Just two days before a big game with Oregon State, Joe Paterno announced tonight that three Penn State football players have been suspended for this weekend's game (he didn't say why, but you can connect the dots yourself), while another has been kicked off the team for that all too familiar "undisclosed violation of team rules." I'm pretty sure this makes Penn State your early season Fulmer Cup leader, in case you're keeping track at home.

Backup DB Willie Harriott is now an ex-Lion. While no official reason was given, his departure may be related to a November arrest for DUI and speeding. No team wants to lose depth at any position, but the overall impact of Harriott's departure should be minimal.

Of far more concern, at least for this week, is the suspension of defensive linemen Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma, both key contributors to the Lions defense, as well as tight end Andrew Quarless (pictured above right). All three are significant contributors to the team, though only Evans and Koroma are starters. But how much will the Nits miss these three guys?

Everyone, and I do mean everyone, has some variation on the theme of processed cheese-food, cream cheese, and some sort of favoring. It's almost required that you bring something of this ilk to your tailgates. Some go with the traditional block o' velveeta with Rotel tomatoes, but that's kinda boring, isn't it? Instead, try using some fresh vegetables.

The great thing about a dip like this is that you can really do whatever you want to it. Add ingredients, subtract, whatever you want. The cheese provides a neutral enough base for you to create whatever sort of masterpiece you want... it's nearly impossible to screw up. Nearly.

When I saw that Florida State named sophomore Christian Ponder as the starting quarterback for their season opener against Western Carolina, I didn't think much of it. To be honest, Florida State isn't really "news" like it was in the past, and besides, there's kind of a bigger game going on in the Sunshine State this weekend. Then I found out Drew Weatherford was still in school. Oh.

Fact is, Weatherford was emblematic of the past few years of Seminole football, supremely talented but maddeningly inconsistent. More to the point, it feels like it's been that way for over six years, and mind you, that's just evidence of how old news Xavier Lee is. Ponder played decently for a freshman in last year's tilt with Virginia Tech, and even if Weatherford might give them the best chance to win now, perhaps this is the first sign that Jimbo Fisher is trying to rid the stench of the Bowden Era, circa 2005-2007 (Jeff and Bobby) and doing his thing.

Equal time? Sure why not. Last week's Obama speech was historic, tonight's McCain speech should be much less historic, and less dramatic than what Americans witnessed last night with Sarah Palin. Regardless, we're not here to talk politics, but college football.

We're back again, as will be the case all year, for Thursday night college football lives blogs. Of some frustration, turnover-mad South Carolina is back to play upset-minded Vanderbilt. Last week saw us comparing Gamecock quarterback Tommy Beecher to Michael Henig. Out went the quick hook earlier this week and longtime disappointment Chris Smelley gets the start. Vanderbilt's attempting to build on its smashing of Miami of Ohio.

Join us at 8:30, chat software after the jump.

The good news for Maryland from this past weekend was that they were one of the few ACC schools to start out 1-0. The bad news was that it was a seven-point victory against Delaware (though if you squint, you could pretend it's Michigan. Then again...). The worse news was that it was a 14-7 victory, and let's face it, quarterback wasn't exactly a position of strength for the Terrapins even if it looked like there were so many options.

Which is why it looks like presumptive starter Jordan Steffy, thumb injury and all, is getting a quick hook, possibly in favor of Chris Turner (known to your favorite hacky commentator as "he sure looks like Napoleon Dynamite") or Mama's Boy Josh Portis. Still, don't think that Ralph Friedgen doesn't have a place in his lardened heart for Steffy. Peep the bulletproof Gundy game: "You want to boo me, boo me. Don't boo the kid, Would I like him to make some better decisions or make some better passes? Sure. But this kid to me is the epitome of what we want in this football program." You hear that, Maryland fans- epitome! Fourteen points against Delaware! In sum, the total number of capable starting quarterbacks in the entire state of Maryland holds steady at zero- unless the guy who's starting at Navy has a cannon he's just not able to show off in the option.

Prop Bets for the College Football Junkie is a weekly post that cares not for your silly point spreads. If you have the money and the gumption, we'll lay down a weekly gauntlet of propositions that'll take you from the penthouse to the outhouse faster than you can guess the number of times Lee Corso will say "not so fast my friend." As always, this is for entertainment purposes only.

- We kid because we care, and if Notre Dame is able to win this weekend against San Diego State you can expect Lou Holtz to remind the world that he predicted the Irish to win 11 games this year. We put the over/under for this at five, provided Notre Dame wins. Also, we put the over/under at three for the number of times Mark May will remind Holtz that it was San Diego State. We would say five, but we're sure at least a couple of those times there will be a producer on the set with a look on his face that says "just let him enjoy this moment."

- The punt block that sealed East Carolina's victory over Virginia Tech was poetic justice for all the times the Hokies have won games like that. We're sure it will be replayed multiple times during the game with West Virginia this weekend. But that's now what we're looking at. No, the over/under for this one will be the number of Tech fans actually cheering for West Virginia, and we put that number at five. If you don't know, the catch is that Tech and West Virginia were hated rivals in the Big East days. Being a West Virginia fan, I find it comforting that any Hokie would stoop so low as to cheer for the Mountaineers. Even funnier is that I know of at least one already. Unfortunately, I had to delete his comments on this because he had some derogatory phrases about the Pirates in his comments. I guess it must be my picture.

Every Thursday, Pickin' on the Big Ten breaks down action across the conference.

ABOVE: Rich Rodriguez manually adjusts his offense's expectations.

You always think you have it figured out, then you find out you were more than a little bit wrong. I thought Mark Dantonio had rewritten the usual rules of Sparty Logic (figure out what MSU should do against a particular team, then predict them to do the complete opposite, and bask in the glow of being right). I totally forgot that Sparty Logic was going to rub up against Tedford Logic (chew up the physical defenses, get totally flustered by finesse), creating a swirling white-hot vortex of derrrr centered right on my forehead.

And that other Michigan team? I don't even want to talk about them. Apparently they can lose two home openers in a row.

All this is a long-winded way of saying I went 8-2 in the first week, which seems pretty good, except the first week's games are usually easier to pick than low-hanging fruit. I can't promise to do better this week. I can and do promise to try. It helps that there's only two real games this week.

I was out in Boulder this spring, and for some reason I thought this would be a good picture just in case...well...something like this happened.

Colorado redshirt freshman offensive lineman Ethan Adkins was indefinitely suspended from the football team by coach Dan Hawkins after being cited for driving under the influence Monday in Boulder.

Hawkins also suspended starting guard Devin Head for one game for an undisclosed violation of team rules. It is unclear if Head's violation was connected to Adkins'. Head started at left guard in the season opening victory over Colorado State on Sunday.

Normally this wouldn't be so bad, but Colorado already lost two offensive linemen to academic issues and a torn knee ligament. Colorado shouldn't be tested this weekend against Eastern Washington even being short on offensive linemen, but a date with West Virginia looms on September 18th. As well as Florida State and Texas the following two weeks. Absolutely a great opportunity to jump into the top 25. This is what you're supposed to do in the off season, fellas. Not heading into the meat of the schedule.

Hat Tip: Wiz

Good news for South Carolina: your 'Cocks are getting Smelley:

After an outstanding performance in relief last week, [Chris] Smelley will get the start Thursday night in the No. 24 Gamecocks' SEC opener at Vanderbilt, which defeated Smelley and South Carolina last year.

[Steve] Spurrier decided to go with Smelley for the SEC opener after [Tommy] Beecher couldn't practice Monday because he couldn't lift his non-throwing shoulder.

As the Good Doctor pointed out, Smelley's resume is as skid-marked, if not moreso, than Tommy Beecher's; Smelley took liberties with the proverbial pooch in the aforementioned Vandy loss last year, which blocked the 'Cocks' conference title aspirations.

But to be fair, this is a new year, and in this new year the Gamecock offense grundled ground to a halt for three quarters before Smelley roasted the place like a Dutch Oven. Directing three consecutive touchdown drives, Smelley turned a 13-0 stinker into a 34-0 steamer.

Steve Spurrier definitely knew the writing was smeared on the wall. Remember, this is the The Old Ball Coach, which means if there's one thing this coach knows, it's balls. Hopefully, TOBC can wash the taint of bad 'Cock play from this season before his gang gets banged up too hard.

And that's why Chris Smelley is your top Cock.

Look, we knew it wasn't going to be pretty for Virginia's defense against USC. Beyond the fact that their defensive line lost the best player in school history, not to mention the guy that was supposed to replace him in terms of production and leadership (Jeffrey Fitzgerald), the secondary wasn't much better at covering their asses (either academically or in regards to law abidance) than covering Michael Crabtree in the second half of the Gator Bowl. Not only that, said best player in school history has apparently gotten all big league on us- forget all those puff pieces in SI about boy boy's epic humility. Peter King probably choked on his weak-ass coffee drink as Chris Long showed up to Scott Stadium looking like some B&T jackbag in an Ed Hardy T-shirt and Yankees fitted. And that's just the result of him being in St. Louis. I can't imagine what being on the Jets would result in.

But hey, at least the linebacking crew was solid, with massive NFL prospect Clint Sintim (Ahmad Brooks without the sticky icky?) and GAMER Jon Copper. Well, less so after Aaron Clark's knee injury required season-ending surgery. Clark had been a bit player in Al Groh's 3-4 defense, and a recurring candidate for a medical redshirt that he unwittingly earned during the 3rd quarter of Virginia's 52-7 prostate pounding. He will be replaced by Denzel Burrell, who at the very least has a way cooler name.