The Boilers deserve your attention

Arizona State has become a surprise factor in the Pac-10 race because coach Dirk Koetter and senior QB Andrew Waller are, as one Sun Devils assistant says, "seeing the same thing again." There was friction between the two last season because Koetter fell Walter should have done more to carry the Sun Devils' young offense.

The reality is this: Arizona State is unbeaten--including a big win over Big Ten heavyweight Iowa--because Walter is playing as he did his sophomore season and because the Sun Devils have improved in pass protection. Waiter's regression last year was a direct result of less time in the pocket and hurried throws.... Tennessee won't tinker much with its rotation of freshman QBs Brent Schaeffer and Erik Ainge. Although Ainge might start this week against Louisiana Tech, both quarterbacks will get nearly equal time. The real test, offensive coordinator Randy Sanders insists, is how the quarterbacks respond on the road. The Vols' first road game of the season is October 9 at SEC East rival Georgia, a team Tennessee hasn't beaten since 1999 ... Washington State quarterbacks coach "Timm Rosenbach moved from the booth to the sideline to work face-to-face with shaky QB Josh Swogger last week, and Swogger responded with four touchdown passes. But Swogger injured his "knee late in the game and could miss considerable time. Rosenbach will stay on the field to tutor freshman backup Alex Brink, and the Cougars will use more shotgun formations to give Brink more time to read defenses.... Alabama coach Mike Shula should take some of the blame for QB Brodie Croyle's season-ending knee injury. Shula says Croyle was going to leave the game against I-AA Western Carolina on the next series. The question is: Why was Croyle, a key to Shula's turnaround season, even on the field during the second half? ... Cal and Southern Miss have rescheduled their game that was postponed because of Hurricane Ivan for December 4. The only way the game would be meaningful for the Bears would be if they have a chance to win the national title. Let's say Cal wins the Pac-10 but isn't part of the Orange Bowl race. Why would coach Jell Tedford risk playing any key starters in a meaningless game with the Rose Bowl looming? The loser in all of this is Southern Miss, which was expecting a huge gate last week from one of the nation's hottest teams.... A reminder to non-BCS programs carping for respect: Texas Tech 70, TCU 35. Play the games, and don't pop off, or something unexpected might happen. No wonder Boise State (UTEP) and Fresno State (Portland State) struggled in games they should have cruised through.... Kansas' loss to Northwestern likely will be the difference in the Jayhawks going to back-to-back bowls for the first time in school history. The Jayhawks need to split their eight conference games--an unlikely occurrence--to win six games and become bowl eligible. ... Navy quietly is putting together another impressive season. The Midshipmen are 3-0 after a convincing 29-0 victory against Tulsa, and Notre Dame now appears to be the toughest test remaining on the schedule. Navy, which lost to the Irish by a total of I0 points in coach Paul Johnson's first two seasons, has won 12 of its past 17 games. As far-fetched as it sounds, Navy could play in a BCS bowl as an independent if it finishes the season unbeaten. The game--likely the Fiesta Bowl--would be a sellout and a lock for high television ratings.