The College Football Apocalypse Is Upon Us

Two months ago, we theorized what the New World Order of college football would look like here. Today, that reality is much closer than anyone ever expected with the events of the past week. With expansion talk accelerating at a rapid pace around the country, and the walls of Troy coming down in Los Angeles, this is one of the biggest weeks in college football history. Let's take a look at each story and it's ramifications.

*The Hammer Comes Down on USC

-Wow. I don't know if anybody expected this. A 2 year bowl ban, the loss of 20 scholarships, and the likely removal of their 2004 national championship. The penalties handed down by the NCAA are the biggest in recent memory to be handed down to a national program - at least since 1993 and Auburn went 11-0 with a postseason and TV ban. But, USC, the darling of ESPN and Hollywood, looks like it might have to start over. Everyone was so enamored with how cool USC was and turned a blind eye to what was going on behind the scenes. I'm sure Colin Cowherd will brush it off, but I can't see how a program can keep the wagons rolling with a legendary head coach leaving for the NFL, a 2 year ban, and the loss of that many scholarships.

Obviously, this hurts USC going forward - no chance at a national title the next two seasons, and Lane Kiffin won't be able to handle the loss of 20 scholarships well. But, even more damaging is the stain left on the USC brand and the Pete Carroll Era. Carroll now looks like a coach on the Calipari level that left when the going got tough and leaves a wasteland behind him. Carroll's reputation gets flushed in this because he ran to the pros before he could clean up the mess he created. (By the way, I think I called that in January) The USC of the 2000s was the A-list program, contained the supposed greatest team of all-time, won 3 Heisman Trophies, and what was 2 National Championships - but now looks like just 1.

Clearly, there were major violations here and the NCAA is in the business of making an example out of USC with these penalties. It's going to be an interesting two years to see how Lane Kiffin deals with this adversity. Now with the Pac 10 looking like it's going to 16 teams and adding the Texas and Oklahoma juggernauts, USC's time at the top may be over.

*Nebraska Hits The Red Button

-Tom Osborne and Nebraska made the decision that dissolved the Big 12. Nebraska leaving the Big 12 for the Big 10 is the move that starts all of the other dominoes falling. It's somewhat sad to see the Big 8/Big 12 tradition go poof, but it is a fantastic move for the Cornhuskers. Yes, the Big 10 Network and all the extra money is nice, but Nebraska is a perfect fit for the Big 10 as far as football tradition in the Midwest. The folks in Lincoln will fit right in with the ones in Columbus, Ann Arbor, Madison, and Iowa City. Going to the New Big 10 opens doors to Nebraska for new rivalries and gives them a chance to continue to rebuild the program in a conference that lacks the depth of other major players. Give credit to Osborne and Nebraska, in this situation universities need to be proactive instead of reactive, and Nebraska leaving for the Big 10 does just that.

*The Pac 10 Annexes The Big 12

-Being proactive is just what new Pac 10 commissioner Larry Scott is doing. Today, Colorado appears to be the first school to move west from the Big 12 to the Pac 10. Basically, the Big 12 South now becomes the Pac 10 East - with Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State joining Colorado in going west. The Pac 10 might emerge as the big winner in all of the reshuffling because of the additions of Oklahoma and most importantly Texas. Texas (maybe even more so than Notre Dame) is the prized recruit in the apocalypse. The Pac 10 instantly becomes a rival to the SEC for best football conference in the nation, and they become the first league to reach the 16 Team Superconference plateau.

*Remaining Questions

What About Missouri? - Missouri looks more and more likely to be the school that's left without a dance partner. All along, Mizzou was thought to be joining Nebraska in going to the Big 10, but the vibes coming out recently make it seem like that is becoming less likely. Perhaps the Big 10 doesn't want stuck with 13 teams at the moment and they'll come in later... or it's time for Tiger fans to start to worry. With no Big 12, the Big 10 is clearly the best fit for Missouri, but they may be stranded with Kansas, Kansas St., Iowa St., and Baylor as the Big 12's casualties. Hello Mountain West?

Does Notre Dame Get In? - Notre Dame has held out with CFB independence for so long, and has found it very fruitful... but now might be the time to get in. Notre Dame does not want to be left out of the party if 4-5 Megaconferences bolt from the NCAA and leave ND and NBC with games against Army and Syracuse. The Big 10 and the rest of college football might force the hand of the Irish to join the league that has sought them for so long. But, now, the pressure might shift from the conference to Notre Dame to make their move.

Who Makes The Next Move? - Assuming the Nebraska and Pac 10 moves happen, the next move may be the most crucial. Does the Big 10 try to reach 16? Does the Mountain West try to shoehorn themselves in by getting Boise, Kansas, and Mizzou? Do the Eastern schools finally get in on the action with the SEC or the ACC poaching from the Big East to begin its downfall? The college football apocalypse is now upon us folks, get ready for a wild ride and a vastly different and possibly soon to be irrelevant NCAA.

RSS Top 10: The Top 10 Most Hated Teams in Sports

The RSS Top 10 is back with our 10 Most Hated Teams in Sports. Duke's win last night got us thinking - where do they rank among the most despised of the disliked teams? The answer: pretty high. These teams are the most hated for a number of reasons, but a common theme is dominance at the top of their respective sports. Of course, since we're all about peace and love here, we don't endorse or promote real hate... only the good, healthy, fun kind of sports hate. It's good for the soul don't you know.

10. Chelsea and Manchester United - Soccer

-We start our list by looking worldwide across the pond to the top two teams in the EPL - Chelsea and Manchester United. Both teams are hated because of their recent dominance on the field, but mostly their billionaire owners off of it. Chelsea's Roman Abramovich has gone Steinbrenner on the soccer world trying to buy a Champions League title, but hasn't done it yet. Man U's owners, the Glazers of the Tampa Bay Bucs, have ridden the club with so much debt that the fans are showing up to games in green and gold scarves (above) instead of the traditional red to protest. Love United Hate Glazer signs can be seen all around Old Trafford. But, the hate doesn't have to stop there. Man U's manager Sir Alex Ferguson makes Coach K seem humble with the whining he does to the officials. For Chelsea, John Terry is the most hateable player in world soccer after his affair with the WAG of ex-teammate Wayne Bridge.

9. USC - College Football

-Maybe USC's sins are about to catch up with them, but since they're such an established powerhouse and cash cow, don't count on it. And that's why S.C. makes our list, they get to play by their own set of rules. From the nefarious recruiting scandals that have hovered over the program, to their hiring of the sleaziest Snake Oil Salesman of them all, Lane Kiffin, the Trojans are the antithesis of a program centered around student athletes. The favorite sons of Colin Cowherd and the West Coast elites don't get a pass from the majority of America just because they think they're cooler than everyone else, Snoop Dogg and Will Ferrell not withstanding. At least we were one of few that noted Pete Carroll being a hypocrite last season. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, USC did have the 2nd best team in college football in the last 50 years in 2005 according to ESPN's "experts"...too bad nobody told Texas. Yeah, maybe having USC shoved down our throats for an entire month added to their hatred around the country just a little bit.

8. SEC - College Football

-Many fans hate the SEC because of the perceived preferential treatment and fawning towards the conference from the media. Granted, the SEC has won 6 of 12 BCS Championships, but that only adds to the conference's hateability factor. Start with the sweetheart deal ESPN hatched with the SEC to help them start their own network...objectivity anyone? Add to that a healthy dose of some of the most dislikable and polarizing figures in sports: Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, and on and on, case in point:

Not just that, it's the fact that the SEC still acts like it has a chip on its shoulder, even though it's already so accomplished. Maybe someone should tell the almighty Southeastern Conference that its champion doesn't have a rite of passage to the BCS title game forever.

7. Los Angeles Lakers - NBA

-Pardon the pun, but the Lakers have been the gold standard for NBA hatred for much of their existence. Sure, they started out humbly as the Minneapolis Lakers behind gentle giant George Mikan. And from the championship standard of greatness set by the Showtime 80s to the current Kobe incarnation, it seems the Lakers always strive to be the best. Which is commendable, if they weren't so arrogant about it. From Jack Nicholson complaining about calls while wearing his trademark sunglasses indoors (real cool, Jack), to the surliness of Kobe and Phil, everything about the Lakers reeks of arrogance. The fact that most of their Hollywood fans go to their games to be seen rather than see a game is a big put off too. I don't think the old Forum was filled to capacity by Dustin Hoffman and his stupid camera or Dyan Cannon and her newest Botox injections between those championship eras, was it? That's why it's easy to hate the Lakers, they're the ultimate front-runners.

6. New England Patriots - NFL

-The Patriots are relative newbies to the most hated teams list, but they've entrenched themselves with the evil mastermind Bill Belichick running the show. Pre-hoodie, Belichick was a below average head coach with Cleveland, but for some reason he founded a dynasty in New England. He also became a surly, unlikeable figurehead for the Pats. There's also his QB Tom Brady, who gets the trophies and the supermodels. Men everywhere can be envious of that. But how did the Patriots become winners? We heard about the "Patriot way" for so many years and that this team did things the right way. Then... well, then the Spygate scandal tarnished the Patriot dynasty and made everyone skeptical of the Belichick Era. What followed was a bitter team running up the score for an entire season on their way to 16-0. Fortunately for Mercury Morris, there weren't many unhappy fans outside New England when the Giants ended their unbeaten hopes in SB XLII.

5. Boston Red Sox - MLB

-Red Sox Nation. Let me stab my eyes with a burning pitchfork. As Boston drew closer and closer to a World Series, the "Nation" came into the spotlight with such a "lovable" team and fanbase. There were parties, sappy stories, books, and even the predictable Jimmy Fallon/Drew Barrymore movie. Puh-lease. The Red Sox won their World Series and then a funny thing happened. The world figured out that the Red Sox were just as evil as the Yankees! The Sawx spend just about as much money and are just as privileged as their Northeastern neighbors. I know the comeback - at least the Sawx have Papi and Pedroia and Youk and Theo! Gag. With the Sawx 2nd World Title in 2007, they officially crossed into hateville as the Nation became insufferable. What makes your fanbase a "Nation" anyways? What does that even mean?? Do you walk into Fargo, ND or Mobile, AL and expect to see Sawx jerseys? Does Nashville Predator Nation exist yet? The Red Sox earn their spot because they think they're the little guy and everybody should love the Nation when really, they are as hateable as the dreaded Yankees (more on them in a bit).

4. Dallas Cowboys - NFL

-It was over 30 years ago when the Cowboys were christened America's Team. Sure, they maybe were the most popular team in the NFL back then, but that was before the Jerry Jones Era. Well, maybe Jerry's new billion dollar Palace in Dallas, with its Gladiator-esque doors and 8,000 foot videoscreen scream America more than anything. Seriously, how many starving children could that videoboard feed? The Cowboys make our list because they still think they're America's Team, even though no team is bigger than the NFL these days. Heck, the most watched TV program in history was just played between the Colts and the Saints!! From Michael Irvin and Primetime to Tony & Jessica and TO, the players haven't been easy to love either. Even their best player, Emmitt Smith, referred to his last year in Big D as being a "diamond surrounded by trash." Stay classy.

3. Notre Dame - College Football

-Perhaps more of an old school choice, Notre Dame still makes our list because their hatred is so deep-seeded around the country. Especially here in the Midwest, you either love or hate the Irish, there's no middle ground. The sad thing about Notre Dame is that they don't realize time has passed them by. They still think they're the best in the sport because of Knute Rockne and the Four Horsemen and Lou Holtz...but their last national title was 1988! They've won one bowl game, one, since 1994! It doesn't matter any more that the Irish have their own TV network to prop them up (NBC) or that they see themselves as above joining a conference. If they didn't have these false pillars of strength, they'd be forgotten. But because they're the Irish, and only because they're the Irish, they are the still a part of the national conversation, which is why they're still hated with a passion by people who just wish they'd go away!

2. New York Yankees - MLB

-The Evil Empire, doesn't that say it all? They spend more than everyone else, think they're better than everyone else, and expect the world to revolve around them from March to November. Their owner isn't just George Steinbrenner...he's the Boss! His son and apparent heir Hank seems as if he hasn't fallen too far from the tree either. Check out this gem:

"Red Sox Nation?" What a bunch of [expletive] that is," he said in an interview with The New York Times' Play magazine. "That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans. "Go anywhere in America and you won't see Red Sox hats and jackets, you'll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order."

I guess I forgot to wake up this morning and pledge my allegiance to the Yankees. I also forgot that MLB only had two teams you could root for, the Yanks or the Sawx. That's the worst part about the Yankees and their fans...it's like there's something wrong with you if you're not a fan of the mighty Yankees or consumed by their war with the Red Sox. Little do they know, there's a big wide world outside little old New York City, which also includes other professional baseball teams! It's so easy for anyone (say, LeBron James) to thrown on a Yankees cap, claim to be a lifelong fan, and show themselves as a phony bandwaggoner. Perhaps no other team on this list has such a rich history of hatred from other fans. Although I guess 27 World Championships will do that, as sickening as it is. I mean, how many teams have a play written about the hatred for them...it's surprising Damn Yankees isn't the longest running show in history, it could sell out across the country 12 months a year!

1. Duke Blue Devils - College Basketball

-Maybe a surpise choice, but with their soul-crushing defeat of Butler last night, it's only fitting that the Dukies claim the top spot in our countdown. Come on, anyone can hate the Yankees. We detailed 5 reasons why it was ok to hate Duke here last week, and those reasons apply here. It could be stories of how arrogant Coach K really is (he said he was most excited about 2 private schools playing for the title, huh?), the arrogant players that have come through the pipeline like JJ Redick, Dick Vitale, or the fact that they never get any calls... except the ones they always get. Hey, who else but Duke could win a title and then directly have F&#k ____ as a Twitter trending topic.

But, what places Duke above the rest is that you and I, average sports fans, are told by everyone else that we shouldn't hate Duke. That sentiment in the media is exclusive to Duke on this list. We're told we should love Duke because they play the right way and go to school amongst other courageous activities. How could anyone hate such a fine program? If anything makes you want to hate a team even more, it is people telling you that you can't hate them. So hate away Duke haters... there's always next year.

Honorable Mention: Ohio State (football), Michigan (football), Boston Celtics (NBA), Canada (Olympic Hockey), Mexico (Soccer), North Carolina (basketball), Kansas (basketball), UConn (women's basketball), Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR), Jeff Gordon (NASCAR)

When The Going Gets Tough, Pete Carroll Gets Going...

Everybody has an opinion on Pete Carroll's shocking move back to the NFL. It appears that unless Carroll pulls a Billy Donovan, then he will be named the Seahawks HC as soon as tomorrow. He leaves behind one of the great college football dynasties of all-time, but his lightning quick departure brings more questions than answers. Is this just a case of Carroll addressing unfinished business in the pros, or is he leaving Troy as it comes tumbling down? Here's Brother Yohey's take...

If it indeed happens that Pete Carroll has left USC for the Seahawks job, then Pete has lost any sliver of respect he had in my eyes. Why leave now, after building a college empire at USC? Something just doesn't sit right about the abruptness and timing of this move. Well, he appears to be fleeing the oncoming tidal wave of NCAA sanctions and punishment for his football program. The 300k Reggie Bush scandal is slowly coming to bear for USC, the revelations of Joe McKnight's use of a Land Rover, and Dwayne Jarrett getting free rent from the Leinarts should put the program under some serious sanctions. Pete obviously was not man enough to work under conditions he no doubtedly helped come to fruition. Noticing the speed with which John Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky in the midst of looming scandals, Pete couldn't resist.

There will be many in the LA area who will need to go through The Stages of Grief to help them get through these times (especially with ho-hum Mike Riley in line). However, those in the LA area can't see the forest through the trees. Pete Carroll has shown himself to be a petty man - a bully who could pick on the smaller children on the playground, but when someone stood up to him and returned the favor, he ran home with tears streaming down his face. Sure, Pete can run the score up on all the teams they play during the football season (UCLA this past year), but when someone does it to him (Jim Harbaugh's Stanford team) he cries foul. (Ed. note: see our article about that situation here)

One has to wonder if Pete was contemplating this move going into this past season when he named Matt Barkley, a true freshman, his starting QB over. With hindsight being 20/20, Carroll put himself in a win-win situation. If they were successful and made a BCS bowl he knew he would have a few years of great success with Barkley at the helm. If they had a down year (as they had this year, going 9-4 with a visit to the Emerald Bowl) then he could use an excuse that he had a freshman QB, or jump ship to the NFL as on and off-field troubles arose. The allegations and scandals, coupled with the disappointing year, make it all too easy for Pete Carroll to flee to Seattle.

Much like Nero fled his empire when it was falling apart, Carroll has fled Troy as the walls were closing in. Way to be a stand up man and screw all the people who believed in you and looked up to you. You have to wonder if the retrospectives on Pete Carroll's USC empire will be as rosy if heavy sanctions are enforced and victories and trophies are ultimately stripped away. Pete, your true colors are showing clearly. You never bled cardinal and gold - only yellow, and the streak is running down your back as you travel up the coast.

Top 10 Games of the Decade: CFB-2006 Rose Bowl

We've saved the best game for last. In truth, we really could do an entire Top 10 Games countdown with the sport of college football. There have been so many all-time great games this decade (see our list at the bottom) that it's excruciatingly hard to pick one for the top of the list. However, there is one game that we can pick for its significance, drama, and absolute quality of football on display. We're all about taking stands here at RSS, and simply put, this is the single greatest game that I have ever seen. Texas. USC. The national title on the line in the Rose Bowl.

Who: USC Trojans vs Texas Longhorns

What: Rose Bowl (AKA BCS National Title Game)

Where: Pasadena, CA

When: January 4, 2006

How It All Unfolded: If you'll remember, this was the year that ESPN ran that series comparing this USC team to the greatest teams of all-time. USC was on a 34 game winning streak (4th longest ever). USC had just tore Oklahoma to pieces in the previous year's national title game 55-19, a year after winning the AP national title. Yes, we still had split national champions this decade... They brought back perhaps the best set of talent in NCAA history. They featured the last 2 Heisman winners in Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush. USC was an unstoppable force. Leading up to the Rose Bowl, all of the focus was on this USC team that was on the Mount Rushmore of the all-time greatest college football teams.

Meanwhile, the Texas Longhorns, led by Vince Young, were the unquestioned 2nd best team in college football. They had won 19 straight games including a dramatic win in the Rose Bowl the year before when VY ran for 4 TDs and had 372 total yards. Here's those highlights...

Young would need even more heroics to down the almighty Trojans. The first quarter featured both defenses standing tall, USC had the 7-0 lead off of a 4 yard Lendale White run. The second quarter was the story of two laterals: Reggie Bush's one that didn't work and created a turnover... and Vince Young's that did and led to a Selmon Young TD (even though VY's knee was down, replay didn't catch it). After another Texas TD it was 16-10 Longhorns going into the break. Lendale White had 2 more rushing TDs (including one on 4th down) sandwiched around a Vince Young score to give USC the lead 24-23 going into the 4th quarter in what was shaping up to be a classic.

But, it's the 4th quarter that makes this the greatest game I've ever seen. Yes, I just described the first 3 quarters in a paragraph, but there were so many great plays all over the field that it was hard to keep track. 18 players on the field were drafted the next year including 4 Top 10 picks. Unquestionably, this game featured the greatest collection of college football talent we've ever seen, and it was all on display in the final 15 minutes.

First, Reggie Bush took the spotlight (305 total yards) with an iconic dive into the endzone for his only TD to extend the USC lead to 8. A Leinart strike (folks forget he was 29/40 for 365 yards) to Dwayne Jarrett with 6:42 left gave the Trojans a 12 point lead. Now, it was up to VY to make another dramatic Rose Bowl comeback.

Young first led an 8 play, 69 yard drive that was capped off with a dramatic 17 yard run, then Texas' D had to shine. When they stopped White on 4th down at the Texas 45 with just over 2 minutes left, Young stepped on to the field to etch his name into the history books. Think back to that moment, when the Texas D ran jubilantly off the field to give VY the ball back, I dare you to tell me that you weren't as captivated as you have ever been watching a sporting event. You knew what would happen next...

I was getting goosebumps on Texas' final drive, and I'm no Texas fan, but the moment was so grand that you had to be on the edge of your couch, barstool, or whatever. VY drove Texas to the 8, and on 4th Down Young raced to the corner of the endzone to give Texas the national championship, complete the greatest single championship performance in history, and cap off perhaps the greatest game ever played. Here's the streamlined version from after the fact, but if you have extra time, you really should check out the extended 3 part highlights below because they feature the legendary Keith Jackson's commentary in his final game, Part 3 features the last 8 minutes and Young's comeback.

Keith Jackson's call and extended highlights...

Why We'll Remember It: There's not much else you can say except that it is the greatest game of the decade, and in all of college football history. Not only that it was a national championship game, but that it featured absolutely everything you can ask for in an all-time classic: great players, great plays, classic moments, and drama till the end.

In some aspect, the numbers tell the story: 79 combined points and 1130 total yards of offense, and not 1, but 2 Heisman winners being thwarted by Texas' #10. Vince Young, in the best title game performance in sports history, had these numbers:

30/40 267 yards passing, 19 carries 200 yards 3 TDs

Think about that, against the already coronated Trojans, Vince Young put up 467 yards of offense, and led Texas on 2 TD drives in the last 6:42. With Leinart on the bench in Arizona, Bush in a supporting role for the 11-0 Saints, and Young only now looking like a successful NFL QB, it's easy to forget just how great they were in college. These are all legends of the college game.

In this here and now society, the Twittering age, it's easy to get caught up in the latest Tiger Woods drama or this year's BCS and forget the unforgettable moments in sports. That's why RSS is celebrating these classic moments in our Decade Series, to remember what why we love sports so much. If you watched the game, you know the legendary status of what happened that night in Pasadena, whether you were on USC's side, Texas's side, or just a plain old fan. We wait for nights like the 2006 Rose Bowl, because each game has the ability to give us something that we'll remember throughout the generations.

We watch sports for nights like January 4, 2006.

Other Games Considered

-2003 Fiesta Bowl - #2 OSU 31 #1 Miami (FL) 24 F/2OT

-2005 Rose Bowl - #6 Texas 38 #13 Michigan 37

-2005 - USC 34 Notre Dame 31

-2006 - #1 Ohio State 42 #2 Michigan 39

-2007 Fiesta Bowl - #9 Boise State 43 #8 Oklahoma 42 F/OT

-2007 - Appalachain State 34 Michigan 32

-2007 - LSU 28 Florida 24

Quick Hits: Pete Carroll Is A Hypocrite

Time for our newest debut feature at RSS: Quick Hits. Quick Hits will give us a chance to give our thoughts on a subject in the world of sports that we might not otherwise cover throughout the week. It'll be a short article analyzing a person, game, moment, or anything else. Quick Hits can be inspired by a moment of greatness, stupidity, questions that need asked, analysis you won't find anywhere else, or in this case, a football coach who is a major-league chach bag.

Pete Carroll is a hypocrite. You would have thought the sky was falling when Jim Harbaugh and Stanford went for 2 against poor, defenseless USC two weeks ago. Pete Carroll asked Harbaugh "what's the deal" at midfield and was generally angry and upset that he got showed up. A lot of people might say that running up the score brings shame and disrespect to the game. Others would argue that it's the defense's job to play defense and that you can score however many points you want, this is a capitalist society after all.

But, whichever side of the debate you fall on, don't be a hypocrite. If you're going to be incredulous against a fellow coach for running it up, don't pull this junk in your next game. Up 14, in the last minute, Carroll pulled this stunt after UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel called a timeout. It wasn't that big of a deal, except we almost had the 2009 LA Riots...

Carroll said that it was a "great frickin call" to embarrass UCLA like that. And, I have no problem with USC throwing it deep after Neuheisel called the needless timeout. However, this is the same guy that whined when another coach did the same thing two weeks earlier. I hope Neuheisel asked Teflon Pete "what's the deal" at midfield. I hope every opponent takes every chance to run up the score against USC in the future, just so Carroll can be further exposed as the hypocrite he is. By the way, for all of the USC players jumping up and down on the sidelines... you've had a crappy year, you're not going to a BCS game, UCLA sucks... get over yourselves. USC's behavior makes the entire program look childish and petulant. Pete Carroll, you might be the biggest hypocrite in sports this year. Enjoy the Holiday Bowl.

YCS/Heisman Watch - Week 9

After a topsy turvy week in college football, we at the YCS are here to provide you with the true college football rankings. How far should Oregon climb up the rankings? Should the top 3 remain the same? How do we sort out the rest of the unbeatens? And in the Heisman Watch, did anyone finally claim #1? To find the answers, you're in the right place, because we're the only ones who tell it like it is!

YCS STANDINGS

1. Texas (8-0, last week W at #14 Oklahoma St. 41-14, up next Sat vs. UCF )

-Another important Big 12 game, another easy win for the 'Horns. Instead of riding the arm of Colt McCoy, the defense stepped up in a big way, picking Ok. St. QB Zac Robinson off four times, taking two back to the house. The D didn't leave McCoy much work to do, but when called upon his form is finally starting to resemble the deadly accuracy of last season. What's more, Texas has one of the easiest finishing schedules in the country...unless you think one of UCF, Baylor, Kansas, or Texas A&M can give them a scare. With that weak schedule though, it may be hard for Texas to stay at #1 in the YCS for long...

2. Florida (8-0, last week W vs. Georgia 41-17, up next Sat. vs. Vanderbilt)

-Ok, so yeah, Georgia wasn't a match for Florida like we thought they would be...but, there's something more important that needs discussed in this space, the disgusting actions of Florida HC Urban Meyer. LB Brandon Spikes did the wrong thing by trying to gouge the eyes of a Georgia player at the bottom of a pile on Saturday. On one hand it's a part of a violent game, but on the other hand, he got caught and should be punished. But, for Mr. Self-Righteous Urban Meyer to only suspend him for ONE HALF is atrocious. If you aren't going to send a message that that type of dirty play is wrong, then don't suspend him. If you condone those sorts of dirty tactics, don't bother with this empty gesture. How many times will Urban Meyer give the middle finger to the rest of college football before anyone gets offended?

3. Alabama (8-0, last week idle, up next Sat vs. #9 LSU)

-When things are this tight at the top of the YCS, you're going to lose ground if you don't play. Still, if Alabama can take care of business against the Bayou Bengals this Saturday, they should vault right back to the top of the YCS table. Although, if they're going to win against LSU, QB Greg McElroy is going to have to improve from his mid-season swoon...a one-dimensional team against LSU isn't a good idea.

4. Cincinnati (8-0, last week W at Syracuse 28-7, up next Sat. vs. UConn)

-The Bearcats must be getting dizzy after their roller coaster ride in the polls these past two weeks. They've gone from 5th to 8th to 5th in the last three weeks in the BCS, while we at the YCS have consistently given UC the credit they deserve. Backup QB Zach Collaros had another impressive outing in relief of Tony Pike, who could be back as soon as this Saturday night against UConn. A primetime showdown, or more specifically a primetime blowout, would be just what the doctor ordered for their faint national title hopes.

5. TCU (8-0, last game W vs. UNLV 41-0, up next Sat. at San Diego St.)

-You can't blame TCU if somehow the BCS leaves them with the short end of the stick. After dismantling a talented BYU team on the road, they were equally dominant in an impressive shutout of UNLV. The offense, led by QB Andy Dalton put up 578 yards of offense while only giving up 160 yards on defense. TCU will have one last chance to impress the voters and computers in two weeks against #14 Utah.

6. Boise St. (8-0, last week W vs. San Jose St. 45-7, up next Sat. at La. Tech)

-Boise continues to keep on trucking much like their BCS Buster counterparts TCU. The Blue Turf Boys are still playing at a high level, but without a ranked team left on their schedule, can they do enough to impress the polls to move ahead of TCU. Of course, as is usual in college football, the answer isn't in their hands...it's in the hands of our #7 team in the countdown.

7. Oregon (7-1, last game W vs. #5 USC 47-20, up next Sat. at Stanford)

-Oh my God! The Yoders picked a big game correctly! Don't worry, I'm just as surprised as you all are. We expected the dual threat ability of Jeremiah Masoli to cause problems for USC, but we didn't expect the consistently tough running of Fr RB LaMichael James (more on him later) that exposed the Trojans shockingly weak defense. Give all credit in the world to Oregon for how they've rebounded after that tough Week 1 loss to Boise St. For once, it's the Ducks with the inside track to Pasedena. One final thought, for those praying for a BCS meltdown, start hoping the Oregon/Boise St. rankings have some impact on the national title picture.

8. Iowa (8-0, last game W vs. Indiana 42-24, up next Sat. vs. Northwestern)

-Iowa plummets down the YCS once we finally tried giving them some credit. Please, don't let the final score of the game fool you...Iowa was this week's recipient of bogus officiating to favor a BCS contender. Let's set the scene, Indiana has outplayed Iowa the entire game and only by the grace of a miraculous pinball pick 6, Iowa is down 21-14. Ricky Stanzi is in the middle of throwing 4 INTs...in the 3rd quarter alone! WR Terrance Turner thinks he's caught a TD to give Indiana the momentum back and a 28-14 lead...just look at the replay below.

It's a TD, right? You can see the guy's foot hit the ground! From another angle, you can see the dirt kick up in the endzone! And yet, some bozo from the Big Ten overturned this play, Indiana missed the ensuing field goal, and Iowa went on to outscore the Hoosiers 28-3 the rest of the way. The sad thing is, this is the 2nd time this year Indiana has been screwed by Big Ten refs, the first being on the road at Michigan. If this had occured in a "major conference", which I guess only means the SEC, Big 12, or Pac-10, a congressional committee would be forming. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but there's no way Iowa's unbeaten status did not play a factor in SEVERAL officiating decisions on Saturday. As soon as this crock happened, I told Y1 the game was over, the fix was in and Iowa would storm back. Expect somebody in the Big 10 to eventually upset this lucky bunch of Hawkeyes, because they used up a lot of lives this past Saturday.

9. Georgia Tech (8-1, last game W at Vanderbilt 56-31, up next Sat. vs. Wake Forest)

-Georgia Tech continues to run right through their competition racking up another huge day on the ground against Vandy. While Jonathan Dwyer's Heisman buzz might have been a year too soon, he had a great day with over 180 yards rushing and 3 TDs. The Wreck has the inside track now to an ACC title game after the missteps by Va. Tech and Miami.

10. LSU (7-1, last game W vs. Tulane 42-0, up next Sat. at #3 Alabama)

-LSU makes their return to the tail end of the YCS after a beatdown of Tulane. After showing severe offensive ineptitude earlier this season, QB Jordan Jefferson has begun to pick up his game. Two early predictions for next week's showdown with the Tide, the 'Bama defense won't be as kind to Jefferson as the Green Wave, and the Saban Bowl should have both teams fired up.

Dropped from the YCS: USC

Just Missed Out: Penn St.

-USC drops out of the YCS after one of the worst losses of the Pete Carroll era. Of course, nobody in the national media (cough, ESPN, cough) will rush to criticize Pete Carroll and USC. Much to the chagrin of Colin Cowpattie, you can't just blame this loss on a freshman QB, it was a complete defensive breakdown that should have Trojan fans worried for the first time in a long time. Penn St. continues to be on the outside looking in, but can make a statement to the country in their showdown on Saturday with a rejuvenated Ohio State.

RSS HEISMAN WATCH

1. Tim Tebow-QB-Florida (last week 15/21, 164 yards 2 TDs, 18 rushes, 85 yards, 2 TDs)

-I suppose it's harder than it looks to leave the #1 spot vacant on the RSS Heisman Watch. Once again, Tebow's performance didn't pass the eye test with flying colors, and his numbers (at least yardage-wise) were pedestrian. But, the man did have 4 TDs against a hated rival and passed Herschel Walker for career rushing TDs in the SEC, a heck of an accomplishment. When no one steps up to claim the Heisman for an entire season, achievements like that will do a lot to help Tebow's cause.

2. Mark Ingram-RB-Alabama (last week idle)

-Unfortunately for Ingram, he has to slide to 2nd alone this week for 'Bama's bye week. But, with a marquee matchup this week against LSU, Ingram can quickly ascend to the top of the RSS Watch. It will be a tough ask against a tough LSU defense, but a 100-yard, multiple TD day would cement him as the late season favorite.

3. Golden Tate-WR-Notre Dame (4 catches, 80 yards, 2 TDs (1 rushing))

-Golden Tate makes a meteoric rise from nowhere to #3 in the RSS Heisman Watch. Even without his counterpart Michael Floyd, Tate has been one of the most dangerous weapons in college football, as evidenced by this Catch of the Year nominee this past weekend against Wash. St. (Warning: clip may contain annoying music, but it's the best I can do)

4. Colt McCoy-QB-Texas (last week 16/21, 171 yards, 1 TD)

-Colt McCoy's campaign has been stuck in neutral all season. Instead of the gunslinging numbers he needed on Saturday, McCoy was handed good field position all night with his team's stifling defense. And, with a cupcake schedule down the stretch, McCoy's campaign may be forgotten. His only hope is to pour it on heavy the last month and hope the argument of best player on best team helps his cause.

5. Jimmy Clausen-QB-Notre Dame (22/27, 268 yards, 2 TDs)

-Well, Jimmy Clausen finally didn't need a last-second drive to get the victory for Notre Dame. At least he was able to show off in front of the Notre Dame faithful...in San Antonio! That would be like Tyler Hansborough turning in another solid performance in Scranton, PA! Oh well, the Clausen to Tate connection should be good enough to get one of them an invite to NYC.

Dropping Out of the Race: Unfortunately for our mythical equipment manager, he had to bow out of the standings. It turns out he did some laundry for Lee Corso and mixed the whites with the colors. Therefore, due to his academic ineligibility, we had to drop him from the Watch...maybe next year, bud!

Keep an Eye On: LaMichael James-RB-Oregon

How could you not be impressed with the performance the freshman turned in against the vaunted Trojans on Saturday. 183 yards and a TD spoke volumes for the young man as he has quickly made people forget about suspended RB LeGarrette Blount. If he continues to push past 1000 yards rushing and pile up even more TDs, maybe James can make a very late push to be in the Heisman discussion.

That will wrap up this week's edition of the YCS and RSS Heisman Watch. It will be a busy week for the Yoders as we follow the record setting D3 men's soccer team of Ohio Wesleyan, but we'll be back tomorrow with our wrapup of the week that was in the NFL. Also, you can bet a unique preview of the NCAA basketball season is right around the corner. Until next time, it's bye for now!

YCS/Heisman Watch Week 2

Week 2 of college football turned out to have just as much to offer as Week 1. USC and Freshman Matt Barkley snuck by Ohio State in the Horseshoe while RichRod got the win he needed against, surprise, an overrated Notre Dame. What else did we find out? Who stays and goes in the YCS? Who's making a move in our RSS Heisman Watch? Follow me, follow me to all you need to know about Week 2!

YCS STANDINGS

1.Florida (2-0, last game W vs. Troy 56-6, up next Sat. vs. Tennessee)

-The Florida train keeps rolling with a dominant win over a slightly stronger opponent in Troy. Another route should be on hand next week when Florida welcomes another cupcake to the swamp in Lane Kifffin's Volunteers. You've gotta know Urban Meyer is going to want to run up the score on a guy who thinks he's the new sheriff in town. It could get ugly for the Volunteers this week. It's going to take a special performance from a special team to beat the Gators this year.

2. USC (2-0, last game W vs. Ohio State 18-15, up next Sat. at Washington)

-USC picked up another big road win in a hostile environment against the Buckeyes, everyone can calm down a little bit over Matt Barkley. While he showed some poise for a true freshman, several times he was rattled by Ohio State's pressure. USC's highly touted offensive line also looked a step slow against Ohio State. However, with playmakers like Joe McKnight leading the way, the next two weeks should be a Washington sweep before their big game at Cal.

3. Texas (2-0, last game W at Wyoming 41-10, up next Sat. vs. Texas Tech)

-Another slow start for Texas had some at RSS Central checking the scoreboards early and often. However, Colt McCoy and company were able to right the ship in Wyoming. Now, they get to make their first real statement to the voters against the team that derailed their national title hopes last year, Texas Tech. While the Red Raiders lost their biggest offensive threats, never discount the mad genius, Mike Leach. Still, the 'Horns should take care of business.

4. Alabama (2-0, last game W vs. Fla. International 40-14, up next Sat. vs. North Texas)

-While Alabama did win by 26 points, it wasn't necessarily in the dominant style of their other counterparts in the YCS. Up only 20-14 at halftime, Bama rolled through with their overpowering running game in the second half. Although the slow start is a concern, their big win in Week 1 over Va. Tech at a neutral field sees them stick at #4. Expect North Texas to get the same treatment next Saturday as well.

5. BYU (2-0, last game W at Tulane 54-3, up next Sat. vs. Fla. St.)

-One team that did impress thoroughly against a very beatable opponent was BYU. In fact, BYU was so dominant they did not punt once the entire game. Behind emerging Heisman candidate Max Hall (more on him later), BYU may be positioning itself for a serious National Championship run. They can put another notch in their BCS belt this weekend when they welcome Florida State, although a win won't look as good after Bobby Bowden's team struggled mightily with Jacksonville St.

6. California (2-0, last game W vs. E. Washington 59-7, up next Sat. at Minnesota)

-The biggest riser in our YCS this week are the Bears from Berkley. No team has been more dominant so far than Jeff Tedford's club with their first two wins coming by a combined score of 107-20. Of course, this wouldn't be the first time Cal started hot only to flame out in Pac-10 play, but a the biggest part of the YCS is how you're playing right now, and on that merit, Cal comes in at #6. They can move up even further with a winnable road game at Minnesota.

7. Boise St. (2-0, last game W vs. Miami (OH) 48-0, up next Sat. at Fresno State)

-The blue turf boys from Boise (beautiful alliteration I know) kept up with their mid-major rivals BYU by disposing of Miami (OH) in easy fashion. It was a nice sign to see the Broncos offense show a little more life, but they will certainly have their hands full with WAC opponent Fresno St. next week.

8. Penn St. (2-0, last game W vs. Syracuse 28-7 up next Sat. vs. Temple)

-After Ohio State's loss, Penn St. takes up the Big 10 flag with their win over the Ron Paulus Players. QB Darryl Clark seems to be manning the Spread HD just fine after losing his three best WRS and the defense seems to have picked up where they left off from last year. No way they let Temple slip by them next week.

9. Georgia Tech (2-0, last game W vs. Clemson 30-27, up next Sat. at the U, aka Miami (Fl))

-The Ramblin' Wreck showed they had top 10 ability when they quickly built a 21-0 lead on their conference rival. However, a sloppy 2nd and 3rd quarter left it to a late field goal to rescue a monumental collapse. Still, they hang on in the YCS for their resolve, but will face another tough conference test against a rejuvenated 'Canes Saturday.

10. Cincinnati (2-0, last game W vs. SE Missouri St. 70-3, up next Sat. at Oregon St.)

-Well Ole Miss, if you don't play early on, you don't stay in the YCS. Taking their spot is, what's this, a team from the Big East?! That's right, the Bearcats of Cincinnati take the last spot in this week's YCS. Head coach Brian Kelly has an apparent offensive juggernaut after impressive wins, including a rare season-opening conference win on the road at Rutgers. We'll see how for real this team is though when they make the trek out west to face Oregon St.

Dropped from the YCS: Oklahoma St., Ohio St., Ole Miss

Just Missed Out: LSU, Ole Miss, Ohio St.

-While the Buckeyes did lose, they at least gave a good account for themselves in losing a game they should have won. Oklahoma St. also saw their dark horse championship hopes go up in smoke in a shocking loss at home to Houston. Finally, I think Charlie Weis is still somewhere waiting on the officials to come back on the field to give him a second chance against Michigan. While the Maize and Blue looked better than last year's stinkers, let's not put them in the discussion yet for beating a creation of the national sports media.

RSS HEISMAN WATCH

1. Tim Tebow-QB-Florida (last game 15/24, 237 yards, 4 TDs; 13 rushes, 71 yards, 1 TD)

-Jesus Christ Quarterback remains at the top of the RSS Heisman Watch after a textbook stats-padding performance over the weekend. While he may not threaten his astounding TD numbers of the past, he looks to be in just as good a form as ever. Much like his team, someone is going to need something special to supplant him.

2. Javhid Best-RB-California (last game 17 rushes, 144 yards, 2 total TDs)

-Best backed up a solid first game with an even better performance in his second. While Cal has been thought of as a QB haven under Jeff Tedford, the school actually may have a better record recently with uncovering monster running backs. If the junior can hold up and propel Cal to the top of the Pac-10, he stands a chance.

3. Colt McCoy-QB-Texas (last game 30/47, 337 yards, 4 TDs (1 rushing), 1 INT)

-McCoy loses some ground, but not too much to the frontrunners because he still had a more than respectable statistical day against Wyoming. Still, he'll be hard-pressed to match his amazing completion percentage from last season. However, McCoy will need to come close, or hope for a stumble from Tebow or Best, to climb to the top of the RSS Heisman Watch.

4. Max Hall-QB-BYU (last game 24/32, 309 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT)

-On Saturday, Max Hall did what he needed to do to truly begin his Heisman campaign, have a great statistical day against a weak opponent. Once again, a lot will depend on his team's success, but then again, BYU's success will depend a lot on their senior quarterback.

5. Jacquizz Rodgers-RB-Oregon St. (last game 26 rushes, 166 yards, 1 TD)

-Rodgers has continued his impressive form from last season to make himself a dark horse candidate this season. It will be hard to make an impact on the national scale from Corvallis, he does deserve some love from us here at RSS.

Dropping Out of the Race: Mark Ingram (RB-Alabama) disappointed against an easy opponent in FIU by letting other Alabama backs steal most of the yards and TDs. Dez Bryant (WR-Oklahoma St.) also drops out after dropping a huge pass in the 4th quarter which directly resulted in a Houston TD. Although he was suffering from cramps at the time, those are plays Heisman winners don't make.

Keep an Eye On: Joe McKnight (RB-USC)

He was the true star Saturday night in the horseshoe as the junior once again showed why he was compared to Reggie Bush. While he's a long way from accepting the trophy in New York, he showed his special athleticism and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Of course, he'll have plenty more chances to shine in big games against Cal and Notre Dame later this season. Another early dark horse candidate, Jevean Snead (QB-Ole Miss), has a lot of work to do to catch up with the other quarterbacks who've already had big impacts on their teams this season.

Join us tomorrow as we debut our newest feature, Protecting the Shield, where we'll review Week 1 of the National Football League. Also, stay tuned for the return of the ever popular Decade Series, as we begin the countdown to the greatest single athlete of the 2000s. Until then, it's bye for now!

Hot Off The Grill - CFB Week 2

The beginning of the football season sees RSS debut our new feature "Hot Off The Grill." In previewing both College Football and the NFL we'll breakdown the weekend's biggest players, stories, and games by channeling our heritage at Randall Simon's Sausages. Our foam sausage friends will provide us with insight into what to watch this weekend as only they can. First up, the college kids are on the menu. Fire up the grill, get the tailgates ready and the sausages cookin, and follow me!

Big Kielbasa's Game Of the Week - #3 USC @ #8 Ohio St.

The game of the week is obviously in C-Bus as OSU looks (again) to finally shut everyone in the MSM up and win a big game. USC only has to look to the Longhorns who came into the Shoe and won a few years ago, but Texas had Vince Young, not a Freshman QB. The key to this game though is in the trenches. Ohio St. has gotten killed up front on both sides of the ball in recent years, which has led to their overall demise. Most people assume it's the skill positions where OSU is at a disadvantage, but it's a lack of quality and athleticism up front which is their biggest issue.

Matt Barkley looked good in his 1st start, but so would I with McKnight, Johnson, and Havili against San Jose State. If it stays close, Terrelle Pryor might make just enough plays to see it through, but if USC gets off to a hot start and takes the crowd out of it, the streets of Columbus will look like a scene from the Odyssey. A tough pick, the heart says Ohio State, the head says USC. PICK - Push?? Ok fine, Ohio State.

Beer Brat's Spotlight Game Of the Week - #18 Notre Dame @ Meeeechigan

Our spotlight game features two resurgent powers, if you listen to most CFB pundits that is. I'm not ready to crown either of these teams yet after dispatching of Nevada and Western Mich. in Week 1. I'm also not sure how ND is #18 in the country, but that's another issue for another day. One of these teams is going back to earth quickly, my pick is that it's Michigan. The RichRod Era doesn't seem like it should be able to turn around so quickly. Jimmy Clausen and his great WR's will uncover Michigan's true weakness the past few years, it's secondary. PICK - ND

Chorizo's Upset Of the Week - #19 UNC @ UConn

Our spicy friend will provide us with the upset of the week throughout the season. This week, UNC is really the only ranked team in danger of losing this week at Connecticut. Yes, UConn lost Donald Brown and didn't look especially sharp in Athens (OH, not GA). However, if UNC thinks they are becoming an elite program, Butch Davis and co. will have to take a step back towards reality this week. PICK - UConn

Andouille's UTR Game - Purdue @ Oregon

The vastly underrated andouille gives us our Under The Radar Game of the Week, taking us to Eugene. Lost in the PunchGate saga is how poor Oregon played against Boise. They face another tough test Saturday as Purdue comes to town. Purdue looked dynamic in their opener, and with all of the controversy surrounding Oregon, this could be a solid win for the Big 10. Both of these programs could really use a win in an important non-conference game that you should keep an eye on this week. Pick - Purdue

Hot Dog Of The Week - Alabama RB Mark Ingram

The Bama Sophomore was the breakout star of Week 1 with his fantastic all-around performance in the Georgia Dome against Va Tech. Y2 likes his angry running style, and he could lead Bama to the top of the rankings. He gets a chance this week against FIU to pad the stats and start building towards a surprise Heisman campaign.

Extra Toppings -

-How will Boise State and BYU respond after huge wins last week? Tulane and Miami (OH) are two good opponents to continue the mojo for the BCS Busters.

-Spurrier's reign at South Carolina has probably been the biggest disappointment in college pig the last 5 years. They were more relevant under Lou Holtz for goodness sake! Another loss Between the Hedges at UGA will drive the Ol' Ballcoach closer to the golf course.

-Please resist the temptation to anoint the winner of the ND/UM showdown as a National Title contender.

-Also resist the urge to anoint Lane Kiffin a genius when they whomp UCLA in Knoxville.

-Texas' trip to Wyoming is the strangest road game this decade. Unless Colt McCoy and crew get mauled by buffaloes and grizzly bears at Yellowstone, there isn't a lot of danger in this fixture.

-Take a trip to Yellowstone before you die, it's worth it.

-Where has the Big East gone exactly??

-Idaho State continues Oklahoma's woes with a shocking win... a guy can dream right?

-I'm really hoping for an OSU win this weekend, not to be a C-Bus homer... but just to see the reaction of the Mark May's and Colin Cowherd's of the world. Go ahead and lose every other game this year Bucks, just win this one for me please.

-I'm also really hoping Troy finishes within 50 points of Florida.

Randall's Got His Eye On You... Jim Tressel

This week is a watershed game for the Sweater Vest. Whacked in 2 BCS Title games, whacked by USC... it hasn't been a fun time lately for Jimmy T in Columbus. If he fails to beat USC this weekend, don't be surprised to see the questions and doubts start to swirl around Tressel. He's nearly untouchable here in Columbus, but another big game loss could spell the beginning of the end of the Tressel Era at Ohio State. His poor coaching decision of going for a 4th & 2 last week instead of kicking a FG to go up 18 in the 4th was lost in the hoopla of the Navy escape. Another wrong move this week, or another blowout could have Randall's bat aimed squarely at Jim Tressel.

Hot Off The Grill returns soon with our look ahead at Week 1 in the National. Football. League. Enjoy the weekend!