Matt Hayes

A look at five under fire for Week 7:

1. The Texas statement
We've come again to this spot in the season, when Texas and Oklahoma meet in Dallas with Big Tex standing in the middle of it all and the national championship on the line.

Only last year, it wasn't.

Never has a game that means so much eventually meant so little when the BCS system spit out the final two teams for last year's national championship game. And Texas, after a 10-point win over Oklahoma, wasn't one of the two.

The Sooners were.

"Because of what happened after that game," said Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, "it almost feels like we lost it."

So this is where Texas sits going into this weekend's Red River Rivalry: seeking redemption for winning last year's game. But now it's suddenly more than a bitter rivalry.

Now it's Texas proving itself this fall, after a cake schedule to begin the season didn't earn the Longhorns style points in the annual beauty pageant/demolition derby that is the BCS race. Essentially, Texas is in the same place it was last year after it beat OU: needing to prove itself to poll voters.

That's why this game — with Oklahoma at close to full strength with quarterback Sam Bradford back — is the most important Red River game in coach Mack Brown's 12 seasons in Austin. The Longhorns don't need to just win — they need to win big and look good doing it.

2. Statement game, Part II
It's the biggest game in Charlie Weis' five seasons at Notre Dame, and the guy who built his reputation on offense has to hope his defense can play well enough to get his first signature victory in South Bend.

But remember this: USC hasn't played an offense with the balance and talent of Notre Dame's. The Irish will score more points on the Trojans than anyone has all season. And that just might help the Notre Dame defense.

Confused? Stay with us.

"I thought we hung in there early on defense last year," Weis said. "But our offense was just manhandled."

In other words, the offense — which had all of 91 total yards in last year's 38-3 loss — compounded the problems on defense. This season, ND can get 91 yards in one drive on the USC defense. The key question: Can the Irish offense get on the field long enough to make it matter?

Special Feature Inside the Irish Keith Arnold brings you all of the latest news and insight on everything Notre Dame.

USC wants to dictate tempo with its big offensive line and strong running game. Don't expect the Trojans to roll into South Bend and throw it around with freshman quarterback Matt Barkley. They'll play conservatively, with the idea of keeping the ND offense off the field and limiting damage.

ND gave up 457 yards to Washington, which runs the USC offense. If the Huskies had 176 yards rushing, what will USC and its more experienced line and more talented tailbacks get?

3. Reverse order
It's October, and Ron Zook is at a crossroads moment again. Five years ago, he was there in the beautiful scenery that is Starkville, Miss., when his Florida team imploded in a loss to the worst team in the SEC — and he was fired days later.

Now Zook's Illinois team, in the process of an eerily similar midseason implosion, travels to Big Ten tomato can Indiana in a game that will decide the league's worst team. This, everyone, is not a good sign for the guy who somehow is on the reverse path to coaching stardom. I mean, doldrums.

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Zook began his coaching career — his first ever head-coaching job — at Florida, one of the top three schools in the nation. After getting fired, he moved to lower-tier Big Ten school Illinois, where he promptly turned around recruiting fortunes and led the team to the Rose Bowl.

Since earning the Rose Bowl bid in 2007, the Illini are 6-11 and 3-11 against BCS schools. Their only win this season is against I-AA Illinois State, and the program is trending downward.

If Zook doesn't make it at Illinois — and if the Illini lose to Indiana, the heat will increase — where does he go? Next stop: Lane Tech High in Chicago.

Zook has proved his can recruit. He has yet to prove he can build and sustain success.

4. A little defense, please
Paul Johnson used to bristle at the idea he couldn't use his funky option offense in a BCS league. In less than two years, the scheme has dominated teams much like his Navy teams did at a lower level of play.

But that's not the only similarity with his Navy teams of the past. Like those Mids, these Jackets struggle on defense. Tech is 82nd in total defense and 77th in scoring defense going into this weekend's home game against ACC leader Virginia Tech.

In the last two games (both wins), Tech gave up 75 points, and the 49-44 win over Florida State looked a whole lot like the Navy days: last team with the ball wins.

The Jackets can throw the ACC Coastal Division into a three-way tie with a win over the Hokies, which would bring Miami back into the race.

If the Hokies win? The Coastal race is over.

SportingNews.com Lots of hype, hope _ and Dion Lewis _ for Pitt 6 teams with something to prove Rutgers looking for bigger and better bowl in 2010 After the fall, a new subdued era at USC It's what's up front that counts for Buckeyes

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