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"&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In April, Missouri star Dorial Green-Beckham busted into the home of his girlfriend with such force that he broke through the drywall surrounding the door. He pushed one of her roommates down four stairs, according to a police report of the incident, and then the 6-foot-6, 225-pound wide receiver dragged his girlfriend out of the apartment by her neck.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Missouri kicked Green-Beckham off the team but he was never charged with a crime. His girlfriend\u2019s roommate declined to press charges, saying she feared the backlash from fans and attention from the media. Police called Green-Beckham\u2019s girlfriend \u201Cextremely uncooperative,\u201D and police records show she texted her roommate: \u201CFootball really is all he has going for him, and pressing charges would ruin it for him completely.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Three months later, Green-Beckham was accepted at Oklahoma, getting a fresh start with one of the most successful football programs in the country. It was a move that Sooners athletic director Joe Castiglione admitted the school would be unlikely to repeat today. \u201CIf someone presented a case like that now, I think you would be fair to say that he probably wouldn\u2019t be at Oklahoma,\u201D Castiglione said.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The video released last week of Baltimore Ravens star tailback Ray Rice punching his then-fianc\u00E9e in an Atlantic City elevator has led to a heightened awareness around college athletics. It will be more difficult for schools to rely on the fact that a player wasn\u2019t charged or preach that a player has \u201Clearned his lesson,\u201D according to several college officials who spoke to &lt;em&gt;The Inside Read&lt;/em&gt;.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u2022 &lt;strong&gt;THAMEL: Boston College rides emotion, ground game to upset of USC&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Castiglione stressed that Oklahoma didn\u2019t regret admitting Green-Beckham. His stance that OU may not take Green-Beckham now is simply reflective of how the scrutiny level has changed. \u201CJust because of the attention and the cases now in the public consciousness, the university would have been unlikely to take on a situation like that,\u201D Castiglione said.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Multiple collegiate officials echoed the notion of a heightened sense of awareness of domestic issues. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said it was a \u201Cgood question\u201D whether a player like Green-Beckham could transfer to a high-profile school now, but also expressed skepticism that talented players will be left on the sidelines because of troubled pasts. West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck said schools need to double down on education about domestic issues.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CThe sensitivity is at an all-time high,\u201D Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw said. \u201CJust as the NFL is under a great deal of scrutiny right now, the same is true in college athletics.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Oklahoma may be the epicenter for this issue at the college level, as Green-Beckham isn\u2019t the only Sooner who has been accused of violence against a woman. In July, freshman tailback Joe Mixon, a five-star recruit, was charged with punching a 20-year-old female in the face, fracturing her jaw, cheekbone and orbital bone. The incident occurred at a late-night eatery and was caught on tape, but police have not released the video. It was shown to approximately 40 media members in early September, and, according to reports, the female slapped Mixon and he punched her, and she stayed on the ground for about half a minute. He then left the scene.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mixon faces a misdemeanor assault charge&amp;nbsp;(he pleaded not guilty and has a court date later this month)&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;and the university suspended him for a year, but many have questioned why he is still enrolled in school.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In January, Sooners linebacker Frank Shannon was accused of sexually assaulting a female student, an allegation that became public in April. The local district attorney declined to press charges, but Shannon is serving a one-year suspension for violating the school\u2019s sexual misconduct policy. He\u2019s maintained his innocence.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;During a nearly two-hour discussion on Sunday, Castiglione sounded like a guy caught in between defending the university\u2019s housing of several players accused of crimes against women and one acknowledging the new reality. Castiglione pointed out that Green-Beckham has behaved well at Oklahoma and he didn\u2019t want his comments to make him feel unwelcome. \u201CI don\u2019t want to create the impression that you are here, but you shouldn\u2019t be here,\u201D he said.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At one point, he cautioned against comparing cases like those of Rice and Green-Beckham, as Rice was arrested, charged and later entered a diversion program for first-time offenders. Castiglione pointed out that Green-Beckham was never charged and also said Oklahoma officials, including the compliance office, researched Green-Beckham thoroughly. Green-Beckham has been involved in two marijuana incidents, one which he was charged in. \u201CIf we knew he had done something wrong,\u201D Castiglione said, \u201CI can assure you he would not be here.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But Green-Beckham, who is sitting out this year as a transfer, clearly did &lt;em&gt;something &lt;/em&gt;wrong or he\u2019d still be at Missouri, and the details in the police report shed light on why the women who could have pressed charges against him did not.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;There were a few days of bad publicity, but the story about Green-Beckham's transfer shifted from the ethics of whether Oklahoma should have taken him to his waiver request and his potential eligibility this season. The waiver was denied. The negative publicity died down and Oklahoma ended up with a player who was the country\u2019s No. 1 recruit in 2012 and led Missouri with 12 touchdown catches last season as a sophomore.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CWhatever he may or may not have done,\u201D Castoglione said, \u201Che is trying to become a better person.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As time passes, will anything really change in the long term? Bowlsby predicts that the Rice incident will not deter schools from taking talented players with troubled pasts.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CThe fact is that if sometimes a person is a good enough player, institutions may overlook missteps,\u201D Bowlsby said. \u201CI\u2019m not necessarily talking about sexual assault or violence, but they may be accused of stealing or academic problems. I\u2019m guessing there would be a time that Ray Rice ends up in playing in the NFL again. There will be an organization willing to take him on because he\u2019s a good enough player.\u201D\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Three-and-out&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1. Jake Waters leads K-State in Thursday showdown vs. Auburn&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From its remote location to its reclusive coach, Kansas State\u2019s program is always shrouded in mystery. That\u2019s just how Bill Snyder likes it. The man who dislikes surprises has been so adept over the years at pulling them on others. As the No. 20 Wildcats prepare to host No. 5 Auburn on Thursday night, Snyder\u2019s team enters the game once again as an enigma.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Is this like the stealth Collin Klein team from two years ago that nearly burst into the BCS title game and finished 11-2? Or is this more like last year\u2019s Kansas State team that lost to North Dakota State but recovered for an 8-5 season? There\u2019s a quiet confidence at Kansas State that this team could look more like Klein\u2019s team that finished the season as Big 12 co-champions.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CThere\u2019s a lot of similar attributes, similar people, similar leaders,\u201D said Wildcats fullback Glenn Gronkowski. \u201CWe were looking at that, saying we have a pretty good chance this year.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beating Auburn on Thursday night would thrust Kansas State into the playoff conversation. And the onus of the upset will fall on senior quarterback Jake Waters, K-State\u2019s leader and prototypical understated star. What can we expect from Waters and Kansas State on Thursday after a blowout of Stephen F. Austin and a narrow victory at Iowa State?\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CWe have everything,\u201D Waters said. \u201CWe can go do the spread game, the zone reads, throw the attachments, or we can go put two tight ends, two running backs in there and pound it on the ground. It\u2019s a complicated offense.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;After struggling with the offense last year, Waters finally has a good grasp of it and has emerged as a dual threat. He\u2019s completed 61 percent of his passes this season and already rushed for four touchdowns. He\u2019s averaging 5.2 yards per carry, and a big game running the ball will be needed for Kansas State to pull an upset.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201COnce we get the quarterback run game going,\u201D Waters said, \u201Cit puts a lot of stress on the defense.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Waters is the classic Bill Snyder recruit -- and undervalued junior college star few other high-profile schools wanted. As so often happens under Snyder, he\u2019s emerged as a star. Settled into the playbook and comfortable in the spotlight, Waters has a chance to showcase his diverse skills on Thursday night.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2. Pac-12 takes big hit after tough Saturday&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It\u2019s funny how storylines can flip in a single night. After a disastrous stretch on Saturday, the Pac-12 South division dissolved into a dumpster fire. No. 9 USC\u2019s 37-31 loss at Boston College sparked the blaze. The Trojans looked overmatched on defense by BC\u2019s run game, vanilla on offense and juggled more balls on special teams than a Ringling Brothers tryout. That loss is also an optical bruise for the Pac-12, as it devalues one of its brand-name teams and gives the league a loss to a BC team picked to finish sixth in the ACC Atlantic division.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u2022 &lt;strong&gt;STAFF: Saturday Snaps: Recapping the best of Week 3 in college football&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With less than 65 available healthy scholarship players for the rest of the season, don\u2019t expect USC to contend for the Pac-12 title. The biggest issue for Trojans was their inability to exploit their advantages at wide receiver. USC\u2019s quarterback, Cody Kessler, is pedestrian. The Trojans' tailbacks aren\u2019t elite and the offensive line, which gave up five sacks on Saturday, is below average.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Coach Steve Sarkisian made things worse by sticking with an up-tempo offense that only proved adept at handing the ball back to Boston College quickly. When asked about USC\u2019s tempo backfiring, the smile on BC defensive coordinator Don Brown\u2019s face said everything. \u201CWe were scared to death, I thought we did a good job all week playing against the tempo,\u201D he said. \u201CWhen it\u2019s three-and-out now, the other guys are coming out on the field and their defense is stuck out there.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On Saturday night, UCLA nearly lost at Texas, needing a 33-yard touchdown pass from Jerry Neuheisel to Jordan Payton in the final minutes to secure the 20-17 victory. Neuheisel was playing in place of starting quarterback Brett Hundley, who injured his left elbow. Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports reported Sunday that Hundley is expected back by the end of this week, as his injury is a slight hyper-extension. But the Bruins, despite being 3-0, appear to have serious issues on their offensive line, they lack tailback depth and they showed just how vulnerable they can be without Hundley. Even with him now, UCLA will have to be more conservative calling designed runs considering he\u2019s already dinged up.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The most damaging long-term moment for the league may have come during Arizona State\u2019s 38-24 victory at Colorado on Saturday night. Sun Devils star quarterback Taylor Kelly, who beat out Hundley for second-team all Pac-12 last year, injured his right foot. Kelly left the game in the third quarter and later was seen in crutches and a boot with a towel covering his head. Arizona State coach Todd Graham didn\u2019t downplay the potential of the injury, telling the &lt;em&gt;Associated Press&lt;/em&gt; he\u2019s \u201Cvery concerned.\u201D The &lt;em&gt;Arizona Republic&lt;/em&gt; reported that Kelly is expected to miss 1-2 games.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Arizona State and UCLA are off this week before the Bruins travel to Tempe on Sept. 25. That could be the most important game of the season for determining the Pac-12 South race. The status and health of Kelly and Hundley will be the biggest story leading into that game, as the league\u2019s credibility may end up riding on the health of those two quarterbacks.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;3. Clemson's Beasley: 'I feel like I'm better' than Clowney&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley knows all about Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL draft. Beasley spent the last three years at Clemson getting inundated with hype about his rival at South Carolina. He wants to make one thing clear: \u201CI feel like I\u2019m the better player,\u201D Beasley said.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beasley is considered a high-end NFL prospect after registering 23 sacks the last three years, which means he should easily pass Clowney\u2019s career total of 24 career sacks. Beasley has a chance to back up his claims on Saturday when Clemson plays at No. 1 Florida State. It\u2019s a game that just might be the closest thing to a test for the Seminoles in ACC play this season. And it\u2019s a chance for Beasley to show off what opposing blockers fear so much about him. \u201CI feel like I\u2019ve got the best first step in college football,\u201D Beasley said.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;That first step highlights the differences between he and Clowney. The 6-3, 235-pound Beasley acknowledges the size difference between him and the 6-5, 266-pound Clowney. There\u2019s also a contrast in styles. He\u2019s more of a speed rusher, while Clowney is a combination of speed and power. Beasley\u2019s speed rush has thrust him into the ranks of Clemson\u2019s all-time greats, as he\u2019s within six sacks of breaking the school\u2019s career record that is shared by Michael Dean Perry and Gaines Adams at 28.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;He\u2019s also still eyeing Clemson\u2019s single-season sack record of 15.5 owned by Da'Quan Bowers. So far, Beasley has a team-high two sacks, but he\u2019s still haunted by last season. \u201CI know a lot of sacks I missed last year,\u201D said Beasley, who had 13 a year ago.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Determined not to let it happen again, Beasley focused on Xs and Os this summer. He pored through game tape to become more familiar with opposing offenses. In anticipation of a likely transition to outside linebacker in the NFL, Beasley also worked on dropping back into coverage. \u201CI feel like I\u2019ve gained an edge,\u201D Beasley said.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Like Clowney, Beasley could have left early and entered the NFL draft. He even received a second-round draft grade from the NFL&amp;nbsp;Advisory Committee. He thought the projection was fair, but says that he would have ended up being a first-round pick after his workouts. \u201CThe reason I didn\u2019t go is because I wanted to get my degree,\u201D Beasley said.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;When he got his diploma last month in sociology, he became the first person from his family to graduate college. \u201CIt means a lot to me,\u201D Beasley said. \u201CIt\u2019s an honor just to be able to set an example for the young kids and the older people in my family. I know a lot of kids around the area that look up to me back home.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In his hometown of Adairsville, Ga. (population&amp;nbsp;4,648), Beasley is already known beyond his accomplishments on the field. When he gets the chance, he plays the piano in his church, Bethlehem Judah House of God. \u201CI\u2019m no Beethoven,\u201D Beasley said with a laugh.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beasley started playing the piano at the age of 16 and has a passion for music, especially gospel songs. \u201CIt just relaxes me,\u201D Beasley said. \u201CEases my mind.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This weekend, the Seminoles tackles will be the ones on edge.\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Blitz&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022 &lt;/strong&gt;After fans stormed the field Saturday following Virginia\u2019s 23-21 upset of Louisville in Charlottesville, Cavaliers coach Mike London fought back tears in a postgame interview on the field. Later in the locker room, they flowed in joy in front of his players.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CIt\u2019s emotional because I was happy for them,\u201D London told &lt;em&gt;The Inside Read&lt;/em&gt; after the game. \u201CThis job is inherently pressure packed as it is, but for me it was more so because of the success and seeing the smiles and the celebration of the players.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;London is well aware of the pressure on him in his fifth season at Virginia, especially after last season\u2019s 2-10 record. Saturday\u2019s victory was the Cavaliers\u2019 first in ACC play in 672 days and paramount even this early to their bowl hopes.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It was finally the moment London nearly had three weeks ago in a heartbreaking season-opening 28-20 home loss to UCLA, a game in which the Bruins scored three defensive touchdowns. \u201CThis was a long time coming,\u201D London said.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;When Virginia squandered a 13-point lead before kicking a game-winning field goal with less than four minutes remaining, London admits the Cavaliers probably would have faltered in the past. But he points out this squad has 22 seniors, compared to just four last season. \u201CThe difference that makes is just incredible,\u201D London said. \u201CWe\u2019ve got a strong leadership of older guys.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Virginia is also stacked with young talent. Its most recent recruiting class was among the best in school history, headlined by defensive tackle Andrew Brown and safety Quin Blanding, who had a team-high nine tackles on Saturday.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;London also stressed that his program has 20 commitments even after back-to-back losing seasons. \u201CPeople inside the program see and like what\u2019s going on,\u201D he said. \u201CThey see themselves being part of something that can be significant or special. You don\u2019t want to shout that to the rooftops, but if you\u2019re inside and a supporter and you know what\u2019s going on, the thing is being built very nicely.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;By the time London got back to the locker room after Saturday\u2019s win, he realized he had lost something while navigating the swarms of celebrating Virginia fans. Gone was the U.S. Air Force cap he wore in the fourth quarter as part of Military Appreciation Day.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CI don\u2019t mind it,\u201D London said with a laugh, \u201Cnot at all.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u2022 &lt;strong&gt;BECHT: Will Muschamp, Florida survive Kentucky in triple-overtime thriller&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022&lt;/strong&gt; An NFL scout who visited&amp;nbsp;Alabama and Auburn in recent weeks has a warning for the Crimson Tide. \u201CThey better watch out,\u201D the scout said, \u201Cbecause Auburn is coming.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;While the Tigers are more known for their up-tempo offense under second-year coach Gus Malzahn, the scout said they appear to have more NFL draft prospects on defense than Alabama. He cited Auburn senior defensive tackle Angelo Blackson as one of his early breakout players nationally.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CIt really shocks me,\u201D the scout said. \u201CAlabama\u2019s not there yet defensively. If you want to play bully ball and smack heads with them, you\u2019re probably going to be in trouble. But when those guys get in space, it seems like they\u2019re heavy-legged. You\u2019ve seen it against Auburn and Oklahoma. When they play a fast team that\u2019s good in space, they struggle.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022&lt;/strong&gt; New SMU interim coach Tom Mason has been in this situation before. He was elevated from defensive coordinator last week after Mustangs coach June Jones abruptly resigned after an 0-2 start, citing personal issues. He learned of Jones\u2019 decision 15 minutes before Jones made the announcement in a staff meeting.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mason had a 1-9 record as Boise State\u2019s interim coach in 1996. The Broncos ended up hiring Houston Nutt, but Mason got a token interview for the job at the president\u2019s house over prime rib. \u201CIt was the last supper,\u201D said Mason with a laugh.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mason knows that he\u2019s unlikely to get to keep the job this time. With SMU off last week, he spent time stabilizing the coaching staff and trying to take care of his players. \u201CYou can\u2019t focus on, \u2018Am I going to get the job?\u2019\u201D Mason said. \u201CThen you let the rest of it fall apart.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mason expects to be more hands on with the players than Jones, is subtly altering the way the team practices and intends to incorporate some option into the offense. \u201CYou\u2019ve got to make changes or things stay the same,\u201D Mason said.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In addition to Boise State, Mason has interviewed for head coaching jobs at Nevada and Fresno State, which Tim DeRuyter and Brian Polian still hold. \u201CIt seems like I\u2019m never the guy that kisses the bride,\u201D Mason said.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mason spent this past weekend watching college games, namely Texas A&amp;amp;M\u2019s 38-10 victory vs. Rice, in preparation for his team\u2019s game Saturday vs. the Aggies. That was after he figured out how to get a third television hooked up. \u201CWe\u2019ve kind of reached rock-bottom here,\u201D Mason said. \u201CNow, we\u2019ve got no place to go except up.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022&lt;/strong&gt; The lack of star quarterbacks in the SEC was one of the conference\u2019s biggest storylines entering this season. But just three weeks in, Missouri\u2019s Maty Mauk appears to be on his way to stardom and could make the argument as the league\u2019s top quarterback. With four touchdown passes Saturday in a 38-10 romp of Central Florida, he\u2019s now thrown for 647 yards and 12 touchdowns with three interceptions this season.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CThis is only my seventh start,\u201D Mauk told &lt;em&gt;The Inside Read &lt;/em&gt;after the game. \u201CI don\u2019t think people really see that because I played so much last year. We\u2019re going to get better.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mauk had a 3-1 record with nine touchdown passes and just one interception in four starts last season filling in for James Franklin. He\u2019s been compared to another former SEC quarterback, Johnny Manziel, because of their dual-threat ability and Mauk\u2019s arrest after wrecking a scooter with two coeds his first week at Missouri in 2012.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It\u2019s a comparison Mauk has tried to distance himself from. Just like he did Saturday when asked if he\u2019s the SEC\u2019s best quarterback. He\u2019ll have a chance to prove it in coming weeks with a string of games at South Carolina, against Georgia and at Florida. \u201CI\u2019m not worried about that at all,\u201D Mauk said. \u201CI could care less. I\u2019m just out here to win football games and that\u2019s my job.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022&lt;/strong&gt; Highly touted LSU freshman defensive tackle Travonte Valentine is still awaiting clearance from the SEC office about his high school academic standing, but he might not play this season even if he gets the go-ahead.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Valentine, who at one time was purportedly 6-3 and 325 pounds, showed up in Baton Rouge extremely overweight, according to a source. The combination of needing to lose weight and the SEC\u2019s ongoing review of his academic credentials makes him a likely candidate to redshirt this season.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Valentine received approval from the NCAA Clearinghouse late last month, but the SEC is continuing to look into his academics from Champagnat Catholic School. He led the Miami-area program to the Florida Class 2A title last season.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Champagnat is a 247-student school for grades 6-12 and is located next to a used-car dealership. It\u2019s drawing increased scrutiny in college football circles.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Another source familiar with Valentine\u2019s academics is stunned that he received approval from the NCAA Clearinghouse. The source said Valentine had very few high school credits entering his junior year.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CIf Travonte Valentine qualifies there\u2019s something wrong,\u201D the source said. \u201CIt\u2019s not humanly possible.\"\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022&lt;/strong&gt; As the Florida Atlantic band played outside first-year coach Charlie Partridge\u2019s office last week, he joked about his team\u2019s back-to-back losses at Nebraska and Alabama to open the season. \u201CWe bought them some new tubas,\u201D Partridge said.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Partridge calls both losses \u201Cmillion-dollar practices,\u201D the amount each team paid the Owls for the games before he got his first career win Saturday in a 50-21 blowout of Tulsa. They also gave him an up-close look at three of the nation\u2019s top running backs in Nebraska\u2019s Ameer Abdullah and Alabama\u2019s T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry, a group he ranked for &lt;em&gt;The Inside Read&lt;/em&gt;.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;1. Abdullah: \u201CHe\u2019s got all three, power, make-you-miss ability and speed. All at an extremely high level. He\u2019s a great player.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;2. Yeldon: \u201CHe\u2019s powerful and can run fast, but I don\u2019t know that he\u2019s got the make-you-miss near as much.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;3. Henry: \u201CHe\u2019s a little quicker and can make you miss. He\u2019s not as explosively a power back.\u201D\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Four In (and one out)&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Read's weekly playoff predictions&lt;/em&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1. Oregon:&lt;/strong&gt; Time to rule out any potential challenges from the Pac-12 South division.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2. Alabama:&lt;/strong&gt; Biggest drama in Tuscaloosa this week: Will Nick Saban take it easy on former assistant Will Muschamp?\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;3. Oklahoma:&lt;/strong&gt; Solid win against Tennessee will look better as the year goes on.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;4. Florida State:&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;The Clemson game is only relevant date until Notre Dame comes to town on Oct. 18.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;5. Auburn:&lt;/strong&gt; Trip to the \u201CLittle Apple\u201D against Kansas State on Thursday will show if Tigers have legit national title aspirations.\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Q&amp;amp;A with Pitt coach Paul Chyrst&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Pittsburgh has emerged as an ACC Coastal contender thanks to a core of promising young talent, and a schedule that does not include Louisville, Clemson or Florida State. Coach Paul Chryst has an emerging young team led by three sophomores: tailback James Conner, receiver Tyler Boyd and first-year starting quarterback Chad Voytik. Chryst took a few minutes to talk team, fried cheese curds, Young Jeezy and the soaring star of his old understudy, Russell Wilson.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;My spies say your music selection in practice has ranged from country to hip-hop. Is it your iPod? &lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On the good days, we\u2019re definitely going with mine. Shoot I don\u2019t even know the names of a lot of the songs. I\u2019ve adapted my own personal taste. There\u2019s some songs I like on the field I don\u2019t know if I\u2019d play in the car.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Give me a little taste of one artist that\u2019s popped up this year?&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Young Jeezy.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Not too many tailbacks moonlight as defensive ends like James Conner did for you last year. I know he\u2019s been getting reps in practice. Any shot we\u2019ll see him back there this year?&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We haven\u2019t played him yet this year, but he\u2019s certainly been working at it. It\u2019s one of those things where they\u2019ll be times during the course of season that we need him on defense and we\u2019ll play him there.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;He looked difficult to drag down against Boston College. He\u2019s 250 pounds. What makes him so dynamic?&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;He\u2019s got size and certainly enough athletic ability and truly loves playing and competes. He wants to be really good and will work at it. I think he\u2019s understanding of what we\u2019re trying to do and what defenses are doing. He still has some areas where he can get better and grow. That\u2019s our team in general. We\u2019re doing some stuff and appreciate it. It\u2019s a group that can and needs to keep getting a lot better.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;I know how much you think of Russell Wilson. Has anything he\u2019s done surprised you?&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;That\u2019s a little bit of trick of a question. The answer can come off wrong. When I watch him and see what\u2019s he\u2019s doing, it\u2019s nothing I haven\u2019t seen him do. To think you can do it and have that success that early on a whole other level, it doesn\u2019t surprise me that he\u2019s doing it. But you have a new appreciation, though, even though it\u2019s some of the same stuff that he\u2019s done. Even to have the opportunity in talking to him, what I love about him is that he knows it\u2019s a great fit where he\u2019s at. What he\u2019s done doesn\u2019t surprise me, but you sure appreciate what he\u2019s done and everyone around him to make it happen to where it is.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;You grew up idolizing former Steelers center Mike Webster, right?&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;My dad was a line coach at Wisconsin. He recruited Mike Webster and coached him at Wisconsin. You can connect the dots pretty easy. My Steelers jersey is a Mike Webster jersey.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Where does Pitt football fit in on the landscape in Pittsburgh sports now?&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I really believe is that Pittsburgh is a great sports town first. It\u2019s also a great football town. Obviously the Steelers are the flagship. I\u2019ve been able to go to Friday night high school games and they\u2019re a big deal. It\u2019s reminds me of when we were in Texas, and we\u2019d go to games. Pittsburgh is a proud city and proud of the Steelers and high school football. There\u2019s been some great Pitt teams in late 70s and early 80s. Coach Wannstedt had a 10-win team. I didn\u2019t live it, but there was a lot of transition (before I was hired). That takes time. We want to be a meaningful part of the football weekend, with the Friday night games and the Steelers on Sundays. That\u2019s the opportunity we have and the challenge, making Saturday relevant with Pitt.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What do you miss from Wisconsin and what culinary delights have you discovered in Pittsburgh. &lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I\u2019m not real finicky but what I do love here, and I loved in Wisconsin, are just the local places. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s necessarily a certain dish. Can\u2019t get the fired cheese curds out here like you can there. But there\u2019s some pretty cool places.\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Heisman five&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Thamel\u2019s list&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;1. &lt;strong&gt;Marcus Mariota, Oregon:&lt;/strong&gt; Next showcase is at UCLA on Oct 11.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;2. &lt;strong&gt;Todd Gurley, Georgia:&lt;/strong&gt; Blame Mike Bobo\u2019s ineptitude for his lack of a signature moment. Averaged 6.6 yards per carry.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;3. &lt;strong&gt;Everett Golson, Notre Dame:&lt;/strong&gt; His pedestrian numbers against Purdue don\u2019t account for him saving the Irish when they needed a spark.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;4. &lt;strong&gt;Jameis Winston, Florida State:&lt;/strong&gt; Showcase game against Clemson looms.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;5. &lt;strong&gt;Kenny Hill, Texas A&amp;amp;M:&lt;/strong&gt; His parents were busy trademarking \u201CKenny Trill\u201D nickname. Should have been sending hand-written thank you notes to the person responsible for A&amp;amp;M\u2019s putrid out-of-conference schedule.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022 ELLIS: Don't count out Gurley despite Georgia's loss&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Evans\u2019 list&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;1. Winston: Gets his turn in spotlight vs. Clemson, Saturday\u2019s only matchup between ranked teams.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;2. Mariota: He\u2019s already doing his best to flip voters.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;3. Gurley: \u201CMr. Gurley is the best running back in the country.\u201D - South Carolina defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;4. Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato: Go ahead and add this website to your favorites.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;5. Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper: Dare we call his candidacy the Lane Kiffin effect.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Assistant huddle&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022&lt;/strong&gt; While hotshot East Carolina offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley made the nearly five-hour bus ride home after the Pirates\u2019 28-21 upset of Virginia Tech on Saturday, he longed to hear Metallica\u2019s \u201CEnter Sandman.\u201D The smash hit is the song the Hokies have run out to for home games since 2000. It\u2019s an intimidating tradition that makes Lane Stadium one of the toughest atmospheres for visiting teams in college football. \u201CI won\u2019t change the station,\u201D Riley told &lt;em&gt;The Inside Read&lt;/em&gt; after the game. \u201CI will listen to it and I\u2019ll enjoy it.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u2022 &lt;strong&gt;ELLIS: East Carolina starts hot, topples Virginia Tech in Blacksburg&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Pirates\u2019 triumph shows why they are likely on a collision course with Cincinnati for supremacy in the AAC. But to finally beat Virginia Tech for the first time in four tries, Riley and his high-powered offense had to change their approach against Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Their two previous losses were by seven points or less and the Pirates failed to score more than 10 points in either. So Riley last week emphasized a new mindset to his usually explosive offense.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CWe had thought more about their defense than our offense, so we really needed to keep the focus on us,\u201D Riley said. \u201CWe had to be more aggressive in getting the ball down the field and give our guys some chances to make some plays.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sounds simple enough, but it didn\u2019t help that Foster and his defense were as intimidating as they\u2019ve been in recent years coming off the upset they spearheaded at Ohio State.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CYou\u2019ve got to be aggressive back or you let them dictate the game,\u201D Riley said. \u201CI think we let them do that some the previous years. You can\u2019t back down and let them bully you.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;East Carolina\u2019s offense didn\u2019t relent this time, taking deeper shots down the field, using more tempo and being more aggressive running the ball. It all paid off with redshirt senior quarterback Shane Carden dicing the Hokies for 427 passing yards and three touchdowns and scoring the game-winner on a 1-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds left.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CI\u2019m not going to lie,\u201D Riley said, \u201Coffensively our guys have been wanting this one for a while.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As Riley exited the field after the win, he soaked up Lane Stadium\u2019s eerie silence. Just minutes before during East Carolina\u2019s game-winning drive, his headset shook because of the deafening crowd noise.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Said Riley, \u201CIt\u2019s one of those where you kind of know that whatever happens the rest of your career, you\u2019re going to remember it for a long time.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022 &lt;/strong&gt;South Carolina defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward\u2019s unit has been much maligned after its season-opening blowout loss to Texas A&amp;amp;M. The criticism has been harsh for a young Gamecocks defense that lost Jadeveon Clowney, has just one returning starter on the line and only four seniors who start or contribute. But Ward is optimistic after Saturday\u2019s dramatic 38-35 upset of Georgia.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CThere\u2019s no question we\u2019re getting better,\u201D Ward told &lt;em&gt;The Inside Read&lt;/em&gt; after the game.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u2022 &lt;strong&gt;RICKMAN: Give it to Gurley? Georgia play-calling fails at South Carolina&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Many would cite that improvement in the goal-line stand Ward\u2019s defense made late in the fourth quarter to stop Georgia\u2019s comeback. Or Bulldogs star running back Todd Gurley\u2019s 131 rushing yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, a pedestrian game by his standards.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But Ward is particularly encouraged by his defense\u2019s improvement against short passes in space, an area that Texas A&amp;amp;M exploited in rolling up an embarrassing 511 yards through the air. \u201CWe\u2019re doing a better job on the perimeter holding it to a minimum,\u201D Ward said.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Yet Ward knows just how important Saturday\u2019s game are for the confidence of his defense after weeks of negativity. He\u2019ll need to build on both if the Gamecocks are to remain in the SEC East race.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CWe\u2019re a work in progress,\u201D Ward said. \u201COur strength has to be in numbers. We don\u2019t have a dominant superstar player on defense. We knew that going into the season. That\u2019s why we play a lot of players. We probably play more players than any team in the country.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022&lt;/strong&gt; Boston College offensive coordinator Ryan Day summed up his task of overhauling the Eagles offense succinctly. \u201CWe lost eight starters,\u201D he said. \u201CWe had to replace the all-time rusher, the all-time leading receiver and the fourth all-time leading passer in schools history.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The departures of Heisman finalist tailback Andre Williams, slot specialist Alex Amidon and quarterback Chase Rettig have left the Eagles carving out a new identity. It emerged in bruising fashion on Saturday night, as BC trampled USC, 37-31, in a game where the Eagles completed just five passes. BC rushed for 452 yards, including 191 by senior transfer quarterback Tyler Murphy, and showcased the evolution of their offense.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What\u2019s fascinating about Day\u2019s task with the Eagles is the attempt to keep their power run mojo but blend it with spreading out the field. BC\u2019s future is with a dual-threat quarterback. Murphy, a one-year rental, gives the Eagles some flash at the position they\u2019ve been missing. He\u2019s backed up by true freshman Darius Wade, a dual-threat talent expected to take over next season for Murphy.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CWe may go five-wide and run the ball or go seven linemen and pass out of it,\u201D Murphy said. \u201CWe try and go versatile on offense and keep the defense guessing and on their toes. Anything to slow them down is an advantage for us.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Since arriving this spring, Murphy has been forced to adapt quickly. He baked his linemen chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies to get to help ingratiate himself to the team. \u201CThey like them soft,\u201D Murphy said. \u201CI can\u2019t overcook them.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;So far, BC has cooked up a great new look as evidenced by its signature win on Saturday night. Murphy\u2019s deft ball fakes kept the USC defense confused and flat-footed. And the emergence of underclassmen backs Myles Willis (9 carries for 89 yards) and Jon Hilliman (two touchdowns) give BC a positive vibe for the future.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CWe have a power run game that we feel great about,\u201D Day said. \u201CAt Boston College, that\u2019s what we should be. Also, we like the idea of making teams defend the whole 53 1/3. Last year we didn\u2019t really do that.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;* Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee insists he\u2019s in no hurry to be a head coach. But the 31-year-old will essentially have a nationally televised interview Thursday night during the Tigers\u2019 game at Kansas State. One of college football\u2019s brightest young minds, he and his boss, Gus Malzahn, who he played for in high school, share play-calling duties.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CI\u2019ve still got plenty to learn,\u201D Lashlee said.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lashlee hasn\u2019t discussed his coaching future much with Malzahn. But in the few conversations the two have had about it, Malzahn has told Lashlee he will know when he\u2019s ready to be a head coach. Malzahn\u2019s also given Lashlee simple advice that plenty of other once promising assistants haven\u2019t heeded: don\u2019t be so eager to be a head coach that you choose the wrong job.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CObviously you\u2019ve got to make sure it\u2019s a good fit and a place you feel like you can win,\u201D Lashlee said. \u201CSomewhere you can be successful and have the support you need.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lashlee had his own revelation about his career three years ago when he was Samford\u2019s offensive coordinator. A year later, he held the same position at Arkansas State under Malzahn, who he followed to Auburn nearly two years ago.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CThe only way to be successful in this business is to really enjoy the moment where you\u2019re at,\u201D Lashlee said. \u201CIf you don\u2019t do that, you\u2019re not going to do a good job where you\u2019re at. Ultimately, that\u2019s the most important thing.\u201D\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Coach\u2019s kitchen&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Colorado State coach Jim McElwain\u2019s favorite meal in Fort Collins is reflective of his childhood in Montana. It\u2019s the cheeseburger with American cheese dripping down the sides and seasoned crinkle-cut fries at the Chipper\u2019s Lanes bowling alley located just north of campus.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CIt fits my diet and my waistline,\u201D McElwain said with a laugh. \u201CIt\u2019s something that can quench any appetite.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;That\u2019s why McElwain doesn\u2019t even know if the bowling alley even has dessert (it doesn\u2019t). \u201CIf you\u2019re still hungry, I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll fill it up again,\u201D he said. \u201CIt\u2019s a pretty good place.\u201D\r\n&lt;/p&gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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