STEWART MANDEL'S Extra Points

Following his team's third straight loss, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez is entering treacherous territory. If the Wolverines (5--3) don't beat Illinois and Purdue the next two weeks, they're looking at their third straight nonwinning season—and RichRod could be looking for a new job.... Washington quarterback Jake Locker started the season as some analysts' projected No. 1 overall draft pick, but his stock has fallen during a nightmarish senior year. Last Saturday he was only 7 for 14 for 64 yards and two interceptions in a 41--0 loss to Stanford.... The Big East desperately needs Syracuse to return to relevance, and the Orange are 6--2 for the first time since 2001 after consecutive wins over the conference's past two champs, West Virginia and Cincinnati.

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JED JACOBSOHN