College Football Round-up, Week 8

Hook Em

The Longhorns did more than take sole possession of first place in the Big 12 South with their 52-17 thrashing of previously unbeaten Texas Tech. They also picked up two more first-place votes in The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday, gaining on No. 1 Southern California.

``I didn't move USC down as much as I moved Texas up,'' said Joe Giglio of The News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C., one of two voters to switch Texas and USC this week. ``I feel (the Longhorns) have a more complete resume and I'm really impressed with how they've handled their business.''

Cocktail Party Without Their #1 QB

Georgia coach Mark Richt confirmed Sunday that starter D.J. Shockley sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and isn't expected to play in next Saturday's crucial game against Florida.

So, it looks like Joe Tereshinski will get his first career start in the one of the biggest spotlights in the college football season, the ``World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.'' The Bulldogs (7-0) can clinch a spot in the Southeastern Conference title game -- and they can't afford any slip-ups if they want to remain part of the national championship race.

``I don't want to do anything to make this team lose,'' Tereshinski said.

Fumbled Opportunity

Roman Harper jammed his head into the ball and jolted it loose from Tennessee fullback Cory Anderson, it bounced into -- and out of -- the end zone. And it was a touchback, not a touchdown.

``A lot of things are going our way,'' Tide linebacker DeMeco Ryans said. ``In past years, one of their players probably would have picked that ball up for a touchdown.''

The result was another huge drive for a team that had been prone to letting such games slip away in recent seasons -- including back-to-back narrow defeats to Tennessee.

The Tide is the only SEC West team without a league loss, though it still must play LSU and Auburn. Up next for Bama? Utah State and Mississippi State, can you say 9-0?

Wildcats Share Top Spot in Big 10

The Northwestern Wildcats are one of four Big Ten teams with one conference loss. Penn State and Wisconsin are 4-1 in the league, while Northwestern and Ohio State are 3-1. However don’t look for it to last much longer for the Wildcats who still have games Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State and Illinois.

``I reminded them in the locker room, there's still a lot of football left in the season,'' Coach Randy Walker said. ``This thing is going to be a wild race to the end, and hopefully we can keep getting better as a football team.''

Best Offensive Performance of the Week: UCLA, 516 yards and 51 points against Oregon State
Worst Offensive Performance: Florida Atlantic, 168 yards and 0 points in overtime against Arkansas St.

Best Defensive Performance: Alabama, 272 yards and 3 points allowed against Tennessee.
Worst Defensive Performance: BYU, 531 yards and 49 points allowed against Notre Dame.