Expectations May Not Come to Pass

Not everyone has Matt Leinart at quarterback.

That much is evident by a quick glance at the quarterback situations for several top-25 teams.

Fourth-ranked Ohio State, No. 6 Tennessee, No. 16 California and No. 18 Oklahoma entered this week with question marks at quarterback and No. 8 Iowa lost its starter, Drew Tate, to a concussion in the first half of Saturday’s loss to Iowa State.

Those teams will have to find answers soon if they are to keep up with top-ranked USC, which is led by Leinart, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner who decided to return to USC instead of entering the NFL draft. His decision eliminated the possibility of a quarterback controversy for the defending national champion Trojans.

Others aren’t so lucky.

Ohio State played college football’s game of the week against No. 2 Texas using the quarterback-by-committee approach with Justin Zwick and Troy Smith.

The rotation was so unsettled that when the Ohio State offense lined up for a potential game-winning drive with less than three minutes to play, both quarterbacks stood with helmets on taking instructions from Coach Jim Tressel before Tressel tapped Zwick on the shoulder and sent him into the game.

Zwick fumbled on the next play and Texas held on for a 25-22 victory during which neither Buckeye quarterback distinguished himself.

“You’d have to go back and watch the film,” Tressel said after the game when asked to assess the quarterbacks. “There were some times where we didn’t do what we needed to do and there were other times where we did.”

Zwick, who started the game, completed nine of 15 passes for 66 yards. Smith, returning from a two-game suspension for taking money from a booster, was five for 11 for 78 yards with a touchdown. He also rushed for 28 yards in 12 carries, but was sacked in the end zone for a safety with 19 seconds left.

Zwick played the first two series and led the Buckeyes to only one first down. Smith relieved and led five consecutive scoring drives -- three of which were set up by turnovers in Texas territory.

Zwick returned in the third quarter and led a scoring drive, then Smith went in for the drive after that, and by the end of the game the situation had not become any clearer.

Oklahoma’s quarterback dilemma also remains unsettled after Saturday. Rhett Bomar started for the Sooners, replacing Paul Thompson, who struggled in a season-opening loss to Texas Christian.

Bomar was not exactly effective, completing only five of 13 attempts for 42 yards in a 31-15 victory over Tulsa. He also threw two interceptions.

It got so ugly that Coach Bob Stoops shut down the passing game in the second half and instead turned to running back Adrian Peterson, who gained 180 of his 220 yards in the second half.

“I’m not going to sit here and critique our quarterbacks in front of everybody,” Stoops said. “We weren’t very productive, we need to do a better job and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

California, meanwhile, seemed to find a winner in its battle to replace injured starter Nate Longshore. Joe Ayoob was 17 for 21 for 271 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-17 rout over Washington.

Ayoob was 0 for 10 last week in relief of Longshore, who broke his ankle late in the first half of a 41-3 victory over Sacramento State. Third-stringer Steve Levy replaced Ayoob in that game, but Coach Jeff Tedford gave Ayoob another shot Saturday and it paid off.

“He had great composure and made great plays throughout the game,” Tedford said. “He was not apprehensive at all. He wasn’t looking for some safe game to get his confidence back.”

In Knoxville earlier this week, Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer announced that Woodland Hills Taft graduate Rick Clausen would start next week against Florida. The Volunteers were idle Saturday.

Sophomore Erik Ainge started the Volunteers’ season opener last week, an unimpressive 17-10 victory over Alabama Birmingham.

The two split signal-calling duty in that game, but Clausen outplayed Ainge. Clausen completed 17 of 24 passes for 217 yards and threw an interception. Ainge completed five of 14 for 57 yards with two interceptions. Each threw a touchdown pass.

Fulmer said the two would probably split time again, but added that he’d like to see a starter emerge. “I want somebody to take the job and be it,” he said.

Clausen was 3-1 as a starter last season, including a 38-7 victory over Texas A&M; in the Cotton Bowl. He said last week that he was fine with a two-quarterback rotation and that he wished the talk of a controversy would end.

“Whether I’m starting or not doesn’t matter,” he said. “My job on this football team is to go out and be a leader.”

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Change of Scenery Suits Him Fine

Former UCLA and La Canada St. Francis quarterback John Sciarra Jr., now at Division I-AA Wagner, was selected Northeastern Conference player of the week last week after he completed 25 of 40 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-27 victory over La Salle.

It was the fifth time in his career he has surpassed the 300-yard mark. Saturday against Iona, he was 22 for 41 for 264 yards and two touchdowns in a 14-0 victory.

Sciarra, son of former Philadelphia Eagle quarterback John Sciarra, left UCLA after the 2003 season, during which he was arrested for disorderly conduct, public intoxication and giving a name other than his own to police.

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Blown Away, Again

Jacksonville, Fla., wasn’t affected by Hurricane Katrina, but Jacksonville University has been. Jacksonville’s game at Georgia State was canceled because flooding caused by the storm damaged Georgia State’s equipment.

It was the second consecutive week Jacksonville had a game canceled because of the effects from Hurricane Katrina. Its Sept. 1 opener at Southeast Louisiana State was also called off.

“Our players are eager to compete against someone other than themselves, but sometimes things are out of our control,” Jacksonville Coach Steve Gilbert said.

Jacksonville’s debut is now set for Saturday at Charleston Southern.

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Record Setters

Oregon’s Paul Martinez tied a school record with six field goals in a 47-14 win over Division I-AA Montana. Martinez has 11 field goals in the Ducks’ first two games, two more than the team had all last season.... Earlham defeated Manchester, 69-62, setting an NCAA Division III record for combined points. It was two more than the previous mark set Oct. 25, 2003, when Coe beat Cornell, 66-63.... Davidson set a school record with six interceptions in a 32-7 victory over Greensboro. Patrick Fitzgerald had three of the interceptions.

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Backup plan

California, Oklahoma, Iowa and Ohio State relied on second-string quarterbacks Saturday and the results were mixed.

JOE AYOOB

California

Won, 56-17

* Ayoob stepped in for the injured Nate Longshore and led the Golden Bears to a victory at Washington. He passed for 271 yards and four touchdowns.

RHETT BOMAR

Oklahoma

Won, 31-15

* Bomar, a highly recruited quarterback out of high school, was ineffective but the Sooners beat Tulsa at home. Bomar completed five of 13 passes for 42 yards and was intercepted twice.

JASON MANSON

Iowa

Lost, 23-3

* Manson was forced into the game when Iowa starter Drew Tate suffered a concussion against Iowa State. Manson was 10 for 31 for 117 yards and the Hawkeyes were held to three points on the road.

TROY SMITH

Ohio State

Lost, 25-22

* Shared time with starter Justin Zwick in the home loss to Texas. Smith’s 36-yard pass in the second quarter resulted in the Buckeyes’ lone touchdown against the Longhorns.