Things are getting very interesting with the loss of # 1 Texas last night. They deserved to lose for sure, based on the statistics of the game, but almost won it with some big plays in the second half. They looked hopeless in the first half as Tech seemed to have an answer for everything they tried to do offensively, and Tech moved the ball very well against the Horns defense. A missed field goal and a lost fumble that resulted in a Texas field goal made the first half a little closer than it should have been.

So now we have Alabama likely moving into the # 1 spot and Penn State, my alma mater, moving up to # 2, unless Tech somehow moves past one or both of of them. I'm not sure I believe that Alabama is as good as advertised. Yes, they beat # 9 Clemson and 'then # 3' Georgia, but Florida hammered Georgia yesterday, so they were likely overrated, and Clemson is now a 4 loss team, so the strength of the victory is diluted quite a lot.They also struggled mightily against Tulane, Kentucky (who Florida annihilated 63-5), and Mississippi, all unranked and big underdogs in those games.

Then we have Penn State, with the supposedly weak schedule, struggling to get by Ohio State last week. Yes, USC crushed OSU early in the season, but USC was the home team while Penn State was on the road, and that makes quite a difference, especially in the middle of the season when teams have gained experience as a unit. Also keep in mind that Penn State whupped Oregon State, who went on to beat USC and knock them from the # 1 ranking. I grant you that they have some patsies among those 9 wins; Coastal Carolina and Temple, but so do all the top ranked teams, at least to some degree. If they run the table in the Big 10, they should, and will, play for the 'mythical' national championship.

So we now have only 5 unbeaten Division 1 teams; Alabama, Penn State, Texas Tech, Utah, and Boise State. Bama's toughest game remaining is next week at LSU. Penn State's toughest is also next week at Iowa, and Tech's toughest is at home with OK State, also next Saturday. I sincerely doubt all three will remain undefeated, but we shall see. Boise State is plagued with a weak schedule, ditto Utah, so it's unlikely they will leapfrog over anyone who wins out, even one-loss teams like Florida and USC.

In any event, it should be quite an exciting finish to a wild season.

Swish