Trifecta on Thursday night in College Football

The Mack Brown era at Texas is hitting a critical stage at Iowa State and next week at the Red River Shoutout. Upset alert in Ames?

Texas at Iowa State 6:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) - in the Big 12!

Western Kentucky at Louisiana Monroe 6:30 p.m. ESPNU (HD) - in the Sun Belt!

UCLA at Utah 9:00 p.m. FS1 (HD) - in the Pac 12!

Can the Cyclones pull off the Big 12 win in Ames this time?

In 2010, Paul Rhoads pulled off a Big Win in Austin over the Longhorns.

This year, the Cyclones finished third in the State of Iowa, with a season opening loss at home vs. UNI. Then lost at home in the Cy-Hawk Game, to open the season 0-2.

Finally, last Thursday, the Cyclones beat Tulsa on the road to get first win of the 2013 season to reach 1-2, heading into Big 12 opener. The Texas Longhorns hit Ames at 2-2, 1-0 in Big 12.

Heading into the 2011 College Football season... who looks worthy and who is not for the preseason Top 25?

The first college preseason magazines are hitting the shelves for the 2011 season. The preseason magazines will get some right and get some wrong, in both directions. In 2010, Auburn and Stanford became the surprise teams of the season, while, on the flip side, Texas went from the BCS title game runner-up in 2009 to a sub .500 season under Mack Brown in Austin in 2010. Who will not make it from the Top 25 in 2010?

Over the past four seasons, Boise State has been the #1 program for winning percentage. Actually, you have to go back to 1996 to knock Boise State off as #1 program in terms of winning percentage. Since 1996, Ohio State was #1, but times may be changing in Columbus with the resignation of coach Jim Tressel on Memorial Day.

Boise State moves to the MWC in 2011, while Utah moves to the new Pac 12 and Boise State become the fourth Independent in College Football. Will Boise State knock off TCU, who is coming off an undefeated season in 2010? It should be an interesting race in 2011 in the MWC.

Auburn is the defending champion. They went from unranked in the final poll in 2009 to #1 in 2010. Are they even worthy of a Top 25 ranking, after one-season wonder, Heisman Trophy winning QB Cam Newton bolted to the NFL? As Phil Steele highlights on his web site, Auburn ranks #120 in number of returning starters for the 2011 season. They could fall from top team in SEC to near the bottom of the SEC West.

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Red River Rivarly Game: #7 Oklahoma vs. #18 Texas in Week 5

This should be an interesting game on Saturday in Dallas, as another Red River Rivalry game is on tap. Oklahoma (4-0) hasn't beat Texas, since '07. Texas (3-1) enters the game like '07, coming off a big home loss, after UCLA beat the Longhorns 34-12 in Austin. In '07, the Longhorns, were -14 favorites in Austin, but lost by 20 points to Kansas State. The next game was the RRR game and the Sooners prevailed by eight. Is coach Mack Brown headed to another defeat vs. coach Bob Stoops in Dallas on Saturday?

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Week 1: Our Top 25 College Football teams

The kickoff of the 2009 College Football arrived over the past Labor Day weekend, as Week One is now in the books. Who surprised and who fell down after Week 1?

"College Football is an imperfect sport" - Mack Brown, Texas head coach.
Brown also commented about the close of the Iowa-UNI game on ESPNU today.

Look for some interesting games in Week 2 of the College Football season.

1. Florida (1-0) LW 1 - The Gators, the defending BCS champions, opened '09 by rocking Charleston Southern (0-1) 62-3 in Gainsville. Next up: The Gators host the Sun Belt's top program, as the Troy Trojans (0-1) play the Gators again ('07, UF won 59-31). Another tune up until next week's SEC opener in Gainsville?


2. Texas (1-0) LW 2 - The Longhorns kicked off the '09 season with a 59-20 win over Louisiana-Monroe (0-1) from the Sun Belt. The Longhorns hit the road @ the Wyoming Cowboys (1-0) for Week 2. Is Colt McCoy ready to make a bid as the Heisman guy for '09?


3. USC (1-0) LW 3 - The Trojans kicked off at home beating San Jose State (0-1) by 56-3 with first year QB Matt Barkley getting the start. Next up: the Trojans travel to the Horseshoe to face the #5 Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0) to defend last year's 35-3 home victory. How will the true freshman Barkley handle his first road test in '09?


4. Alabama (1-0) LW 4 - The Crimson Tide repeat an outstanding start for the '09 season in Atlanta with 34-24 win over then #7 Virginia Tech (0-1). The Tide open at home in Week 2 hosting a Sun Belt program, in Florida International Panthers (0-0), who were idle Week 1, after last year's 5-7 record. Coach Nick Saban has never had back to back double digit win seasons. Will it happen in '09?


5. Ohio State (1-0) LW 6 - The Buckeyes opened the '09 season in the Horseshoe holding off Navy (0-1) 31-27. It doesn't get any easier, as the Buckeyes host #3 USC Trojans in the Horseshoe in the biggest game of the '09 season to date. It was tough going for the Buckeyes at USC in '08 ...


6. LSU (1-0) LW 8 - The Tigers survive the Pacific Northwest trip @ Washington 31-23. Next up: the Tigers open in the SEC at home vs. the Vanderbilt Commodores (1-0), who haven't met, since '05, where LSU won 34-6 in Nashville.


7. Penn State (1-0) LW 9 - The Nittany Lions opened in Happy Valley with a 31-7 win over the Akron Zips. Next up: the Nittany Lions host the Syracuse Orange (0-1), who are coming off a tough OT loss vs. the Minnesota Gophers in the Carrier Dome. PSU won last year @ Syracuse 55-13 and open '09 with four straight in Happy Valley!


8. Oklahoma State (1-0) LW 10 - The Cowboys won the home opener over then #13 Georgia 24-10 to pick up a solid victory to start the '09 season. Next up: the Cowboys host a solid C-USA program in the Houston Cougars (1-0).


9. Brigham Young (1-0) LW 22 - After defeating then #5 Oklahoma (0-1) 14-13 in Dallas, we are moving the Cougars to the #9 spot that they finished the final AP Poll last year. The Cougars have to turn around and head to New Orleans to play @ the Tulane Green Wave (0-1, 0-1 C-USA)


10. California (1-0) LW 12 - The Golden Bears opened the '09 season at home vs. Maryland with a 52-13 win. The Golden Bears host the Eastern Washington Eagles (1-0), a FCS foe, in Week 2.


11. Boise State (1-0) LW 11 - The Broncos past the first real test in the '09 season with a Thursday night opening win at home over then #16 Oregon Ducks (0-1) 19-8. Next up: The Broncos continue their OOC schedule by hosting the Miami-OH RedHawks (0-1).


12. Mississippi (1-0) LW 14 - The Rebels went on the road in the season opener @ Memphis (0-1) to pick up a solid 45-14 victory over their border rival to go 47-10-2 in the series. The Rebels will take the week off to get ready for Week 3 game vs. Southeastern Lousiana Lions (1-0), a FCS foe.


13. Utah (1-0) LW 19 - The Utes picked up from last year's success defeating in-state rival Utah State (0-1) 35-17 on Thursday night. Next up: The Utes hit the road @ the San Jose State Spartans (0-1), who face back to back Top 25 teams.


14. Virginia Tech (0-1) LW 7 - The Hokies couldn't hold on vs. Alabama in Atlanta in Week 1, losing to #4 Alabama (1-0) 24-34. Next up: the Hokies head home to Blacksburg in Week 2 to host the Marshall Thundering Herd (1-0), for the first time, since '05, when the Hokies won 41-14.


15. Georgia Tech (1-0) LW 15 - The Yellow Jackets opened the '09 season with a 37-17 win over FCS foe, Jacksonville State (0-1). Next up: the Yellow Jackets face the #25 Clemson Tigers (1-0) on Thursday night at home in the ACC opener. The Yellow Jackets won on the road last year over the Tigers 21-17.


16. Georgia (0-1) LW 13 - The Bulldogs fall @ then #10 Oklahoma State 10-24 to lose the season opener. Next up: the Bulldogs return to Athens to open SEC play vs. the South Carolina Gamecocks (1-o) in the SEC East. Georgia won last year, but lost at home in '07 12-16 the Gamecocks in Week 2.


17. TCU (0-0) LW 17 - The Horned Frogs were idle Week 1. They travel to the Virginia Cavaliers (0-1), who are licking their wounds from a Week 1 loss to a FCS program, to open the '09 season in Week 2.


18. Miami - FL (1-0, 1-0 ACC Coastal) LW NR - The Hurricanes squeeze out a victory @ then #18 Florida State (0-1, 0-1 ACC Atlantic) 38-34 as the Seminoles pass in the end zone goes incomplete as time elapses. The Hurricanes will be idle Week 2 as they get ready to host the #15 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-0) on Thursday, September 17 in Week 3 to continue ACC play.


19. Oklahoma (0-1) LW 5 - Yes, we are dropping the Sooners downward, after the Week 1 loss to then #22 BYU (0-1) in Dallas. They will miss QB Sam Bradford for 2-4 weeks, due to the shoulder injury he sustained in the 1st half. The Sooners will open at home Week 2 vs. Idaho State Bengals (0-1), a FCS foe.


20. Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0) LW 20 - Why should the Hawkeyes remain in the Top 20, after a near loss to FCS foe, the University of Northern Iowa (0-1)? Well, the final score was 17-16 and a win. The key in Week 1 is finding a way to win, especially in games you should. UNI is a solid FCS program looking to get back to the FCS Championship finals again. Next up: the Hawkeyes face in-state rival the Iowa State Cyclones (1-0).


21. Nebraska (1-0) LW 22 - The Cornhuskers opened the '09 season at home vs. Florida Atlantic (0-1) with a 49-3 win for coach Bo Pelini as he enters Year 2 in Lincoln. Next up: another Sun Belt opponent arrives in Lincoln, as the Arkansas State Red Wolves (1-0) arrive to face the Cornhuskers.


22. Oregon State (1-0) LW 23 - The Beavers beat FCS foe, Portland State, 34-7 to open the '09 season. Next up: the Beavers hit the road @ the UNLV Rebels (1-0).


23. Notre Dame (1-0) LW NR - The Fighting Irish picked up a solid win to open the '09 season in South Bend beating a WAC program, Nevada (0-1) 35-0. Next up: the Fighting Irish head up to Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines (1-0) in a classic showdown between two long-term OOC rivals


24. West Virginia (1-0) LW 24 - The Mountaineers opened '09 with a win over the Liberty Flames (0-1) by the score of 33-20 in Year 2 under coach Bill Stewart. Next up: the Mountaineers will host the East Carolina Pirates (1-0) this time in a rematch of last year's 3-24 loss.


25. Clemson (1-0) LW 25 - The Tigers won the '09 opener vs. Middle Tennessee State (0-1)37-14 to stay in our Top 25. Next up: a huge ACC opener @ #15 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, who has won the past two meetings in this conference series.
    

Teams to Watch in Week 2: North Carolina, Cincinnati, Kansas and Missouri who are currently ranked in Top 25 AP and/or Coaches' Polls.

Exiting our Top 25 Week 1: Oregon Ducks (0-1) LW 16 (L, 8-19 @ then #11 Boise State). Florida State (0-1, 0-1 ACC Coastal) LW 18 (L, 34-38 vs. Miami-FL).

FCS wins over FBS Week 1: William & Mary (1-0) 26-14 @ Virginia (0-1), while Richmond (1-0) 24-16 @ Duke (0-1).

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