Slowly, college football made strides.
In the 1990s, the national championship was shared three times in an eight-year span, while another two seasons featured multiple teams receiving first-place votes. So, the BCS was born in 1998. The College Football Playoff arrived for the 2014 season.
This season marks the first time in the 26 years since the BCS was introduced that five power-conference teams are undefeated through 10 games. For the past five weeks, they have been the top five teams in the rankings.
But one is unlike the others.
Despite owning one of the two best wins in the country — one of three wins against ranked teams — No. 5 Washington (10-0) holds the seventh-best title odds, behind a pair of one-loss teams, including Oregon, which the Huskies beat last month.
Michigan has the nation’s top-ranked defense. Ohio State is fourth. Georgia is eighth. Florida State is 29th. When you scroll past the likes of Sam Houston State and Louisiana Tech you find Washington at No. 92. The Huskies’ defense has allowed 103 points in the past three games. They have been on the verge of defeat in each of their past four games.
They can avoid it no longer. Not against No. 11 Oregon State. Not against an offense that puts up 36 points per game. Not in Corvallis, where OREGON STATE (-2.5) has won nine consecutive games and knocked off three straight ranked visitors.
Washington opened as a 1-point favorite. Then, the line leaped. It is clear that one is not like the others.
PENN STATE (-20.5) over Rutgers
Next year, the Nittany Lions will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of an expanded playoff field. Until then, Penn State will have to get its kicks by punching down. In the past two meetings with Rutgers, the Nittany Lions won by a combined score of…
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