College Football Overtime (cont.)

Smaller story, but I'm sure you're following it ...

Vincent Smith and Michigan had no trouble with Delaware State, which went from 1-3 to 1-5 on Saturday.

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The coffers at Delaware State's athletic department are a bit more flush today, but the Hornets' pride and dignity are presumably in the red after their record dropped from 1-3 to 1-5 ... on the same day.

Last spring, the FCS school took up Michigan's offer for a $550,000 payday game Saturday despite the fact it conflicted with a conference game against North Carolina A&T. When its league, the MEAC, couldn't find a way to reschedule the latter, Delaware State -- operating without an athletic director at the time -- chose to forfeit the A&T game in favor of a trip to the Big House.

To no one's surprise, the Wolverines demolished the Hornets, 63-6. Michigan led 28-0 in the first quarter, 49-3 by halftime and racked up 727 yards of offense. "Michigan played just like they played on the DVDs," said Delaware State coach Al Lavan. "... I was not shocked, but I was surprised at how much the domination was."

In other words, Lavan knowingly led his team into a game he knew it had no chance of winning thanks to his superior's decision to sell them out at the cost of a double-defeat. However, when a reporter from the Grand Rapids Press asked three Hornets players afterward whether they would rather have played their scheduled conference opponent, "they vigorously shook their heads and simultaneously said, 'No.'"

I can't say that's surprising. When you play for a school like Delaware State, the chance to play in front of 100,000-plus at Michigan Stadium undoubtedly seems like a dream come true (with Appalachian State's 2007 upset even providing a glimmer of hope). But whether they realize it or not, they were the unwitting victims of an absolute sham. College athletes are meant to compete, not serve as sacrificial lambs for their school's bean counters.

The Hornets might not be insulted, but I would be if I played for North Carolina A&T. Their players sat at home Saturday as a result of Delaware State's decision, relegated to one less competitive opportunity than their peers.

Sam Bradford: A sad case study

As an unabashed fan of college over the NFL, I'm always elated whenever a high-profile player puts off the draft to return for another season. This happened to be a particularly big year in that department, what with the "school is cool" decisions by Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Taylor Mays and a quartet of Oklahoma stars.

But after watching the nightmare that's currently unfolding for the Sooners, in particular Bradford, I wouldn't blame any potential high draftee who chooses to bolt school this coming winter.

I'm not sure Oklahoma's quarterback was ever the sure-fire No. 1 pick many analysts projected him to be, but whatever his stock, it is undoubtedly about to plummet due to no fault of his own. The Sooners' beleaguered offensive line couldn't protect him against BYU or Texas, and he paid the price in the form of a twice-injured shoulder. Now, he stands to lose tens of millions of dollars, even if he only falls into the later part of the first round.

NFL teams now have two causes for concern about Bradford: his health, and the fact he will now likely go nearly an entire season without playing. While Bradford's heart was in the right place when he decided to put off surgery to return to action two weeks ago -- he truly believed OU could get back in the Big 12 and national-title pictures -- it proved in hindsight to be an unwise choice professionally.

Bob Stoops got defensive after Saturday's game when asked whether Bradford may have risked re-injury by returning so soon.

"You guys can all debate that," he said. "We were going with good information from the doctors. He understood the entire decision. Sam is a bright young guy. He knows what he wants, and unfortunately it just hasn't worked out very well."

No, it has not. And it's been a sad thing for fans of any school to watch.

Danny Sullivan: We don't need no stinking overtime

With 13 seconds left, the score tied 17-17 and the ball at the 50-yard line, Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson could have told his quarterback to take a knee and head to overtime. Instead, the senior quarterback hurled a game-winning bomb to Chris McGaha in the end zone.

Stewart Mandel: These kids are going to take my job

Seriously.

Looking ahead

Mini-previews for three of this week's big games.

• Penn State at Michigan, Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET): Michigan Stadium has been a Big House of Horrors for the Nittany Lions, who have not won there since 1996, and the Wolverines present the toughest offense Penn State has yet seen. It could be an interesting duel between quarterbacks Daryll Clark and Tate Forcier.

• Tennessee at Alabama, Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET): Some years, the "Third Saturday in October" gets moved to the Fourth Saturday in October. Blame television. Vols quarterback Jonathan Crompton had a breakout day against Georgia but Alabama's top-ranked defense could bring him back to reality.

• TCU at BYU, Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET): This is the game that figures to make or break the Horned Frogs' hopes of an undefeated season. And a decisive win may cause some voters to start thinking about jumping them over Boise State. This is a big game, but unfortunately, it's on Versus. Sorry, DirecTV subscribers.