WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED AT HALFWAY

There are many interesting twists and turns to the college football world this season. At the half point of the season the cream is starting to rise to the top and some of the same players are still involved as they were last year. Here's a quick look at some of what we have learned so far this season.

Controlling Their Own Destiny

The University of Florida is still the team to beat in college football. They came into the season ranked #1 and have never let go. The meat of their schedule is just now starting to take form and they have passed the first true test by beating LSU on the road. Tim Tebow is nicknamed Superman and his only taste of kryptonite this season came from one of his own offensive lineman.

The Crimson Tide from the University of Alabama are starting to stake their claim as the best team in the SEC or for that matter in the country. They have moved to #2 in the most current rankings and continue to impress on the field with an overwhelming defense and a solid offense. Alabama is positioning itself for a big time showdown in the SEC Championship game that might just decide the National Championship. Bama does have some challenges ahead bit it appears that Coach Nick Saban is setting the Tide on a collision course with Florida.

The #3 Texas Longhorns continue to win football games but are losing ground in the polls and will more than likely find themselves behind Florida and Alabama when the Bowl Championship series standings come out. They have struggled a few time this season but are still undefeated. Undefeated and still losing ground doesn't make any sense but it is happening. They will need a big win this weekend against Oklahoma to leap frog back over Bama and regain the # 2 ranking.

Virginia Tech #4 is not the flashiest team ranked among the top four but coach Frank Beamer has the Hokies winning football games. They seemed to have found an offense and the Bud Foster coached defense is again living up to its reputation. A true test will come this weekend when the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets come to Blacksburg with their wishbone option attack. The Hokies opening day and only loss this season to Bama doesn't look that bad considering the Tide's #2 ranking.

Year in and year out #5 Boise State continues to be the one team outside of a BCS conference that fights it way into a BCS bowl and shows how unfair the system is and how much there is a need for a playoff in major college football. In it's only game this season against a ranked opponent the Broncos took care of business against Oregon. The rest of the schedule for the men in blue is one they should easily win out. They won't be playing for a National Championship but Bronco head coach Chris Peterson will find them playing in a BCS game. Since 2002 the Broncs have compiled an 85-11 record.

The #6 USC Trojans regret losing to an upstart Washington Huskie program. Pete Carroll rolled the dice with a freshmen quarterback and it seems to be paying dividends for the Men of Troy. The Trojans still have a couple of big games coming with Notre Dame this weekend and Oregon in two weeks.

Take away the week two loss to USC and the #7 Ohio State Buckeyes have played some solid ball. They will finish their season though with the toughest part of their schedule in the last three games. They have Penn State #14 on the road, Iowa #11 at home and then will finish the season against Michigan in the Big House.

#8 Cincinnati came into the season un-ranked and have fought their way up to eighth in the polls . Last years Big East champion is looking to repeat. They have a South Florida team this Thursday night on ESPN that comes into the game ranked #21. USF will be playing without Senior QB Matt Groethe who has been lost for the season due to a knee injury. If the Bearcats survive the Bulls only one more formidable challenge remains.,that's against Pitt. Cincy also has a Heisman Trophy candidate in QB Tony Pike.

Getting No Respect

They play in one of the toughest college football conferences outside of the SEC but the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes #11 are getting nothing from pollsters. Even the road win against Penn State has done little to boost the Hawkeyes past eleven. Iowa will have Nov. 14 circled on their calendar, that's when they face Ohio State in the Horseshoe. The Hawkeyes can not look past road trips to Camp Randall to take on Wisconsin and a trip to Michigan State.

TCU finds itself ranked #12 and chances of being a BCS buster are slim to none. Too many teams to jump over this late in the season. The Horned Frogs do have two games remaining against ranked teams with a road trip to Provo to take on #18 BYU and they get a visit from #24 Utah.

One team that still finds itself undefeated and not being mention much is the #17 Kansas Jayhawks. Part of the reason the Jayhawks are not getting mentioned much is because they really haven't beaten anyone yet. They do have some huge games for the program remaining though with match-ups against Oklahoma #20, Nebraska #15 and Texas #3. Not to mention Texas Tech and Mizzou.

PROGRAMS LURKING

It has been a big year for some programs to flex some muscle they once had. # 9 Miami handled a tough four game stretch against ranked teams to start the season at 3-1. #15 Nebraska is trying to make some noise in the Big 12. They will have some tough games coming up against #20 and Oklahoma and #17 Kansas. #25 Notre Dame is finding a way to win and Charlie Weiss is fighting for his job. Irish QB Jimmy Claussen is hot and being mentioned for the Heisman. The Domers don't have a tough schedule this year and a win against USC could go a long way.

There are a few teams that seem to be getting their house back in order Michigan, Texas A&M, Stanford, Auburn, Houston, Washington and South Carolina.

The Wheels on the Bus fell off, off.....off off......off off...The wheels on the bus fell....

Sam Bradford showed why he won a Heisman last year by missing almost the first half of the season. The Sooners have two losses without his leadership and are now looking to ruin some season for some of the contenders.

Mark Richt and the Georgia Bulldogs have laid an egg. Thought to be one of the premier programs in the SEC for this season the loss of Matt Stafford is showing. The "Worlds Largest Cocktail Party" won't be the same.

Coach Jim Tedford is on the hot seat after some devastating losses for his Cal football program. This was a team ranked in the top ten. They'll make a bowl game but not the one they wanted for this year.

Remember when everyone was touting Jevan Snead for the Heisman. Remember when everyone was talking about Ole Miss being a player in the SEC. Yeah, those are some fond memories.

FS-WHO?. The Noles have fallen and fallen hard. Four losses this season at half way and three in a row. Talk of Bobby Bowden being forced out of the program at years end. A lot of controversy surrounding this once great program.

North Carolina. Butch Davis was supposed to be building something in the Tar Heel state. He might well be on the way but the on-field results have shown some more growth is needed especially on the offensive side of the ball.