College football’s least Googled searches of 2012

Every year around this time we see reports on the most searched items of the year, according to Google and Yahoo! This year, the folks at Sports Pickle took a different approach by listing some of the least-searched items on Google this season.

Notre Dame was anything but a laughing stock this season, going undefeated with the inspirational story of linebacker and Heisman finalist Manti Te’o. As you might expect when the Fighting Irish go 12-0 in the regular season to clinch a spot in the BCS championship game, we all sort of ran out of reasons to tell any Notre Dame jokes with our friends and online. USC on the other hand…

No Notre Dame jokes to be found here…

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Athlon Round Table: Bill O’Brien or Urban Meyer for B1G Coach of the Year?

Ohio State is 7-0 in the first year under new head coach Urban Meyer. Penn State is off to a 4-2 start as they head to Iowa in the first year under Bill O’Brien. Both new coaches have sparked their programs in times of need on various levels, but which one would be the coach of the year in the Big Ten if the vote was held today?

Athlon Sports asked that question to a round table, which I was happy to participate in. Here is what I had to say…

One of the key factors I like to look at when determining who should be coach of the year is what do they have to work with. At Ohio State Urban Meyer inherited a pretty solid program from top to bottom with a Braxton Miller sitting there waiting to be groomed. At Penn State Bill O’Brien took over a program ripped of its heart and soul and destined for some of the heaviest sanctions the college sports world has seen in a long time, which would lead the team’s star running back, leading receiver and best kicker create their own exit plans in addition to a handful of others to hurt some depth. Both coaches have dealt with some adversity on the football field as well, with Meyer’s defense being shredded by Indiana most recently and with O’Brien’s team dropping the first two games of the season. … Continue Reading

Mid-Term Evaluations: Big Ten

Photo Source: Ohio State Athletics

Is Ohio State the class of the Big Ten? It certainly seems that way with the Buckeyes jumping out to a 6-0 start following their smashing win against Nebraska this past weekend. Urban Meyer has the Buckeyes thinking big once agin, but a postseason ban will mean the fun really starts next season. Regardless, Ohio State is opening some eyes now, and they are scary.

Here is a quick look at how I graded three of the Big Ten Leaders Division teams midway through their season. You can view the full mid-term evaluation for teams that have reached the midway point of their season in the Big Ten on Examiner.com.

OHIO STATE

Record: 6-0, 2-0 Big Ten

This is the best team in the Big Ten right now. The passing game leaves a lot to be desired but quarterback Braxton Miller can hurt opposing teams with his legs, helping lead the Buckeyes to having the 10th best rush attack this season (108th in passing). But of a team can force him to beat them with the pass though, Ohio State may be vulnerable. The Urban Meyer era is off to a loud start in a year the Buckeyes are prohibited from playing in the postseason, but the message has been received loud and clear that these Buckeyes will be a force to reckon with.

Grade: A … Continue Reading

College Football Week 5 Highlights

So many highlights, so little time

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College Football Week 3 Highlights

It is not even October yet and the top two spots in the college football rankings will look like they were copied from last November. With the USC Trojans losing on the road at Stanford Saturday night and with Alabama and LSU blowing away their opposition, the Crimson Tide and Tigers will occupy the top of the polls heading in to week four of the season, with little standing in their way between now and their Game of the Century, 2012 Edition.

If Louisiana Monroe wounded Arkansas last week, then Alabama took the kill shot in a 52-0 victory. LSU let Idaho hang around in the first half but left no doubt who the better team was in the second half of a 63-14 decision. With the Crimson Tide and Tigers flexing their muscles, it looks as though we will have a whole month and a couple of weeks to hype up this year’ meeting in Baton Rouge in early November.

Alabama returns home to play Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss before a bye week. The Crimson Tide then travel to Missouri and Tennessee and have a home game against Mississippi State before meeting LSU. The Tigers have a tougher stretch of games, including three straight games at Florida, home vs. South Carolina, and at Texas A&M but LSU gets a bye week before hosting Alabama. … Continue Reading