by Michael Rosenberg

Comment

Today, LSU fans hate him. They hate him enough that when they knock off the No. 1 team in the nation Saturday — a team that dominated the LSU and the rest of the SEC for decades — the chief satisfaction will be beating their old coach.

I don't know if you call this is a talent or just a knack, but whatever it is, Saban is good at it. He has the rare ability to lead football teams to extraordinary heights, and the even rarer ability to be loathed for it shortly afterward.

Saban, after all, has done this twice. He led Michigan State to a 9-2 season in 1999, then bolted to Louisiana State and was immediately ripped by Spartans fans for being greedy and disloyal. Then he led LSU to the national title, left a year later for the Dolphins, and came back to the college ranks at rival Alabama.

Part of Saban's charm, if that is the right word (which it is not) is that he leaves, of course. But part of it is that he is never really loved wherever he coaches. He is notorious for chewing out staffers and cutting off reporters. His sole goal is to win football games (and to get paid, of course). He wins enough to satisfy the masses, right up until he leaves.

Then people realize they never liked him all that much. They just liked that he won. And now he won't be doing that for them anymore. If you're a fan, it becomes difficult to figure out if you were using him or he was using you.

When Rick Pitino made a similar journey — from Kentucky through Boston to rival Louisville — he made it clear that he loved Kentucky, and if anything, was trying to replicate his time there. Saban, meanwhile, went to Alabama and almost immediately got in trouble for being caught using a phrase that is derogatory to Cajuns.

In LSU's case, the anger is obviously about where he ended up. He said he wanted to coach in the NFL, then suddenly decided that he missed life on a college campus and the one in Tuscaloosa, no less.

I suspect there is also some genuine fear at work. Les Miles won the national title last year and beat Saban's Crimson Tide in the process. But he did it, largely, with Saban's players. So far this season LSU has given up 51 points to Florida and 52 to Georgia. This should just be considered normal rebuilding, and maybe it is. But it would be a much happier rebuilding season if it includes a win in the Saban Bowl.

My top five

1. Alabama
Why do I get the feeling Saban is going to secretly enjoy his Tiger Stadium reception?

2. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders get no time to enjoy the win over Texas. They play Oklahoma State this week.

3. Penn State
In theory, the Nittany Lions have the best chance of any team to go undefeated. In reality I'm not convinced yet. More on that in a minute.

4. Texas
The Longhorns get the nod over the other one-loss teams because their one loss was on a final-seconds play to another unbeaten team on the road.

5. Florida
This means that my top five mirrors the BCS standings. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Actually, I am sure how I feel about that.

Four for the Heisman

1. Colt McCoy, Texas
2. Tim Tebow, Florida
3. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
4. Javon Ringer, Michigan State

If Michael Crabtree doesn't make that spectacular catch to beat Texas, McCoy is still considered a lock for the Heisman. I can't hold Crabtree's catch against McCoy.

Under the table

Iowa is 5-4 and just lost to Ron Zook. But look a little closer. The Hawkeyes are 12th in the country in rushing defense and ninth in passing efficiency defense. Iowa running back Shonn Greene is one of the best in the country.

The Hawkeyes' four losses came by a total of 12 points, and yes, they were really that close. Illinois kicked a game-winning field goal with 24 seconds left. Iowa had a chance to kick a field goal to force overtime at Michigan State, but coach Kirk Ferentz went for it on fourth down late in the fourth quarter, and the Hawkeyes were stopped. Iowa led Northwestern in the fourth quarter and lost to Pittsburgh by a point.

And Illinois, Michigan State, Northwestern and Pittsburgh are a combined 26-10.

Now Iowa gets 9-0 Penn State at home. It will be a chance to take out the frustrations of a season that should have been so much better. Do not dismiss the Hawkeyes' chances.

USC took a 42-0 halftime lead on Washington, won 56-0 and dropped from five to seven in the BCS rankings. It's just more proof that the Trojans will need help to make the title game, even if they finish 11-1, which they probably will. The Pac 10 schedule is not going to help their cause.