EXTENDING DEPARTMENTS:
COLLEGE FOOTBALL

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Can C.J. Bacher lead Northwestern to an improbable Rose Bowl run?

[Ed's note: We're taking the department pages from the back of the current issue of ESPN The Magazine and updating 'em. While the information there is still current and tremendously valuable, the ever-changing sports world calls for a few updates. You deserve it.]

Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt and Kentucky were all undefeated when the NHL Preview issue was put to bed; they're all undefeated now. You can check out Todd McShay's evaluation of 'em all right here.

So, what will the schedule hold for all three—and the other early-season surprises?

Also on the department page, Mag senior writer Bruce Feldman writes of Willie Tuitama being the key for Mike Stoops' job security at Arizona. (Side note: how awkward will Thanksgiving be if Mike is fired and Bob is undefeated and headed to Miami?) This got us thinking about other coaches on an increasingly hot seat who need a single player to step up. There are many.

EARLY SEASON SURPRISES

1. OKLAHOMA STATE
Okie State, like most Big 12 offenses, has long been pass-first. (At least for most of the last two decades; in the 1980s, Thurman Thomas gave way to Barry Sanders, so the run was more of a focus.) That may be changing. In the team's 55-24 win over Troy this past weekend, they racked up 612 total yards. The breakdown: 254 passing, 358 rushing. For the second straight game, the Cowboys had two or more guys top 100 yards on the ground. Still, that was Troy—and the game before was Missouri State. The team must play on the road versus Missouri (October 11), Texas (October 25) and Texas Tech (November 8)—all currently ranked in the Top 10. The Bedlam game versus Oklahoma is at Stillwater this year (November 29); it's the Sooners' last regular-season game. If they're undefeated following their battle with Texas Tech the previous Saturday, Okie State's explosive offense—as McShay notes, TE Brandon Pettigrew is a surefire NFL talent—could be a bump in the road to South Beach for Bobby Stoops, kinda like how a defensively-minded Pittsburgh team was for West Virginia last season. Maybe it's the year Mike Gundy finally becomes 'the man,' eh?

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Might there be a Cutcliffe-Ville some day?

2. KENTUCKY
Kentucky's still undefeated too, although that never lasts in the SEC. (And the Wildcats should know: remember what they did to LSU last year?) It starts with a game at newly-minted No. 2 Alabama this weekend. McShay notes: "QB Mike Hartline is no Andre Woodson." Looks like he's on the same page as Kentucky head man Rich Brooks: "Right now our quarterback goes back there, he's not sure what he's going to get on those routes. It was very disturbing," Brooks said after a mid-September win over Middle Tennessee State. The Wildcats host Georgia (November 8)—if UGA is undefeated between now and then, it could be a trap game for 'em—but must travel to The Swamp (October 25) and Neyland Stadium (November 29) for an emotional game that might be Phil Fulmer's swan song. Four conference losses seems likely.

3. VANDERBILT
We're big fans of Vandy grads. And this team has looked good en route to a 4-0 record. But Auburn looms this weekend (the game is in Nashville, though), then they're at Georgia, Kentucky and Wake Forest later in the season. Last year, Auburn "took us to the woodshed" (words of Vandy head coach Bobby Johnson), winning 35-7. A simple reason? Stout defense. "I think the key to being great on third down is due to them stopping offenses on first and second down. That's when they're really tough," notes Johnson. " If you're third and three, then the offense has a lot of options and when it's third and long their defense has a lot of options." Vandy's counter is CB D.J. Moore. Cue Johnson: "He is always looking for opportunities to help our football team and he has been very successful in doing it. He is a very aggressive player." Problem is, if Kodi Burns gets more snaps for Auburn, he tends to run the ball when pressured; this'll increase the defensive focus on the linebackers. The X-Factor: College Gameday will be in Nashville. The intensity may help Vandy roll to 5-0. (That Wake game may be brutal, though. Wake could be playing for a spot in Tampa's ACC title game at that point.)

4. NORTHWESTERN
They weren't referenced in The Magazine itself, but a 5-0 start for a school best known for its MBA and Journalism programs merits a mention. Their schedule isn't bad: they get Michigan State and the unsinkable Javon Ringer at home. (Side note: Ringer is on pace to absolutely shatter the single-season major college record for carries.) Their only ranked opponent remaining, Ohio State, is also in Evanston. Their three remaining away games? Indiana, Minnesota and Michigan. Two of those seem like potential wins; by November 15, Michigan might be a somewhat formidable team. (They better be. They got OSU the next weekend.) C.J. Bacher is completing close to 60 percent of his passes. Tyrell Sutton has seemingly been in college forever, but he's one of the more solid RBs in the Big 10. Hiis two touchdowns against fellow surprising team Duke on September 6 helped secure a 24-20 road win for NU. While the Rose Bowl seems doubtful, Northwestern has a shot at losing just two, or possibly three conference games.

5. DUKE
Our boss went there, but we're not homers. They deserve a mention. First off: David Cutcliffe knows what he's doing. The Manning brothers have won the last two Super Bowls and both of them regularly credit him with a part of their success. Cutcliffe could be a collegiate Belichick—a guy who wasn't that good in his first head gig (Belichick = Cleveland Browns), then reshaped a franchise in a city dominated by another sport in his second head gig. Also helping Duke: their defense has been pretty legit. Another bonus: generally speaking, the ACC isn't very good right now. As for Duke's schedule, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech on the road could all be losses and the October 18 home game against a developing Miami team might also be trouble. At this point Duke seems like a 'pretender' rather a 'contender,' but if they can score 17 points consistently (seems reasonable under an offensive mind), they can hang around in the ACC.

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If Bowden was on American Idol, Randy would say "Come on, dude!"

THE COACHING HOT SEAT

WILLIE TUITAMA AND MIKE STOOPS
As noted by Feldman, Tuitama threw for 222 against UCLA on September 20 in a 31-10 win. The Pac-10 isn't tremendous this year, Tuitama has scrambling ability and the USC game is in Tucson. Bonus for Mike Stoops, though: according to Wikipedia, his brother just purchased new land from the Sooners' strength coach and intends to build a new house in Norman on said land. Sounds like he's sticking around for a while, eh? Mike could always join that staff!

JAKE LOCKER AND TYRONE WILLINGHAM
Not counting half of USC's roster, Locker might be the most athletic dude in the entire Pac 10. The problem? The Huskies are 0-4 (It would look worse, 'cept Washington State might be the worst program among all BCS conferences.) They lost one game on an excessive celebration penalty by Locker himself. (Granted, it was questionable.) The schedule isn't easy: back-to-backs with Notre Dame (in Seattle) and USC (in Los Angeles) in late October/early November, plus visits to equally-needing-a-win Arizona and Cal. It's possible their only win is Washington State; it seems doubtful Locker can save Willingham.

TOMMY BOWDEN AND—CAN ANYONE SAVE TOMMY BOWDEN?
Honestly, can anyone save this dude? He started the season heading up a Top 10 team and got completely woodshedded by Nick Saban. He just lost to Maryland AT HOME; the Terps are 4-1 but lost to Middle Tennessee. Clemson has trouble at the O-Line and LB slots and Bowden has massive trouble with expectations, or so it seems. It seems likely none of his current players' development will be able to aid his rehire.

KIRK FERENTZ AND RICKY STANZI
Two straight narrow losses (21-20 to Pittsburgh and 22-17 to Northwestern) has millionaire Ferentz back on the hot seat. The development of sophomore QB Ricky Stanzi could be big: Stanzi was 21 of 30 against Northwestern, but five Hawkeye turnovers screwed said pooch. "You expect tough times and coach prepares us for that," he offered afterward. Yea, but which coach? The current one notes: "I can't remember being involved in a game with five turnovers, but on the plus side, we responded. You can build on effort and committment like that."

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