College Football Halftime Update

We are roughly halfway through the college football season so it’s time to look at all the teams and players making the headlines.
So far the BCS has gotten everything right. Ohio State is without doubt the best team in the nation. They defeated Texas with ease to cement their place as number one and they have crushed everybody else to maintain that status. All the other unbeaten teams are in perfect order with Michigan, USC and West Virginia. For the national championship game, one team will obviously be the winner of the Ohio State-Michigan game. The other will be USC if they can get past Cal which as always a big “if.” If they don’t we are faced with a big dilemma. Does a very good and undefeated West Virginia, but one with a weaker schedule, go ahead of a one-loss team out of the SEC or the Big 12? All the fans of Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas and or Norte Dame will definitely be upset if they get left out despite their tougher schedules. You have to appreciate the power of the BCS to bring out the immature, whiny 5th grader in all of us.
For the Heisman race, it’s hard to say that Troy Smith isn’t the leader. He’s thrown for 1715 yards with 21 touchdowns against just two interceptions. Brady Quinn is also still very much in the race because of his 18 touchdowns and because he keeps leading his team from behind to win games. His biggest enemy his is team’s record because it will go to Smith if the Buckeyes are the national championship game and the Irish aren’t. People are still forgetting about John David Booty at USC who is quietly putting up solid numbers as every Trojan quarterback as done in recent years. Don’t be surprised if he gets the nod if his team goes undefeated. The two players who playing great football but have yet to receive worthy praise is the West Virginia duo of Pat White and Steve Slaton. White has a combined 1,441 yards and 15 touchdowns and backfield mate Steve Slaton is averaging seven yards per carry and his scored nine touchdowns. A very good one-two punch that has made the Mountaineers a very good ball team. Garrett Wolfe of Northern Illinois must also be given his spotlight because of his 1,413 yards and 13 touchdowns. But no matter how good he does or what people will say, he will never win because of his team’s record and the conference he plays in. The person that should be in this conversation but sadly is not is Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson. He’s the best running back in the nation because of his amazing combination of size, speed, power and sheer will. It’s absolutely horrible that we will not have the pleasure of watching him the rest of the season. We can only hope he makes it back in time for the Sooner’s bowl game.
The surprise teams have been exciting to watch so far this year. Arkansas is 6-1 and leading the SEC West. A great running game, swarming defense, creative play calling and a fresh approach to the game as made the Razorbacks not only a dangerous team this year, but with their youth, dangerous for the future as well.
Rutgers has also been impressive this year. A 7-0 record along with a #14 ranking in the BCS have surprised well, just about everybody. Ray Rice has been the man at tailback rushing for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns to lead his team.
Six weeks and plenty more upsets are left in the regular season. Or make that the playoffs, because that is what the college football season is. Lose a game and don’t consider yourself worthy of a national championship spot without the help of others. Come every week ready to win because one slip up and it could all be over.