What we learned Week 9
Olin Buchanan
Michigan State cannot handle prosperity. Perhaps the Spartans are victims of their own success or expectations. After three consecutive victories over Big Ten rivals, most notably last week's Hail Mary miracle finish against
Wisconsin, the Spartans barely showed up in a 24-3 loss at
Nebraska. Michigan State QB
Kirk Cousins was just 11-of-27 for a mere 86 yards and the Spartans managed only 187 yards in total offense against a good but not great Nebraska defense that allowed 48 points to Wisconsin. Of course, maybe we shouldn't be surprised by the Spartans' offensive power outage. After all, they managed only 13 against
Notre Dame and 10 against
Ohio State.
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Photo gallery: Nebraska runs over Michigan State]
Texas A&M still can't close out games. The Aggies appeared to have overcome their tendency to blow double-digit leads with consecutive victories over
Texas Tech,
Baylor and
Iowa State. But A&M, which blew a 17-point lead in a loss to
Oklahoma State and an 18-point advantage in a loss to
Arkansas, was at it again against
Missouri. The Aggies had a 28-14 lead in the second quarter, but they managed only a field goal in the second half as Missouri rallied to prevail 38-31 in overtime. A&M has been outscored 73-15 in the second half of its three losses and conceivably could finish 6-6.
David Fox
Stanford can handle adversity. Entering Saturday, Stanford's national championship resume was lacking a signature moment against a team able to go toe-to-toe with the Cardinal. The road game against
USC finally tested Stanford's resolve as the Cardinal trailed for the first time all season (USC led three times in regulation). Stanford answered each time despite a rare pick-six from
Andrew Luck. We finally saw that Stanford could battle in the 56-48 win. There's still work to do. The defense struggled at times, as did the offensive line. But Stanford at least answered the question about how it would react to being punched in the mouth.
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Photo gallery: Stanford tops USC in 3 OT]
Braxton Miller's time is nearing. Ohio State's passing game still is nothing to get excited about. The Buckeyes failed to pass for 100 yards for the second time this season and completed fewer than 10 passes for the fifth time this season. Ohio State is competitive anyway. That's what makes Miller's progress so exciting. When Ohio State fully trusts its quarterback, Miller is going to be a good one. On the winning play against Wisconsin, Miller scrambled and showed the guts and wherewithal to pass to a wide-open
Devin Smith in the end zone rather than trying to run for a first down. Miller also rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns, including one key third-down keeper for a first down. Ohio State now has a prime opportunity to turn Miller loose against
Indiana next week.
Mike Huguenin
Penn State is not as good as its record. Penn State is the only team unbeaten in Big Ten play, but for a team that has an 8-1 record, the Nittany Lions can be painful to watch. Saturday's game was a perfect example: The Nittany Lions beat
Illinois 10-7, but their TD came in the final 1:30 and the Illini clanged a last-play field-goal attempt off the goal post. The Nittany Lions have a two-game lead in the loss column in the Leaders Division, but they have a tough closing stretch. The defense is excellent. Eventually, though, their anemic offense is going to catch up to them.
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Photo gallery: Saturday's highlights]
Kansas State returns to earth. Kansas State had built its 8-0 record on smoke and mirrors, but the mirror broke and the smoke machine got turned off Saturday in a 58-17 beatdown at the hands of visiting
Oklahoma. K-State hung in in the first half, then got blown off the field in the second half. K-State can't hang with the elite teams as long as it has a one-dimensional offense; at some point, you
do have to throw the ball effectively to win. The losing isn't over, either, with a trip to Oklahoma State up next. There also are losable games against
Texas and Texas A&M. Still, the Wildcats have a legitimate shot at a nine- or 10-win season, which is amazing considering they lost stud RB Daniel Thomas after last season. As if anyone needs more evidence,
Bill Snyder once again has proven he is a top-level coach.
Steve Megargee
The Big Ten race is tough to figure. Raise your hand if you knew Penn State would be the only Big Ten team unbeaten in conference play at this point in the season. Penn State has scored more than 23 points in just three games all season, yet the Nittany Lions are the lone team unscathed in Big Ten competition. Consider that a testament to the muddled nature of the Big Ten race. Nebraska,
Michigan and Michigan State are tied atop the Legends Division with 3-1 conference records. Penn State's the only Leaders Division team with fewer than two conference losses, but the Nittany Lions' lead isn't as commanding as the standings suggest. Penn State's last three conference games are difficult: Nov. 12 vs. Nebraska, Nov. 19 at Ohio State and Nov. 26 at Wisconsin.
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Photo gallery: Georgia Tech hands Clemson first loss]
Georgia Tech's offense is over its slump. Georgia Tech's inability to move the ball during its two-game losing streak raised speculation that the Yellow Jackets' dominant performance in the first month of the season was a fluke. Apparently, it wasn't. Georgia Tech bounced back in a big way Saturday as QB
Tevin Washington rushed for 176 yards and the Yellow Jackets maintained possession for 39 minutes in a 31-17 victory over previously unbeaten
Clemson. Georgia Tech can take command of the ACC Coastal race Nov. 10 against
Virginia Tech. That Thursday night showdown also gives the Yellow Jackets an opportunity to respond to the criticism that their option attack isn't as effective when an opponent has more than a week to prepare.
Mike Huguenin's Week 9 awards
COACHES
Wish I were him: Oklahoma State's
Mike Gundy
Glad I'm not him:
Florida's
Will Muschamp
Lucky guy: Penn State's
Joe Paterno
Poor guy: Wisconsin's
Bret Bielema
Desperately seeking a clue: Texas A&M's
Mike Sherman
Desperately seeking a P.R. man:
Houston's
Kevin Sumlin
Desperately seeking sunglasses and a fake beard:
Iowa's
Kirk Ferentz
Desperately seeking ... anything:
Maryland's
Randy Edsall
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Megargee: Week 9 winners and losers]
TEAMS
Thought you'd kick butt, you did: Air Force
Thought you'd kick butt, you didn't: Iowa
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you did: Kansas State
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you didn't: Iowa State
Dang, they're good: Oklahoma State
Dang, they're bad: Indiana
Did the season start?
California
Can the season end?
Kentucky
Can the season never end? Houston
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Buchanan: Luck, Stanford handle adversity at USC]
GAMES
Play this again: Missouri 38, Texas A&M 31 (OT)
Never play this again:
Army 55, Fordham 0
What?
UCLA 31, California 14
Huh?
Virginia 28,
Miami 21
Are you kidding me?
Minnesota 22, Iowa 21
Oh ? my ? God: Iowa State 41, Texas Tech 7
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Game tickets: Watch your favorite team in action]
NEXT WEEK
Ticket to die for:
LSU at
Alabama
Best non-Big Six vs. Big Six matchup:
Middle Tennessee at
Tennessee
Best non-Big Six matchup:
Tulsa at
UCF (Thursday)
Why are they playing? UT Martin at
Mississippi State
Upset alert:
Vanderbilt over Florida in Gainesville
Must win:
Cincinnati over
Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh
Offensive explosion: Utah State at Hawaii
Defensive struggle:
Syracuse at
Connecticut
Intriguing coaching matchup: Michigan's
Brady Hoke vs. Iowa's
Kirk Ferentz
Who's bringing the body bags?
New Mexico State at
Georgia
Plenty of good seats remaining:
Ole Miss at Kentucky
They shoot horses, don't they?
Boise State at
UNLV
Waco Kid's College Football Week 9
