What we learned Saturday

"K2T Wisata"

Saturday was full of surprises and it provided the college football fan with an education. Here is what we learned Saturday . . .

Wisconsin put up 83 points against Indiana Saturday, demonstrating that at this time they are the best team in the Big Ten. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Wisconsin is the best team in the Big Ten. Sorry Ohio State and Michigan State fans. After watching the Badgers’ put up 83 points against Indiana Saturday, how can you argue otherwise. With only Michigan and Northwestern left on the schedule, Wisconsin should finish the season 7-1 in the Big Ten Conference and earn a trip to the Rose Bowl.

It might be time for Ron Zook to go. The Illinois coach has had his ups-and-downs during his six seasons in Champaign but Saturday’s 38-34 loss to a one-win Minnesota team was the last straw. Zook’s record is 26-44 overall and 15-31 in the Big Ten. At 5-5, the Illini need to beat Northwestern and Fresno State to quality for its first bowl bid since 2007.

Boise State should send a thank-you card to Notre Dame. The Broncos must have enjoyed watching the Fighting Irish’s 28-3 victory over No. 15 Utah. That win showed that maybe TCU’s 47-7 win over the Utes a week earlier wasn’t as big as it was played up to be. Tack on the fact that the Horned Frogs’ struggled in a 40-35 win over San Diego State Saturday and Boise State could pass TCU in this week’s BCS.

A false start penalty saved Oregon’s season. Trailing the top-ranked team in the country 15-13, Cal kicker Giorgio Tavecchio hit a 24-yard field goal that would have given the Golden Bears a 16-15 lead but it was negated by a false start committed by Tavecchio. Cal lined up for a 29-yard field goal on the next play and missed it. Oregon held on to win 15-13.

College football is full of redemption stories. Take Florida State kicker Dustin Hopkins. The sophomore missed two critical fourth quarter field goals against North Carolina last week allowing the Tar Heels to beat the Seminoles 37-35. Saturday night, Hopkins kicked a career-best 55-yard field goal as time expired to give Florida State a 16-13 victory over Clemson. The win keeps the ‘Noles in the race for the ACC Atlantic Division title.

Watch out for Texas A&M. After suffering a three-game losing streak earlier in the season, the Aggies have put together an impressive four-game winning streak which has seen them make noise in not only the Big 12 Conference but the BCS standings. It’s no coincidence that Texas A&M began their streak after making the switch at quarterback. Ryan Tannehil is 3-0 as a starter and the offense has outscored their opponents 165-86 during that stretch. A big showdown against Nebraska on Nov. 20 could help to improve the Aggies chances in the postseason.

Florida International is making strides under Mario Cristobal. Before the season, the Golden Panthers were 9-27, with their best season coming in 2008 when they went 5-8. But Saturday’s 52-35 victory over perennial Sun Belt power Troy (5-4, 4-2), not only gave FIU their most conference wins in a season (4) but it also moved them into the lead in the conference. Cristobal’s squad rolled up 668 yards and three separate players had over 100 yards in the game — Darriet Perry (186), T.Y. Hilton (158), and  Darrian Mallary (118).

South Florida is back in the Big East race. A month ago, you couldn’t mention the Bulls and the Big East conference title in the same sentence but my how times have changed. After opening conference play with losses to Syracuse and West Virginia, Skip Holtz’s team has rolled off three straight wins – Cincinnati, Rutgers, Louisville — and wins against Pitt and UConn could have USF at least tied for first-place in the conference.

Rich Ellerson was the right hire for Army. The Cadets beat Kent State, 45-28 Saturday becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 1996. In the two season as the head coach at Army, Ellerson has put together an 11-11 overall record and has helped revitalize the service academy.

Marcus Lattimore will be a Heisman Trophy candidate next season. The freshman rushed 40 times for a career-high 212 yards and three touchdowns in leading South Carolina past Florida, 36-14 and clinching the school’s first SEC East Division title. Lattimore is the conference’s second-leading rusher (964) and if he stays healthy, could become the school’s all-time leading rusher.