Suprises and shake-ups continue in excess

Taylor Howsmon

I personally cannot remember a college football season that has had as many surprises or parity from week to week than the 2009 season thus far.

This weekend was no different as we saw the top four teams in the country struggle unexpectedly with one, Virginia Tech, dropping its game.

As the weeks go on it is getting harder and harder to predict what will happen.
One great example of this goofy season is the ACC.

I realize it is not the most talented conference in America, far from it, but even the most knowledgeable college football pundit must be cross-eyed by the way this thing seems to be shaking out.

After starting 0-3, including a home loss to William & Mary to open the season, Virginia now leads the Coastal division and is the only undefeated team left in league play.

Of course I don’t think that will hold up, considering the ‘Hoos have only played two games in conference, one of which was Maryland, but it is definitely surprising.
Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Miami might be the best teams in the conference but unbelievably none control their own destiny at this point.

In the Atlantic, the standings are more confusing than Sylvester Stallone’s decision to make Rocky V.

The crazy thing is that a 4-4 record could win this division, if that even works out mathematically (I became a journalist so I wouldn’t have to do math). It is pathetic, but entertaining.

Moving away from the ACC, the national championship favorite is still a mystery at this point.

I would say Alabama, but they certainly were not impressive against South Carolina at home. The Gamecocks can play defense, but their offense is so much of a joke they should start punting on first down.

The Tide had to hold on to beat them, and score a late touchdown to clinch it. Florida was even less impressive at home against Arkansas, who can score but has been giving up points right and left.

Iowa took a big step toward contention—yes, I said Iowa.

It is crazy to think the team that only beat FCS Northern Iowa by two points to open the season might be in the hunt for a title.

Especially because being the best team in the Big Ten is like being the smartest person on “The Hills”—not too impressive.

But their win at Wisconsin and Ohio State’s embarrassment at Purdue puts the Hawkeyes in the driver’s seat for the conference, and I can’t see them even having a chance to stumble until they play the Buckeyes in a couple weeks.

Texas remains undefeated after the nice win over Oklahoma, but remember Sam Bradford didn’t play and the Sooners still had a shot to win it late.

Plus, besides that three-loss Oklahoma team, the Longhorns haven’t played a team with a pulse, so there is no reason to believe Texas is a favorite.

Of course, what do I know anyway? Last week I gave you three “pretenders” who I thought were out of the BCS picture. Of those three, two had very impressive wins Saturday night with Georgia Tech beating the Hokies and USC dumping Notre Dame in South Bend.

As for my “contenders,” Nebraska got taken behind the woodshed by lowly Texas Tech in Lincoln, so clearly they are not who I thought they were.

This is really what is good about college football. We have absolutely no clue who is going to sneak up and who is going to disappoint from week to week.

As for the Heisman race, I have a new front runner. And although the nation is finally beginning to catch on, I have been saying this name for weeks: Mark Ingram from Alabama, who ran for 246 yards in Saturday’s win.

The tailback is leading the Tide to a great season and is easily the best tailback in the country. Although Bama was not impressive in their game Saturday night, Ingram was and he led the Tide to the win.

However, this observation does not matter because the Heisman is still going to go to a national darling like Tim Tebow or Colt McCoy. In theory, the award should go to the nation’s best player, but we all know that isn’t what really happens.

Instead the award goes to the one with the most exposure and who happens to be on the best team. That might end up being Ingram, but I doubt he wins the award.

We will see you next week for what I am pretty sure will be another week of unexpected wins and losses as well as Disappointments and Statements. It seems to be the theme of the year.