Before the weekend, all the talk was about who deserved to be Alabama’s opponent in the Bowl Championship Series National Championship game.
There were the Oregon Ducks, whose high-powered offence has been smashing scoring records this season, led by De’Anthony Thomas and freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota.
There was quarterback Colin Klein, the favourite for this season’s Heisman Trophy, who is leading his Kansas State side in the race for second.
Then there was Notre Dame, a team that continues to defy everyone and win, and whose linebacker Manti Te’o will likely be the No. 1 NFL draft pick for 2013.
But that was before the weekend. An unfancied Texas A&M side rolled into Tuscaloosa, before a hostile crowd of 105,000.
In 15 minutes of brilliance in the first quarter by freshman quarterback Johnny ‘Football’ Manziel, they piled on a 20-point lead which Alabama just failed to pull back.
Now rather than scrapping for a single spot with Alabama in the National Championship game, the three sides are looking at the prospect of filling both spots.
But just as it was unforeseeable to see Alabama drop a game, the unpredictability of College Football could see one or more of these sides fall, and Alabama sitting in fourth ready to get back into the mix.
All three have tricky draws to overcome.
Kansas State has the lowly ranked Baylor away and Texas at home. They scraped home by one point over Baylor last season and have lost their last two on the road against them.
Texas can run hot or cold, and if they turn it on they could cause headaches as well. Being the new top-ranked side, Kansas will have a big bullseye on them, and there would be nothing a team like Baylor would like to do more than spoil the party.
Oregon has a tough run home. They play Stanford, and the winner of that could well win their conference. They have the benefit of home turf there, but the local derby where they play Oregon State away could have the capacity for an upset.
Notre Dame comes up against a Wake Forest side which it should handle, and then the big test when it travels to southern California to play a team who was ranked second pre-season. This will be a real litmus test for them.
The season is far from over, and there look like being some brilliant clashes which should keep me happy over the next few Sundays.
Its great to see the NFL stars of the future and the quality of freshman they have going around this year, particularly in the quarterback spot. You will see some amazing talent hit the NFL come 2015.
For the sake of College Football in the US, I hope at least two of these sides remain undefeated, and negate the stranglehold the Southeastern Conference has over the National Championship.
WhatUsername
Roar Rookie
Here's praying that hopefully Bama loses to Georgia in the SEC title game. One can dream!
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
What a day. Notre Dame now in the box seat. Baylor smashed Kansas State and not only wiped their chance of a BCS Championship Game, but Colin Klein might just have lost his grip on the Heisman with 3 intercepts in a big loss and Johnny Football having another big day out. Oregon choked at home at well. Stanford had then done like dinners. Alabama back at #2 spot and I dont think they will blow their chance again. Huge game Notre Dame at USC next week.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
You can also watch every Notre Dame game on Eurosport if you have FOXTEL.
WhatUsername
Roar Rookie
Following Iowa State, I've been able to watch Optimus Klein play a lot. He can function as a purely throwing QB, however his running game, and also his read of the game is pro level ready. Only problem is that he's only played one or two good defenses all year. He won't face a good defense in the next few weeks (Baylor has about the same level of defense as me playing as a corner, and Texas isn't much better) but Ash will challenge K-State. Barkley has proven that he's not that great in what is an at best okay conference, but once again, I wouldn't be surprised if someone like a Dallas or Philly picked him up in the pro draft. And another note about USC: Mark Sanchez went there. Along with a host of look good in college, can't play in pros QB's. I don't think Barkley will cut it.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Interesting re Klein, I haven't read the Pro scouts report on him, fantastic college player but he runs a lot, does he have the arm and the throws for the NFL ? A linebacker going first overall is unheard of in the draft but it comes down to need. I wouldn't write off Matt Barkely going number 1. Despite his and USC's indifferent season Barkely has all the intangibles for an NFL QB and should go top 5. At least he will want to go top 5, if he declared last year he would have been selected 8th by the Dolphins. Former USC QB Matt Leinart was another golden boy out of socal who came back for his senior season and went 10th overall. He would have been 1st pick if he declared after his junior season.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Will be between him and Colin Klein. Depends what the team with the first pick needs. If they need to bolster their defence teo. If they need to bolster their offense Klein.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
KiwiDave, I would be going number 1 overall in the draft. Top 10 yes. As an ND fan I would love it if he went number 1.
Chris Hardiman
Roar Rookie
And if ESPN don't show the Notre Dame game you can watch the games streamed live on NBC's Notre Dame Central Site.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Nice one Kiwidave, I wrote a piece a few weeks back on ND and there shot at going all the way. At this point it's a 3 horse race unless one of them drops a game and Bama are back in the running should they win the SEC champ game.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
You could probably argue about Alabama not playing any high powered offense until Texas A&M rolled into town. The SEC is a very defense orientated league and adding Texas A&M with their offense this season has really shaken up that conference. With a year of college football behind him it will be interesting to see how Johnny Football progresses next season. He has left a lot of the SEC teams shaking their heads on how to counter him
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Actually enjoy watching the College games a lot more than the NFL games. A lot of people probably don't realise the college game over there is bigger than the NFL. You regularly see 100,000+ crowds and the crowds really fire up. Its brilliant the way ESPN now provides around 10 hours of coverage in Aussie on a Sunday morning / arvo.
CB
Guest
Good article. I was looking forward seeing the Oregon O vs Bama D in the championship game. Wouldn't mind seeing ND have a shot, given their history as a powerhouse. It's been a while since they were considered a real threat for the title. Regardless of who plays in the NCG, Bowl week is a great time of year.
RebelRanger
Guest
Hate Notre Dame but Te'o is just too good a story to ignore. Was watching SportCenter this morning and one of the guys was a Notre Dame alumni and was complaining that Oregon and its high powered offense has played NONE of the top 20 defences.
Chris Hardiman
Roar Rookie
Good read Dave. Fans of Rugby who aren't into American football are missing out. So much for Alabama being able to knock off a pro team. Loving the season Notre Dame are having in their 125th anniversary year. Just like the season Celtic FC are having in their 125th anniversary year.