Marquee matchup is nearly derailed

This year’s “Game of the Century” is coming.

On Nov. 18, No. 1-ranked Ohio State will play No. 2 Michigan, and the assumption around the country for the last few weeks has been that the winner will play for the national championship.

Poor performances Saturday by both protagonists, however, nearly took the game down a few notches on the hype totem pole.

Ohio State had to hold on for its BCS life when it did not score in the second half and squeaked past Illinois, 17-10.

Michigan batted down a fourth-down pass in the end zone with 2 minutes 46 seconds to play to preserve a 34-26 victory over Ball State.

Afterward, quarterback Chad Henne of the Wolverines acknowledged that the looming possibility of playing Michigan’s biggest rival in the final regular-season game as the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the nation was too much to put aside.

“I think that is a lot of the reason why we weren’t focused,” said Henne, whose team was a 34-point favorite. “Coming into the game, people were reading too many press clippings.”

Before Saturday, Ohio State had won all of its games by at least 17 points. It was supposed to happen again against Illinois, a 24-point underdog, but Coach Jim Tressel said his team was bound to struggle sooner or later.

“What does it say that we got taken against the wall? Everybody can get taken against the wall,” Tressel said.

Both teams have games next week and will again be heavy favorites -- Ohio State against Northwestern and Michigan against Indiana.

You can bet neither will be looking past those opponents, the way they seemed to have been this week.

“I definitely believe that it was a wake-up call,” Michigan defensive end LaMarr Woodley said. “Coming into this game, everybody was talking about the hype about Michigan and Ohio State, and it kind of overlooked a team like Ball State. If you disrespect a team, they’re going to come out and give their all.”

Nickel for your loss

It’s time for David Letterman to take a hammer to his piggy bank.

The late-night television host, a Ball State graduate, guaranteed on his show last week that his alma mater would pull off the “biggest upset in the history of college football” against Michigan.

Letterman was so sure that he promised to give anyone who could prove they were at the game “a shiny new nickel” if he was wrong.

Michigan announced the attendance at 109,359, so it could cost Letterman $5,467.95.

Long season

Northern Colorado has to be wondering what more can happen to its beleaguered team.

The latest in a line of dramas occurred Thursday, when former player Adam Matthews, second on the school’s all-time rushing list, died of a seizure at 25.

His brother, Asa, is a linebacker on the team and played Saturday in Northern Colorado’s 13-10 loss to Montana State.

“He wouldn’t want me to sit out, no matter what,” said Matthews, who had three tackles. “I look up to my brother. He did a lot.”

Northern Colorado made headlines because of the Sept. 11 stabbing of punter Rafael Mendoza -- in which backup punter Mitch Cozad has been charged.

The Bears have also suspended three coaches for holding an illegal practice, had two other players arrested in separate incidents and self-reported the use of an ineligible player in their first game.

Costly gesture

Pittsburgh tight end Darrell Strong was suspended indefinitely for a touchdown celebration during which he appeared to make an obscene gesture to the crowd.

Strong was penalized for excessive celebration on the play that occurred during the fourth quarter of the Panthers’ 22-12 loss to South Florida, but Pittsburgh Coach Dave Wannstedt said the 15-yard penalty wasn’t enough.

“Our football program and university have very high standards and we will not tolerate the behavior Darrell Strong displayed today,” Wannstedt said in a statement released by the school.

Strong apologized to South Florida and his teammates in a separate statement released by the school.

“I know my behavior hurt my team and embarrassed my university,” he said. “That’s not what being a Pitt football player is about, and I want everyone to know I am truly sorry.”

Pivotal victory

Kentucky got its most important victory Saturday in the Rich Brooks era when the Wildcats defeated Georgia, 24-20.

It was the third Southeastern Conference victory for the Wildcats, the most since Brooks, a longtime coach at Oregon before he left for the NFL’s St. Louis Rams in 1995, took over.

It was the first time in 10 years that Kentucky has defeated Georgia, a team ranked as high as No. 10 this season.

“It’s a significant win,” Brooks said. “A win like this against a team Kentucky hasn’t beaten in years is a signature win.”

Kentucky had won only eight SEC games the last five seasons, but now is one victory away from bowl eligibility -- something Brooks said is his main goal.

“I’m here to try to bring some pride and respect back to Kentucky football,” Brooks said.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Turmoil U

The trials and tribulations this season at Northern Colorado:

* Sept. 11: Punter Rafael Mendoza is stabbed in the kicking leg.

* Oct. 8: Defensive lineman Jacob Carlson is arrested after taking part in a bar fight. Police said the fight started when he told a Latino man, “I don’t like Mexicans.”

* Oct. 11: The school suspends three coaches for conducting an illegal practice in March.

* Oct. 12: The school self-reports the use of an ineligible player in its opening game.

* Oct. 15: Fullback Garrett Bliss is arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault after allegedly getting into a fight with a man over text messages sent to Bliss’ girlfriend.

* Nov. 2: Adam Matthews, the school’s second all-time leading rusher, dies of a seizure at 25. His brother, Asa, is a linebacker on this year’s team.

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Los Angeles Times