Mr. Everything Boosts His Stock

College football

Charles Woodson, Heisman Trophy contender?

Could be.

Make that should be.

The Michigan cornerback/wide receiver/punt returner was at his acrobatic best the past two weeks, turning games in his team’s favor on defense - and offense.

In a 23-7 win at Michigan State two weeks ago, Woodson intercepted passes on consecutive series in the second half to break the spirit of the Spartans’ offense.

Last week, in a 24-3 win over Minnesota, the 6-foot-1, 197-pound junior took a handoff from Chris Howard on a reverse and ran 33 yards for a touchdown to put the Wolverines ahead 7-3. He also drew a pass interference call to set up Michigan’s first score of the second half.

With most teams choosing to pass away from Woodson, he still has five interceptions, 26 tackles and a sack. On defense alone, Woodson deserves Heisman consideration.

And then there’s offense. The eight times he’s touched the ball - two rushes, six receptions - Woodson has scored twice. Including punt returns, he has 345 all-purpose yards, a TD running and a TD receiving.

Against the Gophers, he took part in 70 plays, including a season-high 16 on offense.

If Woodson continues to excel in big games - he’s got No. 2 Penn State on Saturday and No. 7 Ohio State on Nov. 22 - his Heisman stock will rise.

Look for even more Woodson on Saturday.

“We made up our minds that once November came, we were going to use him more,” coach Lloyd Carr said. “He has the ability to make plays that a lot of guys can’t.”

Perfect picture

Entering Saturday’s games, there are six major unbeatens - Nebraska, Penn State, Florida State, Michigan, North Carolina and Toledo.

Michigan plays Penn State and Florida State plays North Carolina, so no more than four teams will be perfect by Sunday.

In the 1990s, just six teams completed perfect seasons, including bowl games.

Four won AP national titles - Nebraska (1994, 1995), Alabama (1992) and Miami (1991). Penn State finished second to Nebraska in 1994. Washington was No. 2 in the AP poll, No. 1 in the coaches’ poll in 1991.

In 1993, Auburn went 11-0 but was ineligible for a bowl game.

Whatever happened to?

Some of college football’s most prominent programs won’t be around when it comes time to determine this year’s national champion.

Roll call, please:

Alabama, (4-4): ‘Bama could easily drop its final three games.

Colorado (4-4): Buffaloes facing first losing season since 1984.

Miami (4-4): Hurricanes have actually turned to a running game.

Notre Dame (4-5): Irish may lose seven games for first time since 1963.

Southern California (4-4) - Shut out for first time in seven years? John Robinson is probably out.

Texas (3-5): A loss to Baylor, too? John Mackovic is probably out, too.

The six-pack of disappointments, it should be noted, have accounted for 24 of the 61 national titles since the AP poll began in 1936.

Extra points

With a 41-31 win over Colorado, Missouri (6-3, 4-2 Big 12) clinched its first winning season since 1983. … Florida’s Steve Spurrier should get coaching win No. 100 on Saturday against Vanderbilt (3-5)… . After losing its first two games to Washington State and Tennessee, UCLA has outscored its last seven opponents 307-105.