| Introduction: Scratch another conference off | | | | blemish so far this year. The Bulls showed |
| the list. After the ACC laid an egg in week | | | | some toughness by beating Central Florida in |
| one, the Big East tried to prove it was even | | | | overtime, and are looking to build on the |
| worse. Also, a Heisman candidate emerges out | | | | success it had last year reaching the land of |
| West. | | | | the rankings for the first time. This season |
| | | | they are currently No.18, and may need to |
| Scratch another conference off the list. | | | | carry the torch of the conference by |
| There are only four you need to pay attention | | | | themselves. |
| to the rest of the year. | | | | |
| | | | There are only three chances left for the |
| The ACC flopped big time in week one. | | | | conference to redeem itself this season. |
| Clemson, Virginia Tech, and Virginia were all | | | | Syracuse takes on Penn State this Saturday, |
| embarrassed on the opening weekend. Last | | | | but are 27 underdogs at home. The far more |
| Saturday was not any better as the Hokies and | | | | plausible shots at a big non-conference win |
| Cavs held just 3-0 halftime leads against | | | | are South Florida against Kansas on Friday |
| Furman and Richmond respectively. Maryland | | | | and West Virginia taking on Colorado and |
| got beat by Middle Tennessee. Wake Forest | | | | Auburn later in the season. The rest of the |
| barely managed to survive with a last second | | | | Big East had better hope the Bulls and |
| win against rebuilding Ole Miss at home. | | | | Mountaineers are up to the task. |
| | | | |
| As hard as it is to believe however, the Big | | | | • Is there light at the end of the |
| East could be in even worse shape. There is | | | | tunnel for the ACC? There is still some hope |
| less margin for error for it than any other | | | | for the ACC. Clemson is still very talented, |
| BCS league simply because of a numbers game. | | | | but the loss too Alabama showed it is a |
| The raiding of the conference by the ACC left | | | | typical Tommy Bowden team that wilts under |
| it with only eight schools, and there were | | | | pressure. While I think the Demon Deacons |
| widespread notions that it would no longer be | | | | are a quality team they are certainly not |
| worthy of being included among the power | | | | among the elite in college football. At |
| conferences. That proved to be unfounded | | | | least Florida State showed some semblance of |
| with the rise to prominence of West Virginia | | | | an offense (albeit in a glorified scrimmage) |
| under Rich Rodriguez, and Louisville under | | | | and youthful Miami stayed with Florida for a |
| Bobby Petrino. Both coaches are now gone, | | | | half. That brings hope for the future. The |
| and so too it appears the swagger of the Big | | | | conference desperately needs those two |
| East. | | | | traditional powers to return to prominence. |
| | | | |
| This was supposed to be the year for Dave | | | | • Remember the name: Jahvid Best. |
| Wannstedt at Pitt. The Panthers already lost | | | | Pacific-10 games are often hard to find and |
| at home to Bowling Green. Louisville got | | | | watch outside of the West Coast, but fans |
| embarrassed by in-state rival Kentucky. | | | | would do well to catch a glimpse of Cal |
| Cincinnati got eviscerated by Oklahoma. | | | | tailback Jahvid Best. The true sophomore has |
| Rutgers showed that it can't moved the ball | | | | blazing speed having won the California state |
| without Ray Rice in a blowout against Fresno | | | | 100-meter title in high school, and that |
| State at home. West Virginia, supposedly the | | | | speed translates incredibly well to the |
| one elite team this season, was held without | | | | football field. He has already piled up 311 |
| a touchdown for the first time in seven years | | | | yards and 4 touchdowns averaging 8.4 yards |
| in a manhandling by East Carolina. Syracuse | | | | per carry. Against Washington State last |
| is Syracuse. Connecticut needed overtime | | | | week he scored on runs of 80 and 86 yards. |
| just to edge Temple by three, but at least it | | | | If the Bears continue to win and challenge |
| managed to stay unbeaten. | | | | for second in conference behind USC, expect |
| | | | to see Best in New York at the Heisman trophy |
| Along with the Huskies, South Florida is the | | | | celebration. |
| only other team in the Big East without a | | | | |