Campus Confidential

By Adam Abramson

We're halfway through the season and I'm pretty much speechless.

Tranquil weekend? Not so much. This has gotten out of hand.

The argument for a post-season playoff couldn't be any stronger at this point. I've been a proponent of such a system, but I understand the power of the bowls. So, my argument is: Why not make the bowls playoff games?

16 qualifying teams make the playoff, leaving a need for 13 games, right?

We have four BCS bowls: Quarterfinals.
We have a NC game: Keep that the same.

So you need 8 more games to fill. Create two "bowls" for the semifinals. The TV revenue would be insane.

So, six games: Capital One, Cotton, Holiday, Gator, Outback and Alamo?

Keep the sponsors. Create more bowls for all I care. And what about the time issue? Well, the World Series has a game schedule for November this year, so I think we'd be OK if we played football into the second week of January, need be.

It would need some perfecting, but I think I'm on to something here.

But, that's a pipe dream. Let's talk about the weekend. What did we learn?

Jeff Tedford can't groom a quarterback overnight
The master QB tutor had to work with freshman Kevin Riley courtesy of Nate Longshore's injury and the result was a 31-28 loss to Oregon State for the former No. 2 team in the country. Riley had 294 yards passing, but couldn't get the ball to DeSean Jackson (4 catches, 5 yards). Lavelle Hawkins had 192 yards and two touchdowns through the air and senior running back Justin Forsett picked up 150 yards on 28 carries. I had Cal ranked up there like all the other polls did, but I was weary of the USC game…even I was looking too far ahead.

Strange calls come in threes
Tedford gets greedy and goes for the win when he could have kicked the field goal. With Longshore, that's the right move, not so sure when you have a first-time starter. Les Miles calling three straight runs up the gut in 3OT, where's the versatility? Perhaps he was banking on the fatigue of the Kentucky defense; however, the unit had watched Kentucky tie the game in 2OT, then stayed on the sideline for the beginning of the third while Kentucky scored again, giving it maybe a 10-15 minute breather? There are just so many options that Miles didn't go to. And finally, Zook, who probably made the most alarming bad decisions of the day. Two chances to decline third down penalties and force fourth downs and he declines - one leads to a touchdown, the other leads to a first down. I just don't get it.

Andre Woodson is back, baby
The Kentucky quarterback was nothing short of a man against the country's best team. Yeah, he had two interceptions, but he was the leader the Wildcats needed in about 30 crucial moments in the game. When you have a rock like that to lean on, anything is possible - as made clear on Saturday night. The Tigers threw everything they could at the Heisman hopeful and he just kept answering. He has NFL written all over him. I actually have to give props to Ivan Maisel who tabbed him as a first-team All-American before the year started. I thought he was crazy for passing up Brohm and Booty, but clearly he's the vet and I'm the rook.

Consistency will win the national championship
It's clearly more important than dominance this year. Ohio State has been a model of consistency and has a great shot to make a run at the title despite not having the best team. Schools like LSU and USC have more talent on their rosters, but made their buck by crushing teams. Ohio State is putting up big numbers, but it's almost methodical. Once again, that Ohio State-Michgian game is going to be intense.

Michigan belongs in the Top 25
It took a little while, but the Wolverines are actually better than the ranking shows. Yeah, the loss to App State was a killer, but they could still end up with nine wins. This coming Saturday night in Champaigne is a big game for UM, who - by the way - is sitting alone atop the Big 10 standings. The Blue and Maize is far from dead and could be back in the Rose Bowl.

The ACC is a junior version of the SEC
Especially if Virginia Tech beats Boston College on Oct 25. Everyone is just beating up on each other at this point - however, the teams involved are a few rungs lower on the ladder than the SEC schools. And Georgia Tech might be the most unpredictable school in the country.

There's so much more to talk about, but I'll stop there at the risk of writing a short novel.

I'll fill the Tuesday poll entry with more thoughts and discussion. Send your thoughts from another crazy weekend my way.