With the season nearing its end I found myself thinking about big surprises. As to the Bobcats, the biggest surprise for me was the way the team wilted after Poling went out with 3 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter against WMU. I'd thought the Cats had sufficient depth and mental toughness to avoid the collapse that ensued during the next 2.5 games.

Other major surprises:

* Washington State lost its season opener to FCS Portland State. Well, no surprise there, given WSU's not having had a winning season since 2003. But since that loss to Portland State? The Cougars have lost only at Cal (by 6) and to Stanford (by2) and have won 7, including wins over Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA. What happened?

* UCF. Over the last 3 seasons the Knights had gone 31-9. This season? 0-11. What happened?

Big surprises for you - the Bobcats and otherwise?

ESPN mentioned during last night's game that UCF has had a TON of injuries on the offensive side of the ball this season. Every starter has missed at least one game, and most have missed more than three. A lot of freshman working the offense these days. That said, I think O'Leary's time had passed. Not so much age as mindset. He had planned to retire this year anyway. Watching them last night was very painful. They scored on the opening drive then gave up 44 straight. Lots of physical and mental errors.

We may win Minne if Poling plays the 2nd half...or if we didn't give up trying to score on our last drive before the half of that game.

But don't tell me that he'd have done much to stop the drubbings (beefs, wmu, bg).

And, injuries, like it or not are part of the game. To lament guys who couldn't play is wishful thinking, ignores reality.

Kind of surprised that Helfrich has been able to disassemble a National Championship caliber program like Oregon so quickly. Anyone done it more quickly without the help of NCAA sanctions?

That system needs the superhuman QB to work, and the last-minute FCS transfer didn't cut it this season. Not sure what they have in the cupboard after him, but it will be interesting to see whether Oregon bounces back next year.

There's been quite a few surprises throughout the season all across the country:

1. The rise of the AAC - Temple, Navy, Houston and Memphis have all had their day in the sun this year. Now even UConn and USF are getting in on the act. This conference has seven bowl eligible teams and could get eight.

2. Washington State - someone has already mentioned what they've done this year.

3. Southern Miss - After going 11-2 under Larry Fedora in 2011, the Golden Eagles completely fell off the map and won a total of four games in three years. This year they are 8-3 and could win the C-USA West.

4. Coaching Carousel - it's always turning, but this year has seen more departures and firings than I can remember. Hell, Illinois fired a coach before the year started.

5. Iowa - every year Kirk Ferentz is on the hot seat because he's underachieving. Well he's quieted the critics for at least another two to three years with this team. If they win the B1G and go to the Playoff, they'll build a statue of him outside Kinnick Stadium.

Surprise to me: how Akron trashed Buffalo?

Papi.

That's 2 in a row. Ohio's last loss in DeKalb was in 2003 when Ohio(2-10) lost in OT to #17NIU(10-2).