College Football Week 3

5 things we've learned so far.

1. The SEC is still atop the polls.
After two weeks of the college football season the SEC is still flexing its muscle. Four out of the top ten teams in the latest rankings reside in the South Eastern Conference. #1 Alabama looks poised to play in the BCS title game barring a slip-up November 3rd against #2 LSU. The Tigers could book their ticket to Miami if they can knockoff the Crimson Tide in a game that should decide the SEC West, and most likely the conference. Georgia sits at #5 and the favorite to represent the East in Atlanta for the annual SEC championship game. #7 South Carolina will be a factory for that spot but their road is a lot tougher with LSU and #14 Florida in back to back weeks, and both on the road. The Gators may be the team that disrupts things as they look better than expected coming off a big win against Tennessee.

2. The Pac-12 hopes for a BCS title rest with Oregon.
Another year, another loss to Stanford for USC. The Trojans had there sights set on a national championship run and QB Matt Barkley was leading the Heisman race but Saturday changed all that. Barkley had costly turnovers and now USC is on the outside looking in with a showdown with Oregon looming. Not to mention games against #19 UCLA and #22 Arizona that now seem much more dicey. Oregon on the other hand has put on an offensive clinic in the first 3 games and looks like a legit title contender. There young at some skill positions and should only get better with each games, and uniform.

3. Notre Dame is back in the National spotlight for actually winning football games.
The Irish are usually one of the most talked about teams in the preseason and its usually for no reason other than several notable alums (or coaches) that work for certain sports networks. Throw in their ridicules tv contract and even if your not trying to keep tabs on Notre Dame football you'll be in the loop. Three games into the season the Fighting Irish have shown that for the first time in a long time, there's reason to give attention to what their accomplishing on the field. Coming off of a huge win over #21 Michigan State the Irish moved up to #11 in the polls. Head Coach Brian Kelly has his offense playing much more balanced than a year ago and the defense may be one of the most underrated in the country.

4. Louisville may go 12-0.
It's early, I know but the #20th ranked Cardinals are 3-0, Teddy Bridgewater is among the best young QB's in the country, and their schedule is slightly tougher than local prep power house Louisville Trinity HS. Charlie Strong has brought an SEC toughness to his defense and he has some big time play makers on offense. Add all that together and its a team that could find itself playing in a BCS bowl at season's end.

5. Some Athletic Directors are already starting a coaching search.
Maybe not publicly but trust me, there are several AD's out there beginning the process of finding a new leader for there football programs and most are in the SEC. John L Smith has taken an Arkansas team that started the season ranked in the top ten to one of the worst teams in the SEC. And he has done it in dramatic fashion, having lost to Louisiana Monroe in overtime and then suffering a 52-0 blowout against Alabama the following week. To top it all off he ask the media in his weekly press conference what was with all the gloomy faces and that they should "smile". There will be plenty or smiling at season's end, if he makes it that long. Joker Phillip's Kentucky team just became the third best team in the bluegrass state after losing to Western Kentucky on Saturday, and that's debatable with the above mentioned Louisville Trinity HS also residing in the same state. The Wildcats look like a team that has giving up on the coaches, them selves and the program. With 9 games left to play things could get ugly in Lexington. And then there is Derek Dooley at Tennessee. In his third year as head man for the Vols, Dooley has yet to beat a ranked opponent and suffered another loss to high profile rival Florida Saturday on a national stage. The Vols have a stretch of five games coming up against nationally ranked opponents and unless Doolander can turn things around in a hurry Tennessee may be looking for it's fourth head coach in the last five years.

Stock up: Stephon Taylor RB, Stanford
Taylor had 213 offensive yards and two touchdowns Saturday as the Cardinals knocked off #2 USC. A year after losing Andrew Luck, Taylor may be the next big thing in Palo Alto.

Stock Down: Le'veon Bell RB, Michigan State
After starting the season hot with a 210 yard rushing performance in week one and averaging over 4 yards per carry, Bell ran for just 77 yards on 19 carries in Saturday's loss to Notre Dame. Every team on Michigan State's schedule will try and duplicate the Irish's defensive game plan which could make for tough going for the Bell and the Spartans moving forward