Remember the Titans

Entering last weekend's college football games, seven teams could claim invincibility with undefeated records. After a number of upsets, only three teams (Miami, Oklahoma, and Ohio State) remain undefeated.

College football has proven year in and year out that the question is not who you lose to but when you lose. While a team can rebound from an early season loss with mid-season victories, a late season setback can cost a team any dreams of winning the National Championship. For some reason every loss basically guarantees that the losing team will drop in the rankings.

In some cases, even a team like USC, that has two losses, can jump ahead of Notre Dame, which has one loss, in the polls just because the Irish lost. While the rankings are not fair in many ways, no matter how you look at it, a late-season loss is much more damaging than an early-season defeat.

Beware of the Panther. Pittsburgh is quietly putting together a Bowl Championship caliber season. But shh_don't let the Miami Hurricanes know. Pitt was 6-2, and undefeated in the Big East. Give or take one big play in both losses, 14-12 against Texas A&M and 14-6 at Notre Dame, and the Panthers could be undefeated. Entering their match-up against the then third ranked Virginia Tech Hokies, the Panthers had all the tools needed for an upset.

The Hokies rely on the power and speed of two people, take one away and watch the Hokies fall like the turkeys they are. Pitt did exactly that. Running back Kevin Jones rushed for a touchdown in the first quarter, but rushed no more after the score. Jones and fellow running back Lee Suggs usually rush for 100 yards each, but on this occasion, Suggs would have the load squarely on his shoulders.

Suggs (25 carries, 128 yards, two TDs) did perform on a higher level than he is accustomed to, but the lack of Jones (two carries, four yards) left Tech without an offense. Meanwhile quarterback Bryan Randall had little impact as he performed at a mediocre level, tossing for 145 yards, but no touchdowns and one interception.

On the other side of the ball, Pitt's Brandon Miree was the story and star of the game, as he rushed for a total of 161 yards on 23 carries. Quarterback Rod Rutherford threw two interceptions, but also found the end zone on three occasions. The Panthers displayed their power by out-rushing, out-passing, and out-playing the Hokies, en-route to a 28-21 victory.

With Miami showing multiple flaws against lesser Big East opponents such as Rutgers, the Canes must be worried about their Nov. 21 meeting against the Panthers. The winner of that match-up will most likely win the Big East and receive the automatic BCS Bowl bid.

There is nothing like a rivalry to throw off one of your best seasons ever, just ask Tyrone Willingham and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Boston College Eagles were 4-3 overall heading into their game against Notre Dame. Of those four victories, none of which are against Big East opponents. Notre Dame was undefeated and making a case that grew stronger weekly to play in the National Championship game.

Notre Dame has nobody to blame but themselves for the 14-7 disappointment they were handed by BC. Did Boston College beat the Irish with passing? No. The rushing game was also even as Ryan Grant of Notre Dame rushed for 107 yards and Derrick Knight of BC ran for 129 yards. So the difference came in turnovers.

Boston College's quarterback Brian St. Pierre had an atrocious game with only 77 yards in the air and one interception. Notre Dame's QB, Carlyle Holiday, was having an excellent day until an injury took him out of it. Backup Pat Dillingham entered to complete six of eight passes, although two were to Eagle defenders. One of those picks was returned for the game-winning touchdown. Holiday re-entered the contest in the second half and led the Irish on one scoring drive, but the Eagles defense, which caused seven fumbles (three for turnovers) and two interceptions, was too much as they won the game 14-7.

This defeat almost certainly drops Notre Dame from National Championship contention. The BCS allows eight teams to contend in the four major bowls, but six spots being awarded to conference winners and two being at-large. The Irish are still independent of any conference, making their hopes that much slimmer. This victory keeps BC's chances of the less popular Music City Bowl still realistic.

Coming off his Heisman finalist performance of last season, Florida quarterback Rex Grossman has been an erratic passer this season, leaving first year coach Ron Zook wondering on a weekly basis, what QB he will see. Unfortunately, Georgia happened to face Grossman on the one week he decides to be a precision passer.

Grossman threw for 229 yards with two interceptions, but unlike past games, Grossman also found the end zone twice. Grossman's performance made up for a lack of rushing game that running back Ernest Graham usually posses.

On the other end of the ball, then undefeated Georgia saw star running back Musa Smith rush for the century mark, but never seeing the end zone. Quarterback David Greene only passed for 141. Although he threw no interceptions, Greene also did not find the end zone.

Although Georgia experienced a lack of offense, they still led the game 13-12 at the half. The second half saw little offense for both teams. A touchdown by Gator wide receiver Ben Troupe early in the fourth quarter proved to be the game winner. The Bulldogs are dropped from the ranks of unbeaten by the 6-3 Gators, 20-13.

The most surprising story in college football this season is the success of the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Football analysts knew State had an experienced quarterback in Philip Rivers, but wondered where its rushing attack would come from. The answer: freshman running back T.A. McLendon.

This duo has put the Pack back on the map. Rivers is the ACC's leading passer and McLendon is the conference's second leading rusher, but leads the ACC in touchdowns (15). Although some question the strength of NC State's schedule, few could contest the undefeated record they carried heading into the conference match-up against Georgia Tech.

Thanks to ABC's bonus coverage I viewed this shoot-out first hand. Georgia Tech (6-3) went back and forth with State the entire contest; no team held the lead for an entire quarter. Rivers was remarkable, completing 21 of 41 passes for 277 yards with one touchdown and one pick, but Tech's A.J. Suggs played one of the best games of his career, completing for 211 yards also with one touchdown and one interception.

The difference was in running games. McLendon (17 carries for 49 yards) was bruised and battered, while Yellow jacket running back Gordon Clinkscale performed at a high level, rushing for 94 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

This loss severely hurts the Wolfpack's chance at a BCS bid. The ACC champion gets an automatic bid, but the loss drops State to 4-1 in the conference, one game behind a Florida State team that has three non-conference losses, but is perfect in conference. The road does not get any easier as NC State travels to Maryland to face a Terp squad that still has much bite.