The Agony Meter...

Here's a new feature that we will break out every Monday to gauge the various successes and failures of our alma maters.

Total agony: Arizona State
Undefeated matchup with Georgia. Outside chance at a national championship bid and a Heisman for QB Rudy Carpenter. Shot at a Pac-10 championship and a Top 10 ranking. All of it goes poof with a loss to UNLV when the Rebels block an overtime field goal launched from the foot of Arizona State's Groza Award-winning kicker. For Sun Devil fans, I'd call that total agony.

Some agony: Southern Methodist
The Mustangs are crushed on national television by Texas Tech. QB Bo Levi Mitchell looks like he's never read a defense before. Yet with Tech strong this year and SMU clearly in rebuilding mode, the results were not all that unexpected.

A dash of agony: Boston College
The Eagles' loss to Georgia Tech earlier this month looks all the more bush league as the Yellow Jackets lose to Virginia Tech. Moreover, B.C.'s game Saturday with Central Florida is moved to television outpost ESPNU. But at least B.C., which had a bye week on Saturday, didn't lose to anyone.

God must be a...: Trojan, Bulldog, Bronco or Merrill employee
USC destroys Ohio State. And the Trojan talent only gets deeper next year. The Georgia Bulldogs pull out out against South Carolina, which fumbles on the goal line to snuff out a late comeback. On the pro side, the Broncos steal one against the Chargers when ref Ed Hochuli blows a call and gives Denver a chance to score. Wall Street brokerage Merrill Lynch engineers an eleventh-hour deal with Bank of America even as its competitors crumble.