ESPN

Pat Forde

  (2:01 PM)

Bring it!

Bobby, (Lafayette LA)

What if:-Tech wins out and wins Big XII Title game-Florida loses against Florida State-Alabama loses to Auburn, or loses to Florida in SEC CG-Tech and Texas finish #1/#2 in final BCS pollsCan you have a national championship featuring two teams from the same DIVISION of the same conference??

Pat Forde

  (2:02 PM)

Bobby: Yeah, it's possible. Crazy, but possible. And if there's one game I wouldn't mind seeing a rematch of, it's the best game of the season so far.

Sylvain (Calgary)

Hey Pat I can always count on you to answer a good question...If the Sugar bowl has first pick in the at-large pool do they select the loser of the bama/florida game to play USC?

Pat Forde

  (2:07 PM)

Sylvain: That's only if Oregon State wins out and takes the Pac-10 Rose Bowl bid. But if the Beavers do that, then yeah, USC is automatically the hottest at-large prospect in the country -- unless the Trojans somehow lose a couple late games. (Not likely. At 11-1 everyone would want them.)

Brad (Mount Pleasant,MI)

Pat-Heard you were in Mount Pleasant last night? Was it true and did you enjoy your time? After the season is over should I worry about Butch Jones getting some phone calls from other programs?

Pat Forde

  (2:08 PM)

Brad: No truth to the rumor, but I might be in Muncie next week for Ball State-WMU. Very good game last night, though. Both teams impressed me. I'd say Butch Jones could get a call or two, but we'll have to see which way the dominoes fall at bigger jobs first. He could be a Cincinnati-type hire if Brian Kelly leaves, though I'm sure CMU is not terribly interested in being Cincy's farm team for coaches.

Matt (Houston, Tx)

4D,Tech or OU...who are you picking this weekend? And if it's OU, who would you pick to represent the Big 12 South in KC?

Pat Forde

  (2:09 PM)

Matt: I am picking OU, by a little, in a shootout. And in that instance, Texas would be my pick to represent the South in KC. By a little.

Steph(anie)(Cincy)

Pat, please please explain why you simply cannot write a column that doesn't slam the Ohio State or Jim Tressel. Did an OSU cheerleader break up with you back in the day?

Pat Forde

  (2:10 PM)

Steph(anie): Pretty sure I've written several hundred columns without slamming the Ohio State or Tressel. And no, I've never been dumped by an OSU cheerleader, or even by Brutus Buckeye. But that "the" Ohio State thing -- it's part of the reason why the rest of the world finds Ohio State JUST A BIT pretentious.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Pat, do you think Boise St. and Utah should get BCS bids if they win out? We all know one (Utah) will most likely get invited.

Pat Forde

  (2:12 PM)

Will: The teams Boise has played to date have a cumulative losing record, so it's hard for me to get behind the Broncos for a BCS bowl. I love their program and love Chris Petersen as a coach, but you've got to beat some quality teams. True, there are remaining games against Nevada and Fresno that will help Boise's case, but their record is not anywhere near as impressive as Utah's in my book.

Chris (Portland, OR)

Hi Pat. If BYU beats Utah and Nevada beats Boise State, any chance a one loss BYU team ends up in a BCS bowl?

Pat Forde

  (2:13 PM)

Chris: Doubtful. That one loss was a dump-trucking from TCU, and that can't be overlooked. Especially in light of a lack of BYU quality wins so far.

James (Worthington, Ohio)

Do you know you were voted No. 4 Buckeye Hater by 1460-AM in Columbus? Congratulations.

Pat Forde

  (2:13 PM)

James: Thank you, I hadn't heard. Who were Nos. 1-3?

Matt (H-Town)

Pat, What direction would you take if you were in control at Tennessee?

Pat Forde

  (2:15 PM)

Matt: I like the direction they're looking at right now -- someone who is a high-charisma salesman sort. You need a coach who can go recruit in the backyards of Meyer, Richt, Saban and Butch Davis and come out with players, because Tennessee itself does not put out enough high-caliber guys to win big in the SEC. That's why you hear names like Brian Kelly and Tim Brewster. But I spoke to someone close to the situation last night who said there is quite a ways to go yet in that search.

Larry (Glendale, CA)

Are you an AP voter? If not, would you like to become one?

Pat Forde

  (2:16 PM)

Larry: I am not. Have been in the past, but ESPN gets one national vote and I believe that belongs to Chris Fowler right now. It's fun, challenging and more important than it should be -- but that's changed now that AP is no longer part of the BCS equation.

Greg (Champaign, IL)

Do you see any other major upsets this season?

Pat Forde

  (2:18 PM)

Greg: Get back to class, son. But yeah, something tells me there is one more jarring plot twist to come. Could be Auburn over Bama, FSU over Florida, Missouri winning the Big 12 ... I just have a feeling we're not going to glide through these last three weeks without some upheaval.

Darril (Dover, NH)

I have heard that John L. Smith might be a candidate for the Wyoming position - do you think Glenn is gone? If not, do you see Smith going back to Utah State or even being looked at in New Mexico?

Pat Forde

  (2:19 PM)

Darril: Yes, I believe Glenn is gone -- although, honestly, I thought that might already have been announced by now. So maybe beating Tennessee changed some minds -- not that it should, given how bad Tennessee is, but still. Anyway, yes: I think John L could be the leading candidate at Wyoming or, as Plan B, at Utah State. And I believe he'd do well at either.

Stephen (Knoxville, TN)

Pat who do you like to win the Apple Cup this weekend?

Pat Forde

  (2:20 PM)

Stephen: I like the Rainier Beach High School JV team to beat either the Huskies or Cougars. Worst Apple Cup of all time, but macabrely fascinating.

Allen (houston)

common man, if ou were to win out, against #2 TT and #13 OSU at boone pickens, they should be the south representative. dont give me the UT beat OU card, because with a three way tie, head to head should be thrown out the window. also, if OU and UT played again, OU would beat them soundly

Pat Forde

  (2:22 PM)

Allen: No, no, no. You cannot throw out head to head when all three teams have identical records. Head to head matters -- and Texas would be the only one of the three to win a non-home game against the other two. By double digits. Also: don't give me that "if they played again" dance. They don't play again. That game counted. Texas won.

Roy (Columbia, MO)

What bowl does Missouri end up in? And, who do they play?

Pat Forde

  (2:23 PM)

Roy: I can see Mizzou in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. The Tigers would be overqualified for it, but the glut of teams from the South would bump them down there -- and being overqualified didn't hurt the Tigers' bowl performance last year. Opponent: maybe Cal? Oregon?

Steve (Dallas, TX)

Pat, I am excited to see the Big East matchup in Cincinnati and Pitt; do you think Cincy has enough to beat Pitt and potentially win a BCS game?

Pat Forde

  (2:25 PM)

Steve: Should be a great game. In fact, if I weren't going to Norman, here would be my plan for this Saturday: Catch Michigan-Ohio State at noon in Columbus, then drive to Cincy for Pitt-Cincy at night. I am hugely impressed by Cincy's resilience in the face of all the QB injuries. Playing at home, I'll take the Bearcats.

Bob (Georgia Tech)

Who wins? Georgia tech or Miami?

Pat Forde

  (2:27 PM)

Bob: Home teams have dominated the weeknight games, but I honestly think Miami is the better (and certainly hotter) team. I'm surprised to see the Jackets are favored -- if I did see that correctly.

Joe Gunn (Oxford, MS)

What is your take on the Ole Miss @ LSU game this weekend?

Pat Forde

  (2:29 PM)

Joe: You were a good little RB in your day. I know Houston Nutt has made life hard on LSU in recent past, and I think he will again. Wouldn't be shocked to see an Ole Miss victory, unless that humongous fourth quarter rally last week serves as a catalyst for LSU to play at a higher level than it has in several weeks.

Hunter (Tennessee)

4d: The hell with football on this one, most attractive dashette of all time?

Pat Forde

  (2:30 PM)

Hunter: Adriana Lima. In a walk.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Mr. Forde: Which five games would you classify as the best you've seen thus far this season?

Pat Forde

  (2:33 PM)

J.B.: Great question. Let's say seen in any venue, TV included. 1. Texas-Texas Tech; 2. Texas-Oklahoma; 3. North Carolina-Miami (seriously, it was a helluva game, dramatic and very intensely fought); 4. Alabama-LSU (great scene, went into OT); 5. Tennessee-UCLA (neither team is any good, but it was very exciting and had several plot twists).

Bryan (Huntsville, AL)

I keep hearing Bill Cowher mentioned for the Tennessee job. Any truth to this?

Pat Forde

  (2:33 PM)

Bryan: No way.

Michael (phx)

4D, give me your top 3 candidates for COY???

Pat Forde

  (2:34 PM)

michael: Tough question, I'm sure I'll leave someone out doing this off the top of my head. But ... 1. Nick Saban 2. Mike Leach 3. Brady Hoke

Alexa (Gainesville, FL)

Why isn't Percy Harvin getting more Heisman love? He is the best player in the country IMO right there with Crabtree.

Pat Forde

  (2:37 PM)

Alexa: Percy is playing great right now -- but he hasn't all season. he was slowed early by a heel injury and doesn't even have 1,000 yards rushing/receiving combined. Not a candidate.

Beau- Chicago

Pat, I think I am starting to notice a trend with you. You spike up interest in your columns and chats by negatively reporting on certain teams. Primarily Notre Dame and OSU! You are so quick to point out the shortcomings of Weis and company, but fail to ever criticize the Willingham's of the world! Why is that?

Pat Forde

  (2:38 PM)

Beau: Um, I'm pretty sure I said Ty deserved to be fired at Washington. Said it twice. I'm not trying to spike up interest by saying I think Charlie Weis is the most overpaid coach in America, and perhaps in American history.

Blake (abilene, TX)

Pat, Texas started the year off ranked good because of their Name. On paper I do not think anyone gave them a chance. Does this justify putting Mack Brown on theCOY lis?

Pat Forde

  (2:39 PM)

Blake: Yes, Mack belongs in the discussion. I thought (and wrote) that this would be the year Texas did not win 10 games. Wrong-o. Mack has done one of his best jobs this season.

Matt (Georgia)

Who is the best freshman QB, RB, WR in college football right now?

Pat Forde

  (2:40 PM)

Matt: Straight from the elbows here, but I'll take Kellen Moore (Boise) at QB; Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State) at RB; and Julio Jones (Alabama) at WR. Probably overlooking someone, but that's gut reaction.

David (Dallas, TX)

4D...love your column...think it is original and refreshing angle to approach things from. What were your feelings on Mack Brown and DeLoss Dodds stepping up and naming a successor in Will Muschamp? Were you as a member of the media surprised and do you see them as trend setters where we might start seeing this at other high profile places?

Pat Forde

  (2:42 PM)

David: I was surprised to see it, yes. And honestly, I have yet to see a successor agreement that has actually happened/succeeded. So I'll wait and see. But I think it's a savvy move by Texas, which clearly must believe Muschamp is the real deal after one year on staff. I think he's a future star, but he's going to have to tone down the sideline ferocity when he's a head coach. You cannot be a slobbering maniac in that position.

Jake (Honolulu, HI)

Hey Forde, Since it's the name of your weekly posting, what's your 40-yard dash time?

Pat Forde

  (2:42 PM)

Jake: 4.41, in house slippers. Used to be sub-4.4, but I'm gettin old.

Miller, Iowa

Pat, if Shonn Greene has another good day, do you see him being a Heisman finalist? If not, why?

Pat Forde

  (2:44 PM)

Miller: My guess is no. Iowa doesn't have the team success to help him out, and all the other top candidates have both massive numbers and 10 or so wins.

BruceattheBeach

As busy as you are, will you find time to raise a glass or two this weekend in Oklahoma?

Pat Forde

  (2:45 PM)

Bruce: The Forde-Yard Dash will have to recommend a spot in Norman next week, so you better believe I will find a wee bit of time to go out and sample the town.

Dan (Bowling Green, Ohio

Do you think Rich Rod was out of line telling UM fans to get a life.

Pat Forde

  (2:47 PM)

Dan: It's not as bad in context as it is out of context. I read all the quotes and he wasn't going out of his way to bash the fans. However, I will say that I've been surprised by how defensive Rodriguez has been this year -- he's got a free pass this season, take it and don't worry about the criticism.

Donald D (Eugene, OR)

Don't the successor arrangements like being announced in Texas, just make it that much harder for qualified minorities to land head coaching jobs?

Pat Forde

  (2:48 PM)

Donald: I see your point, but I know that one of the successor arrangements is at Kentucky and it will promote Joker Phillips when Rich Brooks retires. Joker is an African-American. But yeah, it does short-circuit any potential interview process in which minority candidates would have a chance to show their stuff.

Matt (Georgia)

Pat, Pat, Pat... Yeeaaa I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree with you on this one... A.J. Green is the best freshman wideout... Hands down

Pat Forde

  (2:50 PM)

Matt: Hey, Green is really good. And he has slightly better stats. But he also has a better QB throwing to him in an offense that throws more -- and Jones had the better game when they played head-to-head. But yes, they're both studs.

Kenny Britt (Rutgers)

Umm..my numbers are just as good as Crabtree's and I don't play in as nearly a high-passing offense. Just saying.

Pat Forde

  (2:51 PM)

Kenny: Duly noted. Now go do better than 5-5.

Bob (Chicago, IL)

Did you know that according to Notre Dame's tax records, the university's highest paid employee for the past three years was Tyrone Willingham? His reported salary (from ND) for 2005, 2006, and 2007 was greater than the salary of the school's actual coach, Weis. Since Weis is not even the highest paid coach at his own school, is he still the most overpaid coach in American history?

Pat Forde

  (2:51 PM)

Bob: There you go, bringing up Ty again. Weis' contract: 10 years, 30-plus million. OVERPAID.

Dave, Boise

Pat, you said Boise State isn't deserving of a BCS Bowl, please explain how Pitt and Cincy are, and don't say they have a conference tie in?

Pat Forde

  (2:52 PM)

Dave: They have a conference tie-in.

Gene Chizik (Ames, IA)

The locals are getting a bit restless here, do I at least of your vote of confidence?

Pat Forde

  (2:52 PM)

Gene: Yes you do, because nobody should expect much at Iowa State. That said, I expected better out of you than this.

Simon (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Given the played schedule to this point, what's your take on who should be ranked higher between Texas and Florida?

Pat Forde

  (2:53 PM)

Simon: Texas, no questions asked.

Rotten (Expired, CA)

I know that the season is not over yet, but who is your Spoiler of the Year?Portland State, TCU, Ole Miss, Oregon State, Iowa, or the Big 12 South? Can you imagine the bedlam if we had 4 undefeated teams from the 4 major BCS conferences (USC, Penn State, Florida or Alabama, and Texas, Texas Tech, or Oklahoma)? It also would have been intriguing to have 2 winless teams go at it (Cougars/Huskies).

Pat Forde

  (2:54 PM)

Rotten: Good question. I have to say the co-spoilers of the year are Ole Miss and Oregon State.

Larry (Indiana)

Well would it be fair for me to say you are overpaid or would that be a personal attack. Class act 4D.

Pat Forde

  (2:55 PM)

Larry: Absolutely fair for you to say. I won't take it personally. Free country.

Kyle (Chicago)

Last time I checked the Heisman was won by individuals and not teams, that's why we have championships/bowls. Guys like Greene and Britt get screwed by guys like you who tell the individual to "go do better...". Isn't it that same logic that has put Ringer ahead of Greene in national awareness even though he lags in nearly every measurable statistic?

Pat Forde

  (2:56 PM)

Kyle: Well then, if you want to give it to the guy with the best stats, take your choice between the nation's leading rusher (Donald Brown of UConn) and the leading passer (David Johnson of Tulsa). Go ahead, take your time...

Steve, Atlanta

Does Tuberville come back next year - heck does he want to come back is another question?

Pat Forde

  (2:58 PM)

Steve: Both legit questions. My gut feeling is that both the school and coach are tired of each other and would like the other to pay the huge fat buyout to end the thing. But who wants to go first? I think a loss to Alabama gets him fired, though.

Chris (LA,CA)

Happy Thanksgiving to you and to all

Pat Forde

  (3:00 PM)

Chris: That is an excellent, cheery note to end on. Because there ain't gonna be no Thanksgiving day chat next week! Enjoy the games, enjoy the turkey, etc. Thanks for the questions. Talk to y'all in December.