COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

News and notes

Michigan guarantee: The Michigan State-Michigan rivalry is relegated to provincial appeal this season because both teams are unranked. Within the state of Michigan and for both programs, however, much is at stake. The players wearing green are out to prove they’re not the same old Spartans. The once-mighty Wolverines insist want to show they still own the series. “We are not going to lose to State,” Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham told reporters Saturday following a 46-17 loss at Penn State. Two days later, Graham’s teammates didn’t fault him for firing up Michigan State more. “He wanted to guarantee a win. We’re going to back him up on it,” defensive tackle Terrance Taylor said Monday. Oddsmakers aren’t counting on that happening. Michigan State (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten) is a 5 1/2-point favorite to beat Michigan (2-5, 1-2) for the first time since 2001.

Pitt settled: The quarterback is throwing key blocks on long running plays, the running back might have been the hardest-working player during the bye week. For a change, Pitt — a team that once dropped out of the Top 25 as quickly as it entered — finally seems to be settling into its role as one of the Big East Conference’s top teams. The No. 17 Panthers (5-1, 2-0 in Big East) won their fifth in a row by beating Navy 42-21 on the road and are favored to make it six in a row when they play Rutgers (2-5, 1-2) on Saturday, their first home game in more than a month.

Tebow tabs McCoy: Florida quarterback Tim Tebow has picked a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, and it’s not last year’s winner. Tebow, who could become the first player since Ohio State’s Archie Griffin in 1975 to win consecutive Heismans, said Monday that Texas quarterback Colt McCoy is his top choice right now. “Being smart and just looking at guys who are having a good year, he obviously is someone to look at and would probably be my top guy I’d vote for right now,” Tebow said.

Associated Press