We are now four weeks into the 2013 college football season and there are still 18 ranked teams that have yet to lose a game. The top three teams — Alabama, Oregon and Clemson — are each 3-0, with each already having benefited from one bye week. As usual, there are some surprises at this point in the season plus certain news stories that have dominated over the past few days.
Boise State loses again. With a 2-2 record, Boise State is no longer the formidable threat that it once was. The Broncos were smashed by Washington to open the season then followed with a pair of easy wins. On Friday night, the Broncos let a 34 to 19 lead slip away, losing at Fresno State. The victory was particularly a sweep one for the Bulldogs who had been hammered nearly every year by the Broncos, winning only once since 2001 before winning again last weekend. Fresno State was also awarded a No. 25 ranking for its big win.
Death strikes Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats defeated Miami of Ohio 14 to 0 on Saturday, then learned that three of its players were involved in a one vehicle accident that injured two and claimed the life of Ben Flick, a freshman offensive lineman. All three players were redshirt freshman and traveled separately to the game apart from the team. The cause of the accident has yet to be determined, however it took place on US Highway 27, a particularly dangerous road.
Rutgers wins game, loses James. Arkansas may hesitate to schedule the Rutgers Scarlet Knights again, after sustaining their second straight loss against the former Big East, current American Athletic Conference and future Big Ten member. Last year at Fayetteville and this year at Piscataway, Arkansas saw its lead slip and the game with it. Paul James, the Scarlet Knights’ star running back, ran for 80 yards on 17 carries, but left the game twice with injuries. The second hit injured his lower right leg and will idle James for a few weeks including for the Knights’ much anticipated Oct. 10 game against Louisville.
Burglarized while earning a victory. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes did what they needed to do by dispatching in-state rival Iowa State on Saturday night, but that 27 to 21 win was not without controversy. No, the controversy did not occur on the field, rather it took place in the Hawkeyes locker room during the game. After the game, nine Hawkeyes players discovered that someone had stolen cash and their cell phones. Just $50 was taken as were the cell phones, despite private security guards standing watch. No suspects have been named; ISU says that it will reimburse the Iowa players for their losses.
Taking money on the side. One of the worst kept secrets about college football is that players are receiving compensation for play. Most compensation runs counter to NCAA’s rules, but those rules are often ignored. Houston Texans’ running back Arian Foster spoke about his tenure at Tennessee, telling Sports Illustrated that he took money while playing for the Volunteers. Foster saw nothing wrong with what he did, an action that might launch an NCAA investigation against Tennessee.
The Week Ahead
It will be October before the various conference slates turn hot, but there will be several games of note this weekend that should stir fan interest. The biggest battle might be No. 6 LSU at No. 9 Georgia, with the Tigers gunning to position itself as the best in the SEC, Alabama notwithstanding. The Bulldogs can hardly afford to lose again if their own national title aspirations are to be realized.
No. 14 Oklahoma travels to No. 22 Notre Dame, with the Sooners seeking to maintain momentum one week before the heart of their Big 12 schedule begins. Notre Dame is coming off of a tight win over Michigan State, but will face an Oklahoma team that has yielded just nine points per game so far this year. Other key contests include No. 21 Ole Miss at top-ranked Alabama and No. 23 Wisconsin visiting No. 4 Ohio State.
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