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Posted 10/26/2007 at 01:30 PM
North Dakota State is not eligible for the postseason this year as the program transitions to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, formerly I-AA). The way the Bison are playing they may want to consider the next jump as they have already defeated two Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, formerly I-A) teams this season, knocking off Minnesota last week. Earlier in the year NDSU crushed a Central Michigan squad that won ten games last year including the Motor City Bowl. Last season NDSU also beat a decent Ball State team in Muncie. The Big Ten might want to look to Fargo rather than continuing the annual speculation that Notre Dame may some day join the conference as the Irish fell to 1-7 with a 38-0 loss last week. Joking aside, Minnesota fans may question why NDSU Coach Craig Bohl was not given more serious consideration (he was interviewed) for the Gophers vacancy last winter.
Former Minnesota Coach Glen Mason has to be smiling with the rough start new Coach Tim Brewster has had after Mason was fired under questionable terms after an embarrassing collapse in the Insight Bowl last year. This year Minnesota’s defense is allowing 533 yards per game, worst of all 119 FBS teams. It may be a long-shot but Bohl might get a look from Nebraska if that position opens up as expected after this season. Bohl is a Lincoln native and he played and coached under the new interim athletic director and legendary Huskers Coach Tom Osborne.
No unexpected changes in the BCS standings but undefeated teams Kansas and Arizona State did gain some ground despite having resumes that lack a great deal of quality competition. Both teams passed significant tests last week and KU may actually have a legitimate shot with Texas and Oklahoma absent from the schedule (until the potential Big 12 championship). The Jayhawks get Missouri at home so KU could conceivably be favored in the remaining five games. ASU has a much tougher road ahead facing Cal, Oregon, UCLA, and USC consecutively. The top two teams, Ohio State and Boston College face very challenging games this week so realistically there could be another major shake-up in the rankings next week.
In the NFL the Patriots continue an unbelievable start to the season. New England was up 42-7 in the first half before letting up a bit in the second half, actually coming close to losing the cover with Miami scoring three second half touchdowns. Last week was the second week on the road coming off a huge win for the Pats. If there was a flat spot situation last week was it and the Patriots did not blink. Enjoy watching this team while we can, it is pretty remarkable. The next two games are tougher though. Good Luck.
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