The Hlist: From published sources nationwide and people who respond to polls just to say “None of the above.”

OPENING KICKOFF

“Right now, we're not a good ball team and I'm not a good coach.” - North Carolina State Coach Tom O'Brien after his team's 38-31 win over Pittsburgh.

“If that's true, what does that say about Pitt and (Coach Dave) Wannstedt? Not much, I'm thinking.” - Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

FIRST DOWNS

1. Businesslike Badgers: Wisconsin is 4-0. The Badgers flattened Michigan State 38-30 in a game more one-sided than the score indicates. MSU struck for two TDs in the last 2:07.

“I said all along I like this football team, and I was very adamant about that,” UW head coach Bret Bielema said. “We are going to have success this year based on the way we work.

“I just like the way these guys handle their business.”

Maybe the Badgers forged toughness two weeks ago when they beat Fresno State in double-overtime despite having about 40 players with flu-like symptoms the week of that game.

“It was a great week,” Wisconsin safety Jay Valai said. “I think it builds some man in you, I guess.”

2. Texas Tornado: While Top Ten teams Mississippi, California and Penn State circled the drain, we could still believe in some things.

Texas is one. The Longhorns abused Texas-El Paso, 64-7. They had 638 yards to UTEP's 55.

The Miners' Melvin Stephenson returned a Colt McCoy interception for a touchdown to tie the game at 7.

Moments later, Texas freshman D.J. Monroe returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown.

“The kickoff return just kind of broke their back,” Texas Coach Mack Brown said.

The Hlist suspects the 50 consecutive Longhorn points that followed didn't help.

FUMBLES

1. Zook's Zero Hour: Two years ago, Illinois played in the Rose Bowl. Honest.

Illinois is 6-9 under Coach Ron Zook since its big adventure in Pasadena. It got skunked 30-0 at Ohio State Saturday. “It's like a nightmare you can't wake up from,” said Illinois quarterback Juice Williams.

“Everyone's written us off,” Zook said. “I would, too, if I were in your shoes.”

Consider it done, Zooker.

2. Purple Haze: For the second straight week, Northwestern collapsed and lost in the fourth quarter.

After letting Syracuse off the hook the week before, the Wildcats came apart in the final period of their 35-24 home defeat to Minnesota.

ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg on Northwestern's defense: “The unit has looked soft, slow and fundamentally flawed for the last three games.”

“I have to give credit to Minnesota,” Northwestern Coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “I guess they either put grease on their pants and jerseys or we just decided not to tackle with our chest and play Big Ten football.”

3. Voter Fraud: The USA Today coaches poll and the Harris Poll are used in the BCS formula.

The coaches poll has Penn State 13th, Iowa 17th. The Harris Poll, comprised of 114 former college coaches and players, has Penn State 12th, Iowa 14th.

The Cleveland Plain-Dealer's Doug Lesmerises: “Penn State over Iowa, just one example of a general voting ideology, either ignores reality or places reality behind the supposed expertise of the voters involved. It's nonsensical. It's insulting to the teams that earn their spots on the field and their fans. And it's bad for college football.”

Well put.

POSTGAME

“Wondering why I'm still in this meeting room when the head coach can't even be on time to his on (sic) meeting.” - Texas Tech linebacker Marlon Williams on Twitter Sunday.

On Monday, Red Raiders Coach Mike Leach banned his players from using Twitter.