SportsNation Blog Archives
Oregon State Beavers
Vote: No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 19 South Carolina
1. Gene Chizik or Steve Spurrier?
2. Has Cam Newton locked up the Heisman?
3. Auburn's toughest test?
4. Did SC have its shot?
5. Which team will win in Atlanta?
Have your say on the SEC championship game
Vote: No. 2 Oregon at Oregon St.
1. What would OSU enjoy more?
2. LaMichael James or Jacquizz Rodgers?
3. Best Pac-10 rivalry?
4. Chip Kelly or Mike Riley?
5. Which team will win in Corvallis?
Have your say on Oregon at Oregon St.
Vote: No. 9 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Oklahoma
1. Big 8/Big 12 rivalry winner?
2. Best impact player in this game?
3. Nebraska in the Big Ten?
4. Taylor Martinez or Cody Green?
5. Which team will win in Arlington?
Have your say on the Big 12 championship game
Vote: No. 15 Virginia Tech vs. No. 21 Florida St.
1. Christian Ponder or Tyrod Taylor?
2. Is Fisher the coach of the future?
3. ACC's premier program?
4. ACC title game location?
5. Which team will win in Charlotte?
Have your say on the ACC championship game
Boise State is a formidable opponent, having run roughshod over opponents in its trampling of the BCS system. The one advantage that seems to flummox opponents time and time again, however, has nothing to do with the Broncos' makeup, planning or execution. It's all about the Smurf Turf.
Yes, the Smurf Turf, the blue field of doom that the Broncos have made famous in their rise to prominence. SportsNation has weighed in on the blue turf before and generally is in favor of it, but Boise State's latest opponent, Oregon State, is so committed to accuracy in preperation for this weekend's matchup that it has spent $11,000 painting a practice field blue. Is this a good tactic, or does it mean Boise State is already in Oregon State's head?
“Hey, if an anonymous donor wants to give OSU 11K to help prepare for BSU, I am all for it. Every little bit helps.
” -- bhollandz
“I Hate the smurf turf. Its nasty, and that's without the hundreds of ducks that die because they think its water. It might not be "cheating" but its close with those all blue unis. Speaking of all blue unis, i love the scout team wearing them. Getting the field blue is step 1, practicing against blue unis on said turf is step 2. We all know what step 3 is.... GO BEAVS!!!
” -- coachtk9
Game 1: SportsNation's burning questions for No. 1 Alabama at No. 10 Arkansas
- Would you want Ryan Mallet or Greg McElroy as your QB in a tight situation?
- Who is the best NFL prospect in this game?
- Vote on those and other questions about Alabama at Arkansas!
Cash (Arkansas)
Joe Adams is having a great season for the hogs this year. If he has a big game against Bama can he make his way into the heisman watch?
SEC blogger Chris Low
I think Adams is one of the best players in the SEC after the catch. He's terrific in space and making people miss. But it's just so hard for receivers to make a legitimate run in the Heisman race no matter how special they are. Full transcript
Game 2: SportsNation's burning questions for No. 24 Oregon State at No. 3 Boise State
- Is Boise State in Oregon State's head?
- Will Boise State run the table if it beats Oregon State?
- Vote on those and other questions about Oregon State at Boise State!
Adam (NV)
Who do you think will win this wknd between OSU vs Boise? Any chance the Beavers keep it close, or even pull the upset?
Pat Forde
Adam: Wouldn't be surprised if Oregon State keeps it close. Would be surprised if Oregon State wins. Like Boise to win. Full transcript
Game 3: SportsNation's burning questions for No. 22 West Virginia at No. 15 LSU
- Is Les Miles' job secure?
- How would a West Virginia win shake things up?
- Vote on those and other questions about West Virginia at LSU!
Walt (DC)
What will WVU do to compensate for lack of size going up against LSU's offense and defense lines?
Big East blogger Brian Bennett
I think the Mountaineers will be OK defensively. Offensive line is an issue. They need to get a push up front against what is always a talented defensive line. Perhaps some screens, the shotgun and a little old-fashioned zone read can slow that down. Full transcript
Game 4: SportsNation's burning questions for No. 16 Stanford at Notre Dame
- Which school is stronger academically?
- How well does Brian Kelly need to do this season?
- Vote on those and other questions about Stanford at Notre Dame!
Dave (NC)
I've had a bad weekend Andrea. I only care about UNC and Notre Dame sports when it comes to college and I'm from MA so the Pats let me down as well...... give me something to look forward to for UNC and or ND this week.
Andrea Adelson
Oh, Dave. I hope you are staying away from sharp objects ;) Both teams have been competitive, so there is that. Notre Dame is a few plays away from being 3-0, so there is that. I am not sure the Irish can beat Stanford -- the Cardinal have looked awfully good. But UNC can definitely beat Rutgers. From what I have seen of the Scarlet Knights, they haven't looked overly impressive and probably should have lost to FIU. Full transcript
Game 5: SportsNation's burning questions for South Carolina at Auburn
- Which is a tougher place to win on the road?
- Will South Carolina ever play in a BCS game under Steve Spurrier?
- Vote on those and other questions about South Carolina at Auburn!
Sanders Colson (Atlanta)
Auburn won one they probably should have lost to Clemson. How do think they will do against S Carolina?
Mark Schlabach
I think it should be a really good game. Clemson had some success running the ball, so I'd expect to see a heavy dose of Marcus Lattimore. Clemson did a nice job shutting down AU's offense in the first half, too. That's happened twice in the last two games, but give AU credit for coming back. Newton threw the ball well at the end. Full transcript
For the first time in more than three decades, a running back will defend his Heisman Trophy on the college gridiron. So with reigning Heisman winner Mark Ingram back in Tuscaloosa, Ala. taking handoffs for the Crimson Tide, at least we don't have to waste any time debating the best running back in college football ... right?
Bruce Feldman recently put Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers as the first name on his list when queried by a SportsNation chatter. It would be easier to make a case for blasphemy if there weren't also suggestions, as Mark Schlabach echoed in another chat, that Ingram might not even be the best running back on his own team this fall.
Craig (Lafayette, LA)
Where does Jacquizz Rodgers fall in your lineup of the nations top RBs?
Bruce Feldman
He's the first name that comes to mind when I think of top RBs this season. Full transcript
Todd (Portland)
Would you trade either Mark Ingram or Trent Richardson for Jacquizz Rodgers from Oregon State? Would Nick Saban?
SEC blogger Chris Low
Maybe Richardson for Rodgers because that would give you two completely different kinds of runners with Ingram and Rodgers on the same team. But I can't see Saban giving up Ingram or Richardson for anybody at this point. Full transcript
Wes F (South Carolina)
Is the back-up running back at Bama, Trent Richardson, as good as rumor has he is?
Mark Schlabach
He might be better than the starter, who won the Heisman Trophy. Full transcript
- Vote: GameDay Pick 'Em | Heisman Watch | SportsNation Top 25
- Vote on big topics: Charlie Weis' future | Auburn at Georgia
- Blogger chat wraps: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | Pac-10 | SEC | Others
- More wraps: Mark Schlabach | Pat Forde | Mel Kiper | Ivan Maisel | Bruce Feldman
- Special guests: Brad Edwards | Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson
It won't be an easy weekend for BCS Cinderellas, even though they're all playing at home. Cincinnati faces No. 25 West Virginia, TCU gets the pressure of GameDay and No. 16 Utah, and Boise State deals with a surprising 7-3 Idaho (and a visiting AD who doesn't like to fly on planes with Broncos markings).
Thanks to longhorncutie07 for a little perspective during Red River Rivalry week. If you can't hang out with the fans of your least favorite opponent, you might have a problem.
These are our favorite photos uploaded this week. If any of the images makes you want to tell jokes about the intelligence of your biggest rival's fans, click them to view a larger picture and to comment. If you have a great picture or saw one you think the world should see, leave a brief description and a link in the Conversation section below.
ESPN.com's college football writers and bloggers will be going conference by conference in the coming weeks to preview the season ahead, and we're looking for your rankings along the way. Things roll on with the Pac-10, where blogger Ted Miller's rankings include a very familiar name at the head of the class, but also reason to believe it will be a good year for football fans in Oregon.
1. USC
2. California
3. Oregon
4. Oregon State
5. Arizona
Check out Miller's complete Pac-10 rankings.
Columbia, South Carolina, meet Newcastle, England. You probably have some common ancestors. You both have frequently indecipherable, yet highly amusing, accents. And you both love football, if of slightly different varieties. You've also both been relegated. Sorry about that.
Fortunately for fans of the Gamecocks, their relegation is only hypothetical (longtime Premier League mainstay Newcastle's is more alarmingly real for its fans, who will kick off their season Saturday cheering on their lads against West Bromwich Albion in the Championship, English soccer's equivalent of the old I-AA gridiron designation on this side of the Atlantic).
South Carolina ended up on the wrong side of the cut line when SportsNation voted for the 40 teams that should make up Pat Forde's new and improved top flight of college football. Then again, maybe SportsNation mistakenly let its director of operations cast its vote instead. These things have been known to happen.
Things won't become official until Forde, Ivan Maisel and Mark Schlabach conduct a draft for their 40 teams Tuesday, but here's how things look in SportsNation's relegation zone.
Last Five In: Colorado, Pittsburgh, Utah, Illinois, Oregon State
First Five Out: South Carolina, BYU, Louisville, Kansas, North Carolina
- Tebow-gate aside, voters say Steve Spurrier has been good for South Carolina.
- Pick your own top 40 teams for a college football revolution
- Groups: South Carolina Gamecocks | Southeastern Conference | Oregon State Beavers
“Awesome idea, but how about the winner of the lower division gets thrown in the mix of the national championship. America loves an underdog...
” -- orangebloodmike8
“You just hit everything right on the HEAD! You got it right. Absolutely right. Promotion/relegation in college football would be amazingly popular!! The conferences are dated. Most teams in power conferences don't deserve to be there. Conference championships are TERRIBLE!! I have been boycotting bowl games since I realized that true champions are not crowned in this terrible system. My team is the Indiana Hoosiers, and the NCAA should take a lot of stock in the fact that even I am for this set up 100 percent.
” -- JRWambach1983
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