Downs and distance

Four items of interest on the college football landscape

1. Hail to the Chief

There are many pressing issues and dilemmas facing President-Elect Barack Obama and surely instituting a college football playoff system is pretty far down on the list. But isn't it nice that it is at least on his radar screen? Players, coaches, fans, and writers have been clamoring for a playoff system for eons but those calls have always fallen on deaf ears. Now there is a guy with some clout weighing in. Hallelujah. Obama first mentioned the need to get rid of the current BCS format on "Monday Night Football" on election eve. Perhaps that put him over the top? Anyway, the next Commander-in-Chief told "60 Minutes" this week, "We should be creating a playoff system . . . So I'm going to throw my weight around a little bit. I think it's the right thing to do." Can Obama use his power to get a system in place? To paraphrase his campaign slogan (or was it Bob the Builder's slogan?), "Yes, he can."

2. Fit to be tied

A BCS storm is brewing in the Big 12 South. Just what happens if Oklahoma beats Texas Tech tomorrow in Norman, Okla.? It's a very real possibility. That would leave three schools (Tech, Oklahoma, and Texas) tied at 11-1. So, who gets to go to the conference championship game against Missouri? (And don't dismiss Chase Daniel and the 9-2 Tigers.) The highest team in the BCS standings wins the tiebreaker. Just who gets to tell Bob Stoops that Texas Tech is going to the title game after his club beat the Red Raiders? How about telling Mike Leach that Texas earned the invite even though his team beat the Longhorns? Anyone want to tell Mack Brown Oklahoma is playing Missouri even though his squad beat the Sooners? What a mess. Of course, Tech could end all the controversy with a win. If Tech can pull that off, it deserves the No. 1 ranking (and you can give Graham Harrell the Heisman, too).

3. Scarlet fever

Rutgers sure had a lot of people fooled, huh? Left for dead after an abysmal 1-5 start - and that 1 came against Football Championship Subdivision (gosh, Division 1-AA was so much simpler) foe Morgan State - the Scarlet Knights have run off four straight wins and can become bowl-eligible with a victory over Army tomorrow. Greg Schiano's club is led by steady QB Mike Teel (2,293 yards, 15 TDs) and electric receiver Kenny Britt (68 catches, 994 yards). Schiano's "chopping wood" defense is spearheaded by linebacker Ryan D'Imperio (72 tackles, 4.5 sacks) and tackle Pete Tverdov (12 tackles for losses). On the flip side in the Big East is South Florida. Da Bulls started 5-0 and were ranked as high as No. 10 (that Friday Night win over Kansas seems more like two years than two months ago) but have lost four of five heading into Sunday night's showdown with Connecticut.

4. Bitter Apples

Found this on craigslist: "Hi, I have for sale 4 tickets to the Washington State game against Washington on Sat. 11/15 for just $51 each. The seats are in section 2 row 11." Wow, what a bargain! Just $51? To see the inept Cougars host the woeful Huskies? Just $51? To see history? This is the first time two 10-loss teams have squared off in a Pacific-10 game (thanks to our friends at Elias Sports Bureau for that nugget). Just $51? To see 0-10 Washington (ranked 117th in scoring average) vs. 1-10 Washington State (ranked 118th)? You have to hand it to lame-duck Huskies coach Ty Willingham, who is still excited about the annual Apple Cup battle. "I think there is a natural energy around this game that everyone is affected by," he said. Hey Ty, are those your tickets in section 2? And what do the Cougars get for their season of underachieving? A trip to Honolulu for a date with the Warriors Nov. 29.