ESPN College Football

ESPN The Magazine senior write Ryan McGee takes a look this week at the effect North Carolina's sanctions could have on the next schools in line, Oregon and Miami.

If the details of Yahoo! Sports' August report prove true, McGee says, the results will not be pretty for the Hurricanes.

Nothing angers the Committee on Infractions, no matter who is on the panel, quite like someone on the coaching staff knowing about a rogue booster or agent and doing nothing about it. USC running backs coach Todd McNair was believed to have known about the Reggie Bush-Lloyd Lake relationship. That was pretty much the NCAA's whole case. It cited Ohio State's inability to track Bobby DiGeronimo, who at worst paid players a few hundred bucks and got them sham jobs.

But in the case of Nevin Shapiro at Miami, the Yahoo! guys present evidence that suggests at least seven members of the Hurricanes football and basketball staffs not only knew about him, they steered athletes and recruits toward him. Then he "provided thousands of impermissible benefits to at least 72 athletes from 2002 through 2010."

Honestly, if all of that ends up being proven by the NCAA, the UNC and Ohio State cases won't matter. They might be the NCAA's new baseline, but the Miami situation won't be concerned with baselines. It might be establishing a new ceiling.

The current committee ruled on both the Tar Heels' case this week and Ohio State's case in December. With the majority of the committee staying on through at least the next year — and with the committee's seemingly newfound references to precedent — McGee feels those two cases could provide a template for high-profile football cases in the future.

Has something seemed odd to you about the BCS bowls this year? Does it seem like ... oh wait, West Virginia just scored again.

Does it seem like ... wait, there goes De'Anthony Thomas. Don't think he'll get caught from behind.

Does it seem like ... wait, would somebody please tackle Justin Blackmon?

Does it seem like there have been a lot of points this bowl season?

It's not just you. There have been a lot of points. More points than ever before. And by huge quantities.

So far, BCS bowl teams have averaged a total of 77 points in the Rose, Fiesta, Orange and Sugar bowls. That, folks, is nearly 26 points more than last year (51.6). And it's nearly 11 points better than the previous high of 66.3 from 2001-02.

Perhaps pairing two SEC teams in the title game has created a black hole sucking all defensive stinginess into the LSU-Alabama rematch, which you might recall went 9-6 with no touchdowns in their first meeting. West Virginia scored 10 touchdowns -- 10! -- against Clemson. Alabama gave up 12 TDs all season.

Speaking of Clemson: ACC. Well, well, well.

After the Tigers ingloriously fell 70-33 to the Mountaineers, we got our second story from the BCS bowl season: The ACC's insistence on throwing up on itself in BCS bowl games.

The conference that was once expected to challenge the SEC is now 2-13 in BCS bowl games. That's hard to do. You'd think in 15 BCS bowls the conference could get lucky at least five or six times. But no, it insists on making ACC blogger Heather Dinich, a genuinely nice person, into some sort of Grim Reaper every bowl season.

Heck, the Big East has won seven BCS bowls -- second fewest among AQ conferences -- but it's 7-7.

Of course, this all ties together, and we're here to bring out a bow, but first a warning: If you don't want to read about how good the SEC is for the 56,314th time this year, then stop reading. I'd recommend an episode of "South Park" or perhaps a John le Carré thriller as an alternative for passing the time.

We can all agree the SEC plays great defense right? Alabama and LSU will play for the title Monday with the nation's top-two defenses. Do you think perhaps that it's not a coincidence that the conference that is 16-7 in BCS bowl games plays great defense?

The only other AQ conference with a winning record in BCS bowl games is the Pac-12, which is 11-7. The Pac-12 isn't known for defense, either, but USC was when it won the conference's last national title in 2004.

The only team to win a BCS national title without an elite defense was Auburn in 2010, but the Tigers' defense seemed to find itself late in the season. Since 1999, eight national champions had a top-10 defense. Other than Auburn, the lowest-rated defense to win a BCS national title was Ohio State in 2002. It ranked 23rd in the nation in total defense.

Three of the four BCS bowl games have been thrillers. Two went to overtime. We've seen big plays all over the field in the passing game and running game. Yet, if things go according to script in the title game, we'll see none of that. We might not see more than a couple of plays that go for more than 20 yards. We might not see any.

Some might call that boring. It might seem that both offenses are so paranoid of making a mistake that they are stuck in mud, both in game plan and execution.

But, snoozefest or not, when the clock strikes zero a team from the SEC will hoist the crystal football for a sixth consecutive time.

That might say something about playing better defense.

Several reports have surfaced that USC offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson has been on Miami's campus, but that is incorrect, according to a source at Miami. Henderson still has not been granted his release from USC. Miami cannot speak with him until that happens, but if and when it does, the Canes would likely recruit him again and they do have a scholarship available for him.

It's no secret North Carolina's defense was good last fall. Just look at the numbers: sixth in total defense (270 yards per game) and 13th in scoring defense (17 ppg).

And those numbers were piled up with a terrible offense that kept giving the ball away.

Not surprisingly, with nine starters back on defense, the 2010 hype machine is starting to roll.

Not only does ESPN draft guru Todd McShay rank two Tar Heels among his top-10 defensive prospects for the 2011 NFL draft -- tackle Marvin Austin at No. 5 and end Robert Quinn at No. 6 -- he has this to say at the end of Quinn's blurb: "Don't be surprised if Quinn emerges as the top prospect on a Tar Heels defense that will draw comparisons to the USC Trojans group from 2008."

The 2008 Trojans yielded 222 yards and nine points per game. They surrendered just six touchdown passes all season. That squad finished 12-1 and ranked third in the nation (No. 2 in the final USA Today poll).

That defense featured eight picks in the 2009 draft, four of whom went in the first two rounds.

It was a pretty fancy crew.

But McShay makes a completely reasonable comparison.

This list of the top-32 2011 NFL draft prospects includes four Tar Heels defenders: Austin, Quinn -- at Nos. 3 and 7 overall -- as well as safety Deunta Williams and linebacker Bruce Carter, at Nos. 28 and 31. What about linebacker Quan Sturdivant? He made the list of "just missed" prospects.

Moreover, UNC's 2009 numbers look a lot like USC's 2007 numbers: The Trojans gave up 273 yards and 16 points per game -- with a much better offense than the Heels in 2009.

On the ACC spring conference call last week, coach Butch Davis said the emphasis this spring was building depth at linebacker and in the secondary. But you want to know what could cause the UNC defense to really put up stunning numbers?

The offense cutting its turnovers in half and consistently moving the ball, which is why the quarterback competition between maligned senior T.J. Yates and strong-armed freshman Bryn Renner figures to be one of the hottest items of the ACC preseason.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

If Miami and Florida State continue to add to and develop the speed and athleticism that is already in their current recruiting classes, then look out -- both of these programs will be back in business.

Florida State had the better season in 2008, but Miami's recruiting is a step ahead. If the Canes hire the right offensive coordinator and get the kinks worked out at quarterback, then Miami is going to be one of best teams in the country in the next two or three years. If they're not, then something is wrong, because all you have to do is look at the talent they're lining up, not to mention how many young impact players like Sean Spence are already on the roster.

Miami currently has seven -- seven! -- recruits committed who are ranked among the ESPNU 150, a list of the top 150 prospects in the country, and nine players who have earned a grade of 80 or higher. If you're not familiar with ESPN's grading system, you should check it out, because there is no other evaluation like it.

Players who earn a grade of 80 or higher are deemed outstanding prospects who can contribute as true freshmen. Miami had the No. 1 recruiting class a year ago, and it panned out. This one should too, thanks to the staff's late push on the recruiting trail.

Florida State is not far behind. It has to have helped to have coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher out recruiting when other head coaches cannot. Defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel is the real deal, and the No. 1 prep tackle in the country. Back to that grading system ... McDaniel has a 91, meaning our evaluators consider him a rare prospect who "has all the skills to take over a game and could be an impact player as a true freshman." Translated -- wow.

Both of these programs have improved their recruiting in the 2008 and 2009 classes. FSU jumped from No. 25 in 2007, when it had a very average class, to No. 12 last year and is currently No. 10. Miami is currently ranked No. 7. (Don't forget, though, who had the No. 2 class a year ago -- Clemson. This is the year for Da'Quan Bowers, Kyler Parker and Jamie Harper to remind us why, although Bowers has already lived up to the hype.)

The first step in earning a top 10 ranking in the BCS standings is building a top 10 recruiting class, and that's exactly what Florida State and Miami have been doing. They're in good company with the likes of USC, Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio State, Florida, Georgia, Alabama and LSU -- all programs that were in contention for the national title the past few seasons.

If Florida State and Miami are getting the same quality players, then reason stands they should have the same chance.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

There are no other BCS conferences still as wide open as the ACC. Heck, the SEC already has things all wrapped up with a pretty little bow in Alabama and Florida. Is there anyone else in the Pac-10 besides USC and Oregon State? Same can be said for the Big Ten, which this season has been the Big 1 -- Penn State. The Big East isn't convoluted, it's just not very good. You can argue the Big 12 South is just as messy, but at least in that conference it's pretty clear who the top teams are. In the ACC, that depends on what week it is. This week's round of games will either clear things up a bit or make it even muddier.

If you take a closer look, though, there is one thing we know for sure:

Three teams -- Virginia Tech, Maryland and Boston College -- control their own destiny. All three can win their respective divisions if they win all of their remaining games.

That's an interesting scenario because you can argue (and I will) that Florida State and North Carolina are the best teams in the ACC this year. Virginia Tech just found its offense last week. Boston College is still winning with its defense. And Maryland? It doesn't have the defense or the playmakers on offense to match the talent on Virginia Tech's roster, let alone Florida State's. UNC separated itself with its win over Georgia Tech and beat Miami on the road with its backup quarterback. The Tar Heels have an opportunistic defense that the offense finally seems to have caught up to.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

	Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
	Mark Sanchez and USC rolled to a victory in Week 1.

I'm used to sticking out like an Ohio State fan in the Big House. So it came as no surprise that among all of the folks at ESPN who weigh in on this, I was the lone person to put Mark Sanchez at the top of my Heisman list.

And I'm OK with that.

The one I would question, though, is a first-place vote for running back Beanie Wells. Yes, he had an incredible performance before he hurt his foot, but how do you favor a player wearing a protective boot when you don't know how long he'll be out?

We'll see if Sanchez is still leading the list after USC plays the Buckeyes, but for now that's my pick and I'm sticking to it.

Even if I'm sticking out.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Virginia quarterback Peter Lalich sat slouched in his chair and avoided eye contact with just about everyone. He spoke slowly and cautiously, being careful to say the right thing.

When asked what might have been his easiest question -- "When did you find out you were starting today?" -- Lalich looked at the floor.

"Um, that's ... I'm not allowed to talk about that," he said.

Whether it was five minutes before the start of the game or five weeks ago, it's irrelevant now.

"Our quarterback turned the ball over too many times today," coach Al Groh said.

For a guy who was so secretive about Lalich for almost six months, it sure didn't take long to call him out.

Lalich completed 18-of-35 passes for 155 yards and was sacked twice, but the rookie line in front of him couldn't hold off the pressure barreling down from USC. Even standout left tackle Eugene Monroe made a few mistakes. Lalich said the time his line gave him was "adequate."

"A lot of times it seems like it might be the linemen's fault, sometimes it's the quarterback's fault," he said. "We have different types of protection. Sometimes it's five men blocking, sometimes it's six men blocking."

Lalich's 155-yard performance is the most by a UVA quarterback in his first start since David Rivers threw for 228 yards against Georgia Tech in 1999.

Still, Groh said, "It wouldn't be right for me or anybody to say that anybody played well today."

Groh knew what he was getting the Cavaliers into when he scheduled them to play the No. 3 team in the nation.

He expected more, though, from his own team, despite the fact that there were 11 Cavaliers who made their first start today against a team contending for the national title.

Virginia was held to 32 rushing yards. It was 2-of-12 on third-down conversions. The Cavaliers fumbled four times, and lost the ball three times. USC punted twice. The numbers go on and on ...

"We knew it was going to take a lot on our part to be able to pull this off," Groh said. "To play as poorly as we played and to have lost is not acceptable. ... Our attitude about our team is it's not OK to play like that."

He can change the attitude. But Groh is going to be hard-pressed to find a better quarterback right now. And after Saturday, it's no secret.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- USC coach Pete Carroll has been reluctant to talk too much about Ohio State's visit to the Coliseum on Sept. 13, and he had some more fun toying with reporters about it again on Saturday.

"We play them two weeks from now, right?" he asked.

After a bit more prodding, Carroll acknowledged the fact their staff will begin preparing for the Buckeyes "a week from now."

"I'm thrilled to be coming back to the Coliseum and getting a home game," he said. "It's going to be exciting for everybody. There's a ton of hype about it and all that. We'll get to work on that a week from now. It's a terrific chance for us to get a great challenge again. ... Ohio State is a great program, they are a great program. We'll try to get ourselves ready to play them."

His players are ready to start preparing.

"When we get back to school we definitely have to start watching film," receiver Vidal Hazelton said. "I'm sure they're going to bring it just like we are. They're a real good team. We just have to continue to watch film and prepare."

One reporter asked Carroll if he knew Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells got hurt.

"He did?" Carroll asked, raising his eyebrows.

"You weren't aware he got hurt?" the reporter asked.

"Yeah, somebody told me," he said with a wry smile. "They stuck it on my chair when I came in."

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

	AP Photo
	USC quarterback Mark Sanchez led the Trojans in a convincing 52-7 win over Virginia on Saturday.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The soft black Bio Slim brace protecting USC quarterback Mark Sanchez's left kneecap looked more like an accessory on Saturday than it did a necessity.

It certainly didn't prevent him from completing 26-of-35 passes for 338 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Sanchez , who dislocated his kneecap earlier this month, he felt "100 percent" following the Trojans' 52-7 drubbing of Virginia.

He looked it, too. Sanchez was able to move around in the pocket, get the ball downfield, and manage the offense.

"That was the big question mark coming into the game," Sanchez said. "... When the first news came out four weeks, (the doctors and trainers) didn't want to hear it. That's the kind of attitude I like and I'm glad they got me back out. I moved when I needed to and was really happy out there."

USC coach Pete Carroll said Sanchez has been ready since he was cleared to play on Tuesday.

"He was fine," Carroll said. "The recovery was extraordinary. The guys working with him ... those guys did a great job. Every step of the way they knew what they were doing, they took care of him. Mark was diligent about working and it wasn't a factor. It just wasn't. Once he was back, he was back. He had to prove it to himself as well. He moved around beautifully in the pocket. His resourcefulness back there is what gives you that second chance."

Not that USC needed one.

"USC was a big, powerful, fast team with superior quarterback play today," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "We were anything but big and fast and our quarterback turned the ball over too many times."

So much for Groh's surprise element at quarterback.

Peter Lalich completed 18-of-35 passes for 155 yards and one interception and he was sacked twice -- something Sanchez didn't have to worry about.

The Trojans dominated every phase of the game, and it all started up front, where USC's offensive line had no problem blocking against a defensive line that struggled to replace Chris Long and defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald.

"These guys played beautifully," Carroll said of his offensive linemen. " There were a number of times in this game when Mark had forever back there."

How much time?

"A lot," Sanchez said, laughing. "A lot. That's good. Coach (Pat) Ruel always calls it, in practice he says, 'We're cooking steaks back there because we've got that much time,' and that's the way it felt. The whole line takes pride in that, not letting me get hit and me having ample time to make the right decision and get the ball out of my hands. It felt good. I love that feeling."

Sanchez played conservatively against Virginia, and will speed up the offense in coming weeks. Odds are, he'll have less time to think against the Ohio State defense. But yes, how smoothly everything went for Sanchez and his knee today will only help with his confidence and preparation for the Buckeyes.

"I can keep doing my rehab, that rehab stuff never stops it's going to go all season long," he said. "The doctors and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's exciting to know I've got one under my belt with this whole knee deal and I'm back to 100 percent. I feel good and we're ready to start preparing for Ohio State."

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The media wasn't allowed to wait for coach Pete Carroll in the visitors' post-game interview room immediately after the game in fear that the walls might be too thin, and we could hear what was being said in USC's locker room across the narrow hallway.

There was no way to quell the booming baritones, though, as the Trojans sung the USC fight song moments after pummelling Virginia 52-7.

You probably could have heard the Trojans banging on the lockers and celebrating from the 50-yard line.

Meanwhile, down the hall, Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim hung his head, barely looking up over his glasses, and quarterback Peter Lalich wrung his hands so tight they turned red as he spoke to reporters.

As was expected, their postgame demeanors were as polar opposite as their performances on the field.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- I'm sure most of you are watching this game on ABC and yes, it's as bad as it looks in person.

So much for USC having to adjust to this 3-4 defense. Quarterback Mark Sanchez has had way too much time to make his throws and isn't in too much danger of getting sacked today. A fourth-down attempt early shows they're confident against the Cavs. USC, though, is bringing some heat.

The Trojans' defense is much faster and for the most part stifling Virginia, which looks like it has three new starters on its offensive line (it does). They've got no ground game going, which obviously makes it even tougher to get the passing game going.

Considering he's the only one with any game experience, it's no surprise that Peter Lalich is the starting quarterback for Virginia, and he has gotten better under pressure as the game has progressed. Still, Virginia's lone points so far were aided by a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty on USC.

Since 2007, Virginia has been one of the luckiest teams I've ever seen. Even as they're losing here, they're catching breaks. Like the fumbled punt that long snapper Danny Aiken recovered. Didn't matter, though. Yannick Reyering, a soccer star in his college football debut, ended the drive with a missed 46-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide right.

The fans booed Al Groh's decision to punt on fourth-and-four with 44 seconds left to go in the half. They might want to wait until Virginia improves upon its 1-of-7 third-down conversions first.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The first 12 minutes of the first quarter was like watching a basketball game, with USC constantly driving and dunking on Virginia.

USC beat the Cavaliers around the edge. Up the middle. Downfield. And 21-7.

The Trojans' depth at running back, plus their playmakers in the passing game have overwhelmed Virginia's defense, and for the most part, USC's defensive line has manhandled Virginia up front. Virginia had nine plays for minus-5 yards on its first three drives.

One of Virginia's best plays of the quarter was a direct snap to running back Mikell Simpson. They finally got some good blocks by left guard Zak Stair on a scoring drive, and some help by careless USC penalties.

It's getting a little chippy on the field, with some pushing and shoving after plays.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Whew. Finally. I'm here. Let's get to it:

Al Groh is redefining game-time decision. A school spokesman said we won't know who Virginia's starting quarterback will be until the first snap of the game against USC. The depth chart has Scott Deke listed first, followed by two "OR"s -- Marc Verica OR Peter Lalich.

It's a million degrees out here, but that hasn't stopped the UVA fans from sporting their long-sleeved button-down shirts and khaki pants, long ties and bow ties. And, of course, there are numerous ladies in their sundresses -- most proper attire for a football game.

I only saw one "Al Groh Must Go" T-shirt.

The hill under the scoreboard is starting to fill up and the student section is nearly packed already. Lots of tailgaiting going on but not many USC fans appear to be here.

Check back for quarterly updates.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

I'm on my way to Charlottesville this morning, but I thought you guys might be interested in a few stories previewing the USC/Virginia game from the West Coast:

* With only one full-time returning starter on USC's offensive line, Virginia should have a small element of surprise with its 3-4 defense.

* At USC, the players on their defense work to earn the title of "Strip King," and no, it's not what you're thinking.

* Odds are you can find more than you'd like to know about USC quarterback Mark Sanchez right here.

* USC was looking for a little privacy, though, during its final practice before today's game. They found some at a private school in Charlottesville.