What we learned this week in college football: Week 9

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's not parity in the ACC. It's just that nobody is really that good
Consider this: Right now Duke has a chance to play in the ACC championship game. Yes, the team that lost to Richmond, an FCS team, in Week 1, has a shot at winning the Coastal division. Consider this as well: Florida State has a chance to win the Atlantic division if they win out in league play, despite dropping its first three league games and four of its first six overall. Georgia Tech appears to be the team with the inside track to an automatic BCS berth, but then again, we thought Virginia Tech was that team just a few weeks ago. This week Virginia Tech lost to UNC, Miami needed a huge rally to beat an inferior Wake Forest team and Florida State needed all of their 45 points to beat NC State because they gave up 42. Even Georgia Tech showed vulnerability, giving up 31 points to Vanderbilt, but it didn't hurt, considering they scored 56.

Texas is headed to the national championship
With a huge win over Oklahoma State, the Longhorns have put themselves in a position where the national championship game is theirs to lose. Texas leapfrogged Alabama in the BCS rankings to take over the No. 2 spot and with three games against teams that are a combined 13-11 and 3-9 in the conference. Alabama has LSU left on its slate and should beat the overrated Tigers, but as long as Texas doesn't stumble, they should hold onto the number two spot at least.

USC was a pretender just praying not get found out
The Ducks absolutely lit up USC in the worst loss for the Trojans in the Pete Carroll era. A freshman running back shreds and a quarterback who deemed his injured knee at about 80 percent picking up 386 yards, including 164 on the ground. USC's defense has proved over the last three weeks that their impressive early-season numbers were due to a lack of offensive talent on the other sideline, not because they are particular good. Over the last three games, the Trojans have given up 110 points and 1462 yards. Matt Barkley is going through freshman growing pains, throwing at least one interception in his last four games and has completed more than 60 percent of his passes just once over that span.