College Football Weekly: Week 5 Winners and Losers

Yet another big week in college football and the picture starts to form a little clearer. While there were great performances all across the nation, two teams stood out to me on this big college football weekend. Here are college football's Week 5 winners and losers

LaMichael James and the Ducks fly past Stanford (Steve Dykes-Getty Images) Yet another big week in college football and the picture starts to form a little clearer. While there were great performances all across the nation, two teams stood out to me on this big college football weekend. Here are college football's Week 5 winners and losers:   Winners Oregon's offense (626 total yards) and LaMichael James (257 yards rushing, 3 TDs)When most teams get down 21-3 to a team the caliber of Stanford, they can normally start planning for next week. The Ducks, however, are no ordinary team. Lead by QB Darron Thomas who threw 3 TDs and rushed for another, the Ducks climbed their way back. Then, on the back of one of the best running backs in the country in LaMichael James, the Ducks scored the last four touchdowns of the game to blow the game wide open. James, with his performance Saturday night against Stanford defense that was pretty good against the run, is making his strides onto the Heisman short list. His 76-yard TD run, which capped the scoring, was one of the most stunning displays of speed in recent memory. Thomas and James' leadership of an Oregon offense, that has scored no less than 48 points in every game, leapfrogged Boise State this week to #3 in both polls. Watch out, Pac-10.Washington QB Jake Locker (310 yards passing, TD; 110 yards rushing)The decision to stay in school wasn't looking too good for Jake Locker. Saturday, his 10 play, 62-yard drive that culminated in the game-winning score was a career-defining type drive that might be the spark he needs to resuscitate his senior campaign. Locker had 420 yards of offense in leading the Huskies past the men of Troy for the second straight year. Alabama's Defense (4 Turnovers vs. Florida)There were questions surrounding this Alabama defense that lost so much talent to graduation and the NFL. They answered some questions with two 4th quarter interceptions in the win at Arkansas. They quieted most questions after Saturday, forcing the Gators into 4 turnovers in their 31-6 win. Even when freshmen sensation Trey Newton tried the patented Tebow 'jump pass', 'Bama's Nico Johnson was there to pick the pass off in the end-zone. With Nick Saban, this young defense will only get better. Glendale, anyone? Michigan State If for nothing else, give Michigan State credit for maintaining under emotional circumstances. With coach Mark Dantonio's being re-hospitalized after his heart attack two weeks ago for a blood clot, the Spartans rallied to pull a tough game out over a Wisconsin squad that some picked to win the Big Ten. Kirk Cousins threw 3 TDs and MSU is undefeated and heading into next week's showdown with in-state rival and also-undefeated Michigan.  Losers Tennesee's D and coaching staffDerek Dooley very may well have a case for the referees allowing his team to adequately substitute on the last play of their 16-14 loss at LSU. One extra player on defense, it happens all the time. But two? A gigantic blunder caused the stop on the fumbled snap by LSU QB Jordan Jefferson to be nullified. Instead, the Vols saw Stevan Ridley rumble into the end zone for the winning score and an 0-2 start in conference. USC K Joe HoustonTalk about the "sickest man in America." Houston missed a 40-yard kick with a little more than two-and-a-half minutes. Jake Locker then led the Washington Huskies to win on the strength of Houston's counterpart Erik Folk's 33 yard FG at the gun. It was the Huskies first win at the Coliseum since 1996 and it's second straight under Steve Sarkirsian. N.C. StateCarter-Finley Stadium was in rare-form Saturday with the Wolfpack up 17-0 in the first half. With the crowd pumped and the defense shutting down the Hokies O, they took a 17-7 lead into the half. Then, it all fell apart. David Wilson took the half's opening kick 92 yards to the house. Darren Evans ran wild in the 2nd half and scored TDs on runs of 54 and 6 yards out. Tyrod Taylor escaped the game N.C. State defense and found a way to get Tech back in the game. After a hot start, Russell Wilson struggled through the 2nd half and threw two interceptions which ultimately cost his team the game. So much for making a statement. Oregon Ducks, Stanford Cardinal, Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida Gators, Washington Huskies, USC Trojans, Tennessee Volunteers, LSU Tigers, N.C. State, Virginia Tech, Michigan State, NCAA football