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Sept. 24, 2007

After setting a numerous records in Tulane's 35-27 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday night at the Superdome, Tulane senior running back Matt Forté was selected the Walter Camp national Offensive Player of the Week, the foundation said Sunday.

Forté picked up the honor after setting Tulane and Conference USA records with 303 yards rushing while scoring five touchdowns on 40 carries. Forté had touchdown runs of 3, 4, 11, 21 and 22 yards to set a Tulane single-game touchdown record and tie a conference record.

His 303 rushing yards breaks the previous team record of 249 set by Mewelde Moore vs. Cincinnati on Oct. 6, 2001. The former C-USA rushing record was 300 yards, set by Houston's Joffrey Reynolds against East Carolina on Nov. 9, 2002.

Forté also is one of four nominees for the AT&T All-America Player of the Week Award. In the lone national award voted on by fans, Forté joins Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell, Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall and Syracuse wide receiver Taj Smith on the ballot, which was selected by ESPN.

Fans can determine the winner by text messaging VOTE to 87654 on their wireless telephone. Voting will take place until 10:59 p.m. Wednesday, and the winner will be announced Thursday during ESPN's game between Southern Mississippi and Boise State on Thursday.

ARIZONA STATE MAKING NOISE: No matter where Dennis Erickson goes, his teams usually end up in the Top 25.

Four games into his first season as Arizona State coach, Erickson has the Sun Devils unbeaten and in The Associated Press poll for the first time this season at No. 23.

Arizona State is the fourth school Erickson has guided into the rankings, along with Washington State, Miami and Oregon State. Only Lou Holtz, with five, has coached ranked teams at more schools. Holtz did it with North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame and South Carolina.

No. 1 Southern California and No. 2 LSU, as they have all season, head the Top 25.

The Trojans received 43 first-place votes and 1,601 points. The Tigers got 22 first-place votes and 1,580 points. Both teams won convincingly at home Saturday. The Trojans routed Washington State 47-14, and the Tigers dominated then-No. 12 ranked South Carolina 28-16 on a rainy day at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.

No. 3 Oklahoma flip-flopped with No. 4 Florida after the Gators had a close call at Ole Miss, and the Sooner picked up their fourth blowout of the season.

West Virginia is No. 5, followed by California and Texas. Ohio State, Wisconsin and Rutgers round out the top 10.

The Harris poll was released for the first time this season Sunday, and Southern California was a decisive No. 1. LSU, Oklahoma, Florida and West Virginia rounded out a top five.

In the USA Today coaches' poll, the only difference in the top five was Florida at No. 3 and Oklahoma at No. 4.

The Bowl Championship Series uses the Harris and coaches' polls as part of the formula to determine which teams will play in the BCS national championship game Jan 7 at the Superdome. The first BCS standings will be released Oct. 14.

Cincinnati moved into the rankings at No. 24, marking the first time since 1976 the Bearcats have been in the poll.

Falling out of the rankings were Louisville, which was upset 38-35 by Syracuse, and Texas A&M, beaten 34-17 by Miami on Thursday.

The Sun Devils (4-0) remained unbeaten with a 44-32 comeback victory over Oregon State on Saturday night. For the second time in three weeks, Arizona State faced a double-digit deficit in the first quarter, and for the second time, the Sun Devils bounced back for a decisive victory.

Arizona State is Erickson's sixth stop as a college coach. He spent last season at Idaho and also coached Wyoming in 1986 before moving to Washington State the next year. He won two national titles with Miami and led Oregon State to a Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame.

Erickson also coached in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.

TIDE-SEMINOLES SLATED FOR TV: The Alabama-Florida State game Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., will kick off at 4 p.m. and be nationally televised by CBS.

Alabama (3-1) and Florida State (2-1) are meeting for the fourth time and the first in 33 years.

The Florida State game will mark Alabama's first neutral site regular season game since beating Ohio State 16-10 on Aug. 25, 1986 at the Kickoff Classic in the Meadowlands.

Late Saturday

No. 1 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 47 vs. WASHINGTON STATE 14: John David Booty completed 28 of 35 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns before coming out early in the fourth quarter, and the Trojans (3-0, 1-0 Pacific-10) opened conference play with their 35th consecutive victory at home.

The Cougars (2-2, 0-1) didn't have a first down for six consecutive possessions after their opening drive.

No. 9 WISCONSIN 17 vs. IOWA 13: P.J. Hill plowed up the middle on third-and-goal for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Badgers (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) extended their winning streak to 13 games -- the longest in major college football.

Christensen was 17-of-37 for 169 yards for the Haweyes (2-2, 0-1).

No. 13 OREGON 55 at STANFORD 31: Dennis Dixon threw a career-high four touchdowns and rushed for another score, and the Ducks (4-0, 1-0 Pacific-10) scored 34 consecutive points and shut out the Cardinal (1-2, 0-2) in the second half.

No. 19 HAWAII 66 vs. CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 10: Tyler Graunke passed for 285 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Warriors (4-0).

Eli Byrd was 13-of-31 for 184 yards with two interceptions for the Buccaneers (1-3).

TROY 48 at LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 31; Kenny Cattouse ran for 139 yards and three touchdowns for the Trojans (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt Conference).

The Ragin' Cajuns (0-4, 0-1) faltered after taking an early lead on an 80-yard run by Jason Chery 20 seconds into the game.

McNEESE STATE 41 at SOUTHERN UTAH 20: Derrick Fourroux passed for 223 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Cowboys (3-0) to victory.

The Cowboys held Southern Utah (0-4) to 54 yards in the first half.

GRAMBLING STATE 31 vs. ALABAMA A&M 6: Brandon Landers passed for two touchdowns and 235 yards for The Tigers (2-1, 2-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference).

Jeremy Licea made field goals of 37 and 36 yards for Alabama A&M (3-1, 1-1).