1. Alabama is the favorite to win the National Championship this year. The number 1 ranked team in the nation had a 17 game winning streak on the line when they went into Fayetteville, and after 3 rough quarters the extended their win streak to 18. While Alabama did make mistakes (2 first half interceptions), they came up clutch when it mattered, converting passes on multiple 3rd downs in the 4th quarter and doing a great job of managing the game. Alabama's defense stepped up when most need, derailing Mallett's Heisman campaign, intercepting the Arkansas QB on the Hogs final 2 possessions. Alabama won this game by never panicking, credit Nick Saban for having his boys ready to go.
2. Texas is in a "rebuilding" year. Most teams would love to have a rebuilding year in which they start the season 3-1, but for Longhorn fans they expect more. Texas lost to an average UCLA team, and they were never truly in the game. Texas kicked a field goal with 27 seconds left in the first quarter before UCLA ran off 20 unanswered points. After UT kicked a field goal the Bruins responded with a Touchdown, all but sealing the upset in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns got abused on the ground giving up 264 yards and 2 Touchdowns on the ground. Texas didn't do themselves any favors coughing the ball up 4 times in the first half, leading to all 13 of UCLA's first half points. Texas season will be in complete shambles next week if they can't rebound from this loss when they play Oklahoma.
3. Boise St. is very close to a shoe in for the National Championship game as you can get 4 weeks into the season. The Bronco's are 3-0 thus far into their season with their prime competition behind them. Boise beat #10 Virginia Tech in week one and defeated #24 Oregon State Saturday with College GameDay in town. Kellen Moore has thrown for 873 yards, 8 Scores, and only 1 Interception, and there isn't anyone left on there schedule with a secondary to keep up with the Broncos. Look for Boise State to roll through their schedule with very little resistance. They will be feeling the pressure when they travel to Nevada on November 26th to play the freshly ranked Nevada Wolfpack.
4. The fate of the Michigan Wolverines is very closely tied with how badly Denard Robinson's knee is hurt. If Robinson's knee has any ligament damage Michigan's season will take a huge hit, but if its just a mild injury they will stay on pace to be one of the elite teams in the Big 10 this season. Robinson's stats thus far with the Wolverines have been something out of a video game. So far in 2010 Robinson has a quarterback rating of 160.01 completing 57 of 80 passes for 731 yards and 4 touchdowns. On top of his passing numbers, Robinson has run for 688 yards, absolutely shredding every opposing defense that tries to stand in his way. Luckily for the Wolverines it looks as if all is well with Robinson's knee, and they need it to stay that way.
5. In a battle of Top 20 teams the Auburn Tigers came out and took care of business in their second big game in a row. A week after beating Clemson by a Field Goal the Tigers took care of Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks. Auburn trailed at the end of every quarter but the 4th, in which they outscored the Gamecocks 14 to 0 to snag their 4th win on the season. Cameron Newton who transferred in from Blinn in College Station absolutely terrorized the South Carolina defense completing 16 of 21 passes for 159 yards and 2 TD's while also running for 172 yards and 3 more Touchdowns. Auburn spent their Saturday proving that they are a Contender in the SEC race, and opposing teams will certainly have to game plan for Cam Newton.
As conference play gets into full swing next week we'll have a better idea of what teams are going to compete in their respective conferences and even more than that who will factor into the National Championship game. As we've already been shown this football season, nothing is to be taken for granted.
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