Ten Things We Learned: Week 10 of College Football

1. Iowa’s luck ran out

Hey, it was fun while it lasted. Maybe the Hawkeyes win if Ricky Stanzi doesn’t get hurt, but who knows. Northwestern got the job done, and the BCS dodged at least one bullet.

2. Notre Dame is a disaster

Contrary to the way people reacted, there’s absolutely no shame in losing to the Naval Academy. None whatsoever — Ken Niumatalolo is a great coach, and the Midshipmen are tough, proud and execute extremely well.

However, Charlie Weis is in a got-to-go situation. The guy’s just terrible. Atrocious. We’re just weeks away from one of my most favorite things in the world — a Notre Dame coaching search.

3. Four weeks and counting until the Game of the Year

I know South Carolina fans don’t want to hear this, but both Florida and Alabama will be 12-0 when they meet on Dec. 5 in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. In fact, you may as well call this one a national semifinal.

Personally, I think this could end up being the best game we see all season. I don’t necessarily think the SEC champion is a shoo-in to win the national championship, but I do think this will be the most intriguing and competitive game we get all year. Both teams are so similar and so well-coached, and you don’t have the awkward month-long break period that you get with bowl games.

4. Ohio State is back from the dead

After Purdue upset the Buckeyes, Terrelle Pryor was declared an utter failure, and there were even some whispers in Columbus about the job status of Jim Tressel. What a difference three weeks makes.

Ohio State has won three straight games, and, by virtue of Saturday’s 24-7 win at Penn State and Iowa’s loss, have taken control of the Big Ten race. As hard as it would have been to believe in the aftermath of the loss to the Boilermakers, the Buckeyes more than likely will end 2009 smelling like Roses.

5. And Michigan is just dead

Remember when the Wolverines were 4-0 and all those “Michigan is back” stories were running? About that. The Maize and Blue continued its late-season swoon, losing to Purdue 38-36, running their losing streak to three games and falling to 5-5 on the season and 1-5 in the Big Ten. It’s not going to get any easier, as Rich Rod and crew head to Wisconsin next weekend before coming home for the Buckeyes.

If Michigan misses a bowl game for the second straight season, heads will roll in Ann Arbor.

6. Oregon was overrated

Toby Gerhart is a great player, but should he completely swing a game against a team with the talent the Ducks have? I don’t think so. Oregon was overrated, plain and simple. We all, including myself, missed the boat. That being said, I still think they win the Pac-10.

7. Pitt is sneaking up on Cincinnati

Everybody’s been throwing a lot of love Cincinnati’s way lately and scheming to make Brian Kelly their new head coach, and deservedly so. However, the Bearcats shouldn’t get too high because Pitt is right behind them, and rounding into form. The Panthers still have to get past West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl, but if they do, the Big East will hinge on the outcome of their home game with Cincy on Dec. 5.

8. Boise State doesn’t impress anyone

Almost blowing a 20-point lead to Louisiana Tech isn’t going to do anything for your at-large bid, no matter how many PR firms you hire to help out.

9. The Vols don’t need to wear black to win

Remember back in September, when the author of this column picked Tennessee to finish 8-4, and you mocked him? Hey, I get some things right. Maybe.

10. The Top Ten should be ...

1. Florida (No Change — defeated Vanderbilt 27-3)

Another ho-hum effort for the Gators.

2. Alabama (NC — defeated LSU 24-15)

The Tide is on cruise control from here.

3. Texas (NC — defeated Central Florida 35-3)

The Longhorns came out slow again, which I think could become a problem for them against Texas A&M or in the Big 12 Title Game, but they dominated the Knights once they got going, and that’s all that matters.

4. Cincinnati (Up 2 — defeated UConn 47-45)

Zach Collaros has done a great job in place of the injured Tony Pike, but Cincy needs Pike back to run the table.

5. TCU (Up 4 — defeated San Diego State 55-12)

I’m buying into the Horned Frogs 100%. I’ll likely end up regretting this.

6. LSU (Up 2 — lost to Alabama 24-15)

You usually don’t see a team move up after a loss, but all the carnage behind the Bayou Bengals allows them to do so.

7. Boise State (NC — defeated Louisiana Tech 45-35)

One more mediocre performance and the Broncos may plummet.

8. Georgia Tech (Unranked — defeated Wake Forest 30-27)

I got some flak this past week for daring to drop the Yellow Jackets out of my Top Ten after a less-than-spectacular performance against Vanderbilt. Fear not everybody — GT is back in.

9. Pittsburgh (Unranked — defeated Syracuse 37-10)

Trust me — I too can’t believe that Dave Wannstedt has a chance to go to a BCS bowl. You’re not alone.

10. Southern California (Unranked — defeated Arizona State 14-9)