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NCAA football midseason report
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By Rivals.com Staff
October 13, 2010
BCS BOWL PROJECTIONS
Rose: Iowa vs. Boise State
Fiesta: Nebraska vs. West Virginia
Orange: Florida State vs. Auburn
Sugar: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
Title game: Ohio State vs. Oregon
So far, we've learned so much. Alabama is indeed beatable. Oregon doesn't miss Jeremiah Masoli. Nebraska's quarterback issues are solved. Boise State and TCU are again threatening the BCS system. Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema takes his two-point conversion chart seriously. LSU's Les Miles is the luckiest man alive.
That much was established in a wild first half. The second half of the season will reveal if first-year Oregon QB Darron Thomas can lead the Ducks to the national championship, if Nebraska can get revenge against Texas and leave the Big 12 as champion and if Boise State and TCU can remain unbeaten and get a chance to play for the national championship. We'll find out just how far USC has fallen, if South Carolina can make it to the SEC championship game and if two Big Ten teams that don't play in the regular season -- Ohio State and Michigan State -- could actually play for the national championship. The second half also will reveal if Alabama can rebound from its loss to South Carolina, go on to win the SEC and get a chance to become the first team in the BCS era to win back-to-back national championships.
THREE MOST PLEASANT SURPRISES
1. MICHIGAN STATE
Coming off a losing season in '09, the Spartans figured to be improved. But undefeated at the halfway mark? No one saw that coming. The high points are an overtime victory over Notre Dame, a strong performance at home vs. Wisconsin and a big-time defensive effort against Michigan. Improving Illinois and a road trip to Iowa still loom, but Michigan State is a bona-fide contender for the Big Ten championship.
2. N.C. STATE
After four consecutive losing seasons, the Wolfpack have broken through with a 5-1 start. QB Russell Wilson is having a strong season and the defense is significantly improved. Whether N.C. State is a legitimate challenger in the ACC Atlantic Division title will be determined on Oct. 28, a Thursday night, when Florida State comes to town.
3. OKLAHOMA STATE
With a new quarterback, unproven receivers, a rebuilt offensive line and a patched-up defense, some projected the Cowboys to finish last in the Big 12 South. Instead, they're unbeaten and in the top 20. QB Brandon Weeden is having an excellent season, and WR Justin Blackmon leads the nation in receiving yardage and TD receptions. The defense still needs work, though.
THREE MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAMS
1. TEXAS
The Longhorns opened the season in the top five, but they were unimpressive in their first three victories and looked inept in a loss to UCLA and undisciplined in a loss to Oklahoma. This week, they travel to unbeaten Nebraska, which is itching for some payback. Texas' streak of nine consecutive seasons with at least 10 victories is coming to an end unless the Longhorns solve a lot of problems in the second half of the season.
2. PITTSBURGH
After opening the season 15th, Pitt lost in overtime at Utah in the opener. Turns out that was an omen. A blowout loss to Miami and a narrow setback at Notre Dame have followed, and the Panthers don't even look like the best team in the woeful Big East.
3. GEORGIA
In nine previous seasons under coach Mark Richt, Georgia had lost as many as four games in a season just three times. The Bulldogs had that many losses after five games. At 2-4, the Bulldogs have to play extremely good football in the second half of the season just to become bowl eligible.
THREE MOST ENTERTAINING GAMES
1. BOISE STATE 33, VIRGINIA TECH 30, SEPT. 6
This was a much-hyped game throughout the offseason, and it lived up to billing. Boise jumped out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead, but the Hokies rallied in the second quarter and trailed 20-14 at halftime. Tech then took control midway through the third quarter and eventually took a 30-26 lead on a 34-yard field goal by Chris Hazley with 7:41 left. Boise State had to punt with 5:21 left, but after managing two first downs, the Hokies have to give it back. A 25-yard punt return by Mitch Burroughs meant the drive started at the Hokies' 44 with 1:47 left, and five plays and 36 seconds later, Boise was in the end zone. QB Kellen Moore was 4-of-5 for 44 yards on the drive, and the winning TD was a 13-yard pass to Austin Pettis.
2. STANFORD 37, USC 35, OCT. 9
This Pac-10 showdown was tied at 7, 14, 21 and 28; it might've been tied at 35, too, had Stanford K Nate Whitaker not flubbed an extra point after the Cardinal's fifth TD. But Whitaker more than made up for his miss. After USC scored on a 3-yard run by Allen Bradford (the PAT was good) to take a 35-34 lead with 1:15 left, Andrew Luck calmly marched Stanford 61 yards in seven plays. Whitaker then came on and nailed a 30-yard field goal to win it on the last play of the game.
3. EAST CAROLINA 51, TULSA 49, SEPT. 5
There were 54 first downs, 1,117 yards of offense, 10 TD passes -- and a last-play "Hail Mary" to win it. ECU led 17-16 at halftime, then the teams really turned it on. There were seven TDs in the fourth quarter, including four in the final 8:23 and two others in a span of 32 seconds early in the period. After Tulsa took a 49-45 lead with 1:26 left, Dominique Davis -- making his first start for the Pirates -- responded by leading ECU on a nine-play, 66-yard drive that ended with him tossing a 33-yard scoring pass to 6-foot-8 WR Justin Jones on the final play. It was Davis' fifth TD pass of the game. It was Jones' fourth catch of the day, and he has made just two more this season.
THREE BIGGEST UPSETS
1. KANSAS 28, GEORGIA TECH 25, SEPT. 11
Kansas fell 6-3 to FCS member North Dakota State in the opener and was expected to get blown out by the defending ACC champ. Instead, the Jayhawks scored one touchdown in each quarter and held off a late rally to win it. Redshirt freshman QB Jordan Webb made his first career start and threw three TD passes to spark the upset. KU has won just once since, over woeful New Mexico State, while Tech is 4-2.
2. UCLA 34, TEXAS 12, SEPT. 25
It's not just that UCLA won; it's the manner in which they dominated -- and in Austin. Texas scored first, taking a 3-0 lead on a first-quarter field goal. But by the time the Longhorns scored again, the Bruins led 20-3. UCLA rushed for 264 yards and forced five turnovers.
3. JACKSONVILLE STATE 49, OLE MISS 48 (2OTS), SEPT. 4
Ole Miss led 31-10 at halftime in the season opener and Rebels fans streamed out in the third quarter to resume partying in The Grove. Uh-oh. Jacksonville State, a FCS school, came storming back in the fourth period. The Gamecocks scored three touchdowns, the last coming with 39 seconds left, to cut the lead to two. They converted on the 2-point conversion to send the game into overtime tied at 34. Each team scored a TD in the first OT, and Ole Miss scored another TD on its possession in the second overtime. On fourth-and-15 from Ole Miss' 30, true freshman QB Coty Blanchard -- whose best sport is baseball -- hit Kevyn Cooper for a touchdown. Jacksonville State gambled on a 2-point conversion, and Blanchard -- who had to improvise after Ole Miss' defense shut down the planned shovel pass -- hit RB Calvin Middleton for the conversion and the win.
THREE BIGGEST DISAPPEARING ACTS
1. PITTSBURGH RB DION LEWIS
Lewis was the nation's top returning rusher after gaining 1,799 yards as a freshman. Call it a sophomore jinx or blame it on inconsistent line play, but he's struggled mightily this season. He has rushed for just 206 yards. He had more than that against Cincinnati last season.
2. TEXAS A&M LB VON MILLER
The country's leader with 17 sacks last season, Miller has just one this season. Heck, he only has 14 tackles overall.
3. ALABAMA LB DONT'A HIGHTOWER
Yes, he's second on the Tide with 31 tackles, but he hasn't been close to the dominating force that Rolando McClain was. And there once was some thought in Tuscaloosa that Hightower was at least McClain's equal, if not better. Hightower has made zero big plays: He has no sacks, no tackles for loss, no forced fumbles. He had just two tackles in the loss to South Carolina.
THREE BIGGEST 'WELCOME TO THE PARTY' GUYS
1. MICHIGAN QB DENARD ROBINSON
Robinson didn't become the starter until fall drills, but he burst on the scene with some magnificent performances (and a great nickname: "Shoelace," for his practice of not tying his cleats). He ran for 197 yards in his first start, against Connecticut. Then came 258 rushing yards and 244 passing yards against Notre Dame. He ran for 217 and threw for 277 against Indiana. He is second nationally in rushing ay 165.2 yards per game and has scored nine rushing TDs; he also has thrown eight TD passes. He'll need to keep up that production because Michigan's defense is lousy.
2. OKLAHOMA STATE WR JUSTIN BLACKMON
Blackmon caught 20 passes, with two going for touchdowns, as a redshirt freshman last season. His best game was a four-catch, 45-yard performance in the Cotton Bowl loss to Ole Miss. He more than doubled that in this season's opener against Washington State -- eight catches for 125 yards, with three TDs -- and has barely slowed. He leads the nation in receiving yards per game (149.6) and in TD receptions (11). He has had at least 10 catches in three of the Cowboys' five games, at least one TD catch in every game and at least 125 receiving yards in every game.
3. OREGON CB CLIFF HARRIS
Harris was pressed into duty early last season and finished with one interception and 19 tackles in backup duty. He's a starter this season and already has 16 tackles and four picks, along with six pass breakups. In addition, he has become the Ducks' punt returner and already has taken back three for touchdowns. He also returned an interception for a score against Tennessee, giving him four touchdowns this season.
THREE BIGGEST GAMES LEFT ON THE SCHEDULE
1. AUBURN AT ALABAMA, NOV. 26
This matchup has the potential to surpass the hype that surrounded the 1994 meeting, which featured the No. 3 Crimson Tide beating the No. 6 Tigers. Expect the SEC West crown to be on the line -- and maybe a whole lot more.
2. OHIO STATE AT IOWA, NOV. 20
This is shaping up as a de facto Big Ten championship game between two of the nation's best coaches and best defenses. Can the Hawkeyes' end the Buckeyes' run at a league-record sixth consecutive title?
3. BOISE STATE AT NEVADA, NOV. 26
This will be Boise State's final major hurdle to a perfect season. Nevada could be unbeaten, as well. A possible trip to the BCS championship game also may be on the line for the Broncos.
THREE MOST SIGNIFICANT INJURIES
1. HOUSTON QB CASE KEENUM
After leading the nation in total offense in each of the past two seasons, Keenum was on pace to become the NCAA's career leader in passing yardage before he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Sept. 18 during a 31-13 loss to UCLA. Keenum ranks seventh in total offense (14,448) and fifth in passing yards (13,586) in NCAA history. With him, Houston was a potential BCS-buster and the clear favorite in Conference USA. Without him, the Cougars aren't going to win the league title.
2. PITT DE GREG ROMEUS
The preseason All-America candidate played just one game this season before having surgery to repair a disk in his lower back. Romeus could return to action later this season. He had eight sacks last season and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive end.
3. OREGON STATE WR JAMES RODGERS
Oregon State's career leader in all-purpose yards will miss the rest of the season after injuring his left knee Saturday in a 29-27 victory over Arizona. Rodgers has gained 5,784 all-purpose yards, which ranks second among all active FBS players. Rodgers, a senior, is eligible to seek a hardship waiver that would allow him to return next season. But who will replace his production this season for a Beavers team that had hopes for a top-three finish in the Pac-10?
MOST SURPRISING CONFERENCE
PACIFIC-10
Traditional conference standard-bearer USC has fallen on hard times, but the Trojans' demise has showcased this league's balance. Oregon looks like a legitimate national title contender, while Arizona and Stanford are enjoying breakthrough seasons. The Pac-10 also boasts some impressive non-conference victories, such as Arizona over Iowa and UCLA over Texas.
MOST DISAPPOINTING CONFERENCE
BIG EAST
Defending conference champion Cincinnati lost three of its first four games. Preseason favorite Pittsburgh is 2-3. Embarrassing non-conference losses include Cincinnati losing to Fresno State and Rutgers losing to Tulane. The only ranked team in the conference is West Virginia at No. 25.
THREE HOTTEST SEATS
1. MINNESOTA'S TIM BREWSTER
Brewster hit the Twin Cities like a Chinook wind, promising championships. But it has been a lot of hot air. In four seasons, "Brew" has produced one winning record, two middling bowl trips (both losses), a 15-28 record and some dubious losses (South Dakota and North Dakota State).
2. COLORADO'S DAN HAWKINS
Word is only a lack of funds prevented CU from dumping Hawkins after last season. Cash won't be an issue now if Colorado officials want to can a coach who hasn't produced a winning record since arriving in 2006. Another reason to deep-six "Hawk:" CU may want to start fresh as it enters the Pac-10 in 2011.
3. MICHIGAN'S RICH RODRIGUEZ
Yes, the Wolverines are 5-1, but as with last season, the wheels could fall off down the stretch. Could RichRod survive with a 7-5 record -- but with no wins over his two biggest rivals in his three seasons?
MIDSEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: OREGON RB LAMICHAEL JAMES
A week ago, this spot would have belonged to Michigan's Robinson. But the Robinson bandwagon was slowed last week after his first game against a top Big Ten defense. Despite missing the opener against winless New Mexico, James is second in the nation in total rushing yards (848 in five games) and leads in rushing yards per game (169.6). On just his touchdowns (nine runs, one catch), James has accounted for 383 yards from scrimmage.
MIDSEASON COACH OF THE YEAR: OREGON'S CHIP KELLY
Only four years ago, Kelly was an unknown offensive coordinator at FCS member New Hampshire. Now, it may be appropriate to ask why no "big school" had hired him before Mike Bellotti did in 2006. Oregon is the best offensive team in the country, ranking first in scoring and total offense. In Oregon's marquee win of the season, it rolled up 626 yards on Stanford, which was ranked 11th in total defense at the time.
MIDSEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: NEBRASKA QB TAYLOR MARTINEZ
Before the season, the major question for Nebraska centered on its quarterback play. That issue has been settled in a major way by Martinez, who is putting up rushing numbers similar to those of Nebraska's best option quarterbacks. His performance is a major reason the Huskers are second nationally in rushing offense, at 337.6 yards per game. Martinez, a redshirt freshman from the Los Angeles area, has rushed for at least two touchdowns in all but one game, and he is tied for the national lead in rushing touchdowns with 12. Five of those have covered at least 40 yards.
• NCAA Football News Archive Index:
2010, 2009
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