Last week after Oklahoma lost, I jokingly tweeted that the Big 12 had been eliminated from the College Football Playoff already in early September. It was a throwback to Clay Travis’ tweet about the Big Ten being eliminated in 2014. You might remember that Ohio State later made it into the playoff and subsequently became the national champions; college football is anything but predictable.

The Big 12 is down to three undefeated teams (Baylor, West Virginia, Texas) after only two weeks. Oklahoma State dropped out of AP Top 25 after a controversial loss to Central Michigan, while TCU lost to Arkansas in double overtime.

Bottom line - the Big 12 looks as weak as it has in a long time.

Alabama rolled over Western Kentucky 38-10 and after the game Nick Sabin did his usual angry cyborg bit, complaing, "I don't know that I've ever been this disappointed after winning a game, maybe ever." The regular media loves quotes like this and his ass-chewing of Lane Kiffin before the game was over, but the behavior from Saban seems to be tedious.

The Dallas Cowboys were on a tear around the same time Nebraska was winning heavily in the 90s. When the Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX in 1996 they became the first team to win three Lombardi trophies over four years. Everyone was excited when the Cowboys won their first Super Bowl of that set. As they went on winning everyone stopped being excited and started hating them with a passion. The same thing happened to Nebraska.

I remember Emmitt Smith saying about it “Everyone loves a new champion”.

Alabama is winning at a level that exceeds what Nebraska and the Cowboys were in those days. It’s gotten boring for everyone else except Bama fans.

Elsewhere, Georgia struggled with Nicholls, winning 26-24, while Clemson barely beat Troy 30-24. Both suffered significant drops in the AP poll.

The top-heavy Big Ten saw Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa crush their opponents. Nebraska ultimately destroyed Wyoming, while Minnesota dominated Indiana State. Indiana won, as did Rutgers, but Penn State faltered against rival Pitt, and Illinois, Northwestern, and Purdue were pretty awful. Northwestern’s offense is a special sort of horrific and Purdue… well, Ross El’s defense gave up 512 yards.

Mike Riley's Nebraska Cornhuskers will provide a major test for the Ducks: Issues & Answers | OregonLive.com

After a transitional season, coach Mike Riley appears to have the Huskers in sync. Or if not, close enough. I don't think Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong is a perfect fit for what Riley and offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf want to do. But his ability to make things happen with with his feet brings another dimension to the offense.

Canzano: Opening a can of A-Z as the Oregon Ducks head to Nebraska | OregonLive.com

Nebraska awaits, but first, some A-Z analysis on where Oregon has been and is going next.

Big Ten

Cincinnati 38, Purdue 20: The Death Knell for Darrell Hazell - Hammer and Rails

The Darrell Hazell era is over and has been a spectacular failure.

Wisconsin football: Badgers move up to No. 9 in AP Top 25, No. 12 in coaches poll - Bucky's 5th Quarter

A look at the Top 25 from the media and the coaches.

Minnesota Football vs Indiana State: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - The Daily Gopher

The Gophers dominated the Sycamores, but have a few things to clean up during their bye week

Indiana is 2-0 with room for improvement. I’ll take it. - The Crimson Quarry

As it enters an early bye week, the Hoosier football team is right where it needs to be.

Five Thoughts After Rutgers First Win Of The Season - On the Banks

Chris Ash’s home debut at Rutgers did not go exactly as planned. After a terrible start that put Rutgers down 14-0 early in the first quarter, the team fought back to go into halftime tied, but...

THE DAY AFTER: Iowa 42, Iowa State 3 - Black Heart Gold Pants

What went right and what went wrong against the Cyclones?

Game Balls: Michigan’s standouts from the 51-14 win over UCF - Maize n Brew

We take a look at standout performances in all three phases of the game in the Wolverine victory.

Maryland football easily handled FIU. Will the Terps do the same at UCF? - Testudo Times

Our weekly outlook on the Terps.

Elsewhere

Virginia Tech falls 45-24 by fumbling away their chances. - Gobbler Country

You want fumbles? We’ve got fumbles. Fumbled snaps, fumbled passes, a game completely fumbled away. Hopefully this is cleared up before the season is fumbled away with it.

Tennessee 45 Virginia Tech 24: The Stage - Rocky Top Talk

After coming up short in big early season games in the past, Butch Jones and the Vols answered an early challenge from Virginia Tech with an emphatic victory at Bristol.

This was disappointing. I wanted a TN loss. I wanted a SEC loss. Didn’t happen. Dammit.

Big 12, MAC suspend all 10 Oklahoma State-Central Michigan officials - Cowboys Ride For Free

All eight field officials for Saturday's game between Central Michigan and Oklahoma State have been suspended by the Mid-American Conference, while two replay officials have been suspended by the Big 12. Each suspension will last two games.

Note that the Big 12 replay officials could have overturned the additional play, but they did not. Hence, suspension.

Clemson is in a Bad Place - Shakin The Southland

What is going wrong for the Clemson Tigers??

College football player punches referee, arrested after game - CBSSports.com

The referee went down hard while trying to break up a verbal altercation

Then There's This