Oklahoma more than OK; Smoke clears, Sooners top the first BCS poll -- take note, Boise, TCU

Published Oct. 18, 2010 10:08 p.m. ET

foxsports

There's nothing like carnage on a football Saturday to crank the college gridiron debating society into high gear. It's as potent as a case of Red Bull at a frat party.

Mix in the first BCS standings of the season, and it's a lethal combination.

When No. 1 Ohio State and No. 5 Nebraska are upset victims a week after seemingly impregnable Alabama stumbles, you have to wonder where another tumultuous season is headed.

Would you believe, Oklahoma? Rewarded for their tough nonconference slate, the Sooners checked in at No. 1 in the first BCS poll, released Sunday. Oregon, which moved up to No. 1 in the AP standings, was second, followed by Boise State, Auburn and TCU.

With basically half a season to go, a long list of teams remains in the BCS hunt. No. 8 Alabama, which has yet to tangle with No. 4 Auburn and No. 6 LSU, isn't out of it. Nor is No. 15 Iowa, which still has home dates left with No. 7 Michigan State, No. 10 Ohio State and No. 13 Wisconsin.

What does this mean for upstarts Boise State and TCU? Beware the big boys. As good as the Broncos and Horned Frogs are, strength of schedule and voter bias could keep them from playing for the national championship.

Don't count out the Buckeyes, who looked very average in their 31-18 loss at Wisconsin. But they'll need more from Terrelle Pryor, who gained 56 yards on 18 carries two weeks after being slowed by a strained quad.

The Crimson Tide also had multiple problems in a 35-21 loss at South Carolina. One explanation: They were on the road, playing their third straight ranked opponent after big victories over Arkansas and Florida.

That's all part of life, though, in a power conference. And that's something the Boise States and TCUs of the world don't do -- play dangerous and/or physical opponents week after week.

I still think an eight-team playoff, with four New Year's Day winners advancing to a Final Four, wouldn't harm the bowl system, which I like as much as anybody. And it would settle things on the field.

But since I've turned in my AP voter's card, I'd be happy to watch Boise State and TCU play for the national championship -- and see how that goes down in Tuscaloosa, Columbus and other tradition-rich college football hotbeds.

BREWSTER FIRED

Showing an itchy trigger finger, Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi fired coach Tim Brewster on Sunday and named offensive coordinator Jeff Horton interim coach.

A fourth-year coach who has gone to two straight Insight bowls deserves better. And pulling the plug two weeks before Halloween sends a bad message about college football in general and Minnesota in particular. But this isn't the first time the Gophers have been quick on the trigger.

''While I appreciate the passion and commitment that coach Brewster has shown, it is clear that a change in the leadership of Gopher football is necessary,'' Maturi said in a statement. ''We have high aspirations for our football program, and we are not satisfied with its current direction. The results so far this season have been unacceptable, and the program has simply not shown enough improvement over the past 3? years to continue with the status quo.''

No question the Gophers were floundering. And when a program builds a beautiful new stadium, as Minnesota did, people are going to get impatient. So Brewster was sent packing with a $600,000 buyout.

Among the names being mentioned for the job are former Iowa State coach Dan McCarney, now a Florida assistant with deep Big Ten assistant roots; Houston coach Kevin Sumlin, a former Minnesota assistant; Montreal Alouettes coach Marc Trestman, a former Gophers quarterback, and TCU coach Gary Patterson, who reportedly turned down Minnesota before it hired Brewster.

Be careful, guys.

SPINE SURGERY FOR DT

Paralyzed below the neck after making a high-impact tackle on a kickoff return against Army on Saturday, Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand underwent emergency surgery early Sunday to stabilize his spine.

''Eric LeGrand has got a new set of challenges in front of him,'' a tearful coach Greg Schiano said. ''There's not a doubt in my mind that Eric LeGrand is going to look these challenges in the eye and overcome them.''

HEISMAN WATCH

Herb Gould handicaps his top three in the Heisman Trophy race.

1Cam Newton, Auburn, QB: Four TDs (three rushing, one passing) and 328 yards in wild

65-43 shootout win against Arkansas.

2Kellen Moore, Boise State, QB: 14-for-16 for 231 yards

and two TDs as Broncos won their 20th straight.

3LaMichael James, Oregon, RB: Nation's leading rusher (169.6 yards a game) enjoyed a week off for the AP poll's new No. 1 team.

SUN-TIMES' BIG TEN POWER RANKINGS

After stumbles by Ohio State and Nebraska, all eyes will be on Iowa, which plays host to Wisconsin and Michigan State the next two weeks.

Pvs

1. Iowa (5-1, 2-0) 2

2. Michigan State (7-0, 3-0) 3

3. Wisconsin (6-1, 2-1) 4

*3a. Nebraska (5-1, 1-1) 1a

4. Ohio State (6-1, 2-1) 1

5. Illinois (3-3, 1-2) 5

6. Northwestern (5-1, 1-1) 7

7. Michigan (5-2, 1-2) 6

8. Purdue (4-2, 2-0) 9

9. Penn State (3-3, 0-2) 8

10. Indiana (4-2, 0-2) 10

11. Minnesota (1-6, 0-3) 11

* Will join Big Ten in 2011