In which DCist surveys the Saturday that was in college football.

Upsetting the Set-Up: In The Book of Samuel, David strikes Goliath with a stone from a sling before smiting him with a sword. Look, Goliath got off easy. Last night Texas Tech introduced a sports-watching nation to true asymmetrical wrath, with the insurgent #7 Red Raiders decapitating an unsuspecting, top-ranked Texas Longhorns squad.

The thing is, Texas most certainly did expect to face a tough game against Texas Tech. Since 2002, when Tech coach Mike Leach and then-quarterback Kliff Kingsbury first collaborated for a nine-win season won mostly on an incredible passing game, Texas Tech has proved itself in two ways. First, and foremost, as a spoiler. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, Tech relishes the opportunity to punctuate the seasons of the Big XII South that are perpetual contenders. They're no one's rivals and everyone's rivals, battling fiercely against teams like OU, OSU, and Texas when those teams were focused on one another.

Now Tech has finally come into its own, owing to that other notorious aspect of Texas Tech football: Its incredible aerial attack. Leach has built his own private air force in Lubbock, Texas, calling unusual shotgun lineups, deploying a host of wideouts, and forgoing the running game (as well as the fourth-down punt). Quarterback Graham Harrell's had three seasons to develop his own command with the Tech offense, whereas his predecessors (after Kingsbury) captained their teams for just a single season.

That signature Tech offense? Nowhere to be found on game day. Tech ran the ball—hell, Tech established the running game. Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp never knew what hit him. And Texas fans could scarcely believe what they were watching: a powerful running game augmented by a successful passing game, built primarily around the screen. It sounds like, well, a Texas Longhorns offense.

Photo of Osmar Schindler's 1888 lithograph by Hawkexpress

Texas adjusted its defense after the first half, stopping the bleeding. On the other side of the ball, Tech's defense was tough, but not nearly tough enough to stop a Texas that was determined to give 'em hell. But heck is all that Colt McCoy could muster for all but the third quarter, when he finally turned it on. On paper, McCoy's stats don't look bad — 20 for 34, for 294 yards — but anyone who watched the game knows that most of those yards came in a CYA offensive push in the second half to make up for a brutal first. Some incredible punting saved Texas from a worser fate that the team's dismal 4-12 rate on third-down conversions almost certainly promised.

The depressing truth about the game is that Texas Tech simply played much better football than Texas. There was no clean factor that gave Tech the victory because Tech played better ball in every respect. My hat's off to them, and my head is hung low.

However: That won't stop any Texas fan from indulging in serious recriminations! If the nation's coaches think that Texas deserves to drop six places, after a loss to a top-ten team decided in the last second (singular) of the game, then people should stop asking the nation's coaches. Both Florida and USC lost to unranked teams. Texas beat OU. Before last night, Texas Tech might have seemed like a second-tier Big XII team compared to Texas or OU—but second-tier Big XII's still a sight better than any place in the Big 10 (barring Penn State) or Pac 10 (bar none).

Texas fans had better hope that this fresh outrage1!! in the polls is enough to fuel them to victory through the rest of their season. Meanwhile, what happens when OU beats Texas Tech? Only one of these teams will represent the Big XII south to play for the conference's BCS slot.

Around Town-ish: Longhorns fans have nothing on the fans of the beleaguered Bison of Howard University. Saturday marked their sixth straight loss, this time against Norfolk State, who had effectively won the game by the half. Defensive back Dwight Fluker-Berry returned a kickoff in the second quarter for a touchdown and a punt for another six in the third. Special teams points will cost you a victory, but Floyed Haigler's three interceptions cost them a chance. Ouch.

What was admittedly a stretch of a claim for the ACC bowl berth came to an end as Virginia gave up a touchdown to Miami, losing in overtime. Holding Miami to 4/14 for third-down conversions is no mean feat, but it was not enough to rue the day for the Cavaliers, who posted two costly fumbles on top of dismal offensive yardage. Their four-game winning streak comes to the end. Maybe Virginia will start thinking about more ways to get the ball into the hands of junior Kevin Ogletree next year?

Maryland and Virginia Tech both had the bye.

Across the Country: Penn State also had the bye, and for their effort (or week off thereof!), AP pollers knocked them from #3 to #4 by holding them at #3 in the AP poll, allowing Texas Tech to leapfrog to #2. Some teams can't win for losing, and especially those in the Big 10, where winless Purdue can pull off a shocker against hapless Michigan.

Kickers around the nation will be watching the Pitt-Notre Dame game for years to come. This week's MVP belongs to Conor Lee, who kicked five (!) field goals to give Pitt the victory, four of them in overtime. Quadruple overtime at that.

Army played Air Force? They're rivals, or something? Not much of a rivary: Air Force won its fourth straight contest against Army and has captured 10 of the last 11 meetups. Plus, Air Force paved the way for a Navy victory in the crucial named-after-armed-forces conference. Fun fact: Army, Navy, and Air Force have each won games without completing a single pass—and Navy without even attempting one.

Before SEC fans howl in protest, let me recognize in an official way that Florida beat Georgia. Yes—and? Given the way Tebow's been playing, was this outcome ever in question?