Tracking the CandidatesOct. 10, 2010
1 Denard Robinson QB | MichiganNext Game: 10/16 vs. IOWA
One game doesn't ground Robinson's candidacy by any stretch of the imagination, but it certainly brings it back from the stratosphere. He had a hand in both of Michigan's touchdowns against Michigan State but three costly interceptions put the game out of reach for the Wolverines and sent them to their first defeat of the season and their third straight against the Spartans.
WEEK 6 VS. MICHIGAN STATE
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
111.6 215 1 3 58.6
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
86 1 4.1
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
164.1 1223 8 4 67.2
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
991 9 8.3
2 Kellen Moore QB | Boise StateNext Game: 10/16 at SJSU
It was another breezy performance for Boise State, as Moore passed for 267 yards and three touchdowns in a 57-14 rout of Toledo. It was the Broncos' last nonconference game. Boise and Moore will have to rely on WAC play to further strengthen their cases in both the Heisman and national title race.
WEEK 6 VS. TOLEDO
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
219.7 267 3 0 72.7
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
6 0 6.0
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
183.3 1336 14 1 67.4
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-15 0 -2.1
3 LaMichael James RB | OregonNext Game: 10/21 vs. UCLA
Washington State hung on for as long as it could but the Ducks eventually overwhelmed the Cougars in a 43-23 win. James rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns and added an 84-yard touchdown reception to help Oregon improve to 3-0 in Pac-10 play.
WEEK 6 AT WASHINGTON STATE
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
136 2 5.4
RECEIVING
REC YDS YPR TD
2 87 43.5 1
2010 SEASON
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
848 9 7.4
RECEIVING
REC YDS YPR TD
3 96 32.0 1
4 Terrelle Pryor QB | Ohio StateNext Game: 10/16 at WIS
Pryor stayed away from rushing the ball and turned in a career-high 334 yards passing and three touchdowns in the Buckeyes' dominating win over Indiana. With a No. 1 ranking likely forthcoming following Alabama's loss, Ohio State will have added pressure on it ahead of its visit to Wisconsin on Saturday.
WEEK 6 VS. INDIANA
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
206.5 334 3 0 80.0
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-19 0 -6.3
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
170.5 1349 15 3 68.0
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
354 3 6.2
5 Mark Ingram RB | AlabamaNext Game: 10/16 vs. MISS
Ingram's pedestrian stat line of 41 yards rushing and no touchdowns tells part of the story as to how South Carolina was able to knock off the top-ranked Tide. The loss puts Alabama in the unfamiliar position of playing catch-up in the SEC West, though with LSU and Auburn still on the schedule, it'd be foolish to count Ingram and the Tide out just yet.
WEEK 6 AT SOUTH CAROLINA
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
41 0 3.7
RECEIVING
REC YDS YPR TD
4 16 4.0 0
2010 SEASON
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
396 6 7.1
RECEIVING
REC YDS YPR TD
9 62 6.9 0
6 Cameron Newton QB | AuburnNext Game: 10/16 vs. ARK
When the Heisman Watch poll is updated on Tuesday, don't be surprised to see Newton make a substantial leap. He rushed for four touchdowns in the first half against Kentucky and although the Wildcats erased a 17-point deficit to tie the game late, the Tigers held on to remain unbeaten. The SEC's leading rusher turned in a career-high 198 yards on the ground in the 37-34 win.
WEEK 6 AT KENTUCKY
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
136.4 210 0 1 61.9
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
198 4 7.1
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
180.7 1138 12 5 64.8
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
672 9 6.5
Running a parallel race
By Adam Rittenberg
ESPN.com
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- On a day when Ohio State re-established itself as a national title contender, Michigan State further validated itself as a team that will challenge for the Big Ten crown.
The Buckeyes made quick work of Indiana as quarterback Terrelle Pryor passed for a career-high 334 yards and an opportunistic defense recorded three interceptions. Meanwhile, a disciple of Buckeyes boss Jim Tressel (Mark Dantonio) returned to the coaching booth at Michigan and watched his Spartans team deliver a very Ohio State-like beating to the maize and blue.
Both Ohio State and Michigan State took a big step toward their ultimate goal.
"We are Big Ten contenders," Michigan State running back Edwin Baker said.
It looks like the case, but here's the bad news: There will be no collision course between the Buckeyes and Spartans.
Because of the Big Ten's unbalanced schedule, Ohio State and Michigan State don't meet this season. Consequently, both teams could finish tied atop the league standings on Nov. 27 and share the Little League-ish label of co-champs, which the Big Ten mercifully will eliminate in 2011 when it launches a title game.
Both Ohio State and Michigan State went 4-0 in nonconference play, so the Big Ten's automatic representative to the BCS bowls would be the higher-ranked team in the final BCS standings. Given Ohio State's loftier preseason and current ranking, it would be hard to imagine the Buckeyes not getting the nod. Michigan State entered the season unranked.
There's a long way to go for both teams. Ohio State faces the first of two major road tests this week at Wisconsin. Both the Buckeyes and Michigan State must visit Iowa City, home of a Hawkeyes team that looks every bit like a league title contender.
But if Ohio State and Michigan State are tied atop the Big Ten in late November, it'll be a shame of sorts.
Imagine Dantonio taking a program covered with his fingerprints to face his mentor and the Buckeyes. It's tantalizing. And it won't come to pass.
Big Ten fans might have to take solace in that old sporting maxim: Wait 'til next year.
AP Top 25
RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Ohio State (34) 6-0 1453
2 Oregon (15) 6-0 1427
3 Boise State (8) 5-0 1395
4 TCU (1) 6-0 1304
5 Nebraska 5-0 1236
6 Oklahoma (2) 5-0 1225
7 Auburn 6-0 1104
8 Alabama 5-1 1021
9 LSU 6-0 999
10 South Carolina 4-1 978
11 Utah 5-0 926
12 Arkansas 4-1 813
13 Michigan State 6-0 806
14 Stanford 5-1 732
15 Iowa 4-1 648
16 Florida State 5-1 547
17 Arizona 4-1 472
18 Wisconsin 5-1 410
19 Nevada 6-0 376
20 Oklahoma State 5-0 348
21 Missouri 5-0 298
22 Florida 4-2 209
23 Air Force 5-1 187
24 Oregon State 3-2 186
25 West Virginia 4-1 141
Dropped from rankings: Miami (FL) 13, Michigan 18
Others receiving votes: Michigan 137, Miami (FL) 63, North Carolina State 31, Virginia Tech 17, Northwestern 5, Texas 5, Kansas State 1
Complete Rankings »
USA Today Poll
RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Ohio State (49) 6-0 1455
2 Oregon (6) 6-0 1388
3 Boise State (1) 5-0 1335
4 Nebraska (2) 5-0 1272
5 TCU (1) 6-0 1213
6 Oklahoma 5-0 1193
7 Auburn 6-0 1060
8 Alabama 5-1 1029
9 LSU 6-0 1021
10 Utah 5-0 940
11 Michigan State 6-0 838
12 South Carolina 4-1 835
13 Arkansas 4-1 780
14 Iowa 4-1 710
15 Stanford 5-1 618
16 Wisconsin 5-1 542
17 Florida State 5-1 496
18 Oklahoma State 5-0 478
19 Missouri 5-0 434
20 Arizona 4-1 367
21 Nevada 6-0 329
22 Florida 4-2 242
23 Air Force 5-1 151
24 Michigan 5-1 137
25 West Virginia 4-1 88
Dropped from rankings: Miami (FL) 14, Northwestern 25
Others receiving votes: Miami (FL) 66, North Carolina State 41, Texas 31, Oregon State 30, Virginia Tech 24, Northwestern 23, MISSISSIPPIST 7, Maryland 2
Complete Rankings »
ESPN.com's Power Rankings
RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Ohio State 6-0 492
2 Oregon 6-0 479
3 Boise State 5-0 462
4 TCU 6-0 425
5 Nebraska 5-0 424
6 Oklahoma 5-0 405
7 Auburn 6-0 376
8 Alabama 5-1 348
9 South Carolina 4-1 338
10 Utah 5-0 302
11 LSU 6-0 299
12 Michigan State 6-0 284
13 Arkansas 4-1 242
14 Stanford 5-1 242
15 Florida State 5-1 217
16 Iowa 4-1 208
17 Arizona 4-1 174
18 Wisconsin 5-1 141
19 Nevada 6-0 119
20 Oklahoma State 5-0 113
21 Missouri 5-0 91
22 Air Force 5-1 71
23 Oregon State 3-2 60
24 Florida 4-2 49
25 Michigan 5-1 42
Others receiving votes: West Virginia, Miami (FL), Virginia Tech, North Carolina State, Texas, USC
ESPN Fan Poll
RK TEAM
1 Oregon
2 Ohio State
3 Nebraska
4 Boise State
5 TCU
6 Oklahoma
7 Auburn
8 LSU
9 Alabama
10 South Carolina
11 Michigan State
12 Utah
13 Arkansas
14 Stanford
15 Iowa
16 Florida State
17 Wisconsin
18 Oklahoma State
19 Arizona
20 Nevada
21 Missouri
22 Air Force
23 Florida
24 West Virginia
25 Oregon State
Others receiving votes: Michigan, North Carolina State, Miami (FL), Northwestern, Texas
Ohio State moves up with Alabama loss
NEW YORK -- Hit the reset button on the college football season.
There's a new No. 1 team in Ohio State and uncertainty at the top of the rankings for the first time all season, after Alabama's 19-game winning streak ended at South Carolina.
The Southeastern Conference, which has won the last four national championships, has some catching up to do in the 2010 title chase. The Buckeyes and No. 2 Oregon have a couple of BCS busters in No. 3 Boise State and No. 4 TCU on their tails. And for the first time in about a decade, Nebraska is a legitimate national championship contender.
The Buckeyes moved up one spot in The Associated Press poll after preseason No. 1 Alabama lost for the first time since the 2009 Sugar Bowl. The Crimson Tide fell 35-21 on Saturday.
Ohio State received 34 first-place votes and Oregon (15), Boise State (eight), TCU (one) and No. 6 Oklahoma (two) also got first-place votes from the media panel Sunday.
Auburn is the highest ranked SEC team at No. 7. An SEC team, either Florida or Alabama, had held the top spot in the last 29 AP polls, dating to Nov. 2, 2008. The last time the highest ranked SEC team was this far away from No. 1 was Oct. 22, 2006, when Auburn was ranked seventh.
The Crimson Tide slipped to No. 8, LSU was No. 9 and South Carolina moved up nine spots to 10th after the program's first victory against a top-ranked team.
The last time Ohio State was No. 1 was the final regular-season poll of 2007.
That season ended with LSU beating the Buckeyes in the BCS championship game to become the first national title winner with two losses. That type of mayhem is a long way away, but the potential for BCS controversy is high, unlike last season, when Florida, Alabama and Texas moved into the top three spots in late September and didn't budge until the SEC title game.
"You take a look at the top 10 week to week and the precarious nature of any ranking is obvious -- just review the change in the makeup of the Top 10 between the beginning of the season until now," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Sunday in a statement.
While Tressel's rigid remarks scored low for enthusiasm, the insight was on target.
Four teams that started the season ranked in the top 10 have fallen out, including Texas and Virginia Tech, which are gone all together. Florida is down to No. 22 after losing its second straight game. The Gators fell 33-29 to LSU and have their worst showing in the poll since they were unranked to end the 2004 season, Ron Zook's last as Florida coach.
Seven other teams that started the season ranked are gone from the AP Top 25 this week.
There are eight undefeated teams in the top 10 and five more lurking outside of it,
starting with No. 11 Utah. Arkansas is No. 12 with unbeaten Michigan State at No. 13. Stanford and Iowa round out the top 15.
Florida State jumped seven spots to No. 16 with a 45-17 victory at Miami that knocked the Hurricanes out of the rankings. No. 17 Arizona is followed by Wisconsin, then comes three more unbeaten teams: No. 19 Nevada, No. 20 Oklahoma State and No. 21 Missouri.
Florida, No. 23 Air Force, Oregon State and West Virginia complete the Top 25.
The most undefeated teams there could be at the end of this season is seven.
There are four unbeatens in the Big 12, but that will eventually sort itself out and leave no more than one. Oklahoma and Nebraska don't play in the regular season but could meet in the Big 12 title game.
Boise State and Nevada of the Western Athletic Conference meet Nov. 26 in Reno, Nev. Both will be favored in all their games between now and then. The Broncos aren't just looking to get into the BCS this season, they're a legitimate contender to reach the championship game from a non-automatic qualifying conference, and that would be a first.
Same goes for TCU. Maybe even Utah. But not both. The Mountain West Conference rivals play Nov. 6 in Salt Lake City.
Auburn and LSU are the remaining unbeatens in the SEC. The two Tigers play Oct. 23 in Auburn, Ala., and both still have to play Alabama and Arkansas just to get out of the SEC West.
"You would think they would probably lose at least or more," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said Sunday of the West leaders. "You would think, but who knows?"
If Auburn and LSU keep winning, the strength of the SEC could push them past the teams in front of them and into the thick of the national title mix. But it's just as likely the SEC will not produce an undefeated champion and be shut out of the BCS championship game for the first time since the 2005 season, when Texas and USC played for the title.
Of course, if there are no undefeated teams, you can bet an SEC team will be near the top of the pile of one-loss squads. That's what defending national champion Alabama is hoping for now.
Oregon is the only unbeaten Pac-10 team but running through that tough league unbeaten will be a serious challenge. The Ducks still have to play Oregon State, Arizona and USC.
From the Big Ten comes this possible wrinkle: Ohio State and Michigan State don't
play each other this season. The Buckeyes play at Wisconsin next week and at Iowa on Nov. 20. Michigan State's toughest remaining test looks like a game at Iowa on Oct. 30.
The first BCS standing of the season are due out next Sunday. It uses the coaches' poll, Harris poll and computer rankings to order the teams. The latest coaches' poll had the same top five as the AP, except Nebraska was No. 4 and TCU was No. 5. The first Harris poll was the same 1-9 as the AP Top 25.
Somehow the second half of the season needs to whittle this race down to two teams. Don't count on it being a tidy ending.
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