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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.

After a year's hiatus, the Rose Bowl is back to its traditional self: A Pac-12-Big Ten matchup.

And it looks like a good matchup of good teams with contrasting styles.

Sounds like a good time for a blog debate!

Ted Miller: Well, Brian, we’re back to a traditional Pac-12-Big Ten Granddaddy and it looks like a good one: Midwest power versus West Coast flash. I’m a little surprised that Oregon is favored against Montee Ball, Russell Wilson and that mammoth group of biscuit and gravy eaters you call an offensive line. Give me an idea of what the Ducks are up against with the Badgers' offense. Is it all power football, or is it more sophisticated than that?

Brian Bennett: You'd better believe the Badgers have the baddest bunch of big uglies in college football, with an offensive line that outweighs many NFL units. Add in a couple of good tight ends, a senior fullback and Wisconsin's dedication to the ground game and you can see why the program has been one of the best running teams in the country for several years now. But it's not just all brute. The thing that makes these linemen stand out is that they are nimble and can really move, and I think many defenses are shocked by that combination of strength and athleticism early in games. Wilson has also given this team an entirely new dimension with his ability to make plays on the move and his outstanding accuracy. Opponents have no choice but to respect the run when playing Wisconsin, and that makes this offense the most dangerous play-action team in America. You'll see receivers getting huge cushions in the passing game, and Ball can break tackles even when the box is loaded.

That's why the Badgers average 44.6 points per game, just a tick below Oregon's 46.2 average. My question for you is, can the Ducks' defense handle this kind of offensive power, especially in a 3-4 scheme?

Ted Miller: Oooooo. I’m telling Chip Kelly that you said the Ducks run a 3-4! He hates that. No idea why. Coordinator Nick Aliotti will tell you that the Ducks throw a lot of stunts and looks -- 3-4, 4-3, 2-5, etc -- and crazy stuff at you. They are fast, underrated and bigger than many think. Their top four defensive tackles, who are in a regular rotation, weigh 321, 300, 283 and 286 pounds.

Oregon has faced big, powerful teams before. Stanford and USC the past two years, in conference, and Auburn and LSU out of conference. Forgotten in the talk about how Auburn and LSU slowed down the Ducks' offense is how the Ducks' defense slowed down both sets of Tigers. Oregon outgained LSU 372-273 but was done in by four horrible turnovers. The Ducks held Auburn and Cam Newton to 22 points, its second-lowest total of the season.

Sure, Oregon’s defense ranks 59th in the nation in total yards while Wisconsin ranks eighth. But they yield similar numbers on yards per play: Oregon 4.93, Wisconsin 4.85. And the Ducks are slightly better on third down. Oregon’s defense’s biggest problem is its offense, which scores a lot of points despite ranking LAST in the nation in time of possession. The Badgers' defense, with an offense that ranks 22nd in time of possession, only faced 786 plays this year. Oregon faced 1,005. That skews numbers.

Wait. Did I get all stats-y there? Sorry. My answer to the size question is what Oregon will say leading up to the Rose Bowl. It’s nothing new for them. They play their game, run their stunts, use their speed and see what happens. Stanford, which has two first-round NFL draft choices on its O-line, would be the most natural comparison with the Badgers. And for two years in a row, no team has played good enough defense to beat the Cardinal and Andrew Luck other than Oregon.

While Badgers fans expect Whisky to run over the Ducks with size -- Big Ten thinking! -- Ducks fans believe they can exploit the Badgers' defense with speed and misdirection -- Pac-12 thinking! What about some Brian Bennett thinking: Do the Badgers have the speed on defense to keep up with the Ducks? Is Bret Bielema going to use past blueprints to thwart Kelly?

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My Heisman Trophy ballot has changed every week for the last couple of months.

I'm not surprised there are more than three players going to the trophy presentation.

Five players were invited to New York for Saturday night's Heisman Trophy presentation -- quarterbacks Andrew Luck of Stanford and Robert Griffin III of Baylor, tailbacks Montee Ball of Wisconsin and Trent Richardson of Alabama and cornerback Tyrann Mathieu of LSU.

It's a shame the Heisman Trust didn't have room for three more quarterbacks because Houston's Case Keenum, USC's Matt Barkley and Boise State's Kellen Moore were just as deserving.

With five finalists going to New York, it figures to be one of the closer votes in recent Heisman Trophy history.

The closest vote in Heisman Trophy history came just two years ago, when Alabama tailback Mark Ingram edged Stanford's Toby Gerhart by only 28 points. Ingram received 227 first-place votes, Gerhart got 222 and Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, the second runner-up, received 203.

Given the number of finalists and their geographical regions, we could have another really close finish on Saturday night.

Luck, the runner-up to Auburn's Cam Newton last season, entered the 2011 season as the Heisman Trophy favorite. His performance didn't slip much this season, as he completed 70 percent of his passes for 3,170 yards with 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

I still feel Luck might be the most valuable player on any team in the country. Without him, there's no way the Cardinal is ranked No. 4 in the country and playing No. 3 Oklahoma State in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Luck has done more with less, as Stanford lacks the game-changing playmakers that other teams have.

But Luck might still be the second-best quarterback in New York. Griffin, who is widely known as RG3, completed 72.4 percent of his passes for 3,998 yards with 36 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 644 yards with nine touchdowns.

Without him, the Bears wouldn't have beaten TCU, Oklahoma and Texas. Griffin's one drawback: He had a late interception that sealed the Bears' fate in a 36-35 loss at Kansas State on Oct. 1 and threw two picks in a 59-24 loss at Oklahoma State on Oct. 29. But with everything else RG3 has done this season, it's easy to give him a mulligan for the miscues.

I still believe Richardson is the best player in the country. He looked like the best player on the field in No. 2 Alabama's 9-6 loss in overtime to No. 1 LSU on Nov. 5. He had 89 rushing yards and 80 receiving yards in a game where every yard mattered. He finished the season with 1,583 yards with 20 touchdown runs and three touchdown catches. He's also Mr. Dependable, not losing a fumble in his past 520 touches and only once in 614 career touches.

Ball has been a scoring machine for the No. 10 Badgers this season, running for 1,759 yards with 32 touchdown runs and six touchdown receptions. His 38 total touchdowns are one shy of matching former Oklahoma State running back Barry Sanders' NCAA single-season record of 39 set in 11 games in 1988. Ball's production helped lead the Badgers to a Jan. 2 date against Oregon in the Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO.

Mathieu fell off my ballot after he was suspended from playing in the Tigers' 45-10 victory over Auburn on Oct. 22 for smoking synthetic marijuana. But his big plays helped the Tigers overcome deficits in each of their last two victories, over Arkansas and Georgia in the SEC championship game.

Mathieu -- aka the "Honey Badger" -- is the best player on the top-ranked team. He leads the Tigers with 70 tackles and has forced six fumbles and recovered five. He also is the most dynamic punt returner I've seen since Florida State's Deion Sanders. Mathieu has scored four touchdowns -- two on fumble returns and two on punt returns.

To penalize Mathieu for one foolish mistake wouldn't have been right. After all, Newton was briefly ruled ineligible at Auburn last season and 2010 Heisman Trophy finalist LaMichael James of Oregon was suspended from playing in last season's opener.

A new Rose Bowl access rule could prevent the traditional Big Ten-Pac-10 matchup Jan. 1 in Pasadena, but at least the two leagues will get to know one another very well on Saturday. Three Big Ten-Pac-10 games are on the slate, as No. 18 USC visits Minnesota (ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET), Arizona State visits Wisconsin (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET) and No. 9 Iowa visits No. 24 Arizona (ESPN, 10:30 p.m. ET).

Bloggers Ted Miller (Pac-10) and Adam Rittenberg (Big Ten) break down the three matchups.

Adam Rittenberg: Ted, it's been too long, my friend. The Rose Bowl seems like decades ago, although they're still celebrating in Columbus. Given the likelihood of Boise State or TCU crashing the party in Pasadena this year, it's nice to have some Pac-10-Big Ten flavor this Saturday. Let's start off with Arizona State-Wisconsin. The name Steven Threet still makes people shudder in Madison after he led Michigan to a historic comeback against Wisconsin in 2008, triggering the beginning of the end for the Badgers that year. It also turned out to be the beginning of the end for Threet in a winged helmet. He seems to be settling in very nicely so far in Tempe. What should Wisconsin expect from Threet and the Sun Devils on Saturday?

Ted Miller: An offense with extraordinary firepower! See an average of more than 500 yards and 47.5 ppg. Oh, wait. The Sun Devils played not one but two FCS foes. Hmm. And according to this box score, they rushed for just 56 yards on 29 carries against the hearty Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona. Double-hmm. Still, the early returns are fairly positive on Threet and new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone's spread attack. The Sun Devils' offense was so bad last year that merely being mediocre would be a huge improvement. A bigger issue than Threet: the offensive line. It wasn't consistent against FCS foes, so you'd think the Badgers front-seven might pose a problem. But, to me, the more interesting matchup is a fast Sun Devils defense versus an experienced, physical Badgers offense. What's your take?

Rittenberg: Totally agree that the game likely will come down to Arizona State's dynamic defense and Wisconsin's power run game, led by John Clay. He's the Big Ten's version of Toby Gerhart, except bigger. Clay has looked great this year, but Wisconsin needs to clean up some sloppy play on offense against the Sun Devils. The Badgers already failed on three red-zone scoring chances, matching their total from all of the previous season (53-for-56), and they've committed three turnovers inside the red zone. They have little trouble moving the ball and boast what I believe to be one of the nation's most balanced offenses, but they're not good enough to survive these mistakes much longer. Arizona State will have its hands full with Clay and a mammoth offensive line, but if the Sun Devils can use their speed and force turnovers, they'll have a shot in this one.

Let's move on to the other afternoon affair, USC at Minnesota. The Trojans haven't exactly been dominant this year, but at least they haven't lost to South Dakota. At home. Giving up 41 points and 444 yards. Yeesh. Your thoughts?

Miller: Here are two teams that are muddling along, though the Trojans surely feel better about 2-0 -- no matter the way they got there -- than the Gophers do with 1-1, including the loss to a team from the Dakotas. Adam, I have no idea about the Trojans. They still look great getting off the bus. They still have NFL prospects at every position. In Week 1 at Hawaii, the offense looked great, the defense terrible. In Week 2 at home versus Virginia, it was mostly the opposite. Is it a question of fire and focus in the face of NCAA sanctions? I think we won't really be able to answer that question until the Pac-10 schedule starts. As for this one, I think the Trojans are going to roll. But I wrote that the previous two weeks and ended up being wrong. So what do I know?

What's your take?

Rittenberg: This is an odd matchup. In some ways, USC is just asking to get beat. But how can Minnesota take down Troy if it can't keep South Dakota to fewer than 40 points? The Gophers defense obviously is a major question mark, and I fully expect Matt Barkley to attack downfield a lot on Saturday. Minnesota gets a boost as safety Kyle Theret returns from suspension, giving the defense one returning starter from 2009. The other thing here is if things go back for Minnesota at the start, any sort of home-field edge will disappear. They're not too pleased with coach Tim Brewster right now in the Twin Cities. Minnesota's only chance is to control the clock with Duane Bennett and its power run game, and keep Barkley and Dillon Baxter off the field. A huge challenge.

OK, we've saved the best for last: Iowa at Arizona. Both teams look great so far. Iowa won last year's game, but trips out West haven't been kind to the Hawkeyes lately. What happens in Tucson?

Miller: First off, it's a great offense-defense matchup, with Nick Foles and an experienced UA offense taking on one of the best defenses in the nation. The cautionary tale for Wildcats fans is that also seemed like the case heading into the Holiday Bowl versus Nebraska, which became a complete disaster. Foles has a good offensive line, but the Hawkeyes have an NFL defensive front. If the Wildcats can get any sort of running game -- and Nic Grigsby is an explosive guy who can make a big play out of a small crack -- then things will be far easier for Foles and a quick-hit passing game. Foles is extremely accurate and he has a deep receiving corps. Yet to me the game turns on the Wildcats' rebuilt front seven. The unit replaced both tackles and all three linebackers and has played better than expected, but Iowa is a different sort of beast. If the Hawkeyes can run power effectively, then the Wildcats will be in trouble. If Iowa has to throw, I like the Wildcats secondary's chances versus Ricky Stanzi, who as you well know, Adam, hasn't always been the manzi.

What do you see from this one?

Rittenberg: Should be a great one in the desert. Iowa knows Arizona has come a long way since last year's meeting in Iowa City, when Foles hadn't yet emerged as the starter. The game could come down to whether Arizona can get Grigsby going and protect Foles against the Hawkeyes, who boast arguably the nation's best defensive line. Star defensive end Adrian Clayborn has been a bit quiet so far this season, but he usually plays his best in big games. Arizona typically has some outstanding defensive backs, but don't underestimate The Manzi, who has yet to throw an interception this year. So love it or leave it, pal! Iowa can stretch the field with receivers Marvin McNutt and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, and the run game has looked good so far with Adam Robinson and Jewel Hampton. The Hawkeyes won in State College, Madison and East Lansing last year, but they haven't fared well historically in these trips out West. Arizona definitely has some built-in advantages.

OK, prediction time. Who wins in the three Pac-10-Big Ten matchups?

Miller: Somehow I knew you were going to ask that.

I think USC will handle Minnesota fairly easily: Trojans 41, Gophers 20.

I think Arizona State will be competitive at Wisconsin but the Sun Devils will struggle to score -- and possess the ball -- and the defense will wear down: Wisconsin 27, Arizona State 17.

As for Arizona-Iowa: I go back and forth, but I'm going to risk the ire of the Wildcats faithful and pick Iowa 28, Arizona 24. I just don't think the Arizona defense will be able to hold up all night, and that will allow the Hawkeyes to take a lead at some point in the second half and then play keep-away with the run game.

So, for what REALLY is going to happen... Ladies and gentlemen, Adam Rittenberg.

Rittenberg: Why thank you, good sir.

The Gophers save face a bit against USC and hang around for a while before Barkley and his receivers prove too much for a young defense. Trojans win 35-23.

Wisconsin controls the clock as always and cleans up some of its mistakes in the red zone. Threet leads two first-half scoring drives before the Badgers take control and win 30-20.

Iowa-Arizona should be a great one. The elements will be tough for the Hawkeyes, and they'll fall behind early. But I've got to go with the better defense and the more battle-tested team. Iowa wins 26-21.

So we agree. We'll have to fight over the Rose Bowl pick this year. I've got Boise State!

My colleague Heather Dinich over the ACC blog is feeling a little disrespected these days.

Everyone is hatin' on the ACC. When it comes to ranking conferences heading into the 2010 season, the ACC is struggling to stay in the top 5.

Well, HD, welcome to my world between January 2007 and January 2010.

The Big Ten feels the ACC's pain after being the national piñata for the better part of three seasons. And while the Big Ten didn't do much to help the ACC's rep this bowl season -- Iowa and Wisconsin outclassed Georgia Tech and Miami -- the league knows what it's like to be dissed nationally.

The Big Ten's rep has been restored a bit, thanks to a strong bowl performance highlighted by two BCS wins and four victories against top-15 opponents. But until the Big Ten ends its national title drought, it likely won't fully regain respect around the college football world.

Leagues get two chances to improve their national perception: the nonconference and the postseason. While I won't predict Big Ten bowl matchups just yet, here are five opportunities for the league to help itself in the eyes of the nation.

1. Penn State at Alabama, Sept. 11: What better way to boost the league's image than to shock the reigning national champs in their house? The fact that Penn State is rebuilding a bit after losing six first-team All-Big Ten performers, including quarterback Daryll Clark, would only make it sweeter.

2. Miami at Ohio State, Sept. 11: Sorry, Dinich, but I look at this as a hold-serve matchup for Ohio State (think Isner-Mahut at Wimbledon). Miami should be very good, but the Buckeyes will be expected to defend their home turf against Jacory Harris & Co. A loss by the Big Ten favorites could really hurt the league's national reputation.

3. USC at Minnesota, Sept. 18: USC might have no bowl future and an untested head coach in Lane Kiffin, but it's still USC, the program that has tormented the Big Ten like none other during the last decade. Minnesota can make a major statement for itself and the league by upsetting the Trojans at TCF Bank Stadium. A Big Ten team hasn't beaten USC since Aug. 25, 1996, when Penn State knocked off the Trojans in the Kickoff Classic.

4. Iowa at Arizona, Sept. 18: This game means more for Iowa's reputation than it does the Big Ten's, but a league never wants one of its best teams to stumble early. Arizona is a good but not great team, but Iowa must travel two time zones away and play a night game. It's a classic trap game that the Hawkeyes need to survive, for their sake and the Big Ten's.

5. Purdue/Michigan/Michigan State against Notre Dame: Beating Notre Dame certainly doesn't mean what it used to, but people around the country still pay attention every time the Fighting Irish take the field. The Big Ten might not gain a ton of respect by beating Notre Dame, but the league certainly can't hurt its national perception by taking care of the Irish.

Anything on your mind?

Mike from New York City writes: Hey Adam,The PSU-Nebraska series over the past century is extremely close with PSU winning 7-6. There seems to be a lot of dormant animosity between the two schools after the bad call in the 1982 NC game, and the lack of a shared NC title in 1994. The largest crowd ever in Beaver Stadium was the Nebraska game in 2002. And the geography of the two schools puts them in a prime position to have a "Fringe State" rivalry within the big ten, as they both occupy the furthest reaches of the B10. How would you feel about changing PSU's end of season game from Michigan State to Nebraska for the Fringe State Trophy? I feel like that would be a rivalry both schools would care about very much.. a lot more than the MSU-PSU rivalry anyway.

Adam Rittenberg: Let's do it! I would really like to see that game at the end of the season, especially since the Michigan State-Penn State series doesn't do much for either fan base. One thing to consider: Nebraska always has played Colorado around the same time, so we need to see what happens with that series now that the Buffaloes are heading to the Pac-10. If Nebraska and Colorado play every year in September, I could definitely see things worked so that they play Penn State (or Iowa) at the end of November.

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Jon from Ohio writes: Adam, can you provide a few steps the Big Ten can take to prevent collateral damage from expansion that the ACC seemed to have suffered? For example, the ACC championship game doesn't sell out, the basketball league was actually weakened and every prediction seemed to have worked out opposite. How does the Big Ten prevent this?

Adam Rittenberg: The Big Ten has some built-in advantages over the ACC, namely more tradition in football and larger fan bases. Jim Delany always brings up the ACC championship game as if to say, "Hey, it's not a guaranteed success." To which I roll my eyes. You put a Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis, and you're telling me it wouldn't be a super hot ticket every year? It would be a huge success for the Big Ten. You bring up a good point about the basketball product being weakened. Nebraska certainly doesn't add to the Big Ten that way. Notre Dame is an average hoops program, and Rutgers is totally off the radar in men's hoops (great in women's hoops). That has to be a bit of a concern with expansion, but if Nebraska is the only addition, the hoops product remains pretty strong.

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Tim from Austin, Texas, writes: Adam, I'm a big UM and Big 10 as a whole fan. Everything that's going on with expansion has of course peaked interest, but something Kirk Herbstreit said... I disagree with. Kerby said that the Pac-10 is "stealing the thunder" from the Big 10. I know that Texas is the big fish here, but the Big Fish comes with so much baggage. Texas A&M and the Tech problem are 2 things that I don't think the Big 10 wanted to deal with, so they won't. Texas is a great addition, but with the package deal that includes the entire Big 10 South (minus Baylor), I don't think the Big 10 lost. It's like asking the hot girl to prom, but she makes you take all her fat friends too. What do you think? Is the Big 10 Losing?

Adam Rittenberg: Tim, I totally agree with you, but be prepared to hear people saying the Big Ten "lost" the expansion game if it only adds Nebraska and the Pac-10 expands by six. People will look at a much stronger Pac-10 on the field and disregard the extra baggage stuff. The bottom line is these two leagues -- Big Ten and Pac-10 -- are in different positions, although they have some similar philosophies. The Pac-10 really needs to expand to improve its brand and become more relevant nationally. I contend that while expansion helps the Big Ten, it's not absolutely necessary. The Big Ten would be compromising a lot to take on all of Texas' baggage. But again, be prepared for some Big Ten bashing.

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Nathan from Montana writes: Do you think that Jim Delany made a huge mistake announcing his intentions and plans in relation to expansion, Adam? Not really announcing that the Big Ten was looking to expand, but announcing some details? Also, did the Pac-10 trump Delany in a major way? Is there anything the Big Ten can do and will each Big Ten school still make more money than any other conference (since money drives a lot of things)?

Adam Rittenberg: He might have made a mistake in thinking other leagues wouldn't react aggressively to what the Big Ten is doing. It's clear to me that the Big Ten has been forced to rush things now because of how quickly Larry Scott and the Pac-10 are moving. But if Scott was going to expand the Pac-10 anyway, did it matter that the Big Ten went public? And as far as the details, there haven't been too many that have damaged the Big Ten. Besides Texas, there isn't a school that both the Pac-10 and Big Ten coveted in expansion. Regarding money, the Big Ten and SEC always will generate a ton of revenue, but an expanded Pac-10 could enter the discussion if things go well.

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Mark from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Given the penalties that USC will suffer over the next few years and the recruting promises made to the contrary, what are thechances that a recruit like Seantrel Henderson can re commit to another school?

Adam Rittenberg: It will be very, very interesting, Mark. We'll really find out about Lane Kiffin's recruiting skills now, as he needs to keep this team together and find ways to bring in small but productive recruiting classes during the next three years. Henderson certainly came close to signing with a Big Ten school (Ohio State and Minnesota both were in the mix), and I'm sure he's considering all of his options.

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Cory from Ohio writes: Hey Adam, what happens if only Nebraska will go to the Big Ten? What will happen to Mizzou and the Big East teams that are interested? Also, will Notre Dame go to the Big Ten if it is the 13th and final entree?

Adam Rittenberg: If it's just Nebraska, the Big Ten forms a 12-team league, splits into two divisions, holds a championship game and that's the end of it. But I have a feeling this is just Phase 1 of the expansion process. Missouri is on the radar along with several others, but not at the very top of the list. Notre Dame knows the deal and can join as Nos. 13, 14, 15 or 16, but it has to actually want/accept the reality of being in a conference. Notre Dame likely could have been No. 12, but now I think it's more likely the Irish are team No. 16, forced into saying yes.

The Big Ten takes a little longer than most leagues to release its full football schedule, but for the most part, we know which teams will be playing and when. Nonconference scheduling has been a sore subject in the league for quite some time, but things are gradually improving and should be better in future seasons.

Which teams are truly stepping out on a limb this fall?

Here's a look at the five most challenging nonconference games involving Big Ten teams.

1. Penn State at Alabama, Sept. 11: When you face the defending national champs in their house early in the season, you've got a good chance of being at the top of this list. A young quarterback will lead Penn State into Tuscaloosa to face Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, wide receiver Julio Jones and the Crimson Tide. Penn State will need to control the clock with Evan Royster and the run game and get a huge performance from its defense to keep pace with Bama.

2. USC at Minnesota, Sept. 18: USC went through a coaching transition and comes off its worst season since 2001. Minnesota also gets the Trojans in its home stadium. But USC will be better on defense under new coordinator Monte Kiffin, and Matt Barkley also should make strides in his second season. There's so much talent on the Trojans roster, and Minnesota will be tested in every aspect of the game.

3. Miami at Ohio State, Sept. 11: There will be a ton of buzz around this matchup, and I probably would have ranked it higher before watching Miami crumble against Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl. Jacory Harris and the Hurricanes still have something to prove on the national stage, and they'll get a chance against a ferocious Buckeyes defense led by Cameron Heyward. Miami's speed and athleticism will test the Buckeyes, and the matchup between Harris and Terrelle Pryor will be a lot of fun.

4. Iowa at Arizona, Sept. 18: The Hawkeyes passed all but one of their road tests in 2009, and they'll be challenged with an early trip to the desert. Arizona brings back a lot of offensive firepower, including quarterback Nick Foles, running back Nic Grigsby and wide receiver Juron Criner. The Wildcats lost only one home game in 2008, a double-overtime heartbreaker against Pac-10 champion Oregon. Iowa will need to be sound on defense and limit mistakes on offense.

5. Purdue at Notre Dame, Sept. 4: It was close between Purdue-ND and Illinois-Missouri for the fifth spot, but Notre Dame seems to always win games like this one. Since Frank Leahy became Notre Dame coach in 1941, only one Fighting Irish head man has lost his first game on the job (Lou Holtz endured a 1-point defeat to No. 3 Michigan in 1986). Both teams will have new starting quarterbacks and questions on defense, but it will be tough to know what to expect from innovative play-caller Brian Kelly in Week 1.

Ohio State entered national signing day hoping to land two coveted offensive linemen, Seantrel Henderson and Matt James.

It appeared likely the Buckeyes would land at least one, if not both of the highly rated prep prospects.

But now it's fair to ask the question: Could Ohio State end up going 0-for-2?

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer's Mike Dyer, James has committed to Notre Dame instead of Ohio State and will make it official at a noon ET announcement. Ohio State had been the leader for James' services, but the Cincinnati native recently visited Notre Dame.

"It was a really tough decision," James told the Enquirer. "I like the situation of being in the first class with coach [Brian] Kelly there.

Offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson, the nation's top uncommitted prospect, will announce his college choice later today. But the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press' Charley Walters reports that USC is the front-runner for Henderson's services, and Minnesota has leapfrogged Ohio State for No. 2 on his list. Ohio State had been considered by many to be the leader for Henderson.

Iowa's last trip to the FedEx Orange Bowl didn't go well.

USC had a lot to do with it, as a squad loaded with NFL talent (Carson Palmer, Justin Fargas) thumped the Hawkeyes 38-17. But Iowa didn't help itself, either. The Hawkeyes were uncharacteristically undisciplined, committing 13 penalties and two turnovers in the loss.

"It was more where we were at as a program, more than anything else," Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz told me Saturday morning. "The year before, we broke the ice, we went to our first bowl, it was my third year there. And we just got off the track in that month of December in 2002. It wasn't like our plan was that much different, but we were just a little distracted.

"We had had a quote-unquote storybook season. I really liken it a lot to 1981, where we broke the ice of 19 straight losing seasons. We just didn't handle it well. We didn't handle prosperity well. It's not that we were bad, but we just didn't have the focus you need to beat a good team."

Many would call 2009 a storybook season for Iowa, which won its first nine games, eight in come-from-behind fashion, and produced several of the more exciting finishes of the college football season. But that's where the similarities with the 2002 squad end.

Ferentz has taken a different team to Miami to play No. 9 Georgia Tech on Tuesday night in the Orange Bowl (Fox, 8 p.m. ET). It's a group that has tasted success before and handled the ups and downs well throughout the fall.

"We won nine games last year, we were nationally ranked," Ferentz said. "The majority of the guys that are doing the heavy lifting for us this year were in the Outback Bowl, a January game, and we played a very worthy SEC opponent and handled it well. I just think we're in a different place than we were, certainly, in 2002."

Iowa's focus rarely if ever wavered this fall, in large part because the team was constantly underestimated and faced several bouts with adversity. Though individual players earned regional and national recognition, there was no Brad Banks on this team.

And since every Saturday brought a major battle for Iowa, overconfidence simply was not an option.

"I don't think there's anybody on our team that's overly impressed with what we've done this year. We're happy about the season, we're proud of it, but nobody's patting each other on the back. We all realize we've got a very tough game in front of us."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Who should Iowa root for Saturday in Happy Valley? It depends on your confidence level in the Hawkeyes. As you get ready for another big college football Saturday, here's who needs your support, depending on your primary allegiance.

Iowa should root for ...

• Ohio State to beat Penn State. Any true competitor wants to play the best, and if Iowa wants to get the credit it deserves for completing a brutal Big Ten road schedule, it should want Ohio State to be ranked as highly as possible for next week's clash at Ohio Stadium. The anti-Iowa crowd is looking for any ammunition to shoot down Iowa's case for national title consideration, and a three-loss Ohio State team would certainly help. If Ohio State wins, it will be ranked in the top 15 nationally, giving Iowa yet another chance at a signature win and another boost for an already strong schedule. On the other hand, if you believe Iowa has no chance of reaching the title game and can only get to the Rose Bowl, root for Penn State to beat Ohio State.
• Alabama to lose to LSU. If Texas wins out as expected, Iowa's best chance to reach the title game would be to leapfrog a one-loss SEC team. Iowa would benefit from Alabama losing to LSU and then either the Tide or the Tigers beating Florida in the SEC championship game. The Hawkeyes still might have a rough time winning the argument, but they'd have a better chance.
• Florida to struggle against Vanderbilt. I can't see the Gators losing this one, but they could pay a price if they don't obliterate the 'Dores. Close wins in the SEC seem to hold a lot more weight than close wins in the Big Ten this season, but struggling to beat Vanderbilt should carry a penalty.
• Cincinnati to lose or struggle to beat UConn. The Hawkeyes would like to get the Bearcats off their backs, especially given the national love affair with Brian Kelly's crew and the lack of respect given to Iowa. Cincinnati must be impressive every week to maintain its ranking, and a Saturday night showcase game provides the opportunity to strengthen or weaken its case.
• TCU to struggle with San Diego State. First-year coach Brady Hoke has done a nice job with the Aztecs, who host the undefeated Horned Frogs on Saturday. Maybe TCU looks ahead to its matchup against Utah and comes out flat against San Diego State. Much like Cincinnati and Boise State, TCU can't afford a lackluster win to maintain its ranking.
• Boise State to struggle with Louisiana Tech. Same argument as above. The Broncos need to crush their opponents every week because the WAC doesn't get much respect.
• Arizona and Wisconsin to beat Washington State and Indiana. Iowa beat the Wildcats and the Badgers, so it wants both teams to keep on winning.

Penn State should root for ...

• Northwestern to beat Iowa. The Lions need two Hawkeyes losses to head back to the Rose Bowl. If Penn State runs the table and the Hawkeyes stumble twice, the Lions win the Big Ten outright at 7-1.
• Navy to beat Notre Dame or keep things close. Notre Dame is the main obstacle to Penn State earning an at-large BCS berth. Now no bowl with bills to pay will select Boise State or TCU over an 11-1 Penn State team, but the Fighting Irish get the nod over just about anyone when they're BCS-eligible. Penn State needs Notre Dame to stumble two more times or fail to finish in the top 14 of the BCS standings. The Irish would pay the price if they struggle against Navy.
• San Diego State and Louisiana Tech to beat or stay close with TCU and Boise State. Like I said earlier, Penn State shouldn't have to worry about getting beat out for an at-large berth by a non-BCS team. But it wouldn't hurt to get either TCU or Boise State out of the picture.
• Arizona State to beat USC. The Trojans' Rose Bowl hopes took a huge blow last week against Oregon, but they could still be alive for an at-large berth. A third loss in Pac-10 play would virtually eliminate USC from BCS contention. Though Penn State travels a lot better than USC, the Trojans are still appealing to bowl reps.
• Texas to beat Central Florida. Penn State isn't in the national title hunt, so it would just as soon see only one Big 12 team reach a BCS bowl. The Lions should root for Texas to win out, which would prevent the Longhorns from entering the mix for an at-large berth.

Ohio State should root for ...

• Itself. The Buckeyes won't receive a BCS at-large berth with three losses, so they must win out and earn the Big Ten's automatic bid to the Rose Bowl.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett

Eight FBS teams call Ohio home, but only one program has been nationally relevant for decades. Ohio State is the state's premier program, having won 13 national championships and 33 Big Ten championships. It's produced seven Heisman Trophy winners.

But for the first time in recent memory, the Buckeyes face a legit challenger for the title of best in state. Cincinnati has surged under third-year coach Brian Kelly, winning the Big East last season and rising to No. 8 in the BCS standings, nine spots ahead of the Buckeyes, who already have two losses. While the teams don't meet again until 2012, the two programs have been compared a lot during the past few weeks.

Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg and Big East blogger Brian Bennett break down the debate in the Buckeye State.

Adam Rittenberg: We've already looked at Iowa-Cincinnati and Penn State-Pitt. Now let's get to a topic that has been debated for a while this season. A Cincinnati radio station even got into the act to mock Ohio State after the Buckeyes' loss to Purdue. What's your take on these two teams?

Brian Bennett: Adam, Cincinnati fans are getting a bit chesty after decades of playing the role of little brother in Ohio. Well, maybe more like little second cousin than little brother. Look, there's no question that the Buckeyes have a William Taft-sized edge on the Bearcats in history, tradition, resources and facilities. But college football is becoming a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately sport, and it's hard to argue against the fact that Cincinnati is having the better season this year.

	AP Photo/Jay LaPrete
	The Buckeyes have yet to figure out how to best utilize Terrelle Pryor’s skills.

Which team is better? That's debatable. But let me ask you this: If given the choice, would you rather have Terrelle Pryor, who looks ill-suited for Ohio State's system, or Tony Pike expertly running the spread? Or, for that matter, Bearcats backup Zach Collaros, who's a dual-threat guy himself?

Rittenberg: Cincinnati knows exactly who it is on offense, and the results show every time the Bearcats take the field. The system is bigger than any player, as Kelly can plug in just about anyone at quarterback and get tremendous results. Ohio State, meanwhile, hasn't established an offensive identity since Pryor became the starter. The Buckeyes keep experimenting with the spread, the pistol formation, a pro-style set, etc., as they try to mold the offense around Pryor. I wish they'd just pick something and stick with it, even if it's an option-based offense. I do think Pryor will get better over time. He's just so talented.

Ohio State's defense knows exactly who it is, and it's an extremely talented group. I know UC's offense is tremendous, but do the Bearcats face any defenses like Ohio State's in the Big East?

Bennett: Well, a couple of weeks ago, I might have said South Florida, but the Bulls have since been exposed. So it's true that at least so far, the Bearcats haven't faced any shutdown, stout defenses. The last time they did, in fact, was against Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, and that didn't work out so well.

	Joel Auerbach/US Presswire
	Brian Kelly’s offense has proven successful no matter who is at quarterback.

But I do think this is a better, more well-rounded offense than even last year. And if you can fairly ask if Cincinnati has seen a defense like Ohio State's, I can fairly counter by asking if the Buckeyes have faced anything as good as Kelly's offense. USC wasn't exactly airing it out. Purdue runs some spread and managed to beat Ohio State, and I think we'd both agree that the Boilermakers aren't quite in the Bearcats' class. And on the flip side, don't count out that Cincinnati defense, which statistically has been better than the one in Columbus.

Rittenberg: I can't believe you, Bennett. You're totally neglecting the mighty Toledo Rockets, the nation's 14th-ranked offense that managed to put up exactly zero points against Ohio State back on Sept. 19. I see how it is. Now that Cincinnati is highly ranked and competing for state bragging rights, you totally neglect the little guy. Jim Tressel wouldn't approve.

In all seriousness, no, Ohio State hasn't faced an offense that resembles Cincinnati's, though the Buckeyes really did a nice job against USC until the final drive. It's too bad Illinois never showed up this season, as the Illini could have given Ohio State a nice challenge. But Kelly's scheme would really test Ohio State, especially in the secondary. Kurt Coleman is one of the best safeties in the country, but corners Chimdi Chekwa and Devon Torrence would have their hands full. Ohio State's pass rush would need to be on point, but I have full faith in the Buckeyes' defensive line.

OK, Brian, you're on the spot. Who wins this game? And perhaps, more importantly, could Cincinnati win in Columbus? I don't think the Bearcats enter many environments nearly as hostile as The Shoe.

Bennett: Does this mean we have to debate Toledo vs. Akron next?

You know, if they played every year or even if they played 100 times this year, Ohio State would probably win the majority of them. But in a one-shot deal, this year, no matter where the game was played, I'd cast my lot with the Bearcats. Not only is this a really good team, but it's a team full of guys who grew up in Ohio but weren't considered good enough to play for the Buckeyes. Combine their talent with motivation, and I think that would be enough to change the state's power structure for one day, at least.

Who would you take?

Rittenberg: I agree the Bearcats would have no trouble getting up for this game. Cincinnati clearly has the better offense, but I don't think UC has seen a defense like Ohio State's. Keep in mind the Buckeyes play a similar style to Virginia Tech, which beat Cincinnati pretty handily in the Orange Bowl. Location also would make a difference. Cincinnati wins at Nippert, but I don't see the Buckeyes losing this game in Columbus.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Despite owning an 8-0 record against a very formidable schedule, Iowa is having a tough time convincing poll voters that it belongs in the national championship discussion.

The fourth-ranked Hawkeyes are having an even tougher time convincing themselves.

"Realistically, I still have a hard time picturing us in the top 10," head coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday.

Add that line to the growing list of brutally honest statements Ferentz has made about his team this season. He has called Iowa "not the prettiest car in the lot" on more than one occasion and often talks about the Hawkeyes' minuscule margin for error.

This attitude is nothing new for Ferentz, who told me way back in the spring, "Nobody's going to mistake us for Southern Cal." For the record, Iowa is ranked one spot ahead of USC in the latest BCS standings.

Given these statements from Ferentz, you can probably guess how he approaches the subject of style points, one of the tools voters use to differentiate top teams. Style points are simply not his style. And the same goes for his players.

"The way that [Ferentz] presents our team and the way that our mentality should be really trickles down through everybody," junior quarterback Ricky Stanzi said. "We're not trying to be the prettiest car or whatever metaphor you can use. We're just trying to win ballgames, if that means a close game or if we're able to get a big win.

"You have to be honest with yourself and know what kind of team you have and what hard work needs to go in to be successful."

Some coaches will downplay their teams in public and take a different approach behind closed doors. Not Ferentz.

"He says the same stuff to us," Stanzi said. "He tells it like it is. It's hard to win football games, he always says that. There's nothing easy about it, and a lot of work goes into it."

Added linebacker A.J. Edds: "It’s refreshing and it keeps you grounded to have a head coach, the guy in charge of the whole operation, be that honest."

Margin of victory doesn't factor into the BCS computer rankings, and that's a good thing for Iowa, which has won its games by an average of just 8.9 points. Texas, which ranks No. 3 in the standings, has an average victory margin of 28.3 points.

Average margin of victory for top 10 teams in BCS standings Team Avg margin Florida 25.1 Alabama 20.4 Texas 28.3 Iowa 8.9 USC 16.3 TCU 21.7 Boise State 25.9 Cincinnati 27 LSU 10.3 Oregon 17.3

The Hawkeyes have been the nation's most clutch team this season and seem to play their best with their backs against the wall. But they could certainly use a few convincing wins down the stretch, beginning Saturday against Indiana (ESPN, noon ET). The toughest part of Iowa's schedule is in the rearview mirror, and while there are no gimmes left, the Hawkeyes have a chance to fatten up a bit against Indiana, Northwestern and Minnesota.

Ferentz would never approach a game that way, and neither would his players, though they wouldn't mind a fourth quarter without much drama, if only to keep their blood pressure down.

When I asked Ferentz if he'd like a 21-point win right about now, he started laughing.

"That'd be really nice," he said. "That sounds like fantasy football. That's a big sport now, right? Fantasy football? That's what that sounds like to me."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

September is in the books, and we're already one-fourth of the way through the Big Ten regular season.

It's time to pass out awards for the month.

Team of the Month -- Iowa

Until last Saturday, Michigan would have been the pick, but the Hawkeyes put themselves right in the Big Ten title mix with a 21-10 victory against Penn State. After a shaky start against Northern Iowa, the Hawkeyes made steady progress in wins against Iowa State, Arizona and Penn State. Their ferocious defense allowed just 46 points all month.

Offensive MVP -- Michigan QB Tate Forcier

Without Forcier, the Wolverines would be 2-2 instead of 4-0. It's just that simple. The true freshman quarterback set the tone for an offensive resurgence against Western Michigan and saved the team by leading clutch touchdown drives against both Notre Dame and Indiana. He still needs to win on the road, but Forcier has passed every test so far. Minnesota wide receiver Eric Decker also deserves some love.

Defensive MVP -- Ohio State S Kurt Coleman

Several good candidates here, but Coleman has been huge for a Buckeyes defense that posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1996. The senior co-captain leads the league with three forced fumbles and has recorded 10 more solo tackles than any Ohio State player. He also has an interception. Iowa's Tyler Sash and Pat Angerer, Wisconsin's O'Brien Schofield and Indiana's Jammie Kirlew also merit mentions.

Surprise players -- Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien and Purdue RB Ralph Bolden


Tolzien's selection as the Badgers' starting quarterback raised some eyebrows at first, but he's made his coaches look like geniuses so far. The junior leads the Big Ten and ranks 13th nationally in pass efficiency (164.3 rating), as he has completed two-thirds of his pass attempts for eight touchdowns and only two interceptions. Bolden, an unheralded sophomore, led the nation in rushing through the first two weeks and still ranks seventh nationally at 122 yards per game.

Surprise team -- Michigan

Sure, the schedule set up well and a few calls went Michigan's way, but few expected a 4-0 start from a Wolverines team filled with youth and uncertainty. Throw in all the turmoil leading up to the season, and Michigan's start has been one of the biggest stories in college football. A lot of questions remain with this team, but Rich Rodriguez clearly has Michigan heading in the right direction again. Indiana also deserves some love here.

Biggest disappointment -- Illinois

For the second straight year, the Illini teased us with their talent and their highly rated recruits, only to fall flat against Missouri and Ohio State. There's still time to turn things around, but Illinois has been outscored 67-9 against FBS opponents and the heat is rising on head coach Ron Zook. Michigan State would be the pick here, but at least the Spartans have been competitive.

Hard-luck team -- Purdue

The Boilermakers would be at least 3-1 if not 4-0 had they limited mistakes in key areas. They outplayed a Jekyll-and-Hyde Oregon team at Autzen Stadium and had Notre Dame on the ropes last week before allowing a late touchdown. Purdue might be the best 1-3 team in the country, but that doesn't mean a whole lot.

Hard-luck player -- Northwestern QB Mike Kafka

Kafka leads the Big Ten and ranks 19th nationally in passing (262.3 ypg) and has completed a blistering 72.2 percent of his attempts this season. But two fourth-quarter turnovers have cost him two victories. Kafka needs to be better in the clutch, but he's played well enough to win. He needs some help from a veteran-laden defense that has failed to show up this season.

Best game -- Notre Dame at Michigan

Even if you hate these two programs -- and a lot of people do -- you had to admit their Sept. 12 clash in Ann Arbor was a ton of fun to watch. The game had several key momentum swings, controversy and plenty of drama at the end as Forcier led the winning drive, thanks in part to pass-happy Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis. Defense aficionados surely enjoyed Ohio State-USC and Iowa-Penn State as well.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

No James Laurinaitis? No Malcolm Jenkins? No problem for Ohio State's defense, which is showing that it reloads better than any single unit in the Big Ten year in and year out. The Buckeyes bullied USC's heralded offensive line during their Sept. 12 meeting and held the Trojans' offense in check most of the way. Ohio State followed up with a shutout of Toledo, which had scored 85 points in its first two games. Ohio State has risen to 24th nationally in points allowed (15 points per game) and 31st in total defense (288.3 yards per game).

	Aaron Josefczyk/Icon SMI
	Austin Spitler's part of an Ohio State defense that has risen to 31st nationally.

The unit faces a tough test Saturday against Illinois, which has its full complement of weapons back and comes off a bye week. Senior linebacker Austin Spitler checked in to discuss the Buckeyes' progress and the challenges ahead.

Everyone talked about who you guys lost from last year's team. For yourself and other guys who were around and who are now in major roles game after game, are you feeling more comfortable?

Austin Spitler: We knew after last year we were going to lose a lot of big-name guys. Our defensive motto -- the seniors came up with it -- is, "No blame, no names, no worries." We knew coming into it those guys were gone and people had to step up. Guys have really taken off with that.

Is the motto relating to how sometimes star players leave and people want to assign blame if there's a drop-off?

AS: Without a doubt. The seniors sat down with the coaches and decided that fit our thoughts.

What's your take on Illinois so far? They lost Arrelious Benn for their first game, didn't have Juice [Williams] for their second game. Are they hard to scout because they haven't been together yet?

AS: We have a lot of film on them. These guys on their offense have been around for a long time now, so we've played them in the past couple years and we understand they have a lot of talent. They've ran the ball on us the past couple years, so we want to try and make them one-dimensional. We have a huge test this week because of all the athletes they do have on that offense.

Do you even watch tape from the 2007 game?

AS: We watch the '07 tape as well because you've got to think they're going to come back to what worked in '07 when they beat us. That's our thought process.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The Ohio State Buckeyes are victims of a double standard, and they deserve better.

	Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
	Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and his Buckeyes are victims of a double standard.

Ohio State has seen its national approval rating steadily decline since the 2007 BCS national title game, the first of six consecutive losses against top 5 opponents. Much of the heat directed toward Columbus is warranted. Ohio State has disappointed the national media on the game's biggest stage several times, and despite a series of strong recruiting classes, the team has underachieved in several areas, namely along the offensive line.

But another national powerhouse deserves the same treatment. Another big-name has been just as disappointing in big games, if not worse. And yet that team continues to escape the hate. Meet the Oklahoma Sooners. They're apparently made out of Teflon.

Let's review some of the similarities between Ohio State and Oklahoma:

• Ohio State has a three-game losing streak in BCS bowls; Oklahoma has dropped five consecutive BCS bowls, including games in each of the last three seasons.
• Ohio State suffered two blowout losses in the national title game; Oklahoma fell to USC 55-19 in the 2005 Orange Bowl, which gave the Trojans the national championship. The Sooners also suffered a 20-point loss to a West Virginia team that had just lost its head coach in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. And they lost to non-BCS Boise State.
• Both teams have had Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks (Troy Smith and Sam Bradford) stumble in the national title game.
• Both teams have taken care of business in their leagues. Ohio State has won or shared the last four Big Ten titles. Oklahoma has won the last three Big 12 championships.

Despite the parallels, Ohio State continues to be the nation's piñata, while Big Game Bob Stoops and the Sooners get a pass. The latest example arrived Sunday, as Ohio State moved down two spots to No. 13 in the AP Poll, while Oklahoma moved up two spots to No. 10.

What happened Saturday? Ohio State pounded Toledo 38-0 in Cleveland, the same Rockets team that had embarrassed Big 12 member Colorado the previous week. Oklahoma crushed Tulsa 45-0, a very solid win without Bradford at the helm.

Still, I don't see much of a difference here. So why the shuffle in the polls?

Perhaps it's because USC, which beat Ohio State in Columbus on Sept. 12, lost to unranked Washington in Seattle. Meanwhile, a BYU team that beat Oklahoma in Dallas on Sept. 5 got utterly embarrassed on its home field by Florida State.

Explain to me how USC's loss, which came on the road with the backup quarterback (Aaron Corp) at the helm, should punish Ohio State, while BYU's loss, which came with the Cougars at full strength and on their home field, rewards Oklahoma.

It's ridiculous. And it needs to stop.

I don't vote in the AP Poll. For what it's worth, I have USC at No. 11, Ohio State at No. 12 and Oklahoma at No. 13 in my most recent ESPN.com power rankings.

People can pick on Ohio State until the Buckeyes win a big nonconference game. But Oklahoma deserves the exact same treatment.