Unchallenged Elites: Five Things We Learned In Week Nine

As we flip the calendar over to November, a few things are becoming clear:

-Texas should win the Big XII title unchallenged

-The SEC and Big XII have become top-heavy, and the disparity between the top and middle-tier teams is staggering.

-Teams four through seven need a lot of prayers to crash the title game party.

But this time around, the picture is finally starting to become clear.

We're almost assured of at least one SEC squad in the National Championship Game in Pasadena. And the other spot could very well be filled by a mid-major team.

With all that said, here's five lessons from Week Nine in college football.

1.) Oregon is not who we thought they were, and that's a good thing for them

Primetime in Eugene Saturday night proved to be the exorcism of the negativity surrounding the Ducks' program from the debacle in Boise.

A 47-20 blowout of the powerhouse USC Trojans all but gave the Ducks the inside track to the Rose Bowl.

The breakout of LaMichael James at RB has made everyone forget about Heisman hopeful LeGarrette Blount, who could still possibly be reinstated.

Since that opening loss 19-8 to the Boise State Broncos, Oregon ran off seven straight wins, the closest being a narrow two-point win over Purdue. Then the Ducks have blown away everyone in the Pac-10 in the past few weeks.

A road game against Arizona, the place where Oregon's national title hopes were crushed in 2007, could be the toughest obstacle on the way to Pasadena.

2.) Saturday's week in the Big Ten could pave the way for a de facto Big Ten title game in Columbus

Iowa, Penn State, and Ohio State are the only teams left in the Big Ten that still have a shot at the title and a trip to Pasadena.

With the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions facing off in Happy Valley, a Buckeyes and Hawkeyes win will set up a match which should determine the Big Ten title.

All three teams are in the top-15 of the Coaches' Poll, and the Hawkeyes are still dreaming of a national title this year.

They all have exciting, shutdown defenses, which means the next two weeks could potentially be all low-scoring affairs with the cold Midwestern weather being a huge factor. Whoever emerges as the top dog from these next two weeks could be looking forward to a warm matchup in sunny Pasadena against most likely Oregon.

3.) Anyone who plays QB at Cincinnati is in a great position for success

Tony Pike hurt? No problem for the Bearcats, who seem to be plugging guys in at the QB position and seeing no dropoff.

Zach Collaros has thrown for nine TDs to only one interception since filling in for the Heisman sleeper QB in Pike.

The Bearcats do have a tough road ahead of them to reach a second straight Big East title, as they face UConn and West Virginia at home in consecutive weeks, then finish the year at No. 13 ranked Pitt.

Cincinnati has not lost a regular season game in over a year, and Pike, a fifth-stringer at the start of 2008 has been the main reason why.

4.) Georgia Tech is bringing consistency to the topsy-turvy ACC

After the Virginia Tech Hokies were upset once again, one would believe that the ACC is once again in a jumbled mess.

But along come Paul Johnson's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, who are 8-1 and have the inside track to the ACC title game.

After being tied with Vanderbilt at the half Saturday, GT turned on the jets and outscored the Commodores 28-3 and raced off to a big win keeping their status as top dog in the ACC.

Georgia Tech has two ACC games left in the season, and one more win will put them in the ACC title game.

The old triple option has taken the ACC by storm in just two years, and the Yellow Jackets could very well be smelling oranges by months' end.

5.) Case Keenum is the best mid-major QB since Colt Brennan

Houston's Junior QB Case Keenum had himself an amazing game Saturday against Southern Miss, throwing for 559 yards and five touchdowns en route to a 50-43 win.

And with his name being thrown around in small Heisman circles, Keenum could be the best mid-major QB in college football since Hawaii's Colt Brennan just two years ago.

Both players have put up amazing stats, and Keenum, like Brennan, could garner serious Heisman Trophy consideration.

The only difference is Brennan did lead his team to a BCS game his senior year and Keenum will probably not do so. But one could make the argument that Keenum has beaten much better competition in 2009 than Brennan did in his senior year while putting up comparable stats.

Most offensive fans would love to see a matchup between these two teams, 2009 Houston and 2007 Hawaii, because anyone would enjoy a show between those two amazing QBs.