Six Power 5 teams eliminated in Week 3

What was supposed to be a quiet Saturday in college football turned into an exciting day of upsets.

Unranked Boston College surprised No. 9 USC, 37-31.

Unranked East Carolina took down No. 17 Virginia Tech, 28-21.

Unranked Virginia upset No. 21 Louisville, 23-21.

Elsewhere, No. 24 South Carolina outlasted No. 6 Georgia 38-35 in a critical SEC East showdown, and No. 12 UCLA had all it could handle in a 20-17 win at unranked Texas.

Despite the surprises, it was a relatively quiet weekend for The Eliminator, which will narrow the FBS field from 128 teams to four to determine the participants for the inaugural College Football Playoff.

After eliminating 59 teams following the first two weeks of the season, only 14 were eliminated this past weekend, including six teams from Power Five conferences (Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Tennessee, Texas and Texas Tech).

Four other teams -- Georgia, Louisville, USC and Virginia Tech -- were dropped from "Still In Contention" status to "On the Fence" after suffering losses. Their playoff hopes haven't ended, but they have very little room for error between now and the season's end.

Here's a closer look at where the FBS stands after Week 3:

Better Luck Next Season

Trend	School	Note
		Army: The Black Knights went out to The Farm and got blown out 35-0 at Stanford. Army can look ahead to the next two weeks, when it will probably be favored in road games at Wake Forest and FCS foe Yale.
		Central Michigan: It must have been one heck of a celebration in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, last week after the Chippewas blasted Purdue 38-17 on the road. Central Michigan had 34 rushing yards and two turnovers in an ugly 40-3 loss to Syracuse on Saturday.
		Illinois: Illini coach Tim Beckman actually thought his team was only three plays away from being competitive in a 44-19 loss at Washington. Illinois would have been more competitive if it had quit giving the ball to Huskies linebacker Shaq Thompson.
		Indiana: Maybe Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany needs to issue a leaguewide ban on playing MAC opponents. Bowling Green defeated a Big Ten foe for the first time since 2007 with a 45-42 upset of the Hoosiers.
		Kansas: No wonder Lil Wayne talked about Jayhawks coach Charlie Weis' "big-boy money." Weis has collected nearly $19 million since he was fired as Notre Dame's coach at the end of the 2009 season -- about $14.6 million from the Fighting Irish and at least $5 million in two years' salary from Kansas. That's an average of about $4 million per victory during the past three seasons.
		Louisiana-Monroe: After close victories over Wake Forest and Idaho to start the season, the Warhawks were no match for LSU on Saturday night, falling 31-0 at Tiger Stadium. Louisiana-Monroe had only 93 yards of offense -- 77 passing and 16 rushing.
		Nevada: Now we know why Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez didn't want to see Wolf Pack quarterback Cody Fajardo again. Fajardo completed 29 of 39 passes for 321 yards with three touchdowns in a 35-28 loss at Arizona on Saturday night. He had his team near midfield, but threw incomplete on fourth down with 2:23 to go.
		New Mexico State: The Aggies' first 2-0 start since 1999 came to a screeching halt with a 42-24 loss at UTEP. The good news: Saturday's Rio Grande Rivalry game against New Mexico will include a team with a winning record for the first time since 2007.
		South Alabama: Four turnovers, dropped passes and a missed field goal doomed the Jaguars in a 35-3 loss to Mississippi State on Saturday. But South Alabama still won by having more than 38,000 fans in attendance for the first game against an SEC opponent at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
		Tennessee: The Volunteers have improved enough in coach Butch Jones' two seasons to beat somebody they're not supposed to beat, but I had a feeling it wouldn't be Oklahoma on the road. The Vols committed three turnovers in a 34-10 loss to the Sooners.
		Texas: I'm not 100 percent sure the Longhorns should be criticized for inexplicably deciding to kick off at the start of both halves in Saturday night's 20-17 loss to UCLA. If you coached Texas' offense, you might not want the ball, either.
		Texas State: If the Bobcats thought they were catching a break in not having to face injured Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds, they were wrong. Backup Tago Smith helped the Midshipmen gain 469 yards of offense, including 352 rushing, in a 35-21 win on the road.
		Texas Tech: If Red Raiders coach Kliff Kingsbury was the best-looking coach on the sidelines at AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, on Saturday, Arkansas' Bret Bielema was the bully. The Hogs ran for 438 yards with seven touchdowns in a 49-28 win and didn't throw the ball in their final 30 offensive plays.
		Wyoming: The Cowboys were 43-point underdogs at No. 2 Oregon on Saturday, so their 48-14 loss was hardly a surprise. The loss ended Wyoming coach Craig Bohl's 26-game winning streak; his North Dakota State teams won 24 straight games while winning three consecutive national titles from 2011-13.
Teams eliminated after Week 2 -- notes not updated after elimination
		Akron: There's no shame in losing 21-3 at Penn State on Saturday, and the Zips will have two more chances to make big statements in a Sept. 20 home game against Marshall and Sept. 27 road game at Pitt. Akron won't make the playoff, but it might be a factor in the MAC championship race.
		Air Force: The Falcons lost at Wyoming 17-13 on Saturday, allowing the Cowboys to score the winning touchdown in the final minute. Air Force will face another heartbroken team next week when it plays at Georgia State, which fell in the final seconds against New Mexico State on Saturday.
		Arkansas State: The Red Wolves, who have won at least a share of the last three Sun Belt Conference championships, haven't fared well against SEC foes in nonconference games. Arkansas State fell to 0-45 in such games after Saturday's 34-19 loss at Tennessee. (The Red Wolves did beat Ole Miss in 1915 and Texas A&M in 2008 when those schools belonged to other leagues.)
		Ball State: The Cardinals had a golden opportunity to record one of the biggest wins in school history Saturday, but they blew a 10-point lead in the final three minutes of a 17-13 loss at Iowa. Still, it was a heck of an effort by the MAC team.
		Boston College: The Eagles did a pretty good job of running the ball and stopping the run in coach Steve Addazio's first season in 2013. Against Pittsburgh on Friday night, the Eagles didn't do either very well in a 30-20 loss. BC allowed 303 rushing yards and ran for only 142. It won't get any easier against USC next week.
		Buffalo: The Bulls' furious rally fell short in a 47-39 loss at Army on Saturday. The Bulls piled up 549 yards of offense but were undone by three turnovers and going 3-for-9 on third down. It figures to get worse against Baylor at home Friday night.
		Colorado State: After an impressive opening win over rival Colorado, the Rams weren't much of a challenge for Boise State in a 37-24 loss on the road. The Rams allowed 676 yards of offense and fell behind 30-10 at halftime.
		East Carolina: The Pirates put up a pretty good fight at South Carolina on Saturday night, falling 33-23 on the road. The Pirates turned the ball over twice and had a field goal blocked but still had a chance to tie the score in the fourth quarter. ECU gets two more chances at a signature win this season: at Virginia Tech on Saturday and against North Carolina the following week.
		Eastern Michigan: The Eagles' trip to Florida on Saturday went about as expected, as they had only 125 yards of offense, seven first downs and five turnovers in a 65-0 loss. At least Eastern Michigan went home with an $850,000 check.
		Georgia State: After ending a 16-game losing streak in Week 1, the Panthers had a great chance to move to 2-0 on Saturday. But New Mexico State's Tyler Rogers hit Teldrick Morgan with an 11-yard touchdown with 15 seconds left, handing Georgia State a heartbreaking 34-31 loss at the Georgia Dome.
		Idaho: Bad weather seems to be following the Vandals. After their opener at Florida was canceled after only one play because of lightning, the Vandals had to sit through a two-hour weather delay in a 38-31 loss at Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. At least they collected $975,000 from the Gators without even playing.
		Louisiana-Lafayette: The Ragin' Cajuns allowed a 99-yard touchdown to Louisiana Tech's Kenneth Dixon in the first quarter, and it never seemed to get better in a 48-20 loss at home. It doesn't figure to get any better at Ole Miss next week.
		Memphis: The Tigers might have been knocked out of the playoff, but they have been one of the biggest surprises in the first two weeks of the season. After dismantling FCS foe Austin Peay in their opener, the Tigers gave UCLA all it could handle in a 42-35 loss at the Rose Bowl on Saturday night.
		Middle Tennessee State: The Blue Raiders dug themselves too big of a hole at Minnesota on Saturday, falling behind by four touchdowns in the first half of a 35-24 loss. Turning the ball over three times and committing nine penalties certainly didn't help MTSU's chances.
		Northwestern: After losing to Northern Illinois 23-15 at home on Saturday, the Wildcats are 0-2 for the first time in coach Pat Fitzgerald's nine seasons. In fact, Northwestern has dropped nine of its last 10 games after starting 4-0 in 2013. The Wildcats will try to end the slide against FCS foe Western Illinois on Sept. 20.
		Ohio: The Bobcats couldn't muster much offense in a 20-3 loss at Kentucky, finishing with only 223 yards, including 74 rushing. The Bobcats avoided a shutout on Josiah Yazdani's 44-yard field goal in the third quarter.
		Old Dominion: Don't sleep on the Monarchs, who are playing their first season in the FBS. Old Dominion lost at NC State 46-34 on Saturday but was pretty impressive in defeat. Quarterback Taylor Heinicke completed 35 of 49 passes for 274 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
		Purdue: Is Purdue coach Darrell Hazell's seat getting a little warm in only his second season? The Boilermakers lost for the 12th time in 14 games under Hazell on Saturday, falling to Central Michigan 38-17 at home. Next up: Purdue plays Notre Dame at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis next week.
		San Diego State: The Aztecs blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter of a 31-27 loss at North Carolina on Saturday, but they look like they might have a say in which teams win the Mountain West this season. San Diego State plays at Oregon State on Sept. 20.
		San Jose State: The Spartans were thoroughly overmatched in Saturday's 59-13 loss at Auburn, allowing 493 yards of offense, including 358 rushing. The Spartans will play at Minnesota on Sept. 20.
		South Florida: There might be a reason to get back on Bulls coach Willie Taggart's bus. After a dismal 2-10 campaign in Taggart's first season, the Bulls showed a lot of improvement in their first two games. They squandered a late lead against Maryland on Saturday, as the Terps used a blocked punt in the end zone to come from behind for a 24-17 victory.
		Temple: After blowing out Vanderbilt on the road in Week 1, the Owls couldn't slow down Navy's triple-option offense in a 31-24 loss at home Saturday. The Midshipmen ran for 487 yards and stopped the Owls at the Navy 10-yard line at the end.
		Toledo: The Rockets got off to a slow start against Missouri at home Saturday, falling behind 35-7 early in the fourth quarter before trying to mount a furious comeback. The Rockets play at Cincinnati on Friday night.
		Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane trailed 31-0 at the half and lost 52-7 to Oklahoma on Saturday, their eighth consecutive defeat against the Sooners. At least they will get to take out their frustrations on lowly Florida Atlantic next week.
		UAB: The Blazers continued to look like one of the country's most-improved teams under first-year coach Bill Clark, losing at Mississippi State 47-34 on Saturday. The Blazers had 548 yards of offense, with quarterbacks Jeremiah Briscoe and Cody Clements combining to throw for 398 yards and three touchdowns.
		UTEP: The Miners had a 26-23 lead with about five minutes to go in Saturday night's game at Texas Tech but couldn't finish in a 30-26 loss. The Red Raiders scored on Davis Webb's nine-yard touchdown pass to Bradley Marquez with 2:32 to go, and then the Miners moved the ball inside Tech's 30-yard line with about 2:23 to play. Their pass fell incomplete on fourth-and-6.
		UTSA: The Roadrunners put up a heck of a fight against Arizona on Thursday night before falling in a 26-23 loss. The Wildcats ended UTSA's last-ditch effort when Jared Tevis intercepted a pass with 1:20 to go.
		Washington State: This isn't how Mike Leach's third season at Washington State was supposed to go. After going bowling last season, the Cougars were supposed to be even better this year. But Wazzu dropped its first two games, falling to Rutgers in Week 1 and at Nevada 24-13 on Friday night.
		Western Kentucky: In only two games under new coach Jeff Brohm, the Hilltoppers have shown they are going to be a tough out in Conference USA. WKU had Illinois on the ropes Saturday before giving up three touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a 42-34 loss. The Hilltoppers had 400 yards of offense but turned the ball over three times.
Teams eliminated after Week 1 -- notes not updated after elimination
		Appalachian State: The Mountaineers received a rude welcoming to FBS on Saturday, falling 52-14 at Michigan. It was the seven-year anniversary of Appalachian State's 34-32 upset of the Wolverines, one of the biggest upsets in college football history.
		Boise State: The Broncos went nose-to-nose with Ole Miss for three quarters on Thursday night, but then the Rebels scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a 35-13 victory in Atlanta. The Broncos' only chance at making the playoff was going unbeaten.
		Bowling Green: The Dino Babers era wasn't supposed to start with a 59-31 loss at Western Kentucky on Friday night. But the defending MAC champions surrendered 708 yards of offense to the Hilltoppers, including 569 passing yards.
		Colorado: The Buffaloes blew a 10-point lead in the second half of a 31-17 loss to rival Colorado State in Denver on Friday night. With games left against No. 19 Arizona State, No. 15 USC, No. 7 UCLA, No. 25 Washington and No. 3 Oregon, the Buffs really needed to win their opener.
		Connecticut: Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco started the rebuilding job at Connecticut by playing 50 players in a 35-10 loss to BYU on Friday night. It might be a long season in Storrs, Connecticut.
		Florida Atlantic: Do you think Nebraska coach Bo Pelini still has hard feelings about the way FAU treated his brother, Carl? The Cornhuskers piled up 784 yards of offense in a 55-7 victory over the Owls on Saturday. FAU gets No. 2 Alabama on the road next.
		Florida International: FIU officials denied a Miami Herald beat reporter a credential to their opener on Saturday. They did him a favor. He didn't have to watch the Panthers fall to FCS foe Bethune-Cookman, 14-12.
		Fresno State: The Bulldogs probably don't want to see USC anytime soon. The Trojans steamrolled the Bulldogs 45-20 in the Las Vegas Bowl at the end of the 2013 season and then blasted them 52-13 in Saturday's opener. Apparently, what happened in Vegas didn't stay there.
		Georgia Southern: Maybe the Eagles can be competitive as an FBS program. Georgia Southern led NC State 20-10 on the road entering the fourth quarter Saturday, but the Wolfpack came back for a heartbreaking 24-23 loss.
		Hawaii: After going 1-11 in 2013, the Warriors nearly spoiled new Washington coach Chris Petersen's debut on Saturday night before falling 17-16 at Aloha Stadium. Hawaii had 424 yards of offense and shut out the Huskies in the second half.
		Houston: With quarterback John O'Korn and receiver Deontay Greenberry, the Cougars are still capable of putting together a good season. But Friday night's 27-7 loss to UTSA ended their playoff chances.
		Iowa State: When will FBS teams stop scheduling North Dakota State as an opponent? The three-time defending FCS national champions stampeded the Cyclones 34-14 on Saturday, their fifth consecutive win over an FBS opponent. Sorry, Iowa State. You're definitely not getting into the playoff with an FCS loss on your résumé.
		Kent State: The Golden Flashes came up just short in an emotional 17-14 loss to Ohio on Saturday, as the Bobcats kicked a 44-yard field goal as time expired to win. Kent State honored center Jason Bitsko, who passed away in his off-campus apartment on Aug. 20.
		Louisiana Tech: The Bulldogs' revamped defense had no answer for Oklahoma's high-powered offense, as the Sooners ran for 183 yards and passed for 253 in a 48-16 rout on Saturday. At least quarterback Cody Sokol played better after a shaky start.
		Massachusetts: The Minutemen's playoff hopes lasted for, well, about a minute. Boston College kicked a 44-yard field goal in the game's opening minute and never looked back in a 30-7 victory on Saturday. The loss spoiled the start of Mark Whipple's second tenure as UMass coach.
		Miami (Ohio): The RedHawks put up a much tougher fight than expected in a 42-27 loss to Marshall on Saturday. Miami had 418 yards of offense, and Notre Dame transfer Andrew Hendrix threw for 318 yards with three touchdowns in Chuck Martin's debut as coach.
		Navy: The Midshipmen put up a tremendous fight in a 34-17 loss to No. 5 Ohio State in Baltimore on Saturday, but they had absolutely no margin for error because of their soft schedule. Navy plays only one more ranked opponent: Notre Dame on Nov. 1. The Midshipmen are still capable of putting together a special season, but it won't end in the playoff.
		New Mexico: The Lobos are showing some life under former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie. After going 3-9 last season, the Lobos rallied from a 24-7 deficit against UTEP in the second half on Saturday. But the Miners scored the winning touchdown with 2:18 left after the Lobos muffed a punt at their 6-yard line.
		North Texas: The Mean Green proved to be a sacrificial lamb for Texas coach Charlie Strong's debut, as they threw three first-half interceptions in a 38-7 loss in Austin on Saturday night. North Texas' only touchdown came on a fumble recovery in the end zone in the fourth quarter.
		Rice: The Owls didn't have an answer for Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson in Saturday's 48-17 loss on the road. How do you think they'll fare against Texas A&M's offense in two weeks?
		SMU: It might not be too long until Mustangs coach June Jones is back at the islands -- as a retiree. SMU had 67 total yards in Sunday night's 45-0 loss at Baylor, the second time the Mustangs have been shut out in the past three games.
		Southern Miss: The Golden Eagles played in-state rival Mississippi State for the first time since 1990 on Saturday night. They'd probably prefer not to see the Bulldogs for another 25 years after being on the wrong end of a 49-0 rout. Southern Miss has dropped 24 of its past 25 games.
		Troy: Life without record-setting quarterback Corey Robinson didn't go very well for the Trojans, who lost at UAB 48-10 on Saturday. Troy hosts Duke this week and plays at Georgia on Sept. 20.
		Tulane: The Green Wave blew an eight-point lead in the final three minutes of regulation and then lost 38-31 in double overtime at Tulsa on Thursday night.
		UCF: Life without quarterback Blake Bortles started with a last-second 26-24 loss to Penn State in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday. The Knights might still win the AAC and have a chance at a marquee bowl game, but they're out of the playoff hunt with one loss.
		UNLV: The Rebels were no match for Arizona for a second straight season, allowing 787 yards of offense in a 58-13 loss Friday night. The good news: UNLV was blown out by the Wildcats last season, but it still recovered to play in a bowl game.
		Utah State: Aggies quarterback Chuckie Keeton can't do it by himself. He didn't get much help in Sunday night's 38-7 loss at Tennessee, in which Utah State had three turnovers and went 3-for-14 on third down.
		Vanderbilt: New Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason's debut couldn't have been much worse, as the Commodores had seven turnovers in an ugly 37-7 loss to Temple in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday night. Mason, a former Stanford defensive coordinator, faces one heck of a rebuilding job.
		Wake Forest: It was hardly the start new Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson wanted, as the Demon Deacons had five first downs and 94 yards of offense in an ugly 17-10 loss at Louisiana-Monroe on Thursday.
		Western Michigan: The Broncos looked a lot better than they did in coach P.J. Fleck's first season, losing at Purdue 43-34 on Saturday. The Broncos pulled to within 37-34 with about eight minutes to play, but Purdue's Akeem Hunt scored on a 38-yard touchdown to help the Boilermakers pull away.

On The Fence

Trend	School	Note
		Arkansas: Here's what I like about the Razorbacks: They're finally starting to look like a Bret Bielema-coached team, as they're No. 3 in FBS with 362 rushing yards per game. What I don't like about them: They play consecutive games against Northern Illinois, No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 3 Alabama and No. 13 Georgia.
		BYU: If the Cougars are going to go unbeaten and make things difficult for the College Football Playoff selection committee, they'll have to pass their next two tests: home games against Virginia on Saturday and Utah State on Oct. 3. An Oct. 24 trip to Boise State also looms large.
		California: In two games, sophomore quarterback Jared Goff has looked fantastic in his second season in coach Sonny Dykes' spread offense. Goff will get his first big test at Arizona on Saturday.
		Cincinnati: After patiently waiting a full season and then two more weeks to see Notre Dame transfer Gunner Kiel, Bearcats fans had to be excited about his debut. Kiel threw for 418 yards with six touchdowns in a 58-34 win over Toledo on Friday night. Kiel gets one more warm-up against on Saturday Miami (Ohio) before a big Sept. 27 trip to No. 23 Ohio State.
		Clemson: The Tigers didn't play this past week as they prepared for Saturday's game at No. 1 Florida State. Clemson might need all the work it can get after losing to the Seminoles 51-14 at Death Valley last season.
		Duke: Remember when Kansas was a lot better than Duke in football? Me neither. Blue Devils freshman Shaun Wilson ran for a school-record 245 yards with three long touchdowns in a 41-3 rout of the Jayhawks on Saturday.
		Florida: After a triple-overtime win over Kentucky at the Swamp, there are plenty of concerns for the Gators. But quarterback Jeff Driskel looked pretty good in the second half. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 179 yards with three touchdowns after halftime. At least the Gators have a slither of hope heading into Saturday's game at Alabama.
		Georgia: The Bulldogs' early-season hopes came crashing down with a 38-35 loss at South Carolina, which puts them behind the eight ball in the SEC East race. The good news for the Bulldogs: They won the division in 2011 and 2012 after losing to the Gamecocks.
		Georgia Tech: The Paul Johnson era at Georgia Tech almost hit rock bottom Saturday, as the Yellow Jackets nearly blew a 25-point lead in a 42-38 win over Georgia Southern. But quarterback Justin Thomas saved them when he threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Deon Hill with 23 seconds left.
		Iowa: The Hawkeyes are a lot like a two-dollar steak: You know they're going to be tough and not nearly as good as you were expecting. That joke wasn't very funny until Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz stopped me and made me write it again.
		Kentucky: The Wildcats suffered a gut-wrenching 36-30 loss in triple overtime at Florida on Saturday night, after the Gators scored the tying touchdown in overtime when it appeared the play clock expired before the snap. The loss will be difficult for UK to bounce back from, but it's clear the Cats are no longer a pushover in the SEC East.
		Louisville: This is why Louisville athletics director Tom Jurich hired Bobby Petrino a second time? Just when it seemed the Cardinals would emerge as Florida State's biggest threat in the ACC, the Cardinals laid an egg in a 23-21 loss at Virginia. Louisville was limited to only 282 yards of offense and turned the ball over four times.
		Marshall: The Thundering Herd walloped Ohio for a 44-14 home win Saturday, as quarterback Rakeem Cato passed for 425 yards with four touchdowns. Marshall plays at Akron on Saturday, which, ahem, might be its toughest road game left this season.
		Maryland: Terrapins coach Randy Edsall wasn't happy that West Virginia's offense ran 108 plays in the Mountaineers' 40-37 victory on Saturday. A few words of advice: Don't punt the ball back to them seven times and they won't run as many plays. Rest easy, coach. The pace of play won't be nearly as fast in the Big Ten.
		Miami: The Hurricanes play at Nebraska on Saturday, the first time the teams have met since Miami won 37-14 at the Rose Bowl at the end of the 2001 season to win its last national championship. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, Ken Dorsey, Clinton Portis, Ed Reed and Jeremy Shockey aren't making the trip this time.
		Michigan: The Wolverines bounced back from their embarrassing 31-0 loss at Notre Dame with a 34-10 win over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday. The RedHawks have dropped 19 consecutive games and haven't won since October 2012.
		Michigan State: The Spartans had an extra week to stew over their 46-27 loss at Oregon on Sept. 6. MSU gets to play "Name The Score" at home against Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
		Minnesota: I was tempted to eliminate the Gophers from playoff contention after their ugly 30-7 loss at TCU on Saturday, in which they committed five turnovers and trailed 24-0 at the half. But then the voice in the back of my head reminded me that somebody actually has to win the Big Ten West.
		NC State: The Wolfpack might not be the most impressive 3-0 team in the country, but they've already matched their victory total from last season and are halfway toward becoming bowl-eligible. The best news: FCS opponent Presbyterian and Wake Forest are still to come on the schedule.
		Nebraska: After struggling against FCS foe McNeese State in a 31-24 victory on Sept. 6, the Cornhuskers took care of business in a 55-19 rout at Fresno State on Saturday night. Nebraska kept its sleepy fans awake with a dizzying display of big plays.
		North Carolina: The Tar Heels had the weekend off before Saturday's scary road trip to upstart East Carolina. UNC coach Larry Fedora used the bye week to recruit. He arrived at a high school game in North Carolina via helicopter on Friday night.
		Northern Illinois: The Huskies have won 17 consecutive games at opponents' stadiums after beating UNLV 48-34 in Las Vegas. Northern Illinois has also gone 5-3 in its last eight games against Big Ten foes and will get its shot at Bret Bielema, a former Big Ten coach, when it plays at Arkansas on Saturday.
		Ohio State: Give the Buckeyes some credit for bouncing back from a disappointing 35-21 loss to Virginia Tech on Sept. 6. OSU quarterback J.T. Barrett threw for 312 yards and six touchdowns, matching a school single-game record, in a 66-0 rout of Kent State. The Buckeyes will get an extra week to prepare for a much tougher in-state game against Cincinnati on Sept. 27.
		Oklahoma State: With quarterback J.W. Walsh sidelined for a while with an injured foot, backup Daxx Garman continues to knock off five years' worth of rust after not playing in a game since his junior season of high school in 2009. Garman threw for 315 yards with two touchdowns on 16-for-30 passing in a 43-13 win over UTSA on Saturday.
		Oregon State: The Beavers got some much-needed rest after their long trip to Hawaii -- a 38-30 victory on Sept. 6. Oregon State is 12-6 in games after a bye week under coach Mike Riley since 2003. Next up is a home date Saturday against San Diego State.
		Penn State: The Nittany Lions celebrated the NCAA executive committee's decision to rescind the last two seasons of their bowl ban by nearly blowing a road game at Rutgers on Saturday. Penn State came from behind for a 13-10 victory. The Nittany Lions probably won't save the Big Ten by making the College Football Playoff, but they're certainly good enough to play in the postseason.
		Pittsburgh: The Panthers sleepwalked through the first half at Florida International on Saturday before pulling away for a 42-25 victory. Tailback James Conner ran for 177 yards, giving him 544 yards in three games, breaking Tony Dorsett's school record for most yards in the first three games of a season, set in 1973.
		Rutgers: Everything seemed to be so good for Rutgers, with former Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen directing the offense and tutoring quarterback Gary Nova. But then Nova threw five interceptions in a 13-10 loss to Penn State in Rutgers' first-ever game in Big Ten play.
		South Carolina: It probably would have been a lot less painful if Georgia had allowed Steve Spurrier to win his final game against the Bulldogs as Florida's quarterback in 1966. He has now won 16 games against Georgia as coach at Florida and South Carolina, many of them as painful for UGA as Saturday night's 38-35 defeat.
		Stanford: The Cardinal bounced back from their deflating loss to USC on Sept. 6 by beating up Army 35-0 on Saturday. Stanford can go a long way toward getting back in the good graces of the selection committee by winning consecutive road games at Washington and No. 9 Notre Dame the next two weeks.
		Syracuse: Well, we know one thing about the Orange after two games. They're a much better team when quarterback Terrel Hunt is on the field. Hunt, who was ejected from the opener against FCS foe Villanova for throwing a punch, ran for a career-high three touchdowns and passed for another in a 40-3 rout of Central Michigan.
		TCU: Are we sleeping on the Horned Frogs after they went 11-14 the past two seasons combined? TCU's defense looks ferocious again, even after losing star defensive end Devonte Fields in the preseason, as the Horned Frogs forced five turnovers in a 30-7 win over Minnesota.
		USC: Boston College's "red bandana" game turned into a red-flag game for the Trojans, who were exposed in a 37-31 loss to the Eagles. Boston College outrushed the Trojans 452 to 20. The last time an unranked Eagles team beat a top-10 opponent was a 14-7 upset of No. 4 Notre Dame in 2002.
		Utah: The Utes had an off week before Saturday's road trip to Michigan, and coach Kyle Whittingham might want to use a travel agent before he heads into Big Ten country. The Utes haven't won a game outside the state of Utah since a 42-35 victory at Colorado on Nov. 23, 2012. The Utes went 1-4 on the road last season (winning at BYU) and went 1-5 in 2012 (winning at Colorado).
		Virginia: Along with Boston College, the Cavaliers get the feel-good award for the week. Virginia won an ACC game for the first time in 672 days, upsetting No. 21 Louisville 23-21 at Scott Stadium. The win ended a zero-for-11 drought against conference foes.
		Virginia Tech: Hokies coach Frank Beamer probably warned his players about East Carolina as much as he could. Maybe he should have ended his pregame speech with, "Ye be warned." The Hokies didn't heed his advice, as ECU pulled out a stunning 28-21 upset, a week after Virginia Tech beat Ohio State on the road.
		Washington: After less-than-stellar outings against Hawaii and FCS opponent Eastern Washington, the Huskies can finally breathe a sigh of relief about their start under new coach Chris Petersen. Washington had 465 yards of offense and forced three turnovers in a 44-19 rout of Illinois.
		West Virginia: Maybe Alabama took the wrong Florida State transfer. Former Seminoles quarterback Clint Trickett, son of FSU offensive line coach Rick Trickett, completed 37 of 49 passes for 511 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in a 40-37 victory over Maryland.
		Wisconsin: It took me two lessons and about three days on the driving range to cure a nasty case of the shanks recently. Trust me, Badgers fan, if I can fix my golf swing, there's hope for quarterback Joel Stave, who is battling a case of the yips while throwing the ball. He isn't expected to play in Saturday's home game against Bowling Green, but he did practice with the team last week.

Still in contention

Trend	School	Note
		Alabama: Alabama's second preseason has ended, after the Crimson Tide clobbered Southern Miss 52-12 on Saturday. After a closer-than-expected victory over West Virginia in Atlanta, they have won back-to-back games against Florida Atlantic and Southern Miss by a combined 93-12. Florida is up next in Saturday's SEC opener in Tuscaloosa.
		Arizona: Coach Rich Rodriguez couldn't have been too happy with how his defense played in Saturday's 35-28 victory over Nevada. The Wildcats will face another high-powered offense in their Pac-12 opener this weekend against Cal, and then they'll get the ultimate test at No. 2 Oregon on Oct. 2.
		Arizona State: The Sun Devils' playoff hopes might have been dealt a serious blow in Saturday night's 38-24 win at Colorado. Quarterback Taylor Kelly, who has started 30 games, injured his right foot and was using crutches after the game. Coach Todd Graham hasn't specified how long Kelly will be out, but the Sun Devils are about to get into the meat of their Pac-12 schedule.
		Auburn: The Tigers had the weekend off before traveling to play at No. 20 Kansas State on Thursday night. Auburn fans did get an unexpected treat this past weekend when CBS broadcast a replay of last season's Iron Bowl win over Alabama during a weather delay before the Georgia-South Carolina game.
		Baylor: Quarterback Bryce Petty is fine and so is Baylor's high-powered offense. Petty, who missed last week's 70-6 rout of FCS opponent Northwestern State because of two cracked bones in his back, returned to action in Friday night's 63-21 win at Buffalo and completed his first nine passes for 197 yards. He finished with 416 yards and four touchdowns on 23-for-34 passing.
		Florida State: The defending national champions had the weekend off in preparation for Saturday's home game against No. 22 Clemson at Doak Campbell Stadium. Coach Jimbo Fisher hopes the extra time will allow defensive linemen Eddie Goldman and Nile Lawrence-Stample to recover from lower-leg injuries.
		Kansas State: Wildcats fans are wearing "Roll Snyd" T-shirts to honor coach Bill Snyder in anticipation of Thursday night's home game against No. 5 Auburn. If Kansas State can somehow knock off the Tigers, the Taco Bell in Manhattan (Kansas) might need to name a burrito after him.
		LSU: It's hard to figure out how good the Tigers really are. After struggling to put away Wisconsin in its opener in Houston, LSU posted back-to-back shutouts over FCS opponent Sam Houston State and Louisiana-Monroe by a combined 87-0. We should know much more about the Tigers after Saturday night's home game against Mississippi State.
		Mississippi State: After an embarrassing (47-34) defensive performance against UAB on Sept. 6, the Bulldogs looked better in a 35-3 win at South Alabama on Saturday. Like LSU, the Bulldogs haven't been tested much. Quarterback Dak Prescott has thrown nine touchdowns in three games, but he'll get his most difficult test to date against No. 8 LSU's defense.
		Missouri: Don't you get the sense that Missouri is just sitting back and loving what's happening to everybody else in the SEC East? Georgia and South Carolina already have conference losses, and Florida is darn lucky it didn't lose to Kentucky. Meanwhile, the Tigers have rolled over FCS opponent South Dakota State, Toledo and UCF. After playing Indiana at home on Saturday, the Tigers are at No. 14 South Carolina on Sept. 27 and host No. 13 Georgia on Oct. 11.
		Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish have played only three games, but this season is already starting to resemble 2012, when their schedule didn't turn out to be nearly as difficult as it seemed in the preseason. Sure, the Irish have to play at No. 1 Florida State on Oct. 18, but road trips at Arizona State and USC don't seem nearly as daunting as they once did.
		Oklahoma: Give the Sooners some credit for methodically beating up their first three opponents. OU could have slogged through against Louisiana Tech and Tulsa, but easily took care of business. Then the Sooners manhandled Tennessee 34-10 on Saturday night. They look like a very poised and focused football team early in the season.
		Ole Miss: I'm still not quite sure what to make of the Rebels, who have looked pretty good since halftime of their opener against Boise State in Atlanta. They're really talented on offense, especially when quarterback Bo Wallace is completing 14 straight passes, as he did in Saturday's 56-15 win over Louisiana-Lafayette. They play Memphis in two weeks and then face consecutive games against No. 3 Alabama (at home) and No. 6 Texas A&M (on the road).
		Oregon: Other than Florida State, the Ducks might have the easiest road to the College Football Playoff, at least until a possible appearance in the Pac-12 championship game. The Ducks don't play No. 17 USC or No. 15 Arizona State during the regular season, and they get to play No. 16 Stanford at home. Their Oct. 11 trip to No. 12 UCLA looks like their biggest road obstacle remaining, but the Bruins haven't exactly been playing stellar football.
		Texas A&M: In Week 1, the Aggies showed us they could beat a tough opponent on the road. In Week 3, they showed us they could beat a not-so-tough foe at home--even with potholes on the field. Texas A&M rolled over Rice 38-10 on Saturday night after a slow start that might have had something to do with a few divots on the new playing surface at Kyle Field.
		UCLA: The Bruins survived without quarterback Brett Hundley on Saturday night, as backup Jerry Neuheisel led UCLA to a 20-17 win vs. Texas at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. After Hundley left with what appears to be a hyperextended left elbow, Neuheisel came off the bench and completed 23 of 30 passes for 178 yards with two touchdowns, including a 33-yarder to Jordan Payton with three minutes left. Early reports suggest Hundley might be back by the end of this week.

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