National title pretenders don’t last long

Monday, Oct. 6, 2003 | 9:41 a.m.

And then there were ... what, 14?

Although the college football season is only a little more than a month old, roughly 90 percent of its teams already have been eliminated from national championship contention.

While the BCS gets knocked on more often than Tony Orlando's ceiling, the NHL and NBA should be so effective in eliminating title pretenders.

At this semi-early date, only nine BCS teams remain undefeated: Oklahoma, Miami, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Nebraska, LSU, Arkansas and Minnesota.

Five BCS teams have one loss, and in that only two of the five previous title games have featured two undefeated teams, Texas, Georgia, Pittsburgh, Southern Cal and Tennessee probably still have a shot to battle back.

Two non-BCS teams are still undefeated, but a table-runner has never earned an at-large BCS berth -- much less a spot in the championship game. So Northern Illinois and TCU probably have a better chance of curing the common cold.

That leaves 14 teams still in the hunt for the Sugar Bowl. Make it 13. Minnesota is improved and all that, but the BCS draws the line at Virginia Tech when it comes to lesser-knowns playing for the championship.

Pitt lost to Toledo, so make it an even dozen. The once-beaten SEC teams still have too many tough games remaining, so subtract Tennessee and Georgia, which leaves 10.

Texas and Nebraska have yet to play Oklahoma, so remove them. Now we're down to eight. Ohio State has been more lucky than good, so I can't see the Buckeyes beating Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan State and Michigan. One loss usually doesn't kill you, but the later it comes, the harder it is to climb back into contention. So see ya', OSU.

That leaves seven. LSU and Arkansas seem like the real deal this year, but one of them will be knocked out by the other. The other one probably will have lost to somebody else by then, so that leaves five.

Or Oklahoma and four others.

As much as I want to remove Southern Cal from the equation, it lost early enough and the Pac-10 is lame enough that the Trojans could sneak back into it. But let's say they don't. Miami and Florida State, on the other hand, must play each other, and the Hurricanes also must go to Blacksburg to meet Virginia Tech.

Can Miami beat both FSU and Virginia Tech? West Virginia doesn't think so.

So that leaves my Sugar Bowl with just three cubes: Oklahoma, Florida State, and those not-so-pokey Hokies. Chris Rix is bound to to get another parking ticket between now and then, so I'll go with Oklahoma and Virginia Tech in New Orleans.

The Sooners win that one, 41-24.

You can bet your commemorative hardbound issue of Sports Illustrated on it. But just to be on the safe side, I wouldn't put up the video and sweatshirt until Thanksgiving or so.

The starting 11

Iowa 30, Michigan 27: Struggling with injuries on their special teams, the Wolverines tried a new formation that had three blockers lined up in front of the punter. They weren't enough. Michigan had one punt blocked and another tipped, part of a comprehensive special teams breakdown that also yielded a 43-yard punt return, and 37- and 23-yard kickoff returns -- on squib kicks. Just think what might happened had the Wolverines kicked deep.

Auburn 28, Tennessee 21: They're ba-a-a-ck. After starting the season ranked No. 6 and falling flat on their faces, the Tigers showed the previously undefeated Volunteers that perhaps they're not so overrated after all. Tennessee entered the game averaging 188 rushing yards. It got a grand total of 4 against Auburn.

Mississippi 20, Florida 17: Before the game, news reports compared the Ole Miss defense to a video game, it had given up so many points. Too bad for the Gators they played this one on the field instead of Playstation 2. Ole Miss shut out Florida in the second half en route to its second consecutive victory over the Gators.

Georgia 37, Alabama 21: The Bulldogs scored 37 points in the first half and none in the second. "I don't know about y'all, but the second half was a downer for me," said Georgia coach Mark Richt. Can't say, coach. At my house, w'all switched to the Cubs-Braves game at halftime.

UCLA 46, Washington 16: The Huskies led 16-6 at halftime. Then they must have started watching the Cubs-Braves game, too. After being outscored 39-0 in the second half, Washington coach Keith Gilbertson labeled this week's nonconference game with Nevada-Reno "huge." I don't know what that says, other than it can't be good.

Utah 17, Oregon 13: After beating Michigan and appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated two weeks ago, I suggested the Ducks should be featured on the front of Mad magazine following a humbling 56-17 loss to Washington State last week. After Oregon allowed Utah a season-high 466 offensive yards, I'm starting to wonder what Alfred E. Neumann would look like in an all-yellow football uniform.

Texas 24, Kansas State 20: One reporter called the Longhorns' hard-earned victory against the always-tough Wildcats a "tuneup," which seemed a little strange. But given Texas will play No. 1 Oklahoma this week, I can understand why K-State might have looked like Mr. Goodwrench.

Oklahoma 53, Iowa State 7: The Sooners showed the Cyclones why they are head and shoulder pads above the rest, topping 50 points for the third consecutive week. Punt return demon Antonio Perkins, who set an NCAA record with three returns for touchdowns against UCLA earlier this year, left the field late in the game with an apparent leg injury. That means the Sooners will probably adjust by blocking punts, instead of returning them for TDs, against Texas.

Wisconsin 30, Penn State 23: There was a lot of special teams-itis going around the Big Ten Saturday as the Nittany Lions caught what Michigan had. Penn State had a punt returned for a touchdown, fumbled a punt that led to another TD and missed two field goals and an extra point. Somebody get Frank Beamer on the phone.

Northern Illinois 30, Ohio 23 (OT): With the Ohio players -- along with the Temptations, the Four Tops and the O'Jays -- stacked in the box to stop the run, the Huskies turned to the passing game to remain undefeated. P.J. Fleck caught a school-record 14 passes for 234 yards, including a key catch on fourth-and-4 at Ohio's 15 with time running out that prolonged NIU's game-tying touchdown drive.

Navy 28, Air Force 25: Finally, it is "Anchors Aweigh" instead of "Anchors Await" for the Middies, who beat the Falcons for just the third time in 20 years to gain the upper hand on the Commander-in-Chief's trophy. Still, Navy quarterback Craig Candeto doesn't really expect it will be staying in Annapolis for too terribly long. "I'm sure they'll be back next year," Candeto said in deference to the Falcons, "but we got them this time. It's going to be sweet to have bragging rights for a year."

Big men on campus

Stat's enough

Las Vegan Steven Jackson ran for 227 yards and scored three touchdowns as Oregon State beat California 35-21. ... Gopher it: Minnesota is 6-0 for the first time in 43 years after beating Northwestern 42-17. ... Black-and-blue Knights: Army has been shut out in consecutive games for the first time since 1979, after a 27-0 loss to No. 20 TCU. The Black Knights, who lost 28-0 to South Florida last week, haven't beaten a ranked team since 1972. ... The Gators have become the bait, as Florida (3-3, 1-2 SEC) is just 7-4 at home under coach Ron Zook and is at .500 at the latest point in the season since it finished 6-6 in 1987.

Couch Potato Bowl

Although there were second and even third thoughts, Alabama has given the nod -- literally, I guess -- to mass produce Bear Bryant bobblehead dolls. Featuring the legendary coach in his trademark houndstooth hat, the dolls will go for $39.99 each and will be used to improve Crimson Tide athletic facilities.

Alabama would not confirm that it is planning to honor its other coaches with dolls. But if it does, the Mike Price one probably will be inflatable.

Division I-A Lite

A look at the top teams in the non-BCS conferences:

1. Northern Illinois (MAC): It comes to pass for Huskies against Ohio.

2. Utah (MWC): Duck hunting season begins early in Utah.

3. Miami of Ohio (MAC): Redskins scoring more than Warren Beatty.

4. UNLV (MWC): Rebels fire another cannon shot in Reno.

5. Bowling Green (MAC): Lots of MAC daddies this year.

6. TCU (USA): Frogs keep hopping against Army.

7. South Florida (USA): Bulls not so lonely (TCU) at top of USA.

8. Boise State (WAC): Small potatoes getting bigger in WAC.

9. Colorado State (MWC): Rams show Fresno they are still dangerous.

10. Louisville (USA): Cards shuffled from unbeaten ranks by South Florida.

Games we'd like to see

In this space each week the Sun will present a dream college football matchup, with statistics and highlights provided by Lance Haffner Games' 3-in-1 computer simulation. Readers who would like to propose future matchups can do so by contacting the Sun via e-mail at ron@lasvegassun.com.

1996 Tennessee 38, 1969 Ole Miss 28: It's father vs. son, as Peyton Manning and Tennessee get the best of his old man, Archie, and Ole Miss. Peyton completes 25 of 43 passes for 396 yards while Archie is held to 20 of 42 for 155 yards -- although the old man does out-rush his oldest son, 72 yards to minus 5. The lead-footed Ole Miss secondary can't keep up with fleet Tennessee receivers Peerless Price (9 receptions, 185 yards) and Joey Kent (7-120), but that doesn't stop Eli Manning from calling "next" during the postgame news conference.

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