Iowa Hawkeyes News

Sporting News' Matt Hayes analyzes those feeling the heat heading into Week 12. 1. A coach's life So I've got this guy who emails me every so often, more frequently in previous years but less so this fall. It seems as though the target of his vitriol—Dave Wannstedt—is out of range. For now, anyway. After Pitt blew a 14-point lead against N.C. State in September and lost for the only time this season, his email was succinct and to the point: Wannstedt will ruin Pitt like he ruined the Bears and... Dolphins. It's a brutal business, people. Coaches are paid millions, but that cash can't salve the mental anguish coaching families go through while their husband or father is judged by anyone and everyone. Every. Single. Day. "It's where we are in this business," Texas coach Mack Brown told me earlier this season. "Winning, unfortunately, is all that matters." Before we go further, spare me the argument that you'd take the millions to take the abuse, too. It doesn't wash. The mental stress is overwhelming, and the tentacles are far reaching. Ann Bowden woke up one morning earlier this year and had to read about a member of the Florida State board of trustees comparing her husband of 50-plus years to an old dog that needed to be put to sleep. Before publicly criticizing a coach like Dan Hawkins, think about his family. Cody Hawkins woke up one morning this fall and had to read that his father, Dan, put his son before his Colorado team by naming him the starting quarterback and not playing backup Tyler Hansen. Not only is Cody doing his best to win games for the Buffs, but he's also 21 years old and now thinks he's the reason his father could be facing unemployment. Maura Weis was driving her son, Charlie Jr., to school one day in August, and up on a billboard in downtown South Bend was a sign that read "Best wishes to Charlie Weis in the 5th year of his college coaching internship." Steve Kragthorpe and his family have been hearing and reading the nonsense for two years now in Louisville. So have Al Groh and Tommy West and Mike Sanford and Dennis Erickson and Mike Sherman ... and the list goes on and on and on. Still want that million-dollar job? Imagine this as your daily lifestyle: Nothing is ever good enough on the field. You feel like a professional failure. You're losing years off your life. Football problems lead to family problems. And it's not just the unfortunate coaches. Urban Meyer has won two of the last three national championships, yet his team constantly hears it isn't playing well enough. He has to go into every postgame locker room this season and remind his team that, yes, it now has won 20 straight games. Pete Carroll has been the most successful coach this decade, his USC team a machine that, until this season, barely made a mistake. Now whack-jobs on message boards are proclaiming Carroll's "win forever" motto should be changed to "win this week." And, really, that's what it's all about: winning. But all that really does is stave off the inevitable. 2. The big step Dear Dabo: I was wrong. Earlier this year, I said, "Same ol' Clemson: new coach, same results." And now look: You've got the Tigers poised to win the ACC Atlantic Division for the first time; to win a conference championship for the first time since 1991; to make Clemson fans feel like they haven't felt since Danny Ford walked the sidelines long ago. You were never a coordinator before getting the Clemson job last season, never in a position to manage players or systems and schemes. How could we have seen what could be? Your athletic director, Terry Don Phillips, did. He now looks like a genius. Since an unthinkable loss to Maryland in the first week of October, your team has won five straight and needs only a victory over lowly Virginia (which has beaten Clemson in two of the last three meetings between the teams) to secure a spot in the ACC championship game. No pressure, man. 3. The weight of Iowa If you think freshman James Vandenberg felt pressure with a Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl bid on the line last week at Columbus, get a load of this week's setup: Vandenberg, Iowa's backup quarterback now thrust into the starting role, merely has the holiday plans of an entire state on his back this week against rival Minnesota. And the Floyd of Rosedale trophy. Here's how it plays out: If the Hawkeyes beat the Gophers (and Texas wins out and plays in the BCS national championship game), they and their 30,000-plus traveling fan show are a lock for the Fiesta Bowl. If the Hawkeyes lose to Minnesota, then they could fall all the way to the Outback Bowl, because the Capital One Bowl likely would rather have Penn State and iconic coach Joe Paterno. Another year in the Outback Bowl may cause more than a few thousand Iowans to stay home, save the dough and endure the brutal winter one more week. 4. The Fiesta dilemma No one is pulling harder for Oklahoma State these last two weekends than the BCS. It begins with Thursday night's game against Colorado and ends with the Nov. 28 Bedlam game at Oklahoma. Win those two games, and Oklahoma State will play in the Fiesta Bowl. Lose either of the two (assuming Texas wins out), and the Fiesta Bowl likely won't take the No. 2 Big 12 team with nine wins to preserve the conference tie-in. That means Boise State and TCU would be playing in big-boy bowls. In the last three weeks, USC and Notre Dame have fallen out of contention for a spot, and the BCS-league alternatives are slim. The only real possibility would be Georgia Tech, if it wins out and loses the ACC championship game and finishes 11-2. 5. Two for the money Related Links Hayes' BCS breakdown SN's bowl projections Bowl matchups we'd like to see This Week In Schadenfreude Conference Calls It's a simple process for Oregon: beat Arizona and Oregon State, and go to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1995. Now, the problem: The Ducks have struggled on the road much of the season, with the only comfortable win at lowly Washington. Even the win at UCLA (albeit with backup quarterback Nick Costa playing) wasn't all that pretty. The two losses—to Boise State and Stanford—were downright ugly. Arizona is 5-0 at home this fall and can still win the Pac-10 by winning out against Oregon and at Arizona State and USC. Even if Oregon wins this week, it's going to get much tougher on Dec. 3, when the Ducks host bitter rival Oregon State for a spot in the Rose Bowl (if OSU beats Washington State this week). Buckle up, Duck fans. It's about to get a little bumpy. Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

Iowa QB James Vandenberg is sacked by Ohio State DT Doug Worthington. Before the weekend, Ohio State's seven most recent wins all had come by at least 17 points. But the Buckeyes stuffed a season's worth of drama into Saturday evening, when they withstood Iowa's fourth-quarter comeback to win 27-24 in overtime. Three plays in the extra session saved the Buckeyes' season and sent them to the Rose Bowl. Here's a look at the critical snaps. Splitlers' stand Iowa started overtime on offense, and... quarterback James Vandenberg threw incomplete on first down. The Hawkeyes showed run on second down with an overloaded formation—two receivers, tight end Tony Moeaki and fullback Brett Morse all lined up right. The Buckeyes responded with eight defenders close to the line. Afterward, though, they'd say their true advantage came from talk in the huddle before this play. "We said, 'This is it,' " Buckeyes linebacker Austin Spitler said. "The Big Ten championship and the Rose Bowl provide plenty of motivation. We knew we needed a stop." Spitler provided it soon after the snap, crashing through Morse and wrestling running back Adam Robinson to the ground for a 6-yard loss. "He's been making those kinds of key plays all year," defense end Lawrence Wilson said. Doug's turn Now faced with third-and-16, Iowa added a receiver to its formation and put Vandenberg in the shotgun. Ohio State got conservative, dropping eight men into coverage. But one of the three rushers, fifth-year senior tackle Doug Worthington, pushed the Hawkeyes farther out of field goal range. As teammate Nathan Williams rushed toward the inside, Worthington engaged Iowa guard Julian Vandervelde, then spun into Williams' original lane and closed on Vandenberg. "I came outside, and I saw his eyes," Worthington said. "He put the ball down, and the rest is history." The sack and 10-yard loss set up what would have been a 58-yard field goal attempt—10 yards beyond Hawkeyes kicker Daniel Murray's career long. Iowa went for it on fourth down, and OSU safety Anderson Russell picked off Vandenberg's heave into the end zone. Devin's destiny Now a field goal would win it for the Buckeyes, prompting OSU to go low-risk on offense. Three rushes provided a 3-yard net gain, setting up junior Devin Barclay for a 39-yard field goal on fourth down. Barclay, a 26-year-old former pro soccer player, inherited the Buckeyes' kicking duties on Halloween after starter Aaron Pettrey tore a knee ligament against News Mexico State. Coach Jim Tressel said he felt confident in Barclay but prepared for failure. "I was on the phone talking to our offensive guys," Tressel said, "saying if he misses this, we've got the ball again." After a clean snap from Jake McQuaide and a solid hold from Jon Thoma, Barclay sent his fourth career made field goal a couple feet inside the left upright. "I knew it was good right away," Barclay said. "And it was an incredible, unbelievable feeling." The aftermath Thousands of Ohio State fans stormed the Ohio Stadium turf to celebrate the continuation of a college football dynasty. The Buckeyes' fifth straight Big Ten championship (outright or shared) will at season's end rank as the longest active run in any BCS automatic qualifying conference. And it leaves Ohio State one short of the all-time Big Ten record of six, set by the Buckeyes from 1972-77. OSU's first Rose Bowl appearance in 13 years will come New Year's Day, likely against the Pac-10 champion. "It's so refreshing," safety Kurt Coleman said Saturday evening. "This is what we have been building up for the while year." Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Going to Michigan with his teammates? That's all the love Terrelle Pryor needs. College start No. 21 for Terrelle Pryor delivered Big Ten championship No. 2. And Ohio State's sophomore quarterback says that's all that matter, despite all the hoopla surrounding his career. Pryor, who was 14-of-17 passing for 93 yards in OSU's 27-24 overtime win over Iowa, discussed the day and his season with reporters after the game:   Q: How did you feel like you did throwing the ball? Terrelle Pryor: Yeah,... what was the percentage?   Q: 14-of-17. TP: Yeah, it's about taking check downs and not worrying about the big play. Coach Tressel and his staff, especially (offensive coordinator Jim Bollman), they came up with a good game plan. We really didn't have to attack them because we were getting running lanes, and the linemen and blocking, and (Brandon) Saine and Boom (Herron) were running all over the place. We really didn't have to pass the ball.   Q: Last time you were at Michigan, you were getting recruited? How do you think it will be there next week? TP: Really, I'm not worried about going anywhere. I'll be with my teammates. Even going back to Pennsylvania, I was with my teammates, so it didn't matter to me. That's all the love I need.   Q: After the Purdue game, what were the keys to getting the season back on track? TP: Like I said before, we weren't worried. It was a bump. We overlooked them. I'm sure you guys know that. The whole world knows that. The way we play Ohio State football, you've seen in the past four weeks. I'm just happy for the whole team.   Q: What were you told before you went out for overtime? TP: With Coach Tressel, and turnovers, I hear it 24-7 in my ear. We knew what we needed. Just don't turn ball over, get three our four yards, get it in the middle. (Kicker) Devin (Barclay) likes it a little to the left side, so try to keep it there. And he knocked it in. It was great.   Related Links Curtis: This time, Buckeyes must win in Pasadena Recap: Ohio State 27, Iowa 24, overtime Full Week 11 college scoreboard Q: Do you get tired of hearing about turnovers? TP: Sometimes, you hear it so much that it's bounding in your head. I will not throw a bad ball. I will not throw the ball unless I know it's going to be there and the timing's right. I will not turn the ball over.   Q: Did Tressel say anything like that to you before OT? TP: It was really on the running backs. He was on the running backs. I'm sure he was getting on the backs, "Hold that ball." Going down, even when there two minutes left and we had the ball, he was sitting there saying, "Don't turn it over."   This story appears in Nov. 15's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.   Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Place: Columbus, Ohio Time: 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday TV: ABC Line: Penn State by 4 Three reasons Iowa will win Marvin McNutt and the receivers will have to step up for Iowa to beat Ohio State. 1. Playing Pryor: Ohio State coach Jim Tressel went the physiological route when raving about the Hawkeyes' defensive ends. "They're very long," he said. "They do a great job with their hands, and they're extremely strong in the hips." Thanks for the report, Dr. Tressel. There's no doubt Adrian Clayborn... and Broderick Binns can dominate a game. Throw in Iowa's opportunistic back seven – the team's 19 interceptions lead Division I-A – and young, flappable Buckeyes QB Terrelle Pryor could be destined for another rough day. 2. One more miracle: Last week's loss to Northwestern doesn't erase the litany of crazy plays that have left the Hawkeyes in position to win a conference championship. Take a minute to pick a favorite – the blocked field goals against Northern Iowa, the blocked punt at Penn State, the last-second touchdown at Michigan State or the pinball pick-six against Indiana. Maybe, though, the best one is yet to come. If any team has the karma to spring this sort of surprise in the Horseshoe, it's Iowa. "We've had to fight and scratch for everything we've gotten," coach Kirk Ferentz said on a teleconference. "That's the way it goes." 3. Steady receivers: The starting quarterback has an ankle sprain so severe it required surgery. The starting tailback remains gimpy with a sprained ankle of his own. So it's up to Iowa's veteran receivers to support the freshman backups in the backfield. Marvin McNutt might be the best athlete of the bunch, and he finally looks like a complete receiver after his conversion from quarterback. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos seems to play best in big games. Tight end Tony Moeaki, shut out against the Wildcats, needs to be a factor in Columbus. Without a big day from the wideouts, Iowa's BCS bowl hopes will be done. Three reasons Ohio State will win 1. Cam and Thad: Ohio State's defensive ends have emerged as far and away the strength of this squad. And if the Big Ten title trophy heads to Columbus again this year, Cameron Heyward and Thaddeus Gibson will be reasons No. 1 and 2. Ironhead Heyward's kid enjoyed a career day against Penn State, disrupting the Nits with a team-best 11 tackles, three for loss, and a pair of sacks. Gibson's 10.5 tackles for loss lead the team for the season. Iowa struggled to pass protect against Northwestern. The Hawkeyes had better block the Ohio State ends this week. Related Links Hayes' Week 11 story lines Hayes' Week 11 picks Curtis vs. grandma picks SN staff's picks Game of the week: Utah at TCU What we learned Thursday 2. Offense clicking: After sputtering through the first half of the season, Ohio State has built an offense that at least has been productive over its past three games. The offensive line gelled in State College, opening holes for 228 rushing yards (at 4.7 yards per carry). DeVier Posey has emerged as a deep receiving threat. And Pryor has thrown 44 consecutive passes without an interception. "I feel like the level of comfort has gotten a little bigger," Posey told Sporting News this week. "We've calmed down and found out who our playmakers are." The Buckeyes' defense ranks among the nation's best; if the offense can keep pace, Ohio State will go to the Rose Bowl. 3. Winning experience: A win Saturday would end any discussion about the Big Ten's most dominant team this decade. Ohio State would wrap up a fifth straight season with a BCS bowl appearance and at least a share of the Big Ten title. The Buckeyes know about winning big games down the stretch of a season, and they'd relish the chance to clinch the outright conference crown next weekend at archrival Michigan. Blasting the Hawkeyes would only add to the championship legacy Tressel and veterans such as Kurt Coleman and Doug Worthington have built in Columbus. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Sporting News' Dave Curtis analyzes what Thursday's buzz means to college football. Corwin Brown: Middies play dirty. Irish insanity So on Veterans Day, of all occasions, Notre Dame associate head coach Corwin Brown blows off steam about Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo's comments and questions the Mids' blocking techniques. Thing is, the frustration in Brown's voice only had a little to do with last Saturday. The folks around the Fighting Irish can feel the pressure, and for the second straight... year it's weighing on their emotions. Brown, remember, launched into a tirade last November, which included some gems about the de-emphasis of personal responsibility in American society. Emerson, he isn't. What he is is a guy under duress helping to coach a team that tumbled at this time last year and sits one loss away from making a mayday call. And that's the big challenge facing Notre Dame and coach Charlie Weis this week: Can they hold things together? They're likely to throw the ball on Pittsburgh on Saturday night, and they figure to struggle with Panthers running back Dion Lewis. The team's attitude could be the difference. And if Brown's comments are a hint, the Irish might be coming apart at the time they most need to stand together. Iowa's challenge Here's a verbatim account of quarterback James Vandenberg's bio, courtesy of Iowa's official athletics website: "One of two redshirt freshmen named to the 2009 Leadership Group. Listed as co-second team quarterback following spring practice." That, plus a note of his redshirt season in 2008, is about all the world knows about the guy who'll start Saturday in Ohio Stadium with a Rose Bowl berth up for grabs. Oh, wait, there's this. He went 9-for-27 for 82 yards and a pick in his debut last weekend against Northwestern. And with Vandenberg at the helm, Iowa gained 132 yards in 45 plays. So how doesn't Ohio State roll this weekend? Well, the Hawkeyes could get some extra doses of the magic that made them 9-0 through September and October. But it's likely going to take a big day from Vandenberg, who holds 12 Iowa high school passing records. Coach Kirk Ferentz says he's giving his freshman a pass for Saturday. "Any of our first-time players, when they go in there, it's probably their most difficult exposure," he said this week on a teleconference. "As a quarterback, what you do is a little more evident." Vandenberg returns to the spotlight Saturday, likely without top tailback Adam Robinson. He needs to add a little to that bio if the Hawks are hoping for New Year's in Pasadena. Related Links Hot topic: Irish angst over Navy tactics This week: Notre Dame-Pittsburgh Scoreboard: Prep for all this week's games We want your take on college football Week 11 picks: Check them out now Duke's destiny So Georgia Tech-Duke pops up on the schedule, and since Cameron Indoor Stadium doesn't appear nearby, well, why bother? Here's why—Duke's got a chance to hang with the Yellow Jackets, and a Blue Devils win would muck up an ACC Coastal Division most folks think GT has sewn up. Coach Paul Johnson's defense ranks No. 68 in the nation and No. 10 in the 12-team ACC against the pass. And few teams throw it better than Duke, led by senior star Thaddeus Lewis. "There is a chance, if we play extremely well, that we can score some points," Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe said on a teleconference. Solid quarterbacks can enjoy big days against Tech: Miami's Jacory Harris hit 80 percent of his passes for three touchdown in the Jackets' lone loss, and Florida State's Christian Ponder torched GT for 359 yards and five scores. The Dukies at least can match that production, which makes them a real threat to spring a Saturday upset and move closer to (gulp) a share of a division crown. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Each week, Sporting News' Matt Hayes ranks the Division I-A conferences—and the teams within each league. Conf. rankings No. 1 SEC No. 2 Pac-10 No. 3 ACC No. 4 Big 12 No. 5 Big Ten No. 6 Big East Nos. 7-11 5. Big Ten 1. Ohio State 2. Iowa 3.... Wisconsin 4. Penn State 5. Northwestern 6. Minnesota 7. Michigan State 8. Purdue 9. Illinois 10. Indiana 11. Michigan Rising Ohio State: Uncertain, drama-filled season ends like it usually does: with Buckeyes controlling their destiny in Big Ten race. Falling Penn State: Go down the schedule and find a marquee win for the Nittany Lions this fall. The best so far: Northwestern. Yet somehow, this team will win 10 games. Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

Here are the people most impacted by Saturday's shakedown: 1. Mark Ingram. The Alabama running back rushed for 144 yards in 22 carries, likely earning him a place among the Heisman finalists as Alabama clinched a spot in the SEC championship game. "We can't look to the Florida game," he said. "(If) you don't stay focused every week, you lose." 2. Rich Rodriguez and Charlie Weis. Rodriguez's Michigan Wolverines, which haven't beaten a I-A team since Sept. 26, need to beat Wisconsin or Ohio State... to be bowl eligible. Meanwhile, Saturday's loss to Navy means bye-bye BCS for Notre Dame. Could it mean the same for Weis at Notre Dame? 3. Brian Kelly. In a rare Saturday night network TV appearance, Kelly's Cincinnati Bearcats wowed voters with 711 yards total offense versus Connecticut. A shame they cancelled it all out by allowing 45 points in a two-point win. Related Links Hayes: SEC officials blow another one Curtis: Ohio State peaking at right time Week 10 players: Shipley, Gerhart shine Week 10 teams: Georgia Tech on the rise 4. Terrelle Pryor. The star quarterback from western Pennsylvania put Ohio State in line for a Rose Bowl berth with a 24-7 victory over Penn State and should get a reprieve from his many critics. "It was big to just come home and see the crowd," he said after the win. 5. James Vandenberg. The kid who played Mox in Varsity Blues? Not so much. After Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi's injury, the redshirt freshman went 9-for-27 in his team's first loss. He'll make his first collegiate start Saturday ... at Ohio State. 6. Toby Gerhart. Don't count the Stanford running back out of the Heisman race or the Cardinal out of the Rose Bowl. Gerhart had 223 rushing yards and three touchdowns, as Stanford knocked off last week's hot story, No. 7 Oregon, 51-42. 7. Paul Johnson. Georgia Tech's coach showed championship courage with a fourth-down call in OT to set up the winning touchdown. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

With the Irish unable to stop the pass, they can use the returning Michael Floyd to help outscore opponents. Sporting News' Dave Curtis analyzes what Tuesday's buzz means to college football. Almost lucky Irish The good news out of South Bend, Ind., on Tuesday? Wide receiver Michael Floyd likely will play this weekend against Navy, his first appearance since Notre Dame's game against Michigan State on Sept. 19. The bad news? He doesn't play defensive back. A healthy Floyd adds more octane to... an already-thriving Irish pass offense and makes them a better bet to win out and reach a BCS bowl at 10-2. But ND's problems come on defense, and Floyd isn't an elixir there. Even with a shutout of Nevada and an impressive effort against Washington State bookending the season, Notre Dame still ranks No. 109 in the nation against the pass. The Irish get run-heavy offenses in their next three games, but Stanford and QB Andrew Luck could feast on them over Thanksgiving weekend out west. Maybe it's time to start cross-training Floyd now. (Just joking, Charlie). Hawkeye magic So what if Iowa's 9-0 run hasn't won over the authors of the Harris Poll? The Hawkeyes seem to do well among hard drives across America. And they've certainly captivated the Big Ten coaches who must deal with them. Last week, Bill Lynch and Indiana fell victim to the latest minor miracle, highlighted by Tyler Sash's quadruple-doink pick six (and some, um, shaky work from the replay booth). "Iowa has something special going right now," Lynch said on a teleconference. "It's hard to put your finger on it." This week, Northwestern gets a chance at stopping Iowa's express ride to the Rose Bowl. Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald knows all about amazing seasons and "Team of Destiny" labels. Although he didn't directly link the '09 Hawks to the '95 Big Ten champ Cats he played for, he can relate to the feeling of positive momentum and unexpected national attention. "When you have some success and won the way they have, you kind of feel like you have a little magic going," Fitzgerald said Tuesday. "You get a little mojo and a little confidence from that." A different Alabama Here we go again with the Crimson Tide. They spent all last season undefeated, just like this year, before fading in the fourth quarter of the SEC championship came, then folding in the Sugar Bowl. So why should things be different this year? Depth, says veteran offensive lineman Mike Johnson. He hinted on a teleconference Tuesday that the Tide boasted a terrific 22 starters last year but fell off big-time when a reserve stepped in. Related Links Floyd cleared to play against Navy Hayes: Tide underrated, Hawks overrated Week 10 schedule: Alabama hosts LSU "You saw it in the Utah game," Johnson said, a reference to suspended offensive tackle Andre Smith. "We weren't able to run it out." Alabama exhibited the fruits of Nick Saban's recruiting this season when it absorbed the late September loss of star linebacker Dont'a Hightower (torn ACL). Without him, the Tide allowed fewer than 10 points per game and just three touchdowns overall against four SEC opponents in October.  This story first appeared in Nov. 4's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Sporting News college football expert Matt Hayes projects the BCS bowl games: BCS national championship game: Florida vs. Texas Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Iowa Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Penn State Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. TCU Orange Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Georgia Tech Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.  

Saturday's biggest games turned out to be snoozers, leaving college football without a single play to define the day. But that doesn't mean things were vanilla across the country. As a salute to the day's variety, here's a four-pack of touchdowns that featured something extraordinary in the run, the catch or the bounce of the ball. Example 1: Indiana at Iowa The Score: Hawkeyes safety Tyler Sash picks off Ben Chappell and returns the ball 86 yards for a game-turning touchdown. The Skinny:... Indiana led 21-7 and seemed a lock for at least a field goal at the Hawkeyes' 2-yard line. Chappell took a shotgun snap, and after a play fake, looked to throw right. A blitzing A.J. Edds hit Chappell's arm, squirting the ball into the air and starting the ricochet heard 'round the Big Ten. The pass caromed off defensive tackle Christian Ballard's left hand, then off Hoosiers tackle James Brewer's helmet and back to Chappell's right forearm. It grazed the left shoulder of Edds and ended up in Sash's midsection. He ran untouched, and Iowa took control of the game. "I've never seen a play where Tyler's playing a little video thing," Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz told reporters Saturday in Iowa City. "I've never seen it like that." Example 2: Michigan State at Minnesota The Score: Gophers QB Adam Weber threw a 59-yard TD pass that deflected off tight end Nick Tow-Arnett and ended up in the hands of Duane Bennett. more>>

With seven teams still unbeaten and nearly as many intriguing one-loss teams still alive, the prospect of a classic BCS national championship game matchup looms. There's a flip side, though. Check out the BCS standings and you'll notice a handful of non-traditional powers near the top. Yup, the BCS system could spit out a title bout that would infuriate fans and devastate television executives. Here's a look at five title games that -- brace yourselves -- really, truly could happen: 1. Iowa vs.... SEC champ/USC This has a little bit to do with the Hawkeyes and a lot to do with recent history. When folks outside Big Ten country think of the league, Ohio State's title-game losses to SEC teams -- and the Big Ten's annual Rose Bowl pounding against USC -- pop up first. Placing Iowa in the game would produce a double-digit point spread. Not even a continuous loop of Ohio State's Craig Krenzel and Maurice Clarett winning the 2003 Fiesta Bowl would convince the nation Iowa has shot. Heck, even coach Kirk Ferentz is not sure about his squad. "I still have a hard time even picturing us in the top 10," he said on a Tuesday teleconference. The Hawkeyes might deserve a spot in the big game, but it wouldn't make many people happy. 2. TCU vs. Alabama Putting the Frogs against the Tide would throw college football back to the days of Mr. Inside, Knute Rockne and scoreless ties that ended up as all-time great games. Given the two great defenses, Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin would likely dominate the night. Everyone cringes at the thought of a 12-10 or 9-7 outcome on the nation's biggest stage. TCU would sell out against the run, and they have the speed and scheme to slow Mark Ingram. And while Andy Dalton has improved at quarterback, TCU's offense remains a far cry from, say, Texas Tech's. Spare the world this matchup, BCS gods. We beg you. 3. Oregon vs. Oklahoma State With so much football left, don't forget some of the one-loss teams on the fringe of contention now. The Ducks need a Boise State loss to hurdle the Broncos, who beat Oregon in the opener. A 12-1 Cowboys team would challenge for the top two with wins over Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma and possibly Nebraska or Kansas. The game might be fun on the field, but with no major media markets and no familiar personalities, the buildup would be lackluster. This matchup is meant for the Holiday Bowl. 4. Florida vs. Alabama Maybe these will end up being the two best teams in America. Who knows? But college football couldn't handle an all-SEC national championship game that's a rematch of the SEC title game played five weeks earlier. Why should the SEC champion need to beat the loser again? And if they split, why should the second win trump the first? It also wouldn't be fair to the Big Ten, which lost out on an Ohio State-Michigan title game after the 2006 season, in part because of resistance to an intra-conference pairing. America went on to learn quite clearly that Michigan and Ohio State were not the best two teams in the country, after all. Rose Bowl: USC 32, Michigan 18; BCS title game: Florida 41, Ohio State 14 5. Texas vs. Cincinnati If a Big Ten team in the big game would frustrate fans, then a Big East team would horrify them. Again, this is about reputation and perception, not the statistics or the reality of how teams look on the field. But even if the Bearcats go 12-0 with late-season victories over West Virginia (which lost to 5-3 Auburn) and Pittsburgh (which lost to 3-4 N.C. State), seeing Cincy in the title game wouldn't sit well with fans of a one-loss SEC or Pac-10 champ. The Longhorns would face similar scrutiny thanks to a weak nonconference schedule. Its two marquee wins would have come against Sam Bradford-less Oklahoma (for most of the game, at least) and Dez Bryant-less Oklahoma State. Even with two undefeated teams, this matchup would leave most of the country shouting for a playoff. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Forget Oct. 3 when thinking of Chip Kelly.   Sporting News' Derek Samson analyzes what Tuesday's buzz means to college football.     1. Chip for coach of the Year? For most of the nation, the name Chip Kelly means two things — LeGarrette Blount, and losing to Boise State. His 10-month coaching career at Oregon has been defined by Blount's punch and the fallout.   To be fair, let's give as much attention to the Boise game and its fallout. Sure, the Ducks stunk on the blue turf, needing... 37-plus minutes to get a first down in Sept. 3's 19-8 loss. But Kelly's team hasn't lost since, and it could sneak into the national championship chase with a win over Southern Cal on Saturday night.   Even without Blount, Oregon averages better than 200 rushing yards per game. The defense, led by star pass rusher Kenny Rowe, is among the top 20 nationally in yards allowed and scoring. And the special teams rock as well, with freshman Kenjon Barner emerging on kick returns.   The developments have left Kelly a coach of the year candidate and might add a third prong to his legacy: Pac-10 champion.   2. Lectures with Leach Maybe Texas Tech coach Mike Leach isn't getting it done on the field. Thank goodness he continues to deliver in front of a microphone.   Frustrated by his team's 4-3 start, Leach has twice pinned some of the blame on his players' "fat, little girlfriends." If that's not enough, he spent parts of his weekly press conference in Lubbock with a mini-thesis on the movie "Dumb and Dumber." (Aside: All this is highlighted on the weekly segment "Free Speech with Mike Leach" aired by KCBD, the NBC affiliate in Lubbock, Texas).   Need more? There's footage circling the Internet of Leach giving banking advice to students as part of a deal with Vista Bank. The hits keep coming from Leach; somehow, it doesn't matter so much if the wins follow. Just keep talking, Mike. Please keep talking.   3. Big Ten's bad news Word that Iowa RB Adam Robinson (ankle) and Minnesota WR Eric Decker (foot) likely will miss the rest of the regular season hurt the Big Ten on many levels.   Related Links Three-team race down the stretch in Pac-10 Conference Call: Oregon-USC is Saturday Legends Poll: USC No. 4, Oregon No. 10 Robinson, the Hawkeyes' leading rusher, leaves Kirk Ferentz with two healthy tailbacks, including true freshman Brandon Wegher. "In the backfield, it's not a real crowded room right now," Ferentz told reporters at a press conference in Iowa City. The loss certainly dents Iowa's aspirations of staying undefeated and winning the Big Ten outright. A Hawkeyes' loss also hurts the chances to the conference again placing two teams in BCS bowls.   Decker, meanwhile, ranks far and away as the Gophers' MVP and would have contended for Big Ten player of the year honors. "He's the most complete wide receiver in college football today," Gophers coach Tim Brewster said Tuesday on a teleconference.   Brewster said there's no obvious replacement for Decker, who is a Biletnikoff Award candidate. The Gophers offense, already inconsistent at best, will approach punch-less without him.   This story appears in Oct. 28's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.   Derek Samson is a senior editor for Sporting News. Email him at dsamson@sportingnews.com.more>>