College Football Top 25 review - Week 2

#1 USC vs #5 OSU
The Trojans looked human for two drives – and then took the game over and never looked back. USC QB Marc Sanchez threw for 4 TDs and linebacker Rey Maualuaga had a pick he returned for a 48 yard TD as the Buckeyes looked overmatched in every aspect of the game. Once again OSU entered the spotlight only to come out blinded and slapped around and still waiting for that big non-conference win that eludes them. The two decisions that will be haunting Buckeye Coach Jim Tressel: Should running back Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells have been playing (and would it have mattered) and should he have handed the reigns more completely to freshman QB Terrelle Pryor as QB Todd Boekman looked awful throughout stretches of the game. One thing is for certain – it looks like the team with the best chance of beating USC is USC. If they stay focused, they have every chance of playing for a National Title come January.

#2 Georgia vs South Carolina
Georgia had all it could handle with a tough South Carolina team but in the end, a late turnover sealed the win for them. For most of the game, the SC Gamecocks kept the Bulldogs leashed and the score low, stifling the offense. But ultimately Georgia made something of the last turnover and and Knowshon Moreno capped his 79 yard day with the winning TD.

#3 Oklahoma vs Washington
Sooner QB Sam Bradford continues his Heisman Case with 304 yards and 5 TDs as Oklahoma continued Washington’s woes 55-14. Not only was Bradford on point, but the Sooner RB tandem of DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown were lights out. The pair rushed for 207 yards as Oklahoma outgained the Huskies in yards 591 to 336.

#6 Missouri vs Nevada
Tigers QB Chase Daniel threw for a monster 405 yards and 4 TDs as Missouri thumped Nevada 69-17. The offense scored on 11 drives, including their first 10 and 9 of them for TDs. Nevada never got going, and were frustrated on both sides of the ball. Unable to get things going on offense, they were also not getting pressure on the Tigers quarterbacks. The Tigers’ 69 points scored was a school record and Daniels became the All-Time Leading passer with his yard total from today.

#7 LSU vs North Texas
The defending National Champions ran away and hid as RB Charles Scott lead the team with 102 yards and 2 TDs – both of which was for more than 30 yards.

#8 Texas vs Arkansas – POSTPONED DUE TO HURRICANE IKE

#9 Auburn vs Mississippi St.
With a box score that looked more like a baseball game than a college football game, Auburn came out ahead when Mississippi State QB Wesley Carroll threw an interception with 2:28 left in the game.

#10 Wisconsin vs #21 Fresno State
The Badgers survived a scare today as the Fresno State Bulldogs took them the distance but ultimately could not finish as Wisconsin beat Fresno 13-10. PJ Hill lead Wisconsin’s rushing with 112 yards QB Allan Everidge left the game late but appeared back on the sidelines and should be ok for the Badgers’ next game.

#11 Alabama vs Western Kentucky
The Crimson Tide rolled all over poor Western Kentucky to the tune of 41-7. The Tide went 9-14 on 3rd downs and 3-3 on 4th downs, with QB John Parker Wilson leading the offense with 216 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

#12 Texas Tech vs Southern Methodist
TTU QB Graham Harrell threw for 5 TDs while his Mustang counterpart Bo Levi Mitchell threw 5 INTs as the Red Raiders blew out SMU 43-7. Of the 5 TDs from Graham, 3 went to wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

#13 Kansas vs #19 South Florida
It took a Field Goal as time expired but South Florida continued to hold onto it’s top 25 ranking for another week, making sure the BCS knows the small schools came to play. Jayhawk QB Todd Reesing threw for 373 and 3 TDs, 2 of which went to wide receiver Johnathan Wilson but it wasn’t enough as his one INT took place late in the 4th and was returned 40 yards to set up the winning kick.

#14 East Carolina vs Tulane
East Carolina made it’s BCS bones by upsetting two favored teams but almost became a karmic victim as they staved of the Green Wave with a late 4th quarter TD, overcoming 4 turnovers.

#15 ASU vs UNLV
Arizona State Rudy Carpenter and his ASU Sun Devils struggled early but ultimately got in gear to beat UNLV and, along with USC and Oregon, survive the drubbing the Pac 10 received almost across the board today.

#16 Oregon vs Purdue
It took two OTs, but Oregon avoided an upset as the Purdue Boilermakers stunned them in the first half. But LeGarrette Blount’s 3 yard TD capped a comeback that will keep the Ducks rolling for another week.

#17 Penn State vs Syracuse
The Nittany Lions left Syracuse in the dust early and never looked back as they destroyed the overwhelmed Orangeman 55-13.

#18 BYU vs UCLA
BYU left no doubt they belonged in the top 25 and washed the bad taste of a debated call by annihilating UCLA, led by QB Max Hall and his staggering 7 TDs.

#22 Utah vs Utah State
Utah beat their in-state rivals for the 11th time in a row, this time by the score of 58-10. Utah running back Matt Asiata scored three touchdowns.

#23 Cal vs Maryland
Cal arrived at their hotel at 1am and it took them into the 4th quarter before the offense fired up. But it was too little too late as the Terps stunned the Bears 35-27.

#24 Illinois vs Louisiana-Lafayette
While the Illini lead for more than three quarters, Juice Williams and the offense never distanced themselves from the Ragin’ Cajuns and eventually had to stave off a late surge from a team they expected to blow off the field.