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CFI Top 25 | Week in Review

Ten thoughts from around the College Football Landscape…

1) Will Muschamp must be wondering how much more he can do to assure a “W” for his Longhorns. The coach-in-waiting’s defense held UCLA to 27 passing yards and was still defeated. This was UCLA’s first road win since 1998. Rick Neuheisel should schedule teams from the state of Texas more often, as the Bruins have beaten Houston and Texas in consecutive weeks.

2) First it was Jacory Harris, then Jake Locker. This week it was Ryan Mallet who decided to throw his Heisman hopes away. Despite playing well for most of the game, Mallet threw a career high three interceptions including one in the red zone and two in the fourth quarter. Next up…Andrew Luck?

3) The Ohio State Buckeyes dropped 72 points on Eastern Michigan, spurred by Terrelle Pryor’s six touchdowns—four through the air and one each of the rushing and receiving variety. Buckeye wideout Dane Sanzenbacher tied a school record with four receiving touchdowns. The scoring explosion led to the most points scored by the Buckeyes since 1950, and extended the Eagles’ losing streak to 16 games.

4) Stanford’s Owen Marecic led the Cardinal to their first 4-0 start since 1986. He scored a touchdown as a fullback, and then returned an interception for a touchdown as a linebacker…all in the span of 13 seconds.

5) Its time to start throwing the visor again. Steve Spurrier lifted starting quarterback Steven Garcia after his second 4^th quarter fumble, hoping that true freshman backup Conner Shaw would provide them with the spark needed to cage the Tigers. Instead, Shaw went out and showed his youth by throwing a pair of late interceptions. I know The Old Ball Coach has lofty expectations for his man under center, but you have go with the player who gives you the best shot to win that game. It’s the 4^th quarter, on the road, in the SEC. My money would’ve been on the two-year starter who threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns on the day.

6) Congrats to Urban Meyer for reaching the 100-victory plateau faster (118 games) than anyone except for Oklahoma’s Bud Wilkinson (111 games).

7) Here is a shout out to my home state. Syracuse and Army are representing the Empire State in a way that would make Jay-Z proud; both squads have opened this season 3-1. Both teams have a wonderful history, with uninspired recent performances. While I don’t expect either team to go bowling this winter, both programs look to be headed in the right direction.

8) Paging Dr. Lou Holtz, your son Skip needs a therapy session to deal with his trust issues. Apparently the head man at USF has so little faith in the wide receivers that he inherited when he came in, that he used starting quarterback B.J. Daniels on the hands team while facing an onside kick this past week.

9) Tennessee squeaked by this weekend as UAB invaded Rocky Top and took the Vols to double overtime. The Blazers could have walked away with a victory if their kicker, Josh Zahn, had converted just one of his FIVE missed field goal attempts in regulation.

10) Hey Bama fans, be happy for what you have -- 150 of Mark Ingram’s 308 yards have come after contact. While not sold on him as the Heisman winner a year ago, this year I am buying in. The kid is just fun to watch, and looks even better after his knee surgery. Yes, he is the only Heisman trophy winner your school has ever seen; not even big Bear Bryant in his hound’s-tooth hat landed a bronzed stiff-arm. And Ingram is surely the best back on the Crimson Tide sideline this season, with apologies to Trent Richardson.

Extra Point: Dan Persa: learn his name. He is leading the nation in passing efficiency through four weeks for the Northwestern Wildcats.

College Football Insiders: Third & Ten - Week 3

Photo Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard