Another Final Four Playoff

As we look ahead to the season 3 Conference Championship games, it's looking like, once again, the Pac 12 and SEC title games will serve as a pseudo BCS Final Four. These are the BCS rankings as of week 14, and they should remain the same entering the conference title games.

The winners will meet in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the season 3 BCS National Championship!

Goose Egg! Seminoles Spear Miami, 42-0

In a game that was dominated from start to finish, the #5 Florida State Seminoles went to South Beach and defeated #6 Miami 42-0 in front of a stunned Hurricanes home crowd.

Miami entered the game averaging 65 points per game, but the FSU defense stepped up to the challenge, holding the Canes to 66 total yards, 5 first downs,holding star RB Lamar Miller to 53 total rushing yards, and scoring the shutout. The Hurricanes made it past midfield once the entire game, to the FSU 46 yard line.

Over the past 7 games, and since their only loss of the season at Michigan, the Seminoles defense has held it opposition to a combined 23 total points and 1 total offensive TD. The Noles were led on offense by Sophomore tailback James Wilder with 217 rushing yards on 17 carries, including a 96 yard TD run. The Noles scored on the game's second play on a TD pass from Matt Bryant to TE Nick O'Leary.

With the win, the Seminoles likely clinch the SEC East and will face LSU in the SEC Championship Game. The Tigers and the Seminoles met in Week 4 in Tallahassee, with Florida State earning a 24-3 win.

Miami still has a great shot to make a BCS Bowl game if it wins its remaining games against Florida and Texas. 

Miami and Florida State meet to decide the SEC East

It's hard to believe we're already in week 12 of season 3. Once again, the race for the top has been a tight one. However, all of the Pac 12 and SEC division winners have (pretty much) been determined, with the exception of the SEC East.

USC has clinched the Pac 12 South, Michigan has a lock on the North, and LSU clinched the SEC West with its victory over Alabama last week. Which brings us to tonight's huge battle on South Beach between arch rivals #5 Florida State and #6(tie) Miami. The winner will move on to rematch LSU in Atlanta.

The game tonight pits strength vs. strength....FSU's defense vs. Miami's offense.

Coach stinvol's Hurricanes enter this game as confident as ever, led by a potent offense. Senior RB Lamar Miller has pounded out more than 1,400 yards and 16 TDs on the ground, while not fumbling the ball once. Miller, in Miami's 45-42 last second loss to LSU earlier this season, had 313 yards rushing and 4 TDs on the ground. A duplicate effort tonight would be huge in the Canes' upset bid.

Miami also will rely on rotating 2 QBs - Senior Stephen Morris and Sophomore Lukas Mitchell. Mitchell has earned a majority of the snaps lately, but expect to see both QBs tonight. Their primary target all season has been 6'8 freshman Ronnie Collins. Collins lacks the speed of some WRs, but his height and strength has been a major asset for the Canes' passing game. Collins has 64 catches and 24 TDs on the season.

Miami's offense has averaged 65 points per game, and has only been held below 50 points twice this season (42 vs. LSU and 45 vs. Auburn).

Florida State's defense, ranked #1 in the nation, will be a great test to the Hurricanes' prolific offense. FSU's defense, on the season, has allowed only 9.5 points per game...tops in the nation. But, in the past 6 games, the Noles have allowed an astounding 3.8 points per game and given up only 1 touchdown on defense.

Coach UTVOL54's squad will be challenged by Miami's ground game, and will have to put up a gaudy effort to contain Miller. The Noles' last trip to Miami was in last year's BCS title victory over USC, so they're certainly comfortable playing in Joe Robbie/Landshark/Sun Life Stadium.

On offense, the Seminoles boast a tandem RB backfield, with "co-starters" James Wilder and Devonta Freeman rushing for  839 yds and 837 yds respectively. Redshirt FR QB Matt Bryant has had a tremendous year and has a bright future. His passing yardage hasn't been astounding, but with 20 TDs and only 4 INTs, he has protected the ball and distributed it well to the FSU receivers.

We expect this game to be a low scoring game, which likely favors FSU. However, Miami has the home field advantage and if the game gets into a shootout, they may be tough to keep up with. In the past two seasons, the Canes have kept it close against FSU early, but turnovers have done them in. If Miami can protect the football tonight, this game will go down to the wire.

With the SEC East on the line, both coaches will be coming out firing. Who will be the first one to blink?!

Rumors have been swirling all week that Miami may don their green helmets tonight. Will that be the winning edge?



Click Here to see Corso's pick!!

It's Official - Sooners Coach Gump announces leave of absence to join the cast of Survivor: Detroit

In a tearful and awkward press conference today, Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach, Coach Gump, announced that effective immediately, he will be taking a leave of absence from his head coaching duties to pursue another lifelong dream - conquering the mean streets of Detroit.

"This is a decision I have mulled over for weeks," said Gump, wiping tears. "Ever since I watched Eight Mile for the first time, I have thought, 'golly, it sure would be neat to tackle the streets of Detroit like Eminem did.' Now I have my chance to do that thanks to the great people at CBS and Survivor: Detroit."

Gump secretly auditioned 43 times over the past 2 years to win a casting spot on the show. Remember that mysterious trip to Eugene, Oregon? Gump revealed that quick trip to the northwest was all a part of his audition process, not a coaching interview with Oregon. (Coach Stu can breathe easy!)

When he got word he'd been accepted, he said it was bitter sweet. "I will have to abandon my duties with my team for the remainder of season 3," but I hope they'll have me back for season 4 and beyond."

"We (the cast) will be getting into lots of mischief and tomfoolery," said Gump. "I will miss my team, but think of the exposure this huge platform will give our program. Recruits will love it."

 Fans and players, on the other hand, have mixed emotions. "We are devastated by this news," said senior QB Drew Allen. "Coach Gump was like a crazy uncle to us..always teaching us right from wrong. I will never forget him, or the lessons he taught me...like how to properly apply ketchup to various things."

Other sports celebrities have been devastated by the news as well: Here, Here, and Here.

Fans in Norman were appalled at the announcement and wished Gump good riddance, calling for the university to fire him for abandoning ship after 3 consecutive losses this season.

Gump, whose Sooner team has been ranked #1 at some point in each of the first 3 seasons of RUTS4, has admittedly not met Sooner fans' massive expectations after replacing college football coaching legend Coach utvol27 3 seasons ago. Coach utvol27 won three national titles in 5 seasons with the Sooners, amidst allegations of reckless cheating and recruiting scandals.

Gump did however coach the past two Heisman trophy winners, and his expertise in the running game is something that RUTS has never seen before.

The Sooners have named Gump's son and current Quality Control Graduate Assistant "Peabo" Brycen Gump as Interim Head Coach for the remainder of season 3.

#1 USC scampers past #2 Ducks, 38-14

Just like old times! Coach utvol27 and Coach Stu battle it out in #1 vs #2 matchup

Harkening memories of days gone by, the #1 USC Trojans will battle the #2 Oregon Ducks this week in Eugene, OR.


The coaches, whose teams dominated RUTS3 (winning all 5 national titles between them) will meet for the fourth time in RUTS4 this week, but this will be the first time in a while that either team has been ranked 1 or 2 heading into the matchup.

The trash talk has already begun.

"It's one of those games where you put the women and children to bed and go looking for dinner," said Oregon Coach StuBucksman. "USC is a very mediocre team, from a toughness standpoint, and I don't think they'll react well to playing in the Zoo in front of our home fans."

"Plus, when they see what our team's uniform combination will be, they may not even decide to take the field."

Not holding back, USC Coach utvol27, whose team finds itself ranked #1 for the very first time in RUTS4, said that his Trojans will wear their new #1 ranking with pride.

"It's been a long time since I've been in this position," Coach utvol27 said. "We've beaten Texas and Oklahoma by double digits in back to back weeks..I promise you we're not scared of any Ducks, uniforms, or magic spells Coach Stu might employ against us."

To win the game, Oregon will have to slow down the Trojan ground game and RB Dillon Baxter as well as its passing attack, led by WR Robert Woods and QB Tim "The tool man" King. King, who has completed only 10 total passes combined in the Trojans past two games will not be relied on heavily, but Coach Stu knows he'll need to be ready to stop it.

"Frankly, USC is afraid to throw the football against us..I would be too," Stu scoffed. "It takes guts to throw the ball toward Ducks, and I don't think King or his coach have what it takes to test those waters. They will step in duck poop."

Oregon will try to get its ground game going early, using RB Lache Seastrunk to power the duck wings. Seastrunk rushed for over 200 yards in the Ducks' 26-10 win over #1 ranked Oklahoma in Week 5. 

Whoever wins this game will likely be the #1 team heading into Week 8, while current #3 Michigan awaits its next big game in week 8 against #5 LSU.

USC, having already defeated Texas and Oklahoma, has likely clinched the Pac 12 South division, and a loss in this game likely would not diminish it's conference or BCS title hopes. Oregon still has to face Michigan in week 10, and that game will have a greater meaning in terms of the PAc 12 race. However, it's hard not to get excited about this season's first #1 vs #2 thriller.

After this photo surfaced earlier in the week...

"Coach utvol27...is that a Christmasy turtleneck you're wearing?" asked Erin.

...many people thought that the ESPN experts were jumping on board the Trojan Train, but upon further review....Not So Fast My Friend!!

Prediction: Oregon 30, USC 21

The Quack Attack is Back, Jack! Oregon vaults to #1 in the nation

After its 26-10 defeat of previous #1 Oklahoma in Week 5, the nation's new #1 team is the Oregon Ducks. This marks a return to glory for Coach StuBucksman, who hasn't coached a #1 ranked team since his glory-days of RUTS3.

The Ducks travel to Pittsburgh in Week 6 before hosting current #3 USC in Eugene in week 7. 

"We are going to keep flying together," said Coach StuBucksman. "We look good, we're playing good, and the curse of the duck is just a distant memory."

Oregon, much like Michigan in it's upset victory over Florida State, forced 3 crucial Oklahoma fumbles that led to 17 points. The Ducks, also like Michigan, kicked 4 field goals in the win. 

The win, and new rankings, gives the Pac 12 the nation's top 3 teams, and is marks the second time this season that a Pac 12 North team has upset the nation's #1 team. With #10 Washington also unbeaten, the Pac 12 North has laid claim to be called the toughest division in the nation this season.

There's plenty of football left to be played, but if both teams hold serve, the week 10 clash between Oregon and Michigan in Ann Arbor might set the new NCAA record for most forced fumbles and made FGs in a game.

Week 5 offers huge tests for Pac 12 teams

As we enter week 5 of season 3, several RUTS teams find themselves in the thick of the national title talk heading into conference play. This week, the biggest games will be played out west, as Coach Gump and his #1 Oklahoma Sooners travel to Eugene, OR to battle Coach StuBucksman and the 3rd-ranked Ducks.

In addition, #5 USC hosts #6 Texas in LA.

The winners of these two games will find themselves with an early leg-up in the Pac 12 title race, along with #2 Michigan.

In the SEC, Florida State bounced back strong with a 24-3 victory over #4 LSU, while #10 Miami defeated Alabama to stay on the heels of the Seminoles in the SEC East. LSU, which fell to only #7 this week, is still the favorite to win the SEC West, and if they do so, will find themselves in the BCS title game mix at season's end - heading into conference title week.

Experts agree though, that the Pac 12 is the nation's best conference this season. As Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, USC, Washington and Texas all have 1 loss between them heading into this week and all have legitimate chances of making a run at the BCS title. It's a wide open race!

Here are some photos from this season so far:

(From Week 3) The Streak is Over! Michigan Ends Seminoles' 30 game winning streak

Post is from Week 3...

 

In week 3, the Michigan Wolverines defeated the previously #1 ranked team, Florida State 26-13 in Ann Arbor, snapping the Noles' RUTS record 30 game winning streak.

Fumble #1 for FSU

 The Michigan defense forced 3 critical fumbles in the game, two inside their own 25 yard line as FSU was driving to score, and dominated the time of possesion to control the game. 

After FSU scored a TD to take a 7-3 lead with 36 seconds remaining in the first half, Michigan drove back down field and scored a TD on a miraculous tipped pass from 52 yards out to regain the lead 10-7 at halftime. 

This pass, right before halftime, was tipped by FSU, and caught by Michigan for a 52 yd TD

On the Seminoles' ensuing drive to open the second half, FSU RB Devonta Freeman fumbled the ball inside the Michigan 15 yard line, thwarting a potential scoring drive. A few plays later, Michigan RB Stephen Hopkins scampered 65 yards to pay dirt to give the Wolverines a 17-7 lead. Michigan kicker Seth Broekhuizen was clutch in the game as well, converting on 4 field goals in the game.

Fumble #2 for FSU

Fumble #3 for FSU

 The win vaulted Michigan to #2 in the polls, and they look to remain highly ranked and unbeaten heading into its next big test, in week 8 at LSU. The Wolverines also have highly anticipated contests against current undefeateds, #3 Oregon and #12 Washington.

Hopkins breaks a tackle and scampers 65 yards for a TD