Kentucky is undefeated on the gridiron -- no, that's not a misprint

You can almost see the pipe smoke curling around Howard Schnellenberger's thoughtful head as he ponders the subject of his home state's football program.

QB Andre Woodson has emerged as a legitimate Heisman candidate. (Getty Images)

"As a son of the state of Kentucky, who played at the University of Kentucky ..." the grand, old coach said. "The University of Kentucky has burst onto the scene like a wild buffalo."

Normally, Schnellenberger would be like any other proud alum, talking up his team around the water cooler. But there are cosmic forces at work. During the happiest week of Kentucky football in perhaps 30 years, Schnellenberger's Florida Atlantic team has to play his old school.

Stampede anyone?

It's weird how quick things change in college football. It's astounding how quickly fortunes have changed in the state of Kentucky. Louisville came into the season as a national championship contender. It left Papa John's Cardinal Stadium amid boos Saturday after losing to woeful Syracuse.

Kentucky is the toast of the state, and college football after a 4-0 start for only the second time since 1983. Back-to-back comeback wins against Louisville and Arkansas have left the Wildcats with their highest AP ranking (14th) since 1977. The last time Kentucky was 4-0 with at least one conference win was 1950 when Bear Bryant guided the program to a Sugar Bowl win over No. 1 Oklahoma.

Quarterback Andre Woodson is a big-time Heisman candidate carrying an ongoing NCAA record -- 296 consecutive passes without an interception.

Kentucky has been trending upward since Rich Brooks was able to 1.) keep his job and 2.) build his scholarship numbers. The first sign was an 8-5 season in 2006 that included the first bowl win in 22 years.

"It's night and day," Brooks said. "We have depth for the first time. We had a little last year; we have quite a bit of depth now. You need it to compete in this league. It helps to have 85 scholarships. It really does."

This is big news at Kentucky because NCAA probation and shoddy coaching (we're talking about you, Hal Mumme) had left the Wildcats crippled. When Brooks arrived in 2003, he told the New York Times the program had only 68 scholarship players, 17 below the maximum. Six or seven team members were walk-ons. That doesn't translate to stability.

Brooks was dangerously close to being fired after the 2005 season but hung on because of the faith of AD Mitch Barnhart. The coach famously strode to the podium and told 800 SEC media in summer 2006: "I'm baaaack."

That bowl season popped up out of nowhere. Woodson was close to quitting in spring practice 2006 after dropping to second string. Following a dispirited 49-0 loss at LSU, Kentucky reeled off four victories in a row and eventually beat Clemson in the Music City Bowl.

Woodson, a high school wishbone quarterback, was being talked about in hushed tones as a Heisman candidate. He's more than that now coming off a season in which he led the SEC in passing yards, total offense and touchdown passes.

It's amazing what a coach can do with a full roster. Florida Atlantic and Kentucky were supposed to play three years ago. Schnellenberger's program was transitioning to I-A and had only 60-something scholarships. Had the teams played and Kentucky won, it wouldn't have counted toward bowl eligibility.

Not that it mattered. Kentucky finished 2-9 in 2004.

Now those once-despised walk-ons are money in Lexington. Oklahoma high school sprinter Derrick Locke was making a recruiting visit in track and wondered over to the football office. Would Brooks, he wondered, give him a shot at tailback if he walked on? Most schools had offered him a chance as defensive back.

"I assured him we would give him every opportunity to play tailback," Brooks said after watching film.

Locke proved himself in the preseason, then lucked out: A scholarship became available. With three tailbacks injured against Arkansas, Locke came off the bench to rush for 48 yards and a touchdown.

"I've never felt anything like that in my life," Locke said. "I was nervous a little bit but at the same time, I was really wanting to play. When coach called my name I was like, 'I have to go out there and let him know I can play.'"

We'll know soon if all the Wildcats can play. They are one of three undefeated SEC teams. Florida and LSU are the others. The three play each other in a sort of mini-round robin that will be concluded by Oct. 20. Only one team, at best, will be left undefeated.

"The focus of this team is, as we mentioned at the start of the year, to be a factor in the conference race," Brooks said. "If we can't ourselves, we'll decide who does."

Other surprise 4-0s

Boston College: 4-0 for the first time in 15 years. Winning three conference games to start the season gives the Eagles a huge advantage in the ACC. Can we just fast forward to the Clemson game on Nov. 17?

Cincinnati: Two capable quarterbacks. The defense leads the country in turnover margin. Pencil in Brian Kelly for the Lloyd Carr sweepstakes?

Connecticut: The surprise is that the Huskies went on the road in the Big East opener and beat Pittsburgh by 20. Beating Temple, Maine and Duke hardly raised eyebrows.

Kansas: The non-conference schedule wasn't as soft as it looked. Still, the Jayhawks did what they were supposed to do, outscoring Central Michigan, Toledo, Florida International and Southeastern Louisiana 214-23. The conference season starts Oct. 6. KU has to win that to stay legit.

Oregon: The West Coast version of West Virginia. A power running game built around an elusive quarterback. Mike Bellotti deserves all the success he has coming.

Purdue: How to pee in Charlie Weis' Wheaties -- the Boilers are averaging almost 50 points per game. Curtis Painter is the Big Ten's best quarterback. Dorien Bryant might be its best receiver.