Quick Kicks

Heisman watch

Performances such as those of Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb and Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch make it difficult to ease into the Heisman Trophy hoopla. But if they somehow keep up the pace throughout the season, McNabb would be something like 240 of 300 for 3,000 yards and Couch would have more than 5,000 passing yards and 77 touchdowns.

We’ll try to wait a few weeks before getting serious about specific players.

In the meantime, according to a poll taken by ESPN, Texas tailback Ricky Williams was the preseason favorite, followed by Couch. All Williams did Saturday was gain 215 and score six touchdowns.

Shootout at the Ruston corral

Duante Culpepper completed 24 of 37 passes for 370 yards and four touchdowns, and added 69 yards and two more scores on 11 carries to lead Central Florida to a 64-30 rout of Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La. Tech quarterback Tim Rattay completed 43 of 64 passes for 524 yards.

Who needs four quarters?

Oregon quarterback Akili Smith threw four first-half touchdown passes as the Ducks built a 34-point lead and went on to defeat No. 23 Michigan State 48-14.

Move him to tailback

Oregon State defensive end Toalei Talataina scored two touchdowns as the Beavers routed Nevada 48-6.

Worth the wait

After throwing for 9,070 yards in high school, many thought Romaro Miller would be the Ole Miss starter as a freshman. Instead, he played in just three games last season (5-of-11 passing). In his starting debut, Miller was 26 of 40 for 332 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-10 victory over Memphis.

Northwestern senior wide receiver DeWayne Bates, who broke his right leg in last season’s opener, caught nine passes for 156 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown reception, to lead a 41-7 rout of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Unstoppable

Villanova’s Brian Westbrook scored on a fake punt, an 89-yard kickoff return and two pass receptions as the Wildcats lost 48-41 at Pittsburgh. The sophomore finished with 428 all-purpose yards.

Tailspins

Northern Illinois has the nation’s longest losing streak at 19 games.

Illinois has lost 18 in a row.

Iowa State has lost 18 of its last 19.

It’s in the blood

Kahlil Hill, a redshirt freshman and son of former Buffalo Bills star J.D. Hill, scored on a 62-yard punt return and an 88-yard kickoff return to spark Iowa’s 38-0 victory over Central Michigan.

All good things must come to an end

Central Michigan’s 167-game streak without a shutout ended in the Chippewas’ loss to Iowa. The streak had been fourth-longest in the nation.

Mismatch

The last time Furman scored a TD against Clemson was 1961. The Paladins have managed only five field goals in the eight games since and were shut out 33-0 Saturday.

Clemson’s program started with a 14-6 victory over Furman 102 years ago. But with the NCAA’s rules for bowl qualification - six Division I-A victories - administrators have stopped scheduling lower-division opponents.

The last word …

“This confirms to the players that the plan will work and that all their hard work was worth it. We had to go win a big football game. I think it jump-starts us. It boosts us a little bit.” - Notre Dame coach Bob Davie after the Irish beat defending national champion Michigan 36-20.