Weekend Top 25 results

With Auburn's amazing win over Florida and a number of other upsets on Saturday, North Texas' 24-21 victory over Middle Tennessee State might have been lost in the shuffle.

Heading into the game, Middle Tennessee was undefeated (a perfect 5-0), while North Texas was winless (at 0-5). Middle Tennessee is keyed by a high-powered offense that posted 70 points the previous week against Idaho.

Middle Tennessee State may have been peeking ahead to the matchup with Ole Miss.

But things didn't go the Blue Raiders' way Saturday. In the first quarter, star RB Dwone Hicks was sent to the sidelines with a hamstring injury. Prior to going down, Hicks carried the ball four times for 28 yards.

So instead of Hicks and company controlling things, North Texas managed to pick up the first downs and limit possessions for the Blue Raiders' attack.

Turnovers were a major problem for the Blue Raiders. They coughed the ball up three times, and QB Wes Counts threw an interception. With the loss, Middle Tennessee State's hopes of winning the Sun Belt championship come down to the game at Murfreesboro against New Mexico State on Oct. 27.

LOOKING AHEAD TO OLE MISS?
Fresh off an upset victory over Alabama on Saturday, Ole Miss plays host this week to Middle Tennessee State.

The Blue Raiders may have been peeking ahead to this matchup, causing a lack of focus in their loss to North Texas. The Rebels, on the other hand, have to guard against a letdown in the wake of their impressive come-from-behind upset over the Crimson Tide.

In the win over Alabama, Ole Miss QB Eli Manning demonstrated why he is regarded as a potential superstar. The third-year sophomore connected on a number of clutch throws, while sophomore WR Chris Collins (eight receptions, 110 yards) continued to make his mark as one of the elite young receivers in college football.

After being a quiet 3-1 with victories over Murray State, Kentucky and Arkansas State (and a loss to Auburn), the Rebels and David Cutcliffe really needed this kind of statement game.

FOSTER, THOMAS KEY UNBEATEN BRUINS
Not only is UCLA 5-0 and fresh off a dominating performance against previously unbeaten Washington, but the Bruins are proving with each passing week that they are legitimate national-championship contenders.

DeShaun Foster delivered a Heisman Trophy-type performance against the Huskies, setting a UCLA record with 301 yards rushing on 31 carries (the third-highest rushing total in Pac-10 history). Foster's four rushing TDs tied a school record. For the year, Foster has rushed for 813 yards in just five games, averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

Another key offensively has been the efficient play of QB Cory Paus. The last time he threw an interception was last season on Nov. 11.

On the injury front, the Bruins' leading receiver, Brian Poli-Dixon, could be out for three weeks due to a dislocated left shoulder he sustained Saturday. Moving into the starting lineup in his place will be third-year sophomore Ryan Smith. Considered a possession receiver, Smith (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) didn't catch a pass last season and has five receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown this season. Now, though, Smith will be asked to produce opposite Tab Perry.

Defensively, the Bruins have been suffocating, keyed by the awesome performance of senior MLB Robert Thomas. Rugged and tremendously instinctive, Thomas (6-1, 230) currently leads the Pac-10 at 10.2 tackles per game. He has recorded 51 stops this season, 16 tackles for loss and four sacks. Thomas dominates the action like Ray Lewis does with the Ravens. Make sure you check out my new top 25 senior board Wednesday. Thomas is definitely a player on the rise.

This week, the Bruins face winless California at the Rose Bowl, then begin a challenging four-game stretch: at Stanford and Washington State on back-to-back weeks before returning home to face Oregon. After the Ducks, UCLA plays USC.

BADGERS' COMEBACK STUNS BUCKEYES (AGAIN)
Two years ago, Wisconsin trailed Ohio State 17-0, then dominated in the second half while rolling to a 42-17 victory highlighted by Ron Dayne's four touchdowns.

Could history repeat itself? Absolutely! The Badgers, after struggling in a win against Western Kentucky and being dominated by Indiana the previous two weeks, again trailed Ohio State 17-0 late in the first half Saturday. But keyed by a 23-yard TD scamper by Anthony Davis with just 46 seconds left in the first half, Wisconsin was able to gain momentum heading into the locker room.

The Badgers proceeded to take over in the final 30 minutes and pulled out a 20-17 victory. Wisconsin limited the Buckeyes to just 62 yards of total offense in the second half, including minus-4 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, the Badgers' offense generated 207 yards in the second half, keyed by Davis (26 carries, 103 yards), QB Brooks Bollinger (202 yards passing) and WRs Nick Davis (six catches, 90 yards) and Lee Evans (three, 92).

Defensively, highly regarded senior DT Wendell Bryant delivered a solid overall effort (two QB hurries and a pair of tackles for loss). But the standout performer was senior CB Mike Echols. At 5-9 and 175 pounds, Echols was all over the field: 11 tackles (eight solo), three stops behind the line of scrimmage, two sacks, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and a QB hurry.

The Badgers, now 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, have a tough task this week, traveling to Champaign to face Illinois. With the Big Ten wide open and balanced throughout, Wisconsin is now in the thick of the conference-championship race.