College Confidential

Trailing by 10 with just

Trailing by 10 with just over a minute to go, Washington just blocked a USC punt. ABC's cameras caught a sideline shot of Trojans coach Pete Carroll. The word "stunned" comes to mind. When your team commits 16 penalties, has 3 turnovers and misses a field goal, that's how a coach looks. And USC WON.

If you're a top 10 team, half of you take a seat in the one-loss section. You know who you are.

A little Heisman update

Arkansas running back Darren McFadden has 19 carries for 138 yards at halftime. Wonder why his backfield buddy Felix Jones, the Hogs' all-purpose yardage monster, isn't a serious Heisman candidate. He's got 132 yards and can beat you as a runner, receiver, returner, whatever.

By the way, UNT keeps making a strong case as worst defense (team?) in the 119-team Bowl Subdivision with 507 yards allowed at halftime.

--Troy Phillips

This game's over, but...

Vizza just drove UNT 80 yards in nine plays against --I'm told by the guys next to me -- Arkansas' first-team defense. Jamario Thomas also had a 33-yard run on the drive. Arkansas leads at halftime, 45-7. By the way, Oklahoma led UNT 49-0 at the half.

As many have predicted, looks as if Vizza is getting closer to taking over UNT's QB position, if not next week, then soon.

--Troy Phillips

Vizza takes a turn

True freshman Giovanni Vizza is in at QB for UNT, with Arkansas leading 31-0. Todd Dodge wants a longer look this time at Vizza, who didn't appear until Oklahoma led 56-0 in both teams' opener.

UNT's offense has enough problems getting implemented this season, but this defense is really, really bad. As I write that, Arkansas just turned the ball over on downs. Silver linings, I guess.

--Troy Phillips

Not pretty, as expected

UNT has run just three plays and is down 14-0. Arkansas has long TDs on an end-around and bomb over a soft secondary. Yikes.

--Troy Phillips

Pee Ewwww

Alabama 0, Florida State 0, halftime.

Embarrassing for CBS.

Embarrassing for Alabama.

Embarrassing for Florida State.

Does Bobby Bowden look like an old, lost guy?

How far are these two teams from contending for a national title? Has that unit of measurement been measured yet?

More secrets

ABC sideline reporter Jack Arute just announced that there has been no announcement of the Oklahoma loss at DKR Memorial Stadium in Austin. Hmmmm.

Wonder if DFN _ the Dennis Franchione Network _ would like to Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione would like to get the word out, like maybe with a newsletter.

Ya never know

Colorado 27, Oklahoma 24

Kansas State 24, Texas 14 (halftime).

Admit it, football fans. Did you really believe that Oklahoma would be challenged, much less lose, in Boulder?

I thought Cal-Oregon would be a shootout and it's a defensive struggle. I thought Michigan State-Wisconsin would be first team to score 2 TDs would win. At halftime, it's exactly the opposite.

Waiting for kickoff in Fayetteville

The SEC is spectacular. I've seen it for myself twice.

Thought I'd seen it all at Ole Miss a few years ago when Eli Manning was a senior, but Arkansas' gameday experience must rival anything in the league. Yes, I'm sure LSU, 'Bama and others would argue, but let's not split hairs. These places rock.

Today is beautiful and breezy, so they rolled back huge press-box windows at Razorback Stadium. They move sideways on tracks and into corner compartments. A large eve shades the work area, and this is about the sweetest 40-yard-line vantage point I can remember.

Back in the mid-80s, RS had just two sides in the old SWC days. Now it has quite a few bells and whistles and a closed-up end zone. Kansas State-Texas is on the stadum's massive replay board (with excellent picture and sound) right now.

It's too bad more North Texas fans won't be here today. A program in dire need of a new stadium needs its fans to see a place like this. Instead of complaining about not parking close enough to Fouts Field or paying extra for premium seating, they should get flat-out angry about what they don't have.

--Troy Phillips

Snooze and lose

ESPN has dubbed it "Sleep Walk Saturday." (Can't have a day of college football on the World Wide Leader without it having a name.)

At least it's accurate. Quite a few ranked teams missed their wake-up call or hit the snooze button.