Mike Kern: College Football Wrap

PLAYERS OF THE WEEKEND

NATIONAL

South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore carried 40 times for a career-best 212 yards and three touchdowns in an historic, 36-14 win at Florida that clinched the Southeastern Conference East Division title.

LOCAL

Chris Haupt threw an 11-yard scoring pass to Michael Penna (Roman Catholic) on the last play, then ht Cedric Clayton for the two-point conversion as Widener (5-5) upset Delaware Valley (8-2), the eighth-ranked team in Division III, 28-27, on the road.

AROUND TOWN

PENN 34, HARVARD 14.

At Franklin Field, the Quakers (8-1, 6-0) left no doubts.

For the second straight year, they are the best team in the Ivy League. The Crimson (6-3, 4-2) had been picked as the preseason favorite.

The Quakers have clinched at least a co-championship, their eighth in 18 seasons under Al Bagnoli. This is the third time they've won back-to-back in that span. They can get an outright title by finishing with a win at Cornell (2-7, 1-5) on Saturday. They also can be the undisputed champs if Harvard beats Yale (7-2, 5-1) at home.

Too bad they can't go to the FCS playoffs. But the Ancient Eight is often nothing if not archaic.

Anyway, it was 10-0 at the half and 27-0 after three quarters.

The Crimson had 132 more yards, and 192 more via the pass (Penn saw the need to throw just 12 times, completing four). It hardly mattered.

The Quakers blocked a field goal when it was still a three-point game. They had three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Andrew Samson kicked two field goals to become the program's all-time leader in three-pointers.

Brandon Colavita rushed for 122 yards (and two TDs) on 17 attempts, both career highs.

Good thing the Quakers had to go with two freshmen quarterbacks this season after senior Keiffer Garton couldn't make it all the way back from offseason knee surgery. Or else they might have really dominated.

See you in Ithaca.

NEW HAMPSHIRE 31, VILLANOVA 24

Two weeks ago the defending national champs, who've been playing without Matt Szczur since late September, would have moved up to No. 1 had they not been upset at Rhode Island on Nov. 6. And now, they're another loss away from not making the playoffs.

The Wildcats (6-4, 4-3 Colonial Athlatic Association) close out at No. 1, once-beaten Delaware, which they've beaten four straight. And they probably will have Szczur, although who knows how effective he and his right ankle will be.

They'd beaten No. 17 New Hampshire (6-4, 4-3) by 39 here in last December's NCAA quarterfinals.

Villanova, which was ranked ninth, never led. Yet after driving 79 yards in just under a minute, they had the ball at the UNH 5 with 19 seconds showing. Then Chris Whitney, who's been playing hurt, was sacked and lost the ball on a fumble.

It was 24-17 after 30 minutes, the first time in 5 years that Villanova had given up that many points to an FCS team in a half.

It's the first time the Wildcats have lost two straight since 2006. The last time they lost three in a row was the last three in 2005, which was also the last time they lost to Delaware. It was also their first home loss in 25 months, and second in their last 25 games on the Main Line.

Did we mention they've never made the playoffs 3 consecutive years?

The Wildcats dominated the stat sheet. They also had two early turnovers deep in their end, which only cost them three points. And midway through the third period they turned a first-and-goal from the 9 into a 40-yard field goal try that got blocked. It set up the TD that put UNH back up by 14.

See you in Newark.

FRAUD FIVE

-- Utah: It's OK to lose at Notre Dame, even if the Irish had dropped 11 straight against ranked opponents going back 4 years. But scoring only a field goal? That's 75-10 the last 2 weeks, if you're counting.

-- Florida: It's OK to lose to your former coach, even at home. But the Gators had three first downs and 67 yards through three quarters. Good thing they took the opening kick back all the way. Too bad the Steve Spurriers scored the next 29.

-- Penn State: OK, just the second half. Hey, the Nits weren't supposed to win out there. Still, 35-0 over those last 30 minutes was fairly hard to digest.

-- Illinois: Shouldn't be losing to Minnesota, especially at home.

-- Oregon State: Shouldn't be losing to Washington State anywhere.

IT'S DOWN TO THIS

Oregon and Auburn each have two more opportunities to lose. Boise State and Texas Christian need one or both of them to hiccup.

For a while it looked like both might. But Oregon got by at Cal, by the very non-Oregon score of 15-13, with the help of a missed field goal (after a make was nullified by a penalty). And Auburn and Cam Newton beat Georgia by 18 after trailing by 14 early.

Oregon and Auburn are both off next week. Oregon has Arizona at home on a Friday night, before finishing at Oregon State. Auburn is at Alabama on a Friday, then gets South Carolina in the SEC title game. So, how many times in recent years have we seen the BCS get blown up in the final week or 2? Just a reminder.

DID YOU NOTICE?

-- South Carolina had been 0-for-12 at Florida, and had only beaten the Gators once at any venue since 1939.

-- Oregon's previous low-point total this season was 42 against Arizona State on Sept. 25. But the Ducks did hold on to the ball for the final 9 minutes, 32 seconds.

-- Wisconsin's 83 points was the most by any Big Ten team since 1950 (Ohio State, 83-21, over Iowa).

-- Penn State has had six interceptions returned for TDs in its last seven games against Ohio State.

-- Alabama scored on three consecutive offensive plays in the second quarter, covering 45, 78 and 56 yards.

-- Oklahoma State won at Texas for the first time since 1944. The Cowboys have won four consecutive road games in the same season for the first time since 1985.

-- Florida lost to an SEC East opponent for the first time in 17 games. The Gators have lost three in a row at home for the first time since 1989.

-- James Madison only threw one pass (incompletion) in beating the No. 1 team in FCS, William & Mary, 30-24. The Dukes, who scored on a blocked punt, rushed for 226 yards on 48 carries.

1. Oregon (10-0).

Beat Cal, 15-13.

Next: Nov. 26, vs. Arizona. Dee-fense.

2. Auburn (11-0).

Beat Georgia, 49-31.

Next: Nov. 26, vs. Auburn. Lost at Alabama 2 years ago, 36-0.

3. Boise State (9-0).

Beat Idaho, 52-14.

Friday: vs. Fresno State. Beat Fresno by 17 last year, by 51 at home in 2008.

4. Texas Christian (11-0).

Beat San Diego State, 40-35.

Next: Nov. 27, at New Mexico. Not much Frogs can do now but wait.

5. Louisiana State (9-1).

Beat Louisiana-Monroe, 51-0.

Saturday: vs. Mississippi. Has lost two straight to Ole Miss.

6. Stanford (9-1).

Beat Arizona State, 21-17.

Saturday at Cal. Cal has won 7 of the last 8 meetings.

7. Wisconsin (10-1).

Beat Indiana, 83-20.

Saturday: at Michigan. Haven't won at Michigan since 1994.

8. Ohio State (9-1).

Beat Penn State, 38-14.

Saturday: at Iowa. Has won 11 of last 12 against Iowa.

9. Nebraska (9-1).

Beat Kansas, 20-3.

Saturday: at Texas A&M. Lost last game with A&M, in 2007, 36-14.

10. Alabama (8-2).

Beat Mississippi State, 30-10.

Saturday: vs. Georgia State. Will try not to look ahead to Iron Bowl.

11. Michigan State (9-1).

Idle.

Saturday: vs. Purdue. Will try not to look ahead to Penn State.

12. Oklahoma State (9-1).

Beat Texas, 33-16.

Saturday: at Kansas. Lost to Kansas by 15 in last meeting, in 2007.

13. Arkansas (8-2).

Beat Texas-El Paso, 58-21.

Saturday: at Mississippi State. Has won 10 of 11 vs. Miss. St., but lost there in 2008.

14. Missouri (8-2).

Beat Kansas State, 38-28.

Saturday: at Iowa State. Hasn't lost to Iowa State since 2006.

15. South Carolina (7-3).

Beat Florida, 36-14.

Saturday: vs. Troy. How 'bout the old Ball Coach?