Tread lightly

Word to the wise: OU needs no additional motivation

And now, a quick word of advice for Colorado, Baylor, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State, the remaining opponents on Oklahoma’s schedule.

Don’t make the Sooners angry.

Dear Lord, did you see what they did to poor Seneca Wallace? A few naysayers had the audacity to suggest Oklahoma’s defense couldn’t stop a mobile quarterback like Iowa State’s Wallace. Next thing you know, he’s got more incompletions than Rasheed Wallace has technicals and his team is on the wrong end of a 49-3 thrashing.

Is this any way to treat the supposed Heisman front-runner?

Wallace, of course, is only the latest in a long line of heralded quarterbacks who have felt the wrath of the OU defense. It practically sent one-time Heisman hopeful Chris Simms into therapy. And two years ago at the Orange Bowl, the Sooners sent actual Heisman winner Chris Weinke into a tailspin from which he’s yet to recover.

But make no mistake, Saturday’s performance stands on a level all its own.

The 2002 Sooners had gotten more than their share of acclaim all season, but through their first six games had yet to achieve that statement-type performance. They struggled in wins over Alabama and Missouri. Sure, they mangled Texas, but there’s no shock factor left in that.

Then along came a 6-1, seemingly formidable Cyclones team to Norman. They’d taken Florida State to the limit, handled such foes as Iowa and Nebraska, and now they were ready for their next challenge, Oklahoma. After watching Missouri QB Brad Smith run for more than 200 yards against the Sooners, images of Wallace doing all that and then some surely were seeping into their dreams.

But OU put a stop to that right from the opening kickoff, holding the ‘Clones to two first downs and 4 total yards in the first half. That, combined with the typically modest-but-adequate attack of Nate Hybl and Quentin Griffin, and the Sooners proved once and for all they’ll be in this for the long haul, even expected to top the first BCS standings Monday.

I’ll admit, I was one of their bigger skeptics. I didn’t believe this Teddy Lehman-led defense could be quite as dominant without Rocky Calmus, Roy Williams or Torrance Marshall. Not any more. If the defense continues to play anywhere near this level, and if Hybl and Griffin continue to make contributions, we may well be seeing OU in Tempe.

Andrew Walter, QB, Arizona State

What’s most remarkable about Walter’s ascension up every passing chart in the country is that he was not even the choice to start at quarterback when ASU opened its season two months ago. Something clicked, however, and the one-time hotshot recruit has proven to be the perfect leader of coach Dirk Koetter’s explosive system, highlighted by Saturday’s 31-of-53, 536-yard, four-touchdown performance in a 45-42 upset of Oregon.

Arizona State

While Washington State would seem to be the clear Pac-10 front-runner following Oregon’s loss, ASU is tied with the Cougars at 3-0 in the conference, and no one seems to be able to stop them. The transition took some time, but we’re now seeing just what Koetter’s offense is capable of doing. Performances like these were commonplace during his days at Boise State, where the Broncos still largely are running it and put up 67 points Friday night against Fresno State.

Bowling Green 48, Western Michigan 45 (OT)

Actually, it was probably ASU-Oregon, but let’s expand our horizons. The Falcons nearly blew their first appearance in the rankings in 17 years, falling behind 35-21 in the third quarter and then, after going up 42-35 with 5:35 left, allowing the Broncos to tie it three minutes later. All-everything QB Josh Harris, who accounted for 350 yards and five touchdowns, scored the game-winner on a 5-yard run to keep BG undefeated.

Texas Tech’s Kliff Kingbsury continues his assault on the record books, going 49-of-70 for 510 yards and three TDs in a 52-38 win over Missouri. … Following its 28-7 win at suddenly awful Michigan State in which budding star RB Terry Jackson racked up 238 yards, Minnesota is 7-1 for the first time since 1961. … Nebraska, 24-21 losers to Oklahoma State, hasn’t had three losses this early in a season since 1959. … USC’s Carson Palmer had his best game in some time in the Trojans’ 41-21 win over Washington, going 21-of-34 for 348 yards and four TDs. … Northwestern is the team to play if you want a career-high rushing game. Penn State’s Larry Johnson went for 257 yards in a 49-0 win over the Wildcats, whose average 333.8 rushing yards allowed is 45.3 yards per game worse than any other I-A team. … Maryland RB Chris Downs has firmly cemented his role in place of the injured Bruce Perry, gaining 212 yards and three touchdowns in Thursday’s 34-10 win over Georgia Tech. … Virginia (6-2) continues to be the master of second-half adjustments, rallying from a 21-0 halftime deficit to beat the Tar Heels 37-27. … Despite playing without QB Matt Mauck, LSU put up 38 points and 414 yards against South Carolina. … Entirely unheralded TCU is 6-1 after beating preseason C-USA favorite Louisville 45-31. … The biggest defensive play in Ohio State’s 19-14 win over Wisconsin came from a receiver. Chris Gamble, who’s seeing more and more time as a cornerback, picked off a Jim Sorgi pass in the end zone late in the fourth quarter.

I cannot remember a weekend when so many star players for major teams went down with season-ending injuries. The list, at least as of now: Auburn RB Carnell Williams (broken leg), UCLA QB Cory Paus (ankle), North Carolina QB Darian Durant (thumb) and Marshall WR Curtis Jones (leg). Obviously any injury is devastating, both for the player and his team, but if you had to categorize them, Williams’ is the most significant in that he was pretty much Auburn’s entire source of offense, but Paus’ may be the saddest. The four-year starter had really stepped up his game this season, but now his collegiate career is over.

Stewart Mandel covers college football for CNNSI.com.

Got a comment, question or scoop for Stewart? Click here.

 

Related information

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video