Navy Midshipmen News

USC won't make the BCS. SMU is good, and Temple is better. The national title game should include two unbeaten teams. A lackluster Big East record shows that Jim Leavitt's teams aren't built to last a full season. All sorts of alleged guarantees in college football have failed to come through in 2009. But a few new rules have developed. Here's a peek at a handful:  Rule 1: USF tanks down the stretch Again, the Bulls took an undefeated into October and looked like a Big East title contender.... Again, they tumbled in conference play, capped by a 31-0 tail-kicking against Rutgers on Thursday. Coach Jim Leavitt's program is 16-17 in conference play since joining the league and only once has finished as close as a game out of first place. Rule 2: Rich Rodriguez vs. the fans He almost took the Alabama job. Then he did bail, to Michigan, sparking lawsuits and nasty he said-he said. Then he coached UM to its worst season in decades. Now, he's sitting on a six-game Big Ten losing streak, with the NCAA investigating his program. "The last half of the year has not gone well," Rodrgiuez said on a teleconference. Rule 3: Oklahoma rules at home Despite a four-loss season, the Sooners remain a sure thing at Owen Field. Saturday's thumping of Texas A&M stretched the program's home winning streak to 29 games, longest in Division I-A. Oklahoma State gets the next crack at snapping it on Nov. 28. Rule 4: Here comes Oregon State The Beavers started 2-2 last season and stormed to within a game of the Rose Bowl. Same drill in 2009 -- OSU has won five of six, losing only at USC. Coach Mike Riley said the season turned during an October win over Stanford. "That was probably where the whole team started looking the a whole team, with all three phases," he said on a teleconference. Rule 5: The other Trojans The much-reported Fall of Troy hasn't affected, well, Troy. One more victory would give the guys from Troy, Ala., a fourth straight Sun Belt Conference championship. It might be time to rename the New Orleans Bowl the Larry Blakeney Invitational. Rule 6: "The list of candidate includes East Carolina Coach Skip Holtz..." Get ready for heavy doses of Skip, Louisville and Virginia fans. With his coaching genes and recent winning at ECU, Holtz seems to pop in connection with every major-conference gig east of the Mississippi. He considered Syracuse a year ago, and might listen again this year if schools that fit the geography come calling. Rule 7: Navy = bowl game Supposed talent deficiencies and recruiting disadvantages haven't kept the Mids from reaching seven straight bowls, counting their trip to next month's Texas Bowl. Wins, especially over Notre Dame, must make Annapolis' academic and military rigors more manageable. Rule 8: Another Badger big boy Related Links What We Learned: Coaches losing pull Hot Seat: Constant grief for guys in charge Bowl projections: Curtis sets them all Ron Dayne and Anthony Davis started the trend, and P.J. Hill carried the Badgers for three seasons. Now it's John Clay, the Badgers' 250-pound tailback who leads the Big Ten in rushing. He has produced six games of 120 or more yards and 12 touchdowns. This story appears in Nov. 18's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Top-25 Week 11

They pass the ball about as often as you?ll find a bargain at Annapolis Mall. They're not a member of any conference and you?ll never be able to follow their standout players to the NFL. Nothing about the Navy football team screams ?pay attention to me.?