The News Blog

2012-10-08T08:10:00.001-07:00

Four teams have a bye this week in the ACC, and it’s a good thing -- this conference needs a break. Its fans need a break. Its image needs a break. Everyone needs to take a deep breath this week and readjust some goals and expectations. NC State’s upset of Florida State on Saturday night in Raleigh was a monumental game with even bigger consequences. The Wolfpack is in the hunt to win the Atlantic Division title just as much as Florida State, and now NC State owns the head-to-head win should it be needed in a tiebreaker scenario. There are still seven Saturdays left in the regular season, and much can change between now and then, but in all likelihood the ACC lost its shot at a national title this year. It also dramatically decreased its odds of two BCS bowl bids. The focus now must turn to preserving two one-loss teams, beating the remaining nonconference teams, becoming bowl eligible and having a successful bowl season. Notice how one thing leads to another. Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, the preseason favorites in the Coastal Division this year, are in serious jeopardy of not even reaching the six-win mark. There’s no guarantee the Hokes are going to beat Duke at home this weekend, and Virginia Tech still has to travel to Clemson and Miami. In order for the Hokies to extend their streak of 10-win seasons to nine, they have to win out AND win a bowl game or the ACC championship. That seems like a far-fetched goal right now. The same can be said for Georgia Tech’s chances of reaching Charlotte. The Jackets have lost three straight and need to win four of their next six games just to become bowl eligible. Three of the last four games are on the road, including to rival Georgia in the season finale. Plenty of opportunities remain for the conference to make a statement on the national level, but considering Florida beat LSU and South Carolina absolutely hammered Georgia this past weekend, the in-state rivalry games are looking much tougher for Florida State and Clemson, respectively. Wake Forest and Boston College still play Notre Dame, the Deacs have Vandy, and Georgia Tech has BYU. Considering Miami’s whiff against the Irish and the way BC’s defense played in the loss to Army (it didn’t), it could be another strikeout against Notre Dame for the ACC. No wonder the Irish want to line up against the ACC more consistently. They're staring down a 6-0 record in two seasons. The ACC's must-win games, though, are in November, against the SEC rivals. The ACC enters the second half of the season with a 5-10 record against BCS-conference opponents, and is 1-1 against the SEC with a win over Auburn and loss to Tennessee. The ACC could lose to William & Mary three weeks in a row and ACC fans would probably be willing to overlook it if they got a clean sweep over Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. If that were to happen, and FSU and Clemson finish the season with one loss each, who knows how the BCS bowl selections might play out for the ACC outside of the Discover Orange Bowl. If it sounds like a lofty goal, it is. At least that one, though, is still attainable.

2012-10-07T11:13:00.001-07:00

CHICAGO – Phillip Dorsett knew the ball was going to him when Miami trotted onto the field to start its game against Notre Dame on Saturday night. Quarterback Stephen Morris saw something in the Irish defense during film study early in the week he thought his team could exploit. He went to offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch and said point blank, “Yo, I think we should run this play right here. I don't think they'll be able to stop it.’” That play call was an aggressive one to start the game. Go deep to Mr. Reliable. So Miami practiced the play all week. Felt good about it all week. Dorsett was ready for it. When the ball was snapped, he went deep. And the play unfolded the way Miami thought it would -- Dorsett got behind the defense and was wide open. Morris delivered the ball beautifully. Behind him, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o silently thought, “Please don’t catch the ball.” Dorsett dropped the ball. Four plays later, Morris went back to Dorsett, in the corner of the end zone. Dorsett dropped the ball. Miami put together what appeared to be a perfect game plan. The Hurricanes caught Notre Dame flat-footed on that opening drive, with some pretty aggressive play calling. Miami clearly wanted to make a statement -- the Hurricanes were ready to take it to the Irish. That, in the end, was not only the story of their dismal 41-3 loss to No. 9 Notre Dame on Saturday. It was the story of their dismal loss in Kansas State. In its two national spotlight games, against teams ranked in the top 25, Miami dropped the ball. [+] Enlarge AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh Phillip Dorsett's drops short-circuited Miami's plan of attack against Notre Dame from the outset. Afterward, the Miami locker room was virtually silent. Linebacker Denzel Perryman said this lost hurt worse than Kansas State. “We prepared very well for this game,” Perryman said. “This game -- we took this one personal. We just lacked communication, lacked execution.” That is not what you want to hear in Week 6. We were told going into this game Miami would be better prepared to handle a highly ranked team, on the road. The Hurricanes had grown up in their two come-from-behind wins. They could do this. Clearly coach Al Golden was convinced his team could, and would, be better than they were in Manhattan, Kan. “I thought we were ready to go, and I was as surprised as anybody that we had lost our poise a little bit in the early going,” he said. A week earlier against NC State, Dorsett had seven catches for 191 yards and two touchdowns -- including the game-winning 62-yard score with 32 seconds left. Saturday, his two drops sent Miami spinning. “I was in disbelief,” Dorsett said. “Obviously, that doesn't happen much to me. I got a little too excited, the ball got caught in the lights. I couldn't see it. I'm not a person to make excuses. I've got to come up with those.” Blaming the loss on what happened on that opening series is not fair to Dorsett. There were plenty of other mistakes and missed opportunities that followed. Miami forced a punt on Notre Dame’s first possession, only to give the Irish a fresh set of downs on a roughing-the-kicker call. Two plays later, Eddie Johnson got a personal foul for a late hit out of bounds. Notre Dame ended up scoring on the drive. Late in the second quarter, Miami started a drive at the Notre Dame 35, with a chance to close a 13-3 deficit. Three-and-out. Then came the dreadful third quarter, one Notre Dame dominated on the ground. The Irish pounded and pounded and Miami simply could not get a stop. The Irish scored 21 points in that quarter, as they held the ball for 11:24. They ran 21 plays and racked up 197 yards on the ground. Miami? On three drives, it ran six plays and got two first downs. “It was really lopsided in terms of them having the ball,” Morris said. “We didn't have much opportunities, and the times we did have opportunities, we were on the field and we were off. We can't win games like that.” In its two games against ranked opponents, Miami was outscored 93-16. The Hurricanes gave up a combined 1,085 yards of total offense and mustered 562 of their own, with one total touchdown. Miami had two opportunities to make a statement, and failed both times. Golden has a young team, with young starters who are getting used to playing in atmospheres as big as the one Saturday night. That is completely understandable. But there has to be a point where we should expect Miami to be competitive in these games, and not completely and overwhelmingly overmatched. Would the game have turned out differently had Dorsett made one of those catches on the opening drive? We will never know. But it is probably safe to say the confidence would have been higher than it was for the remainder of the game. When Miami trailed against Georgia Tech and NC State, you never truly got the sense the players felt they were out of it. Miami could hang with them. But Miami could not hang with Notre Dame, and did itself no favors with all its mistakes. In the end, this game was just another squandered opportunity.

2012-10-07T11:11:00.001-07:00

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Twenty minutes after No. 3 Florida State's 17-16 loss was over, as NC State fans still whooped and cheered in the parking lots surrounding Carter-Finley Stadium, Jimbo Fisher took to the podium and awaited the firing squad. It was Fisher, as much as anyone, who had stoked the fires of immense expectations this season. He knew the horror stories of years past, faced the same stinging questions in 2011. But this year was different. There was reason to believe, he'd promised. When the questions ended, Fisher stood at the podium a bit longer, as if the barrage hadn't offered an opportunity for the requisite amount of self-flagellation. After a moment, he hung his head and walked to the door, muttering simply, "We didn't get it done." EJ Manuel was more muted in his remorse. Read the rest of the story here.

2012-10-07T11:10:00.001-07:00

Here’s a look back at the lessons learned in Week 6: 1. The ACC hasn’t changed. It’s still looking for a national title contender, and it can’t get out of its own way. No. 3-ranked Florida State’s national title hopes have all but disappeared with the 17-16 loss to NC State. Along with it went EJ Manuel's hopes at winning the Heisman. Once again, with the nation watching, the conference came up short. Miami was pummeled by Notre Dame, Boston College lost to a winless Army team, and Florida State failed to live up to the hype and the preseason expectations. [+] Enlarge AP Photo/Gerry Broome) EJ Manuel likely saw his Heisman candidacy -- and FSU's national title hopes -- disappear. 2. The Atlantic Division race is wide-open. Welcome back, Clemson. While FSU would win the tiebreaker scenario should both teams finish with only one loss, the Seminoles’ loss to NC State was the first step in Clemson getting back into the race. To defend its division title, Clemson needs to win out and have FSU lose again. At this rate, anything is possible. After all, Maryland is the only team in the division that has yet to lose a league game. Of course, it has played only one. NC State, though, is now just as much in the mix as FSU and Clemson. 3. Miami’s magic is limited to the ACC. The young Canes just aren’t ready to beat a ranked opponent on the road. At 3-0 in league play, the Canes are one of the teams to beat in the Coastal Division, but once they get out of the cozy confines of the ACC, the gap widens. Miami was beaten soundly first by No. 21 K-State and again on Saturday by No. 9 Notre Dame. Both have been humbling experiences the players will learn from, but to convince anyone outside ACC country that it’s any good, it has to beat some better competition. 4. Duke is a legitimate contender. No starting quarterback? No problem. Backup Anthony Boone picked apart Virginia’s secondary and Duke improved to 5-1, its best start since 1994. The Blue Devils are now a win from going bowling for the first time since that season, but even more impressive is their place in the Coastal Division standings -- right behind Miami in the No. 2 spot. Duke is 2-0 in ACC play heading into Blacksburg, and yes, the Hokies should be concerned. 5. UNC can play the role of spoiler. The Tar Heels have been searching for their identity against lesser opponents, and they might have found it against the Hokies: spoiler. Virginia Tech’s defense was abysmal, but the Heels deserve credit for putting up points against somebody other than Elon and Idaho. Gio Bernard, who rushed for a career-high 262 yards and a touchdown, is still running. Larry Fedora’s offense got the best of Bud Foster’s defense. Expect more of the same as the ineligible Heels make their way through the division lineup. EJ Manuel likely saw his Heisman candidacy disappear.

2012-10-06T23:16:00.001-07:00

Mike Glennon's 2-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Underwood with 16 seconds remaining capped a furious second-half rally that propelled North Carolina State to a stunning 17-16 victory over third-ranked Florida State in Atlantic Coast Conference action from Carter-Finley Stadium. Glennon completed 30-of-55 passes for 259 yards -- all but 41 of which came after halftime -- and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns as North Carolina State (4-2, 1-1 ACC) overcame a 16-0 deficit at intermission and knocked off a nationally-ranked Seminoles squad for the fourth time in the last nine years. Florida State (5-1, 2-1) was also upset in Raleigh by a 28-24 count in 2010, when the program was ranked 16th at the time, and was also dealt defeats by the Wolfpack while in the national polls during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. The win was also N.C. State's first over a top-five opponent since a 24-7 triumph over the then-No. 2 Seminoles at Carter-Finley Stadium on Sept. 12, 1998. Quintin Payton caught six Glennon throws for 79 yards and Shadrach Thornton had 48 yards and a touchdown on four grabs for the Wolfpack, which outgained the Seminoles by a 257-111 margin in total yards over the final two quarters. "Tonight was tremendous," said Wolfpack head coach Tom O'Brien. "It was a great effort by the team. A great effort by our defense to shut out a team like Florida State in the second half like we did." Chris Thompson rushed for 141 yards on 25 carries for Florida State, which was bidding for its first 6-0 start since its last national championship season in 1999. Seminoles quarterback E.J. Manuel threw for 218 yards and a touchdown on 17- of-29 passing, but also had a critical interception that aided NC State's comeback. "We felt good," said Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher. "We came out with a lot of energy. They just out-executed us out there." The Wolfpack mustered a minuscule 68 total yards and four first downs against a stifling FSU defense in the first half, but Glennon and his mates would find considerably more success afterward. N.C. State put together its first sustained drive of the night on its initial second-half series, churning out 73 yards on 15 plays and getting a key 11- yard run from Thornton on 3rd-and-11 to move the chains. The Wolfpack would eventually move down to the FSU 10, but two Glennon incompletions and a false- start call forced them to settle for Niklas Sade's 27-yard field goal just past the halfway mark of the third quarter. Following an exchange of punts, Juston Burris intercepted an ill-advised Manuel pass and returned it near midfield to thwart a Seminoles' scoring attempt. Three straight Glennon completions brought the Wolfpack deep into Florida State territory early in the fourth quarter, and the senior signal-caller later hit Thornton on a wheel route for a 24-yard score that brought N.C. State within 16-10 with 13:47 left to play. The deficit would remain at six points deep into the fourth quarter, with the Seminoles halting N.C. State on downs with under three minutes to go. However, the Wolfpack stuffed three straight running plays to get the ball back, and did so with excellent field position after Mike Rose partially blocked Cason Beatty's punt for a mere 10-yard gain at the FSU 43. Glennon made good on two fourth-down conversions to move the chains, hitting Asa Watson for seven yards and drilling a 12-yard strike to Payton on 4th- and-10 to put the ball at the Florida State 2-yard line with 1:07 left. The Seminoles would force another fourth down by pressuring Glennon into a pair of misfires and stopping a rush attempt, but Glennon delivered once again by threading the needle to a diving Underwood across the middle of the end zone to tie the contest at 16-16. Sade then converted the ensuing point-after try to complete the rally. "Getting the blocked punt helped give us a short field and we used it to our advantage," said O'Brien. "I kept telling [offensive coordinator] Dana [Bible] to get a fourth-down play ready. The touchdown play was a play we practice a lot. Bryan did a good job of finding an open spot and Mike did a good job of finding him." Florida State faced little resistance from the Wolfpack prior to the break, with the defense continually providing scoring opportunities to enable the Seminoles to build a seemingly comfortable lead. A three-and-out on N.C. State's second possession gave Florida State the ball near midfield, and Thompson broke free on a 21-yard scamper on the drive's first play to set up Dustin Hopkins' 49-yard field goal that opened the scoring midway through the first quarter. After the Wolfpack again produced little on their subsequent series, the Seminoles embarked on an 11-play, 80-yard drive to take a 10-0 lead. Manuel connected with Rashad Greene for a 21-yard gain on 3rd-and-17 to extend the march, then later capped it by hitting Nick O'Leary in the corner of the end zone from four yards out just over a minute into the second quarter. Florida State would obtain excellent field position on account of defensive stops twice more before the half would end. A 36-yard run by Thompson led to a 20-yard Hopkins field goal with just over four minutes to go, and Hopkins drilled a 36-yarder with 28 seconds remaining to further the margin to 16 points. Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/06/4888521/recap-nc-state-vs-florida-state.html#storylink=cpy

2012-10-05T01:33:00.002-07:00

Another Miami AD is out. The Hokies have their work cut out for them in the Coastal Division. Georgia Tech's recruits aren't too scared of the Jackets' 2-3 start. Poor tackling has been at the heart of the problem for Al Groh's defense. Clemson could say the same. Duke finally has some room to talk a little trash. NC State is hoping its players-only meeting will make a difference against FSU. The Canes are preparing for a Heisman-caliber defender in Notre Dame's Manti Te'o. Virginia quarterback Phillip Sims needed some clues to learn he would be starting against Duke. Virginia Tech is trying whatever it can to stop the slow starts. No matter what the view, it looks like Al Groh is struggling. What is the state of ACC football? Maryland's X factor could be its fullback. Duke's facilities upgrade shows a commitment to the program. Boston College defensive end Mehdi Abdesmad is the son of Tunisian immigrants.

2012-10-05T00:14:00.002-07:00

The stats don’t line up in NC State’s favor. Nor do the players up front. No. 3 Florida State enters Saturday’s Atlantic Division game in Raleigh ranked No. 18 in the country with three sacks per game. The Pack is No. 106 in the country in sacks allowed with 3.2 per game. Quarterback Mike Glennon, who has already been sacked 14 times this season, might want to wear some extra padding this weekend. If NC State is going to pull off yet another upset of Florida State, it’s going to have to do a much better job of protecting Glennon, but it will have to do it against one of the nation’s best defensive lines and with yet another patchwork offensive line. Three projected starters -- guard Zach Allen (foot), tackle Rob Crisp (lower back), and guard Andrew Wallace (foot) -- will all miss the Florida State game, according to NC State's Thursday injury report. NC State has beaten Florida State in four of the past six games when the Seminoles were ranked. NC State will have the advantage of a raucous home-field crowd at Carter-Finley Stadium, but injuries and changes to NC State’s offensive line this season give the edge to the Noles up front until proven otherwise. Florida State defensive ends Tank Carradine and Bjoern Werner are currently sixth and eighth respectively in the NCAA in sacks. The pair is also No. 1 and No. 2 in the ACC in sacks. Werner and Carradine are the only teammates in the top 10 for sacks in the FBS. “Well, they're big in the middle, and I think that's -- if you're going to be a four-down lineman team, you need to have those big 300-pounder strong guys that control and keep their linebackers free, middle linebacker free specifically, and then they have great skill on the outside,” NC State coach Tom O’Brien said. “Carradine and Werner both lead the conference in tackles for losses; they lead in sacks. They turn those guys loose because the guys in the middle can eat up a lot of blockers, and those guys set the edge and get up the field and create all kind of havoc.” Heading into this season, NC State’s offensive line was expected to be one of its biggest strengths. All five starters had previous starting experience. Injuries have changed the situation dramatically, and NC State has lacked continuity up front. The Pack will use its fourth different starting offensive line in six games against FSU. Starting left tackle Crisp was injured in the season opener, and backup right tackle Tyson Chandler, a redshirt sophomore, has started in Crisp’s spot in the past four games. Against The Citadel, starting right tackle Wallace suffered a foot injury, and missed the Miami game. Last week at Miami, right guard Zach Allen left the game with a foot injury and is out for the season for surgery, according to NC State's Thursday injury report. “We only have one guy that we came into the season in the position that we wanted guys to be in,” O’Brien said. “That's definitely going to be a concern for us Saturday night against this great front of Florida State.”

2012-10-05T00:11:00.000-07:00

Instant analysis from USC's 38-28 win over the Utes in Salt Lake City, Utah:

Player of the game: Matt Barkley
This was the best overall performance of the year for the Trojans quarterback. It started with a rough beginning -- he got stripped of the ball on first series which Utah returned for a touchdown -- but he regrouped and was very consistent the rest of the way. Barkley completed 23 of 30 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns, but more importantly to USC fans, he looked like the old Barkley again.

Game ball: USC defense
It was still very much a ballgame at halftime, with USC only up 24-21, but the Trojans defense did a terrific job of shutting down the Utes’ offense in the second half. The Utes did not have a second-half score until a meaningless late touchdown and only gained 111 yards in the final two quarters. The win was sealed for the Trojans when Nickell Robey intercepted a pass and returned it for a 38-yard score in the fourth quarter.

Star in the making: Star Lotulelei
Lotulelei is considered as one of the elite defensive players in the country and tonight was the biggest stage for him to live up to that ranking. Well, consider it mission accomplished. He made several big plays early against a pretty good center in Khaled Holmes and showed an impressive combination of size and agility. The Trojans eventually made some adjustments which slowed his impact, but there’s no doubt that Lotulelei is a big-time guy.

Turning point: Third-down conversion for Trojans from Barkley to Marqise Lee
USC was down 14-0 early in the game thanks to a pair of turnovers that were turned into points by Utah. USC got stopped on two early plays and was facing a third-and-7 when Barkley hit Lee for 18 yards. The drive continued and eventually ended up with a Silas Reddtouchdown run to make it 14-7. If the Trojans hadn’t converted on third down, Utah likely would have had good field position after a punt and all of the momentum.

What it means for USC: The Trojans showed resiliency
The signs were all there for potential trouble, as Thursday night conference road games had been trouble for highly-ranked USC teams in the past and the Utah crowd was fired up to see it happen again. The Trojans had some hiccups -- two early turnovers and 14 penalties -- but they righted the ship and outscored the Utes 38-14 after spotting the Utes two early touchdowns.

What it means for Utah: John White IV is back
It wasn’t the result the Utes were hoping for, especially after getting spotted 14 points at the beginning of the game, but the good news was the solid running from White (13 carries for 68 yards). The star running back has been limited lately due to injury, but he ran hard in this game and was productive when the game was still in doubt in the first half. USC made some adjustments in the second half that slowed him down, but the Utes will need White for the remainder of the season, as he is the prime contributor for their offense.

2012-10-04T16:40:00.001-07:00

USC and quarterback Matt Barkley started the season as the toasts of college football. Or the hated front-runners, depending on how you respond to the Rorschach test that the Trojans are across the nation.

But a loss at Stanford and middling numbers from Barkley have doused much of the hype and knocked them off the college football radar. National championships and Heisman Trophies are no longer associated with the program in 2012, and more than a few seem eager to stick the dreaded "overrated" label on the team and player.

[+] Enlarge
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US PresswireQB Matt Barkley and coach Lane Kiffin know that much is still at stake for USC.

"I'm good at blocking all that stuff out," Barkley said. "I know what's significant to us. I know what people who know football are seeing, not just the media and what they are writing. It doesn't get to me or our offense. We've just got to keep our heads down and work for every yard we get."

USC off the radar? Trojans coach Lane Kiffin isn't buying it.

"I don't think at SC you're ever off the radar," he said. "I think that shows in the ratings of games. Even when you're not No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3, all the conversations are about SC and you're always everybody's biggest game. I don't think you ever really come off the radar here."

Backing him up is Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. To him, as well as the Utes fan base, it's a big deal that No. 13 USC is coming to Salt Lake City to play inside Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday night (9 p.m. ET on ESPN).

"Without a doubt," Whittingham said. "It's been many, many years since USC was here."

Many years is right. The Trojans' previous visit was in 1917 -- a 51-0 victory.

Still, in the preseason this looked like a game with far more national juice. Most so-called pundits projected this as a likely battle of ranked, unbeaten teams, a game with significance for the Pac-12 South Division as well as the national picture. It was seen as one of just a few potential stumbling blocks for USC as it fired up its engines for a run at the national title game.

Instead, we have USC getting beaten at the line of scrimmage in 21-14 loss to the Cardinal, and Utah getting whipped every which way in a 37-7 humbling at Arizona State.

Both teams are coming off a bye week. The Trojans already had a bounce-back game in their solid 29-7 win over California. The Utes spent the extra week trying to correct the myriad issues exposed by the Sun Devils -- blocking, in particular.

"The offensive line play has been an ongoing project for us. Obviously a priority," Whittingham said. "We had plenty to work on."

The Utes must get the running game going against USC. They need running back John White to be fully healthy after an ankle injury -- he didn't look at that way at Arizona State -- because the Trojans have produced a potent pass rush this season (four sacks a game), which could make for a long night for quarterback Jon Hays if his play-action fakes aren't working.

The Trojans also have issues on the offensive line, most particularly the health of centerKhaled Holmes. He's likely out of the game, which means fifth-year senior Abe Markowitzwill be eyeballing Utah's 325-pound nose tackle Star Lotulelei. In last year's meeting, Holmes, probably the best center in the Pac-12, if not the nation, mostly fought Lotulelei to a stalemate. It's difficult to imagine Markowitz won't need a lot of help from his guards.

ESPN's WeAreSC

ESPN.com's WeAreSC site covers everything USC, including college football and recruiting.WeAreSC

More:
• Recruiting news | Blog | Forum

Utah's hope rests on being able to slow the Trojans' running game and get pressure on Barkley without resorting to a lot of blitzes. While the Utes pride themselves on their man-to-man coverage in the secondary, it's likely they will use a lot of the Cover 2 to help keep Trojans receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee in check. That's what Stanford did, and such schemes have kept Barkley's numbers down because opposing defenses are willing to take chances with alignments that invite Barkley to check into running plays.

"If teams are going to play Cover 2 and just send safeties over the top and double-team both outside receivers, you're going to be forced to run the ball where they can't support the run," Barkley said.

Sure, Barkley would like to go deep every other play, but, he added, "I'm not really worried about being flashy and all that if we're moving the ball."

The problem is the Trojans have been hot and cold moving the ball, through the air or on the ground. They are fifth in the Pac-12 in scoring and pass efficiency, and sixth in total offense, rushing and passing yards. They are 11th in third-down percentage.

Those numbers suggest mediocrity, not the offensive greatness most projected for Barkley and company in the preseason.

Yet, it's still early. A lot can -- and likely will -- happen over the second half of the season. Neither of these teams have permanently set a trajectory for how things will go in 2012.

An upset victory for Utah would be monumental for the program in its second year of Pac-12 play. And an impressive performance by USC could land it back on the national radar.

2012-10-04T16:39:00.003-07:00

It would be a gross oversimplification to say any football game comes down to just the two quarterbacks.

Except that Saturday's game between Nebraska and Ohio State sure looks like it will come down to just the two quarterbacks.

The reason is that both quarterbacks -- the Buckeyes' Braxton Miller and the Cornhuskers'Taylor Martinez -- have been so outstanding so far this season. And it's hard to imagine either team winning without a great performance from their star signal-caller.

"I think you'll see two of the finest athletic quarterbacks in America on the field this weekend," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.

Both players have always been known as great athletes, but they've also developed into much more polished quarterbacks this season.

Martinez spent long hours this offseason working on improving his throwing mechanics, even visiting quarterback guru Steve Calhoun during his spring break. The result has been a career-high 67.8 percent completion rate for the Nebraska junior, who currently leads the Big Ten in passing efficiency.

His sharpness as a passer and the Huskers' deep stable of running backs has meant that Martinez hasn't used his feet as much as in years past. But he's still dangerous whenever he does decide to take off. He's averaging 6 yards per carry and had a 92-yard touchdown run at UCLA earlier this season.

"He's one of the best runners I've ever seen at the quarterback position," Meyer said.

Meyer sees an elite running quarterback every day at Ohio State. Miller has already run for 577 yards and seven touchdowns this season, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. What makes him so deadly is his ability to run with power and to spin or juke his way past defenders. And when defenses crowd him, he can beat them over the top.

"He's the best quarterback we're going to play all year," Nebraska safety P.J. Smith said. "When we get pressure and he tries to escape, we've got to stay with our guys until he finally steps past the line of scrimmage. Because when he tries to scramble to the sideline, the next thing you know, he's throwing it to the end zone."

Preparing for mobile quarterbacks is never easy, but at least both defenses see one of the best every day in practice.

"There aren’t many quarterbacks around that run sub-4.4s, high-4.3s [in the 40-yard dash]," Buckeyes linebacker Etienne Sabino said. "I think it definitely helps us to practice against Braxton. If [Martinez] sees a crease, he has that same ability."

"[Miller] reminds me of Taylor," Smith said. "And in practice, it's really hard to defend Taylor."

Both quarterbacks also boast some underrated skills. For Miller, it's his toughness. He's carried the ball 18 times per game and has repeatedly bounced back from big hits. His ability to stay in the game against Michigan State last week despite taking a hard fall on the sideline early and twisting his knee late impressed his teammates and coaches.

For Martinez, it's his laser-like focus on the details of the offense.

"He's so locked in that he knows every little thing that's going on," Nebraska running backRex Burkhead said. "He gets in that zone, and that allows him to play with confidence and lead us as our quarterback."

With Michigan's Denard Robinson struggling in the passing game, Martinez and Miller are the top two dual-threat quarterbacks in the league right now and the two leading candidates for Big Ten offensive player of the year. Saturday's outcome could have a large impact on that award and, who knows, maybe the Heisman Trophy race.

When Martinez is off, the Huskers usually follow suit. He didn't play well in Nebraska's blowout road losses at Wisconsin and Michigan last season, and his worst half this year came at UCLA in the team's only loss. He had a slow start last week at home against Wisconsin as Nebraska fell behind 27-10, but he led the way in a 30-27 comeback victory.

Miller, meanwhile, has repeatedly bailed Ohio State out of bad situations this season. While he's made some mistakes, like last week's three turnovers at Michigan State, he makes up for them with dazzling plays. The Buckeyes wouldn't be anywhere close to 5-0 without his heroics.

"The key to stopping their offense, which is an explosive offense, is stopping him," Smith said.

That normally would sound too simplistic. But in this game, the simplest question -- which quarterback plays better? -- may well provide all the answers.

2012-10-04T16:39:00.001-07:00

When Cincinnati receiver Damon Julian saw the ball sailing through the air toward him in the closing seconds against Virginia Tech last week, all he could think was, "Catch the ball this time!"

This was his opportunity to make up for an earlier dropped touchdown pass, a play that left Julian extremely frustrated. His coaches preach "snap and clear" as a way for players to erase an earlier mistake and just focus on the next play. So he looked the ball in, extended his arms and made absolutely sure he cradled the ball to his chest as he dove to the turf, to leave no doubt that he indeed made the catch.

[+] Enlarge
Paul Frederiksen/US PRESSWIREFrom backup to starting WR, Damon Julian is helping the Bearcats put points on the board this season.

That 39-yard touchdown reception fromMunchie Legaux gave Cincinnati a thrilling 27-24 victory over the previously ranked Hokies, and sent folks scrambling to their DVRs to rewind the incredible touchdown reception. At the time, Julian just thought he was doing his job. It was not until he watched the film later that he realized what he had done.

"When you go through something like that, you don’t think about how it happened," Julian said in a phone interview with ESPN.com this week. "But when you go back and look at it ... It opened my eyes a lot. It is making more confident in myself, making me know that I can make certain plays."

Julian was an unknown headed into this season. He played sparingly last year, seeing time in three games and did not have a reception. Before the year began, Cincinnati figured to have players like Alex Chisum, Anthony McClung andKenbrell Thompkins step up at the receiver position. Damon was a backup.

But he began turning heads in practice with all his hard work, and soon caught the eyes of his coaches. He earned the starting nod against Delaware State, and had four catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. He followed up that game with his spotlight-making performance against the Hokies.

"I can’t say enough about Damon Julian,” coach Butch Jones said. “He’s really dedicated himself for his senior season. He’s got a very quiet confidence about himself. He loves the opportunity to compete. After the game, he makes that winning catch and says, ‘Thank you, coach. I love you.’ I couldn’t be more proud of an individual, the work he’s put in to make this all possible."

While playing high school football in New Jersey, the schools that showed the most interest in him wanted him to play linebacker. Julian had his heart set on playing receiver. He decided to go the prep school route to bring his grades up and make a name for himself at his preferred position. He then transferred to Pierce Community College in Los Angeles.

In 2010, Julian led his team with 57 receptions for a team-high 1,073 yards and 11 touchdown. A former high school teammate of his, Reuben Johnson, kept bringing Julian's game film to the coaching staff. They took a look and set their sights on Julian. When he arrived last season, though, Julian said he was not fully committed to being the best he could be.

"I wasn’t as consistent as I should have been," Julian said. "Going into practice sometimes, I didn’t keep the same mentality. I would tend to bring on whatever my daily problems were so I didn’t have a game mentality. So when I go to practice now, keep the same mentality, a game mentality."

So far that has paid off for Julian. And the Bearcats.

2012-10-04T16:38:00.006-07:00

From the time he was at Alabama playing football in college, South Carolina defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward has been known as “Whammy.”

Finding somebody in the football world who doesn’t call him “Whammy” is about as difficult as scoring points has been this season against his defense.

The No. 6 Gamecocks enter their showdown Saturday with No. 5 Georgia ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense. They're allowing just 11.2 points per game, and in their three SEC games, have yielded just one second-half touchdown. That touchdown came with 17 seconds to play against Missouri and South Carolina leading 31-3 at the time.

It’s a defense that plays fast, plays with an edge and plays with a tenacity that reflects its defensive coordinator.

[+] Enlarge
Jeremy Brevard/US PresswireLorenzo Ward's defense faces its toughest test yet when the Gamecocks face Georgia on Saturday.

But as Ward is quick to point out, it’s also a defense that’s about to face a Georgia offense that has yet to score fewer than 40 points per game in five match ups this season.

“They’re by far the best offense we’ve faced,” Ward said. “They’re as complete an offense as you’re going to see and have made a ton of big plays.”

The Bulldogs already have 11 touchdowns of 30 yards or longer this season, which is one fewer than they had all of last season. They’ve also generated 43 plays that have gained 20 yards or more, which is six more than any other FBS team.

This is a major challenge for Ward and his South Carolina defense, but Ward has never been one to duck from such challenges.

As his nickname suggests, he prefers to tackle them head on, which is exactly the way his defense plays.

It’s the main reason South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier chose Ward to lead his defense after Ellis Johnson left last December to take the Southern Miss head coaching job.

Johnson had transformed the Gamecocks into one of the top defenses in college football. He’d also been a mentor of sorts to Ward, who began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Johnson at Alabama.

Ward knew he had big shoes to fill, but never blinked.

In his first game as the Gamecocks’ defensive chief, they shut down Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl last season and held the Huskers scoreless after the first quarter.

Spurrier had initially named Ward as the interim defensive coordinator, but saw enough in him even before the bowl game to give him the permanent title. He has shown a knack for knowing when coaches and players are ready to take that next step.

"He and I really think similarly about things, maybe even a little bit more than Ellis and I did," Spurrier said. "So we've changed a little bit. We really try not to maybe have defenses where our guys can screw up ... and not put indecision in them. So we've not had mental errors, maybe not quite as many as we've had in the past.

"Now, Ellis was a heck of a defensive coach. Don't get me wrong. We were third in the conference, fourth or fifth in the nation last year. We were very good. We just had some mental errors back there at times."

When he was promoted, Ward said the Gamecocks would probably blitz a little more than they had in the past. So he obviously believes in pressure defense. South Carolina leads the SEC with 22 sacks, which is six more than second-place Texas A&M. But the Gamecocks have been equally nasty against the run. Teams are averaging just 2.2 yards per carry against them.

"We set out with some goals at the beginning of the season, and we want to make sure we accomplish those goals every weekend and do it in a fashion that people know that they're going to have to bring their 'A' game to have a chance to beat us," Ward said. "We want to establish that identity every time we step onto the field. I can't say we're there yet. I'd like to have a year where we're dominant every game."

One of Ward's strengths is the way he relates to his players. He's not afraid to bark at them whether it's star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney or the third-team safety, but he also goes out of his way to get to know each of them personally.

Ward's straightforward relationship with Clowney during the recruiting process and the way he didn't fawn all over him was a huge factor in Clowney choosing the Gamecocks. Players like coaches who are real, and Ward is as real as it gets.

"I guess I have an infectious personality," Ward said. "I want to know my players, but I think they'd also tell you that they know me. That's a big part of getting their respect and having them buy in. They know you're in it to help them, but that doesn't always mean you're going to tell them what they want to hear."

Ward says he's "blessed" to even be in this position. He's coached under Frank Beamer, Art Shell and now Spurrier. He also spent a season at Arkansas in 2008 coaching the Hogs' secondary after being brought there by Johnson. The only problem was that Johnson stayed about a month before bolting for South Carolina. A year later, Johnson and Ward reunited at South Carolina. Even though Ward had the title of defensive coordinator, it was Johnson who ran the defense.

Now it's Ward's show, and he's glad he was patient.

"I had some opportunities to go to other schools and run the defense, but not on the SEC or Division I level," Ward said. "Some people have a desire to be in charge and don't care where it is, and they take that opportunity. I prayed a lot about it and put my trust is God. I couldn't be in a better situation. This is a great place, and coach Spurrier is great to work for.

"Coach Johnson built a great foundation here on defense. I'm just trying to put my stamp on it."

Spurrier thinks the best is yet to come.

"It's obvious the players really love the guy and play for him," Spurrier said. "He's got a bright future as a D-coordinator and maybe a head coach someday."

And, yes, he's always going to be "Whammy," a nickname that originated with his college roommate, who joked that Ward looked like the Whammy character that would pop up on the "Press Your Luck" game show." Then one day in practice, Ward delivered a big hit on somebody, prompting then-Alabama coach Bill Curry to say, "Lorenzo, you whammed that guy!"

There was no going back then.

"That's what everybody knows me as, and that's OK," Ward said. "That's who I am."

2012-10-04T16:38:00.004-07:00

Well, this is getting awfully familiar for Miami.

The Hurricanes are searching for their third athletic director since 2008, now that Shawn Eichorst has resigned to take the same position at Nebraska. The ACC also now has its third program without an athletic director as Miami, Clemson and Boston College have hires to make.

The truth is, we hardly knew Eichorst. Terry Don Phillips and Gene DeFilippo made their marks at their respective schools. Eichorst? He was only around Miami for 18 months, and leaves no real stamp on a program that is in desperate need of some sort of stability.

Having an opportunity to return to the Big Ten must have been appealing, with an NCAA investigation hanging over the program he inherited.

It was his predecessor, Kirby Hocutt, who has been implicated in the Nevin Shapiro scandal that has sent NCAA investigators to Miami asking questions. Hocutt reportedly gave Shapiro carte blanche to Miami and its players, an allegation Hocutt denies.

It is not as if Hocutt hung around Miami for long, either. He resigned in February 2011 for the same job at Texas Tech, after spending only 2 1/2 years with the Hurricanes. It was enough time for him to fire Randy Shannon and hire Al Golden, who remains the head coach. The allegations against Miami surfaced in an explosive Yahoo! Sports report six months after Hocutt resigned.

So where does Miami go from here? Its last two athletic directors have left for jobs in bigger conferences, so you have to wonder whether the Miami position is now viewed as a stepping stone job.

That was not the case previously with Sam Jankovich and Paul Dee working long, hard years to build Miami into a major powerhouse program. There are issues to deal with to be sure, with a small booster base and an inability to shell out salaries in the highest area of the stratosphere.

Finding somebody who wants to stay for the long-term has got to be the No. 1 priority, particularly with NCAA sanctions down the road. The last thing Miami needs is somebody to cut and run for the third successive time. Who wants to roll up his or her sleeves and work hard to build on the integrity of the program? Who understands that Miami will always have the potential to be a national power despite some of the down times that may come?

Miami remains a special program, given its history, tradition and location. Now president Donna Shalala needs to find a special person to shepherd this athletic department into the unknown, with the promise that sunnier times remain ahead.

2012-10-04T16:38:00.002-07:00

With two marquee matchups in the SEC this weekend, the question has to be asked: Can any of these teams stop mighty Alabama?

From the way the top-ranked Crimson Tide has looked through its first five games of the seasons, many think it'll be tough for any team not named Alabama to stop this squad. But no team is truly unbeatable and Alabama has its weakness, even if they are very small.

Still, someone from this weekend has to stand a chance, right?

With No. 4 LSU taking on 10-ranked Florida and No. 5 Georgia battling No. 6 South Carolina, the winners have to get a little more respect when it comes to taking on the Tide.

Will it be LSU? The Tigers haven't looked the part in their last two outings, but stopping the Gators in the swamp would go a long way to rejuvenate this team. If LSU can put together its most complete game of the season, the Tigers should top Florida and regain some of that lost luster. That means getting more production from quarterbackZach Mettenberger and his receivers. LSU then takes on South Carolina at home and Texas A&M on the road before hosting Alabama after a bye week.

Can the Gators take down the Tide? This team is probably getting the least amount of love in this group, but the Gators have shown some mettle this year with back-to-back SEC road wins in hostile environments. They were also trailing in the second half in both games. But Florida has been dominant in the second half and has yet to allow any points in the fourth quarter this season. A more balanced offensive attack and better quarterback play have gone a long way. The Gators get Georgia and South Carolina in the state of Florida, but still have to travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to take on Florida State at season's end.

Georgia could do it, right? The Bulldogs own the SEC's best, most balanced offense. But that defense looked shaky against Tennessee. Still, if this team can put everything together against a very talented South Carolina team, the Bulldogs might go on a run similar to last season. They don't play Alabama or LSU during the regular season and a trip to Jacksonville, Fla., to take on the Gators will be their toughest game after Saturday. The talent is championship-worthy, but that schedule makes things even smoother for the Dawgs.

And what about South Carolina? The Gamecocks might have the toughest running back in the league in Marcus Lattimore, and have been able to be quite balanced on offense withConnor Shaw playing some solid ball at quarterback. But Georgia's defense will bring a lot of heat Shaw's way and is on a mission to finally stop Lattimore, who has gutted this defense in the past. Plus, South Carolina's secondary better grow up in a hurry with Aaron Murray's passing attack headed to Columbia, S.C. The Gamecocks play at LSU and Florida in back-to-back weeks after this weekend, so they have the toughest road to Alabama.

Or will no one challenge the Tide? Is this team just too good and to complete to be tested? Maybe ...

2012-10-04T16:37:00.003-07:00

There are plenty of young kids across the league making a big impact. Here are the league's best through the first month:

Devonte Fields, DE, TCU: Fields was forced into action after a knee injury sidelined Ross Forrest for the season. So far, he's been unbelievable. Fields will be facing better offensive lines soon, but he's been the Big 12's most productive defensive lineman to this point. TCU's nonconference schedule has been about as good as anyone's in the league, too. Fields, a 6-foot-4, 240-pounder from Arlington, Texas, is leading the Big 12 with 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.

J.W. Walsh/Wes Lunt, QBs, Oklahoma State: You can't really separate these two, but they've both excelled so far this season, giving Cowboys fans plenty of hope that Brandon Weeden's old spot will be filled admirably for the next four years. Walsh ranks fourth nationally in passer rating after filling in for Lunt, who suffered a knee injury in the Cowboys' third game. He's thrown for 797 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. Lunt, meanwhile, has completed 68 percent of his passes for 588 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Lunt's expected to take the job back over when he gets healthy.

Spencer Drango, OT, Baylor: Art Briles decided to put his faith in a redshirt freshman, enlisting Drango to protect Nick Florence's blind side. The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder beefed up in his redshirt season, and it's already paying off. Baylor ranks second nationally in scoring offense and total offense, ranking second nationally in passing offense. The offense also ranks 44th in rushing offense.

Isaiah Bruce, LB, West Virginia: Bruce made a big splash in his first start, earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 1 against Marshall. He's only continued to be productive after that 16-tackle performance. He's second in the Big 12 with 43 tackles, four tackles for loss and returned a fumble 43 yards for a touchdown in that Marshall win.

Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma: Shepard had to fight for playing time early on, but in just his first start, he showed a ton of promise, leading the Sooners in receiving against a good secondary in Kansas State. He hardly played in the opener, but he caught three passes for 48 yards against Florida A&M, and his breakout game against the Wildcats featured seven grabs for 108 yards and his first career touchdown.

2012-10-04T16:37:00.001-07:00

The way Kyle Flood sees it, too much has happened to cloud Rutgers' memory since its 2011 loss to Connecticut. There has been a bowl game, spring practice, training camp and four more games this season. There is also a new head coach, too, along with different players in different spots.

[+] Enlarge
Chuck Cook/US PresswireKyle Flood's unbeaten Scarlet Knights will host Connecticut on Saturday at noon.

"I think what motivates our team is the opportunity to be 1 0 this week," Flood said during his weekly Monday news conference. "If you string together enough of those 1 0s, you have got an opportunity to play for a championship.

"So every week in the Big East conference, because we don't have a conference championship game, every week is a Big East championship game. So for us to continue moving toward our goal, our motivation is simple: We want to be 1 0 this week."

That conference title Flood speaks of was taken away from his Scarlet Knights last season when, with a chance to clinch a share of their first Big East championship, they were routed at UConn, 40-22, in their regular-season finale.

At 4-0 and ranked 22nd in the nation going into this year's contest with the Huskies, Rutgers has big dreams on the line again, in Flood's first season. But coaches and players insist they are not getting ahead of themselves after just one month.

"We actually live off of that," running back Jawan Jamison said of the past. "We realize what happened in the past, and we're just trying to build off of that for the future, not let it get to us at all. Our coaches do a pretty good job of keeping us humble and keeping us grounded."

Rutgers had actually won five of its previous six meetings with UConn before last season, and the Scarlet Knights had won the three prior meetings by four points or less.

That made the deal even sweeter for the Huskies, who boast the Big East's top defense after five nonconference games. Rutgers is second.

"It felt good last year because we had been in so many close battles with them in the years before, and they had always beaten us by three or two points here and there," UConn linebacker Jory Johnson said. "So it was good to come out and start fresh against them last year and really have that game in control the whole time. This year they're playing really well, their offense is clicking.

"It's going to be a big game, going on the road and playing in a hostile environment. But that's something that we look forward to. We're looking forward to going on the road and playing a big-time opponent, because now we can really show how good our team is."

2012-10-04T16:36:00.007-07:00

It's already been a rocky start to SEC play for Missouri, and now this.

Freshman receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, the No. 1 high school prospect in the country last year, has been suspended along with four other freshmen for Saturday's game against Vanderbilt.

Green-Beckham, along with freshman receiver Levi Copelin and linebacker Torey Boozer, was arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of possession of less than 35 grams of marijuana, according to a report in The Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. The two other freshmen who were suspended, defensive lineman Harold Brantley and tight end Brandon Holifield, were also passengers in the car when the arrest took place, but they weren't arrested.

According to the Tribune's report, University of Missouri police captain Brian Weimer said an officer on patrol found the players at 11:49 p.m. in a white Lincoln Navigator in Lot G south of Memorial Stadium. Weimer said the officer detected the odor of marijuana and when the players got out of the car, the officer found marijuana.

Landing Green-Beckham was a huge recruiting coup for Missouri, which has lost its first two SEC games each by 21 points.

The Tigers have struggled to score points this season, and Green-Beckham had not been a big part of the offense until last week when he caught his first touchdown pass -- an 80-yarder in the 21-16 win over UCF.

Green-Beckham was the only one of the three arrested freshmen scheduled to play this Saturday. The other two were expected to redshirt this season.

2012-10-04T16:36:00.005-07:00

We don't know how much Shawn Eichorst made as Miami's athletic director because Miami, as a private institution, doesn't release salary figures.

But it's safe to assume Eichorst's salary in his new job at Nebraska will go a little further.

Nebraska announced it will pay Eichorst a base salary of $973,000, as the school's athletic director. Eichorst resigned Thursday as Miami's athletic director and will join Nebraska's staff Tuesday as a special assistant to chancellor Harvey Perlman. He'll take over the athletic director position Jan. 1 when Tom Osborne retires.

Eichorst becomes the Big Ten's third highest-paid athletic director behind Ohio State's Gene Smith (base salary: $1,074,546) and Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez (total compensation: $1,040,800), whom Eichorst served under as Wisconsin's deputy AD from 2009-11. He'll be the sixth highest-paid AD in the country.

The next highest-paid Big Ten ADs are Michigan's Dave Brandon ($700,454), Illinois' Mike Thomas ($575,000) and Purdue's Morgan Burke ($505,918).

Osborne, conversely, had been one of the lowest-paid major-conference ADs at $277,969 annually, so this is a sizable bump. Not surprisingly, Eichorst's contract also has a large buyout, beginning at $2 million for his first year.

Perlman said he interviewed two external candidates for the job. Eichorst toured Nebraska's campus last month after coming to the Midwest for the Miami-Kansas State football game. Nebraska reached out to Alvarez during the vetting process and received a strong stamp of approval.

Eichorst obviously knows the Big Ten, and Perlman said league commissioner Jim Delany is very pleased with the choice.

Nebraska will introduce Eichorst at a news conference Tuesday in Lincoln.

2012-10-04T16:36:00.003-07:00

Michigan State offensive lineman Jack Allen won't face a suspension or any other disciplinary action from the Big Ten after the league reviewed tape of a possible eye-gouging incident in last week's Michigan State-Ohio State game.

Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis released a statement Thursday that the league determined Allen didn't violate its sportslike conduct policy. Allen appeared to reach inside the helmet of Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, and Ohio State sent tape of the play for the Big Ten to review.

"As athletics director, I had an opportunity to be involved in this review process and while his actions ‘weren’t a football play,’ this clearly wasn't an eye-gouging incident," Hollis said in a prepared statement.

While Thursday's news might surprise some, the Big Ten typically doesn't take action unless a blatant sportslike conduct violation has occurred, such as Illinois' Jonathan Brown striking a Northwestern player in the groin after a play or Michigan State's William Gholstonintentionally twisting the helmet of Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson.

Some saw last Saturday's incident as blatant eye-gouging, but Hankins didn't have any immediate complaint and several players had their hands in opposing players' facemasks after the play. I'm not saying the league should have or shouldn't have taken action, but the situation didn't appear to be as clear cut as, say, the Brown or Gholston incidents from 2011.

2012-10-04T16:36:00.001-07:00

Mail time!

Alex from NYC writes: Brian, if we look at the Big Ten now, the most dangerous QBs in the league are the dual-threat ones (Robinson, Miller, Martinez, etc.), while the traditional pocket-passers like Maxwell and Vandenberg really don't seem to impress all that much. 15-20 years ago, the concept of a dual-threat QB didn't seem to exist. Many of the best QBs in the country are now dual-threat, or at the very least, can make plays with their legs if they have to (i.e. like Russell Wilson last year). My question is this: do you think the days of the statue pocket passer are slowly fading away not just in the Big Ten, but in college football in general? It even seems to be slowly trickling up to the NFL as well, with guys like Cam Newton, RGIII and Tim Tebow.

Brian Bennett: Good question, Alex, and I think a couple of things are going on here. One, there are fewer true pocket passers in high school these days as more and more people are embracing the spread and athletic players at quarterback. The NFL is beginning to embrace more athletic quarterbacks in part because colleges aren't producing the traditional passers like they used to. Another factor is the number of Big Ten teams who use the spread or spread elements. Ohio State, for example, will always want dual-threat guys to run Urban Meyer's offense. Same for Nebraska. Having a quarterback who can run just gives the offense another weapon.

At the same time, though, I don't think you'll see the traditional type of passer die off in the Big Ten. Michigan State is committed to a pro-style offense. Michigan should go back toward that route once Denard Robinson leaves and hyped recruit Shane Morris arrives. Same goes for Penn State and Christian Hackenberg. So I think you'll see a mix of styles going forward, and that's part of what makes college football so much fun.

Chris from New Jersey writes: B.B., Big fan of yours from back in the Big East Blog days. It's probably a little early in the season, and may be completely off your radar right now, but here goes... If Rutgers can win the Big East, and then the Orange Bowl (Both are absolutely possible), do you think the Big Ten will come knocking? I don't want the Big East to die, but I also don't have a lot of faith in its future.. There were rumors not too long ago, but it never happened.... Thoughts?

Brian Bennett: Hey, Chris. Good to see the Big East has three ranked teams -- the same number as the Big Ten. Anyway, no league should base expansion decisions on one good season or bowl win by a team. Whether Rutgers wins the Orange Bowl or loses in the Beef 'O'Brady's shouldn't have any bearing on the process. The Big Ten looked at Rutgers during its expansion process two years ago but ultimately decided to go with just one team. The league right now is content at 12 teams and has no plans to expand. Were that to change, the Scarlet Knights would be near the top of the wish list. But it's not on the horizon right now.

Chris from Iowa writes: Hey, Brian: What is more likely? The Cardinals coming through to win a second consecutive World Series, or Nebraska escaping the B1G enough to go to the championship game, win, and beat whichever team is in the Rose Bowl?

Brian Bennett: I see, Chris. You're shamelessly using my love of the Cardinals to get into the mailbag. Well played, sir. I'll pick Nebraska. The baseball playoffs are a crapshoot with a lot of randomness built in, especially now with the one-game playoff that the Cardinals will play against the Braves. But all we need is a chip and a chair, as they say in poker. I've got Nebraska as the Legends Division favorite right now. It won't be easy, as that's a very balanced division. And then the Huskers have to win the Big Ten title game and likely beat a very good Pac-12 team in Pasadena. The chances of all of those things happening are probably 35 percent or less. But I'll take that over jinxing my Redbirds.

Joel from Minneapolis writes: Forget about win-loss for the moment and give me your take on who looks better on paper (stats): Indiana or Minnesota.

Brian Bennett: Stats only? Well, the Hoosiers are third in the Big Ten in scoring, second in total offense and first in passing. They're also last in total defense and rushing defense, which smacks of an unbalanced team. The Gophers are in the middle to lower part of the league in many offensive categories but are third in total defense. You also can't discount competition level or results, and Minnesota's wins over UNLV and Syracuse, though not wildly impressive, are better than anything Indiana has accomplished thus far.

Al from New York writes: Do you buy or sell on Taylor Martinez as a legitimate passing threat now? Basically just wondering if you think that teams will have to respect both his arm and legs for the remainder of his career. Yes his throwing motion may still look odd, but that seems less important when looking at his improved decision making, poise in the pocket, increased zip on balls, and overall accuracy with talented receivers. Who could have predicted before the season, that at Week 5 he'd lead the big 10 in passing efficiency and be 13th nationally?

Brian Bennett: Some good points there, Al, and Martinez deserves a lot of credit for his hard work in the offseason to make himself a better passer. He's never going to have beautiful mechanics, but he's showing better footwork and delivering a better ball. The Nebraska receivers are a lot better as well, and with the respect defenses have to give the Huskers running game, there are going to be open lanes for Martinez to throw. He's not going to make anyone think of Tom Brady with his arm. But as long as Martinez gets the ball where it needs to go and makes good decisions, he will be a legitimate two-way quarterback.

Brian from Whiteman Air Force Base writes: With the majority of the top teams in the B1G facing off this weekend (NEB vs OSU, PSU vs NW, Purdue vs Mich), who do you predict the top 3 teams will be on Sunday? Or does a lot of it depend on how a team wins or loses?

Brian Bennett: I can almost assure you the winner of the Nebraska-Ohio State game will be No. 1 in our power rankings next week, as the Buckeyes and Huskers are one-two right now. The only way that wouldn't happen is if they play a very sloppy, ugly game. As for the spots behind them, it's anybody's guess. It will depend on who beats whom and how they look doing so. I will say we'll be keeping a very close eye on the Michigan-Purdue game, because that should tell us a lot about both clubs and their chances to win their respective divisions. Whoever wins there could be looking at a serious power rankings bump.

Josh from L.A. writes: I have a question which is probably tainted by some Maize and Blue sunglasses I'm wearing in sunny LA. Denard will always be one of my favorite players, and he's the best representative of a university that someone could ask for. He's taken a lot of heat for his game against ND, but how much of that do you actually put on him versus on Al Borges for not putting Denard in a position to win the game? I personally don't think Borges is a bad coordinator, but out of Michigan's 4 losses in under Hoke, 3 of those games (MSU, Iowa, ND) could have easily gone Michigan's way with some better play calling.

Brian Bennett: Josh, I'm jealous of your weather, though I like living in a city where I can actually walk to places. I've taken issue with some of Borges' play calling. I especially did not like the Vincent Smith pass near the goal line against Notre Dame and do not buy Borges' justification for the call. That was just too clever by half. At the same time, Denard Robinson had some very easy throws that most quarterbacks would have completed in that game against the Irish, and he made some awful mistakes. Notre Dame is also not the easiest team to run against, and its defensive weakness is in the secondary. I think the bye week came at a good time for Michigan to re-evaluate its play calling and how best to utilize the strengths and weaknesses of Robinson. I'd expect a lot more running this week at Purdue.

Eric from New York writes: Hi, Brian! Although it stinks that PSU is bowl-banned, us fans would love to see PSU crack into the top 25 rankings. What would it take? If PSU wins out (a fair chance I believe), would this be enough?

Brian Bennett: Penn State did not receive any votes this week in the Associated Press poll and is of course ineligible for the coaches' poll because of probation. The Nittany Lions' national perception would be a lot different if Sam Ficken had made just one more field goal at Virginia. I think Penn State will have to win its next three, which would include a victory over Ohio State on Oct. 27, to get serious consideration for the Top 25. That would make the team 6-2 with wins over two ranked squads. Depending on what everyone else does, that could be enough.

Carl from Chicago writes: Everyone is talking big about OSU's defense, which did stop Mich St fairly well. But they also haven't played any stellar offenses with the best being Cal. Cal has averaged though week 5 about 385 yards a game and put up over 500 yards on OSU. UAB even out gained OSU with over 400 yards. I know they just put on a decent defensive show at Mich St but dont you think the OSU defense is a little over rated considering its 10th in yards per game inside the B1G and 59th nationally?

Brian Bennett: I guess it depends on what ratings you're reading, Carl. We have consistently written and said here that the Buckeyes' defense has disappointed, and I wrote before and after the Michigan State game that the Spartans presented a perfect matchup for the Ohio State defense's style of play. These Buckeyes are built more to stop pro-style, traditional Big Ten offenses than spread attacks. Which is why the Nebraska game is so interesting. The Huskers have by far the best offense Ohio State will have seen and can create some major matchup problems. This weekend will tell us a lot more about how far along Urban Meyer's defense is.

Max from Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., writes: Help me out, Brian. Can you explain all the negative press about MSU? Seventh in the Big Ten power rankings? I wonder if the so called "experts" saw their game with OSU this weekend. A one-point loss to a team that all the "experts" say has the most talent in the league. A missed field goal and a horribly blown call by the officials being the difference. Writers seen to want to have it both ways.Braxton Miller played great or the MSU defense couldn't make stop when needed. Which is it? If MSU is as bad as has been written, why is OSU number 1 in the rankings? If OSU is so good why did MSU drop so far? After all they do have the Big Tens best non conference win. Or doesn't that count any more?

Brian Bennett: Max, you make some fair points. We can only base our power rankings on what teams have done, and the fact is Michigan State has lost two of its last three games, both of them at home. The only win in there was a very underwhelming performance against Eastern Michigan. Has the competition level been difficult for the Spartans? Absolutely, and that's a great reason to believe that they can bounce back. At the same time, the offense just can't find the end zone (one total touchdown against both Notre Dame and Ohio State). For now, Michigan State is trending in the wrong direction. But there's a lot of time to turn that around.

Dennis from New York, NY, writes: Brian, I know Miami isn't in the Big 10, but could you please make a pick of Miami over ND (the game is at least being played in Chicago, home of the Big 10 HQs)? After ND's perfect track record against your picks (and the Big 10), I think we should keep the streak going, no?

Brian Bennett: You got it: Canes by three touchdowns. I accept credit cards and money orders.

2012-10-04T16:35:00.003-07:00

North Carolina did not get a real test last week, not against an Idaho team that is one of the worst teams in the country.

Given the 66-0 result of that game, and its 27-6 win over East Carolina the previous week, how much do we really know about the Tar Heels headed into their big showdown against Virginia Tech on Saturday?

[+] Enlarge
Cal Sport Media via AP ImagesThe Tar Heels' Giovani Bernard -- a threat to score on the ground, through the air and on special teams -- is healthy again.

"I think we'll know a lot about this football team after this game," coach Larry Fedora said. "Obviously, Virginia Tech is a very good football team. They've always been great on special teams. They're known for their defense and they're going to play hard-nosed football, be a physical team."

Here is what we do know about North Carolina. Running back Gio Bernard is back, and Fedora says his star player is back to 100 percent after a knee injury held him out of two games this season. Despite missing those games, Bernard has seven total touchdowns and is expected to see the field in a wide variety of ways Saturday.

The defense appears to be improved, and its play up front could be a huge advantage for the Tar Heels in this game. The Hokies have struggled all season on the offensive line, whether its been a failure to open consistent holes in the running game or being able to protect quarterback Logan Thomas. Teams have shown if you can pressure Thomas, you will increase your chances of winning.

North Carolina, meanwhile, is right behind Florida State in total sacks so far this season with 14. Defensive tackle Sylvester Williams leads the team and is No. 3 in the ACC in sacks with 4.5.

It is important to note that eight of those sacks came in the past two weeks -- seven against East Carolina. In its only ACC game against Wake Forest, North Carolina only had one. So either the pass rush has definitely come along, or it was helped along because the opponent was not as strong.

Assuming North Carolina can sustain its pass rush, it faces another challenge in actually taking Thomas down. Fedora says the only two players on his defense that will outweigh the 260-pound Thomas are his defensive tackles.

"When you go to get that guy down on a pass-rush or a sack, it's going to take seven or eight guys to get him down," Fedora said. "It's something we understand, our guys are going to have to fly to the football, we're going to have to get there, we're going to have to gang-tackle. That's what's going to have to happen. He presents a unique challenge for any team."

2012-10-04T16:35:00.001-07:00

Gene Chizik is hoping that his Tigers used their bye week to their full advantage.

With all the issues Auburn had through the first four weeks of the season, Chizik made sure players and coaches saw all the glaring mistakes that put his team in bad situations. He wanted them to see those mistakes and learn from them before the bye was over with.

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Dave MartinFollowing his team's 1-3 start, Gene Chizik said there's an "urgency to win" around Auburn.

Changes and tweaks were made, and Chizik hopes they work on Saturday, especially against an Arkansas team that really has nothing to lose with its 1-4 record.

Chizik said his team knows where it stands with its own 1-3 record. Auburn is on the verge of being on the outside when it comes to the postseason. Chizik said neither he nor his team are running from the realization of how big Saturday's game against the Razorbacks is.

"There's an urgency around Auburn, without question, when you're 1-3," Chizik said. "And there's an urgency to win."

With a loss, Auburn will likely miss out on a bowl game for the first time since 2008 and it doesn't help that the Tigers own the SEC's worst offense (297.8 yards per game) and the third-worst defense (419.3).

But the defense looked much better against LSU last week, holding the Tigers to just 12 points and forced LSU into a handful of mistakes.

Chizik said his team was more than energized in that game, and the hope is that it carries over to this weekend.

"Our kids are hungry and they want to win," he said. "That's the expectation this Saturday as well."

He's even seen an increase in leadership. Guys like Corey Lemonier, Jeff Whitaker, Onterio McCalebb and T'Sharven Bell have all stepped up to guide this team. Having these vets step up will go a long way if they can really take hold of their teammates.

Even with all the issues Auburn has had, the Tigers have to feel confident facing the SEC's worst defense. Arkansas is allowing more than 500 yards and 40 points a game. Even Auburn's offense should be able to do something with that.

And a fast start against a reeling team is what Chizik said his team needs if it's going to pull out a must-win on the Plains. Arkansas' offensive talent can't be forgotten, and Chizik doesn't want to have to play catchup with the Hogs.

"Certainly for us, forget about the opponent, we need to have a great start," he said. "We need to have something good happen. We need to be able to get a little bit of momentum for our football team."

2012-10-04T16:34:00.002-07:00

Coaches spend a lot of time worrying. For instance, right now Mike Riley is worried about his pass defense, and the fact that the Beavers gave up some big yards last week against Arizona. Now he faces a Washington State team that likes to chuck the ball.

Mike Leach is also worried about Oregon State's defense -- particularly the defensive ends. And as only Mike Leach can, he proposed how he plans to stop them.

"Basically have a bunch of people go to Corvallis sometime this week. Take them out. Make sure they stay out too late," Leach said. "Shanghai them and leave them in a foreign country. That's what we have in mind. But there are some flaws to that and some bugs to that idea that we're working through."

[+] Enlarge
Jaime Valdez/US PresswireMike Riley's Beavers have been battled-tested through their first three games. Oregon State has won all three by a combined margin of 13 points.

Though a bit on the silly side, he makes a good point. The Beavers are tops in the conference in third-down defense, allowing teams to convert just 20.5 percent of the time. And they are No. 2 in rush defense. While the Cougars will probably stick to their script of 70-30 pass-to-run ratio, Leach knows the Beavers are averaging better than two sacks per game. Scott Crichton has three of those to go with five tackles for loss.

For the No. 14 Beavers (3-0, 2-0), Saturday's matchup with the Cougars (2-3, 0-2) is their first game at home in almost a month. Since their 10-7 win over No. 13 Wisconsin on Sept. 8, the Beavers have gone on to win close games on the road against No. 13 UCLA (27-20) and Arizona (38-35).

It's been a white-knuckle start to the season for Oregon State, for sure. But that's a good thing, says Riley.

"It's taken all 3 hours and 27 minutes in all of them," Riley said. "We've had two onside kicks and then a last-minute interception to save the game. It's been tough. Besides the wins, the main thing I've liked about the team is they've competed and kept their poise. They've kept their head down and not gotten overwhelmed with the situation which is neat to see. It's a good sign that they just kept playing."

Besides the defense, much of Oregon State's success this season can be attributed to the increased efficiency of quarterback Sean Mannion. But it helps when a good quarterback has good receivers -- and an argument can be made that Markus Wheaton and Brandin Cooks are playing as well as any wide receiver duo in the country.

The pair ranks second and third respectively in the Pac-12 in receptions per game. Through three games, Wheaton has 27 catches for 403 yards and three touchdowns. Cooks isn't far behind with 21 catches for 404 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Maybe more impressive is that Cooks is averaging 19.2 yards per catch and Wheaton has 14.9.

"It's growth from all of them for sure," Riley said. "Markus has been a real leader in that regard. He was tremendous in the offseason with this team and Brandon is a young guy that is one of the hardest workers around. Those three spent the summer together throwing the ball around and that's always good. They have worked together a lot through the last couple of years.

"Most notable [regarding Mannion] is confidence. He was always poised, even as a freshman playing last year. He always kept his wits about him. He's always good to talk to on the sidelines. He has good explanations for what's going on. Again, the playing time from a year ago and the study and the poise and confidence is a great characteristic of that guy."

Confidence was an issue for Washington State the first few weeks of the season. But improvements were made in defeat against Oregon. The Cougars showed a bit of moxie in taking their shots at the No. 2 Ducks -- which Leach hopes is a step in the right direction.

"I thought we got better this week," Leach said. "There were only a handful of plays that the game could have been differently and we need to figure out how to get those plays. It's one thing to play hard. It's another thing to play hard and play precise and have things in context and we need to improve on that.

"... Nobody is satisfied with just a good showing."

2012-10-04T15:46:00.002-07:00

When Tulsa head coach Danny Manning left the NBA nearly a decade ago, he decided to pursue a coaching career at the collegiate level. It’s not an uncommon transition.

But Manning wasn’t just looking for a way to stay connected to the game. He’d grown tired of the uncertainty attached to playing for seven teams during his 15-year pro career. Coaching offered more stability for him, his wife and two children.

“A lot of it came down to my family. My son was in fourth grade. [The kids] had not been in the same school for a year,” Manning told ESPN.com. “They would always come out at the semester. It just got to a point where me and my wife wanted to provide more stability for our kids. In the back of my mind was always to go after a job -- the job -- once he finished high school. We’re very fortunate and blessed for that to happen, to land at a place as good as Tulsa. This is a great opportunity.”

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Sue OgrockiDanny Manning gets a chance to build his own program at Tulsa.

A nine-year stint at Kansas -- where he led the Jayhawks to the 1988 national title under Larry Brown -- became the lab for Manning’s current position. Manning earned a strong reputation for his development of Kansas post players. Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, Cole Aldrich, Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey all matured under his care.

But Manning grew, too.

Bill Self, Manning said, prepared him for the challenges he’s now facing in his first year with Tulsa.

“I learned so much from Bill Self and his interaction with people, how he pushed his teams, how he challenges his team, the work ethic needed, the types of drills that can help your team bond, the different play calls and the different mindset of the staff,” Manning said. “All those things come into play [now].”

That experience helped Manning remain focused when Tulsa’s top guards -- Jordan Clarkson (16.5 ppg) and Eric McClellan (8.5 ppg) -- announced they were transferring shortly after he arrived. Scottie Haralson (11.1 ppg) is back, but Manning will clearly need time to reload. That, he said, is his focus, not the departures.

“I knew there would be other things on my plate in terms of the young men who wanted to be a part of the program,” Manning said. “If they don’t want to be there, it’s kind of good riddance, good luck. Let’s just concentrate on the young men that want to be there.”

Manning replaces Doug Wojcik, who never led the Golden Hurricane to the NCAA tournament. Wojcik, who’s now leading the College of Charleston, recorded the most wins in the school’s history, one that includes stints with Self, Nolan Richardson and Tubby Smith.

Manning said he’s received a stream of support from the school’s administration, fans and alumni since his arrival. But he also recognizes that he has to accrue victories to maintain the positive vibe that’s around the program.

“You can’t ignore the fact that [Wojcik] had success here. You can’t ignore the fact that he was the all-time winningest coach,” said Manning, who has stayed in touch with Wojcik. “He’s been a great resource for me. Even before him, Nolan Richardson, Tubby Smith, Bill Self. Tulsa’s has always had good basketball.”

Tulsa produced six straight winning seasons under Wojcik. But his postseason struggles, perennial losses against Conference USA powerhouse Memphis and declining ticket sales resulted in his firing.

Manning is a reputable face for a program that needs one. But he’s not counting on his status as a former NBA all-star to fix his team’s problems. Although, it will help, especially in recruiting.

“It moreso helps with the parents and the coaches. That’s probably the age group that remembers me in terms of a player,” Manning said. “I do think [recruits] knowing the history of the last nine years at Kansas, where I’ve been on staff and helped develop men to get to that next level [will help]. … That’s something I’m very proud of.”

But Manning clearly isn’t in Kansas anymore.

Last season, Manning ended the year with the Jayhawks at the Final Four. Current projections suggest that Tulsa could spend its first year under Manning in the Bottom Four of Conference USA.

Manning doesn’t subscribe to that theory -- “We want to win now” -- but he knows he could see more obstacles than rainbows in his first season as a head coach.

And that’s what he expected. As much as Manning craved that consistency that the NBA failed to deliver toward the end of his career, he also wanted to achieve it without shortcuts.

Coaching under Self, he said, forced him to absorb aspects of the job that he would have missed had he taken on a head coaching position too soon.

“I’ve always wanted to be a head coach, but it was also something where I wanted to experience the process,” he said. “I wanted to go through all of the steps that were necessary to get into that position and be prepared for it.”

2012-10-04T15:43:00.002-07:00

In the Big 12, some things change (Missouri and Texas A&M out, West Virginia and TCU in), while some things remain the same (Kansas winning the regular-season title every year). We asked our writers to share their thoughts on the conference in 2012-13: Which team has the best chance of ending KU’s incredible streak of Big 12 titles? Dana O'Neil: I honestly make this pick without a lot of conviction, because until someone actually unseats Kansas I won’t believe anyone can. But forced to pick -- as I am here -- the team with the best chance this year, I have to go with Baylor. Scott Drew’s team is once again top-heavy with talent, with a ridiculously talented backcourt in the form of Pierre Jackson, Deuce Bello and Brady Heslip, plus a stud in big man freshman Isaiah Austin. Of course we heard this last season with the Bears and they still finished four games behind KU in the Big 12 standings. But if Baylor can put its game on par with its résumé, the Bears should and could be the one to finally stop the Kansas Big 12 monarchy. How will newcomers West Virginia and TCU do in their first seasons? Myron Medcalf: Bob Huggins and Trent Johnson are in different situations as they prepare for their programs’ first season in the Big 12. The Mountaineers lost Kevin Jones and Truck Bryant. But Deniz Kilicli (10.7 ppg) is a bruiser in a league that embraces that physicality. Transfers Aaric Murray (15.2 ppg in 2010-11 for LaSalle), Matt Humphrey (10.3 ppg in 2011-12 for Boston College) and Juwan Staten (8.5 ppg in 2010-11 for Dayton) give Huggins the athletes he’ll need to compete in the Big 12. I think West Virginia will finish fifth in the league behind Kansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State and Kansas State. Possibly higher. I can’t say the same about TCU, which lacks the talent necessary to escape a last-place finish in the Big 12. Mountain West freshman of the year Kyan Anderson (8.3 ppg) could blossom in his second season, and the addition of Arkansas transfer Devonta Abron will help. But TCU will get off to a rough start in the Big 12 by finishing at the bottom of the league. But that’s where rebuilding often begins. [+] Enlarge Chris Williams/Icon SMI Myck Kabongo averaged 9.6 points per game for Texas last season. What player in the Big 12 is ready to break out in 2012-13? Eamonn Brennan: Texas point guard Myck Kabongo is hardly under the radar -- he arrived in Austin last season with loads of hype, and was under the spotlight during his so-so freshman season. But I can see him making something of a leap as a sophomore, particularly now that he doesn't have to worry about shot-gobbling J'Covan Brown getting his. (This could likewise benefit fellow sophomore guard Sheldon McClellan, who was efficient in his first season.) Oklahoma State's Le'Bryan Nash is in a similar position. Counting stats-wise, he was OK as a freshman, but solid averages belie what was a truly uneven, often inefficient season. But the dude has loads of talent. If he tightens a few things up, and cleans up some of the decision making on the offensive end, he has the potential to be a serious force. Who do you see as the sleeper team in the Big 12? Jason King: I’m a little surprised more people aren’t talking about Oklahoma State. I realize the Cowboys have missed the NCAA tournament the past two seasons and that they went just 15-18 last year. But something tells me their fortunes are about to change. When it comes to pure talent, Travis Ford’s squad stacks up with any team in the Big 12. Nash averaged 13.3 points as a freshman last season, but overall his performance was deemed disappointing because he shot just 39 percent from the field and only 23 percent from 3-point range. That won’t happen again. Nash, who missed the final five games with a wrist injury, will make gargantuan strides from his freshman to his sophomore season. And part of the reason will be Marcus Smart. No one would be surprised if Smart, a freshman shooting guard and McDonald’s All-American, is one of the Big 12‘s top players by season’s end. As good as he is on the court, Smart is lauded equally for his leadership skills. His presence will take some of the pressure off of Nash, who often tried to do too much last season. Both players are projected as first-round draft picks. Junior Markel Brown and sophomore Brian Williams are also back. The guards combined to average 20.1 points last season. A season-ending injury kept forward J.P. Olukemi off the court for the entire Big 12 season, but he scored 11.1 points per contest the previous year, so he’s proven he can excel at a high level. The bottom line is that the Cowboys have weapons -- lots of them. One area of concern is in the paint, where there is a lack of height and depth, which means rebounding could be an issue. Oklahoma State has also lacked discipline at times under Ford. Still, in a wide-open conference like the Big 12, a team as talented as this one could finish as high as second. And I don’t envision Ford’s unit falling anywhere below fifth place. How many NCAA bids does the Big 12 get this season? Andy Katz: I wrestled with how to handle the Big 12 teams in the preseason Top 25 poll I recently submitted. I ended up having just two: Kansas and Baylor. But don't read into that in terms of the depth of this conference. I'm confident that four teams will be in the tourney for sure in KU, Baylor, Texas and Kansas State. I will be surprised if Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and West Virginia aren't pushing for a bid come February. But I'll safely say six out of 10 teams will get bids and that's as good a percentage as probably any conference in the country.