Sunday 7: Big East boosted by USC loss

Seven things we learned on Sunday:

Steve Slaton's Mountaineers are poised to move higher in the BCS. (US PRESSWIRE)

The next month is not going to be pleasant: Boil the existing BCS debate down to its essence. Now that USC has lost, does an undefeated Big East champion deserve to be in the BCS title game over a one-loss SEC team?

The Big East (with West Virginia or Louisville) seems to have a slight edge because its champion would have that big zero in the loss column. But down in SEC territory, the Big East trumping the likes of Florida or Auburn would be heresy.

You should be familiar with this fine whine ...

The Big East doesn't play a meat grinder week in, week out like the SEC does .... Blah, blah, blah.

Now add in a month of columnists, blathering talking heads (sometimes the same thing) and the full power of the SEC publicity machine brought to bear.

What happens then? At least the perception of conflict of interest. Guess who invented the BCS? Former SEC commissioner Roy Kramer. Guess which conference's undefeated champion was left out two years ago? The SEC.

Guess who is administrating the BCS this year? The same SEC.

The ultimate question might be: How can the SEC not get in the BCS title game?

For now, the Big East is the biggest winner: Louisville-West Virginia just became a whole lot bigger, now that the Cardinals are fifth and the Mountaineers third in the BCS.

In the middle of Breeder's Cup week these two teams might decide a BCS title game participant Thursday night in The Oven (Papa John's Stadium).

Notre Dame is the biggest loser: The Fighting Little Tunas were looking forward to playing an undefeated USC on Nov. 25 with a shot to move into the BCS title picture.

It's going to be tougher now that USC (No. 8, BCS) will have at least one loss. Notre Dame remained ninth in the BCS after routing Navy.

"Notre Dame is the one really hurt by USC losing," BCS expert Jerry Palm said. "Now they don't get a chance to beat an undefeated No. 2 team. If No. 9 plays No. 2, and wins, No. 9 has a chance to move way up."

In other news, pigs were spotted flying over Philadelphia: Temple beat Bowling Green 28-14 ending a two-year-old, 20-game winless streak. Thousands of seats celebrated in silence at Lincoln Financial Field. Duke, you're now on the clock (16 losses in a row).

There was a 2008 Rose Bowl preview: At least one half of it. Indiana might have finally broken through after an impressive 46-21 win over Michigan State.

Redshirt freshman Kellen Lewis threw five touchdowns. Sophomore James Hardy caught four of them. That makes seven in two games for Hardy.

At least Hardy was a big-time recruit. The only college football Kellen we're familiar with is Clemens (former Oregon quarterback) and Winslow (father-son combo).

Coach Terry Hoeppner has been through two brain surgeries since December. The Hoosiers lost to I-AA Southern Illinois on the weekend of his second hospital stay. Two other losses have come by at least 35 points.

Now the Hoosiers (5-4) find themselves one win away from bowl eligibility with games left against Minnesota, Michigan and Purdue.

Laugh now, Buckeyes and Wolverines. This is a team to root for. And fear.

Back from the dead, or at least from a long nap: Oklahoma is playing some of its best football without Adrian Peterson. The other A.P., Allen Patrick, had his second effective game in a 26-10 victory at Missouri.

The Sooners are 6-2, and 10-2 looks possible with games left against Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor and Oklahoma State. ...

Maryland (6-2) has won three in a row and controls its own destiny in the ACC Atlantic Division after beating Florida State. Then again, who isn't beating Florida State? The 'Noles are dead last in the division and have lost six of their last eight ACC games. ...

One of the most asked questions this season (at least of me) is what about Dennis Franchione? Well, what about him? He's doing great. Texas A&M is 8-1 and has only itself to blame for not reaching the Big 12 title game. After winning at Baylor on Saturday, the Aggies have a shot at the Big 12 South. ...

See what happens when you actually throw to Calvin Johnson? C.J. caught the winning touchdown with 6:18 left to help Georgia Tech beat Miami 30-23. The win came a week after the Jackets' embarrassing loss at Clemson. They are now almost a shoe-in to win the ACC Coastal Division.

Colt McCoy is officially a Heisman candidate More than that, hot on the scrambling heels of Troy Smith. Texas' redshirt freshman can no longer be ignored as a serious contender. After throwing for four touchdowns against Texas Tech, McCoy has 24 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Vince Young finished with 26 and 10. McCoy has five games left if the Horns reach the Big 12 title game. That means he is on pace throw for 35 touchdowns.