Real Kato Blog: College Football Recap

Michigan, N.C. State lose again; USC, ND lose. It's a day for losing.

Michigan 24, (#20) Wisconsin 45.. This game was close for a half, but in the end it was the same old story: the defense simply couldn't make stops, and gave up too many big plays. And again, there are so many what-ifs: what if we hadn't roughed the punter, giving Wisconsin new life on a drive that led to its first lead of the game? What if Michigan had used its timeouts near the end of the first half after Wisconsin had first-and-goal, to preserve time for another drive at the end of the half? What if the replay official had made the right call after Brandon Graham had stuffed a goal line dive attempt?

Meh. I guess that wouldn't necessarily have changed the fact that Wisconsin scored on all four of their second half possessions, and chewed up 22:45 of the clock while doing so.

Michigan has one shot left at redemption, against Ohio State, who clinched the Big Ten championship with a win over Iowa. Win, and Michigan probably goes to a bowl game; lose, and even more fair-weather fans will find themselves yearning for the days of Lloyd Carr and his 8-4 seasons.

I was a Lloyd Carr supporter, believe me. I loved his faith in fundamental football and his reverence for Michigan tradition. But now Rodriguez is our coach, and Michigan football is the spread offense, and we're a better offensive team as a result of the transition. The problem with the team is the defense, and you can't blame the void at the safety position on Rodriguez' offensive schemes. And keep in mind, we're still playing with a freshman quarterback. Michigan will continue to improve. Perhaps when Michigan wins the Big Ten title in 2011, the fair-weather fans will return.

N.C. State 23, Clemson 43. N.C. State's season has been oddly similar to Michigan's: an early promising win (against ND for Michigan, against Pitt for NCSU), but then six losses and just one conference victory. Like Michigan, State simply has too many personnel issues to perform on a consistent basis. (Oddly, no one at State is yearning for the days of Mike O'Cain or Chuck Amato.)

State finishes the year against Virginia Tech and North Carolina; they'll be underdogs in both games.

Big Ten

(#11) Ohio State 27, (#10) Iowa 24 (OT). Iowa stormed back from a 14-point deficit to tie the game, only to fail to score in the first overtime period. Ohio State booted a 39-yard field goal to win the game and clinch the Big Ten championship. Ohio State is, strangely enough, going to the Rose Bowl for the first time under Jim Tressel. They'll likely face Oregon.

Top 25

(#4) TCU 55, (#16) Utah 28. TCU has done all they can do to prove they belong in the BCS title game, but unless Florida, Alabama, or Texas suffer a bad upset, they probably won't get there.

(#5) Cincinnati 24, (#25) West Virginia 21. Similar situation as TCU.

Stanford 55, (#9) USC 21. Stanford is playing as well as any team in the country right now. They'll need help to win the Pac 10, but geez... USC probably isn't used to getting shellacked like that.

(#12) Pitt 27, Notre Dame 21. Poor Charlie Weis. Awww.

North Carolina 33, (#14) Miami 24. It's been an up-and-down year for UNC, but they now sport two victories over ranked teams and a solid 7-3 record. Butch Davis has really turned that program around.

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