The Battle for the Iron Skillet

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TCU's student body president presents the first
Iron Skillet to his SMU counterpart in 1946.

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One of the great things about college football is the rivalries that have developed over the years.

Some are always important to the national rankings, like OU–Texas and Ohio State–Michigan. Others are only important to the schools and their alums.

But they are traditions that must be experienced. They bring excitement to sleepy campuses and energy to fading programs — if only for one week.

In my undergraduate days at Arkansas, there was nothing like Arkansas–Texas week, no matter what the teams' records were.

By this point in the season, several rivalries have been renewed, and many, many more will be played out in the weeks to come.

One such rivalry is right here in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex.

TCU and SMU have been playing each other since 1915 — just about every year, too. On Saturday, they will meet for the 91st time, but the first 27 were not known as the "Battle for the Iron Skillet." That tradition apparently started with the game that was played on Nov. 30, 1946.

All time, TCU holds a slight edge over SMU, 44–39–7, but the advantage has been more pronounced since SMU came off the NCAA–imposed death penalty in 1989. The Horned Frogs are 16–6 against the Mustangs since that time.

I'm not entirely sure about the origin of the rivalry's name. Legend has it that an SMU fan was frying frog legs before a game in the 1950s — in what I presume was a precursor to modern tailgate parties. A TCU fan took exception and said the winner of the game should get the skillet and frog legs.

However, as the above photo and this article from The TCU Magazine show, the skillet was presented to the winner starting in the 1940s.

Well, whenever the tradition began, it is still a fairly heated rivalry. There are many TCU and SMU graduates living in both Dallas and Fort Worth, and the short distance between the two cities — approximately 35 miles — makes the game a hot topic of conversation locally. It has been a significant point of pride even on those occasions when neither team was very good.

Idle: #7 Kansas State, #10 Notre Dame, #11 Florida, #13 Southern Cal, #16 Oklahoma, #21 Mississippi State, #23 Rutgers

Today

• #8 Stanford at Washington, 8 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: Woodrow Wilson was in his final year as president when these teams met for the first time in 1920.
  
  Washington hold an overall edge in the series, 40–37–4, but Stanford has won six of the last seven meetings. At home, Washington is 20–18–3 against Stanford, but the Huskies haven't beaten Stanford there in nearly a decade.
  
  I don't they will win this one, either. I pick Stanford.

Saturday

• Ole Miss at #1 Alabama, 8:15 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: These old rivals will be meeting for the 56th time, but the rivalry factor may not mean much.
  
  'Bama has dominated the series, especially at home, where the Crimson Tide has lost to the Rebels only once (in 1988) — but it hasn't been much better at Ole Miss, where Alabama's record is 14–6–1.
  
  The Rebels may find themselves longing for the friendly confines of Vaught–Hemingway Stadium, but the truth is that, in the last few years, they have been more competitive at Alabama's Bryant–Denny Stadium.
  
  Do I think the Rebels will be competitive in this one? No. Alabama will roll.
• #2 Oregon at Washington State, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: Oregon was more impressive last week than LSU, and, consequently, the Ducks leaped past the Tigers in the rankings.
  
  History says they will probably leap past Washington State on Saturday, too, but the series record is reasonably close. Oregon's record against WSU is 44–33–6, and they have winning records at home and on the road.
  
  I guess most college football fans know how successful Oregon was last year. Washington State has been the reverse — with only one winning season in the last nine years.
  
  If that's going to change this season, it will have to do so without the benefit of a victory on this Saturday. I pick Oregon.
• Towson at #3 LSU, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPNU: This is like taking candy from a baby.
  
  Sure, I know, LSU was uninspiring in its win over Auburn. And the Tigers may give a lackluster performance this weekend.
  
  But, hey, come on. LSU has to win this game.
• #4 Florida State at South Florida, 5 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: South Florida has a program that is on the rise.
  
  And the crowd at South Florida might cause some problems for the Seminoles.
  
  But, really, with the fourth–ranked offense, this one should be a fairly easy win for Florida State.
• Tennessee at #5 Georgia, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on CBS: This isn't the oldest series in the SEC, but it is bound to be one of the most competitive.
  
  Tennessee has the edge at both sites — with identical 10–9–1 marks.
  
  Georgia actually has won the last two meetings, but Tennessee was 4–2 in the six previous games.
  
  If the Bulldogs were to win for the third straight time, it wouldn't be unprecedented. In fact, winning streaks have played a prominent role in the series.
  
  Georgia won four straight from 2000 to 2003 (Tennessee won the nine games prior to that). And Georgia won four straight before that — in 1973, 1980, 1981 and 1988.
  
  I expect this to be an entertaining game, but I think Georgia is in a better position to go the distance.
• #6 South Carolina at Kentucky, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: South Carolina is 11–1 against Kentucky since the 2000 season — but that single loss came the last time the teams played in the Bluegrass State.
  
  On that occasion, the Wildcats managed a 31–28 victory over the Gamecocks.
  
  The personnel is different, though, and I just can't see Kentucky managing to win this one. I choose South Carolina.
• #25 Baylor at #9 West Virginia, 11 a.m. (Central) on FX: This will be the first time these teams have met, and the conditions could hardly be better, with both teams ranked in the Top 25.
  
  Neither defense has been particularly impressive so I expect something of a shootout. And, if that is the case, I have to pick Baylor and its sixth–ranked offense — although West Virginia is 14th in offense and could be quite dangerous if Baylor stumbles.
• #12 Texas at Oklahoma State, 6 p.m. (Central) on Fox: OSU has only beaten Texas four times in their previous 26 meetings, but the Cowboys have won the last two, both in Austin.
  
  The Longhorns are 6–1 in Stillwater, but I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Most folks know how good OSU's offense has been in recent years. Well, many of the Cowboys' players have gone on to the NFL, but OSU's offense is currently ranked #1 in the nation.
  
  It's almost as if they haven't skipped a beat in Stillwater.
  
  Texas' defense is 34th in the nation — which, statistically, may not mean much after only a few games. At the moment, that is only marginally better than OSU's defense, which only has to deal with the nation's 16th&ndsh;ranked offense.
  
  I pick Oklahoma State in an upset.
• #14 Ohio State at #20 Michigan State, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC: Michigan State snapped a seven–game losing streak against Ohio State last year.
  
  If the Spartans beat the Buckeyes on Saturday, they will have accomplished something — beating Ohio State at home — they haven't accomplished since 1999.
  
  It would also be the first time Michigan State has won two consecutive games against Ohio State since the 1998 and 1999 seasons.
  
  The outcome may depend on Michigan State's defense, which is ranked sixth in the nation and seems capable of handling Ohio State's 52nd–ranked offense.
  
  The Spartans' offense is even worse, ranked 65th, but it is likely to have an easier time with the Buckeyes' defense, which is 71st.
  
  I'll take Michigan State at home.
• #15 TCU at SMU, 6 p.m. (Central) on FSN: As I mentioned earlier, TCU is 16–6 against SMU since the Mustangs came off the death penalty.
  
  TCU has been especially successful in games played in Dallas since the dawn of the 21st century. The Frogs are 5–1 in those games.
  
  TCU's strongest point is its defense, which is ninth in the country. It should have little trouble with the #79 offense. When TCU has the ball, though, it will have quarterback Casey Pachall, currently the nation's leading passer, peppering the SMU defense, which is currently the worst in the land.
  
  I pick TCU.
• #17 Clemson at Boston College, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: Historically, the home team has a slight edge in this series.
  
  And, statistically, Boston College does have the advantage on defense. But neither team has been impressive on that side of the ball. So the question comes down to offense, and Clemson has a decisive edge in that category.
  
  I'll take Clemson.
• #18 Oregon State at Arizona, 9 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12: Oregon State has won five of the last six in this series, and the Beavers haven't lost at Arizona since 1997.
  
  Furthermore, Oregon State has been much more successful on both sides of the ball. I take Oregon State.
• #19 Louisville at Southern Miss, 7 p.m. (Central) on CBSSN: Louisville has been much better — on both sides of the ball — than Southern Miss.
  
  Historically, Southern Miss holds the edge, but Louisville has won the last five meetings.
  
  Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has completed nearly three–fourths of his passes so far. He might improve that figure against Southern Miss' weak defense.
  
  I'll take Louisville.
• Wisconsin at #22 Nebraska, 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC: When these two schools met as conference rivals last year, it was their first meeting in nearly four decades.
  
  They were never regular opponents, just occasional ones, but, when Nebraska beat Wisconsin last year, it knotted up the all–time series at 3–3.
  
  Who will break the tie?
  
  Well, Wisconsin has a better defense, which could come in handy against the ninth–ranked offense. Cornhusker QB Taylor Martinez has thrown only one interception so far and figures to test the Badgers.
  
  I pick Nebraska.
• #24 Boise State at New Mexico: Boise State is 3–0 against New Mexico all time and will be making only its second appearance in Albuquerque.
  
  Boise's last trip there — in 2000 — resulted in a 31–14 triumph.
  
  So far, neither team has been impressive on offense so I anticipate a defensive struggle. And that should favor Boise State, with its 18th–ranked defense.
  
  I choose Boise State.

Last week: 16–3

Season: 74–12

The Blown Call

This image, from Monday night's Hail Mary completion, with
one official signaling a score and the other a turnover, is
being seen as symbolic of the replacement referees' performance.

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It's never been my style to criticize the officials at sporting events, even when they made questionable calls that went against my team.

Bad calls come with the territory — and when all is said and done, it tends to come out equal. Most of us have as many dubious calls that favor us as ones that go against us.

I have watched the replacement referees trying to do a tough job under trying circumstances, and I have sympathized with teams that were hurt by clearly blown calls.

But I have remained silent — partly because I know that things usually balance out in the end but mostly because my father told me when I was young that a single play or call seldom decides the outcome of a game. I believed it.

I guess I still believe that — even though a blown call at the end of the Monday Night Football game obviously did decide the outcome of that game, and it is the clearest evidence yet that the NFL and the officials need to settle their labor dispute and get the experienced referees back on the field.

This is similar to the weeks a quarter of a century ago when the NFL's players were on strike, and team owners chose to field replacement teams manned by all sorts of frustrated athletes who had been forced to do something else for a living rather than cancel games.

To be sure, a handful of those guys exceeded expectations and went on to play in the real NFL for awhile after the strike ended, but most of them went back to whatever they had been doing before — selling lawn furniture or insurance or whatever.

And the same fate may await the replacement refs today. Some of them have performed well and would deserve a chance to prove they belong out there, but the vast majority have not. Monday night's game was simply the most blatant example.

Sportswriter Joe Posnanski says it was "a farce."

In The Sporting News, David Steele argues that the case against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been building for months. Steele thinks Goodell should step down if he can't (or won't) satisfactorily resolve the situation.

Even the candidates for president are weighing in.

And normally mild–mannered Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers apologized to fans for the poor performance of the replacement refs.

"Some stuff just needs to be said," Rodgers said, observing that the NFL won't. "The games are getting out of control."

Only one thing will bring the games back under control — a resolution of the labor dispute.

It's All Over Now

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It's been a tough year at my alma mater.

And hopes had been so high when the year began, too.

The final whistle in Arkansas' Cotton Bowl victory over Kansas State had barely sounded before the talk began that Arkansas would compete for a national title in 2012.

And that talk continued, even after coach Bobby Petrino was involved in a motorcycle accident, and it was revealed that he had been riding around with a young woman who was half his age (and not his wife).

The Razorbacks were loaded, they said. They were ready to compete with Alabama and LSU for the SEC's Western Division title. It didn't matter who was coaching them.

Good thing, too, because Petrino was fired in April. That's a little late for a new coach to recruit players for the coming season.

But, after a less–than–impressive opening win against Jacksonville State, Arkansas lost a stunner to Louisiana–Monroe in overtime, was blown to bits by top–ranked Alabama and then was defeated by unbeaten Rutgers last night.

Since Arkansas joined the SEC, it hasn't been unusual for the Razorbacks to get off to a 1–3 start. That may be hard for most college football fans to believe, given Arkansas' recent success.

The Razorbacks last began a season 1–3 in 2005. Like this year, one of those losses came to a very good Alabama team, and another came in a game with Southern Cal, which wound up playing Texas for the national title in the Rose Bowl.

But, unlike this season, Arkansas beat Louisiana–Monroe. The Hogs finished 4–7 that year.

In 1996, Arkansas began the season with a 1–3 mark. Florida and Alabama, both en route to big seasons, contributed to Arkansas' early defeats, as did a modest SMU team.

Again, though, Arkansas beat Louisiana–Monroe and finished the season 4–7.

The Hogs also started the 1994 season with a 1–3 mark. They never beat a team that would end the season with a winning record, and, once again, Arkansas was 4–7.

In 1992, Arkansas' first year of SEC play, the Hogs started 1–3. The signs were there from the start. Under Jack Crowe as coach, Arkansas lost to the Citadel on Labor Day weekend, and Crowe was fired the following day.

Although they did manage to beat a pretty good Tennessee team, the Hogs finished 3–7–1 that season.

Most of the time, Arkansas hasn't overcome a 1–3 start. But once, though, Arkansas started a season 1–3 and rallied to post a winning record and earn a bowl bid.

In 2001, Arkansas opened with a 1–3 record, and all three losses were to conference rivals, but the Hogs bounced back and finished the season 7–4 before losing to Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl.

When I was growing up in Arkansas — and the Hogs were competing in the now defunct Southwest Conference — 1–3 starts just never happened. Never.

Not at Arkansas. Maybe at Baylor. Or TCU. Or Rice. But never at Arkansas.

After the first month of the season, the Razorbacks were always still in the bowl conversation. Things might get worse as the season went on, or things might get better. But you could never count them out after just four games.

This year, though, I think you can.

I hope I'm wrong. But I had my doubts about the defense as I watched the Jacksonville State game, and a shaky defense will have trouble against just about everyone in the SEC.

I don't know if John L. Smith, the guy who was picked to replace Petrino, will still be coach in the off–season. But whoever the coach is has to make defense his top priority.

Petrino left the Hogs well supplied with offensive weapons, but the defensive cupboard is a bit bare and can't be depended upon when those offensive weapons misfire.

Irish Take On Wolverines Saturday

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If you are a college football fan, there are many games on this weekend's schedule that should attract your attention.

But, of all the appealing contests, I think the one that intrigues me the most is Michigan and Notre Dame. It's got it all — tradition, devoted fans and, this year, both teams are ranked in the Top 25. When was the last time that happened?

It will also be intriguing to observe the atmosphere in South Bend. Notre Dame has been openly trying to make its home field advantage more of an advantage.

Idle: #9 Stanford, #12 Texas

Today

• Brigham Young at #24 Boise State, 8 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: These teams played each other in 2003 and 2004. Boise State won both contests — by an average of about 20 points.
  
  I pick Boise State.

Saturday

• Florida Atlantic at #1 Alabama: These two schools have never met, but the odds against a Florida Atlantic victory must be somewhere in the millions or billions.
  
  For awhile after Bear Bryant retired, Alabama ceased to be a factor in the national championship conversation, but those days are long gone. Alabama should win this one.
• #2 LSU at Auburn, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: This series dates back to 1902, and Saturday's game will be the 45th meeting.
  
  Both teams have the advantage at home. This year's game is being played at Auburn, where the home team is 14–10. In fact, Auburn has won five of the last six games it has played against LSU at home.
  
  One of those wins came two years ago when Cam Newton was Auburn's quarterback. He has moved on to the NFL, and Auburn has been struggling ever since.
  
  LSU, meanwhile, has consistently been ranked in the nation's Top 5, and, once again, college football fans have begun to anticipate LSU's annual showdown with Alabama.
  
  Such talk will continue after this weekend. I expect LSU to win the game — even though this week's campus bomb scare disrupted practice in Baton Rouge.
• #22 Arizona at #3 Oregon, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: Arizona always struggles against Oregon — especially when the teams play at Oregon.
  
  Oregon is 12–5 at home against Arizona; in fact, Oregon has won eight of its last nine home games against Arizona.
  
  But this year might be different. Both teams are in the Top 10 nationally in total offense (Arizona is fourth, Oregon is seventh), and neither team has been particularly impressive on defense.
  
  Do I think Arizona can win? Not really, but I think the Wildcats can make it interesting. Bottom line: Oregon will win the game.
• #10 Clemson at #4 Florida State, 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC: These teams have been playing off and on since 1970, annually (as conference rivals) since 1992, and Florida State has dominated the series.
  
  Actually, Florida State won 14 of the first 16 times the teams met, but Clemson has won six of the last nine. Unfortunately, only one of those wins came at Florida State — a 27–20 decision in 2006.
  
  There's a lot for college football fans to like in this game. Both teams are in the Top 25 in total offense, but Florida State has a decisive edge in total defense; the Seminoles havethe top–ranked defense in the nation while the Tigers' defense is ranked 56th.
  
  Advantage: Florida State.
• Vanderbilt at #5 Georgia, 6:45 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: This is one of the oldest series in the South.
  
  These teams first played in 1902. They have played 68 times in all, and Vandy has won only 15. In fact, Georgia has only lost to Vanderbilt twice in their last 20 encounters — but the good news for Vandy fans is that the Commodores' two wins in the last two decades came at Georgia, where they will be playing Saturday night.
  
  Hey, you gotta take encouragement where you find it, but Vandy has more than that.
  
  The Commodore defense is ranked 11th. That should make for some interesting moments when Georgia's 20th–ranked offense is on the field.
  
  I pick Georgia, but it just might be a lot closer than most people think.
• #15 Kansas State at #6 Oklahoma, 6:30 p.m. (Central) on Fox: These teams will be meeting for the 92nd time when they kick off this Saturday.
  
  K–State has pulled off some surprising wins over the Sooners, but the Wildcats have lost eight of the last nine meetings, and they have really struggled in Norman, where OU holds a 35–6–3 advantage.
  
  The Sooners also have the #10 defense and #11 offense, both considerably better rankings than KSU has. That, with the home field, should be enough for Oklahoma to win.
• Missouri at #7 South Carolina, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on CBS: These teams have played twice before, but never during the regular season.
  
  Missouri beat South Carolina in the 1979 Hall of Fame Classic and the 2005 Independence Bowl.
  
  On Saturday, they will meet for the first time as conference opponents, and TV cameras will be on hand.
  
  If you're familiar with the SEC, it should come as no surprise to you that four of the Top 20 defenses are in the SEC, and one of them will be playing in this game. But you may be surprised to know that SEC newcomer Missouri, not South Carolina, is ranked in the Top 20 in total defense.
  
  Neither school is currently ranked in the Top 20 in total offense. South Carolina is in the Top 50, and Missouri is in the Top 80.
  
  Missouri will have the edge if it is a defensive game — and I'm kind of inclined to think it will be. South Carolina struggled against Vanderbilt, then beat East Carolina and Alabama–Birmingham. With a schedule like that, shouldn't the Gamecocks be higher than 48th in total offense?
  
  I pick Missouri.
• Maryland at #8 West Virginia, 11 a.m. (Central) on FX: This will be the 49th encounter in this series, and the record is pretty tight.
  
  West Virginia holds a slight advantage, 25–21–2. The Mountaineers also have won the last three times the teams have played in West Virginia.
  
  The most interesting moments figure to be when West Virginia's third–ranked offense takes on Maryland's eighth–ranked defense. Maryland has one of the worst offenses in the nation, and West Virginia has one of the worst defenses.
  
  I'll take West Virginia.
• #18 Michigan at #11 Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m. (Central) on NBC: These schools have been playing each other — sporadically — since 1898, and the home team usually has the edge.
  
  At South Bend, Ind., Notre Dame is 8–6–1 against Michigan and enjoys a three–game winning streak there over the Wolverines.
  
  Wherever the game is played, the final score is frequently close, often within a single score.
  
  And this year's game figures to be a battle between Michigan's offense and Notre Dame's defense. In a low–scoring decision, I pick Notre Dame.
• California at #13 USC, 5 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12 Network: Southern Cal really tumbled in the polls after the Trojans' loss to Stanford last week.
  
  A game with California might be just the thing to lift their spirits. These teams have played each other 97 times, and Southern Cal has won 63 — including 10 of the last 11.
  
  California has been more impressive on offense, and Southern Cal has been more impressive on defense. I've always been a believer in the value of a strong defense so I'll give USC the edge in this one.
• Kentucky at #14 Florida, 11:21 a.m. (Central) on SEC Network: Florida has ruled this series, especially at home, where the Gators are 27–7 against the Wildcats.
  
  What's more, Florida hasn't lost to Kentucky since 1986, and the Gators haven't lost at home to Kentucky since 1979.
  
  Recent history doesn't suggest that Kentucky is ready for the prime time of Gainesville. Florida has been held under 38 points only twice in the last 18 meetings, and Kentucky has managed to exceed 30 points only four times.
  
  I fully expect Florida to win.
• Alabama–Birmingham at #16 Ohio State, 11 a.m. (Central) on Big Ten Network: I'm really astonished that this game is being televised.
  
  I am confident that Ohio State will win — and probably by a wide margin.
• Virginia at #17 TCU, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPN: This has been a rather modest series. There have been only two meetings — in Shreveport, La., for the 1994 Independence Bowl and at Virginia in 2009.
  
  Virginia won the Independence Bowl. TCU won the rematch in 2009. This will be the first time the teams have played in Fort Worth.
  
  Statistically, TCU enjoys huge advantages on offense and defense. That may not mean much at this point in the season, but it confirms my gut feelilng, which is that TCU should win the game.
• Oregon State at #19 UCLA, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC: Since these teams first met in 1930, UCLA has dominated the series.
  
  The Bruins have won 41 of 60 contests, and, lest you think most of those wins were compiled in the early years of the series, UCLA has won seven of the last nine meetings.
  
  UCLA should have the advantage in this game.
• Florida International at #20 Louisville: I can't justify spending much time on this one.
  
  Louisville should win handily.
• Eastern Michigan at #21 Michigan State, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on Big Ten Network: The Spartans are 5–0 against Eastern Michigan, and the score is usually lopsided.
  
  Michigan State has never scored fewer than 42 points, and Eastern Michigan has never scored more than 20. And neither extreme was achieved on the same occasion.
  
  I don't need any more convincing. I pick Michigan State.
• South Alabama at #23 Mississippi State: I know it is still fairly early in the season, but Mississippi State has got to be feeling like Rodney Dangerfield. The Bulldogs don't get no respect.
  
  They finally crack the Top 25, and no one is televising Saturday's game, not even on ESPN3.com, which is kind of like the Mikey of sports broadcasting in reverse.
  
  They'll televise anything.
  
  Sure, it's against South Alabama, and that really does qualify as a Who cares? kind of foe, but we live in a different age than the one in which I grew up. In those days, teams were limited in the number of televised appearances they could make during the regular season.
  
  But there are so many TV options out there today that just about every team in the rankings (and a bunch of teams that are not ranked) can be on TV on a given Saturday.
  
  You can debate whether Mississippi State deserves to be ranked. The Bulldogs are 3–0 for the first time since 1999, and that record includes a fairly decisive win over Auburn. Of course, it also includes wins over Jackson State and Troy.
  
  But I think they will make some noise this weekend. After that, they have a bye week, and then we'll see if anyone wants to televise their game with Kentucky on Oct. 6 or Tennessee the week after that.
  
  I pick Mississippi State.
• Idaho State at #25 Nebraska, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on Big Ten Network: Based purely on reputation, Nebraska should have no problems in this game.
  
  In fact, if Idaho State wins at Nebraska, it would almost certainly qualify as one of the major upsets of this year, if not all time.
  
  I'll go with Nebraska.

Last week: 18–3

Season: 58–9

How NOT to Bounce Back From a Shocking Loss

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It was — beyond any doubt — the upset of the young college football season.

There may well be other upsets in the weeks ahead. As a matter of fact, experience tells me there will be other upsets. It's the nature of the beast.

But none will tear at my heart the way the upset in my one–time hometown of Little Rock did last Saturday night.

The beginning of any sports season brings with it fresh optimism for the future. That optimism is eventually dashed for most teams — earlier for some than for others — and, having been a fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks most of my life, as well as a graduate of the school, I long ago grew accustomed to the idea that, no matter how good the Razorbacks were, someone would knock them off.

(They have only had one unblemished season in my lifetime — but I was far too young to appreciate it.)

Usually, that someone was Texas. There were a couple of years in there in which Texas was the only team to beat the Razorbacks, but, mostly, the Texas loss was merely one of several. It wasn't always the first blemish. It was just the one you could always count on.

But sometimes the first loss came at the hands of a completely unexpected nemesis. I remember one particularly brutal season in which The Citadel, of all schools, upset the Razorbacks in the season opener — and cost the head coach his job.

None of those surprises could match Arkansas' overtime loss to Louisiana–Monroe last Saturday, though, and the voters in the Associated Press poll seem to agree with me. After all, Arkansas fell from #8 completely out of the poll.

But the Razorbacks will remain in the Top 25 conversation for at least another week. Top–ranked Alabama is in town today, and my guess is it won't be pretty.

On the other hand ...

This reminds me of my senior year at Arkansas. In early October, the Razorbacks lost to TCU for the first time in my life. A couple of weeks later, top–ranked Texas came to Fayetteville.

The general consensus was that Texas would win easily. My girlfriend and I had tickets to the game, but we considered — briefly — not going. In the end, though, we couldn't stay away. It was the only time the Arkansas–Texas game would be played in Fayetteville during our college careers, and we decided to go. If the game was out of hand by halftime, we agreed, we would leave.

As it turned out, the Razorbacks won, 42–11.

That's what it's always been like — at least, as far back as I can remember. Arkansas wins when it is supposed to lose and loses when it is supposed to win.

I'm not saying that is what will happen today. I'm just saying it has happened before — and I know because I was there.

I'll also say that playing the top–ranked team in the land the week after a shocking loss to an inferior foe is not the way to revive a team — especially one that gave up an average of 436 yards per game to the likes of Jacksonville State and ULM.

Makes me dread seeing what Alabama QB A.J. McCarron, currently the third–best passer in the country, is going to do to the Arkansas secondary.

This may be a brutal experience for Arkansas fans.

Idle: #5 Oklahoma

Today

• #1 Alabama at Arkansas, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on CBS: When I was in school at the University of Arkansas, the Razorbacks played the Alabama Crimson Tide for what was only the second time — ever.
  
  That really surprised me when I first heard it. The schools seemed like natural regional rivals. They just never scheduled each other.
  
  They've been playing each other regularly for the last 20 years, though, ever since Arkansas joined the Southeastern Conference. And Arkansas has performed pretty well, at times, but Alabama has owned the series since 2007.
  
  Most folks probably expect Alabama to extend that streak, given that Arkansas lost last week to a team it should have hammered — and, in the process, apparently lost its quarterback.
  
  ESPN has been reporting that QB Tyler Wilson, who suffered a head injury in last week's loss, will not play against Alabama. Former coach Bobby Petrino seems to have kept a stable of talented quarterbacks on his roster so there are some good backups available — but they lack the experience to remain cool in the face of Alabama's tenacious defense.
  
  And, although I really would love to see the Razorbacks win, I'm afraid that it just isn't in the cards this year. I pick Alabama.
• #2 USC at #21 Stanford, 6:30 p.m. (Central) on Fox: These schools first played each other 90 years ago — when Warren Harding was president.
  
  USC won seven of the first 10 meetings and has dominated the series overall, but Stanford has won four of the last five. Of course, that was accomplished with Andrew Luck in the lineup. Without him, I have to go with USC.
• Idaho at #3 LSU, 7 p.m. (Central) on ESPN3.com: These schools have met once before, in Baton Rouge in 1998, and LSU won, 53–20.
  
  Today's game is in Baton Rouge as well, but expectations are exceedingly low for Idaho.
  
  Actually, I don't think it would matter if the game was being played in Idaho — or if they had never faced each other before. I expect LSU to win by a wide margin.
• Tennessee Tech at #4 Oregon, 2 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12: Another first–time matchup that shouldn't be close.
  
  Oregon should have no trouble winning this one.
• Wake Forest at #5 Florida State, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPN: These schools became conference rivals 20 years ago, but they were already familiar with each other, having met 10 times as nonconference opponents.
  
  In all, they have played 30 times, and Florida State has dominated the series about as thoroughly as is possible. The Seminoles are 23–6–1 in the series — but, ironically, Wake Forest has won two of the last three games played at FSU.
  
  Can Wake Forest make it three of the last four? Well, I guess anything is possible — but not necessarily probable. I expect Florida State to win handily.
• Florida Atlantic at #7 Georgia, 6:30 p.m. (Central) on CSS: These schools are meeting for the first time.
  
  And I refer you to the Tennessee Tech–Oregon game. Using the same logic, I pick Georgia.
  
• Alabama–Birmingham at #8 South Carolina, 6 p.m. (Central) on FSS: South Carolina dodged a bullet in the opener against Vanderbilt.
  
  But UAB hasn't had a winning season since 2004. I expect South Carolina to trounce UAB tonight.



• James Madison at #9 West Virginia, 3:30 p.m. (Central) on ROOT: I'm not sure if West Virginia is a Top 10 team.
  
  But I cannot imagine the Mountaineers losing this game. I pick West Virginia.



• #20 Notre Dame at #10 Michigan State, 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC: These teams first met just before the turn of the century — including that day back in 1899, they have played 69 games in all.
  
  Folks with long memories will tell you the teams fought to a 10–10 tie when they were the top two teams in the country in 1966. Notre Dame has been the winner more frequently, regardless of the venue, but the Irish have lost the last two times they have visited Michigan State.
  
  And my instincts tell me they will lose for the third straight time. It may be a relatively close score, at least when compared to some of the other matchups in the Top 25 this week, but when that final gun sounds, I expect Michigan State to be the winner.



• Furman at #11 Clemson, 2 p.m. (Central) on RSN: Another first–time matchup, and I just can't see Furman staying with Clemson long enough to make it interesting.
  
  I expect Clemson to win easily.



• California at #12 Ohio State, 11 a.m. (Central) on ABC: It's been 40 years since these schools last met on the football field.
  
  It's been even longer (more than 90 years) since California beat Ohio State. Since that lone victory for the Bears over the Buckeyes, Ohio State has won five straight.
  
  Make that six for Ohio State.



• #13 Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPNU: This is actually a more extensive series than you might think.
  
  These schools have faced each other 11 times since 1993, and Tech has won seven of them, including the last three in a row.
  
  Times have changed. The teams were competing in the same conference in all their previous meetings but no more so they haven't played in nearly a decade.
  
  But this year they are renewing their series as a nonconference game for both schools. I don't expect a change in the outcome, though. I pick Virginia Tech.



• #14 Texas at Ole Miss, 8:15 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: These schools have played six times — but this will be their first encounter since 1966.
  
  Texas won all but one of those previous games.
  
  It would be nice to think that this game will be a throwback to the 1960s, when both schools were forces in football. But, with only eight wins in their last 26 games, the Rebels face quite a challenge against the Longhorns.
  
  And I don't think they're up to it. I pick Texas.



• North Texas at #15 Kansas State: This is an intriguing match for me — but not because I think it will be close. I don't.
  
  But it intrigues me because I hold degrees from Arkansas and North Texas. Arkansas beat Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl last January, and now KSU is hosting North Texas.
  
  It will be the second time in the last four games that one of my alma maters has faced K–State. I fully expected Arkansas to win the Cotton Bowl, and, likewise, I fully expect North Texas to lose today.
  
  Obviously, my pick is Kansas State.



• #16 TCU at Kansas: When I was growing up in Arkansas, a game between TCU and Kansas would have been regarded as the Toilet Bowl of college football.
  
  The TCU football program is more highly regarded today, and some of the teams the Frogs will be facing in their new conference will be first–time foes. But TCU and Kansas have played each other 28 times in the past.
  
  It's safe to say they know each other — or, at least, they know a lot about each other.
  
  They haven't faced each other in 15 years, and TCU hasn't beaten Kansas since 1994.
  
  I've found that history is frequently a useful guide in anticipating the outcomes of future events — when it is applied to some human endeavors — but such history in sports is practically ancient history and has little, if any, bearing on what will happen.
  
  Having said that, though, I expect TCU to win.



• Massachusetts at #17 Michigan, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on Big Ten Network: I would expect this to be a much more competitive matchup if it was in basketball.
  
  But in football — in the Big House of Ann Arbor — I expect Michigan to win by a substantial margin.



• #18 Florida at #23 Tennessee, 5 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: Before the season began, I never would have predicted that both of these schools would be ranked when they played each other in mid–September.
  
  Nevertheless ...
  
  Each team holds a slight advantage at home. If there is a genuine historical edge for either team, it may be the fact that Florida has won seven consecutive games against Tennessee.
  
  The Volunteers have only had three winning seasons since the last time they beat the Gators. Florida, meanwhile, won two national championships and a Heisman Trophy — and the Gators haven't been through a season in which they lost more games than they won since 1979.
  
  Having said that, I suppose it is to be assumed that I pick Florida to win this game — which, in fact, I do — but I think it will be very entertaining, and I expect the score to be close.



• North Carolina at #19 Louisville, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC: History says this game should be entertaining.
  
  Louisville is 1–1 at home (Carolina is 2–2). Half of the games in the series have been decided by a touchdown or less; of course, there have also been blowouts (such as the time in 2005 when Louisville won, 69–14, or the game the year before that Louisville won, 34–0).
  
  As Forrest Gump might say, you never know what you're going to get. Still, I will go with the favorite — Louisville.



• Houston at #22 UCLA, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12 Network: This will only be the seventh time these schools have met, but there is a definite pattern. The home team is 2–1, which means that history favors the Bruins.
  
  So, too, I suppose, does common sense. UCLA, after all, is coming off what appears to be a major victory over Nebraska, and is ranked in the Top 25. That's pretty heady stuff for a program that has won only three bowl games in the last 14 years.
  
  But I'm inclined to think UCLA will be up to the challenge and will defeat Houston.



• South Carolina State at #24 Arizona, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12 Network: It's hard to imagine South Carolina State traveling across the country to Arizona — and emerging with a win.
  
  Of course, as last Saturday's game in Little Rock demonstrated, anything really can happen. But I don't think anything like that will happen at Arizona tonight. I pick Arizona to win by a wide margin.



• #25 Brigham Young at Utah, 9 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: This will be the 88th edition of this series, and Utah has dominated it — although the Utes have been far more successful at home (34–16–3), where this year's game will be played.
  
  That should work in the Utes' favor, right?
  
  Actually, I think it will.
  
  Look, it's still early in the season, and, let's face it, many teams are ranked simply because they were successful in the past. But, aside from a handful of early tests, most teams remain unknown quantities.
  
  So the fact that BYU is ranked and Utah is not does not mean much to me.
  
  I predict a very close game, and I pick Utah to win it.

Last week: 18–6

Season: 40–6

Notre Dame, Purdue Renew Rivalry Today

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Purdue and Notre Dame renew their rivalry today.

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College football is loaded with traditions and rivalries.

And there may be no other program in America that is as rich in its football history as Notre Dame.

When one thinks of Notre Dame's rivals, one's thoughts may turn to Southern California, Michigan, Navy and Michigan State. And, to be sure, those are great rivalries.

But, today, Notre Dame will face its instate rival, Purdue, and I would put the Notre Dame–Purdue rivalry up against any of those others.

It was a fixture in the first six seasons that the legendary Knute Rockne coached the Fighting Irish, but they stopped playing each other after the 1923 season and didn't revive the series until a couple of years after Rockne's death in 1931.

I don't know if it was regarded as a rivalry in those days — if it was, it was a sporadic one that went between meetings for years at a time.

The series didn't become an annual thing until 1946, but the schools have faced each other in every year since, often producing memorable performances.

Of course, rivalries are always more interesting if at least one of the teams is ranked — and, this year, the Irish are ranked.

Whether they will be ranked when the season is over is another matter.

But it can be said — without reservation — that Notre Dame is ranked this weekend.

Idle: #9 West Virginia

Today

• Western Kentucky at #1 Alabama, 2:39 p.m. (Central) on SEC Network: These teams have only met once, in 2008, and 'Bama won, 41–7.
  
  But I don't think anyone who watched 'Bama dismantle Michigan last week could possibly doubt that the Tide can handle Western Kentucky, probably by a wide margin.
  
  I pick Alabama.
• #2 USC at Syracuse, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC: This will be the second straight year these teams have played.
  
  That's quite an improvement in frequency, considering that the teams had met only twice prior to that — in 1924 and 1990.
  
  The Trojans have won all three previous meetings, and, while I expect them to lose at least once this season, this won't be a weekend when they lose. I have to go with USC.
• Washington at #3 LSU, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: This is the third time these schools have met on the football field.
  
  LSU won both of the previous encounters by an average margin of 17 points. The Tigers are tough to beat in Baton Rouge, and I feel confident in predicting that LSU will win this game.
• Fresno State at #4 Oregon, 5:30 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12: These two teams have actually played each other eight times before.
  
  It's been an interesting series. Fresno won the first two games, but Oregon has won every contest played since 1996.
  
  As good as the Ducks have been for the last few years, I fully expect Oregon to win this game.
• Florida A&M at #5 Oklahoma: These teams will be meeting for the first time.
  
  But this is OU's home opener. I don't know if the Sooners are the fifth best team in the land, but I'm confident that Oklahoma will be able to handle Florida A&M.
• Savannah State at #6 Florida State, 5 p.m. (Central) on ESPN3.com: These teams will be meeting each other for the first time.
  
  They have no history to help observers anticipate the outcome.
  
  But is that necessary? It seems to me that Florida State should cruise to victory in this one.
• #7 Georgia at Missouri, 6:45 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: Missouri's first SEC opponent is a team they have only played once before — in the January 1960 Orange Bowl.
  
  Georgia won that game, 14–0.
  
  Obviously, a game played more than 50 years ago has little in the way of insight to offer. But, in general, Georgia is probably the favorite to win. The Bulldogs, after all, were undefeated on the road last year, and they have won more than three–fourths of their road games since 2000.
  
  However, Missouri was 5–1 at home last year, and the Tigers have won 80% of their home games since 2000.
  
  Besides, Georgia will be without four defensive starters. So this looks — to me, at least — like the irresistible force meeting the not–quite–as–immovable object. I think it will be a close game.
  
  In what will probably be regarded as an upset, I will take Missouri to win by, perhaps, a field goal.
• Louisiana–Monroe at #8 Arkansas, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPNU: This is one of those series the Razorbacks started after they joined the SEC 20 years ago.
  
  It wasn't part of the Arkansas experience I had in Fayetteville. The schools first met more than a decade after I finished school there.
  
  But this will be the 10th time they have played, and Arkansas won the first nine by an average margin of about three touchdowns.
  
  I watched Arkansas' season opener on the internet last week, and I had some issues with the defense (which, supposedly, would be better this season). The Razorbacks might very well struggle against top–ranked Alabama, their opponent next week, but I see no reason why Arkansas should not beat Louisiana–Monroe.
• East Carolina at #9 South Carolina, 11:21 a.m. (Central) on SEC Network: These teams first met in 1977, and South Carolina won the first eight encounters.
  
  But East Carolina has held the upper hand in five of the eight games played since 1991.
  
  And it is tempting to pick ECU to win this one, but I think South Carolina is just too good — and should win by three touchdowns.
• #11 Michigan State at Central Michigan, 2:30 p.m. on ESPNU: Believe it or not, the first two times these schools faced each other, Central Michigan was the winner.
  
  This will be the ninth time these schools have squared off, and Michigan State has been 5–1 since losing those first two meetings.
  
  But this year will be different, if only because Central Michigan will be the host — for the first time.
  
  Is that going to change the outcome? I doubt it. I pick Michigan State.
• Ball State at #12 Clemson, 11:30 a.m. on ACC Network: There is an interesting pattern in this rarely played series.
  
  The first meeting came in the 1992 season. Clemson won that game. The teams did not meet again for 10 years. Clemson won the 2002 rematch.
  
  Both games, like the one that will be played today, were played at Clemson. And I expect the outcome to be about the same — Clemson by about 20 points.
• #13 Wisconsin at Oregon State, 3 p.m. (Central) on FX: When these teams met last season, it was their first meeting in 50 years.
  
  But the outcome did not change, only the margin. Wisconsin barely won the 1961 encounter, but the Badgers rolled over the Beavers last year.
  
  I expect Wisconsin to win by perhaps a touchdown.
• Central Florida at #14 Ohio State, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPN2: These schools have never faced each other before, and I am inclined to believe that the Buckeyes will win the game.
  
  I know that is based on the schools' reputations (or lack thereof), but I also know that UCF has had a fair amount of success in recent years. So I expect a close game — say, Ohio State by five.
• Austin Peay at #15 Virginia Tech, 12:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN3.com: This one is a first, just like the Florida State game.
  
  And I am inclined to believe that Virginia Tech will be an easy winner. Nothing more needs to be said.
• #16 Nebraska at UCLA, 6:30 p.m. (Central) on Fox: This may be the most entertaining game on the schedule, and it is already an interesting series.
  
  These schools have faced each other 10 times — but it has been nearly 20 years since their last encounter.
  
  Both schools have hosted the other five times, and home field advantage clearly plays a role in the outcome. Nebraska is 4–1 in its home games against UCLA, and UCLA is 3–2 in its home games against Nebraska.
  
  Consequently, the smart pick when these teams are facing other is the home team, whichever team that may be.
  
  UCLA is the home team this time — and the Bruins might very well win the game — but I'm going to go with Nebraska.
• New Mexico at #17 Texas, 7 p.m. (Central) on Longhorn Network: These teams have played each other twice before, but this will be their first meeting since 1988.
  
  The outcomes of those previous meetings were remarkably consistent. Both were 47–0 victories for Texas. Those other two games were played in Austin, as tonight's game will be.
  
  Texas has struggled in recent years — but not as much as New Mexico, which has finished 1–11 in each of the last three seasons — and the Longhorns have lost as many as they have won in Austin in the last couple of years, but I expect Texas to prevail, probably by a wide margin.
• #18 Oklahoma State at Arizona, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12: Historically, OSU holds a 5–3 advantage over Arizona.
  
  But that really doesn't mean much to the current groups because, before the teams resumed their series in the 2010 Alamo Bowl, they had not met since World War II.
  
  Arizona had a rough season last year. The Wildcats enjoyed modestly better years in the preceding seasons, and they will be hosting the Cowboys for the first time since 1942 — which also happens to be the last time Arizona beat Oklahoma State.
  
  Oklahoma State is not the same team that went 12–1 last year, but the Cowboys do still have some of the talent that made that season possible. I expect Oklahoma State to win.
• Air Force at #19 Michigan, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC: These teams have played only once before — in 1964 when Michigan prevailed, 24–7.
  
  The Wolverines didn't cover themselves with glory last week against Alabama, but I expect Michigan to notch its first win of the season this week.
• Grambling at #20 TCU, 6 p.m. (Central) on FSSW: TCU was idle last week — so no one really knows if the Horned Frogs are worthy of being ranked.
  
  This season is going to be one in which TCU will have to prove itself — repeatedly — against some old foes — Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor — and some fairly new ones — Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas State.
  
  I don't believe, though, that the Frogs will face much of a challenge in their season opener. I pick TCU to win this one.
• Miami (Fla.) at #21 Kansas State, 11 a.m. on FX: These teams met for the first time last season, and it was a pretty close game. KSU won but only by four points, 28–24.
  
  The rematch is being played in Kansas, as was last year's game, and I expect the same outcome — but not the same margin. I think Kansas State will win by a wider margin this time.
• Purdue at #22 Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. on NBC: This has to be the oldest series on today's Top 25 schedule.
  
  These schools met for the first time in 1896, and this will be the 81st contest between them. Notre Dame has dominated the series, winning 53 times, including the last four in a row and six of the last seven.
  
  I expect Notre Dame to make it five in a row, but I think it will be close.
• Missouri State at #23 Louisville, 2:30 p.m. on ESPN3.com: I don't know much about Louisville — except that the Cardinals have had some pretty good seasons in recent years.
  
  And all I really know about Missouri State is that the school was known as Southwest Missouri State when I was in college at Arkansas.
  
  But I have heard nothing that would lead me to conclude that Missouri State is capable of going into Louisville this afternoon and winning this game.
  
  Just the opposite, in fact. I think Louisville will win by a wide margin.
• #24 Florida at Texas A&M, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: The Aggies officially begin their existence as members of the SEC today.
  
  Their opponent is Florida, a team the Aggies have played twice before — but not since the 1977 Sun Bowl.
  
  Most people probably will pick the Gators in this game, but the Aggies have won roughly three–fourths of their home games in the last three years. I'm going to pick Texas A&M in an upset special.
• Duke at #25 Stanford, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12: This isn't a very extensive series — the teams have met only three times — but the visiting team has won every time.
  
  Actually, I think that pattern will change this year. I expect Stanford to win, perhaps by three touchdowns or more.
  
  Other than jet lag, I expect Duke to bring little to tonight's game.

Last week: 22–0

Season: 22–0