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Coach Urban Meyer and his Florida Gators might not be in a cheerful mood after playing rival Georgia on Saturday.

4. Career choices
The story goes something like this: When star wideout Alshon Jeffery told Tennessee he was signing with South Carolina, Vols coach Lane Kiffin allegedly told him he would end up like every other big recruit out of the state of South Carolina who signs with the Gamecocks: pumping gas.

Kiffin denies saying it; Jeffery hasn't talked about it.

If that sideshow wasn't enough, now Jeffery has missed practice this week with an illness, and his status seems uncertain.

That would be a major blow to the Gamecocks when they travel to meet Kiffin's Vols on Saturday. Win this weekend, and the Gamecocks have a legitimate chance at a 10-win season.

It's more than Jeffery's impressive freshman numbers (24 catches for 443 yards), or that his big presence (6-feet-3, 217 pounds) has allowed Stephen Garcia to transition into the starting quarterback role. It's Jeffery's investment in the program, his work ethic and his desire to get better.

"We're on the sidelines during games," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said, "and he's suggesting plays we should run."

If South Carolina is going to avoid the November collapses of years past, it's going to be because of Jeffery and what he brings to the team.

5. The bad, the ugly and the Big 12 North
Welcome, everyone, to the Big 12 North Division, where this week's leader is last week's loafer. Or something like that.

At the top of the standings this week is Kansas State, in the second tenure of legendary coach Bill Snyder and only seven weeks removed from a loss to a directional Louisiana school. And I'm not talking Baton Rouge.

Here, folks, is Big Red. One week, you're afraid to even say Ndamukong — if you can say Ndamukong. The next week, the big man's teammates on offense look like they're playing a defense full of Suhs.

Then we have Iowa State, a program crushed by the loss of its coach a year ago. The Cyclones are embracing the beauty of change with new coach Paul Rhoads and sitting at five wins for the first time since 2005. Now, the best part of it all: Missouri, last in the division at 0-3 — and with that middle-school defense — can still win the division.

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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