Tide rolling into Texas A&M

IT'S FINALLY here. Alabama at Texas A&M, the rematch. The defending national champions, who haven't lost a road game since November 2010, going to College Station to take on Johnny Football, the first freshman to win a Heisman Trophy, who basically won it by beating the Crimson Tide, 29-24, last November in Tuscaloosa. About the only thing missing is prime time. This one's at 3:30 p.m. on CBS, which feels like some kind of oversight.

The Tide, of course, is trying to win a ring for the fourth time in 5 years, and third straight. Yet the only other time it was the preseason No. 1 in that stretch, 2010, it lost three times. That's one more than it did in 2009, 2011 and 2012 combined. And Alabma only lost two in 2008. So whatever Nick Saban's getting paid, it's not nearly enough.

Of course, a cynic might suggest you could say the same thing about Mr. Manziel.

Alabama had a week off after opening with a 35-10 win over Virginia Tech in Atlanta, where it scored five ways (run, pass, interception, punt return and kickoff). Its other bye is Nov. 2, before the LSU scrum. Funny how that works out. And with Colorado State on deck, the Tide probably won't be thinking ahead.

Saban did lose to Louisiana State, where he once coached, in 2010 and '11. Before that, the last time he lost to the same team in consecutive years at this level was when he was at LSU in 2000-01 (to Florida).

If Alabama gets to 2-0, there's every reason to believe it can be 8-0 going into LSU. And if the Aggies stay unbeaten, they could well be 10-zip heading to LSU on Nov. 23.

But it's more than that. Manziel obviously has become the story line, not always for the right reasons. Despite sitting out those 30 minutes, he's been responsible for seven touchdowns against Rice and Sam Houston State, your two-time defending FCS runner-up. The defense, which will have several suspended starters (violation of team rules) back, has allowed 59 points.

The Aggies haven't lose since last October (home to LSU). Since then, their games have been decided by an average of nearly 26. That includes the five-pointer over 'Bama.

If they beat 'Bama again, Manziel can act however he wants. Not that he needs a permission slip.

The last time Wisconsin had consecutive shutouts, who was its coach? Hints: He was a guard on the Minnesota teams that won national titles in 1934-35. And he took the Badgers to two Rose Bowls (both losses). See "Answer man."

* Central Florida, which has yet to turn it over, has beaten Akron and Florida International, 76-7. Now it goes to Penn State.

* Rutgers has blocked 32 kicks since 2009, most in the nation.

* Houston has given up 26 points, the fewest in its first two games since 1989 (seven).

* Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun has three TDs (interception, two fumble returns). That's one more than the Spartan offense.

* At 2-0, Colorado and first-year coach Mike MacIntyre has doubled its win total from 2012. Boston College (new coach Steve Addazio) and Illinois (second-year coach Tim Beckman), both also 2-0, have matched theirs.

* Penn State is last in FBS in third-down conversions (2-for-26), Notre Dame is 111th in red-zone offense (4-for-7).

* Widener will go for a school-record 15th straight home win Saturday against Lebanon Valley. The record was set in 2000-03.

* Ursinus senior Chris Curran needs 43 more yards to become the school's all-time passing leader. The Bears are at Gettysburg. His career-low is 50, 2 years ago in snow/freezing rain.

* West Chester is ranked in Division II for the first time since October 2010.

Milt Bruhn, who went 7-1-1 in 1958 and 52-45-6 from 1956-66. Hey, office neighbor Ed Barkowitz didn't know who this fellow was, either.