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Joey Johnston's College Football Sidelines

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 5, 2007

THE ILLINI ARE FIGHTING

After going 4-19 in his first two seasons, Coach Ron Zook's Illinois Fighting Illini (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) could earn a top 25 ranking by defeating the Wisconsin Badgers (5-0, 2-0), who have the longest winning streak in Division I-A (14 games).

'It feels like we're finally a football team,' Illinois LB Brit Miller said. 'It feels like we're finally going to a school that cares about football.'

Zook's recruits are flourishing, particularly freshman WR Arrelious Benn, who scored twice (including a 90-yard kickoff return) in the 27-20 upset of Penn State.

Meanwhile, there is concern about Wisconsin over shaky defensive play. The Badgers held off Michigan State 37-34 - and that was after a 45-31 shootout win against The Citadel.

Wisconsin ranks 46th nationally in scoring defense (22.4 points per game), 53rd in total defense (360.6), 42nd in rushing defense (125.6), and 76th in pass efficiency defense (59.3 percent completions for nine touchdowns and three interceptions).

Said Badgers CB Allen Langford: 'Sooner or later, we've got to get this corrected because we're not going to be able to pull off this type of win every week.'

NOTABLE NUMBERS

•Georgia had 328 yards rushing against Ole Miss, its highest total since 1991.

•Oregon State kickoff returner Gerard Lawson fumbled three straight times in the fourth quarter against UCLA (losing two and having the third batted out of bounds by a teammate). The Beavers, leading 14-12 as the quarter began, lost to the Bruins, 40-14. Oregon State (2-3) has 21 turnovers this season, including 11 interceptions by QB Sean Canfield.

•Nebraska's Blackshirts have allowed a combined 1,428 yards in their last three games (USC, Ball State, Iowa State).

•Missouri is 1-15 against top 25 opponents - without a winning record in the Big 12 - in Coach Gary Pinkel's seven seasons.

QUOTABLE

'My wife told me after church Sunday night, 'You're a much better coach than you were two weeks ago.''

- Colorado coach Dan Hawkins, two days after beating Oklahoma.

THE NORTH WILL RISE AGAIN

Before the season began, Texas coach Mack Brown said he didn't expect the Big 12 South to be as dominant in the conference.

'I think this is the best chance for somebody to win the league that nobody would expect,' Brown said. 'I think people are going to quit talking about us and Oklahoma.'

Brown's words might have been prophetic.

Oklahoma (4-1, 0-1 Big 12) and Texas (4-1, 0-1) come limping into today's Red River Shootout in Dallas, having each shockingly dropped their conference openers. Colorado's 27-24 upset of Oklahoma and Kansas State's 41-21 blasting of Texas have both powerful programs on the verge of elimination from the national-championship race.

Big 12 South teams had won 42 of the previous 57 meetings against North Division teams - including the past three Big 12 Championship Games by a combined margin of 133-13.

'A lot of people have been talking about how good the Big 12 South is and how bad the Big 12 North is,' Kansas State WR Jordy Nelson said. 'I know it's only two games and there's a lot of football still to be played, but anybody can beat anybody else in college football.'

UNFAIRLY IGNORED?

Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell leads the nation in passing (2,301 yards in five games). Freshman WR Michael Crabtree leads the nation in scoring (84 points) and has scored 14 touchdowns. Yet neither player is mentioned prominently in the early Heisman Trophy conversation.

'Though it's getting a little harder to ignore with some of these Adonises they have on the list that are having a tough time,' Red Raiders coach Mike Leach said.

Said Harrell: 'Everyone can call it the product of the system or whatever. If they want to label it that, that's fine. But as long as we're winning games, I'm fine with that, too.'

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