Written by Cris Sykes

---

In his latest, Cris Sykes takes a look back at the week that was in college football, and is still having a hard time finding a team in the same class as the Buckeyes. Sykes looks back at the Buckeyes mauling of the Gophers, hits on USC being exposed, breaks down the Big East and the BCS, and updates his Heisman ballot in this week's "4th And 12". Another week comes, another week goes, and there is still nobody that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as A) The Ohio State Buckeyes B) Troy Smith, Heisman Trophy Winner and C) Jim Tressel Best Damn Coach in the Land. 

I have been racking my brain out trying to find a challenger.  The scariest part, I think there is only one team that could have the personnel to put someone up for all three titles, but you will never believe who it is. 

First, lets cover the Buckeyes.  Pssst, Minnesota, you are excused.  I hope you at least got a good meal while in Columbus.  If a gopher were to walk across I-71, it would stand a better chance at survival than these Gophers had inside Ohio Stadium.   

Michigan is the cute choice to unseat OSU from their National Championship throne, but after a second consecutive unimpressive week, I don’t think so.  If Mario Manningham makes this much of a difference, he must be the reincarnation of Anthony Carter, Braylon Edwards, Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson all rolled into one.  He is not.  Wolverine season starts in Columbus at 3:00, November 18. 

Just like that, the USC Trojans have gone from a dynasty that was still evolving to a team that might finish in the middle of the PAC-10.  If you have been reading past weeks, you know how much I think of the PAC-10.  If you have not been reading, shame on you, and the Pac-10 sucks. 

Louisville and West Virginia get to play this week, with the winner being the most likely team to get a shot at OSU in the BCS Championship Game.  That is unless, of course, the winner loses to somebody else in the coming weeks.  I like Louisville.  Mike Furlan, Buckeye Guru, hates Louisville.  Come on Louisville!  At least let me brag about something to him, since he dominates picking the Buckeye games. 

Speaking of the Big East, which unfortunately I have to do because they are in the BCS, it appears the undefeated winner will get to play the Buckeyes.  Remember me saying there is only one team that can boast an undefeated resume, with a Heisman Trophy candiate, and a guy doing a great coaching job.  That team does hail from the Big East.  Lousiville, West V and Rutgers are all undefeated.  West Virginia (Steve Slaton) and Rutgers (Ray Rice) have legitimate Heisman candidates.  However, only Rutgers has a coach that I would say is doing a great job.  Rutgers?   

The rest of the BCS will not be settled until early December.  Without a team stepping up and playing like they want a shot at Ohio State, it will pretty much be left up to whatever team survives the conference championship games to get to Tempe.  Florida and Texas seem to be the best of the 1-loss teams right now, but both could be three loss teams by then.  Notre Dame only has one test left.  So the only question left would be…would OSU beat them worse than they did last year? 

Heisman Ballot

 

1. Troy Smith, QB, OSU – Do I really need to list his exploits?  He completes nearly 70% of his passes with 22 TDs and only 2 INTs.  Got his first rushing touchdown last week, just to remind Michigan that he will run all over them if they try to play him soft.
2. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers – On pace for 1800 yards and 20 scores and has not fumbled the ball all year.
3. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dumb – Somebody told me I had to list three guys to make it an actual list, so here he is.