Bond with Brewster brings Fisch to Gophers

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Tim Brewster's first offer came seven years ago over a dinner in Houston.

Jedd Fisch had just landed his first NFL job with the Houston Texans, who were entering their inaugural season. Brewster, then an assistant with the University of Texas who recruited the Houston area, called the Texans and asked to meet with head coach Dom Capers. Fisch set up a dinner for the three of them.

Afterward, Brewster presented Fisch with two tickets to the Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma. Fisch took his father to the game and sat with Brewster's family.

"I've got to remember if they were free or not," Fisch said with a laugh. "Nah, I'm kidding. It was outstanding. It was a great first impression."

Brewster offered Fisch an even better view of the college game this week, and the promising NFL assistant who coached the Denver Broncos' wide receivers this season agreed to become the University of Minnesota's offensive coordinator.

After eight years as a pro assistant with three organizations, Fisch returns to the college ranks and takes on his first coordinator job for a Gophers team hoping to build off this season's six-win improvement. He agreed to a two-year contract that could earn him as much as 0,000.

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Jenkins wins Thorpe Award

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins was named college football’s best defensive back Thursday when he won the Jim Thorpe Award.

Jenkins finished ahead of Eric Berry (Tennessee) and Taylor Mays (USC).

 

“This is something I’ve had my eye on for some time,” Jenkins said. “And it’s not just about stats. If it was, I wouldn’t be here. It’s about leadership, and setting an example, too. You can’t imagine what this means to me. I was a semifinalist last year, and I’ve wanted to win it ever since.”

 

In other awards Thursday:

 

• Tim Tebow won the Maxwell Award for the second year, edging Texas’ Colt McCoy and Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell for the honor given to college football’s best all-round player.

 

• Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford beat out Harrell and McCoy for the Davey O’Brien Award, which is given to the top quarterback.

 

• McCoy was the Walter Camp Player of the Year, leading the All-America team.

 

• Michael Crabtree, a Texas Tech sophomore, won his second straight Biletnikoff Award for best wide receiver.

 

• Running back Shonn Greene of Iowa won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back, finishing ahead of Knowshon Moreno of Georgia and Javon Ringer of Michigan State, who will meet in the Capital One Bowl on New Year’s Day in Orlando.

 

• The Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) was won by Andre Smith of Alabama.

 

• Rey Maualuga of USC won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the best defensive player over James Laurinaitis of Ohio State and Aaron Maybin of Penn State.

 

• Matt Fodge of Oklahoma State won the Ray Guy Award (best punter) and Graham Gano of Florida State the Lou Groza Award (best kicker).

 

• Nick Saban was selected the Coach of the Year after leading Alabama to the SEC championship game and a 12-1 record.

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Paterno a finalist for Eddie Robinson Award

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Penn State head coach Joe Paterno has been named one of nine finalists for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award. 

Paterno, the 2008 Big Ten Coach of the Year, has been named National Coach of the Year three times (1978, 1982, 1986) by the Football Writers Association of America. He also was a finalist for the award in 1997 and 2005. 

Florida’s Urban Meyer, Alabama’s Nick Saban and Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops are the other previous winners nominated for this year’s award. 

The 2008 nominees are: 

• Mack Brown, Texas
• Pete Carroll, USC
• Mike Leach, Texas Tech
• Urban Meyer, Florida
• Joe Paterno, Penn State
• Chris Petersen, Boise State
• Nick Saban, Alabama
• Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
• Kyle Whittingham, Utah

I’m not sure what Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly did to tick off the national voters for these awards, but how he’s repeatedly left off these lists baffles me. Few coaches in America could have handled a very difficult quarterback situation better than Kelly did this fall.

Paterno doesn’t have a great shot to win the award — my vote will go to Saban — but the nomination is still nice. 

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Three Big Ten coaches named finalists for award

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Penn State’s Joe Paterno, Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald and Ohio State’s Jim Tressel are among the 10 finalists for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.

Voting for the award will take place Dec. 12-22, with the winner being announced Dec. 31 during halftime of the Music City Bowl. Fans can cast their votes here, and votes from College Football Hall of Fame members and national media also will be included in the selection process.

The 10 finalists are:

• Mack Brown, Texas
• Brady Hoke, Ball State
• Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
• Urban Meyer, Florida
• Joe Paterno, Penn State
• Chris Petersen, Boise State
• Nick Saban, Alabama
• Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
• Jim Tressel, Ohio State
• Kyle Whittingham, Utah

Paterno, named Big Ten Coach of the Year last month, guided Penn State to an 11-1 record, a share of the league title and a Rose Bowl appearance. Fitzgerald led an underrated Northwestern team to a 9-3 mark and an Alamo Bowl appearance. Tressel helped Ohio State to a share of the Big Ten title and a BCS bowl appearance for the fourth consecutive season.

My vote goes to Saban, though there are strong arguments for Brown and the three non-BCS coaches (Whittingham, Petersen and Hoke). Paterno and Fitzgerald certainly deserve to be on the list, but I’m a little surprised about Tressel. Though he did a good job transitioning Terrelle Pryor and helping Ohio State bounce back from the USC disaster, the Buckeyes were a preseason national title contender and finished 10-2. Most Ohio State fans were somewhat disappointed with this season.

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Three Big Ten coaches named finalists for national award

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Penn State’s Joe Paterno, Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald and Ohio State’s Jim Tressel are among the 10 finalists for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. 

Voting for the award will take place Dec. 12-22, with the winner being announced Dec. 31 during halftime of the Music City Bowl. Fans can cast their votes here, and votes from College Football Hall of Fame members and national media also will be included in the selection process. 

The 10 finalists are:

• Mack Brown, Texas
• Brady Hoke, Ball State
• Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
• Urban Meyer, Florida,
• Joe Paterno, Penn State
• Chris Petersen, Boise State
• Nick Saban, Alabama
• Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
• Jim Tressel, Ohio State
• Kyle Whittingham, Utah

Paterno, named Big Ten Coach of the Year last month, guided Penn State to an 11-1 record, a share of the league title and a Rose Bowl appearance. Fitzgerald led an underrated Northwestern team to a 9-3 mark and an Alamo Bowl appearance. Tressel helped Ohio State to a share of the Big Ten title and a BCS bowl appearance for the fourth consecutive season. 

My vote goes to Saban, though there are strong arguments for Brown and the three non-BCS coaches (Whittingham, Petersen and Hoke). Paterno and Fitzgerald certainly deserve to be on the list, but I’m a little surprised about Tressel. Though he did a good job transitioning Terrelle Pryor and helping Ohio State bounce back from the USC disaster, the Buckeyes were a preseason national title contender and finished 10-2. Most Ohio State fans were somewhat disappointed with this season. 

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Three Big Ten players named AFCA All-Americans

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

The American Football Coaches Association announced its 2008 All-America team today, and three Big Ten players made the list.

Iowa junior running back Shonn Greene, Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis and Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins all were among the honorees. Laurinaitis was selected for the second consecutive season.

Greene ranked second nationally in rushing average (144.1 yards per game). Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno edged Michigan State’s Javon Ringer for the other spot on the All-America team.

Ohio State has the second most selections (56) to the AFCA All-America team, trailing only Oklahoma, and the Buckeyes have the most repeat winners (13).

Offense

Pos.	Name	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	School	Coach	Hometown (High School)
WR	Michael Crabtree*	6-3	208	So.	Texas Tech	Mike Leach	Dallas, Texas (Carter)
WR	Dez Bryant	6-2	215	So.	Oklahoma St.	Mike Gundy	Lufkin, Texas (Lufkin)
TE	Chase Coffman	6-6	255	Sr.	Missouri	Gary Pinkel	Peculiar, Mo. (Raymore-Peculiar)
OL	Andre Smith	6-4	330	Jr.	Alabama	Nick Saban	Birmingham, Ala. (Huffman)
OL	Brandon Carter	6-7	350	Jr.	Texas Tech	Mike Leach	Longview, Texas (Spring Hill)
C	Antoine Caldwell	6-3	305	Sr.	Alabama	Nick Saban	Montgomery, Ala. (Lee)
OL	Michael Oher	6-5	318	Sr.	Mississippi	Houston Nutt	Memphis, Tenn. (Briarcrest Christian)
OL	Andy Levitre	6-3	317	Sr.	Oregon St.	Mike Riley	Ben Lomond, Calif. (San Lorenzo Valley)
QB	Graham Harrell	6-3	205	Sr.	Texas Tech	Mike Leach	Ennis, Texas (Ennis)
RB	Knowshon Moreno	5-11	208	So.	Georgia	Mark Richt	Belford, N.J. (Middletown South)
RB	Shonn Greene	5-11	235	Jr.	Iowa	Kirk Ferentz	Sicklerville, N.J. (Milford Acad. [Conn.])

Defense

Pos.	Name	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	School	Coach	Hometown (High School)
DL	Brian Orakpo	6-4	260	Sr.	Texas	Mack Brown	Houston, Texas (Lamar)
DL	Terrence Cody	6-5	365	Jr.	Alabama	Nick Saban	Fort Myers, Fla. (Riverdale)
DL	George Selvie*	6-4	242	Jr.	South Florida	Jim Leavitt	Pensacola, Fla. (Pine Forest)
DL	Michael Johnson	6-7	260	Sr.	Georgia Tech	Paul Johnson	Selma, Ala. (Dallas County)
LB	James Laurinaitis*	6-3	240	Sr.	Ohio St.	Jim Tressel	Hamel, Minn. (Wayzata)
LB	Rey Maualuga	6-2	260	Sr.	USC	Pete Carroll	Eureka, Calif. (Eureka)
LB	Brandon Spikes	6-3	245	Jr.	Florida	Urban Meyer	Shelby, N.C. (Crest)
DB	Eric Berry	5-11	195	So.	Tennessee	Phil Fulmer	Fairburn, Ga. (Creekside)
DB	Rashad Johnson	6-0	186	Sr.	Alabama	Nick Saban	Sulligent, Ala. (Sulligent)
DB	Malcolm Jenkins	6-1	202	Sr.	Ohio St.	Jim Tressel	Piscataway, N.J. (Piscataway)
DB	Alphonso Smith	5-9	190	Sr.	Wake Forest	Jim Grobe	Pahokee, Fla. (Pahokee)

Specialists

Pos.	Name	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	School	Coach	Hometown (High School)
P	Kevin Huber	6-1	220	Sr.	Cincinnati	Brian Kelly	Cincinnati, Ohio (McNicholas)
PK	Louie Sakoda	5-9	178	Sr.	Utah	Kyle Whittingham	San Jose, Calif. (Branham)
AP	Percy Harvin	5-11	195	Jr.	Florida	Urban Meyer	Virginia Beach, Va. (Landstown)

*-2007 All-American
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Penn State Still Has a Shot at The National Title Game. Wait, What!!???

Before this is dismissed as a homer’s view of the BCS proceedings, read on carefully.

There are seven teams currently ranked ahead of Penn State in the BCS.

• Alabama
• Oklahoma
• Texas
• Florida
• USC
• Utah
• Texas Tech

Now Alabama and Florida play each other next week. If Florida loses, they will have two losses, and will be out of contention. If Alabama goes to the title game, they will as the only BCS conference undefeated team in the land.

Oklahoma and Missouri play next week. If Oklahoma loses, they are out of the title contention.

Wait, if Oklahoma loses, than the voters will just stick Texas in right?

Maybe not…

Think about it. Texas complained that even though they beat Oklahoma head to head, by virtue of the voters and the BCS, Texas was slighted out of the Big 12 South berth to the conference title game.

So how could they lobby to put be put ahead of Texas Tech, a one loss team who beat Texas? Why it would be downright hypocritical.

The voters would realize if Oklahoma loses, that they made a mistake voting the Sooners in. They will decide to go for the head to head. And Texas Tech won that.

We are at a clear solution. Neither Texas Tech or Texas won their own DIVISION, much less their own conference. Tech has too much ground to make up, and Texas lost to them.

Therefore, no one from the Big three of the Big 12 teams can honestly lay any claim to the National Title Game, because two of them could not win their own division, and one couldn’t win their conference when given the chance.

So that leaves us with Utah, USC, and Penn State.

Now, this whole article is moot if we knew that an undefeated Utah has a shot at the title. But we know that they are lucky to simply be a BCS buster, much less have a shot at the title game. So we shall unfairly, but realistically ignore them.

And USC is left ahead of PSU for that final spot.

USC assuming they beat UCLA, is 11-1. 

They become winners of a weak Pac-10 conference, containing arguably the worst BCS conference teams (Washington & Washington St.), only three ranked teams, and only four at or better than 7-5. USC will be the only BCS Bowl Bound team from the conference.

PSU on the other hand, has already clinched the Big Ten Championship, at 11-1.

They won a decent conference, which has four teams ranked, seven teams at or better than 7-5, and has two BCS Bowl bids on the way with PSU and OSU.

 

Advantage: PSU

They did not play each other, but they have two opponents in common who they did play.

Ohio State & Oregon State:

USC trampled Ohio State 35-3.

At USC.

OSU did not have Beanie Wells, or Terrelle Pryor.

Penn State beat OSU narrowly, 13-6.

At OSU.

With OSU’s offense clicking behind Beanie Wells and Terrelle Pryor.

Advantage: USC, but its closer than it seems…

USC lost to Oregon State 27-21.

At Oregon State.

The score was not nearly as close as indicated. Oregon State clearly controlled the game, and established the tone early. They were never trailing.

Not to mention Jacquizz Rodgers who dazzled everyone with 136 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns, and many pointed as the dagger to USC.

PSU beat Oregon State 41-14.

At Penn State.

Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 99 yards and 2 touchdowns against PSU. And they still beat them by a large margin.

Advantage: PSU for 2-0 record against common opponents.

Non conference schedules?

PSU’s non conference foes have a combined record of 22-24, including FCS Coastal Carolina, Syracuse, Temple, and Oregon State.

USC’s non conference foes have a combined record of 21-15, including Notre Dame, Virginia, and Ohio State.

Advantage: USC

Who has the worst loss?

USC’s no show at Oregon State?

Or PSU’s gut wrenching, one point, leading for all but the last six seconds loss to an 8-4 New Year’s Day Bowl Bound Iowa team in the horrible snowy and windy conditions?

Advantage: PSU

 

So all in all, PSU by virtue of the 2-0 record against common foes, the tougher conference, and a better looking loss (if such a thing exists) outweigh USC’s advantage in the non conference arena, and PSU would be picked ahead of USC to go the the title game.

Alabama vs. Penn State.

SEC vs. Big Ten.

Joe Paterno vs. Nick Saban.

Traditional Powerhouses.

See if the voters can look at this and say no.

By the way.

They will. Just saying it is a pretty hefty argument…

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College Football’s Biggest Surprises of 2008 (So Far)

This year has been typical in that there have been many surprises for fans to talk about.  Let’s recap a few of the biggest be they good or bad.

 

1. Alabama

Everyone said not if, but when Nick Saban would return the Crimson Tide to national prominence and BCS bowls.  Most thought he was at least a year or two away from making that happen.   Alabama’s ascent to number one this year has to be at least one of the biggest surprises.

 

1. Michigan

Help me understand how hiring Rich Rodriguez is a good thing.  They fired Lloyd Carr why?  I don’t believe anybody saw this train wreck coming, especially the people that hired Coach Rod.

 

1. The sudden and complete downfall of Tommy Bowden

Clemson was supposed to be a contender this year.  Instead, their miserable start cost Bowden his job and Clemson their hope for reaching the next level.

 

1. Tennessee

Picked to finish in the top 20, but instead struggling not to finish at the bottom of the SEC with their worst record in decades.  Like Bowden, Fulmer joins the unemployment line with this plummet.

 

1. The Big 12

Yes, many expected Oklahoma to be good, but nobody expected so many teams to have such great seasons.  The SEC is good, but the Big 12 is GREAT.  Never before have so many teams been so close to making it to the top from this conference.

 

1. Oregon State

By beating USC, the mighty Beavers are going to the Rose Bowl ahead of USC with a win over cross-state rival Oregon.  Anybody who said they saw Oregon State beating out USC for the Rose Bowl, raise your hand.  Yeah, that’s what I thought.

 

1. Auburn

Picked by some to win the SEC West, picked by all as a top 20 team, Auburn will be sitting at home this bowl season and perhaps looking for a new coach.  Tuberville’s experiment with the spread proved to be a disaster.  Now he’s trying to simply spread the blame.

 

1. Ole Miss

There’s not a man on the Ole Miss roster that’s ever been to a bowl game.  At the beginning of the season there was reason to expect this year would be different.  Houston Nutt proved one school’s problem could be another school’s solution.  The defeat of Florida cost the Gators a number one ranking and may qualify as the year’s big upset.

 

1. Tim Tebow

How can a former Heisman winner be snubbed the following year by the Unitas Award by not even being nominated?  John Parker Wilson over Tebow?  And we expect them to be rational?

 

1. Vanderbilt

The little team that could.  Vandy hasn’t been to a bowl game since 1982 but will be there this year.  Coach Bobby Johnson proved that the school’s confidence in giving him the time he needed to restore the program was not in vain.

 

Honorable Mention: Notre Dame

Most figured Notre Dame would continue to be an underperforming team, but few figured they would suck THIS bad.  Charlie Weis deserves the Golden Foot to the Lead Butt for this season and should be shown the door.  Many doubt it will happen, however.

 

I number these top 10 all number one because it’s up to you to decide the order. Depending on the area of the country you live in and the team you pull for, I’m sure the order will change.

But as Lee Corso says so often, “Not so fast my friend.”  The season is far from over, and more surprises await.  The biggest story may still be unwritten.

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What to Watch for – Week 14

The Buckeyes, along with the rest of the Big Ten, are in the clubhouse while most everyone else — minus 4 Pac-10 schools and a few Big East schools — finish up this weekend, conference title games notwithstanding.  Presuming there’s anything interesting going on, it should be a nice occasion to stuff your face with leftovers while watching stirring rivalry games like LSU-Arkansas… and Colorado-Nebraska… and Auburn-Alabama… and Kentucky-Tennessee…. hmmmm…

Anyways, here’s what’s on if you have nothing else to do.

Thursday

• Texas A&M @ Texas (ESPN, 8:00PM ET).  Texas A&M were the lead aggressors in this rivalry through most of the 1990s, dropping only 3 decisions during the decade if memory serves correct (1990, 1995, 1998).  However, the course of the rivalry — and certainly the direction of both programs — has changed dramatically since the arrival of Mack Brown to Texas in 1998.  Still, in spite of College Station now being the dusty outpost of the Big 12 South and Austin now being house to a national contender, Texas A&M has a two-game winning streak in this rivalry.  It’d be cool if it continues, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Friday

• West Virginia @ Pitt (ABC, 12:00PM ET).  A lot of football will be played on Friday, though I’m not entirely sure why.  On the topic at hand, this marks the first Backyard Brawl since the ugly “Oh my God how did they lose this?” Backyard Brawl from last year.  The 4-7 Pitt Panthers upset the 2nd ranked Mountaineers, in Morgantown, 13-9 in a game that was supposed to be a coronation ceremony for the BCS Championship Game-bound Mounties.  As it was, WVU’s explosive offense was held to just one second quarter touchdown as the Mounties lost their outright Big East crown, lost their chance at a national title and, well… lost their coach in the process as well¹.  Judging from the course of the program under Bill Stewart, the hangover from this loss isn’t going away anytime soon.
• Mississippi State @ Ole Miss (ESPN360.com, 12:00PM ET).  I’m 99.9% positive this game will be on Raycom Sports, but I’m too lazy to look it up.  I’ve been down here for 3 years now and work with a good number of Mississippi State fans (Starksville is like an hour and a half from Tuscaloosa), and still haven’t gotten a clear answer on why it’s called the Egg Bowl.  This game is one of the more underappreciated, if not the most underappreciated, in the Southeastern Conference.  It’s the only rivalry situation I’ve encountered where teams shout at each other to, quote-unquote, go to hell.  Granted, such wishes are pervasive in just about every rivalry, but often implicit or substituted in lieu of the obscenity brought to you by the letter F.  In the Egg Bowl, though, it’s explicit.  Of course, one of the reasons why this rivalry may be so unknown elsewhere might be attributable to the fact that it’s the state of Mississippi, which, as I like to say, is the Alabama of the South.  If you constructed an alternative reality of states below the Mason-Dixon Line and delineated North and South one step further, Mississippi would carry the new stigma of being Hyper-Southern… like Southern in a fourth or fifth or sixth dimension kind of way.  Sci-fi Southern.  It’s that bad.  At least Georgia has Atlanta as a cultural mecca.  Alabama has Birmingham, a pretty sophisticated city when you look deeper into it.  Mississippi has… umm… hmmm.  Moreover, both teams usually suck, adding to the invisibility of the rivalry on a national stage.
• LSU @ Arkansas (The SEC Network, 2:30PM ET).  The rematch of the 2007 classic which, in a just world, should’ve cost LSU a shot at a national title last year.  Instead, it’s written into the BCS clause that LSU gets to host its own national title games.  But oh well.  LSU is trying desperately to add a 5th loss to its record, having been thwarted at doing so by a furious 4th quarter rally against Troy.  LSU is an interesting program for a variety of reasons.  One of the most intriguing elements to LSU is that it is a program without a real rivalry.  Since the SEC split into two divisions in 1992, the SEC has tried long and hard to create a rivalry for the Tigers.  The Florida Gators, an SEC East opponent (obviously), appears on their schedule every year, never being cycled off, for that very reason.  Further, a rivalry has been hyped up between the Tigers and the Crimson Tide, and not all of it reducible to Nick Saban.  Indeed, before Nick Saban arrived, LSU had not beat Alabama in Baton Rouge for 30 some-odd years.  This lead to the expression down here among the savages “The Tide Always Rolls in Baton Rouge”, though it’s pronounced more like “Tha Tiiiiiiiiiide ahlways rolls in Bahtawwwn Ruuuge. Rooooooooollllll Tiiiiiide”.  Getting back to Arkansas, the need to manufacture some kind of rivalry has led to Arkansas being their designated season finale, having been the case since the Razorbacks joined the conference in 1992.  They even created a trophy for the occasion, a “Golden Boot” signifying how the shape of the two states, when juxtaposed, looks boot-ish.  Are you interested yet? Are ya? Yeah, I didn’t think so…
• Colorado @ Nebraska (ABC, 3:30PM ET).  In 2007, these two defensive heavyweights combined 116 points in regulation in a 65-51 victory for the Buffaloes.  The only thing making that game watchable was the infamous introduction of the Buffaloes by Eric Cartman (defense, offense).  Since ABC/ESPN/WWL/Disney-whatever stopped doing those player introductions — for whatever reason — I can think of no reason to watch this game.  Go do some shopping instead.
• Fresno State @ Boise State (ESPN2, 6:00PM ET).  A Boise State loss gives the Buckeyes an in-road to the BCS… if you’re interested…
• UCLA @ Arizona State (ESPN2, 9:30PM ET).  It’s been awhile since I’ve dialed up UCLA in one of these, mostly because their games haven’t been worth watching and, naturally, have not been on national television.  But now, His Coachness Rick Neuheisel will be returning to my moving pictures box so I may behold his divinity.  I think this will be the first UCLA game I’ve watched since the Tennessee game, where the beauty of His Coachness was confirmed.

Saturday

• Georgia Tech @ Georgia (CBS, 12:00PM ET).  This game doesn’t have any conference implications.  Georgia was out of the running after Florida kicked them in the jimmy a while back.  Georgia Tech is done with ACC play and needs Virginia Tech to lose against Virginia in order to play in the ACC title game under first year head coach Paul Johnson.  That said, if you are not rooting for Georgia Tech in this game to go 2-0 against the SEC this season, I hate you and we cannot be friends.  Paul Johnson is the man.
• Syracuse @ Cincinnati (ESPN360.com, 12:00PM ET).  Cincinnati wins this game and they win a BCS spot.  So lose damn you.  I don’t want to have to hear about Cincinnati making a BCS game while Ohio State may not.
• South Carolina @ Clemson (ESPN2, 12:00PM ET).  It’s ACC-SEC rivalry week.  Root for the ACC accordingly.
• Virginia @ Virginia Tech (ESPN, 12:00PM ET).  If Va Tech loses this, then Georgia Tech gets in the ACC Championship Game.  I’m all for more Paul Johnson on national television, especially as it becomes clear that he can run a gimmick offense without the proper talent and still get instant results whereas Rodriguez struggled so mightily up north.
• Auburn @ Alabama (The SEC Network, 3:30PM ET).  Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: This rivalry is, far and away, the most overappreciated rivalry in college sports.  The fans like each other too damn much — so much that they often interbreed, giving birth to those stupid “House Divided” license frames that are everywhere down here.  Even the thought of a holding a family together in light of these differences validates, for me, that the differences aren’t that important.  And down here, it’s clear to me that Alabama easily obsesses more about Tennessee than they do about Auburn.  I think this town is about 30-35% Auburn fans, openly so, and I’ve been heckled more for my Ohio State shirts down here than any one of my Auburn-inclined coworkers have been for their Auburn truck decals… or truck flags… or license frames… or sunglass straps… or belt buckles… sigh.  Anyways, Alabama has never beaten Auburn in Tuscaloosa, though the rivalry was played in Legion Field before that point (1948-2000, I think)… giving birth to the Iron Bowl monicker.  This rivalry sucks, and in terms of venom, it’s not on the level of Florida-Georgia, Alabama-Tennessee, Tennessee-Florida or even Mississippi State-Ole Miss.  On the game at hand, if Alabama can’t win this and send Auburn home for the holidays with seven losses, then Tuberville truly has their number.  He’s won 6 straight against Alabama, the most for Auburn in the history of the series.
• Florida @ Florida State (ABC, 3:30PM ET).  Again: it’s ACC-SEC Rivalry Week, but, in this game, don’t get your hopes up.
• Maryland @ Boston College (ABC, 3:30PM ET).  If Boston College wins, they advance to the ACC title game for the second straight year under second year head coach Jeff Jagodzsh1qjkjkjkjkjimililinski, or whatever that dude’s name is.  It doesn’t appear that BC is missing Tom O’Brien at all.  On the flipside, if BC loses, Florida State goes to the ACC title game representing the Whatchamacallit Division against either Va Tech or Georgia Tech in the Whatsitcalled? Division.
• Kentucky @ Tennessee (ESPN2, 6:30PM ET).  Kentucky is 6-5. Tennessee is 4-7.  So what does ESPN do with this game? You guessed it: primetime night game.  Ohhhh yeah.  If you thought making Kentucky-Vanderbilt a night game was the worst thing that ESPN could do, guess again, buster.  On the game at hand, no matter how awful Tennessee is, Kentucky can never beat them.  Tennessee has won 23 straight in this series.
• Oregon @ Oregon State (???, 7:00PM ET).  If Oregon State wins this one, they’re in the Rose Bowl.  If they lose this, Ohio State seems to be in prime real estate for a BCS berth.  Even then, that’s not the reason I want Oregon State to lose this game.  With Penn State going to Pasadena for the first time since the 1994 season, the last thing I want to see is some shitty rematch between Penn State and an Oregon State team that the Nitts destroyed earlier this season.  I want Penn State-USC dammit.
• Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State (ABC, 8:00PM ET). BEDLAM.  Oklahoma State looks for its first victory over the Sooners since Les Miles beat them in 2002.  If you remember, it was this same upset of the Sooners in 2002 that virtually ended, once and for all, all petty talk from national commentators about how Oklahoma was more deserving of a spot in the title game in spite of their loss to Texas A&M earlier that year.  The Big 12 South is screwy this season.  If Texas (v. A&M), Texas Tech (v. Baylor), and Oklahoma (@ OK State) all win, the top ranked team in the BCS goes to the title game.  Presently, that’s Texas though a victory over higher ranked Oklahoma State might push the Sooners over the Longhorns.  A loss by any one of them makes it a tiebreaker situation.  Intransitivity is fun, isn’t it?
• Notre Dame @ USC (ESPN, 8:00PM ET).  There was a period under Lou Holtz where the Irish won 11 straight in this series (1983-1993).  Now, USC has won 6 straight and at least appear to be able of blowing that streak out of the water with the least of effort.  Have fun with that game, Notre Dame fans.

1. Albeit losing Rodriguez wasn’t caused by the Pitt loss, per se, just made possible by it.

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Halftime update: Michigan rallies, still trails 14-7

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s amazing what a first down can do for a team.

After looking totally uncompetitive for a quarter and a half, Michigan’s offense finally showed life midway through the second quarter. Martavious Odoms‘ second effort notched Michigan’s first first down, and quarterback Nick Sheridan and the offense seemed to gain confidence from there. I liked Rich Rodriguez’s decisions to go for two fourth downs — Michigan might not have many scoring chances left — and Brandon Minor converted on fourth-and-goal to put his team on the board.

For Michigan to hang around, Minor needs to get the ball more. He has been by far the Wolverines’ most consistent offensive performer this season. Michigan also appears to have survived some woeful special-teams play (muffed punt, missed field goal, shanked punt) early on.

Ohio State remains in the lead and somewhat in control, but Jim Tressel might be a little concerned about his offense. Aside from the two scoring plays — Chris “Beanie” Wells‘ 59-yard run and a 53-yard pass from Terrelle Pryor to Brian Hartline — Ohio State hasn’t done much (52 total yards). After a dominant two weeks, Pryor looks a bit like the guy who took snaps in Week 5, holding the ball too long and taking three sacks.

Michigan’s defensive line won’t make it easy, and Ohio State needs to find ways to sustain drives. Wells likely has another big run in him today. The junior eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the season and became just the sixth Ohio State back to record back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns.

Players on both sides are definitely amped for this one. There have been several mini-skirmishes, though officials did a nice job of preventing anything at halftime. By the way, Rodriguez has five security guards surrounding him today. It’s not quite the Nick Saban treatment, but pretty close.

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