In the recently released Associated Press Top Ten JoePa and the Penn State University Nittany Lions have made an appearance in the Top Ten for the first time since they we're number 6 in November of 1999. 

Penn State began the season unranked, but has rattled off six straight victories, including toppling both Minnesota (24th at the time) and then number six Ohio State. 

The Lions have been under heavy scrutiny and much maligned after several less than spectactular seasons.  But this year, JoePa and his boys seem to have everything going their way. 

"We're not done," Nittany Lions quarterback Michael Robinson said after the Ohio State win. "We've got ourselves a tough Michigan game coming up next weekend."

The Lions are in the thick of the hunt again, and are currently the highest ranked Big Ten team. 

Previous Week Overview: As I told you in my SEC Preview, Alabama will be a major factor in this year's SEC race. I received numerous email's because of that selection few of which were favorable. Well, now the pick has come to fruition as Alabama played an absolutely outstanding football game in its destruction of previously unbeaten Florida. The only thing that went wrong was the injury to outstanding game breaker Prothro. It would be a shame if that injury is what holds this team back from winning the SEC title.

In other action, the clock struck 12 for Vanderbilt as they were shocked by previously winless Middle Tennessee State 17-15. It was a nice run for Vandy but they really needed this win if they were thinking of going bowling this year. It now appears certain that their only possible remaining win is against Kentucky. Auburn moved forward with another blowout win this time over outmanned South Carolina which was playing without its starting QB Mitchell.

Star Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson sat out Monday's practice as the Sooners prepare for their Red River Rivalry game against the undefeated Texas Longhorns this weekend.  Peterson has an ankle injury and Coach Bob Stoops has noted he is unsure if Peterson will be available for the game this Saturday. 

"It's better than it was [Sunday]. It's improved," Stoops said. "They're probably going to take that boot off [Tuesday]. He'll probably be ready to go, hopefully by Wednesday."

Peterson is an integral part of the Oklahoma offense and ran for 225 yards on the Longhorns last year in a 12-0 Sooner victory.

Previous Week Overview: What a game! I told you Tennessee would find a way to pull off a big win but not even I thought they could come back from such a huge deficit. LSU came out like the "other" Rose Bowl team with an incredible performance but Tennessee dug in and outplayed LSU in the 4^th quarter. The win gives Tennessee new life in the SEC title picture and puts a serious dent in LSU's national title plans.

In other action, the Tide continues to roll with a convincing win over Arkansas 24-13. Once again the highly ranked Alabama defense dictated the tempo and pace of the game and an efficient offense did the rest. The Tide are now 4-0 and lead the SEC West. It was mostly tune up time for the SEC powers and even not so powerful's. Vanderbilt is the surprise of the nation at 4-0 with an easy win over Richmond. If anything, these wins give Vanderbilt confidence when they head into the meat of their schedule.