Just So We're Clear...

USC is NOT a shoo-in for the title game - even if they go undefeated.

This depends on some other circumstances, but if you click on my Dan Shanoff link in the blogroll you'll see. Basically, if an SEC and a Big 12 team go unbeaten...why should USC get in?

The Trojans are great, but as of now it looks like even an unbeaten USC team wouldn't have a win better than Ohio State - and there's no evidence thus far to suggest they're really that special. In fact, the way things are going, the only other ranked team USC might face - and they'd have to keep winning, obviously - would be Notre Dame. Now, an ND fan myself speaking, the Irish might well be good. We don't know yet. But they sure don't have a shot in hell of beating USC and they're probably not good enough for a title contender to be touting them as their second-best win.

This weekend is back to the September norm for college football - a lot of mismatches and not a lot of hotly anticipated games. Notre Dame/MSU, Georgia/Arizona State, and yes, Ball State/Indiana are among the games that should be pretty good this weekend. Check 'em out. College football is the greatest sport in the world - even on mediocre slates like this one. It demands your attention.