Fowler: Tough tests still loom for Week 6's biggest winners

Ron Zook isn't letting his guard down for a second. He knows how fickle college football's fortunes can be. One week you're the toast of the town, the next week you're being roasted. "It's a humbling game," he told me. He's been humbled a few times. Remember, coming into this season, Zook's Illini had lost 15 of their first 16 conference games.

Scott Boehm/Getty Images

Ron Zook learned that football's fortunes aren't guaranteed.

He also knows that his young, 18th-ranked Illini are operating with a pretty narrow margin for error. They survived against Penn State by creating four late takeaways against a frazzled Anthony Morelli. That was the breakthrough win. They backed it up by escaping against Wisconsin, despite allowing the inconsistent Badgers offense 519 yards and 28 first downs. Although it is being billed as a landmark win over a top-five team, I am not quite as impressed by the achievement as others. Wisconsin in no way deserved the ranking and is not among the 15 best teams.

So now, Iowa. A road trip to the pink visitors' locker rooms in Iowa City used to inspire fear. No longer. Do you realize Iowa has lost eight straight Big Ten games?

"College GameDay" enjoyed a spectacular setting on the Iowa campus the morning of No. 1 Ohio State's visit last October, arguably Iowa's biggest on-campus game ever. It was a scene of hope and optimism. That night, Kinnick Stadium was electric -- music pounding, along with the hearts of 71,000 charged-up fans.

In short order, of course, the Buckeyes' defense smacked around Drew Tate and deflated Iowa's dreams. Since that day, the Hawks have lost nine of 10 conference games and are 4-11 overall. It's a pretty stunning slide, which officially started with a loss to huge underdog Indiana. Suddenly, Iowa couldn't remember how to win close games. The Hawkeyes still haven't rediscovered the knack.

But know this: Saturday's visit is still a test for Illinois. Yes, it is now officially possible for Illinois to be playing a "trap" game, after the two emotional wins. That's because Michigan visits next week. Not that the players should let something like this affect them, but the Illini are a win away from probably playing host to "GameDay" for the first time. GameDay with Champaign wishes and caviar dreams? Robin Leach in the house? Who knows?

Back to business, though, because many a rising program has blown the chance to play in a "really big game" by falling victim to a trap the previous week.

That's why the Zooker told me he must guard against reflecting any moment of satisfaction over the 4-1 start. The second players notice it from the staff, they will start to feel like they have turned the corner. No momentary loss of hunger can be revealed. The misty eyes Zook gave in to as he reflected on the long road to respectablity with Erin Andrews seconds after conquering Wisconsin were soon gone.

"College GameDay"
Set your alarm clock on Saturday. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and the rest of the "GameDay" crew will be in Norman, Okla. Tune in to find out about No. 11 Missouri vs. No. 6 Oklahoma and everything else in college football. When: Sat., 10 a.m. ET (ESPN) Where: Norman, Okla.

There are many reasons Illinois should hardly be overconfident. No one on the team has ever beaten Iowa. In 2005 and 2006, Illinois has put up a total of 14 points. Last year happened to be Juice Williams' first start and he fumbled on the team's second snap, completed 9 of 32, and chucked three picks. "He'll get better," Zook predicted correctly. He has, of course.

Also, Illinois has been vulnerable to the pass, especially when opponents target the middle of the field, as Wisconsin did. They are also 111th in net punting, a stat that catches up with you in close, defensive games.

This is a fifth consecutive chance to pay back an opponent for a loss last year. You get those opportunities by losing a bunch of games the previous year.

But the question remains how Illinois will respond if the Hawkeyes seize the lead and the victory-starved players and fans get going. Do you realize Zook's crew has not trailed once since the opening loss to Missouri?

I can see the Orange and Blue escaping Iowa City. I can also see them stumbling in a low-scoring, ugly game, the only kind Iowa plays these days.

SEC Upset Alert

Five SEC teams hit the road as favorites: Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, LSU and South Carolina (in a nonconference game at UNC). That's fairly unusual in the league, four home underdogs. I give Ole Miss a chance over the Tide and the Tar Heels will challenge a South Carolina team that is getting by on Spurrier's guile and some clutch defensive plays, usually by the superb end Eric Norwood.

For Kentucky to have a shot at LSU, Andre' Woodson must avoid making the poor decisions that sabotaged the Cats' chances at South Carolina. LSU has to be a little weary coming off the hardest-hitting battle I have seen in years. This could be real interesting. But I just think the Tigers escape.

Top Five

Here's how the top of my AP ballot looks after consecutive shakeup Saturdays:

Doug Benc/Getty Images

Matt Flynn and LSU are the nation's clear No. 1 team.

1. LSU. I've had the Tigers here since the day after they beat the Hokies.

2. Cal. Wins at Oregon and over Tennessee trump anything Ohio State has done.

3. Ohio State. Defense has surprised me. But ask this: Do the Bucks' fans who remember the BCS smackdown really want another title shot against LSU … in the Superdome?

4. Oregon. I know, this is a surprise to many of you. But the huge win at Michigan looks better each week and I put alot of weight into the nature of a team's loss. The Ducks probably beat Cal without a goalline fumble in the last minute.

5. Oklahoma. The Sooners need style points and luck to hold this ranking. If USC recovers to run the table, I probably would rank Troy ahead of Boomer. By the way, OU would be 13th in the BCS standings if they were released this week, according to the projections of our resident guru, Brad Edwards.

Stats of the Week

• Michigan is last in the Big Ten in redzone scoring percentage. The Wolves have had 53 plays go for negative yards, which is awful. But not as bad as Notre Dame's total of 71 plays for negative yards, dead last in the nation. That's 71 of 375 plays in the red -- or one in five.

• Florida State has managed just 14 runs all season of 10 or more yards. That's last in the ACC. New offensive line coach Rick Trickett has not been able to mold or motivate his group with his ranting and screaming style. It worked at West Virginia, but not with this group of O-linemen, oft-criticized by the staff for being fat, slow, soft and weak. Other than that, it's an impressive group.

• Louisville's amazingly poor defense has forced a total of 13 three-and-outs in six games. One of three opponent's drives result in TDs.

• LSU's nasty defense has held opponents to zero or negative yards in almost half its plays this year.

• Missouri sustains drives because the Tigers are very efficient on third down -- their 59 percent conversion rate leads the nation. But what's really impressive is that Chase Daniel's versatility leads to Mizzou converting a huge number of third-and-middles: 77 percent of third downs between 3 and 6 yards.

• Is anybody still allowed to wear the coveted Black Shirts in practice for the Nebraska defense? The Huskers have surrendered 35 plays of 20 or more yards this season, last in the Big 12 and 113th in the nation. They have been balanced though! Fourteen runs and 21 passes of 20-plus yards.

• There is no "Wrecking" left in this crew. Texas A&M has managed just six sacks all year and now faces a long day in Lubbock, Texas. No jokes about all days in Lubbock being long, please. Graham Harrell could make it a seventh consecutive bad day in Jones Stadium for the Ags, which would further inflame the faithful.

Deceptive wins

Virginia Tech's romp at Clemson was keyed by three non-offensive TDs (Clemson is trying hard to set a new standard for worst special teams play in history), but featured only 219 total yards and a puny nine first downs. The Hokies have had a hard time sustaining drives (113th in total offense) and cannot string together drives. It'll be interesting to see whether that improves at Duke Saturday. The Dookies are better on defense than you think. Next up is a visit from Matt Ryan and unbeaten Boston College on Oct. 25.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Jimmy Clausen led Notre Dame to just 140 yards of offense, but got a big win for the Irish.

Notre Dame faithful should be happy about the team's first win. But remember that the Irish had just 12 first downs and three were the result of UCLA penalties. The total of 140 yards offense must be one of the lowest numbers compiled by a winning team this season. Hey, I know. They'll take it. But it's just a reminder that the remainder of the teams on the schedule, including BC, probably will not be forced to rely on a third-string QB who is without a bio on the team's Web site and missing their top running back, as the Bruins were.

Two flights and a drive

If we ever throw together a book chronicling "GameDay's" road show misadventures, that might be the title. It refers to the select group of campuses that can be reached from most points (and from my point of origin, New York) only by taking two flights, then driving a fair distance. You can count on one of the flights being of the regional jet variety. And it will be packed with fans of the visiting team heading to the game. And they will be very much in the mood to talk college football and ask you "Who-duh-yuh-like? Come on, you can tell me." Then you pile in your rental car and hit the highway for a little while. Whether or not you choose to dial up the local sportstalk show to hear more fans talking about the big game is up to you.

Two-flights-and-a-drive towns are usually a little tougher on a road-weary and sleep deprived body than the "one-flight-and-a-long-drive" campuses. The latter category would be places located a fair piece from a major hub airport like Auburn, Georgia, Clemson, Oregon, Purdue, Texas A&M, Kansas State and West Virginia.

Two-flights-no-drive campuses are abundant. Take one big plane, one small plane, and you're there. Florida, Florida State and Nebraska, among many others, fit this category.

No, the real challenges to reach are the ones in the select two-flights-and-a-drive category. In honor of "GameDay's" visit to one of them this week, I offer now the sixpack of campuses that you really gotta wanna reach to get there. Again, this is from my geographic vantage point of the Big Apple. And lest a bunch of fans get all offended here, let me emphasize that I have enjoyed my time in all of these places … once I make it there. Getting there ain't hardly half the fun, though.

Tuscaloosa. Dreaded Atlanta connection to Birmingham and then the longest one-hour drive anyone has ever made. You keep driving, but T-town doesn't get any closer! Last time, I took an unintended detour through Gadsden, Bo Jackson's home town, trying to find a Wendy's advertised from the highway. It didn't speed the journey.

Blacksburg. Roanoke is reached by two shortish flights, unless you want to test your courage in one of the last remaining turbo-props operating in the civilized world and bounce through turbulence at about eight-thousand feet while enjoying deafening prop noise that not even Bose headphones can supress. After the two flights, it's just a matter of navigating into the mountains and Tech's very nice campus. You have to earn the right to watch the Hokies play! At all costs, avoid the postgame traffic. Leave early if you must!

Washington State/Collegiate Images/Getty Images

Washington State's Martin Stadium is a tough place to get to.

Norman. Upside is that you usually can fly a comfy plane at least part way to Oklahoma City. Then, it's a schlep up the four lane to Soonerville.

Stillwater. Tulsa is another two-flight town, then a longer hike to a remote corner of the state.

Iowa City. The campus is not that close to the airport, but the drive is less punishing than the others, once you reach the ground.

Pullman. Ah yes, I have saved the toughest reach for last. "GameDay's" never been there, but I have. Fly cross-country, then connect to Spokane and navigate through the otherwordly landscape of the Palouse to reach the Cougs' home.

Just missing the cut is Starkville, Miss. It's certainly two flights to get to the Columbus, Mo., International Airport, but the drive from there is not too bad.

None of the above really applies if you are involved in the HCP, of course.

That would be the Herbstreit Charter Program, wherein commercial flights carrying regular folk are bypassed in favor of corporate jets. Under those parameters, all games are reached by "One-Flight-No-Drive." Unless I am attending a Rutgers game just through the Lincoln Tunnel, that program can't be beat.

But I am not bitter.

Chris Fowler is the host of ESPN's "College GameDay." Kick off each Saturday with "College GameDay" at 10 a.m. ET to get the latest news on college football.

Source: ESPN.com