For the most part, the college football season has crossed the halfway point (many, but not all teams have played 6 of their 12 games so far). I know a lot of people probably don't follow college football as closely as I do, so I'm making a first-half recap of the college football season.
Here are the big things that have happened so far: the transformation of the Pac-10, decline of major powers, and a cloudy national championship picture.
USC is no longer the big dog in the Pac-10. After a demoralizing off-season, the Trojans have lost two consecutive conference games and have not resembled the dominant teams of the 2000s. In their demise, Oregon and Stanford are among the conferences two best teams. Oregon is a lot of college football reporters' picks to make it into the national championship. Led by LaMichael James, the Ducks feature flashy uniforms and an explosive offensive that can put points on the toughest defenses. Stanford, who suffered a loss to Oregon already, has also impressed early in the season. Don't discount Oregon State, who is 2-0 in the Pac-10.
USC is not the only traditional power going through tough times. Penn State just lost to Illinois and is 3-3. Texas has already lost to UCLA and Oklahoma. Florida already has two losses. Notre Dame is also 3-3 and has shown any form of dominance. Unlike last season where Texas and Alabama were in the driver's seat for most of the 2009 college football season, no two teams have emerged as clear-cut favorites to make it to the BCS National Championship Game
There are now just 13 unbeaten teams left in college football. 4 of the 13 are from non-BCS conferences, Utah, Nevada, Boise State, and TCU. #21 Nevada is ranked for the first time in a half-century, and its offensive formation, The Pistol, has gained national attention. Meanwhile, Boise State, the preseason Cinderella story, took care of Virgina Tech and Oregon State during their first two games of the season, and most likely will cruise through their schedule until meeting Nevada on November 26th. I also think Boise will be tested during a November 6th game against Hawai'i.
One of the biggest upsets of the season happened last weekend, as South Carolina defeated #1 Alabama, ending a 19 game winning streak. Up until this past weekend, Alabama was seen as practically a shoe-in for the national championship. The Crimson Tide still have National Championship hopes, though they still have a tough schedule ahead and face a pair of currently undefeated teams in LSU and Auburn later in the season.
In its final season in the Big 12, Nebraska too, is a national championship contender. Last Thursday against Kansas State, freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez (nicknamed T-Magic), ran for 241 yards, and has emerged as a Heisman candidate. I watched the game, and Martinez is an absolute stud. The 'Huskers could meet #6 Oklahoma in the Big 12 Conference Championship, which could determine one of the 2 teams to play in the national championship.
Next year, Nebraska will be in the Big Ten, where Michigan State (after beating Michigan) and Ohio State look to contend for the Big Ten title and an national championship appearance. MSU and OSU will not play each other, which further complicates the national championship picture In the two other BCS conferences, the ACC and Big East, no teams are really having that great of a season.
The initial BCS standings, which play a large factor in determining the national championship, come out on October 17th, and there is still plenty of football left to deciding who will make it to the national championships.
Aaron's Midseason Heisman
1. LaMichael James, Oregon
2. Kellen Moore, Boise State
3. Taylor Martinez, Nebraska
4. Denard Robinson, Michigan
5. Andrew Luck, Stanford
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