No-huddle Rebels look to sideline

No comparisons will be drawn between Omar Clayton and Peyton Manning, but each quarterback goes through meticulous pre-snap routines that are uniquely different.

The Indianapolis Colts' Manning waves his arms as if conducting an orchestra at the line of scrimmage. He barks audibles at his own discretion.

Clayton, a UNLV sophomore, relies on coaches to change plays. The Rebels' no-huddle offense was effective in Saturday's 23-20 overtime victory over then-No. 15 Arizona State, but it also was frustrating to watch for many.

Before every snap, Clayton -- and often the entire offensive unit -- turned around and looked to UNLV wide receivers coach Kris Cinkovich as he signaled in a play after seeing the Sun Devils' defense.

"UNLV has the most annoying offense in America," wrote Jeff Metcalfe of the Arizona Republic. "It's totally unwatchable, with players standing at the line of scrimmage and staring to the sideline for a play, and is understandably difficult for a defense to stay disciplined against."

But the awkward system worked, so maybe Rebels coach Mike Sanford is just a misunderstood offensive genius. The jury is still out.

• ESPN TURNS ON ASU -- UNLV was a 23-point underdog at Arizona State, so it made for the biggest upset of the college season so far. It also spoiled ESPN's party plans.

"How big is that game against Georgia now?" Rebels running back Frank Summers shouted as he left the field following a 103-yard rushing performance.

ESPN's "GameDay" crew was scheduled to visit Tempe, Ariz., this week to hype the game between No. 3 Georgia and Arizona State. But after UNLV's upset, ESPN opted to take its crew elsewhere.

• DARK NIGHT FOR DEVIL -- The Sun Devils fell out of the Associated Press media poll, and the loss to the Rebels caused Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter to lose sleep.

"I did a whole lot of things," Carpenter told the Arizona Republic. "I talked to my mom for a long time, I tried to lie in bed, didn't work out. Got in the pool at 5 in the morning in my apartment complex. I went to Einstein Bagels at 6. I kind of killed time."

• 'NEU' ATTITUDE? -- In late August, Los Angeles newspapers carried a full-page ad with a bold announcement, "The football monopoly in Los Angeles is officially over," and a photo of UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel pointing in the distance.

One can guess Neuheisel was pointing to crosstown rival Southern California and coach Pete Carroll.

But then came the Bruins' 59-0 loss at Brigham Young on Saturday.

"What's the first thing that crossed your mind after watching the way USC manhandled Ohio State? Yeah, poor UCLA," wrote T.J. Simers of The Los Angeles Times.

"No question Neuheisel is going to have an impact on UCLA football history. Upon reflection, though, maybe that preseason newspaper advertisement should have read: 'UCLA's monopoly on embarrassing losses in L.A. still stands.' "

COMPILED BY MATT YOUMANS REVIEW-JOURNAL