Mike Kern: Big Ten not in top form

SO, WHAT'S UP with the Big Ten?

In the preseason poll it had five teams in the top 18, starting with No. 8 Michigan. Only the SEC, with five of the top 10, was better represented (the Big 12 had six in the Top 22). Now only Ohio State (14), Michigan State (20) and Nebraska (22) remain.

Blame part of it on Notre Dame, which has beaten MSU, Michigan and Purdue. But that doesn't explain Michigan getting whacked by Alabama, which admittedly 'Bama does to most folks. Or Nebraska giving up 36 points at UCLA. Then there was Wisconsin scoring seven at Oregon State. Of course the Badgers, who lost in the Rose Bowl the last 2 years, have struggled against Northern Iowa, Utah State and Texas-El Paso. Now they go to Nebraska, which they beat 48-17 at home a year ago in the Cornhuskers' conference debut.

At least Minnesota and Northwestern are unbeaten. Or is that the bad news?

Nobody is suggesting the Big Ten was supposed to send someone to the national-title game for the first time since Ohio State got to a third one in 6 years in 2007. But something about this just doesn't feel right.

All we know for sure is Ohio State or Penn State can't win the league thanks to NCAA sanctions. But right now it looks like the Buckeyes and new coach Urban Meyer - who's already made sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller way better - might have the best shot at finishing with the best record, even though they've looked somewhat pedestrian in wins over Central Florida, Cal and Alabama-Birmingham.

This week, Ohio State is on the road for the first time, at Michigan State, before hosting Nebraska. The Buckeyes have won three straight in East Lansing, and six of the last seven, but lost to the Spartans at home last season by a field goal. They lost at Nebraska by a touchdown. In case you're really into thinking ahead, they go to Penn State and Wisconsin but have Michigan at the Horseshoe.

Meyer went to OSU with a singular purpose. He got a ring his second season with Florida. He also was 12-0 in his second year at Utah (2004).

Commissioner Jim Delany probably can't wait. Because it would sure beat whatever the reality is at the moment.

Cobi Hamilton of Arkansas just set an SEC record with 303 receiving yards (on 10 catches). Whose record did he break? Hint: He had an 8-year NFL career, all with one team. See Answer Man.

What do Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz have in common? Well, they won national titles in their third season at Notre Dame. Brian Kelly is 4-0 in his third year there.

After a bye the Irish, in the top 10 for the first time since 2006, get Miami in Chicago. Then they will host Stanford, which has beaten them three straight.

In 1943 Leahy went 9-1 (closing loss at Great Lakes). In 1966 Parseghian was 9-0-1 (tie at Michigan State in next-to-last game). In 1977 Devine and Joe Montana went 11-1 (a second-game loss at Mississippi). And, in 1988 Holtz finished 12-0.

You think NBC will want to keep the marriage going? So who needs Michigan?

If the Heisman Trophy were being decided today, who wins?

Stanford is 3-0 for the third straight year, the first time that's happened since 1970-72.

Arkansas, after losing three straight at home, goes to Texas A & M. The Hogs have won four straight in Texas, three against the Aggies (all in neutral Arlington).

Texas, trying to become nationally relevant again after going 13-12 the last 2 years, has beaten Wyoming, New Mexico and Mississippi. Now, coming off a bye, the Longhorns go to Oklahoma State. Then they host West Virginia, before getting Oklahoma in Dallas. So we should soon know a bunch more.

LSU's Josh Reed had 293 (on 19 receptions) in 2001 against Alabama. As a pro, he had two 100-yard games with the Buffalo Bills, including a career-high 110 in his second game.

BASEBALL'S LOSS was Widener's gain.

Chris Haupt, a Bloomsburg native, spent 3 years in the minor leagues as a catcher, first with the Marlins' organization and later the Blue Jays'. Then he opted to pursue an engineering degree, and maybe play some football. That's how he ended up at Widener, where he's now a 25-year-old quarterback (and 4-year starter) for the 4-0 Pride, who are ranked 18th in Division III and averaging a national-best 65 points a game (12 more than anyone else at their level).

"It was disappointing [giving up baseball], but I wasn't disappointed in myself," said Haupt, 6-1, 235, who has thrown for 20 touchdowns this season (with just two interceptions) and is two shy of the school career record of 72 (Mike Granato, 1996-2000). "I worked hard every day, it just didn't work out. I wish it had turned out differently, but at least I tried."

He threw for 31 scores a year ago, for a 9-2 team. Last week he tied a school record with six, in a 90-0 win over Wilkes that easily set a Middle Atlantic Conference record for points in a game.

He was going to go to Penn State, but by the time he applied it was too late for the next semester. So he ended up in Chester.

"I got antsy," said Haupt, who also sent film to Gannon, Lehigh and Bucknell. "This was just the best fit."

Even if he obviously has some mileage on most of his teammates. "If anything, it helps everyone out," he said. "It's a nice situation. Guys know they can come to me, look up to me, ask me anything. Football related, school related, or even [about] life.

"Obviously I've experienced a lot more than a lot of these kids, especially the freshmen and sophomores. But they keep me young, too, we'll say. Keep me on my toes a little bit . . . The age thing really doesn't come into play too much. I get made fun of some times, but it's all good."

WHAT ELSE IS NEWS?

For the first time, one conference has four teams in the top six. Not shockingly, it's the SEC. Six times before this, someone had four of the top seven. The last time it happened was 2009, when the SEC did it. The Big 12 did it twice in 2008. The others were the Big Ten in 1960 and 1942 (twice).

BIG EAST BIT

Rutgers is the only team in the land with three road wins.

COUCH POTATO

THURSDAY

7:30 Morgan State at North Carolina A&T, ESPNU

9 Stanford at Washington, ESPN

FRIDAY

8 Hawaii at BYU, ESPN

SATURDAY

Noon Buffalo at Connecticut, 6ABC

Noon Penn State at Illinois, ESPN

Noon Minnesota at Iowa, ESPN2

Noon North Carolina State at Florida, ESPNU

Noon Indiana at Northwestern, BTN

Noon Baylor at West Virginia, FX

Noon Penn at Dartmouth, NBCSN

Noon Missouri at Central Florida, FCS

Noon Stony Brook at Army, CBSSN

Noon Arkansas at Texas A&M, WMCN-44.2

12:30 Duke at Wake Forest, CW57

3:30 Tennessee at Georgia, CBS3

3:30 Ohio State at Michigan State, 6ABC

3:30 Clemson at Boston College, ESPN2

3:30 Marshall at Purdue, BTN

3:30 Florida A&M at Southern, NBCSN

3:30 Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati, ESPNU

3:30 Houston vs. Rice, WMCN-44.1

3:30 San Jose State at Navy, CBSSN

4 Arizona State at California, FX

6 Florida State at South Florida, ESPN

6 UCLA at Colorado, Pac-12

7 South Carolina at Kentucky, ESPN2

7 Towson at LSU, ESPNU

7 Texas Tech at Iowa State, FCS

7:30 Texas at Oklahoma State, FOX29

8 Wisconsin at Nebraska, 6ABC

8 Louisville at Southern Mississippi, CBSSN

9:15 Mississippi at Alabama, ESPN

10 Oregon State at Arizona, Pac-12

10:30 Oregon at Washington State, ESPN2