ESPN College Football

SEC and Big 12 folks have been tweaking the Big Ten and Pac-12's love of the Rose Bowl of late. That made me grin because the primary motivation for those tweaks was jealousy.

Don't buy that assessment? Well, then what do you make of this: The SEC and Big 12 champions, starting in 2014 after the current BCS contract expires and we presumably adopt a four-team playoff, will meet annually in a prime time New Year's Day "bowl" game.

Unless, of course, the SEC and/or Big 12 champions are selected for the four-team playoff, which one is almost certain to be and both are likely to be.

But, if one or both is selected for the playoff, then, just like the Rose Bowl, a No. 2 team from both or either conference will be selected.

So the SEC and Big 12 have adopted the Rose Bowl model in its entirety. Other than the fact that they can't play in the Rose Bowl stadium as the sun goes down over the San Gabriel Mountains.

The location has not been set. The Sugar Bowl (SEC) and Fiesta Bowl (Big 12) already have a dog in this fight, but expect bids to come from Jerry Jones and his deluxe Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as well as a play from Atlanta.

By the way, the Rose Bowl jealousy stuff is mostly good-natured ribbing while I'm gaping at another sudden shift in college football's tectonic plates.

Folks, this stuff is amazing, and there's a stunning plot twist seemingly on a weekly basis -- Florida State to the Big 12? Notre Dame back in play?

The main take-away: This is a step closer to four power conferences, with the ACC and Big East finding their footing suddenly precarious.

And, if you want to worry, Pac-12 fans, it looks like the SEC and Big 12 are being far more aggressive -- read: expansionist -- as college football remakes itself. Keep in mind that the Pac-12 could have ended the Big 12 last September and become the first 16-team super-conference if Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech had made a jump.

Pac-12 presidents might end up regretting their decision not to expand -- and giving Oklahoma, in particular, the shaft. Newly enriched by a mega-TV deal, they might have lost track of the big picture while they were counting their money.

Commissioner Larry Scott has long held that further consolidation at the top of college football was inevitable. This is another example of him proving right, though this time without a blockbuster deal for Pac-12 folks to celebrate.

This latest news is a reason to get nervous. Or to just marvel at how quickly the game has changed.

When Oregon trudged off the Cowboys Stadium field after a 40-27 loss to LSU on Sept. 3, just about everyone counted them out. That was made real when they were poleaxed by pollsters, dropping from No. 3 to No. 13 and No. 14 in the AP and coaches' polls, respectively.

That will teach Oregon -- and anyone else -- to agree to a marquee nonconference matchup against an elite team that everyone wants to see!

Most turned away from the team with loud uniforms. Andrew Luck and Stanford were now the interesting team in the Pac-12, and Oklahoma, Alabama, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, Boise State, Florida State, Texas A&M and those LSU Tigers were the real contenders.

But teams, as they are wont to do in college football, started falling by the wayside, and the Ducks kept coming. It was quiet at first. Nevada bludgeoned a week after LSU; a pounding of Arizona on the road; California and Arizona State dispatched with prejudice.

And when Oregon gamboled off the field after a 53-30 victory over Stanford, just about everyone started counting them back in.

It made me recall that cool sequence at the beginning of Rocky III when Clubber Lang is, one by one, clubbering a sequence of foes on a bigger and bigger stage, and his dominance is attracting the worried attention of Rocky's manager Mickey.

And just as Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" ends, Clubber barks at Mickey, "I want Balboa! I want Balboa! You hear that, Old Man?"

Said Ducks running back De'Anthony Thomas after the game, "I feel like if we get another shot at [LSU] again, I feel like it will be a better game."

Not exactly the same sort of bravado, but LSU is more Ivan Drago than Rocky.

Oregon would like to play LSU again with an offensive line and defensive front seven that have jelled. It would like to play LSU again with a healthy LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner. It would like to play LSU without four turnovers, including two fumbles from Thomas.

It is a longshot to happen. And to be absolutely fair to how things went down in game one -- it sure as heck was as much about LSU's size and speed as turnovers -- and how good LSU has looked since then, my guess is few, including our friends who look at things without emotion in Las Vegas, would pick the Ducks to win a rematch.

It would, however, be interesting. Let's recall that the last offensive-minded evil genius to get a rematch in a national championship game against a defensive power -- Florida and Steve Spurrier in 1996 with Florida State -- won and won big.

If Oregon wins out impressively, and some dominoes fall here and there, maybe it will happen. It just won't happen today, this week or next. So let's bracket off the national title stuff.

And, as we look big picture, let's bracket off the potential endgame with L'Affair de Willie Lyles. I've talked to smart people who think Oregon may get hammered, and I've talked to smart people that think they won't. You never know with the NCAA, an institution where logic and fairness aren't always part of the process.

The big picture is this: Oregon is on the cusp of a third consecutive conference title. It's won 19 consecutive conference game, all but three by double-digits. If I were projecting coach Chip Kelly's record after his third season ends this January, I'd guess 34-5 (.875). Yes, I'm projecting a BCS bowl victory.

And Oregon will be a preseason top-five team in 2012 and will be the overwhelming favorites to win a fourth consecutive conference title, even if running back LaMichael James doesn't come back.

2013 looks like it will set up nicely, too.

Get the point? Oregon, barring a bomb from the NCAA, is set up for the long haul. It's on the cusp of becoming one of "those" programs. You know, where nine wins is viewed as a rebuilding year.

Of course, all the Ducks haters are barking about the lack of a Rose Bowl victory much less a national title. True. Snarky, but fair. That's why some of this hangs on the Ducks taking care of business in whatever January bowl they end up playing in.

Said Thomas, "I wouldn't want to play us."

Oh, there are lots of fans of lots of teams across the country that would have smart alec replies to that. That's the trash talking, message board, comments section face of college football.

But also know that plenty of measured, football-smart fans -- even LSU and Alabama fans -- watched the tour de force display against Stanford and thought to themselves, "I don't want to play them."

UCLA and Texas enjoyed their series so much they've decided to sign a new game contract and upgrade their venue.

The Bruins and Longhorns have agreed to play in Cowboys’ Stadium in 2014, the LA Times reported. The date has been tentatively set for Sept. 13, according to Chris Foster's story, which noted "The Bruins have a game against Virginia scheduled for that day, but the two schools will work out a change."

UCLA and Texas split a home-and-home series this season and last with both winning on the road. UCLA whipped Texas 34-12 in Austin in 2010, and the Longhorns whipped the Bruins 49-20 in the Rose Bowl this year.

Ten issues to consider heading into the fourth week of games.

Pressure Barkley: USC QB Matt Barkley comfortable in the pocket? That's not a good thing for a defense, particularly when he gets to find receiver Robert Woods. USC has allowed just two sacks this year, and Arizona State will be missing its best pass-rusher -- defensive end Junior Onyeali, who's out indefinitely with a knee injury -- so the Sun Devils might need to get creative with blitzes. You know, like they've done with linebacker Vontaze Burfict this year, see four sacks.

Foles on his own? Arizona QB Nick Foles is a heck of a player but he will not beat Oregon on his own. He needs help from the Pac-12's worst running game, its worst defense and an offensive line that has yielded seven sacks.

Washington D needs to step up: Arizona has the worst defense in terms of yards allowed in the conference, but the Huskies are the worst in terms of points surrendered: 36.7 ppg. And the Huskies are 11th in the conference in yards allowed, too. Coordinator Nick Holt is the conference's best paid defensive coordinator (without the last name "Kiffin," at least), and it was widely believed in the preseason that the Huskies had enough talent to be an A-list defense this fall. The early results have been terrible. A visit from California to start the Pac-12 schedule is a heck of an opportunity for Holt and the UW D to reverse their fortunes.

No slow start in the 'Shoe, Colorado: As pointed out by the Boulder Daily Camera: "The Buffs have been outscored 40-20 in the first half in the first three games and 14 of the Buffs' 20 first-half points came against [Colorado State]." It wouldn't be a good idea to fall behind early against Ohio State in the Horseshoe. For one, having lost 19 in a row on the road, it likely wouldn't help the Buffaloes' confidence. Second, Ohio State's grind-it-out offense is much better playing from ahead than playing from behind -- see below.

Brehaut takes over: Richard Brehaut has an opportunity to decisively win the UCLA QB job. He just needs to put up numbers in a victory at Oregon State. Most observers have long felt coach Rick Neuheisel has favored Kevin Prince in the Bruins' seemingly endless QB competition, but Neuheisel will favor the guy who gets him a W. Brehaut should have a chance against the Beavers' pass defense, which is the worst in the Pac-12.

Osweiler bounce back: ASU QB Brock Osweiler was lights out at home against Missouri but he struggled at Illinois. Now he's back home facing USC, which has beaten the Sun Devils 11 consecutive times. Osweiler needs to regain his Missouri form -- or at least approximate it -- in order for Arizona State to jump to the front of the Pac-12 South Division pecking order.

Ducks make statement: After losing to LSU in Cowboys Stadium, which inspired many national pundits to write Oregon off, the Ducks quietly rolled up a pair of dominant wins at home against inferior foes. But now Oregon opens the Pac-12 schedule on ESPN2 with a chance to make a statement: "We're still here." If the Ducks can match -- or eclipse -- Stanford's impressive 37-10 win in Tucson last weekend, they likely will hush some of the doubters.

Zach Maynard's first road test: The Cal QB has been solid in the Bears' first three games, but playing at Husky Stadium is not something he's done before, certainly not during his days as the starting QB at Buffalo. While the Huskies' defense has been vulnerable, it's also faced three experienced QBs. Expect the Huskies to throw a lot at Maynard, whose biggest weakness in the early going has been accuracy.

Colorado run D vs. Ohio State: Colorado ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in rushing defense, and it will surely gang up on the run at Ohio State. The Buckeyes had only 209 total yards at Miami last weekend, including 35 yards passing. The way to stop the Buckeyes' offense, who completed a dreadful 4 of 18 passes against the Hurricanes, is to force them to throw. Can the Buffs do that?

Mannion the man? While Oregon State redshirt freshman QB Sezan Mannion saw a lot of action in the first two games, this is his first official game as the Beavers' starter. He's going to get some help with receiver James Rodgers and tight end Joe Halahuni returning to action, but it will be up to Mannion to deliver the ball on time and in the right spot against UCLA.

Oregon coach Chip Kelly recently groused about how hard it is to get elite teams to sign a home-and-home series with his Ducks. While money, as it often is in college football, is an issue, the biggest reason is teams don't want to get their butts kicked. Kelly's crew has won 18 in a row at home, last losing to Boise State on Sept. 20, 2008.

So when you ask Kelly about what he's learned about his team during a pair of home blowouts after it lost to LSU in Cowboys Stadium, he doesn't make any sweeping pronouncements of newfound skill, confidence or maturity.

"We're a good team at home," he said. "What we've got to learn now is how do we play on the road?"

That's a fair point. Though Oregon has lost only five games over the past two-plus seasons, each has been outside the friendly confines of Autzen Stadium.

And the numbers show a decided difference, too. The Ducks averaged 59 points at home last season and 36.7 points on the road. They averaged 41.6 points at home in 2009 and 29.7 point on the road. On defense, the Ducks held foes to 14.8 points at home in 2010 and 22.0 points on the road. In 2009, it was 20.4 at home and 27.7 on the road.

Of course, every team is better at home, and the quality of the home and road schedules matter. But when your team is trying to join the super-elite, those are numbers coaches notice and point out to players. For example, Auburn last season played better defense on the road, and averaged 45.8 points at home and 36.3 points on the road. In 2009, Alabama averaged 32.7 points at home and 31.4 points on the road. Those are the last two national champions.

So Kelly wants his team to take its A-game -- its Autzen-game -- to Tucson to face reeling Arizona.

Speaking of the Wildcats, a lot has been made of their seven-game losing streak to FBS foes. No one likes a seven-game losing streak.

But some perspective, folks. Four of those games were against top seven-ranked foes, and a fifth was against an Oklahoma State squad that finished 2010 ranked 13th. The Ducks will be the Wildcats third top-10 opponent in three weeks.

"This has been a perfect storm and we've got to weather it," said Arizona coach Mike Stoops (a visit to No. 23 USC is next, by the way).

Further, Stoops is a defensive coach. His most infamous sideline frowns and gesticulations come when his defense is not doing what he wants it to do. And that's been happening a lot of late, seeing that his defense ranks 111th in the nation.

Oregon, by the way, will be bringing the nation's No. 6 offense, the third consecutive top-20 offense the Wildcats will have faced, which is also a good reason the defense has looked so lousy. You might be surprised, however, that the fiery Stoops has become philosophical, preaching the power of positive thinking and learning from adversity.

"You have to look at where it's exposing our weak areas, where we have to get better," he said.

Stoops then is probably noting his run game, which ranks 116th in the nation with an anemic 55.7 yards per game. The Ducks defensive weakness, at least thus far, has been against the run, see 214.3 yards per game, which ranks 11th in the Pac-12. So that's an interesting weakness-on-weakness matchup.

It's more likely, though, this one will come down to a showdown of strength on strength: Wildcats quarterback Nick Foles versus a good Oregon pass defense, which ranks No. 1 in the conference.

Kelly is a big fan of Foles.

"I think Nick is one of the top quarterbacks in the country, not only in this conference," he said. "I don't think he gets nearly enough credit."

Of course, we could have another barn burner. The last time the Ducks visited in 2009, they won a thrilling 44-41 decision in double-overtime, a game that it looked like the Wildcats had in the bag. Until they didn't.

"I remember Jeremiah Masoli just running around making plays," Stoops said. "He made some incredible plays down the stretch. We couldn't come up with that last play to win the game."

Oregon doesn't want that. It wants to come in a take care of business -- like Stanford did in Tucson last weekend -- and look like a team that shouldn't yet be written out of national title contention.

Stoops' team is just trying to weather the storm. But he sees "speed everywhere" with Oregon. And he knows no team brings an offensive maelstrom like the Ducks.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The weeks of hype -- and controversy -- are almost over. In 90 minutes, No. 3 Oregon and No. 4 LSU will start butting heads and we'll get some football answers instead of speculation.

Oregon's high-tempo, spread option offense will get another shot at a big-fast-mean "SEC defense." The Ducks will get an opportunity to end a pattern of struggling to move the ball against A-list defenses that get extra time to prepare.

What tweaks might have Chip Kelly come up with during his extra time to prepare? Are the Ducks going to be pass-first, as they were forced to be against Auburn. Or will the running game get going with LaMichael James, Kenyon Barner and true freshman De'Anthony Thomas?

Suspensions anyone? We'll see what LSU looks like without starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson and Russell Shepard, its best receiver. We'll see what the Oregon defense looks like without CB Cliff Harris, and -- most likely -- MLB Kiko Alonso.

Is LSU going to be conservative and rely on its defense and 223-pound running back Spencer Ware? Or will it let Jarrett Lee throw the ball around, thinking a Harris-less secondary isn't as worrisome?

What nutty things do the coaches have planned?

Just like Kelly isn't afraid to go for it on any fourth down or do an on-side kick to open a second half, Les Miles has never been one to shy away from trickeration. Miles, who's 23-0 in regular-season nonconference games, even succeeds when he makes major gaffes.

Miles, however, won't eat the grass at Cowboys Stadium. It's artificial. That would be gross.

While the superficial position is to compare the LSU and Auburn defenses, but that's not really accurate. LSU's is better and more talented at all three levels. Only it has two new starting DTs, not Nick Fairley disrupting things in the middle.

Still, the Tigers secondary is vastly superior to Auburn's. If the Ducks have no running game, it will be tougher going throwing it. And much more risky.

Further, the Ducks are breaking in two new offensive linemen, one of whom -- OG Ramsen Golpashin -- is a 275-pound former walk-on.

Oregon also is breaking in five new starters on its front-7 on defense, though the new guys have plenty of experience. The Ducks defense held up well versus its offense this spring and preseason. Most in green believe the defense will do fine.

After all, no SEC defense did a better job against Cam Newton and Auburn last year.

The stakes are simple: The winner immediately becomes a national title contender. The winner, in fact, might -- should -- move up to No. 1 in the major polls, which means it will have poll position in the title chase.

Things are quiet here at present. But that won't last 80,000 fans are going to pack this place -- a significant majority of them in LSU purple -- and the talk will end and the best season-opener in decades will start to provide some answers.

Nobody likes sounding relentlessly redundant, but if the story doesn't change the story doesn't change.

For all that Oregon has accomplished in two years under Chip Kelly, it has flopped against highly rated nonconference foes who have had extra time to prepare for the Ducks high-tempo, spread-option attack.

• In 2009, the Ducks opened at Boise State. While that game is most remembered for LaGarrette Blount's post-game meltdown in Kelly's debut, Boise State fans will be glad to remind you the Broncos held the Ducks to 31 yards rushing in a 19-8 victory.
• The Ducks righted themselves dramatically in 2009 and earned a berth opposite Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. But the Buckeyes held the Ducks to 260 yards in a 26-17 victory
• And, finally, in the national title game against Auburn, the Ducks only scored 19 points. They gained 449 yards but only 75 on the ground.

Those three games, against which there is little counter argument, other than the Ducks Pac-10 success, have inspired this sort of analysis: Oregon needs to get more physical.

If you have ever played football, you surely understand that when a football player has his physicality doubted, well, that's pretty galling.

Before all you Ducks get bent over this, keep in mind that Kelly has been a stand-up guy about this very point. In all three instances, he admitted the Ducks got beat at the point of attack. Further, during preseason camp, I asked running back LaMichael James about what went wrong against Auburn.

"Their defensive line was overpowering our offensive line," he said. "That was just the way it was."

How do you think this goes over with a Ducks offensive lineman? Department of "Truth Hurts."

Here's the good news: Oregon can end such talk on Saturday. All it has to do is take it to No. 4 LSU, a program as physically talented in terms of future NFL potential as any in the nation.

That's the micro-economic level of the super-cool-awesomeness of this marquee season-0pener in Cowboys Stadium.

Any one else curious to see what Kelly's got up his sleeve to counter LSU's extra prep time to school itself on the Ducks misdirection?

The macro-economic level is this: Pac-12 versus SEC. One game for a regular-season's worth of trash talking.

You might have heard the SEC has experienced some football success of late. On occasion, SEC fans will take a moment to remind you of it. There is a rumor, in fact, that five consecutive seasons have ended with a happy ending in some SEC outpost, the latest against the Pac-12's newest top-dog.

That would be Oregon.

To be honest, last January, I though Oregon was going to pound Auburn. I didn't think a two-player team -- no matter how good those two players were -- could beat the Kelly and the Ducks. The last time I had such a strong hunch about a game and was so completely wrong was when Washington pushed Miami around in 2000. (This is not to say I've had a long run of correct strong hunches about games before January. They just don't come by very often before marquee matchups).

Even if you throw out the stakes specific to Oregon and the Pac-12, this game has huge meaning nationally. The winner could -- should, in my mind -- rise to No. 1 in both major polls. Voters should reward the winner for showing the courage to play this game, which is great for college football at a time college football needs something great to distract fans from a stunning onslaught of scandals. A couple of which, rumor has it, might involve these two teams, territory we're choosing not to explore at this moment.

So if Oregon wins, it could rise to No. 1. If LSU has a successful season in the rugged SEC West, that win will grow in value. But even if LSU falters, the Ducks will be in position to play again for the national title if they keep winning.

Further, the odds aren't terrible that Oregon could arrive at Stanford on Nov. 12 and we find ourselves eyeballing two unbeaten teams. It could be a One-Two matchup even. At the worst, if the Ducks and Cardinal face each other without a blemish on either slate, it will be the biggest Pac-12 game in years (last year's game also matched unbeaten teams but was much earlier -- Oct. 2 -- in the season). If Stanford prevailed, it also could crow about beating the team that beat LSU and likely would play for the national title if it finished 12-0.

If Oregon loses to LSU, the Ducks could still have a great season. They could rally and perhaps get back into the national title hunt. And there's always the Rose Bowl, hardly a terrible destination. One nonconference game can't completely make or break a season.

But an Oregon victory would give the program a level of early-season gravitas it has never had. It would silence any remaining doubters, both of the Ducks and the Pac-12.

So, yes, you have heard correctly: This game is very, very big.

The coaches poll is out, and it makes clear the stakes will be huge when Oregon faces LSU in Cowboys Stadium on Sept. 3.

The Ducks, who lost the national title game to Auburn last January, are ranked No. 3. And LSU is No. 4.

Don't be surprised if the winner of that game leaps over No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 2 Alabama for the top spot in the poll.

Stanford also received plenty of respect from the coaches, ranking sixth, but no other Pac-12 team was in the top 25.

Arizona State just missed as the No. 1 team among the "others receiving votes," which translates to No. 26. The Sun Devils play No. 21 Missouri on Sept. 9, so they will have an early shot to move up.

Utah is 28th and Arizona is 32nd. Oregon State and Washington also received votes.

USC isn't eligible to receive votes in the coaches poll due to NCAA sanctions. The Trojans could be ranked in the AP poll.

Six of the 59 coaches casting votes are from the Pac-12: Colorado's Jon Embree, Oregon State's Mike Riley, Stanford's David Shaw, California's Jeff Tedford, Utah's Kyle Whittingham and Washington State's Paul Wulff.

Every season, certain games get circled in red pen. And because Pac-12 teams aren't fraidy-cats like many teams in other AQ conferences, some of those are nonconference games.

Such as Oregon facing LSU in Cowboys Stadium. That could be the national game of the year, pitting two teams expected to be ranked in the preseason top-five in the season opener.

Hard to beat that.

Of course, you might just get two more top-five teams starting nose-to-nose when the Ducks visit Stanford on Nov. 12. Oregon handed the Cardinal its only loss last year, and the Cardinal will be thinking about revenge. Oh, and the game will feature Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck and Oregon running back LaMichael James, so it might decide the Heisman Trophy, too.

Stanford plays two other potential marquee games. For one, it's developed a bit of a rivalry with USC. In 2009, coach Jim Harbaugh ran up the score on the Trojans in the Coliseum. Last season, the Cardinal broke the Trojans hearts with a last second field goal for a second consecutive victory. Might USC spoil a special Stanford season?

Stanford's final game also is of note: a visit from Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are always a draw, even when they are down. But coach Brian Kelly is expected to have them back up. And who knows what the stakes might be for the Cardinal?

Finally, the potential top two teams in the conference's south division meet on Sept. 24 when USC visits Arizona State. That's a measuring stick game for both programs. Are the Sun Devils for real? Is USC back? One or the other team figures to be ranked afterward.

What's your take?

Oregon coach Chip Kelly isn't thinking about LSU, the Ducks' marquee season opener in Cowboys Stadium. Nor is he fretting the recent headlines that connect his program to recruiting services and so-called "street agents" that are raising some NCAA eyebrows.

You know what his focus is on this spring? Guess. Correct. Kelly's focus is on "winning the day."

"I know I sound like a broken record," he said.

LSU is "not even on the radar." And potential distractions due to L'Affair de Willie Lyles?

"I've never brought it up once," Kelly said. "Our kids aren't distracted by anything you guys write."

There are personnel issues that Kelly is paying attention to, and these are much like the questions fans have.

"The lines. Leadership. We lost a lot of good leaders," he said. "Who's going to step up?"

The Ducks lost three of five starters on the offensive line and three of four on the D-line. There are also two linebackers, two receivers and a cornerback to replace.

Still, none of these voids seems terribly worrisome. There appear to be capable -- and in nearly every case experienced -- players ready to step into starting roles.

Tackle Mark Asper and guard Carson York are returning starters on the line, while Darrion Weems has plenty of starting experience. "After that, it's up in the air. We'll be unproven there in at least two spots," Kelly said.

On the defensive line, end Terrell Turner is the lone returning starter, but he'll also be the team's only starter out all spring with a leg injury. The Ducks, however, consistently played nine guys last year and six are back. Two new faces to watch are Isaac Remington, a JC transfer in 2010 who redshirted, and Jared Ebert, a JC transfer from 2011, who will participate in spring practices.

"We're confident with six of the guys we have coming back, now we've just got to find out who those other three guys are going to be," Kelly said.

While Casey Matthews and Spencer Paysinger are gone at linebacker, Josh Kaddu is back, as are Michael Clay, Boseko Lokombo and Dewitt Stuckey. Also, Kiko Alonso, who sat out last year with a knee injury, will almost certainly be in the mix.

Josh Huff and Lavasier Tuinei are two experienced returning receivers. Kelly said it was "up in the air" after that, but pointed to a strong recruiting haul that included four freshmen receivers.

The Ducks lost cornerback Talmadge Jackson, but senior Anthony Gildon, who owns nine career starts, is back, and there are plenty of intriguing youngsters who could challenge him for the starting spot. Kelly said he wants four corners who can play.

And Kelly emphasized returning starters won't get a free pass -- even stars will be pushed to get better. With quarterback Darron Thomas, it will be working on fundamentals -- his footwork, throwing motion, getting set quicker, etc. And running back LaMichael James needs to become more of a weapon in the passing game.

"No one has ever arrived," Kelly said.

As for leadership, Thomas and James are two leading candidates, but the Ducks had 16 captains last year. Kelly believes in leadership by committee, and he's not going to make stump speeches for guys to step up.

"That will happen by how it shakes itself out. You can't force that," he said. "Leadership should be shared. You've got 22 starters. It's the ultimate team sport. Sometimes it's tough to put that on the shoulders of one guy."

The blue turf is always a story. It's, er, different. But how much would anyone care if Boise State hadn't won 56 consecutive regular-season games on it? "College GameDay" wouldn't be setting up shop in front of Bronco Stadium on Saturday unless the team that plays on so-called Smurf Turf was really, really good. As in "No. 3 in the nation and might play for the national title" good.

A home-field advantage? Absolutely. Bronco Stadium ain't big -- capacity is officially 33,500 -- but it's darn loud. Still, Boise State beat Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl on green turf, and it beat TCU in the Fiesta Bowl in January on green turf, and the Broncos got the same positive result a few weeks back against Virginia Tech on green turf. Those last two victories were part of a 16-game winning streak, nine of which came on boring, ol' green grass.

The turf is blue, but the team is what leaves nearly every opponent green with envy. Or is it seeing red?

"They're darn good," said Oregon State coach Mike Riley, whose 24th-ranked squad will try to end the Broncos' home winning streak on Saturday. "They've got good players and they are extremely well coached. That's the biggest factor."

Nonetheless, Oregon State this week went to great lengths to give its players a feel for seeing blue underfoot. The school painted a practice field "reflex" blue and then dressed its scout team in the same color.

Riley said the decision was based as much on "fun" as strategy. And the Beavers' players don't seem to be too taken by the notion of a blue-turf mystique.

"The turf is blue and their jerseys are blue, but there’s 11 guys over there," linebacker Dwight Roberson said. "I don’t feel like the blue turf has to do with anything. It’s a field; you play football on it. For me, it’s nothing different than playing any other football game.”

More than a few coaches whose teams have struggled inside Bronco Stadium, however, have observed that the blue-on-blue effect does provide a competitive advantage, a notion Riley shares. His team was a victim during the winning streak, falling 42-14 in 2006 after jumping to an early 14-0 lead.

"I think it is an advantage for sure," he said. "Even watching them on film, it's hard to get numbers. It all blends together."

Boise State, a veteran group that welcomed back 22 of 24 starters from last year's unbeaten team, plays with such precision opponents can't afford to lose track of players morphing into the playing surface. So there's method to the madness of a blue practice field.

But the bigger issue is slowing down junior quarterback Kellen Moore, whose extraordinary efficiency has transformed him from lightly regarded recruit ignored by the Pac-10 into a leading Heisman Trophy candidate. His offensive line has yielded just one sack, and the Beavers' pass rush has been limp in the early going, recording just two sacks in two games.

Moore has shown little inclination to get rattled by pressure. The three-year starter has thrown just 14 interceptions in three seasons, 10 of which came as a freshman.

"This guy is the best at extending the play a little bit by moving in the pocket," Riley said. "He doesn't get sacked. It's beautiful quarterbacking."

Said cornerback James Dockery, "He just seems to make all the right decisions. He knows how to manage the game and win. He's a winner."

The Beavers will counter with sophomore Ryan Katz, who will be making his first "true" road start, considering the TCU game in Cowboys Stadium was considered a neutral field -- and, to be honest, was half-full and not terribly loud.

Katz has mostly avoided major mistakes (see four touchdown passes, no interceptions) but he's completing under 50 percent of his throws and is averaging just 151 yards passing per game. Yet Broncos coach Chris Petersen, who's 26-0 at home since taking over for Dan Hawkins in 2006, said he's been impressed with Katz on film.

"He's got some tremendous physical tools," he said. "He's going to be really, really good."

Katz's main assignment: Get the ball to the Rodgers brothers, running back Jacquizz and receiver James, and hope they find space in which to maneuver.

Boise State's defense held Virginia Tech to just 314 yards in its 33-30 victory. Meanwhile, its offense is averaging 516 per game, though much of that came in Game 2 against hapless Wyoming.

The Broncos are proficient and experienced on both sides of the ball. While some might dismiss them as a well-coached "system" team that thrives in a weak conference, Riley said he sees plenty of talent on game tape.

"Maybe they weren't five-star guys going in, but they're five-star guys going out," Riley said of Boise State's recruiting and development.

A college football nation will be divided on this one. Haters of the BCS system and fans of non-automatic qualifying programs -- though probably not TCU or Utah -- will be rooting hard for the Broncos. Fans from AQ conferences who want one fewer obstacle to the national title game or even a BCS bowl game will be rooting hard for the Beavers.

The Beavers absorbed the blue all week. To a man, they seem to think that the least of their worries is the color of the turf.

Said safety Lance Mitchell: "I think that’s more for 'GameDay' and the fans. We will practice on it, so if it helps us get prepared for it, that’s all good.”

Ten issues to consider heading into the fourth week of games.

1. Is Oregon's offense that good? Oregon ranks No. 1 in the nation in total offense and scoring offense. It ranks No. 2 in rushing offense. But the Ducks haven't played anyone with a defense as fast and as talented at Arizona State. Quarterback Darron Thomas withstood the atmosphere of Tennessee, but how will he do against a defense that can run with the Ducks?

2. Can Oregon State disrupt Kellen Moore's rhythm? Over the past 15 games, Oregon State has struggled to pressure the passer. Boise State does a great job protecting QB Kellen Moore, and Moore does a great job of getting rid of the ball quickly. Moore, a savvy quarterback who is very accurate, will pick the Beavers apart if he's not worried about getting hit. Gabe Miller? Stephen Paea? Blitzing LBs? Time to show your stuff.

3. Let down for Arizona? The party was HUGE in Tucson after the Wildcats beat No. 9 Iowa. But, as Mike Stoops observed, it doesn't mean much if they drop their Pac-10 opener. Perennial powers learn how to manage their emotions and play with the same focus and intensity every week. The Wildcats want to become a perennial power. Well, that means playing as well against Cal as they did vs. Iowa.

4. Texas run D vs. UCLA run O: Here's the surprising prediction of the week: UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince and the Bruins passing attack will awaken at Texas. The Bruins receivers are good, and Prince has thrown well before. The problem in the first three games was a lack of practice continuity because Prince was nursing injuries. But UCLA has to have balance to be successful. Texas boasts the nation's No. 1 run defense, but the Bruins have run well this year. If UCLA creates any run threat, Prince will have a much easier time making plays downfield in the passing game, particularly if the Longhorns put too much stock in game film from games one through three.

5. Luck on the big stage: Sure, Notre Dame is 1-2 and hasn't been a factor nationally for a while. But games at Notre Dame still include a national platform on NBC. And if Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck puts up big numbers against a struggling Fighting Irish defense, he'll start to create serious Heisman Trophy talk. And Stanford will formally announce its national relevance.

6. Cougs O-line vs. USC D-line: The Washington State offensive line has struggled, giving up 10 sacks in the first three games and failing to consistently open holes. USC"s front-seven is talented, particularly the defensive line, though the numbers haven't always supported that. If Cougars quarterback Jeff Tuel gets time, he can make plays. If USC is all over him, this will be another blowout defeat in Pullman.

7. No retreat for Threet: Arizona State quarterback Steven Threet's performance through the first three games, particularly his strong effort at Wisconsin, showed he's a Pac-10 quality quarterback, and the Sun Devils might be a factor in the conference. But he hasn't seen a defense with as much speed as Oregon. Ever. He's going to be chased at a faster rate, and the DBs are going to close on his throws at a faster rate. Can Threet and the ASU offense play fast enough to keep up and make plays?

8. Rodgers brothers get another shot on the big stage: Jacquizz and James Rodgers have put up decent numbers so far. And neither played poorly vs. TCU in the marquee opener at Cowboys Stadium. Still, these two All-Americans have a special opportunity on a national stage to make statements for themselves and the Beavers. If Jacquizz Rodgers can help the Beavers control the ball in the running game, and James Rodgers can make big plays in the passing game, there could be an upset on the blue turf.

9. Riley needs to play like a senior: Senior quarterbacks know how to play on the road. Senior quarterbacks know how to bounce back from adversity. Senior quarterbacks know how to lead a team that is down on itself. If Cal is going to notch the upset at Arizona, the likelihood is that Kevin Riley will set the tone early and turn in a strong performance.

10. Stanford's passing defense faces test: The big question for Stanford entering the season was pass defense. The early returns are outstanding: The Cardinal ranks No. 1 in the nation in pass defense. Notre Dame, however, is a far different animal than UCLA and Wake Forest. It is averaging 318 yards passing per game. Does Stanford really have an elite defense? We shall see.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- It's hard to explain how impressive the world's biggest video screen is. You know how some folks say, "You had to be there." Well, you have to be here to really understand its ... awesomeness.

Know how players like to watch themselves during games? Know how I mentioned the video screen? See where I'm going with this?

I'm guessing coach Mike Riley might have mentioned to his players not to get mesmerized by the screen. You know -- look up at yourself during a play. That sort of distraction might lead to a miscue.

Of course, some players say they look up to see if any defenders are behind or around them, so it can be an aid.

There are actually four screens. The two big ones face the sidelines. The smaller ones -- you know, normal sized -- face the endzones.

If you are watching at home, and you see a player looking up and to his right or left, he's checking out the big video screens.

That might prove harmless. Might mean nothing in the game. But it's definitely something different for these players to manage.

I'm sitting in the press box about to watch a live game, and I suspect most of my attention will be on the video screen ... its magnetism is just so ... magnetic.

Where's the remote, though, I want to check out the BYU-Washington game?

Wonder if that thing would fit in my living room.

Pressure? Pressure is your first career start at quarterback -- your first meaningful action, in fact -- coming against the nation's No. 6 team, one that's known for forcing quarterbacks to their backs, where they can look up at the lights and wonder if it's worth it to get up. And that pressure twists even tighter when it's not just a road game against that powerful foe, but it's also inside the palatial Cowboys Stadium, a$1.3 billion, look-at-me showcase of excess from Jerry Jones.

That's what Oregon State quarterback Ryan Katz will face on Saturday when his 24th-ranked Beavers try to take down a TCU team with 27 seniors -- tied for most in the nation -- including a fifth-year quarterback, Andy Dalton, who's triumph in 29 career games means his next victory will push him past the legendary Slingin' Sammy Baugh on the Horned Frogs list.

Katz spent his first game week answering redundant questions about whether he was excited or nervous -- nervous or excited -- about making his first start (answers: yes to excited, no to the other). While he clearly seems ready to be done with the hype portion of preparation, he diplomatically insists "it wasn't that bad."

"I'm just going to play it cool and stay focused," Katz said.

We shall see. The biggest difference between these two teams, who are similar in that they are consistently successful without ever signing nationally-touted recruiting classes, is quarterback. Dalton has thrown more than 1,000 career passes and could become a Heisman Trophy candidate. Katz at this point is all projection, though his powerful arm has elicited more than a few "yowzas" during practices.

The good news for Katz is he won't be facing end Jerry Hughes and linebacker Daryl Washington, 2009 All-Americans who were picked in the first two rounds of NFL draft. Dalton and the offense have often had their way during preseason practices, so perhaps the Horned Frogs defense will take a step back this fall.

"Well, a little bit of it has to do with our offense -- they've really got things going with a senior quarterback," TCU coach Gary Patterson said.

Patterson's most obvious strategy is to gang up on Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers and then blitz Katz relentlessly, daring the sophomore to maintain his poise and find an open guy. It would be fair to say that the Beavers -- aware of the obvious -- have thrown every blitz package they can think of at their offense in order to get them ready.

"We've got to stay poised to pick up the right guy and then physically do the job so our quarterback can function," coach Mike Riley said. "But there is no way we can play this game without some balance."

Which means Rodgers gets -- or creates -- space to run. Recall that he did that with great fanfare versus USC in 2008, gaining 186 yards against what is widely considered the best defense of the past decade.

But the other Rodgers -- receiver James Rodgers -- has a secret: Katz seems comfortable with pressure and is capable of punishing a blitzing defense.

"Now, he can throw the deep ball," James Rodgers said. "Whenever we do pressure periods, he gets rid of the ball fast. I think his confidence has really gotten high. It will be pick your poison. You want to stop the run and load up the box, we have a lot of guys at receiver who can make plays. And vice versa if you want to double-up on the receivers. We have a running back who can make plays."

Katz is surprisingly breezy when talking about what he might face.

"The quickest way to get a defense to stop blitzing is to convert some big plays," he said. "There are some really big spaces there when a defense blitzes. There are going to be a lot of open throws downfield, I think."

Those are the basic Xs and Os. But other numbers stack up against the Beavers. For one, TCU regularly takes foes from the marquee conferences to the woodshed. It's 13-3 in its past 16 games against BCS conference teams. Moreover, Oregon State rarely posts Septembers to remember. It won 28 games from 2006-2008, but it started all three seasons 2-3. In 2009, the Beavers went 8-5 after a 2-2 start.

The slow starts have long been a source of "what might have been?" in Corvallis. To cure the ailment, Riley increased the intensity during spring practices and fall camp. There was a lot more full-contact work (though star players, such as the Rodgers brothers and defensive tackle Stephen Paea often took the scrimmages off). Further, other than Katz, this is a veteran team. It shouldn't need a few games to find itself.

All the talk is at an end, though. Katz said he expects to feel some butterflies when he first takes the field and early in the game. And he knows that TCU's vaunted defense is eyeballing him with all sorts of bad intentions.

"We just need to weather the storm and get past those first few plays," he said. "It's Cowboys Stadium, but after that first play, it just becomes football."

And it seems the Beavers coaches and players feel pretty confident that Katz will be just fine handling the football part of the evening.

Most preseason rankings of the BCS conferences will dump the Pac-10 into fourth or fifth place. Even the Pac-10 blog did that a month ago.

How does the Pac-10 improve its position in this highly subjective pecking order? That's easy: 1. Win big nonconference games; 2. Earn two BCS bowl berths and win 'em both; 3. Or, failing that, just do well during the bowl season.

Obviously, we'll have plenty of time to look at the bowls. But let's start with the regular-season nonconference game. Here are six that could improve the Pac-10's national perception.

(Oh, and by the way, you are correct in guessing that no other BCS conference in the nation plays five top-11 teams in its nonconference schedule).

Oregon State vs. TCU, Sept. 4: TCU welcomes back 18 starters from a team that went 12-1 in 2009, losing the Fiesta Bowl to Boise State. The Horned Frogs figure to be ranked in the preseason top 10, perhaps even the top five. Further, the game will be played in Cowboys Stadium, meaning it will seem like even more of a home game for TCU than if it were played at TCU (Amon G. Carter Stadium only seats 44,000). The Beavers, meanwhile, are notoriously slow starters -- see at least two losses each September since 2004. Moreover, they will be breaking in a new quarterback -- sophomore Ryan Katz -- on the road. Still, this is a veteran Oregon State team, and the Rodgers brothers will stress the Horned Frogs defense. An upset is not inconceivable, and it certainly would start the Pac-10's 2010 campaign on a high note.

Oregon at Tennessee, Sept. 11: Oregon should -- needs to -- win this game. The Ducks are more talented and more experienced. The Volunteers are rebuilding. But style points matter. Sure, winning is winning, even more so when a team is on the road, particularly when it's crossing multiple time zones. But if the Oregon spread-option attack runs over, around and through an SEC defense, while shutting down an SEC "offense" (we use the term loosely), and wins big, it will send a statement, not the least of which is that this team can thrive without quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. And, of course, the Pac-10's decade-long pattern of success against the SEC then would continue for another season.

Iowa at Arizona, Sept. 18: One gets the feeling that the Wildcats didn't earn Iowa's respect during a 27-17 loss last year. The Wildcats' offense was listless -- you might recall this is the game when quarterback Nick Foles came off the bench to take over the starting job -- and the defense was mostly mediocre. Heading into the fall, Arizona has significant questions on defense, while the Hawkeyes figure to rank in the top 15. Most of their fans are penciling this one in as a victory. But the Wildcats are a different team at home playing in front of the 'Zona Zoo. It figures to be a toasty evening, and if Foles and the offense get hot, it could be a chance for an upset.

Arizona State at Wisconsin, Sept. 18: Wisconsin might be the top challenger to Ohio State in the Big Ten this year. It welcomes back 18 starters, including 10 on offense. Typically, the Badgers' offense is described as "physical," which might be construed as a code word for "plodding." No longer. They are, yes, physical, but now there are some athletes surrounding quarterback Scott Tolzien, most particularly running back John Clay. This will be a great test for an Arizona State defense that believes it will rank among the nation's best. Of course, the Sun Devils will have to score to win. For an upset to happen, a rejiggered offense and new starting QB will have to step up.

Nebraska at Washington, Sept. 18: The Cornhuskers are another team that likely will be ranked in the preseason top 10. Most have already penciled them into the final Big 12 championship game opposite Texas or Oklahoma. They welcome back 18 starters, including eight from what could be the nation's best defense. If the Huskies manage to start 2-0, this could be a red-letter game for the program as well as for quarterback Jake Locker's Heisman hopes. Husky Stadium was once a fearsome place to play. Might Huskies fans, won over by coach Steve Sarkisian, be regaining their mojo? Some of us old timers remember a highly rated Miami team swaggering into Seattle in 2000 and getting manhandled by the Huskies, who went on to finish 11-1 and win the Rose Bowl.

UCLA at Texas, Sept. 25: Fair to say the Bruins' chances at Texas are remote. The Longhorns, a certain top-five team, played for the national title last season and are looking to do so again in 2010. UCLA is taking baby steps forward under Rick Neuheisel, but the Bruins' offense is a huge question mark. Of course, an unheralded UCLA squad did once before play at Texas, and in 1997 the Bruins walked away 66-3 winners over the No. 11 Longhorns. (The following year Texas redeemed itself by only losing 49-31 to the Bruins in the Rose Bowl). Still, what seems most important here is for UCLA to put on a competitive show. That could provide some confidence heading into the meat of the Pac-10 schedule.