Top 10 Thoughts of the Weekend

1) When Cupcakes Go Really Well

Kansas has been struggling the last few years, so to build his team's confidence (and take the easiest route to bowl eligible status), Mark Mangino scheduled four rent-a-win games to start the season in Lawrence. The Jayhawks did their job, winning all four games by a combined 214-23 before last Saturday's showdown with Kansas State. In a back-and-forth game, K-State took a 24-21 lead and many thought that KU would fold on the spot. Since the Wildcats had played much tougher competition, such as Auburn and Texas, they'd handle the pressure late the best, right? Wrong!

When you're a program used to losing, cupcake games can be the best medicine. The Jayhawks were the more calm, confident team in the fourth quarter, shutting down the Wildcats while sophomore QB Todd Reesing marched his troops easily downfield on the same K-State defense that Colt McCoy and Texas had fits against. The 30-24 Jayhawk victory was the first in Manhattan since 1989, and gives KU more confidence than ever heading into the second half of their schedule.

2) When Cupcakes Go Really Bad

Arkansas, fresh off of a 66-7 pounding of North Texas, marched down to Little Rock to take on FCS (I-AA) cupcake Chattanooga. The Mocs were 1-3, fresh off a beatdown by The Citadel, so many believed this would be over by half-time. Instead, Arkansas fumbled their first snap for a safety, played lethargic the entire game, and escaped with the ugliest 34-15 win one will ever see in college football.

This only cranks up the fire under Houston Nutt's hot seat, but this game hurt Arkansas RB Darren McFadden the most. There's no question that McFadden is the best running back in college football, and no doubt he's the most exciting player in the game. However, McFadden only rushed for 122 yards against the Mocs on 25 carries. Part of the reason was due to severely bruised ribs, but the other part was due to the return of a vanilla Razorback offensive scheme.

When you've got a player of McFadden's caliber in the backfield, why on Earth do you keep running him on draw plays up the middle, especially when every defense in the country is stacking the lines to stop him? Houston Nutt chased off the creative Gus Malzahn, who was last year's offensive coordinator, to bring David Lee from the Dallas Cowboys over to fix a non-existent passing game. So far, the passing game is still weak, the WildHog (formally the Wildcat) has hardly been used at all, and many Hog fans have to be asking Nutt the same question: "You chased off Gus Malzahn for this?!"

3) LSU's the Real Deal

Give LSU all the credit in the world for their fourth quarter comeback last weekend to beat Florida. While the Gator defense was outstanding for three quarters, Les Miles believed in his team late, going for fourth down successfully five times. Jacob Hester proved to be a gritty, gutsy running back for the Bayou Bengals, and while Florida did everything possible to shut down Glenn Dorsey, the Tiger D rose to the occasion and held Tim Tebow in check when it counted. Florida deserves credit for an outstanding performance, but LSU showed the hearts of champions late, and with the raucous Tiger Stadium crowd behind them, they proved that, for now, they deserve to be the top-ranked team in the nation.

And on a side note, if you're going to play LSU, you've got to hope for one of those 11:30 AM kickoffs in Baton Rouge. The last place on Earth an opposing coach would want to be is on the sidelines at Tiger Stadium at night in front of 92,000 of the craziest fans you'll ever meet. Forget the "12th Man," Baton Rouge at night is like playing against 14 men. Seriously.

4) Another Red-Hot Tiger Team

I thought Missouri would be the upset winner of the Big 12 this season. So far, that pick is looking pretty good. The Tigers are the real deal, as they showed last weekend in their 41-6 thrashing of Nebraska. The Huskers were completely dominated by a Missouri team who was on a mission to prove they belong in the upper tier of Big 12 football. Let's just say ... mission accomplished.

Chase Daniel is outstanding for Mizzou, as he consistently found the right receiver all night, and you can't say enough about WR Martin Rucker and TE Chase Coffman. All the pieces seem to be in place in Columbia, but the true test comes this weekend at Oklahoma. If Missouri goes to Norman and wins, they'll have to be placed in the national title picture.

5) Sure, You Know App. State, But...

The best team you've probably never heard of rests in the Hawkeye State. Northern Iowa, ranked second in the last FCS (I-AA) poll, is 5-0 and cruising through the Gateway Football Conference. The Panthers rush for 215.6 yards a game, pass for 231.8 yards a game, and have outscored their opponents to the tune of 164-64, including a 24-13 win at Iowa State. Given the struggles of the Cyclones, as well as the Iowa Hawkeyes, one can make a solid argument that the Panthers are the best football team in the state.

6) The Unheralded Coaching Job of the Midseason

I don't think a lot of people would've seen Mississippi State as a 4-2 team, especially when the Bulldogs had won only three games each of the last three seasons. But Sylvester Croom kept saying the ship was being turned in the right direction in Starkville, and for now, it appears he's dead on. What's been most impressive is that MSU has won despite injuries to QBs Michael Henig and Josh Riddell, putting a lot of pressure on freshman Wesley Carroll to lead the Bulldog offense.

Thankfully for Carroll, he's got Anthony Dixon as a solid weapon at tailback, and the State D, which struggled in their 45-0 season opening loss to LSU, but is progressing rapidly. DB Derek Pegues is definitely a candidate for All-SEC Honors, and though the Bulldogs have a tough road ahead of them schedule-wise, there is reason to believe Mississippi State could end up bowl eligible at the end of the season.

7) Is USF Really a Top-Five Team?

Anyone who saw USF struggle past Florida Atlantic has to be shaking their heads at the sight of the Bulls being ranked fifth in the country. No doubt, South Florida is a solid football team. However, I'd have them more around the No. 8-12 range instead of No. 5.

The fact of the matter is this: the BCS has further corrupted the media and coaches polls. In their zeal to see their beloved conference send their champion to the title game, the polls have seen ascensions and declines like never before. How, for example, do you explain South Florida jumping 12 spots in the polls for beating West Virginia. 12! I just don't buy into that, and when USF struggled as much as they did against the Owls, it just doesn't add up as a performance worthy of a top-five team.

8) Attendance Facts/Figures

The FCS Delaware Blue Hens are averaging 21,996 fans for every football game. That average is better than all but one Sun Belt team (Arkansas State has averaged 22,620 fans). Needless to say, it doesn't help the Sun Belt's argument to be classified as a I-A conference when seven of their eight schools aren't beating the Blue Hens. Florida International has the honor of having the most pitiful average in the conference: 8,962 fans at the midway point of the season.

In defense of one Sun Belt team, though, I'll say this. If you're in the southeast corner of Alabama, go catch a Troy game. The Trojans are currently averaging 21,188 fans, thanks in part to a good crowd watching Troy slaughter Oklahoma State. Troy's a pretty good football team, and ticket prices there have to be pretty affordable, so I'd encourage a lot more fans to go to Movie Gallery Stadium and check out the Trojans when they're in town.

9) If I Had a Heisman Ballot at This Point...

I'd still put Arkansas RB Darren McFadden as my top pick. The guy is the real deal. He has no help from his quarterback, and every defense he faces stacks the line heavily with the one goal of stopping him. However, he's still managed to go over 100 yards every game, including an inspired 195 yards against Alabama. This week's showdown against Auburn will be huge for McFadden's chances, but as for now, he's my top pick.

Second on my list: Boston College QB Matt Ryan, who has done wonders with the Eagles.

Third on my list: Missouri QB Chase Daniel, the top signal-caller in the Big 12.

10) Top Three Games This Weekend

Missouri vs. Oklahoma: This one just screams instant classic. I have a feeling it will be a high-scoring, last-second shootout that a lot of people will be talking about.

LSU vs. Kentucky: Andre Woodson struggled against South Carolina, but gets a chance to redeem himself at home against the best defense in America. Has there been a bigger game in Lexington in recent memory?

Purdue vs. Michigan: I have a feeling that the Boilers are better than what they showed against Ohio State. A surging Michigan team will have all they can handle, and I think this could end in a fantastic finish, as well.