OSU is 7-0 against the Cougars all-time.
Game Day will be in Columbus for this one - it’s big.

WASHINGTON STATE (2-0)
Strength: Senior Jason Gesser’s 2001 totals fourth on WSU’s single season passing and total offense lists, which puts him with Ryan Leaf, Drew Bledsoe, and Rosenbach. Top of Heisman list somewhere between #4 and #8 right now.

Favorite target in the two games this season has been Devard Darling - FSU transfer… twin brother of departed DeVaughn Darling. Mike Bush is NationalChamps.net AA. Bush has received preseason hype.

The Cougar defense is giving up 300.0 yards of offense/game, 220.5 yards of which have come through the air.

IT’S WHAT’S UP FRONT THAT COUNTS: WSU returns four of five starters on OL and three of four on the DL, prompting preseason publications to take notice.

TRUFANT GRABS NINTH INTERCEPTION: Marcus Trufant intercepted pass against Idaho - nine career thefts. Needs to step up this week big time.

DUNNING SETS RECORD: Sophomore Drew Dunning is Groza Candidate - hit 18 of 22 FGs in 2001.

OHIO STATE (2-0)
- 2ND Year coach Jim Tressel from Youngstown State
- Defensive leaders - LBs right now with Kevin Perry and Matt Wilhelm (and safety Mike Doss). Senior Doss is two time All-American. Make it three.

STRENGTH: 3-Headed monster at RB. Freshman tailback Maurice Clarett leads Big Ten in scoring -15 points/game. RB’s are deep with Maurice Hall and Lydell Ross. But Maurice has been the man as anyone watching could plainly see. Mr. Ohio Football last year. Also last year’s USA Today high school offensive player of the year, rushed for 175 yds and three TDs in opener against Texas Tech. 230-pound TB.

Unbelievable Receivers - Chris Vance, Michael Jenkins, Chris Gamble…NC.net top 5 unit ranking

Buckeyes’first two games, junior QB Krenzel has completed 23 of 28 passes.
6-4, redhead - has not been intercepted this year and has completion percentage of 82%. Receiver have a lot to do with that.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Intriguing Match-up…
Two high powered offenses face two solid defenses. Both teams averaging over 40 points and 440 yards on offense and both averaging 7.0+ yards per play.

*Key match-up: WSU LIMITS LONG RUNS: For the second straight week WSU has not allowed run of more than 18 yds - going to get tested. Krenzel descent QB for OSU, but not quite championship caliber yet - the RB’s have made life real easy for him.

I underrated OSU in December, and slowly moved them up during the spring and summer as I learned more. Tressel’s great recruiting classes are shining through in just his second year. Like OSU in this one simply because game is in Horseshoe of Columbus. We’ll see, but definitely a very intriguing match-up (Maybe most intriguing all weekend). Huge as far as who moves on to the national race.

- 50th anniversary of this in-state matchup, Iowa leads overall series 33-16.
- Iowa State is seeking fifth straight win over the Hawkeyes.
- Seneca Wallace Factor – JUCO transfer from Sacramento City.
** SENECA WALLACE 2002 STATS
5 TD’s, he is averaging 259 yards a game, and is the teams third leading rusher.
- Heisman Candidate, why he is not listed with the top candidates right now is beyond me.
- Scouting report - a deadly accurate arm, not just a running QB.

IOWA (2-0)
- Senior Iowa QB Brad Banks: 23 of 35 with no interceptions so far. From Belle Glade, FL.
- Junior RB Aaron Greving (GREV-ing) should be back - missed first two games with ankle sprain.
- Junior RB Fred Russell over 100 yards in first two games while filling in.
- Senior LB Fred Barr leads defense with 18 tackles.
- Allowed only 81 rushing yards in first two games.
- One of the biggest strengths is OL, not yielded a sack yet in 2002
- Iowa advantage in kicking as Nate Kaeding (KAY-ding) has converted his 8 straight FG attempts.

IOWA STATE (2-1)
- Biggest surprise has been OL, big question mark heading into season, especially after losing starting G Luke Vander Sanden for half the year.
- ISU has a solid secondary, all first and second starters on the depth chart back except for Adam Runk from a year ago.
- Interesting side note: Dan McCarney coached at Iowa for 13 seasons in the 1980’s and was an assistant with Kirk Ferentz.

FINAL THOUGHTS
ISU has outscored its opponents 120-16 over 10 quarters ... Iowa State’s offensive average of 467 yards per game through the first three games is the best start in school history.

I know the game is at Iowa, but I honestly feel Iowa State is one of the big surprise teams of 2002 and will be when all is said and done. They had back-to-back bowl seasons while playing in one of the nation’s best conferences…the Big 12. Iowa is still trying to find an identity since the departure of Hayden Fry. Coach Kirk Ferentz has gone 7-5, 3-9, 1-10 in those 3 seasons. This is Iowa’s best team since Coach Ferentz arrived. In-state battles are generally close, but I just think Seneca Wallace provides the edge right now. Close but take Iowa State and the 3.5 points.

Maryland is ACC defending champion which if it sounds odd, is. FSU owned league since entering in1992.

MARYLAND (1-1)
Terps have major problem right now in that most inexperienced positions are in the most important skills…QB and RB. There is talk of last season’s sensation Jr. Bruce Perry coming back at RB for this one after missing Orange Bowl last year, spring game, and first two games. He won’t make a difference if he even plays at all.

Biggest problem: bottom line is Friedgen’s QB- offense based on the option. QB is Friedgen’s pride and joy. Has to be hurting that neither soph QB (Chris Kelly or Scott McBrien) can run the option or read the field for passing success. Both will play. They are very young. No more Shaun Hill (Minn. Vikings).
*This is your difference right here.

Defensively Maryland has been gritty. EJ Henderson is oneman tackling machine, but I have reservations about Terp’s secondary, which got scorched last season by FSU.

FLORIDA STATE (2-0)
The big news out of FSU has been 253 lb TB Greg Jones. (Picture on NC.net).
Career high against UVA 173 yds. FSU 397 rushing total in that game. My judgement is that Jones splits early after this year to the NFL. He is that tremendous.

Practically an All-senior OL group. Huge in size.

Typical receivers…athletic, can burn you deep

Rix disappointing somewhat so far. His numbers have dropped first two games. Has to do with FSU running the ball so much and what defenses have been giving. Defenses trying to stop the deep balls, dropping 5-8 men at times.

FSU D strong against the rush.

FINAL THOUGHTS
The question with FSU has been a lackluster pass defense, last year and so far this season. To beat FSU need to throw the football. With opposing QB’s still to come (such as Dave Ragone, Ken Dorsey, Rex Grossman, Philip Rivers), FSU soon has their hands full. To beat FSU, you need to throw it…Maryland doesn’t excel in that area. A blow out.

When FSU comes out on the field and sees 2002 ACC Championship Banner hanging above entrance for both teams, things will get heated. Seen it living in Baltimore and it is a strange site.

On paper this game spells blowout city. Teams just do not match up. But then again, Maryland as ACC champions doesn’t spell right on paper, why you play the game.

ACC did not catch up with FSU last year, but FSU caught up with the ACC and played down. 8-4 season…blowouts to Miami and Florida…come on.

- Nebraska on the road for the first time this season.
- First meeting between schools since 1983 - 12th time overall.
- PSU 6-5 advantage, including 4-1 edge at Happy Valley.

NEBRASKA (3-0)
Following the lead of Tom Osborne, Coach Solich is own offensive coordinator, calling plays.

Nebraska has won eight straight games against Big Ten Conference foes.

?Punt Returns... Groce 10 punts for 251 yards first two games, remarkable 25.1 average, eighth in the nation.

Junior QB Jammal Lord is charged with difficult task of replacing departed Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch as Husker signal caller. Against Arizona State, Lord made a strong debut leading the Huskers to a 48-10 victory - Rushed for 103 yds. When comparing Lord with 2002 Heisman winner, Lord has size advantage - Crouch stood 6-1, 200 and Lord 6-2, 220. Coach Solich said Lord has great scrambling abilities.

Senior I-back Dahrran Diedrick latest in long line of outstanding Husker RBs. Diedrick was the Big 12’s leading rusher a year ago with 1,299 yards.

Senior SE Wilson Thomas go-to-player in Husker attack this season.

Defensive, Nebraska lost NT Jason Lohr and big DB Willie Amos *could be a big difference in this one.

PENN STATE (1-0)
Idle last week after beating UCF

Offensively, sophomore quarterback Zack Mills leader of the attack. Opened 2002 campaign by throwing for 194 yards and two
TDs against Central Florida.

Starting TB Larry Johnson leads PSU ground attack. Against Central Florida, rushed for 92 yards on 18 carries. Johnson also led PSU in receiving, grabbing four passes for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Wide receiver Bryant Johnson and Tony Johnson give Mills goto weapons.

Defensively, Penn State led by senior DT Jimmy Kennedy, who has earned preseason All-America recognition from several publications. FS Shawn Mayer PSU’s top returning tackler.

FINAL THOUGHTS
A huge game for both squads as a loss means certain question for media and fans. Both teams want to prove something. Penn State needs to prove two year drought is over and Top 25 slot is legit. Nebraska needs to prove they reloaded after abnormal low preseason rankings. Mills is a better QB than Lord in passing and this gives PSU a distinct advantage. Jammal Lord needs to prove himself against a top 25 team, this is his big chance. TOs play a huge roll Saturday. I like Penn State in the so-called upset this week under the lights of Beaver Stadium. Zach Mills is the difference. But Nebraska has a huge edge in game experience - played 3 games already to PSU’s one.

Interesting note: Arizona State blasted UCF last week 46-13. Penn State slipped by UCF 27-24. Nebraska whipped Arizona State. Don’t make anything of this - emotions will be running at full throttle.