The Wiz of Odds

Stanford Band Takes on 'Girls Gone Wild' Founder

Jim Harbaugh wasn't the only one taking shots at USC on Saturday. Stanford's band got in its licks during a halftime performance at the L.A. Coliseum, calling out USC graduate and "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis.

The announcer says, "After all, it takes a special kind of man to be wanted for sexual harassment, drug trafficking, tax evasion, prostitution, child abuse and destructive flatulence."

So What Did Carroll and Harbaugh Talk About?

USC had won 28 consecutive November games under Pete Carroll since he became coach in 2001, many of them by huge margins.

Then came Saturday's 55-21 bludgeoning to the hands of Stanford, the most points ever given up by a Trojan team.

Make no mistake: Jim Harbaugh was intent on running up the score. After Toby Gerhart steamrolled his way to the Cardinal's seventh touchdown and 48-21 lead with 6:47 to play, Harbaugh decided to go for two — probably because he couldn't go for three.

The attempt failed, but Stanford tacked on one more score with its second-team offense against the Trojan first-team defense.

USC Cheap Shot

USC's Taylor Mays rips the helmet off Oregon State receiver James Rodgers in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game at the L.A. Coliseum.

"I didn't mean to rip the dude's helmet off," Mays said.

A Pacific 10 Conference official has been suspended for not calling a facemask penalty on Mays. The league did not identify the official.

Fighting Irish Lack a Finishing Touch

Notre Dame fans were ready for the arrival of USC on Saturday, but despite their best efforts at a conviction, the Trojans were acquitted and left town with a 34-27 victory. Wiz correspondent Greg Laughlin joined Mike Golic and the rest of the crazies in South Bend, and here is a sample of his images from the festivities. You can view Greg's gallery by clicking here.

USC's Johnson in 'Critical but Stable' Condition

USC running back Stafon Johnson was in "critical but stable" condition overnight after more than seven hours of throat surgery Monday following a weight-room accident.

Johnson, a senior, was starting a set of bench-press lifts when the bar apparently slipped out of his right hand and landed on his throat.

Johnson spit up blood through his mouth and nose and was transported by gurney to an ambulance. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, he underwent surgery to realign his larynx.

Doctors are hopeful Johnson will make a full recovery, which includes regaining his voice.

The Finalists for Readers' Choice Poster of the Year

The Wiz is happy to present the 10 finalists for Readers' Choice Poster of the Year.

Each of these teams have survived a rugged primary to reach this point, and now it's your turn to select a winner. Voting will close on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at midnight (Eastern). You get only one vote. Repeat voters are blocked by IP address.

The finalists: Iowa State, Texas Tech, Michigan State, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Penn State, Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, USC and Mississippi. View all of the finalists after the jump and click an image for a closer view.