Week 11 of this year’s college football season had its share of bigtime match ups, great individual performances and emotion.  Check out CSF’s take on our top four storylines from last weekend’s action.

Despite turmoil, Penn State shows ultimate class: Despite the Jerry Sandusky child sex scandal and the following administrative leave of assistant coach Mike McQueary and the mid-week firing of legendary coach Joe Paterno, Penn State officially started the healing process this weekend for the football program, the student body and most importantly, for the victims of the alleged abuse.

It started the night before, when students and faculty held a candlelight vigil for the vicitims of Sandusky’s heinous crimes.  On game day, the Penn State fans gave a warm welcome to the team when they got off the buses and again, the the Nittany Lions took the field.  An emotional moment of silence showed fans, many of whom were in tears, was followed by both teams meeting in a

BCS Computers get lucky again: Supporters of the BCS, which depends on computer formulas to determine the best teams in the land, got a huge break last weekend.  For the second straight year, Boise State will not be able to blame computers for not getting their shot at college football immortality.  Last year, a missed field goal at Nevada cost the Broncos a perfect season, and last weekend it was a missed field goal at home against TCU.

Just south in Palo Alto, the Stanford Cardinal fell to Oregon, ending the nation’s longest active winning streak and effectively taking them out of BCS Championship contention.  In the end, the Ducks simply had too much speed and athleticsm for the Cardinal, who still played an admirable game.  These two losses leave only LSU, Oklahoma State and Houston, who has never been taken seriously for a national title run, due to their schedule.

The Dawgs are back:  After dropping their first two games of the season, many had written off the Georgia Bulldogs and many fans were calling for head coach Mark Richt’s head.  Eight straight wins later and the ability to control their own destiny in the SEC East has a way of creating optimism.  After the 45-7 rout of Auburn last weekend, the Dawgs simply have to win this weekend at home against lowly Kentucky to officially punch their ticket to the SEC Championship next month.  You wouldn’t have guessed it a couple of months ago, but Richt’s very young and very talented squad will finish this season with nine or ten wins and a ton of momentum going into next season.

Brandon Weeden torches Texas Tech:  The Red Raiders were flying high after their upset win at Oklahoma on October 22nd.  That flight was short-lived, and they have dropped three straight since then, with the most recent loss resulting in a 66-6 beat down at home against Weeden and the Oklahoma State Cowboys.  Weeden shredded the TTU defense to the tune of 423 yards and five TDs.  In fact, Weeden had almost as many touchdowns (5) as he did incomplete passes (6) in this blowout.  The victory kept OSU in the #2 spot in the polls, and a win in the Bedlam game against Oklahoma would secure a shot at the BCS title–but don’t expect the Sooners to roll over…….the road to the Big 12 still goes through Norman until proved otherwise.

The first week of the 2011 college football season is officially in the books, and while the January bowls are still months away, we did manage to learn quite a bit from opening week. Here is the CSF Breakdown from Week 1.

Another year, another over-hyped Notre Dame team: A lot of hype surrounded the hiring of former Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly. Because of the dismal state that Charlie Weis left the program in, the expectations were not too high last season. This season was a different story. Most preseason polls had the Irish in the top 25, and last weekend’s loss to USF in South Bend was proof yet again that the Irish are not a dominant program. Much credit needs to go to USF and Skip Holtz, but once again, Notre Dame folded in the face of pressure and played like a team that was afraid of losing, instead of a confident team that expected to win.

RG3 is good. Very good: While most people who watched TCU fall to Baylor are discussing the fall of TCU from the nation’s elite, we prefer to look at the unbelievable play of Baylor QB Robert Griffin III. The junior signal-caller did everything except park the cars and sell the popcorn in Baylor’s amazing 50-48 victory over the Horned Frogs. Griffin III has somewhat flown under the radar because of other NFL prospects in the Big 12 like Blaine Gabbert, Josh Freeman and Landry Jones to name a few, but last weekend was not a fluke. RG3 came into the season with 41 career touchdown passes, versus only 11 picks. This will not be the first time you hear from Griffin or the Bears this season.

Auburn could be in for a long season: The 2010 BCS National Champs had to recover an onside kick and score with less than a minute in their nail-biter against visiting Utah State last weekend. Much has been made of the Tigers’ holes vacated by Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton and 13th overall NFL selection Nick Fairley, and the cynics got it right this time. Auburn could not slow down the Utah State, who racked up 227 yards rushing and 448 total net yards. With a healthy dose of SEC West opponents, it is only going to get more difficult, and the Tigers will have to fight to be bowl eligible this season.

The SEC is still King. Just ask the Oregon Ducks: After Nick Fairley dominated the Oregon offensive line, this year was the Ducks’ opportunity to get respect for themselves and the newly expanded Pac 12, but LSU stood in the way of that, dominating Oregon in the first bigtime match up of the young season. Despite only getting 98 yards passing from Jarrett Lee, the Tigers stuffed last year’s leading rusher in all of college football, holing LaMichael James to an anemic 54 yards. Until Oregon can score against the SEC, they can rack up as many yards and points as they want–it just won’t get them back to a title game.

Maryland trumps Oregon in most hideous uniform challenge: If you watched the Miami vs. Maryland game on Monday night, you may have thown up your hot wings. The Terps’ uniforms rivaled the uni’s from “Any Given Sunday”–if you’ve seen that horrible movie, you understand the comparison. Previously, Oregon’s all-fluorescent yellow uniforms took the cake, but Maryland trumped those on Monday. If nothing else, new head coach Randy Edsall has people (including us) talking and writing about Maryland football, which hadn’t been on the radar since Al Davis, in his infinite wisdom, took former Terp wideout Darirus Heyward-Bey with the Oakland Raiders’ first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Peter Marhoefer- Mr. TouchdownUSA

There are lots of great non-conference match ups in September everyone is talking about, however here are some games of intrigue you should search your cable listings for.

Friday, September 2nd- TCU @ Baylor

Baylor should be sky high for the return visit from the Rose Bowl Champs. Last years 45-10 beat down, in which Baylor Quarterback Robert Griffin stated, “”I’ve never been more embarrassed in my life. … None of us wanted to come out here and have a showcase like this.”

We will see if TCU comes out with the same fire as last seasons record setting season or will be going through the motions in their final season in the Mountain West Conference.

The Baylor faithful have no excuse to not fill Floyd Casey stadium for this game. If they fail to, a TCU home game two hours South of Ft. Worth might emerge.

Saturday, September 10th- Utah @ USC

The Utes introduction to the PAC 12 could be a rude introduction or a program elevating triumph. Many are picking Utah to represent the division in the inaugural PAC 12 Championship game.

As the Reggie Bush sanctions against the USC program continues, it will be interesting to see how the Trojans react after a disappointing 2010 season. As many casual fans abandon the USC program, the home field advantage in this game might not be as significant as years past. The Trojans “us against the world” attitude may be harshly tested.

Saturday, September 17- Penn State @ Temple

When Temple coach Al Golden left for Miami (FL) he did not leave a bare cupboard for new coach Steve Addazio. Temple players can finally imagine what selling out Lincoln Financial Field would feel like as 50,000 Penn State fans will make that dream come true.

This may be a tough game for the Nittany Lions to get up for after a home date vs. Alabama. Temple gave Penn State a tough time in University Park in 2010 losing 22-13. The Owls could come away with their first victory since 1941.

Friday, September 23- Central Florida @ BYU

Central Florida will land in Provo catching the Cougars after a BCS gauntlet of Ole Miss, Texas, and Utah. BYU which could very easily be 3-0 or 0-3 at this point, will have a short week to prepare for this Friday Night game vs. the defending C-USA champs.

Saturday, September 24- Florida @ Kentucky

This may be one of the biggest games in the history of the Kentucky Football Program. Florida will be taking it’s first road trip with new coach Will Muschamp. Kentucky has Auburn, Alabama, and Arkansas off of the schedule,  MUST win this game to move the program forward.

If the Wildcats prevail, it could be a magical season of 9-11 victories in Lexington and a possible first appearance in the SEC Championship Game.

CSF’s College Football Preseason Countdown to #1 continues this week with our #11-#15 ranked teams.  In case you missed them, check out our breakdown of #21-#25 and last week’s breakdown of teams #16-#20. 

15.  Virginia Tech:  The Hokies will have little trouble replacing the loss of QB Tyrod Taylor. There are Seven games on the schedule that look like blow outs before the season starts. The Hokies will meet the Seminoles once again in the ACC Championship Game.  –  Peter Marhoefer, Mr. Touchdown USA

The model of consistently being good, winning games, playing the right way, developing NFL ready players and an empty national championship trophy case.  I would love to have seen this team  with Tyrod Taylor and their running backs return, minus the brain freeze that got them early last year.  What might have been…  –  Christian Hon, CSF writer/contributor

14.  TCU:  They’re not going to be anywhere as good as last season, but, for one more season at least, they’ll play in the Mountain West before moving to the Big East.  Two years from now, none of us will even be able to name their previous conference.  –  Justin Cange, CSF writer/contributor

The Horned Frogs’ season will come down to the big game on November 12 at Boise State, and if Gary Patterson’s boys can pull it off, then a BCS bid will not be out of reach. But there are a lot of inexperienced players, which leads me to believe they could drop a game or two that would have been an easy W last season.  –  Nick Mattar, CSF writer/contributor

13.  Ohio State:  Off the field distractions and dates with Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Michigan State will keep the Buckeyes out of the BCS Title game but returning to the Rose Bowl.  –  Peter Marhoefer, Mr. Touchdown USA

Their players’ appreciation for tattoos could cost the Buckeyes dearly this season.  Of the five game suspensions of including key contributors Terrelle Pryor and Boom Herron, two of those games pit OSU against Miami and Michigan State.  Pryor and company return just in time to take on Big Ten newcomer Nebraska in Lincoln…not exactly a preseason game.  With their daunting schedule, the suspensions, and the continued pressure of an NCAA investigation, Ohio State will likely see themselves out of the BCS picture in 2011.  –  Jeff Dunbar, CSF Senior Editor

12.  Wisconsin:  The Badgers will sleepily bulldoze through the Big Ten and make us wonder how a perennial 10 win team can be so boring.  –  Christian Hon, CSF writer/contributor

The tailback tandem of Montee Ball, and James White will carry a huge load of the offense, and they will have to in order for new quarterback Jon Budmayr to succeed.  Budmayr has no game experience, but he has two talented receivers in Nick Toon and Jared Abbrederis to help him ease into his first season. On the other side of the ball, JJ Watt and Niles Brinkley will be tough to replace, but they should be fine as long as Louis Nzegwu and their senior-laden secondary produce.

11.  Oklahoma State:  I still don’t know how OSU didn’t win the Big 12 last year.  With that offense clicking on all cylinders and a road-weary OU team coming to Stillwater late in the season, I thought surely the Pokes would achieve their first berth in the Big 12 Championship Game.  Instead, they got blitzed again by OU.  Their biggest weapons on offense return, however, and as long as Brandon Weeden can find Justin Blackmon, OU is the only team that serves as a challenge.  — Justin Cange, CSF writer/contributor

Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon are getting all the hype, and why shouldn’t they after the numbers they posted last season.  But look for running back Joseph Randle to burst onto the national season in 2011.  As a freshman, the RB split time with Kendal Hunter, and he still had 452 yards rushing with another 427 yards receiving.  OSU also gets Oklahoma at home again this season, the second year in a row this rivalry match up will be played in Stillwater, due to the conference reallignment this fall.  –  Jeff Dunbar, CSF Senior Editor 

Peter Marhoefer- Mr. Touchdown USA

1. Baylor and Quarterback Robert Griffin will go into Ft. Worth and upset TCU on Saturday. This will launch Griffin into Heisman Trophy talk, and vault the Bears into their first bowl game since entering the Big 12.

2. Northwestern will challenge Ohio State for the Big Ten Title.  The Wildcats do not play Ohio State or Michigan on this years schedule. The lineup is littered with Junior and Senior talent, and Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald has proven he has the ability to “coach up” his players. Three big tests are on the schedule Nov. 6th at Penn State, Nov. 13th hosting Iowa, and finishing up the season Nov. 27th at Wisconsin. If the Wildcats can pull off two wins in those three games, look for a Big Ten Title tie with a one loss Ohio State.

3. After a 1-1 start, Colorado coach Dan Hawkins can avoid a mid-season firing with a win over Hawaii this weekend. A loss to Hawaii followed up with a home embarassment to Georgia, look for Hawkins to have one foot out the door.  Look for Colorado to court former Buff Eric Bieniemy, the current Minnesota Vikings Running Backs Coach.

4. The attendance at Saturday’s Iowa State – Kansas State game in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City will make both schools re-evaluate the continuation of the neutral-site contest. With five home and four away Big 12 games looming next year, neither school will be interested in playing three home conference games in off years in the future.

5. Boise State will escape Laramie, Wyoming this weekend. Wyoming may not win, but a fired up Cowboy’s team playing in honor of fallen teammate Ruben Narcisse will give the Broncos everything they can handle. Even with two weeks to prepare, Boise State will be looking ahead to next weeks showdown with Oregon State. Cowboys Coach Dave Christensen will have his high powered offense ready, and a team playing it’s second Top Ten opponent in a week will not be fazed by BSU’s number three rating.

The countdown is over.  For the past week, College FootBlog has broken down college football’s 2010 Preseason Top 25.  In case you missed them, take a look at teams #8-#15 and teams #16-#25.  We now unveil our Preseason Super 7, along with some things to look for this fall.

1. Alabama: The Crimson Tide will likely be everyone’s #1 going into this fall, and why shouldn’t they be?  They lost All-Americans at all three levels of their defense; DT Terrence Cody, linebacker Rolando McClain and cornerback Javier Arenas, but ‘Bama will reload at each position, none more that Dre Kirkpatrick at corner.  The strength of the Tide, however, will be the offense.  The running game will once again feature the tandem of Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and ultra-talented Trent Richardson.  Wide Receiver Julio Jones could be next year’s top receiver taken in the NFL Draft, and under center will be Greg McElroy, who, as opposed to last fall, has not only played on the biggest stages (see SEC Championship and BCS National Championship), but he has come through with flying colors.  Put it all together, and Nick Saban appears to be in position to win it all again in 2010.

Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor will look to pick up where he left off last season in the Rose Bowl (google images)

2. Ohio State: If Terrelle Pryor picks up where he left off in the Rose Bowl, look for Ohio State to challenge for a BCS National Championship this season.  Pryor was inconsistent at the beginning of the season, but as the 2009 season progressed, he seemed to be more relaxed and confident, and he helped lead the Buckeyes to six straight wins to close out the season.   Tailbacks Brandon Saine and Boom Herron will compliment Pryor in the backfield behind a very physical and very experienced offensive line.   As is typically the case in Columbus,  Jim Tressel will have a stacked defense.  Although changes in the depth chart could happen after two-a-days in August, the spring depth chart for the Bucks has ten seniors starting on defense, highlighted by linebacker Brian Rolle.

3. Boise State: This fall the Broncos will not have to fight the preseason rankings like they have in year’s past.  The BCS formula and bowl selection failed miserably by putting BSU against TCU in last year’s Fiesta Bowl.  The Broncos return 23 of 24 starters from last year’s undefeated squad, including quarterback Kellen Moore.  Chris Petersen’s team will also have a national audience for their opener at Virginia Tech.  If they can win that game and take care of business for the rest of the season, pollsters will find it difficult to continue to keep them out of the BCS National Championship, especially if Ohio State or Alabama suffers a loss.

4. Virginia Tech: The Hokies will try to break the recent trend of ACC teams that are hyped up all preseason, only to fail miserably early in the season (see Clemson).  The defense will break in several new starters, including the DE position vacated by E Jason Worilds, who left early for the NFL.  While the youth and inexperience on defense may be an issue, this is certainly not defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s first rodeo.  Look for the Va Tech defense to be solid, and they will be aided by the running game on offense.  Ryan Williams blew up last season for over 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns, and he will be joined by Darren Evans, who sat out last season with an ACL tear.  Tyrod Taylor is still more dangerous with his feet than his arm, but last season, he proved he could win games by throwing the ball, too.

Sophomore QB Garrett Gilbert will take the keys to the offense in Austin this fall (google images)

5. Texas: With the losses of Heisman runner-up Colt McCoy and soon-to-be first round pick Sergio Kindle, one might think the Longhorns would be in a bit of a rebuilding year, but Mack Brown is one of the best recruiters in the business, consistently replacing All-Americans with newer All-Americans.  The early departure of McCoy due to injury in the BCS National Championship was a major blow to the ‘Horns chances of beating Alabama, but it provided great experience for then-freshman Garrett Gilbert.  It did not take long for Gilbert to settle in, and when he did, he gave the Crimson Tide defense (which was arguably the best in the country) a run for their money.  Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp once again has a talent-rich defense led by linebackers Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho.

6. Oregon: Had it not been for Jeremiah Masoli’s suspension for the entire 2010 season, the Ducks would be ranked as high as #3, but when you lose a Heisman candidate, it is going to drop you at least a few spots.  Head coach Chip Kelly proved last year that he can not only keep his team focused despite a suspension to a key player (i.e. LeGarrette Blount), but he can also replace talent with more talent.  LaMichael James replaced Blount with seemingly no issue, as the freshman tallied just under 1,500 yards on his way to earning the Pac 10 Freshman of the Year.  An off the field incident in February, however, will result in a suspension of at least one game this fall.  If the Ducks can finish with one loss or less, they will have made a very strong case for a shot at the BCS title.  That is because their schedule is one of the toughest in the country, and includes road games at Tennessee, Cal, USC and they cap off the season in Corvallis for the Civil War against Oregon State.

7. TCU: In ten years at the helm, head coach Gary Patterson has quietly led the Horned Frogs to an 85-28 record.  Like Boise State, they return the majority of their starters from last season.  Led by quarterback Andy Dalton, the offense returns nine of their eleven starters.  Last season,
Dalton accounted for over 2,700 yards passing and over 500 yards rushing.  On defense, TCU loses linebacker Daryl Washington and dominant defensive end Jerry Hughs.  Linebacker Tank Carder should fill the void at LB, but the Horned Frogs will need to find someone off the edge to provide pressure on opposing quarterbacks for Patterson’s defensive scheme to be effective.  Patterson’s troops open up at home against Oregon State.  A win against the Beavers on national television combined with their high preseason ranking could likely send them to their second-straight BCS bowl at season’s end.