Tennessee had a better night than most folks realized Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

Never mind that the Vols barely managed a 31-30 victory over 20-point underdog Air Force. A more lopsided victory on the West Coast could bode well for the rest of UT's season.

California, which was no match for UT in the season opener, routed Minnesota 42-17 Saturday night. Cal's performance against the Gophers made UT's 35-18 victory in the season-opener look even better.

Watching the replay of Cal's victory Sunday morning, I saw a completely different offense than the one that unraveled play by play against UT's defense.

Quarterback Nate Longshore, who looked shell-shocked against the Vols, looked like a future NFL quarterback against the Gophers as he completed 22 of 31 passes for 300 yards and four touchdowns.

Cal tailback Marshawn Lynch put on a show, reversing his field and bouncing off tacklers while rushing for 139 yards. DeSean Jackson caught seven passes for 114 yards.

None of that star power was evident against the Vols, whose defensive speed and intensity overwhelmed Cal's offense. But Cal won't face that kind of defensive pressure before it plays Southern California in November. In the mean time, it's apt to pile up big numbers against a favorable schedule.

And that will make the Vols' season-opening victory look even better in the polls.

Can He Start, Too?: Georgia true freshman quarterback Matthew Stafford didn't remind anyone of former Georgia star David Greene on Saturday, but he flashed his potential in relief after starter Joe Tereshinksi suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter.

Stafford didn't complete half his passes. He threw three interceptions. But he also made enough plays to help Georgia beat South Carolina 18-0.

Georgia can win its next three games -- against UAB, Colorado and Ole Miss -- no matter who's at quarterback. But in the best-case scenario for Georgia's offense, Stafford will develop quickly and win the starting job.

Coaches are scared to play freshmen, particularly quarterbacks, because of the mistakes inexperienced players make. Coaches sometimes focus so much on what freshmen might do wrong that they undervalue their playmaking ability.

Stafford might be limited by his experience but Tereshinksi is limited by his ability.

Remembering 2004: Auburn might not have as many star players as it did in 2004, but its overall play in two games is reminiscent of its unbeaten season.

There aren't four first-round draft picks on this team as there were in 2004. But there's plenty of balance.

Quarterbacks Brandon Cox and Blake Field completed passes to 10 different receivers in a 34-0 victory over Washington State. Brad Lester, who broke three tackles on one touchdown run, upstaged All-SEC tailback Kenny Irons.

Irons and Lester aren't Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown, but they're still one of the best one-two punches in the SEC. Although Cox doesn't have Jason Campbell's overall talent, he has poise in the pocket and is an accurate thrower. Courtney Taylor is a talented, clutch receiver, and the offensive line looks as solid as ever.

On defense, Auburn has its usual blazing speed, and a shutdown cornerback in David Irons to fill the role Carlos Rogers played in 2004.

Best Of The West: As good as Auburn has looked in winning two games, LSU has looked even more dominant. In fact, in the past three games, including a Peach Bowl victory over Miami, LSU has been the most dominant team in the country.

LSU beat Miami 40-3, then won its first two games of this year -- against Louisiana-Lafayette and Arizona -- 45-3. The Tigers haven't allowed a touchdown in their last 14 quarters.

LSU also has gotten outstanding quarterback play in the last three games -- by Matt Flynn in the Peach Bowl, and JaMarcus Russell this season. As well as Russell has played against Louisiana-Lafayette and Arizona, you won't know if he has arrived as a big-time quarterback until he can manage an offense efficiently against a defense like Auburn's.

Worst Of The West: You have to go back more than 40 years to appreciate the ineptitude of Mississippi State's offense.

The Bulldogs haven't scored in back-to-back losses to South Carolina and Auburn. The last time an SEC team opened the year with consecutive shutouts was in 1962 when both Vanderbilt and Kentucky did it.

As bad as Mississippi State's football program has been at times, it hasn't opened a season with back-to-back shutouts since 1904.

My Top 25: 1. Ohio State, 2. Southern Cal, 3. Notre Dame, 4. Auburn, 5. West Virginia, 6. Florida, 7. LSU, 8. Tennessee, 9. Florida State, 10. Georgia, 11. Texas, 12. Louisville, 13. Iowa, 14. Miami, 15. Nebraska, 16. Boston College, 17. Oregon, 18. Michigan, 19. Virginia Tech, 20. Oklahoma, 21. Arizona State, 22. Texas Tech, 23. Boise State, 24. TCU, 25. Rutgers