College football certainly has been turned on its head (Stanford 24, USC 23!?!) in 2007.

The best program in the Sunshine State is South Florida. Basketball powerhouses such as Kansas, Cincinnati and Connecticut are still undefeated on the gridiron. Illinois, coached by Florida Gators reject Ron Zook, is 5-1. Florida is 4-2.

The California Golden Bears are in line for a national title shot, at the moment. Though, given how the Pac-10 gets stiffed in the BCS standings, Cal fans might want to sit down before reading the results of the first 2007 BCS poll when it's released Sunday.

However the scene for junior college football, at least where the Mid-Empire Conference is concerned, hasn't changed.

The team up by that really tall mountain is primed for another conference title run, while the team off Old Oregon Trail is still a doormat.

This weekend is the start of the second season to all, otherwise known as conference play. Siskiyous is the defending MEC champ and has to be considered the favorite along with Laney. Shasta is 1-4 and, instead of closing the gap with the Eagles from last year, has watched it widen.

Aside from a 30-27 loss at San Joaquin Delta and a 33-28 home defeat by Feather River, the Eagles have been dominant this season. They have two running backs that average more than seven yards a pop. Their two quarterbacks, sophomore Ben Cozad and freshman Matt Jackson, are ranked ninth and 11th in the state in passer rating despite splitting duties.

The Eagles have been a defensive juggernaut in recent years. This season, they rank second in the state in total offense (557 yards per game) and are setting passing records left and right.

As for the Knights, they're coming off a 44-12 beating at Feather River and travel to Sacramento City on Saturday. Shasta's starting backfield -- Steve Savage and Jose Valenzuela -- is out with concussions and as many as three other running backs also could be out with injuries.

The defense struggled mightily against Feather River, giving up 513 yards rushing.

The bye week was sorely needed since Shasta was banged up after the Golden Eagles game and is still very much so.

The Knights must regain the intensity they displayed against Butte three weeks ago in order to compete in the MEC, which fittingly ends with a Nov. 10 home game against Siskiyous.

By then, the Knights hope the difference between the two teams is as much as it seems right now.

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While that is the status of football, it is a big weekend for college volleyball.

First, a pair of state-ranked junior college teams meet at 6 p.m. Friday when Shasta visits Siskiyous. The 14-2 Eagles are ranked 19th in California, while the 10-7 Knights are 24th.

Meanwhile, Simpson volleyball is in a four-team dogfight atop the California Pacific Conference standings. Holy Names and Dominican lead the Cal-Pac at 6-1, with Simpson and Menlo a game behind.

The Red Hawks host Multnomah in a non-league game at 5 p.m. today before traveling to Mills College for a 5 p.m. Friday game. But, the biggie is Saturday's 5 p.m. home match against Holy Names.