COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP News and notes

Clark honored: Youngstown native Darryll Clark (Ursuline) was the Big Ten offensive player of the week after compiling a career-best 244 passing yards and running for two scores in the Nittany Lions’ 48-7 win over Wisconsin. Honored on defense were Minnesota DE Willie VanDeSteeg and Penn State DE Aaron Maybin. Michigan State K Brett Swenson took the honors among special units. He had 13 points in a 37-20 win over previously unbeaten Northwestern.

Buckeyes stuck: Ohio State is apparently stuck in neutral in the polls. The Buckeyes remained at No. 12 for the second week in a row after Saturday’s 16-3 win over Purdue. Sure, fans are wondering how the team can win four in a row and only move up two spots while other teams lose games and remain ahead of them. But there is also a plethora of reasons for the Buckeyes to be looking in from outside the top 10. First, that 35-3 beating at Southern California was bad enough, but then the Trojans turned around and lost at Oregon State. So the argument that the Buckeyes at least lost to a dominant, once-a-decade team are null and void. Second, Ohio State hasn’t beaten anybody. The Buckeyes went to the final 70 seconds to win at Wisconsin 20-17. A week later, Penn State lashes those same Badgers 48-7. Wisconsin has now lost three in a row. Honestly, what is the most impressive win for the Buckeyes? Answer: Minnesota, which is 6-1. Finally, all the teams in front of Ohio State in the Associated Press Top 25 have a good reason for being there. There’s no disputing the unbeatens: No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Penn State, or even No. 7 Texas Tech, No. 8 Oklahoma State and No. 9 BYU. The one-loss teams all have history or a tough schedule on their sides: No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 5 Florida, No. 6 USC, No. 10 Georgia and No. 11 Missouri.

BCS predictions: The first Bowl Championship Series standings will not be released until Sunday, but Sam Chi, who operates an Internet site called BCS Guru, has enough raw data in hand to nail the BCS figures down nearly to the number. His BCS top 10, in order: Texas, Alabama, Penn State, USC, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Florida, Georgia and Utah. The only missing component in producing a completely accurate BCS formula is the data from Peter Wolfe, one of the six computer operators. Wolfe’s first standings are released in conjunction with the official standings.

Daniel’s Heisman hopes: Chase Daniel surrendered the Heisman spotlight with three interceptions in an upset loss to Oklahoma State. Now Missouri’s quarterback will get a quick opportunity for redemption — and a homecoming against the top-ranked school that didn’t push hard to recruit him. Daniel insisted Monday there’s no lingering resentment over the fact Texas made an 11th-hour scholarship offer only after another player switched schools. “That happened so long ago,” Daniel said. “It’s four or five years ago and I’ve had such a great experience here. I don’t really think about it too much anymore. It’s how it’s supposed to be.” Coach Gary Pinkel didn’t appear worried that Daniel would attach too much significance to the game. “I don’t think so,” the coach said. “I’m sure it means a lot to him, as it does to all of our Texas players.”

Combined dispatches