Opinion

By Matt Hayes

updated 3:12 a.m. ET Oct. 25, 2008

Matt Hayes

Sporting News college football columnist Matt Hayes offers his weekly dose of 10 things to watch on Saturday:

1. To QB or not QB
I learned a long time ago there's one undeniable truth in the game of football: It's all about the quarterback.

From Pop Warner to high school, from college to the NFL; all things being equal — or even relatively equal — the team with the better quarterback wins.

Last week after the Texas-Missouri game, I asked Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp about the difference between the SEC and Big 12, and which conference was better. I said the SEC because the SEC plays defense and, of course, defense wins big games.

Muschamp played in the SEC at Georgia, and has been the league's best defensive coordinator at LSU and Auburn. Few people can see this argument from a more balanced perspective.

The first thing he said reinforced my belief about the quarterback.

"The SEC has two experienced quarterbacks — (Tim) Tebow and (Matt) Stafford — and two teams that are strong on offense because of it," Muschamp said. "If you're playing teams like this (in the Big 12), with experienced quarterbacks who know the game and understand where to put the ball on a consistent basis, it's a much bigger test for the defense."

The reality is, Texas' defense may be every bit as good as Alabama's or Florida's or Georgia's or LSU's. How could we truly tell? In the last two weeks, the Longhorns have faced offenses that can score on anyone, anywhere — with two of the game's best quarterbacks (Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel) leading the way.

And whaddya know, here comes another big game against another experienced quarterback who doesn't make mistakes. This time it's Oklahoma State and Zac Robinson, who is third in the nation in pass efficiency — one spot behind Bradford and two ahead of Daniel — and is as hot as any quarterback in the nation.

You want to talk Colt McCoy for Heisman? If Robinson leads the Cowboys to a win in Austin, he'll leap to the top of the Heisman charts.

2. To QB or not QB, Part II
So there's a big game in Baton Rouge this weekend, the beginning of what can only be seen as the most exciting second half of the season in the history of the SEC.

Seriously, how else can you look at it?

The league has four legitimate national title contenders; Four teams that, if they win out and at least one one-loss team is playing in the BCS national title game, it will be a team from the SEC.

Take your pick: Alabama, Georgia, Florida, LSU. I don't care where they are in the current BCS poll. All that matters is where they'll finish — one of them will be in the national title game if the season doesn't produce two unbeaten teams (and that includes current unbeaten Alabama).

Now, the beauty of it: They play each other. Georgia at LSU on Saturday night, Florida vs. Georgia next week, Alabama at LSU on Nov. 8, and the SEC Championship game on Dec. 6.

Meanwhile, back in Baton Rouge, we have the league's best quarterback (Stafford) against two guys who continue to find themselves as first-year starters (Jarrett Lee, Andrew Hatch). Time for Stafford to make a statement and show everyone why NFL scouts believe he will be the first pick in the NFL draft next April if he passes up his senior season.

3. And finally, Part III
This one's easy, right? A savvy, fifth-year senior/first-year starter who gets better with each game (Daryll Clark) vs. a true freshman who probably can't realize the enormity of the situation (Terrelle Pryor).

And you know what? I'm taking the freshman.

Here's why: I still don't think Clark has faced a defense with the speed and athleticism of Ohio State. Illinois was close, but that unit is too young; too many guys who don't know where they're supposed to be.

This Ohio State defense is fast, deep and experienced; and it has been through many key Big Ten games (did you watch Michigan State try to run last week?). Clark is having a terrific season, but he hasn't seen a defense like this.

Then there's Pryor, the uber-talented teenager who last week had his own teammates questioning his ability. He struggled the previous two weeks against average defenses (Wisconsin, Purdue), and the passing game was stagnant.

Then a funny thing happened: He got better. Unlike most who hit the "freshman wall" and regress once opponents specifically plan for them, Pryor adjusted to the game-planning — rare for freshmen — and played even better on the road in a tough environment against a hot team (Michigan State).

Now he comes back home where it's easier to concentrate, easier to audible, easier to adjust. And the Buckeyes' defense is playing terrific.

4. Blue and Gold all over
Let's set the Notre Dame table in Seattle on Saturday, shall we? ND coach Charlie Weis on one sideline, former ND and current (for now) Washington coach Ty Willingham on the other sideline. And former ND coach Bob Davie in the television booth calling the game.

If only Gerry Faust were reporting from the sideline, we'd have it all covered.

True story about the class of Willingham: Days after he was fired at Notre Dame, the Marines held a Toys for Tots fund-raiser in South Bend and Willingham was sitting at home and saw the event on the news. He got in his car, drove downtown to the fund-raiser, wrote a check and went back home.

If his Washington team played with as much heart, he wouldn't be on the way out.

5. Kick in the pants
So Mike Leach pulls a student out of the stands and asks him if he wants to kick for Texas Tech. Seriously, who is cooler than Leach?

If only there were about 11 students in the stands who could play defense.

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