Florida Gators News

Sporting News' Matt Hayes analyzes what Wednesday's buzz means to college football. Tim Tebow says the Bulldogs gave as good as they got Saturday. Tebow's coach isn't pleased about that. Clean up the mess Welcome, everyone, to the World's Largest Steel Cage Match. You want dirty? We've got dirty. Earlier this week, when Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes was getting gouged by the court of public opinion for his dirty play in the Georgia game, Florida QB Tim Tebow defended Spikes—an odd moment... for Mr. Clean in such an obvious situation of guilt. But when Tebow said earlier this week that Florida didn't do "anything in that game that (Georgia) didn't do," he wasn't kidding. Florida coach Urban Meyer said on Wednesday's SEC teleconference that he sent tape into the SEC office showing a late hit Tebow sustained against Georgia. The video is just as brutal, perhaps more, as Spikes' fingers in the facemask of Georgia tailback Washaun Ealey.   Meyer said "that should've been a penalty, in my opinion." This, of course, brings us to another sticky situation. It was last week when SEC commissioner Mike Slive told league coaches to stop publicly criticizing officiating—or feel the consequences of a fine or suspension. What does Slive now do with these comments from Meyer: "Obviously it should have been (a penalty). You have to protect the quarterbacks. That's the whole purpose. It's right in front of the referee." All about Bobby Poor Jimbo Fisher. At some point, you start feeling for the Pinata in Waiting. Bobby Bowden took it upon himself during the ACC's weekly teleconference to announce that, yes, he will make the decision on who replaces Mickey Andrews as defensive coordinator. "It's one of those things I'll make the final decision on," Bowden said. "But I'll definitely get (Fisher's) input—and very strongly." That and a quarter will get a ducat to a game at Doak Campbell Stadium, where there were more than 15,000 empty seats for last week's victory over N.C. State. Bottom line: Bowden again is asserting himself—and digging in—to coach the 2010 season. What defensive coordinator would want to step into this mess? Ladies and gentlemen, your new FSU defensive coordinator: Tommy Bowden! Fed to the lions The way Oregon has been canonized this week for rolling an—can we finally say it?—overrated USC defense, you would think Stanford is preparing to play the Indianapolis Colts this weekend at The Farm. And Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh is feeding the masses. Pun intended. Harbaugh said he has been watching a YouTube video of a baby water buffalo that gets attacked by lions and then bitten at by an alligator.  Related Links Spikes asks to sit out full game; Florida obliges News: Meyer says Tebow received cheap shot Cook: The All-Mickey Andrews Team "I don't think we got it as bad as this baby water buffalo, and he was in maybe even a little more of a predicament," Harbaugh said. "He was able to survive, though. So we draw some inspiration from that." Stanford has lost seven straight to Oregon and eight of the last nine. Yet this has the potential to be a classic letdown game for the Ducks after their big win over USC. This story appears in Nov. 5's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free. Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

Analyzing what Monday's buzz means to college football: A plug for Pryor In early October 2004, Vince Young and the Texas Longhorns got shut out in the annual rivalry game with Oklahoma. It would be the last game Young would lose as a college player. Maybe that gives Mack Brown some credence to make a similar prediction for Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, whose career sits near the point Young's was when he started his run. Brown has some knowledge of Pryor from Saturday night highlight... shows and from facing him in January's Fiesta Bowl. And Brown said on Monday's Big 12 coaches teleconference that from his observations, Pryor will enjoy a bright future as a Buckeye. "Before he leaves Ohio State, he'll lead them to a national championship," Brown said. "He's that kind of player." That's a bold statement, sure, but it comes from the leader of a program that's rolling toward another national title opportunity. And after such an endorsement, giving up on Pryor seems like an activity better suited for 2010 than 2009. Soft on Spikes Shame on Florida and the SEC for not extending linebacker Brandon Spikes' suspension to at least a game. As Dan Wetzel from Yahoo! Sports pointed out Monday afternoon, the eye gouge Spikes attempted on Georgia running back Washaun Ealey is illegal in mixed martial arts. (Time for a new adage: What's illegal in the octagon is a felony on the gridiron.) A boost of his punishment, plus a little creativity — maybe some community service involving the blind residents of Alachua County in Florida? — would hammer home that such activity has no place in football. The subplot here is teammate Tim Tebow's comment Monday that the Gators were doing nothing that Georgia wasn't trying on them. Even if Tebow is accurate, it seems like turning the other cheek would be the prudent move for Florida. Instead, Spikes lashed out and pretty much got away with it, placing a temporary black stain on the orange and blue. Not so Happy Valley Ohio State figures to face its toughest road challenge of this season this weekend at Penn State. But take it from veteran offensive tackle Jim Cordle — the hard part starts well before opening kickoff. Here are some reflections from Cordle on OSU's 2007 visit to Beaver Stadium. "The term we use around here is black flag city. You obviously have to keep your head on a swivel, close ranks and just focus in. On the bus ride there, you come up a hill, then down by the stadium, and our bus is getting rocked. We're getting all kinds of beers thrown at us. "Then you get to the locker room, and it's pretty bad. It's this old little shack under the bleachers. When you're walking out to the field, they have old steel bleachers you can see through, and people just line up and let you have it. "Then, on the field, you see the whiteout. They get 'Zombie Nation' going, and obviously, that's the most feared stadium to play in. There's a lot of fierceness in those fans."more>>

Each week, Sporting News' Matt Hayes ranks the Division I-A conferences and the teams within each league. Conf. rankings No. 1 SEC No. 2 Pac-10 No. 3 Big Ten No. 4 ACC No. 5 Big 12 No. 6 Big East Nos. 7-11 1. SEC 1. Florida 2. Alabama 3. LSU 4.... Auburn 5. Tennessee 6. Mississippi 7. South Carolina 8. Georgia 9. Arkansas 10. Mississippi State 11. Kentucky 12. Vanderbilt Rising Tennessee: Lane Kiffin's whining and those putrid black/orange unis overshadow a team beginning to find itself—and heading into a winnable month of November. Falling South Carolina: Arkansas, Florida and Clemson remain. Who else sees another November swoon for the Gamecocks? Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

Associated Press GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Top-ranked Florida will be without star linebacker Brandon Spikes for the first half of Saturday's game against Vanderbilt. Coach Urban Meyer suspended Spikes on Monday, two days after the defensive captain apparently attempted to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey in a 41-17 victory. "I don't condone that," Meyer said. "I understand what goes on on the football (field), but... there's no place for that. We're going to suspend Brandon for the first half of the Vanderbilt game. I spoke with him. That's not who he is. That's not who we are. He got caught up in emotion." Meyer's wife mentioned Spikes' actions to him Sunday night, then defensive coordinator Charlie Strong did the same Monday morning. Meyer's said his first reaction was to move on. Then he saw a replay of the incident, which shows Spikes shoving his glove-covered right hand into Ealey's facemask and moving it back and forth. Meyer then spoke to Spikes and determined he was retaliating after getting his helmet ripped off and eye poked earlier in the game. Meyer also talked to Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive, but Florida officials said it was Meyer's decision to suspend Spikes. The SEC issued a statement saying it reviewed and accepted the discipline handed down by Florida. "We understand the game of football," Meyer said. "Some of us have played it. Very emotional things happened in that game in particular that were not good for either side, but the bottom line is we're Florida and he's Brandon Spikes and we expect certain things. He understands." The Florida-Georgia game was filled with chippy behavior, with pushing, shoving, five personal-foul penalties — three against Georgia and two against Florida — and plenty of smack-talking. Officials even gathered Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Georgia linebacker Marcus Dowtin together in the second quarter and warned them things were getting out of hand. "I don't think that we did anything in that game that they didn't do," Tebow said Monday. "If you go back and look at it and study it, you can see it in the film, too. It was an intense game, both teams were very passionate about it." Spikes is fourth on the team with 42 tackles and has three sacks. He considered entering the NFL draft in January, but decided to return for his senior season in hopes of helping Florida win a third national title in four years. But he's battled injuries all season. He missed time early in the season because of an Achilles' tendon injury, and sat out most of two games because of a strained groin. He played only a series against Arkansas on Oct. 17 and sat out the entire game the following week. He returned against Georgia and finished with a team-high 10 tackles. He also intercepted a pass and returned it 5 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. "He's very intense and very emotional and very passionate," Tebow said. "I think that's what makes him part of the great player that he is because he brings that fire. People look at him and the defense wants to play for him. The offense, they want to score so it makes it easier on him. "He brings fire and he brings juice to everybody. Without that, he would not be as great of a player as he is, and he would not be even close to the leader that he is." Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.more>>

The reign is over for USC and the redemption likely complete for Texas. And then there is Florida, in its familiar position of SEC East champions. The race for college football's national championship took a defining turn Saturday with three routs: No. 10 Oregon 47, No. 4 Southern Cal 20 No. 3 Texas 41, No. 13 Oklahoma State 14 No. 1 Florida 41, Georgia 17 "We're excited about where we're headed," Florida wideout Riley Cooper said. All three should be. The impact of those routs could be... felt all the way into the postseason. Related Links Curtis: Pac-10's new stud duck So who needs Blount anyway? Recap: Oregon 47, Southern Cal 20 Hayes: Florida foes, fear the wrath of Tim Recap: Gators 41, Georgia 17 Recap: Texas 41, Oklahoma State 14 Samson: Week 9's top players, Heisman Watch Samson: Week 9's top teams, Poll Vault SN's full college football scoreboard Oregon over Southern Cal What it means for the BCS: Non-BCS heavyweight Boise State, which beat Oregon in Week 1, gets a boost. But Oregon's win was so thorough, so convincing, don't be surprised to see the Ducks leapfrog a handful of teams. Texas over Oklahoma State What it means for the BCS: The Longhorns cleared their last hurdle in the watered-down Big 12. Texas just needs to avoid a major upset now and has better odds than Florida or Alabama of reaching the BCS championship game. Florida over Georgia What it means for the BCS: The stale Gators found a little of last year's dynamic offense, and the timing could not be better. Another second-half run like 2008, and Florida will play for its third national title in four years. This story appears in Nov. 1's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free. Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Florida held Georgia to 286 total yards, forced four turnovers and had three sacks in a 41-17 victory. Gators defensive end Jermaine Cunningham, a fast riser on NFL draft boards, spoke with Sporting News' Matt Hayes after the game. SPORTING NEWS: Considering the struggles on offense, how important was it to go out and set the tone defensively early? JERMAINE CUNNINGHAM: We know it's only a matter of time before the offense starts to pick it up. Those guys are talented,... and they showed why (against Georgia). As a defense, we take it upon ourselves that every game starts with us. SN: This team is constantly compared with last year's team that rolled to a national title after the loss to Mississippi. Is that fair? JC: When you're No. 1, you're going to hear things like that. But this is a different team. We have some of the same guys, but every team has (its) own personality. We hear stuff people are saying about us. What we have to do is turn that into motivation every time we step on the field." Related Links Hayes: Gators clear the air; title back in sight Recap: No. 1 Florida stomps Georgia SN: Georgia has tried everything to get a grip in this rivalry. Celebrations in the end zone, black uniforms and helmets. Does that stuff work? JC: I can't speak for them, but those uniforms did look sweet. Whatever they do, they do. Wait, they had black helmets? I didn't even notice that. They put their pants on the same way we do. At some point, it's just about playing football. This story appears in Nov. 1's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free. Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — This time it was the dark, depressed visiting locker room in Starkville, Miss., where it all unfolded. Tim Tebow feels a little heat from a fellow team leader, and the result is a dominating win over Georgia. There were Tim Tebow and Brandon Spikes, two players who have meant more to Florida football than anyone over the last four years, in a heated exchange at a crossroads moment. The team's two stars in a verbal fight—no one is revealing exactly what was said—then... spinning their fury on teammates. This is your resolution: Florida 41, Georgia 17. "We came together, me and him," Spikes said. "Got the team together and we kind of got things right." Did they ever.   If Florida finds a way back to the national championship game, if the team that has somehow made ugly look pretty all these weeks, turns it on again and wins its third national championship in four years, it can point to yet another Mississippi Moment. Last year, it was The Promise from Tebow after the loss to Mississippi. Last week, it was the Starkville Statement. "Things weren't getting done the way we expected," Spikes said. "We may have stepped on a few toes." So while Georgia tried to motivate by prancing around in fancy new black pants and helmets, Florida held a passionate team meeting the night before in the team hotel, where coach Urban Meyer's fiery, R-rated speech was like throwing napalm on a grease fire. Tebow, 2008: "You will never see a team play harder than we will the rest of the season." Spikes, 2009: "What's your value to the team?" With that backdrop of emotion and motivation as fuel, the top-ranked Gators went out and played their best game of the season. The team that was in a funk for half the season, that was ranked No. 1 but wasn't playing like No. 1, reasserted itself on two significant levels: as the leader in the SEC, and as the leader in the race for the national title. And guess who's back in the Heisman Trophy hunt. After throwing two interceptions for touchdowns against Mississippi State, Tebow threw two touchdowns passes and ran for two more and grabbed a suddenly shaky season by the throat and squeezed life into it. Spikes, for his part, returned one of four Florida interceptions for a touchdown. The Florida Fog is now the Florida Focus. Thanks to—of all things—a little controversy between the team's biggest stars. "Brandon is an emotional guy," Tebow said. "I think he has been frustrated because of his injuries." And because of the way the Gators have played this fall. That all changed against Georgia. From Riley Cooper's one-handed touchdown catch, to Caleb Sturgis' 56-yard field goal to a plus-four turnover ratio, the Gators are beginning to find their groove. It helped that Georgia, in the middle of its worst season under coach Mark Richt, was playing the role of punching bag. After 17 losses in the last 20 games in this bitter rivalry, Georgia has been reduced to jabbering and jawing, and surprising jersey color combinations. Schemes and fundamentals win games; wearing black pants and black helmets for the first time in school history lasts for the 30 seconds it takes to run out of the tunnel.   A minute later, Florida began a methodical six-play, 80-yard drive that finished with a perfectly thrown touchdown pass from Tebow to Cooper. It only got worse from there.   Earlier in the week, Meyer had Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan talk to the team about the pressures of repeating. The basketball Gators won back-to-back championships earlier this decade, and Donovan's message was simple: stick together. Late in the fourth quarter, while Georgia players took out frustrations by starting a scrum, Tebow was on the sidelines with Meyer, smiling and hugging and celebrating another victory in the Cocktail Party. Related Links Recap: Tebow, Gators dominate Bulldogs Tebow breaks Walker's SEC rushing mark "It's a very emotional locker room in there," Meyer said moments later as he stepped to the podium. "This was one of the best team wins we've had at Florida." A stark contrast to the end of the Mississippi State game a week ago, when a clearly frustrated Tebow was inconsolable—only minutes before the moment overwhelmed he and Spikes.   And we all saw what happened the last time this team was staring at the brink.  Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

Attention folks in the Providence area: Don't be frightened later this afternoon if Bobby Bowden starts popping up and passing out candy to the area children. Yeah, he's supposed to be busy in Tallahassee trying to supervise his Florida State Seminoles against N.C. State. But the guy's been coaching since the Taft Administration, right? So maybe he can pull off two places at once. "You really think I look like him?" Grams B asked Thursday afternoon. Well, maybe it's the other way around.... Between his folksy personality and jowly looks, Bowden always seemed like the guy who could be bringing a pitcher of lemonade to the table. With sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat, Grams is a ringer. She hopes, however, that her Saturday luck continues to be better than Bowden's. Here are this week's selections, all straight up. No. 1 Florida vs. Georgia at Jacksonville, 3:30 p.m., CBS The skinny: Grams never liked neutral site games; kitchens and home cooking always trumped restaurants. But Tim Tebow loves playing in his backyard, and unless the Jags draft him, it might be his last game there for a while. Grams B: Florida, 33-10 Dave: Florida, 34-17 No. 12 Penn State at Northwestern, 4:30 p.m., ESPN The skinny: Why not JoePa as a costume? "I'm not that old," Grams said. "It's tougher for me to look like that." Painting herself purple, which figures to be popular at Ryan Field today, didn't score points with her, either. Grams B: Penn State, 37-21 Dave: Northwestern, 24-21 No. 21 South Carolina at Tennessee, 7:45 p.m., ESPN The skinny: The SEC used to be about great players and better football. Now, it's defined by field goals and whining about the officiating. "I don't like it when they complain about the refs," Grams said. So shut up, guys, and figure out this red zone stuff. Grams B: South Carolina, 24-17 Dave: Tennessee, 16-10 No. 3 Texas at No. 13 Oklahoma State, 8 p.m., ABC/ESPN2 The skinny: Time for the Cowboys to bust some ghosts. UT has won 11 straight in the series, including a fourth-quarter rally from 35-14 down two years ago in Stillwater. "It sounds like Oklahoma (State) can't beat those guys," Grams said. Related Links Key conference could get wrapped up Hayes' Week 9 story lines Hayes' Week 9 picks Sporting News expert picks Spotlight game: Texas vs. Oklahoma St. Spotlight game: USC vs. Oregon Grams B: Texas, 44-21 Dave: Texas, 30-20 No. 4 USC at No. 10 Oregon, 8 p.m., ABC/ESPN2 The skinny: Every Ducks game ends up a color war—how about tie-dye tonight against the Trojans? Seriously, it's crazy that with all the debate around the unbeatens, the day's biggest game (this one) features two one-loss teams. Grams B: Oregon, 38-24 Dave: USC, 28-23 Last week Grams B: 3-2 Dave: 3-2 Season Grams B: 26-14 Dave: 19-21 Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

It's fitting that college football and Halloween intersect Saturday. After all, what provides more tricks than the BCS? As the day wears on, though, some of the nation's top programs could find themselves with sweet treats. Here's a look at what to watch between apple bobs: No. 1 Florida vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m., CBS If Georgia manages to pull the upset of No. 1 Florida, it will be thanks to its defense. What it means: Florida clinches the SEC East with a victory in Jacksonville, Fla., and a... South Carolina loss at Tennessee. Halloween theme: Pranks. Two years ago, every Bulldog stormed the field to celebrate an early TD. Last year, Florida coach Urban Meyer called late timeouts to rub in a 49-10 win. How Georgia wins: The Dawgs regrouped during a bye week, and they boast the talent to keep the Gators' offense in a statistical slump. "That's as good as defensive personnel as there is in college football," Meyer said of Georgia on a teleconference. No. 3 Texas at No 13 Oklahoma State, 8 p.m., ABC/ESPN2 What it means: The winner takes sole possession first place in the Big 12 South; Texas should roll to the conference title game if it survives Stillwater. Halloween theme: Eeriness. A year ago this weekend, the undefeated Longhorns lost at upstart Texas Tech on a last-second touchdown. "Everything is similar," Texas coach Mack Brown said on a teleconference. "It's a very good team. … It's a game they've been looking forward to all year." How Oklahoma State wins: Even with star WR Dez Bryant suspended, Cowboys QB Zac Robinson and his strong offensive line can hang with Texas' top-ranked scoring offense. No. 4 USC at No. 10 Oregon, 8 p.m., ABC/ESPN2 Related Links Hayes' Week 9 story lines Hayes' Week 9 picks Picks: Dave Curtis vs. Grams Sporting News expert picks Spotlight game: Texas vs. Oklahoma St. Spotlight game: USC vs. Oregon What it means: The winner emerges as the Pac-10 favorite and the one-loss team best positioned to reach the BCS national championship game. Halloween theme: Haunted houses. Autzen Stadium hosts one of the nation's rowdiest crowds, and the Ducks beat the Trojans 24-17 there in 2007. How Oregon wins: QB Jeremiah Masoli. If his performance matches the Cal game (21 of 25, three TDs), Ducks win. If he puts up another Utah stinker (4-for-16, 1 INT), USC rolls. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Sporting News Sporting News college football columnist Matt Hayes looks at five major story lines heading into Week 9. 1. The season-breaker Tim Tebow and the Gators haven't been the flawless offensive machine many expected. We've heard the excuses and seen the results. And frankly, it doesn't look good for the defending national champions. One is an anomaly; two is a trend. What we have here in Gainesville, everyone, is a full-blown... trend. The Florida offense, one of the most feared in the nation the last two seasons, is sputtering and hiccupping along like your crazy uncle's tired Torino. "It's kind of new and it's frustrating," Florida quarterback Tim Tebow told reporters this week. "But we're getting the wins." For how long? Everyone has theories about the offensive struggles, but two things stand out for me going into the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party this weekend in Jacksonville: • Florida's most successful offensive play in an ugly victory last week at Mississippi State was an I-formation, isolation handoff that produced a red-zone touchdown. It was the complete opposite of the spread option and the first snap Tebow has taken under center in his four years in Gainesville. • The Gators' struggles the last two weeks were against the No. 9 (Mississippi State) and No. 12 defenses (Arkansas) in the SEC. Up next: No. 10 defense Georgia. What makes anyone think Georgia can beat Florida? Here's what: The Bulldogs' problem on defense is defending the pass. When Jonathan Crompton throws for 310 yards and four touchdowns on you, you've got issues. The Plan to Win—using the Urban Meyer axiom—is simple for Georgia: Load up to stop the run and force Florida's receivers to beat you in man coverage. More often than not, that isn't going to happen. Riley Cooper doesn't have the deep speed to stretch defenses, and Deonte Thompson hasn't earned the trust of the Florida play-callers (a convoluted system with too many people to list). The Dawgs must be patient, protect the ball and wait for Florida to make mistakes within the 15-yard box the offense is forced to work within because of a lack of proven deep speed. Arkansas played that plan perfectly (zero turnovers) and lost on a last-second field goal. Mississippi State didn't (three turnovers) but still was within striking distance late in the game. Georgia, with two weeks of preparation and healing time, won't make the same mistakes. 2. A passing statement There's this perception that all is well again in Austin. Colt McCoy had a breakout game against Missouri, and the path to the national championship game is free of obstacles. "We've got the Colt of old back now," Texas coach Mack Brown said at a press conference this week. Only there's one little problem: The A.G. Bulldogs, my nephew's middle-school team in Charlotte, would go up and down the field on the Missouri defense. Now let's all take a long, deep breath and reassess. Reality: the Texas offense still isn't close to the efficient, dynamic unit of last fall. But don't blame McCoy. Much like Florida, Texas doesn't have the deep speed to stretch defenses. So Brown has moved speedy underclassmen wideouts Malcolm Williams and Marquise Goodwin in the starting lineup and moved senior Jordan Shipley into the slot to find better matchups for this week's key game at Oklahoma State. You're not making significant lineup changes midway through the season if there aren't issues. Texas has found a legitimate tailback in Fozzy Whitaker, provided he can stay healthy. The issue isn't the running game: McCoy led the team in rushing last year, and the Longhorns lost one game by six points. If the Texas receivers can't create separation and finish plays, then the Longhorns will be in another fourth-quarter game with Oklahoma State (see: 2008). 3. All about the defense more>>

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

With a game at Ohio State looming, Iowa is a long shot to stay undefeated. Seven undefeated teams remain in Division I-A, and ranking them is tougher than differentiating shades of black. Sporting News conducted a brief statistical analysis Tuesday of the perfect teams. The breakdown included a look at statistical categories that coaches for years have deemed most important to winning. Criteria included third-down performance, turnover margin, run defense and red-zone efficiency. A... strength-of-schedule component was also included. The results provided a clear ranking of the Magnificent Seven, from best to worst by the numbers. Drum roll, please … 1. Texas (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) Why here: The nation's top rush defense and third-down defense trumps a shaky schedule. UT also leads the nation in scoring offense. Odds of remaining undefeated: 3-to-1. Oklahoma State has only beaten the 'Horns twice—1944 and 1997. Next game: Saturday, at Oklahoma State 2. Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) Why here: Tide have the nation's No. 2 run defense, and their road/neutral wins have come against Virginia Tech (No. 12 Sagarin), Kentucky (No. 21) and Ole Miss (No. 35). Odds of remaining undefeated: 5-to-1. Auburn, in a charged Iron Bowl, could play spoiler the day after Thanksgiving. Next game: Nov. 7, vs. LSU 3. Iowa (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) Why here: A plus-11 turnover margin is tied for best among the unbeatens. "Coaches talk about not turning the ball over and mistakes to cost you a game," Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said on a teleconference. "You see it with them." Odds of remaining undefeated: 15-to-1. Hawkeyes haven't won at Ohio State since 1991. Next game: Saturday, vs. Indiana 4. TCU (7-0, 3-0 MWC) Why here: Blasting BYU 38-7 for a fourth road win against a top-70 Sagarin team impressed the Mountain West. "The No. 1 word is surprised," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said on a teleconference. "I was surprised the scoring difference was what it was." Odds of remaining undefeated: 3-to-1. Outside of Utah, remaining opponents have combined 10-19 record. Next game: Saturday, vs. UNLV 5. Florida (7-0, 5-0 SEC) Why here: Tim Tebow, even in an inconsistent, concussion-stained year, helps a bunch. Too many turnovers and rough times in the red zone bump the Gators to this spot. Odds of remaining undefeated: 4-to-1. Win at South Carolina, and the Gators go to Atlanta with a perfect record. Next game: Saturday, vs. Georgia at Jacksonville 6. Cincinnati (7-0, 3-0 Big East) Why here: Bearcats score on more than 85 percent of red-zone chances. But a so-so run defense, ranked 40th in the country, will haunt them down the stretch. Odds of remaining undefeated: 10-to-1. Big East buzz already promoting Cincy at Pitt for a league title on Dec. 5. Watch out for West Virginia in mid-November. Next game: Saturday, at Syracuse 7. Boise State (7-0, 2-0 WAC) Why here: Win over Oregon keeps these guys afloat in the national title race. Plus-9 turnover margin and No. 17 rush defense help, but WAC competition drags down BSU. Odds of remaining undefeated: 2-to-1. Bowl-bound Nevada and Idaho both come to the blue turf. Next game: Saturday, vs. San Jose State. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>