College Football Corner: No. 1 vs. No. 2

GT Coach Paul Johnson, who earlier this week was named the ACC coach of the year, says his team and Clemson have nothing to be embarrassed out after dropping games to SEC teams the past week.

"We're 10-2; we don't have to apologize for anything," Johnson said his weekly press conference. Last year, us and Clemson both beat Georgia and South Carolina and there didn't seem to be any kind of story line. No one was saying the ACC is dominant. Every team has good players. Certainly Georgia and South Carolina have their share of good players. So does Clemson and I would like to think Georgia Tech has some too. We're going to be here for awhile, so it won't be the last time we play Georgia."

Johnson says Clemson has improved since the first meeting. "I think they're probably more efficient offensively. Their quarterback [Kyle Parker] has gotten better as the year has gone on, although he played pretty good against us the last time."

Jonathan Dwyer of Georgia Tech

The game will feature two outstanding running backs in Tech's Jonathan Dwyer, who has rushed for more than 1,200 yards this season, and the Tigers' C.J. Spiller, who this week was voted the ACC's top offensive player. On paper it looks like the Yellow Jackets, but the Corner is sensing a Clemson upset. Corner's choice: Clemson 26, Georgia Tech 24 -- William Hennelly

No. 2 Texas (12-0) vs. No. 20 Nebraska (9-3), 8 p.m. EST, ABC: The Longhorns spent an entire offseason fuming over a BCS controversy that kept them out of last year's conference championship game. Then they spent this regular season vanquishing opponents in orderly succession. Now, it comes down to this: Beat Nebraska in this weekend's Big 12 championship matchup and consensus holds that Texas can take their place in the BCS national title game, where they'll await the champion of the SEC.

As a conference, the Big 12 never reached the same heights from last year, when pass-happy offensive attacks in both the North and South divisions made for harrowing weekly matchups. There has been little dispute all season that Texas sits at the head of the South, as well as the conference as a whole.

But in the North, different teams took turns trying on the division champ crown only to be exposed later. In the end, the North's race to the bottom ended with Nebraska holding the division title and a punched ticket to the conference title game in Dallas.

Sure, more than a few reports have talked up Nebraska's steady offense of late, led by the recent mistake-free play from quarterback Zac Lee. But in truth the Cornhuskers saw enough of Lee by midseason, whose three interceptions in a dumbfounding 9-7 loss against Iowa State led to his benching the week after. When Lee returned to the starting lineup, the offense focused more around its running game, while the team leaned especially hard on the stellar play of its defense.

And right well they should. The defense is buoyed by Ndamukong Suh, a potential number one pick in next year's NFL draft and a Walter Camp Player of the Year Award finalist. Add then there's this: He may go down as the greatest defensive lineman the school has ever produced. Suh leads the team in tackles, no small feat considering he anchors the defensive line.

But the biggest beneficiary of Suh's terrifyingly good play has been fellow defensive tackle Jared Crick, whose nine sacks top Suh's 7.5. Together, the tandem have pressured quarterbacks and stuffed run games at an alarming pace that has the Longhorn's attention.

"They spend a lot of time in the backfield, and we have to make sure that doesn't happen," Texas offensive lineman Charlie Tanner said during a press conference. "I mean they are dominating. Suh is a guy who is playing and just having an excellent year. He's really dominating. And Crick, his counterpart, is doing a good job, too."

The strategy has worked, as the Cornhuskers have rattled off five straight wins since that forgettable day against the Cyclones.

In a 10-3 win against Oklahoma, Lee completed only five of nine passes as the 'Huskers largely relied on its defense to force Sooners quarterback Landry Jones into five interceptions.

Colt McCoy, Texas

The Longhorns are expecting a similar game plan, so it appears that the game (and this year's Heisman Trophy) will be won or lost on the production of quarterback Colt McCoy. Already a finalist for nearly every major player of the year or quarterback award, McCoy has seen his play accelerate during the meat of the 'Horns schedule.

The baby-faced thrower from Tuscola hit a high note against Texas A&M, turning Thanksgiving night into his personal Heisman showcase in throwing for 304 yards, rushing for another 175 and accounting for five touchdowns. The career statistics are astounding -- 13,060 passing yards, 70.6% completion percentage, 112 passing TDs, and an NCAA record 44 games won. But the one thing his resume is missing is a championship, conference or otherwise.

Look for Texas to rectify that on Saturday. Texas's explosive offense will overcome Nebraska's occasional defensive brilliance, as the Husker's O spends most of the day settling for three-and-outs. Corner's choice: Texas 37, Nebraska 10 -- Sung Moss

A Recap of Oregon-Oregon State

Oregon 37, Oregon State 33

After what felt like a heavyweight prize fight, the winner-take-Rose Bowl and Pac-10 Civil War turned on late fourth-quarter fourth downs, one conversion missed and others made.

Staring at a 4th and 15, Beavers head coach Mike Riley gambled on the unthinkably long conversion. His usually stout run defense had no answer on the evening for Oregon's LaMichael James, Jeremiah Masoli and newly reinserted LeGarrette Blount. So those who say he should've settled for the field goal on the Oregon 27, take the points to narrow the score to 36-37 and then try to get the ball back in the remaining minutes missed the point (and apparently weren't paying attention to the game). He was also betting on his quarterback.

Of course, despite throwing for 306 yards and two scores, Sean Canfield couldn't connect on the pass that mattered the most -- his last. Oregon State hasn't been to a Rose Bowl since 1957, so history wasn't on his side.

Riley's fears were validated when Oregon got the ball back. Later, facing their own 4th and 3, Ducks QB Masoli sprinted to the right after getting flushed out of the pocket and looked to be stopped. Instead, with a vision of roses likely dancing in his head, the brick-shaped quarterback lowered his helmet, trucked Beavers safety Lance Mitchell and spun off the tackle en route to the first down. Four plays later, Ducks coach Chip Kelly brushed off thoughts of a field goal attempt and converted a fourth-and-2 on a perfectly executed pitch.

Playing determined and aggressive football can sometimes send you home, as the Beavers learned on Thursday. But ask their counterparts, and they'll likely tell you that kind of play can also send you to Pasadena. -- Sung Moss

Corner Kicks: Ohio (9-3) visits Central Michigan (10-2) for the MAC championship tonight (8 p.m., ESPN2). The Bobcats have a tall order in defending Chippewas quarterback Dan LeFevour, will close out a spectacular collegiate career in which he has passed for more than 12,000 yards.

The Corner is written by Scott Eden, Sung Moss and William Hennelly in New York's Canyon of Heroes.

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