Is SEC slipping?

A recap from the Southeastern Conference's first two weeks: Auburn bombed. Florida imploded. Tennessee struggled. Alabama fell short.

The SEC, long considered the league to beat in college football, has not fared particularly well in a series of brutal nonconference games - largely because preseason favorite Auburn is shaping up as the year's biggest disappointment.

SEC teams are 11-7 against Division I-A nonconference opponents.

The league's record against other conferences: 2-1, Atlantic Coast; 0-1, Big East; 0-1, Big 12. SEC teams are 1-2 against teams from Conference USA and the Pacific-10.

The SEC had won 93 of 121 nonconference games the past three seasons.

Bengal brother

Texas-El Paso quarterback Jordan Palmer has picked up at least one thing from his Heisman Trophy-winning brother, Carson.

Neither believes in surrendering when scrambling into onrushing linebackers.

"He broke his collarbone against Oregon. That's how I broke mine," Jordan Palmer said, grinning. "You'll never see one of us slide."

Carson did it in 1999, his sophomore year at Southern California. Jordan did it last year during a practice as a true freshman.

A backup on an 0-2 team, Jordan isn't a headliner like his brother, the Bengals' top overall pick in this year's NFL draft.

Yet the pair are very close.

"His brother has raised him," said UTEP defensive back Joe Fleskoski. "They're pretty much the same person."

Wake and rejoice

Wake Forest, at 2-0, is No. 20 in the AP poll, but the Demon Deacons lost more ACC football games than they won each of the last 10 years.

Three years ago, Wake went 2-9.

"We couldn't play dead in a Western movie," lineman

Tyson Clabo said.

Strike a pose

Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon, on the Falcons' quarterback after last week's upset of Purdue:

"If Josh Harris isn't a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate, I don't know who is. Print that for me, will you guys?"

Consider it done.

- Enquirer wire services