22 Jan 11 Observation Station: Around the College Football World in 10 Thoughts (Sept. 19)

The No. 1 NFL prospect? Really?Otto Greule Jr/Getty ImagesWelcome to the first of what will become a weekly article involving the goings-on in college football. Beware: These are rapid-fire, hurry-up observationsyou have no time to change your defense.1. Jake Locker, No. 1 Draft Prospect?Mel Kiper, Jr., St. Louis Rams jersey
needs to reassess his NFL Draft board. After Locker's 4 of 20 performance against Nebraska, Stanford's Andrew Luck and Arkansas' Ryan Mallett, to name two, appear more NFL-ready. The Washington QB may "look the part" and possess the necessary physical tools, but he's no No. 1.2. Dual-Threat QBs Not Named RobinsonMichigan's Denard Robinson receives all the publicity, but speedsters like Nebraska's Taylor Martinez and Nevada's Colin Kaepernick are dominating defenses with their arms and legs. Neither signal caller will win this year's Heisman, but next year...3. "Notre Dame" and "Swiss Cheese" Are SynonymsDayne Crist may prove to be a stud at quarterback, but the Irish will continue their streak of near-.500 finishes unless the defense can tackle...anyone. A week after Wolverine QB Robinson obliterated the ND defense, Michigan State tallied nearly 500 yards. The result: Spartans 34, Irish 31 in overtime.4. Alabama Will Not Lose'Bama's three blowout wins in three games solidifies what many already knew: The Tide will again play in the BCS National Championship Game. Guided by the best running back tandem in the nation and QB Greg McElroy's continued maturationand, of course, the usual stout defenseand it's clear to see why Alabama is a near-unanimous No. 1...a spot the elephant won't relinquish this season.5. Michigan Is Not Quite There...YetAfter a close call against FCS UMass, it's evident that Michigan shouldn't be in the same discussion with Ohio State and Wisconsin. Next season, however, the Wolverines will vie for the Big Ten Tennessee Titans jersey
championship.6. The WAC Is More Than Just Boise StateNevada's dominating 52-31 victory over Cal on Friday proves that the WAC does, in fact, consist of more than just Boise State. What team does this help? Why the Broncos, of course. If Nevada continues to impress, Boise will have three, not just two, quality opponents on its schedule: Virginia Tech, Oregon State, and now the Wolf Pack. What does this mean? That's right, an Alabama-Boise State title game if the Smurfs run the table.7. South Carolina Is for RealWith freshman RB Marcus Lattimore eating up defenses, the Gamecocks can, and will, compete with the likes of Auburn, Florida, and Arkansas (not, however, Alabama).8. LSU Keeps Winning...QuietlyThe Bayou Bengals, largely ignored in favor of the 2010 SEC darlingsAlabama, Arkansas, Florida, and now South Carolinaare 3-0. If QB Jordan Jefferson continues to improve, LSU could crash the SEC party.9. TCU Is Better Than Boise StateBoise State might very well meet Alabama for the National Championship, regardless of TCU's final record. If TCU finishes undefeated and ranked No. 3, it will be a shamethe Horned Frogs are better than Boise State in many areas (defense, most notably). Plus, underrated QB Andy Dalton rivals BSU's Heisman candidate, Kellen Moore.10. The Pistol Offense Is the New Washington Redskins jersey
SpreadThe pistol offense, a single back/shotgun hybrid (mini-shotgun, if you willthe quarterback lines up only four yards behind center), allows dual-threat QBs to run option-type plays. And, like the spread of the early-to-mid 2000s, the formation's popularity is on the rise (see: Nevada 52, Cal 31).That's all for this week. Check back on Sept. 26 for more observations from the wonderful universe of college football.