Second thoughts for Kentucky

No need to remind Kentucky about the football cliche that you have to play a full 60 minutes.

In 2002, the last time Louisiana State came to town, Kentucky led at the 59-minute 58-second mark but lost, 33-30, when LSU’s Marcus Randall heaved a pass with two seconds to play that Devery Henderson came down with after time had expired, completing a 75-yard scoring play.

By then, Kentucky players had already given then-coach Guy Morriss a Gatorade shower and Wildcats fans stormed the field as the pass sailed through the air.

Most of the coaches and players from that game have moved on, but the play -- dubbed “The Bluegrass Miracle” -- lives in infamy.

Kentucky players and fans may be tired of the incessant television replays, but more recent history is a bigger concern. The Wildcats lost, 49-0, to LSU last year at Baton Rouge, the low point in a season in which Kentucky earned its first bowl win since 1984.

“Clearly we’re better equipped now than we were when we played them last year,” Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks said of his 5-1 and No. 17-ranked team. “I don’t think there’s a question about that.”

LSU comes in 6-0 and ranked No. 1. The Wildcats haven’t played a top-ranked team since losing to Tennessee in 1998, and they haven’t defeated a No. 1 team since Mississippi in 1964.

Kentucky players say the key will be to keep the game close or have a lead going into the fourth quarter, but Louisiana State’s fourth-quarter comeback against Florida last week had to raise doubts about that theory.

“That comeback in the fourth quarter was one of the best comebacks I’ve seen in a long, long time,” Brooks said.

In at least five years, anyway.

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Repetitious

Missouri, 5-0 and ranked No. 11, is looking for a history-changing victory against No. 6 Oklahoma (5-1).

The Tigers have lost 16 consecutive games in Norman, Okla., dating to 1966, and have lost 13 straight road games against ranked opponents -- the last win coming in 1997 at Oklahoma State.

It gets worse. The 1973 team started 6-0 and was ranked No. 7, then lost four of its last six to finish 8-4.

The 1960 Missouri team started 9-0 and was ranked No. 1 when it lost to Kansas in its regular-season finale.

Last year, Missouri started 6-0, reached No. 19, then lost five of its last seven to finish 8-5.

“We are looking to get over that hump,” tight end Martin Rucker told the Kansas City Star. “We’re tired of hearing it. But we were recruited here to turn this thing around. We’re going to try to get that stigma off Mizzou.”

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Holy rivalry

It’s an old-fashioned rivalry when Boston College and Notre Dame meet. They’re the only Catholic universities playing major-division football.

“We can feel the hatred for BC throughout our fans,” Notre Dame nose tackle Pat Kuntz said.

It has also included a couple of championship-dashing upsets. Another could happen this year, but this time the tables are turned.

The Eagles cost Notre Dame a national championship by defeating the Irish in 1993, and upset the fourth-ranked Irish again in 2002 when they were 8-0.

This time, No. 4 Boston College (6-0) is looking to avoid the upset against Notre Dame (1-5).

“If we play well and beat Boston College, spoiling their season is one thing,” Notre Dame defensive end Trevor Laws said. “Us winning, beating the No. 4 team in the nation is even better.”

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Not-so-lofty goal

Ohio State plays Kent State in a game that’s meaningless -- just as long as the Buckeyes win.

But considering the rash of upsets going around, don’t count out the Golden Flashes.

The No. 3 Buckeyes say they haven’t.

“No game’s meaningless for us,” cornerback Shaun Lane said. “If we were to lose this game, we’d fall down the rankings. We take it the same as a Big Ten game.”

Kent State is looking at it a little differently. Coach Doug Martin said success could be defined as escaping without a significant injury.

“If I had my druthers I would definitely rather play this game early in the season,” he said.

“Us getting out of there healthy and being able to finish our conference is a major concern.”

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Coaches’ reunion

Iowa State is playing Texas, which means the Cyclones’ new coach, Gene Chizik, will be playing his old school for the first time since he quit as the Longhorns’ defensive coordinator.

Chizik and Texas Coach Mack Brown figure to be in bad moods, though. Iowa State is 1-5, and Texas has lost four consecutive Big 12 Conference games.

“I’d be even more excited to see him if it was out for coffee or something,” Chizik said of Brown.

-- Compiled by Peter Yoon