Two Unbeaten Teams Fall, but Top of College Football World Steady

We’re down to five unbeaten teams in college football following a pair of shellackings in Week 9. Three of those five are from non-automatic qualifier BCS schools, so those hoping for a BCS-buster cleared two roadblocks away (albeit small ones).
1. Sparty Stomped— Well, now we know why Michigan State was considered the underdog against Iowa despite a higher ranking. The Hawkeyes avenged last week’s loss to Wisconsin with a 37-6 whipping of MSU that wasn’t even that close. Mark Dantonio’s team was down 30-0 at halftime, victims of the most dominating half of football I’ve seen all year, considering the competition. The Iowa win opens up the Big-10 for all kinds of fun scenarios, as the Michigan State, Iowa, Ohio State and Wisconsin quartet all have one loss in conference to one of those four.
2. Nebraska Runs Over Mizzou— Similar to Iowa, Nebraska took their higher-ranked opponent out to the woodshed early, opening a 24-0 lead up in the first quarter and cruising to a 31-17 behind 307 yards from running back Roy Helu, Jr. The Cornhuskers’ win means they likely will win the Big-12 North Division, as their toughest remaining test comes at Texas A&M.
3. Trojans Run Out of Gas— USC threw everything it had at Oregon: Crazed crowd, unique formations, great special teams play, defensive lineman collecting interceptions. And it almost worked–the Trojans were up 32-29 in the third quarter. But, as they are want to do, Oregon dropped a brick on the accelerator and wound up outscoring USC 24-0 from that point on. With 600 yards of total offense, the Ducks once again proved they’re next to impossible to stop.
Note to frenzied SEC fans: Auburn-Mississippi will get more ink in my BCS standings reaction post.
Other big games: Auburn rolls Mississippi, Michigan continues slide at Penn State, Notre Dame’s stunning loss puts bowl game in doubt.