No changes in BCS top five

The new BCS standings were just released on Fox. As expected, no change.

1. Texas .998

2. Alabama .949

3. Penn State .925

4.Oklahoma

5. USC

Charles Davis said it will be difficult for both Texas and ‘Bama to run the table. Jimmy Johnson said Texas will run the table, ‘Bama won’t.

About the Nittany Lions….the bad rap the Big Ten has will hurt the Nittany Lions, but both agreed there is no way a one-loss team will be in front of them.

Ohio State: The day after

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Some thoughts from the day after, really the early, way too early morning after Penn State’s 13-6 defeat of No. 9 Ohio State.

It seems as thought each week someone in the secondary is going to step up and make plays. We’ve now seen Mark Rubin, Lydell Sargeant, Drew Astorino and to a degree Anthony Scirrotto all have a say in a key play one way or another. A.J. Wallace, paging A.J. Wallace.

Astorino is going to be really good by the way.

Here’s some thoughts on the win….look fans who are disturbed that the Nittany Lions went to a more controlled passing attack and conservative play calling, consider this. They tried getting the ball downfield more, but Daryll Clark had little if any time, and honestly, you are going to have to win games in all areas of your team.

That means special teams, defense, running, passing, kicking, play-calling. The offense has done it the majority of the season, defense takes its turn here and there. Like Purdue, like the second half of Michigan, like last night.

Cherish the win, quit worrying about the (lack-of) offense last night. They were fine.

Where was Todd Boeckman?? You know, the quarterback that directed a run at the national title last season for the Buckeyes? I got the feeling that Boeckman might have provided some of the poise that Paterno talked about his team having late in the game.

I guess the tricky spot is that if Jim  Tressel pulled Terrelle Pryor after the fumble that would send the wrong message. But what type of message did it send his team pulling the guy that got them a Big Ten title and national title game spot last year in favor of Pryor? Its not like this team had to rebuild.; They returned five guys who are going to get drafted in the higher rounds for sure. You can’t help injuries, they happen, but why not Boeckman at some point last night just to give PSU a different look? Ohio State wasted a play each possession and you have to wonder if that would have been different with the veteran Boeckman in there?

Clark has what’s called a “head injury” and if I were a betting man would think that he’d probably sit out had the Lions had to play next week at Iowa. As it is that game will be a trap game regardless. Iowa’s defense is getting better, plus you have to wonder how this team could handle more pressure should, say, Texas’ brutal schedule finally take its toll and the ‘Horns lose to Texas Tech bumping PSU up one notch. Not saying I am picking the Red Raiders, but I’m picking the Red Raiders. It has to catch up with Texas at some point.

The bounces are going Penn State’s way, and that is also something that hasn’t been said in a long time.

Paterno said during his postgame he is going to have his leg checked out this week sometime. And despite the bye week it’s expected some players will meet with the media at various points. Paterno will not have his weekly teleconference, rather he will still participate in the Big Ten conference call with reporters on Tuesday afternoon. So Tuesday will be the only time we hear from Joe and any possible update on the hip/leg/knee/whatever it is.

Here’s today’s links.

AN UNLIKELY HERO EMERGES | DEVLIN DOESN’T MISS A BEAT | PSU NOTEBOOK