LSU handed Oregon its second straight loss to an SEC team.  Turnovers plagued the Ducks all night, while the Tigers played the SEC ‘smash mouth’ game to perfection.  We give ‘The Hat’ some respect this week and move the Tigers up accordingly.  For the BlogPoll as a whole, the Tigers take the number 1 spot home this week.

On the flip side, Georgia tried, but couldn’t use the same strategy against Boise State.  Quarterback Kellen Moore carved up the Bulldogs 3-4 defense to the tune of 261 PaYds and 3 TDs.  Never seen the Georgia Dome empty that fast before.

We were also very impressed with Wisconsin in their 51-17 win over UNLV.  Pairing transfer quarterback Russell Wilson with a talented running back combo like Monte Ball and James White makes the Badgers a dangerous team.

Notre Dame and USC fall out after disappointing performances, as does TCU.  The Horned Frogs, without a defense (gave up half-a-hundred to Baylor) look like just another Mountain West team right now.

You can see the complete BlogPoll over at SBNation.com.  Here’s our RBN Week 2 ballot:

The BlogPoll is made up of a collection of 100+ voters (bloggers) who represent schools from across the country from all conferences.

Our own Walking on Sunshine will be casting the RazorBloggers ballot and posting it here each week throughout the season for discussion.  As always, your commentary can impact our weekly rankings.

Our friends over at the Hog Database are also voters in the BlogPoll, helping us stuff the ballot box again this year for the Hogs. 

Since it’s inception in 2006, the BlogPoll has consistently shown a flexibility the mainstream polls have not.  Conventional polls seem to adhere to the idea that if you’re #1, you stay #1.  The bloggers have tended to be more responsive, moving teams up or down more quickly based on performance on the field.

We debated long an hard – Alabama vs. Oklahoma – for the top spot to start the season.  The Sooners look to be primed offensively, while the Tide look as tough as ever on defense.  Defense wins championships, so we’ll start with Bama at the top.

As you can see, we are higher than most on a few teams to note.  Virginia Tech should have an improved defense in 2011.  New Hokie QB Logan Thomas is going to be a superstar, but will lean on the ‘D’ to begin the year.  Wisconsin lands higher due to NC State transfer QB Russell Wilson.  While West Virginia gets a much needed upgrade at head coach – something that should improve their chances this year.

On the flip side, just like last year, we have LSU lower than most due to their turmoil at quarterback.  Their Week 1 tussle with Oregon at Arlington will go a long way to answering that question.

You can see the complete BlogPoll over at SBNation.com. So, without further ado, here’s the RBN preseason ballot:

The governing body, who repeatedly fails to enforce their own rules of compliance, seems to have ample time to think up new rules for the field of play every year.  For 2011, they have ‘overachieved.’

While we applaud some of these changes, others get the proverbial ‘roll of the eyes’ — a common reaction to most things NCAA.

Rule Change: Unsportsmanlike conduct (taunting) penalties will be treated as either live-ball or dead-ball fouls.  This will allow for these penalties to be enforced from the spot of the foul.  Dead-ball penalties of the same sort will be enforced from the end of the run, on the extra point/two point conversions or on the ensuing kickoff.  Penalty: 15 yards.

Our Take: The rule committee passed this rule change last year but waited until 2011 to implement it.  The NCAA missed a huge opportunity to name this rule “The ‘U’ of the 80′s” rule, as touchdowns will now be nullified if a player starts his celebration before crossing the goal line.  Ouch.  We hope no Razorback violates this rule and gets to feel the ‘Wrath of Petrino’ as he comes to the sidelines.  It won’t be pretty to watch.

Rule Change: Revised the rule on intentional grounding.  Previously grounding was called if the receiver didn’t have a “reasonable opportunity” to catch the ball.  This language has been removed.  Now, as long as a receiver is in the area, intentional grounding will not be called.

Our Take: Advantage to the offense, especially passing, pro-style teams like the Razorbacks.  Ok by us.

Rule Change: Video monitors will be allowed in the coaches’ booth for the purpose of determining whether a team should request an instant-replay challenge.  Only the live broadcast of the game will be allowed – no taped or video recorders allowed.

Our Take: This is long overdue.  Finally coaches can have an ‘eye in the sky’ to keep them from squandering valuable challenges.

Rule Change: If a team commits a penalty that stops the clock in the last minute of each half, the opponent may elect to: a) take the yardage penalty plus a 10-second runoff of the game clock b) take the yardage penalty without a 10-second runoff or c) decline both the penalty and the 10-second runoff.  If the fouling team has a timeout remaining, it may use this timeout to avoid the 10-second runoff.

Our Take: We love this one, which now more closely resembles the NFL rule.  Had this rule been in place a year ago, Tennessee would have won the 2010 Music City Bowl.

Rule Change: On field goals and extra points, a penalty will be enforced if three or more players line up shoulder to shoulder and penetrate against one offensive lineman in an effort to block a kick.  Penalty: 5 yards, previous spot.

Our Take: Really?  We can see protecting the center, who has his head down snapping the ball, but this one borders on the ridiculous.  Football is football.  Other members of the line shouldn’t need this kind of protection.  Overkill.

Rule Change: Blocking out of bounds is now illegal.  Penalty: Personal foul, 15 yards.

Our Take: Rarely see this, but probably a good rule.  If you can’t tackle out of bounds, you shouldn’t be able to block out of bounds.

Rule Change: For players that line up outside the tackle box, blocking below the waist will now be illegal except when they are blocking players in front of them, or blocking toward the nearest sideline.  Players on the line of scrimmage within seven yards of the center are still allowed to block below the waist anywhere on the field.  Penalty: Personal foul, 15 yards.

Our Take: Anything the NCAA would like to do to cut down on gutless chop blocks by wide receivers on unsuspecting linemen and linebackers is alright with us.  Two thumbs up.

Rule Change:  Locking of legs by offensive linemen is no longer illegal.

Our Take: This always seemed to be a curious rule.  Back when it was “three yards and cloud of dust” it might have been different story.  The committee itself said it found no compelling reason that the offense gains an advantage from locking legs in this day and age.  Long overdue.

Future Rules Being Considered: Interestingly, the committee has identified several things they are keeping a close watch on in 2011 for possible rule changes in 2012.  Those include:

• Looking at the possibility that teams are purposely feigning injuries to gain an advantage in the game.
• Gathering data on the trend of players’ helmets coming off during a play.
• Considering moving the umpire to the other side of the line of scrimmage, having them line up in the backfield.  The NFL employed this in 2010, except for the last few minutes of each half.

The Arkansas offense broke out with 11 runs on 13 hits and Razorback starter Ryne Stanek took care of the rest, throwing a complete game, allowing just three runs, as No. 19 Arkansas defeated Charlotte 11-3 on Sunday afternoon at Packard Stadium.

ArkansasRazorbacks.com: UA ends season with loss to ASU

Joey DeMichele homered and drove in four runs, while Arizona State starter Mitchell Lambson threw 6.1 strong innings as the 10th-ranked Sun Devils defeated No. 19 Arkansas, 13-4, in the Tempe regional championship game on Sunday night at Packard Stadium.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Game Stats – Charlotte (PDF), Game Stats – Arizona State (PDF)
• ArkansasRazorbacks.com (Video): Charlotte: Game Highlights, Post-game Press Conference; Arizona State: Game Highlights, Post-game Press Conference
• ESPN.com: Tempe Regional: Arizona St. 13, Arkansas 4
• Matt Jones: Arkansas eliminates Charlotte, 11-3, Hogs’ season comes to an end
• WholeHogSports.com (Video): Ryne Stanek, Dave Van Horn
• Robbie Neiswanger: Arkansas’ Season Ends at Arizona State, Stanek Shines, MLB Draft Begins Tonight

Arkansas starter DJ Baxendale earned his 10th win of the year, throwing eight shutout innings, as No. 19 Arkansas stayed alive at the NCAA Tempe Regional with a 3-0 win over New Mexico on a hot Saturday afternoon at Packard Stadium.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Game Stats (PDF), Game Highlights (Video), Post-game Press Conference (Video)
• ESPN.com: Tempe Regional: Arkansas 3, New Mexico 0
• Matt Jones: Baxendale brilliant again at Packard
• WholeHogSports.com (Video): Dave Van Horn
• Robbie Neiswanger: Baxendale Helps Arkansas Avoid Elimination, Freshman Stanek Gets Nod For Sunday Start

Charlotte scored all three of its runs in the second inning and starting pitcher Andrew Smith allowed just one run on 7.1 innings as the 49ers defeated No. 19 Arkansas, 3-2, on Friday afternoon at Packard Stadium in the opener of the NCAA Tempe Regional.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Game Stats (PDF), Post-game Press Conference (Video)
• ESPN.com: Tempe Regional: Charlotte 3, Arkansas 2
• Matt Jones: Hogs fail to produce in 3-2 loss
• WholeHogSports.com (Video): Dave Van Horn
• Robbie Neiswanger: Fant, Offense Struggle in Regional Loss, Baxendale Expects More Packard Stadium Success

Postseason play is a different animal.  Nearly every year, there’s someone who emerges to play a larger role than they did in the regular season.  In past years, guys like Bubbs Merrill, Andrew Darr and Bo Bigham answered the late-season call and contributed mightily to help the Hogs advance to Omaha.

After his performance last week in Hoover, this year’s candidate looks like pitcher Ryne Stanek.

Stanek’s outing (7.2 IP, 2H, 5Ks, 99 pitches) in a 4-1 win over Alabama reminded us of Drew Smyly’s near no-hitter in the Norman Regional in 2009.

That day Smyly was untouchable, throwing 8 2/3 innings and yielding only one hit while striking out 12.  The win propelled the Hogs to the Super Regional in Tallahassee, where they disposed of Florida State en route to the College World Series.

Smyly that year — like Stanek this year — was mainly a mid-week starter who had showed flashes, but had struggled to put together consistent outings.  His stat line before one-hitting the Sooners (2-1, 5.60 ERA, 12 GS, 45 IP, 28 ER, 41 Ks) is eerily similar to Stanek’s line (2-2, 4.75 ERA, 13 GS, 47.1 IP, 25 ER, 30 Ks) before the Alabama game.

Smyly went on the next year (2010) to put together a tremendous season, going 9-1 with a 2.80 ERA.  He was drafted in the second round by the Detroit Tigers.

You can tell Stanek has that kind of stuff, as well.  Friday against ‘Bama, he threw three different pitches for strikes and looked extremely comfortable on the mound.  His motion was much simpler.  “In the last game (Ole Miss), I was out of control with too many moving parts,” Stanek said.  “I was rushing everything.”

If Stanek can keep it going, that gives the Hogs one more bullet to use down the stretch.  A nice luxury for Dave Jorn and Dave Van Horn to have as the postseason gets underway.

The field of 64 teams competing for the 2011 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship was announced today by the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee.

Seeding

1. Arizona State (39-16)
2. Arkansas (38-20)
3. Charlotte (42-14)
4. New Mexico (20-39)

Also:

• NCAA.com: Live Bracket, Printable Bracket (PDF)
• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Arkansas No. 2 seed in Tempe regional, Press Conference (Video) – Dave Van Horn, James McCann, D.J. Baxendale
• Chris Bahn: Van Horn, Razorbacks Ready To ‘Move On’ From Regional Snub And Focus On ASU
• Robbie Neiswanger: Arkansas’ Destination a Familiar ‘Surprise’

When it chooses to be, the BCS is in charge of college football.

What really is this “Bowl Championship Series” that everyone speaks of?

Once upon a time, the traditional ‘powers that be’ of college football decided that the time had come to address the growing outcry for a playoff system to determine the Division I National Championship.  The ‘powers,’ recognizing that there is strength in numbers, agreed to play nice together and share their toys.

So, the ‘powers’ took their conferences and bowl game tie-ups and quietly began to chant, “ours, not yours,” rather than “mine, mine, mine.”

Any good plan needs a bit of misdirection or distraction to obscure the actual objective.  The ‘powers’ didn’t even have to work hard to create one.  The cry for a game matching up the top two teams in the nation served perfectly.

By joining in the conversation around creating the matchup of the top two teams — and finding it in their heart to facilitate the game everyone wanted — the ‘powers’ managed to keep their real objective off the radar.

You see, the notion of a Division I college football playoff meant that a lot more money — said recently to be as much as $500 million — could possibly enter the sport.  If this money were to be given out in a fashion similar to the NCAA Basketball Tournament, quite a number of schools would receive far more money each year than they get under the current BCS system.

The ‘powers,’ all the while chanting, “ours, not yours,” simply could not allow a system that could result in schools other than those in their conferences raking in more money.  Chaos — and a more competitive college football landscape — could result. Even worse, the power of the ‘powers’ would be at risk for severe dilution.

Thus we have the ‘BCS’ as it is today – a system designed to keep the majority of the money earned by college football in the hands of the six ‘automatic-qualifier’ conferences with their aligned Bowl games.  And out of the hands of everyone else.

What about the NCAA?  Aren’t they in charge of college athletics?

The Cam Newton decision and the decision regarding the Ohio State players has exposed the NCAA as a paper tiger when it comes to matters pertaining to BCS interests.  The risks of the ‘powers’ turning to the NCAA with their chant of “ours, not yours,” is too great.  Far too great for the NCAA to be making decisions in the last third of the season that aren’t in the best interest of the BCS.

Fortune, glory and control.  The BCS has it.  The NCAA doesn’t.

Florida and Wisconsin are winning but slide after shaky performances.  We finally move the Hogs into the top 10 after the big win in Athens.

You can see the complete BlogPoll over at SBNation.com. Here’s this week’s RBN ballot:

Florida continues to slide as their offense sputters again vs. USF.  We leave the Hogs in the middle at #12 pending their first SEC road trip to Athens Saturday.

You can see the complete BlogPoll over at SBNation.com. Here’s this week’s RBN ballot:

Week 2 provides some better games to watch.  While Hog fans will no doubt be watching as Georgia visits South Carolina, other headliner games include Florida St. at Oklahoma, Miami, Fla. at Ohio State and JoePa, and his freshman quarterback Robert Bolden, visit Alabama.

You can see the complete BlogPoll over at SBNation.com. So, without further ado, here’s this week’s RBN ballot:

The BlogPoll is made up of a collection of 102 voters (bloggers) who represent schools from across the country from all conferences. Our own Walking on Sunshine will be casting the RazorBloggers ballot and posting it here each week throughout the season for discussion. And, as always, your commentary can impact our weekly rankings.

No doubt, Alabama has enough returning players to deserve the top spot for now, but if their retooled defense sputters early, we won’t hesitate to move them south.  Boise State‘s Labor Day showdown against top 10 Virginia Tech should be the best game during Week 1.  The Bloggers land Arkansas #18 to start the season.

You can see the complete BlogPoll over at SBNation.com.  So, without further ado, here’s the RBN preseason ballot:

Player safety has been the mantra the last few seasons as the rules committee went after violent acts such as chop blocks, horse-collar tackles, and defenseless receivers just to name a few.

Currently chaired by Connecticut head coach Randy Edsall, the committee offered up only three changes for 2010 — and really only one of significance.

Rule Change: During a kickoff it is illegal for the receiving team intentionally to form a wedge of three or more players to block for the ball carrier.

Penalty:  Fifteen yards from the spot of the foul, or from the end of the run if this is behind the spot of the foul.  There is no foul if the kick is from an obvious onside kick formation.  Note that the foul is for the formation of the wedge, whether or not there is contact between opponents.

Our Take: As much as we applaud the changes to protect players, we hate to see the wedge go.  Watching exciting players like Dennis Johnson and Felix Jones (from 2007 in the clip below) take advantage of the wedge all the way to the end zone will be much harder to accomplish now.

Rule Change: If eye black is worn it must be solid black with no words, numbers, logos or other symbols.

Our Take: Tebow’s gone, so we can put this rule in now.  Nice job.  But how will players express themselves now that this important communication tool has been disallowed?

Rule Change: Players must wear soft knee pads at least one-half inch thick.  Beginning in 2010 there is no reference to the pants covering the knees.  Socks must be of the same color and design.  Beginning in 2010 there is no reference to length of the socks.

Our Take: Player fashion is of utmost importance apparently. 

The real fun is going to begin next year — in 2011 — when unsportsmanlike conduct fouls (taunting, celebration, etc.) will be enforced from the spot of the foul.  That opens up the real possibility that a touchdown may be called back if a player commits the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on his way to the goal line.

And we thought the NFL was the “No Fun League.”

ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Super Regional loss wraps season

Junior Brett Eibner forced extra innings with a two-out home run in the bottom of the ninth and freshman D.J. Baxendale pitched six fabulous innings of relief to lead the No. 15 Arkansas Razorback baseball team in the second game of the Tempe Super Regional on Sunday night, but their efforts came up short as Arizona State defeated the Hogs 7-5 in 12 innings.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Game Stats, Game Highlights (Video), Post-game Comments (Video)
• Robbie Neiswanger: Despite Eibner’s Heroics, Arkansas’ Season Ends, Smyly Struggles in Arkansas’ Season-Ending Loss
• Matt Jones: Arizona State 7, Arkansas 5
• ESPN.com: Gift of the Maggi sends ASU to Omaha

ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Razorbacks fall in opener to Arizona St.

Bo Bigham had four hits to lead the No. 15 Arkansas Razorback baseball team, but after 11-plus innings, the Razorbacks would fall to No. 1 Arizona State in the first game of the Tempe Super Regional at Jim Brock Ballpark, 7-6.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Game Stats, Game Highlights, Post-game Comments (Video)
• Robbie Neiswanger: Arizona State Edges Arkansas in 12 Innings, Cox Sets School’s Single-Season Hit Record in Loss
• Matt Jones: Arizona State 7, Arkansas 6
• ESPN.com: Hogs close, but fall short to Sun Devils

ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Hogs clinch Super Regional berth

The No. 15 University of Arkansas baseball team secured a spot in the Super Regional round with a 7-2 victory over Washington State Monday night in the decisive game of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Game Stats, Post-game Quotes (PDF)
• ArkansasRazorbacks.com (Video): Game Highlights, Post-game Comments – Arkansas, Post-game Comments – Washington State, Post-game Comments – Zack Cox
• Robbie Neiswanger: Forrest Pitches Razorbacks to Super Regional, St. Louis Selects Cox With 25th Pick
• Matt Jones: Arkansas 7, Washington State 2
• Brandon Marcello: Hogs headed to Tempe Super Regional
• Chris Bahn: Razorbacks Set Tone Early Against Washington State, Cardinals Pick Razorbacks’ Zack Cox With No. 25 Overall Pick
• Max Farrell: Hot Corner

ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Early deficit too much to overcome

The No. 15 University of Arkansas baseball team lost a 10-7 decision to Washington State Sunday at the NCAA Fayetteville Regional.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Game Stats
• ArkansasRazorbacks.com (Video): Game Highlights, Post-game Comments - Arkansas, Post-game Comments – Washington State
• Robbie Neiswanger: Washington State Beats Arkansas, Forces Deciding Game, Eibner Sidelined With Hamstring Pull in Arkansas Loss
• Matt Jones: Washington State 10, Arkansas 7
• Chris Bahn: Defensive Breakdowns Too Much For Arkansas To Overcome Against Washington State
• Max Farrell: Hot Corner
• Brandon Marcello: Hogs must show heart in final game at Baum Stadium
• Harold McIlvain II: Wise makes second start, helps force elimination game

Collin Kuhn had three hits and Jordan Pratt collected a two-inning save as the No. 15 University of Arkansas baseball team defeated Washington State, 6-4, Saturday night at Baum Stadium in game four of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Game Stats
• ArkansasRazorbacks.com (Video): Game Highlights, Post-game Comments – Arkansas, Post-game Comments – Washington State
• Robbie Neiswanger: Pratt’s Performance Saves Razorbacks, Leg Cramp Slows Eibner in Arkansas Win
• Matt Jones: Arkansas 6, Washington State 4
• Brandon Marcello: Clutch defense advances Arkansas to regional championship
• Chris Bahn: Clutch Pitching From Pratt Delivers Regional Victory for Razorbacks
• Max Farrell: Hot Corner

ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Long ball sends Hogs past Grambling

Aided by a school-record nine home runs, the No. 15 University of Arkansas downed Grambling, 19-7, Friday in game one of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional at Baum Stadium.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Game Stats, Post-game Quotes (PDF)
• ArkansasRazorbacks.com (Video): Game Highlights, Post-game Comments – Arkansas, Post-game Comments – Grambling
• Chris Bahn: Razorbacks’ Eibner Looked Just Fine In Record-Tying Effort
• Robbie Neiswanger: Rested Razorbacks Set Home Run Record in Win, Eibner’s Big Day Leads Hogs
• Matt Jones: Arkansas 19, Grambling State 7
• Harold McIlvain II: Razorbacks blast pasted Tigers with home runs
• Brandon Marcello: Hogs crush ball, Grambling in record-setting win