The first month of the college football season has given us more than our fair share of thrills and excitement. USC is still good, Michigan is not as good, and the mid-majors conferences are letting the big boys in the Big Six know that life on Saturdays might not let them slide. Here's the rundown on what we know:
* USC is really good. Maybe better than most are willing to admit. Popular opinion had them walking out of Charlottesville in Week 1 with a blowout win over UVA, but even without Chris Wells, no one would imagine that their showdown with Ohio State would be that wide-open. QB Mark Sanchez (510 yards, 7 TDs) has emerged as a hot Heisman candidate. With Joe McKnight and C.J. Gable as great tandem at running back and Damien Williams emerging as Sanchez's go-to receiver, the Trojans might actually be better than initially advertised.
The defense? Only giving up one TD in two games and with Oregon State and Oregon in back-to-back weeks, Sanchez and the Trojans offense might roll up huge numbers. It's shameful to look ahead, but with the faltering Arizona State and Oregon taking a big hit first with Justin Roper going down, and then with the beating they took from Boise State, the Trojans might be looking to bull-rush the table and head into the Rose Bowl against troubled UCLA looking to make their resume well-known. Applicants, please step your game up.
* Georgia has shown all the makings of a tough, tough squad. The 'Dawgs haven't looked remarkable in big wins over inferior opponents in the first two games and a nail-biter at South Carolina last week, but with their 27-10 win Saturday at Arizona State, they've proved that they're ready for the long-haul. Being able to win a cliffhanger in conference and a hyped out of conference game on the road are impressive. Matthew Stafford hasn't exactly been lighting in up, but with Knowshon Moreno and that stingy defense, he's been all that they've needed, playing efficient and big when need him. A.J. Green has really been a force early for Stafford, and lookout: head coach Mark Richt has called for a blackout in Sanford Stadium from his team and the 'Dawg faithful as the Crimson Tide come marching between the hedges Saturday night on ESPN.
* Speaking of Alabama, how good is has their recruiting class been? The Tide went into Fayetteville and whipped up on Arkansas to improve to 4-0 and the performance of the top freshman has continued to be the story. Freshmen Mark Ingram and Julio Jones have been pleasant surprises and John Parker Wilson has had the perfect start to his senior season. Throw in Glen Coffee, who leads the Tide in rushing and an opportunistic defense that can jump on mistakes, and 'Bama is riding high. They'll have to be on their "A" game this Saturday when they head into Georgia to dance with the 'Dawgs in Athens.
* The top half of the Big 12 could provide for riveting theater later this season. Texas and Oklahoma aside, Texas Tech, Missouri, and Kansas could make the race just that much more interesting. The upstart Red Raiders will be licking their chops after the 'Horns and Sooners renew hostilities in the Red River Rivalry in a couple of weeks. With a victory over the winner of that game, they could take pole position in the Big 12 South. As for Missouri, life is grand with Chase Daniel giving the Tigers the spark to be in the top five for much of the season. A date in Austin on Oct. 18 looms large as does the Border War with the Jayhawks, but if Daniel continues to make plays, looking like the lap 1 leader in the Heisman race, they could find themselves back in title hunt for the second straight year.
* The WAC has come to play this season. Boise State rolled off 24 points in the second quarter to stun Oregon at home. Couple that with Fresno State beating up Rutgers at home in Week 1, barely losing to Wisconsin at home, and pulling out a thriller against Toledo, and the WAC is off to a good start in their BCS-busting campaign. Fresno State has a chance to further their credentials with a date against UCLA in the Rose Bowl this Saturday.
* Florida will have a day of mourning when Phillip Fulmer is no longer coach at Tennessee. The Gators rolled again over the Vols in Knoxville. Not much else to report here. But Brandon James does it again.
Week 4 was a great week. Alabama/Georgia, TCU/Oklahoma, and Illinois/Penn State should provide some great primetime action on Saturday.
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