Columnists' Corner

Buck Harvey, San Antonio Express-News: Texas A&M's Dennis Franchione didn't lose a game or his job Saturday night, but he's on his way to doing both.

Bob Kravitz, Indianapolis Star: The honeymoon is over for Notre Dame's Charlie Weis and the clock on the Crewcut Era officially began to tick.

Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press: Michigan's victory is what salesmen call "value added" — like getting a free airline ticket and then being bumped to first class.

Israel Gutierrez, Miami Herald: It wasn't the end of Larry Coker's tale at Miami, but the final scene is painfully predictable (registration).

T.J. Simers, Los Angeles Times: It could have been worse for Nebraska's Bill Callahan. He could've woken up on Sunday and still been the coach of the Raiders.

Bud Withers, Seattle Times: Washington's victory over Fresno State could mark the turning point in the program.

Mark Purdy, San Jose Mercury News: Now all Stanford has to do is field a competitive team to play in its remodeled stadium.

Rick Bozich, Louisville Courier-Journal: A huge victory and a huge loss. Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm is out three to six weeks because of a thumb injury.

David Climer, Tennessean: Tennessee is separating itself from the upper crust in the SEC East, but the Volunteers are moving in the wrong direction.

Joe Starkey, Tribune-Review: The plain truth: Pittsburgh isn't ready to play with the big boys.

Jeff Jacobs, Hartford Courant: Connecticut's surprising loss to Wake Forest revealed that the Huskies have a lot of work to do.

Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News: Auburn's Tommy Tuberville is the SEC's best big-game coach.

Ray Melick, Birmingham News: Needing money sometimes means getting clobbered. Just ask Alabama Birmingham what it feels like.

Ferd Lewis, Honolulu Advertiser: Hawaii safety Leonard Peters, a sixth-year senior, was a man on a mission in the Rainbows' 42-13 victory over Nevada Las Vegas.