Tim Griffin

  (11:31 AM)

Guys: I'm here. The line through security was longer than usual and I made it with about a minute to spare. Fire away when ready ...

Wes, (Missouri)

Do you see both Colorado(@FSU) and Nebraska(vs VaTech) staying undefeated this week?

Tim Griffin

  (11:33 AM)

Wes: I'll go with one of them. I think Nebraska will have just enough to claim a really tight victory over Va. Tech. Colorado is a different story. With the Seminoles getting back the starters on defense, I think they win. Even as offensively challenged as the game might be. How about 17-14? But I do think there's a good chance that Oklahoma State, Nebraska and Colorado all are playing this week to be rated in the top 25. If they win, I think they are in when the polls are released on Sunday.

Brett (Texas)

My original dream championship matchup was USC v. either Oklahoma, Georgia or Florida. With SC out of the picture doesn't it basically come down to a SEC v. Big 12 matchup even if both schools would have a loss each?

Tim Griffin

  (11:35 AM)

Brett: It would seem that way, although what happens if Wisconsin runs the table or Wake Forest? That being said, I still think the SEC and Big 12 champs are in the driver's seat today. Although I think both conferences could be so powerful that it's problematic that any undefeated team comes from either conference.

John (Detroit)

With USC losing last night, can we please have a moratorium on if "Teams A, B & C all go unbeaten, who gets left out" talk since IT'S STILL SEPTEMBER! I'm looking at you, SEC honks.

Tim Griffin

  (11:36 AM)

John: Great point. I answered that question on several radio shows and countless e-mails this week. Please. It's only September. Let's let the season play out.

Josh (college park)

What's the chances of Maryland going to Death Valley and beating Clemson this weekend? Do you think the Franklin's offense has turn the corner

Tim Griffin

  (11:37 AM)

Josh: Don't like the Terrapins' chances on Saturday. The offense is getting better, but it's still a tall order to win in Death Valley.

guillermo (Fresno State)

Hello Griffin, do you think fresno state still has a chance at a bcs bowl?

Tim Griffin

  (11:37 AM)

Guillermo: Probably not. I think the loss will stick with them, particularly if a Mountain West team emerges in front of them.

Matt (Oklahoma)

Tim- Does OU have to beat TCU by a large margin to gain the #1 ranking? Assuming Georgia beats Bama.

Tim Griffin

  (11:38 AM)

Matt: That's the great thing about college football is you have to show up every week. I'm heading into Saturday with an open mind. Whichever team looks most impressive, I'm voting as my No. 1 team. I'll be curious as to what some of my fellow pollsters will do.

Carlos (Seattle, WA)

Hey Tim, so I guess that Penn State win over Oregon St. doesn't look that bad after all does it? I know there is a lot of football to be played, but the win looks pretty to me

Tim Griffin

  (11:39 AM)

Carlos: Most definitely. I saw the Nittany Lions in their bowl game last season and thought they might surprise some people this season. No surprise for me - yet. They are pretty good.

Ian (Austin)

Tim, what's your over/under on total yards for the Texas Tech - OSU game. . .I know it's a long time from now but let's go ahead and get excited. I'm a man, I'm 23!

Tim Griffin

  (11:40 AM)

Ian: I'm excited about that game and have seen several of the games between Tech and OSU. A very underrated rivalry. How about 1,200 yards?

joe (new orleans)

USC is out of the top spot. An LSU win in the Swamp in a few weeks should vault the Tigers to #1 over anybody because it would give them TWO wins over top 10 teams on the road this season. No other team would have that kind of resume to this point. Agree?

Tim Griffin

  (11:42 AM)

Joe: To what point of the season. I still think that any team that navigates the Big 12 undefeated will have a legitimate claim to No. 1 and I'm not a homer when I say that. Same for the SEC. But saying ti and doing it are two different stories. Do you think anybody can do it?

Brandon ( Frankfort )

I think this just shows how good the SEC really is. Its going to come down to who ever wins the SEC Championship who wins the national championship. I Predict that Oklahoma will end up getting upset somewhere down the road and they will not make the national champioship.

Tim Griffin

  (11:44 AM)

Brandon: Welcome to the chat. I saw a football game if you are in Germany once in your city. I saw Mike Riley - now the hottest coach in America after last night's victory - beat the Frankfort Galaxy back in 1992. And as to your prediction, I don't know. I still think the champions of the Big 12 and the SEC look like they have the best chance of coming to Miami for the championship today.l And I think it might be tough to expect any team to navigate through either conference undefeated.

Andre (Provo, UT)

the whole college football season is like a playoff, to me it seems that the teams with the best chances to run the table are from the WAC or MWC, if they do, how are their chances to play in the National Championship game?

Tim Griffin

  (11:47 AM)

Andre: I agree with your point. It is like a playoff, which is the reason that college football is the best sport there is. Every game legitimately means something. You have a playoff and it's not the case. But instead, people across the country were glued to their sets for a Thursday night game from Corvallis, Ore. Is this a great sport, or what? But to your point about a WAC or an MWC team making a national championship game, I think is still a long shot. Can't see that happening any time a team from a non-BCS team is compared against a BCS team. It's not fair, but the computers won't let it pass the test. The only way I see that happening is if there's an undefeated WAC or MWC team and only a bunch of two-loss teams out there.

Drew (Detroit)

Tim, what happens first... Javon Ringer rushes for 2000 yards or Javon Ringer gets injured?

Tim Griffin

  (11:48 AM)

Drew if he keeps carrying the ball 45 or 50 times a game, I'll take the injury. He's making me think of the glory days of Lorenzo White with all of those carries.

J, Vanderbilt University

What do you think of Vanderbilt and the way they have played thus far. And how does Penn State look now that Oregon State beat USC and Penn State demolished Oregon State? Thanks.

Tim Griffin

  (11:49 AM)

J: Love the whole story of Vanderbilt. My colleague Chris Low tells me they are legit. I'd love to see the Commodores make a bowl trip this season. If that happens Bobby Johnson should be the national coach of the year. And Penn State is looking a lot better after beating Oregon State, no doubt.

Tim (Athens)

UTEP has more players in the NFL right now than Missouri, Texas Tech, and Kansas. Please explain why the Big 12 is getting all this love, when their top teams arent even as talented as a team like UTEP.

Tim Griffin

  (11:51 AM)

Tim: The number of NFL players doesn't judge how good a program is. It does say you have pretty good talent. I think Texas' visit to the Sun Bowl a couple of weeks ago is a pretty good indicator of UTEP's standing against the Big 12. Or the Miners' game against a Buffalo team that was tuned last week by Missouri.

C. One (Spur, Texas)

Tim...Does Mike Sherman stick with Jerrod Johnson (only fourth guy in A&M history to throw 3 TD passes in consecutive games) or does he go back to Stephen McGee

Tim Griffin

  (11:52 AM)

C.One: Great questions. I wrote about Sherman's tough decision. Does he go with the experience of McGee, or the promise of Johnson. Tough call, but I'm betting we'll see both of them play tomorrow at Army. And he'll likely stick with the hot hand.

Adrian (Baton Rouge)

Can the NCAA make it mandatory to have a championship game?

Tim Griffin

  (11:53 AM)

Adrian: They do, it's called the BCS title game. I'm joking, but I can see little way the big conferences will ever let the NCAA get involved in a championship playoff. They've set up their own neat cartel of all the conferences. No need to cut the NCAA in on all the money, I'm sure the big boys are thinking.

Dave (Austin)

True or false: OU could win the Red River Shootout and still lose the Big 12 south?

Tim Griffin

  (11:55 AM)

Dave: True, if Ruffin McNeill's defense keeps improving and the Tech running game is as legit as it appears. But like always, the winner of the Texas-OU game gets the inside track to the South Division title. No other Big 12 South team has played in a title game since Bob Stoops arrived in 1999.

Michael Reed, Cookeville TN

Do you see USC staying above the loser of the UGA/Alabama contest? Barring a complete blowout.

Tim Griffin

  (11:56 AM)

Michael: That will be interesting to see. I've already heard some national spin about the way the Trojans came back to make a game out of it. But I think it might be hard. I'm betting if it's a tight game that the Auburn-Georgia loser is ahead of USC come Saturday night.

Jacob, Houston Texas

I am glad that USC and Ohio State both have lost. Give two other conferences with much better teams (Big 12 and SEC)a chance at the national title game. I and the rest of America are tired of everyone being so big on USC and OSU! Is time for a Big 12 vs SEC matchup.

Tim Griffin

  (11:57 AM)

Jacob: Something tells me you'll never get on the Rose Bowl's Christmas list with comments like that. But it would be interesting to see a Big 12 vs. SEC game this season. They appear to be the best two conferences.

Zach (Indianapolis)

This argument against a playoff by saying "the regular season is a playoff" is preposterous for two reasons. First: Ohio State lost AT HOME to Illinois, a good, but not great team, and STILL went to the championship game. I have never heard of a playoff system that allowed you to lose a home playoff game and still win the championship. Absurd. Second, at the same time, you are saying a MWC team can go undefeated and not sniff the title game. I have also never heard of a playoff system where a team does not lose a game, yet does not win the title! The "season as a playoff" argument simply does not hold water.

Tim Griffin

  (12:00 PM)

Zach: I respectfully disagree. If there was an eight-team playoff, the ninth team would be griping. If there were 16 teams, 17 and 18 would be similarly upset. I think what we've got now is the best of all worlds. Games in September and October are meaningful legit games for the national championship. Is it the same way with December college basketball games - even those between two top powers?

Tim Griffin

  (12:01 PM)

Loyal readers, sorry I have to run. My group is boarding and it's time to get to Oklahoma City. Enjoy the games tomorrow and we'll talk next week.