Originally, I chose to reserve this space for a reflection of what occurred the day before in college football and how the top teams are positioning themselves in the race for the Bowl Championship Series title game and the Rose Bowl Game.
But in a week when there was not much movement in either the BCS title chase - the presumed top three teams of Louisiana State, Alabama and Oklahoma all won and received the top three slots in the first BCS rankings - or the Rose Bowl race - with top contenders Stanford and Wisconsin winning easily - it seemed like the perfect time to respond to the conference realignment, which these days has leagues adjusting like some sort of college sports continental drift.
The big change recently has come from the Big 12, which reacted to Texas A&M's departure by grabbing Texas Christian, a move that will do wonders for the Horned Frogs and will allow them to compete for national supremacy on a yearly basis.
I would argue that within five years, TCU will be the more successful of the two programs.
A switch to the Big 12 can only enhance TCU's recruiting, which will allow the Horned Frogs to be more consistent and be a big player in college football. At the same time, the move east by Texas A&M could hurt their recruiting base, which is Texas. A similar move handicapped Arkansas, which is just now recovering and back to the program it was 20 years ago.
A&M. You just might get it.
Now this year's conference musical chairs has not been limited to the Big 12. The Big East is also back in the picture.
There have been reports that the Big East, which technically lost TCU, which was set to join in June, is turning its attention to the other big BCS buster - Boise State - to join its group as a football-only member.
It's a panic move by the Big East, which with the loss of TCU, Syracuse and Pittsburgh, along with a decline in play in recent years, puts them in serious danger of losing their BCS automatic-qualifier status.
I would hope the Smurfs, arguably the most-consistent football program in the country over the past three seasons, would scoff at the invitation and say thanks, but no thanks. They deserve better, like an inquiry from the Big 12, which really seems like a better fit, geographically and more importantly, from a football perspective.
The Pac-12 is an even better fit. But commissioner Larry Scott has said it's done for now at 12. Plus, while football is the driving force for realignment, I'm getting a wave that the Pac-12 presidents want more balance, and they don't get that with Boise State.
So that leaves the Big 12, which really needs to get back in the conference championship-game party, which by NCAA rules requires 12 members. A good start would be by calling Boise State.
The main thing for the Broncos is the Big 12 is a football-first conference, not basketball, like the Big East. Remember it turning down Penn State before it joined the Big Ten during the 1980s? Plus, Boise State is already competing for similar athletes that wind up at Big 12 schools, and trips south to Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas are more realistic than those to West Virginia and New Jersey.
Also, it's clear that the Big East needs Boise State. Boise State doesn't need the Big East. The Smurfs, under the status quo, have already proven they are capable of competing for a BCS bowl every season, but never getting a piece of the title-game prize. A move to the Big 12 gets them a chance to taste that glory; a switch to the Big East doesn't.
Now the Big 12 has said it's done at 10, but it's neat to speculate.
Here are this week's rankings:
Trent Richardson, who had 183 yards and four touchdowns in the Tide's 52-7 victory over Mississippi, is the difference-maker for Alabama, which is 10-0 when the junior rushes for 100 yards or more. He is the edge that pushes the Tide, ranked No. 3 and No. 2, respectively, in the USA Today and Harris Interactive polls, past LSU on Nov. 5.
The Cardinal, despite a 44-14 victory at Washington State, are on the outside looking in.
Stanford should get a ratings push with games against Washington, USC, Oregon and Notre Dame still on the docket.
But the Cardinal, No. 5 in the coaches' poll, also needs Oklahoma to lose. I still see both happening.
The No. 1 Tigers, following a 38-7 victory over Tennessee, keep matching Alabama point for point, victory for victory. It's becoming clear that the national title game comes in November, not January.
The Sooners, who routed Kansas 47-17, continue to take care of business. They control their own destiny, with the only roadblock appearing to be rival Oklahoma State.
Big Red, which beat Indiana 59-7, is hurt by its schedule, and previously unbeaten Illinois, which faces Wisconsin in the coming weeks, did the Badgers no favors with a loss on Saturday. The Ilini's setback and ratings drop will hurt Wisconsin in the BCS chase, which favors victories over ranked teams, and the Badgers' schedule is limited.
Others: Boise State (6-0), Oklahoma State (6-0), Oregon (5-1), Clemson (7-0), Kansas State (6-0).
There's no question that the Badgers will win the Big Ten and run the table. But can they keep beating teams by 40 points a game? Maybe not, but this team looks Pasadena-bound, unless the BCS comes calling.
The Cardinal have yet to be challenged. That changes this week when Washington comes to town. But not even the improved Huskies can derail this train.
Another week, another key injury for Gang Green. A week after LaMichael James went down, quarterback Darron Thomas suffered the same fate. Both say they are OK. They better be, because the Ducks can't beat the Cardinal on Nov. 12 without this dynamic duo.
Are the Huskies, a few seasons removed from a winless season, back?
You bet. But they may get a big dose of reality against Stanford this week.
The Sun Devils, who dropped a 41-27 setback to Oregon, are still in the driver's seat in the Pac-12 South title chase and can be derailed only by UCLA.
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