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 Friday, December 13, 2002
The Sooner the better for K-State
By Brent Musburger
Special to BCSfootball.com
Each Tuesday throughout the season, ABC's Brent Musburger will give his five things to watch for the coming weekend.
|  | | Aaron Lockett is one of K-State's many offensive weapons. |
1. Oklahoma at Kansas State
How long has it been since we said that Oklahoma was No. 1 on our "must view" list? The Sooners have one of the proudest traditions in college football, but have been in the doldrums over the last few seasons. Head coach Bob Stoops has done a remarkable job of quickly rebuilding this team behind left-handed quarterback Josh Heupel. Last Saturday, OU's offense exploded in the Red River Shootout, scoring on its first five possessions and putting up 63 points, the most ever in the history of that great rivalry.
Kansas State, on the other hand, may present the greatest turnaround in college football history. Turning Oklahoma around is one thing, but making Kansas State an annual power is something none of us ever expected to see. Bill Snyder has been able to do it. He's back on target, ranked second or third, depending on which poll you follow. And for those of you who poked fun at K-State's cupcake schedule, and it has been that, consider this: The NCAA says that K-State, based on won-loss record, will play the toughest schedule for the rest of the season. So if this team wins out, it deserves to play in the FedEx Orange Bowl in Miami. Having said that, it will not be easy Saturday afternoon against Oklahoma.
Bob Stoops' brother, Mike, is the defensive coordinator at OU, having served his apprenticeship under Snyder in Manhattan. No one knows what Snyder tries to do during a game better than Mike. There has been some tension there in the past, because Stoops took some assistant coaches with him when he fled to Norman. But I'm sure both coaches will take the high road this week, praise each other's team to the heavens, and then go out and try to kill one another.
K-State is a substantial favorite because they have been lethal in Manhattan. The Wildcats have won 35 of their last 36 regular season games, including 25 straight games in Manhattan. Their last home loss came on Oct. 5, 1996 against Nebraska. This is one not to miss.
2. Big Ten: Purdue at Northwestern
Talk about things I never expected to say in October, but the biggest game in the Big Ten this week is Northwestern at home against Purdue. Randy Walker is making a major run at Coach of the Year, with the Wildcats riding an incredible three-game conference winning streak. Their bubble could burst this week, facing Drew Brees, who rejuvenated his Heisman Trophy hopes with his brilliant comeback in the second half against Michigan.
The toughest position to recruit depth at in Evanston is defensive back. Their starters are outstanding, but when you go to the dime package, which you have to against Purdue, NU comes up a little thin in that department.
This should develop into a shootout. The Wildcats, led by running back Damien Anderson, have been moving the ball at will in the last few weeks. The winner here, along with Ohio State, becomes the early leader in the battle for the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
3. SEC: Auburn at Florida
The Florida Gators, behind freshman quarterback Rex Grossman, have righted their ship. Spurrier was looking for a quarterback to step up and take charge. He obviously had never been completely confident in Jesse Palmer, and if Grossman is as good as he appeared at times against LSU, Spurrier has found his man. At any rate, Florida "welcomes" Tommy Tuberville's Auburn Tigers to The Swamp, where the Gators are virtually unbeatable.
Auburn lost for the first time last week, but the SEC is a conference where, these days, you never know from week to week what's going to happen. The Gators' domination appears to be over, but the Tigers will need to score a lot of points to stay with them. And like I said, with this game being at The Swamp, scoring points is an arduous task for any team.
4. Pac-10: Oregon at USC
|  | | Paul Hackett and USC are in a desperate situation. |
This Oregon team, to me, is the favorite to play in Pasadena. Mike Bellotti is one of the most underrated coaches in the country. This is a consistently good football team. USC, if nothing else, is very inconsistent, but they are at home, and that could present the Ducks with a few problems.
Remember this name: Maurice Morris. Oregon's sensational junior college transfer at tailback has broken defenses since entering Pac-10 play. Morris is averaging 145.5 yards per game in his last two (against UCLA and Washington), and the Trojans' defense has not played up to its capabilities since winning their first three games. Expect Morris to have another big game on Saturday.
Keep an eye on USC head coach Paul Hackett. There are rumbles on the West Coast that if the losses continue, Hackett will not patrol the USC sidelines much longer.
5. ACC
Florida State should blow out Duke. You never want to catch Bobby Bowden and the Seminoles after a defeat. This is a school, which, in the past, has overcome one loss to appear in the BCS Championship Game. Two years ago, FSU overcame a horrendous loss to N.C. State and made it to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, where they lost to Tennessee. The 'Noles know it can be done, but it's uphill, and they will take a shot at it by running up gaudy scores against the Dukes of the world. The game against Florida in late November looms that much larger now.
Folks, there's no truth to the rumor that Bowden has asked the Raiders if they'd like to trade Sebastian Janikowski back to the Garnet and Gold from the Silver and Black. Janikowski was just about automatic in his FSU career, converting 66 of 83 field goals, and now he can't make one. He's 6-of-11 this season, and 0-for-4 from 40 yards and out. Janikowski showed he was a Seminole, though. Sunday against the 49ers, the left-footed bomber missed a potential game-winning field goal?you guessed it?wide right.
Brent Musburger a regular contributor to BCSfootball.com.
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Oklahoma's Rocky Calmus picks off Chris Simms and returns it 41 yards for a touchdown.
Bobby Bowden recounts Florida State's loss to Miami.