Runaway victories solidify their place in national title chase
Technically, neither No. 10 Oregon nor No. 3 Texas ever really left the Bowl Championship Series national title chase. Sure, the Ducks lost their first game of the season to Boise State, but one-loss teams from automatic BCS-qualifying conferences have advanced to the championship game several times. The Longhorns and their supposed Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback were unimposing for much of the season's first two months, yet they remained undefeated all the while.
Still, not until Saturday night did both squads emphatically remind college football followers why they deserve considerable mention in any national title game discussion. Oregon beat No. 4 Southern California worse (47-20) than any opponent has since 1997. Texas tossed aside No. 13 Oklahoma State, also by 27 points (41-14).
"We want to be the best team in the country," Texas Coach Mack Brown told reporters. "And we want to continue to play like that."
The Longhorns entered Halloween weekend undefeated last season, as well, but exited with a six-point loss at Texas Tech. The defeat kept Texas out of the Big 12 title game and all but ended its national championship hopes. Placed into nearly the same scenario again this year, the Longhorns responded much differently. Texas scored 28 points off five Oklahoma State turnovers.
The Longhorns are operating efficiently on defense, which has eased the stress on quarterback Colt McCoy to make every throw perfect. McCoy threw for 171 yards and a touchdown, an adequate performance. For the first time all season, he did not throw an interception. That McCoy has realized he no longer needs to be outstanding actually may be making the Texas offense more effective.
Oregon, on the other hand, would prefer its quarterback continue to execute at his torrid pace. Against a USC defense that entered the weekend ranked No. 16 in the country in fewest yards of total offense allowed per game, Jeremiah Masoli threw for 222 yards and ran for 164 more as the Ducks tallied 613 yards against the Trojans.
"It was just an overloaded ballgame by them," USC Coach Pete Carroll told reporters. "Masoli was ridiculously effective. We really had our chances to make things happen, but we couldn't tackle them in the backfield. The runs that he popped whether scrambles or by design just broke our back."
USC has two losses and has been all but eliminated from the title hunt. The Ducks, meantime, have won seven straight since the opening loss to Boise State and may receive another weapon for their arsenal in the coming weeks.
Running back LeGarrette Blount was suspended for the season after punching a Boise State defensive end as he left the field following the loss to the Broncos. But Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott was in attendance Saturday night, and he told reporters he would remain in Eugene to discuss a possible reinstatement with Blount and Oregon officials.
Source: Washington Post
