head coach of the Florida Gators and the Voice of the People.

4. USC (9-1)
Previous Rank: #4
The Trojans are like the pesky little sibling to a Florida program that just wants them to vanish. If USC beats Notre Dame this weekend, that would make four ranked opponents, including three in a row, that the Trojans have beaten this year. That’s one more win over a ranked opponent than the Gators have. However, USC did lose to an unranked Oregon State team while Florida suffered its only loss to a once highly ranked Auburn program. I can feel the aggravation building from Gator Fan now.

5. Arkansas (10-1)
Previous Rank: #5
The Razorbacks are an interesting team. Arkansas certainly doesn’t wow you other than Darren McFadden, but yet the Razorbacks still find ways to get it done every week. Nothing suggests that Arkansas is a better team than Florida, yet that’s exactly why the Razorbacks might have one more upset in their bag of tricks.

6. Notre Dame (10-1)
Previous Rank: #8
Now here’s a dilemma. If the Irish beat USC in Southern Cal this weekend, one could make a strong argument that ND has every right to play in the national championship. However, the Irish’s one loss was to Michigan and how could ND get in over a Wolverines team that completely embarrassed them in South Bend earlier this season?

7. Texas (9-2)
Previous Rank: #7
So, Kansas State blows out Texas, but then plays hapless against Kansas. That just re-affirmed to me that if Colt McCoy doesn’t get hurt against the Wildcats a few weeks ago, we might be talking about an OSU-Texas rematch instead of OSU-Michigan.

8. LSU (9-2)
Previous Rank: #8
I should probably move the Tigers down a few pegs considering they almost lost to Ole’ Miss. The problem is that I don’t know who is really better behind LSU.

9. West Virginia (9-1)
Previous Rank: Unranked
Do I put a West Virginia team ahead of Louisville, because the Cardinals beat the Mountaineers? Or do I put a Rutgers team ahead of Louisville, because they beat the Cardinals? No and no. First of all, after watching this conference the past few weeks, it should be determined that only one Big East team should be ranked in the top 10 at any one time. And second of all, the Cardinals lost to Rutgers, who turned around and lost to Cincinasty for heaven’s sake. I truly believe that with Pat White and Steve Slaton, WV tops Louisville on neutral ground.

10. Wisconsin (11-1)
Previous Rank: Unranked
With all the hype surrounding Ohio State and Michigan this season, the Badgers have gone virtually unnoticed. Wisconsin has quietly put together a solid season, with its only loss coming to Michigan on the road. Freshman bowling ball P.J. Hill has quite a future in the land of the cheese.