The first of the top four unbeaten teams, Notre Dame, survived a hell of a scare from Pitt earlier this afternoon, needing three overtimes to fend off the Panthers.
The second of the top four unbeatens, Oregon, won a little more comfortably. The No. 2 Ducks beat No. 18 USC in a Los Angeles track meet, 62-51. There were plenty of big plays. Oregon running back Kenjon Barner rushed for 322 yards and five touchdowns, breaking USC’s opponent record previously held by Penn State’s Curtis Enis. Barner, with over 1,200 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns, should be getting more consideration in the Heisman conversation.
As should USC receiver Marqise Lee, who had roughly 400 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. It still wasn’t enough for the Trojans, though, and Oregon got over its first hurdle in a tough final stretch of regular season games. Oregon should be fine next week on the road at Cal, but then faces a pair of top-25 teams in Stanford and Oregon State. The Ducks will be favored in all three remaining games, but it’s toughest remaining regular season schedule among the top four undefeated teams.
If Oregon can continue to control its destiny, there’s little doubt the BCS computer average will rise to match the voter love for the Ducks.