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11/07/2009

Building blocks: Special teams help SMU hold off Rice

SMU's Sterling Moore (right) swoops in to block a Rice field goal attempt that the Mustangs' Bryan McCann (not in photo) returned for a second-quarter touchdown.

JOHN F. RHODES / DMN

SMU had to overcome a 13-point deficit, block three kicks and hold on to keep Rice winless with a 31-28 victory Saturday in front of a homecoming crowd of just 15,475 at Ford Stadium. But after 25 bowl-less years on the Hilltop, the Mustangs are only one game away from bowl-eligibility with three to play.

Photos: SMU 31, Rice 28

Blog: Colleges

Scoreboard

Shipley's record day propels Texas to 35-3 win over Central Florida
Jordan Shipley and Colt McCoy provided the offensive style. Lamarr Houston and Sergio Kindle helped the defense supply the substance. With a 35-3 win Saturday over outmanned Central Florida, Chuck Carlton writes that Texas probably did everything it needed for the poll voters and BCS computers.

Re-Buffed: Colorado denies Aggies, 35-34

Colorado cornerback Jalil Brown (right) breaks up a pass intended for Texas A&M receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu.

Quarterback Tyler Hansen overcame his second straight eight-sack game, rallying Colorado from a 10-point second-half deficit to a 35-34 win over Texas A&M on Saturday. The loss prevented the Aggies from becoming bowl eligible.

Blog: Colleges

Scoreboard

Nebraska picks off Oklahoma, 10-3
Matt O'Hanlon had three of Nebraska's five interceptions against Landry Jones and the Cornhuskers squeezed enough production out of their struggling offense to upset No. 20 Oklahoma 10-3 on Saturday night.

No. 6 TCU rolls over San Diego State, 55-12
Each week a different hero has stepped up for TCU's offense.

Baylor ends Big 12 road skid with win over Missouri
Desperate for its first Big 12 win this season, Baylor went to the "Show Me State" and showed Missouri the door.

La.-Monroe pounds North Texas, 33-6
North Texas coach Todd Dodge and his players spent the last few days talking about how critical it was to build on a win over Western Kentucky in its home game Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe.

OSU bounces back with 34-8 win over Iowa State
Keith Toston ran for a career-high 206 yards and three touchdowns, Zac Robinson threw a touchdown pass and No. 18 Oklahoma State bounced back from its drubbing by Texas with a 34-8 victory over Iowa State on Saturday.

11/06/2009

In Big 12, North seems to be nowhere
The Big 12 North has become less of a race and more like the wheels-off obstacle course on one of those wacky Japanese game shows. No one has claimed front-runner status. Everybody remains a contender - even Colorado, writes Chuck Carlton.

Improving SMU still wary of Rice

A win over Rice would move SMU closer to one of its goals - bowl eligibility.

SMU is buzzing about potential bowls and its first-place tie with Houston in Conference USA's West division. But don't think the Mustangs are overlooking Rice - even if the Owls are 0-8 and rank among the worst in the Football Bowl Subdivision in most major offensive and defensive categories.

Blog: Colleges

SMU-Rice preview

Schedule / scoreboard

11/05/2009

It's unity that makes UT defense stand out

Texas' defense came up with two scores in the Longhorns' win over Oklahoma State, including this interception return for a touchdown by Curtis Brown (3).

JOHN F. RHODES / DMN

One play in last week's 41-14 win over Oklahoma State shows how Texas' defense has jelled as a dominant unit, writes Chuck Carlton. Defensive back Curtis Brown returned an interception 77 yards for a score. Throwing the final block on the return was defensive end Sergio Kindle. For Texas, all the parts fit.

Blog: Colleges

Notable games

Schedule-scoreboard

11/06/2009

Another injury for SMU's banged-up OL
Left tackle Kelvin Beachum sat out part of practice due to soreness, but coach June Jones said he expects Beachum to play Saturday against Rice.

11/05/2009

Chuck Carlton's notable Saturday games

11/06/2009

Horned Frogs could get dueling networks
CBS College Sports, which will broadcast TCU's game against Utah on Nov. 14, plans to set up an end-zone studio on the south side of Amon G. Carter Stadium. But they might have some competition.

DMN staff picks (11/6)

OSU's Bryant's final appeal rejected by NCAA
The NCAA rejected a final appeal to reinstate Dez Bryant on Thursday, meaning the Cowboys have probably seen the last of their All-America receiver.

UNT's Jackson makes impact as returner, receiver
Wide receiver Jamaal Jackson heads into Saturday's game with Louisiana-Monroe on a roll after last week's performance in a win over Western Kentucky.

UTA guard named preseason all-SLC
Guard Marquez Haynes was selected to the preseason all-Southland Conference men's basketball team by the league's coaches.

11/05/2009

More replay in sports is not the solution

Angels manager Mike Scioscia argues with umpire Tim McClelland (right) over a call during the American League Championship Series.

Getty Images

Countless sports commentators and millions of sports fans have arrived at one conclusion after viewing hours of football and baseball playoffs this fall. Officials need more replay help. And they are dead wrong, writes Tim Cowlishaw.

Blog: Cowlishaw

11/04/2009

Bottom line for OU-Nebraska: Line play the key

Oklahoma's offensive line 'got caught inexperienced' this season, coach Bob Stoops says.

JOHN F. RHODES / DMN

Let's be up front about this. Oklahoma's offensive line faces arguably its sternest test of the season against a Nebraska front led by preseason All-America tackle Ndamukong Suh. Nebraska faces a similar challenge against an OU front four led by Gerald McCoy.

Blog: Colleges

11/03/2009

TCU running back returning to site of career-best game

Running back Joseph Turner, pictured here in the Frogs' victory over Clemson this season, scored four touchdowns the last time TCU played at San Diego State.

Joseph Turner has fond memories of San Diego. TCU's senior running back had his best game the last time the Horned Frogs traveled to Qualcomm Stadium to play the San Diego State Aztecs - their opponent this Saturday - rushing for 226 yards and four touchdowns.

Blog: Colleges

TCU-San Diego State preview

Work remains for Dallas Football Classic
Additional work remains for the startup Dallas Football Classic, bowl president Tom Starr acknowledged Tuesday.

11/04/2009

Numbers don't tell whole story for SMU's Yenga
Junior Youri Yenga led SMU in sacks (6 ½) and tackles for losses (10 ½) in 2008. He hasn't approached those numbers this season after moving from defensive end to linebacker (one sack, 2 ½ tackles for losses).

One-sided Nebraska series fine with OU's Stoops
The Oklahoma-Nebraska game determined the champion 31 times in 36 years in the Big Eight, but the series has become far more one-sided in recent years – and OU coach Bob Stoops likes it that way.

UNT's Dodge preparing for two La.-Monroe QBs
UNT is preparing for both of Louisiana-Monroe's quarterbacks heading into their game Saturday, coach Todd Dodge said.

11/03/2009

Resurgent Texas A&M Aggies respond to Sherman's motivation

Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman pumps his fist after a touchdown during a stunning 52-20 victory over Texas Tech.

A few weeks ago, just as Texas A&M hit rock bottom, coach Mike Sherman turned a leap of faith into a savvy motivational gesture, writes Chuck Carlton. Now the Aggies are 5-3 and could reach bowl eligibility with a victory Saturday at Colorado.

Blog: Colleges

11/02/2009

Evan Grant's 1st and 10

TCU is 8-0 and getting more national recognition each week.

RICHARD W. RODRIGUEZ / Special to DMN

Each week, Evan Grant brings you a quick trip through college football to get you ready for the week in his blog post 1st and 10.

Blog: Colleges

Schedules: Colleges

Former Texas A&M coach Gillispie pleads guilty to DUI charge
Former Kentucky and Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie pleaded guilty Monday to driving under the influence of alcohol.

11/03/2009

SMU concentrates on bowl breakthrough
SMU senior receiver Emmanuel Sanders can't help it. All this talk about six wins being enough to get SMU to a bowl – which would be the program's first since 1984, ending the nation's fourth-longest drought – makes him nervous.

11/01/2009

Texas Longhorns on familiar path but will it be smooth sailing?

Texas receiver Malcolm Williams grabs a touchdown catch against Oklahoma State.

JOHN F. RHODES / DMN

Call it the Pasadena Parkway, a unique road with many possible paths, writes Chuck Carlton. Mack Brown and his players dispute the notion that Texas can coast to a likely meeting with Florida or Alabama.

Blog: Colleges

SMU sees favorable schedule on road to bowl bid
SMU coach June Jones didn't pronounce the Mustangs' 27-13 road win Saturday at Tulsa the most significant in his tenure – so far – when given the chance. But he didn't have to. It just felt like it.

TCU Horned Frogs have dominating D, highest ranking since '56
BCS buster hopeful TCU (8-0, 4-0 Mountain West) moved up two spots to No. 6 in the new AP poll Sunday, its highest ranking since 1956. The Frogs' 10-game winning streak is shorter only than Florida (18), Iowa (13) and Texas (12).

Texas Longhorns' starting CB Williams listed as day-to-day
Starting cornerback Aaron Williams was being evaluated Sunday for a right knee injury suffered in the Longhorns' 41-14 win over Oklahoma State.

Texas moves up in BCS standings with Alabama off
Texas (.9227) jumped from third to second place, ahead of Alabama (.9166) and behind Florida (.9918). It's a cosmetic move. The Longhorns were already in control of its destiny in the BCS championship race.

Oklahoma-Nebraska game set for 7 p.m. on ABC
The Big 12 Conference has announced that this Saturday's Oklahoma-Nebraska game will start at 7 p.m. CST and be televised by ABC.

11/02/2009

Gundy: Oklahoma State RB Hunter wants to play
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy says it's not an option to shut down starting tailback Kendall Hunter for the season due to a lingering injury.

Miller provides Oklahoma another receiving target
Ryan Broyles has been the top target for No. 20 Oklahoma (5-3, 3-1 Big 12 Conference), but the Sooners have been looking for a complement since All-America tight end Jermaine Gresham was lost to a season-ending knee injury.

No. 2 Texas avoids Halloween haunting
Texas safety Earl Thomas had a feeling that teammate Curtis Brown was about to break his interception drought. Thought he'd score, too.

11/01/2009

Texas No. 2 in AP football poll
Texas is back to No. 2 in the AP college football poll. The Longhorns jumped Alabama and landed right behind top-ranked Florida on Sunday, a day after winning 41-14 at Oklahoma State in their best performance of the season.

College football awards watch (11/2)

01/01/2008

Colleges blog: Rice pulls to 31-28 with 1:46 to play, but SMU should hold on for fifth victory

Quarterback Colt McCoy and the No. 3 Longhorns hope to build on their Big 12 momentum tonight at Missouri.

G.J. McCARTHY / DMN

No. 3 Texas tries to build on the momentum of its Red River Rivalry victory over Oklahoma tonight in Missouri against the Tigers. Chuck Carlton will be blogging from the game so get updates on our Colleges blog.

Blog: Colleges

Scoreboard

10/21/2009

High Five: Texas Tech-Texas A&M
Here are five significant wins for Texas Tech and five for Texas A&M in their rivalry that dates back to 1927. Texas A&M leads the series 34-31-1, but Texas Tech has won 10 of the last 13. The two teams meet at 11 a.m. Saturday in College Station.