The grass is always greener on the other side, right?

Sure it is – and Les Miles is ALWAYS on time.

Perhaps that question should be directed to the fans, supporters and teams of college football – in particular those who enjoyed sunny days in the recent past – followed by a whole heck of a lot of gloomy days heading into the present.

We’re talkin’ raining cats and dogs – and not ‘Dawgs.

So upon diving into this topic for a second, if there were coaches that many wish they had back and running particular college football programs, who would they be?

Here are some coaches that come to mind – in the latest Sexy Seven (plus a BONUS one this week):

College Football: Coaches That Teams Wish They Had Back

Bobby Petrino (at Louisville)

Bobby Petrino was 41-9 as head coach at “The Ville”, including four bowl game appearances and an 11-3 record as a member of the Big East conference.

In a matter of months, the Cardinals went from a breeding ground for NFL quarterbacks to a festival of football follies.

Therefore, it would come as no surprise to hear that no one wants a coach back more than Louisville wants Petrino – though there may be some intrigue and excitement with brand spankin’ new hire (and former Gators DC) Charlie Strong.

Lloyd Carr (at Michigan)

This season, Michigan football celebrates its official return to being the owner of the largest capacity crowd in the college game.

(Photo Credit: Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated)

Translation: 2010 seems destined to be “The Big House featuring Little Football.”

In a few seasons, the Wolverines have transformed from a model of consistency (under Lloyd Carr) to a model of conspiracy under Rich Rodriguez – ranging from players transferring, to rules being broken, to self-imposed sanctions and so on.

Lloyd Carr may not have been perfect in the eyes of the maize and blue, but his career record of 122-40 is looking like Brooklyn Decker in a bikini compared to Rich Rod’s Rosie O’Donnell-like career at Michigan.

Phil Fulmer (at Tennessee)

Many will be quick to criticize, saying that Phil Fulmer’s recruiting efforts were fading, and the team was sinking further and further towards football mediocrity.

Two words to counter that argument: Lane Kiffin.

Say what you want about Fulmer, he still made 15 bowl games in 17 seasons and he won a “Natty” in 1998 for UT – when Kiffin couldn’t even manage to cheer up a “Natty Ice” with any of the Vols faithful.

Instead, Lane simply left the entire state of Tennessee with “bitter beer face.”

Terry Donahue (at UCLA)

Under Donahue’s watch, the Bruins won 151 games, including five conference titles and seven straight bowl victories from 1982-1987.

After his departure, UCLA’s new coach was Bob Toledo – and while there were back-to-back seasons of brilliance in 1997 and 1998 – the rest of his tenure was, well… Toledo-esque.

Karl Dorrell’s stretch was nothing to write home to Mom about and current headman Rick Neuheisel’s run is still in its infant stages.

Holy Toledo – where for art thou, Terry?

Nick Saban (at LSU)

LSU certainly hasn’t been a doormat under Les Miles, but many could easily question his far-from-elite regime.  After all, the national title was won with Saban’s recruits.

Worse, Miles hasn’t been able to tell time to save his life.  Not only have there been the late game blunders with clock management, Miles was even late to his press conference during the 2010 SEC Media Days.

Someone needs to giftwrap a replica of Flava Flav’s clock, so that Les can wear it during the upcoming football season.

Maybe then he’ll get a better idea of the time – and before his own time is up.

TWHS thinks Les Miles needs a replica of Flava Flav's clock to assist with his clock management

R.C. Slocum (at Texas A&M)

The majority of critics would be quick to point out that Slocum’s bowl record (3-8) was reminiscent of something to be flushed down a different type of bowl – but looking back on his ability to maintain a clean program, while also showing compassion in comforting his players through tragic events such as the bonfire disasater, Slocum’s record would be welcomed back with open arms.

11 bowl games and a record of 123-47-2 over 14 seasons, that’s leaps and bounds over the Aggies’ performances over the last decade.

The 12^th man would simply love to have more than a dozen reasons to party on New Year’s Day again.

June Jones (at Hawai’i)

The Warriors went from aerial attack to verbal attack – as June Jones (75-41 as coach) developed lethal offenses featuring quarterbacks like Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan, while Greg McMackin only has launched a handful of derogatory comments and slurs.

What bigger collapse could anyone deliver in college sports – losing a former NFL coach and replacing him with a guy that many likely would still rather see roasted with an apple in his mouth.

Paul Pasqualoni (at Syracuse)

Syracuse is like the Apple of college football – cruising along, steady as a rock and then… BOOM… iPhone 4.

There was a bevy of success under Pasqualoni (who amassed 107 victories), and also Dick MacPherson before him.

The actual real beginning of the orange crush was 2005, when the ‘Cuse mustered just one victory in Greg Robinson’s first season as head coach.

Over four seasons, Robinson couldn’t even crack a dozen wins – and instead was left with egg on his face.  And while the Orange have been more competitive under Doug Marrone, a bowl game still feels like miles away – and saying that is very realistic – and not walking on eggshells.

It can easily be referred to as the craziest June in the history of college football – what with all the rumors swirling around regarding conference expansion and realignment across just about all of the major conferences.

But now that the dust has mostly settled, we can move on and attempt to assess the winners and losers as college football currently stands.

Here they are, in no particular order – starting with the winners:

College Football Conference Realignment Aftermath: Winners and Losers

WINNER: Big 12 Conference

The most obvious choice of all is obviously the Big 12 Conference, because well… it’s still alive and ticking.  Credit Texas for being the glue that kept the conference with ten teams – or credit someone else – but either way, the BCS still has one of its strongest conferences intact, and with just two minor casualties in Colorado and Nebraska.

WINNER: Texas

The Longhorns played the role of the hot girl that everyone wants to go to prom with – from the Big Ten courting them, to the Pac-10 making them the top desire, and to the Big 12 conference wanting to keep them.

When it was all said and done, not only does Texas stay, but they also will reel in a ton of extra cash for the university, and the conference in the form of a future TV deal that’s in the works.

WINNER: Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten was one of the biggest winners of the week – adding the Nebraska Cornhuskers and their tradition-rich football program to the mix.

On top of that, the Big Ten gets its 12^th team, which now can lead to a conference championship, more revenue, more exposure – and in the end, a likely bigger step towards major bowl victories, as each conference champion will have a shorter layoff between the end of the regular season and BCS bowl week.

WINNER: Nebraska

The Big Ten is a great fit for the Huskers, who find themselves as a part of the very lucrative Big Ten Network, plus one could argue they are in a conference that features a more cultural fit than they had when a part of the Big 12.

Also, the geographic nature of the Big Ten should potentially help Nebraska with the recruiting process going forward.

WINNER: Kansas Basketball

Many haven’t touched upon this one, but one of the biggest powers in college hoops may have found themselves without a major conference, and losing some big time programs to play against on a regular basis.  Instead, the Big 12 conference remains intact and the Jayhawks will still have Oklahoma and Texas frequenting their schedule during the winter months.

WINNER: The Big 12 Leftovers

Teams like Missouri, Baylor, Kansas and Kansas State were rumored to be hours from being without a conference.  The result would have likely been a move to a conference with significantly less competition, and also less money for their respective programs.

Instead, each school (and their representatives) can breathe a giant sigh of relief.

WINNER: The BCS

Honestly, if you look at the BCS, there could have been a significant change in the balance of conference power – and with the way the system is set up currently, it was a great possibility that a significantly weaker conference could have been earning an automatic berth with the changes that almost occurred.

Therefore, the minimal changes that did go through should keep legit automatic berths in play for all the major conferences – and everyone’s favorite BCS can continue to put mostly big-time schools in the major bowl games.

LOSER: Pac-10 Conference

This is the most glaringly obvious choice among the list of losers, considering that throughout the week, the Pac-10 was rumored to be hours from becoming a superconference featuring 16 teams, including Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12.

Now, not only did they lose out on the Big 12’s best, they are also having issues with their own elite schools, mainly USC and the sanctions it is currently facing.

Fortunately, there are rumors that Utah may be moving to the Pac-10 – and combined with Colorado, they can boost the conference up to 12 teams.

LOSER: Mountain West Conference

Listen, the addition of Boise State to the MWC is a good thing – a great thing, actually.

However, there are several rumors pointing to Utah departing for the Pac-10, especially after the Big 12 powers decided to stay put.

On top of all this, the Mountain West appeared primed to steal away a major BCS berth if the Big 12 fell apart – and now that opportunity may have faded away as well.

LOSER: FOX Network

The rumors of a Pac-10 super conference also were pointing to FOX teaming up to form a network for the new and improved group of schools, but now that deal doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as lucrative as it could have been – and instead of stealing away some revenue and figures from ESPN, little has changed as the situation stands now.

LOSER: USC

With the Trojans facing sanctions, there could have been a boost for the school to be coupled with some of the biggest powers in college football, mainly Texas and Oklahoma moving to the Pac-10.  Having teams that travel well and bring in big money may have helped soften the blow that will result from the pending sanctions against the Trojans.

For those that don’t buy into this, think outside the box.  It may be two years without a bowl game, but adding in the loss of scholarships – and it is possible USC could be years from being elite again.

LOSER: Big 12 Conference

Finally, the conference realignment goes full-circle, with the Big 12 conference emerging also as a loser on my list.

It’s a winner for staying alive, but it’s a loser due to the fact that after losing Colorado and Nebraska, the Big 12 is in a position to lose its conference championship game.  Now, they can see how tough it can be to have such a long layoff before a major bowl game.  This has been a major sticking point for the Big Ten over recent years.

Now that the dust is somewhat settling on the recent conference realignment frenzy, there are new questions to be addressed in the upcoming months, one of which involves the new Big Ten member Nebraska.

The Big Ten features a handful of natural rivalry games at the end of the season, as most conferences do.  Ohio State and Michigan plus Purdue and Indiana are just a few examples.

So what about the Huskers?

While many may push for Wisconsin or Iowa to step in and be a natural rival for Nebraska in college football, I’m putting in my vote for Penn State.

It does make sense for the Nittany Lions to be rivaled up with Nebraska – and not just because these are the newest members to the conference, the 11^th and 12^th teams, respectively.

Currently, Penn State is coupled up with Michigan State, and the two teams play the last game of the regular season every year – specifically for the Land Grant Trophy.

Trophy or not, this rivalry has always been forced – and this is coming from the mouth of a Penn State grad who knows.

Listen, the Nittany Lions faithful don’t care about Michigan State.  It’s not meant to be a cold statement, but the natural conference rivals for the Lions are the Ohio States and the Michigans – and now, Nebraska, too.

Penn Staters do not like Nebraska – in fact, they loathe them.

Hey, it has nothing to do with the “corn faithful”, as I’m sure the majority of them are good people.

This hatred has been brewing for 16 years now – dating back to 1994.

Get it now?

The Nittany Lions had a powerhouse team that year, one that deserved to at least have a share of the National Championship.

But alas, if you think the current BCS system is severely flawed, at least it wasn’t like years ago, when a team like Penn State didn’t even get a chance to fight for the title.

Ki-Jana Carter was a key to Penn State's success in 1994

Instead, it came down to a bowl game – and then a final vote.

Penn State, loaded with a lethal offense featuring QB Kerry Collins, RB Ki-Jana Carter and company, faced Oregon in the Rose Bowl, while Nebraska took on Miami in the Orange Bowl.

Each team cruised to victory, with the Nittany Lions defeating the Ducks 38-20 and the Cornhuskers knocking off Miami 24-17.

Then, the votes were tallied and the heartbreak began to settle in.

Nebraska was named national champs – and Penn State didn’t even get a share.

Since then, the hatred has been brewing – and some of it was relinquished with a 40-7 win in 2002 when the Nittany Lions took out their frustrations on a hapless Huskers team.

But a home-and-home isn’t enough to quench the thirst of the blue and white faithful.

These two teams are a natural fit for a rivalry, no matter what anyone says – and with that, a new trophy should be born – perhaps called the ‘94 Trophy – where each year, the Nittany Lions and Cornhuskers can fight for that 1994 national title.

Nebraska was the sole National Champion in 1994

I don’t care if this trophy has a giant dairy cow coupled with a couple of corn stalks – it just needs to exist, so that the winner can parade it around the stadium at the end of each season.

So, regretfully Sparty, you can have all the land you want – and I understand that there may be some kind of deal in place between MSU and PSU, but there can be a way to get around it.  Heck, each of the power conferences certainly has found ways over the last few days.

Consider this a petition for Nebraska vs. Penn State at the end of each football season starting in 2012 – and feel free to sign it below, via the comments section.

If enough support is generated, The Wife Hates Sports can push this concept further and let it be known to the powers that be in the Big Ten conference.

For now, welcome to the Big Ten Huskers fans – it’s going to be a wild ride, so fasten your seatbelts.

Freshmen in college, rookies in the NFL – they all get hazed to some degree.

So what about rookie coaches in college football?  They get a deal, a few years to prove their worth and then either find barrels of success or get hazed themselves – leading to a swift kick in the tailpipe, a clean desk and a set of walking papers.

That takes us to 11 rookie coaches – all in a new town, heading up a new program within the BCS system.  The question remains: will it be the success or the swift kick in the you-know-what?

Which Rookie Coach Will Have the Worst 2010 season?

11. Jimbo Fisher – Florida State

Think the weight of filling the shoes of a coaching legend will be added pressure?

Stop it.  Bowden had been the driver of a “cash for clunker” set on cruise control for the last few years.

Jimbo Fisher will be fine – securing a top ten recruiting class and bringing new hope to Tallahassee.

The schedule will be a challenge though, with road games against Miami (FL) and Oklahoma, plus BYU, Clemson and Florida at home.

10. Skip Holtz – South Florida

Holtz is taking over a program buried in controversy left behind by Jim Leavitt.

But that won’t mean a thing, as Skip has gotten the best out of minimal talent for years – leading East Carolina to four straight bowl games and back-to-back nine win seasons.

That, plus he knocked off Boise State in 2007 and both Virginia Tech and West Virginia during the 2008 season.

The move from Conference USA to the Big East won’t be that big of a jump considering Holtz will be joining the red-headed stepchild of the BCS power conferences.

9. Brian Kelly – Notre Dame

(AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

Sorry, Charlie – but Coach Kelly is going to make you a distant memory soon.

Brian Kelly was 34-6 as a coach at Cincinnati, and he also led Central Michigan to the top of the MAC in his previous job with the Chippewas.

Now he trades talent that was 60^th in recruiting for a top 15 class, plus a school that wants to win more than any in college football.

When it all comes down to it, everyone in South Bend – including Touchdown Jesus – will have their eyes on Dayne Crist, recovering from a knee injury and carrying Coach Kelly’s success in his own two hands.

8. Derek Dooley – Tennessee

For those that want to point out (and hate on) the fact that new Vols coach Derek Dooley had a career coaching record of 17-20 with Louisiana Tech, I have two words for you: Gene Chizik.

In his first season at Auburn, Chizik was 8-5 (after going 5-19 in two years at Iowa State).  Sometimes, you just need a chance – and some talent.

That’s exactly what Dooley has, left some players via recruiting masterminds like Ed Orgeron – plus a top ten recruiting class (9^th via Rivals.com).

Don’t worry Rocky Top: soon you’ll be dropping the ‘Eff-U’ for “Lane Who?”

7. Lane Kiffin – USC

There’s no expectation that Kiffin will be bringing home any humanitarian awards in the upcoming months – but the point of the matter is this: Kiffin has legendary defensive-minded Dad in tow, plus aforementioned recruiting machine Ed Orgeron.

On top of that, the Trojans have a boatland of talent still in play.  The issue last season was the defense, and Monte Kiffin will improve on that.

So, it should be a solid year for USC – and oh yeah, because this is his dream job – Kiffin may not even leave before the year is over with.

6. Joker Phillips – Kentucky

With Calipari and Co. roaming the campus, it’s likely that fans may see their new football coach and say, “Who’s this Joker?”

OK, so unlikely, considering Phillips was a former wide receiver, and a coach on the staff for the last half dozen years.

But this Kentucky football team should take a backseat to no one – making four bowl games in the last five seasons.

Still, Joker’s first season is no laughing matter, with road tests at Florida and Tennessee.

5. Butch Jones – Cincinnati

With Brian Kelly off to Notre Dame, Butch Jones takes over for the Bearcats.

Cincinnati is going to miss players like Tony Pike and Mardy Gilyard.

Even though Zach Collaros and Isaiah Pead are still around to shoulder some of the load, a schedule that has a road opener at Fresno State and Oklahoma three weeks later – this year likely could result in the Bearcats heading back in the Big East pack by season’s end.

4. Mike London – Virginia

Al Groh’s rollercoaster career at Virginia is over, leaving Mike London to take his place.

In two years at Richmond, London was 24-5, incliuding an FCS Championship.

2010 is going to be a challenge, not only losing a lot of senior leadership at the LB, QB and TB positions, but also a recruiting class that was ranked lower than schools such as Colorado State, Hawaii and Memphis (per Rivals.com).

Add in a rematch with his former team, plus a trip to USC the following week, and it will be London’s career record falling down.

3. Turner Gill – Kansas

Mangino leaves a black cloud over the program, a number of seniors have moved on (headlined by QB Todd Reesing) and the team finished the season with seven straight losses.

Piece of cake, Turner – after all, you had some success at Buffalo.  That’s some success – building from a two-win season to 8-6 and the International Bowl in 2008.

But we’ll see how Gill adjusts from the MAC to the Big 12 conference – especially when he has to travel to Nebraska on November 13^th.  It’ll get ugly before it gets pretty.

2. Charlie Strong – Louisville

It seems so long ago that Louisville consistently churned QB’s through to the NFL.

Coach Kragthorpe left the Cardinals in shambles, having zero winning seasons over a three-year span, finishing no higher than 5^th in the conference.

Enter Charlie Strong, who has been surrounded by great staff and players at Florida – so he should right the ship, but it won’t happen right away.

In fact, midway through an ugly 2010, he’ll likely wish he pulled a Billy Donovan or Urban Meyer, retracting the Florida depature in the first place.

1. Tommy Tuberville – Texas Tech

Tuberville is going to switch and adjust to the spread offense, similar to the one that Leach previously used at Texas Tech.

The key difference: He wants defense, too.

Tommy T. plans to mainly use a 3-4 defense – and due to the adjustments – required a number of defensive recruits to come on board in a short period of time.

In the end, the major adjustment to the system – combined with a schedule that features Big 12 powers Oklahoma, Texas and Oklahoma State – will lead to multiple headaches in year one.

If the changes don’t translate into victories quickly, Tuberville may find himself back on the golf course sooner rather than later.

* Also posted to my Bleacher Report page

Originally posted by Kevin Paul (via Fox Sports, Bleacher Report or First and Big Ten) on October 21, 2009

Prepare those speeches and clear some space on the mantle, because it’s time to hand out some midseason hardware for the 2009 college football season:

College Football’s Midyear Awards

Coach of the Midyear
…the nominees are:
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa), Brian Kelly (Cincinnati), Nick Saban (Alabama)

Brian Kelly has the Bearcats staring the BCS in the face again while returning only one starter on defense and Alabama, entering the season with a question mark O-line, has opened huge holes for Mark Ingram and the running game.

But while many saw Iowa as an afterthought in the Big Ten (especially with such a brutal road schedule) the Hawkeyes are 7-0, already knocking off both Penn State and Wisconsin away from home.

Iowa’s toughest remaining test is facing the Buckeyes in Columbus on Nov. 14.
Winner: Kirk Ferentz

Hottest Coaching Seat
…the nominees are:
Al Groh (Virginia), Charlie Weis (Notre Dame), Ron Zook (Illinois)

Groh again has the Cavaliers on a tear after a painfully slow start, while Zook and the Illini are a dismal 1-5 after being listed by many as a potential darkhorse in the Big Ten.

Still, the spotlight is on Weis. While the Irish are holding their own, Notre Dame still has no signature wins in 2009, and you know what that means: no need for the hand warmers Charlie, this seat is toasty warm until further notice.
Winner: Charlie Weis

Offensive POMY
…the nominees are:
Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), Toby Gerhart (Stanford), Case Keenum (Houston)

Gerhart has carried Stanford, averaging over 120 yards and adding a dozen touchdowns.  Meanwhile, Clausen has 14 TD’s and only 2 INT’s, adding 1,800 passing yards and a QB rating that is second only to Boise State’s Kellen Moore.

None can match Houston’s Case Keenum, the junior QB who has led the Cougars into the polls, while throwing 410 yards per game, adding 19 TD’s and 4 INT’s, including 801 passing yards in two games against ranked opponents.
Winner: Case Keenum

Defensive POMY
…the nominees are:
Greg Jones (Michigan State), Jammie Kirlew (Indiana), Von Miller (Texas A&M)

Definitely a tough call, as Greg Jones leads the nation in tackles with 85, plus Indiana’s Jammie Kirlew has forced five fumbles, while adding 5½ sacks.

But the biggest standout is Von Miller, currently fifth in the nation in tackles for a loss (12½) and second in the country in sacks with 10: impressive, and worth defensive player of the midyear.
Winner: Von Miller

Top Freshman
…the nominees are:
Matt Barkley (USC), Tate Forcier (Michigan), Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh), Ryan Williams (Va. Tech)

Barkley has signature wins in South Bend and Columbus, but USC has been a “plug and play” system over recent years.

Dion Lewis has made the Panthers not miss LeSean McCoy too much, while Ryan Williams has filled in nicely after former starter Darren Evans was injured.

In the end, it’s the exciting and fiery play of Tate Forcier that has the Wolverines back on the map much quicker than many thought they would be.
Winner: Tate Forcier

Biggest Surprise
…the nominees are:
Boston College, Iowa, Miami (FL), Washington

Many had the Eagles in the ACC cellar, but BC (5-2) is on top of the Atlantic division.  The Hawkeyes are perched at the top of the Big Ten, but many felt they would be a solid team after returning 14 starters from the ’08 squad.

Miami, always able to recruit talent, appears to be back on the map and playing well, but the biggest surprise has to lie in the Pacific Northwest, as Coach Sark, in his first season, has the Huskies 3-4 after a winless 2008 campaign.

Included in this year’s schedule are an upset win over USC, plus close losses to LSU and Notre Dame.
Winner: Washington

Biggest Disappointment
…the nominees are:
California, Florida State, Illinois, Oklahoma, Ole Miss

Take your pick here, as teams like Cal (1-2 in Pac-10), Ole Miss (1-2 in the SEC West), Illinois (1-5 overall), and Oklahoma (3-3 overall) have all disappointed.

But the biggest disappointment can be found in Tallahassee, where the Seminoles are 2-4 overall, including 0-3 in the ACC.  It’s a shame that Bowden has been under such scrutiny, but this Florida State team has been abysmal.
Winner: Florida State

Bonehead Move of the Midyear
…the nominees are:
Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State), LeGarrette Blount (Oregon), Mike Gallett (Nevada)

Gallett is yet another player to be suspended for the year due to a violation of team rules and then there’s Dez Bryant, whose “pants were on fire” earlier this season.

But the biggest bonehead move of the year belongs to Blount, and who could forget how he first talked trash, second, didn’t back it up, and finally lost his cool and punched a Boise State player on national television.

In the end, Blount was suspended for the year and don’t worry, he won’t be sent an actual award.

Winner: LeGarrette Blount

Game of the Midyear
…the nominees are:
Notre Dame vs. Michigan, USC vs. Ohio State, Central Michigan vs. Michigan State

The Big Ten dominates this category, mostly due to the conference featuring a plethora of tight games during the first half of the season.

The wildest game of the three had to be Central Michigan’s 29-27 upset of Sparty, which was in dramatic fashion after a late two-point conversion attempt for the lead failed, only to have a recovered onside kick and game-winning field goal follow shortly thereafter.

After the game, a number of college football fans caught themselves a bad case of “LeFevour”.
Winner: Central Michigan vs. Michigan State

Heisman Trophy
…the nominees are:
Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), Mark Ingram (Alabama), Colt McCoy (Texas), Tim Tebow (Florida)

It seems like forever ago that Bradford, Tebow and McCoy were the guaranteed trio to show up at the ceremony, but let’s face it, if you want to win the Heisman, recent history states that one needs to play for a high profile school that is also among the nation’s elite teams.

Look at the winners over the past decade and a half: Oklahoma, USC, Florida, Ohio State, the list rolls on.

Tebow missed time due to the concussion.  Clausen has the gaudiest and most impressive numbers, but the Irish have two losses and zero signature wins.  That leaves McCoy and Ingram.

Look at each in games against ranked teams.  Versus Texas Tech and Oklahoma, McCoy has 332 passing yards, with 2 TD’s and 3 INT’s.  Ingram, against Virginia Tech and South Carolina, had 50 carries for 396 yards and 2 TD’s.
Winner: Mark Ingram

National Championship
…the nominees are:
Alabama, Boise State, Cincinnati, Florida, Iowa, Texas, USC

Count out Cincy and the boys from Boise, because with schedules like each has, help will be needed to reach the title.  The Trojans, with one loss, still have to travel to Oregon, plus have other tricky matchups against Pac-10 foes.

Iowa’s toughest remaining game is at Ohio State, but they’ll likely be on the outside looking in while Texas has its toughest remaining game on Halloween at Oklahoma State.

That leaves ‘Bama and the Gators, who will likely duke it out for a NC spot in the SEC title game.  Call me crazy but… ‘Bama has been the most consistent team.
Winner: Alabama vs. Texas

Stats courtesy of cfbstats.com