College Football 2011: Worth the Hype

By Cabrone D. Brewer
It was everything college football fans were hoping for — without the offense.
For more than 60 minutes Saturday, No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama battled in the trenches of Tuscaloosa for the right to be proclaimed king of the BCS. But when the final whistle blew in regulation, no touchdown had been scored and no winner had been crowned.
Enter overtime and the LSU kicking game.
After a failed 52-yard field goal attempt by Alabama kicker Cade Foster in the first overtime, LSU rushed at the opportunity to capitalize on Alabama’s misfortune by sending Drew Alleman into the game on third down to boot a 25-yarder — giving LSU a 9-6 edge in an epic regular-season matchup that showcased the defensive superiority of both schools.
Alabama had several opportunities to put LSU away in regulation, but the Crimson Tide missed four field goal attempts and botched another score by throwing a disappointing goal-line interception.
The win gives LSU the upper hand in the race for a position in the BCS title game at the end of the season. Alabama is now forced to hope that the stars will align in their favor for a spot in the championship.
It was the second-lowest scoring game between a No. 1 and No. 2 team in the history of the AP poll — trailing only Army-Notre Dame’s 1946 scoreless tie.
Things were a little shaky in Stillwater as well.
It took all four quarters, but quarterback Brandon Weeden and No. 3 Oklahoma State finally got the offensive ball rolling, riding out a scoring storm and defeating No. 17 Kansas State 45-52 ahead of the 5.6 magnitude earthquake that hit the neighboring Oklahoma City area.
The Cowboys’ dramatic victory will likely place them in the No. 2 position behind LSU — setting the tone for an all out Bedlam war Dec. 3 in Stillwater against the Oklahoma Sooners.
Rounding out the top ten this week: No. 4 Stanford beats Oregon State 38-13; No. 5 Boise State topples UNLV 48-21; No. 6 Oregon handles Pac-12 foe Washington 34-17; No. 7 Oklahoma takes care of business at home against Texas A&M, beating the Aggies 41-25; No. 8 Arkansas hands No. 10 South Carolina a stunning 44-28 defeat; And No. 9 Nebraska is surprised by Northwestern, with the Wildcats claiming a 28-25 victory over the Huskers.
Check back Friday for a preview of this weekend’s big matchups.
Also Read:
College Football 2011 Week 10: Championship Caliber

College Football 2011 Week 9: Shakeups and Showdowns

College Football 2011 Week 9: Looking Ahead