Week 10 Top 25

Here's this week's top 25.   So many teams lost that it was hard to fall too far this week, but there has been lots of shifting around.  Collin Klein has now taken a commanding lead in the Heisman race after dismantling yet another ranked team.  I still have Oregon at number 2 for now.  They can either solidify that spot against USC or faulter, allowing Collin Klein to move up.  Notre Dame is also now firmly in the national title hunt after blowing out Oklahoma in the fourth quarter.  Nick Saban and Lester Miles face off again in a game with national title implications.  The Tigers can work their way back into the title race with a win, and the Tide can almost cement their position with a win.  The Gayta finally revealed their true colors in Jacksonville.  Despite how good their defense has been, they were never a real contender with their limitations on offense.

Week 10

1. SEC

2. Oregon

3. Collin Klein

4. Notre Dame

5. SEC

6. Florida State

7. SEC

8. SEC

9. Clemson

10. SEC

11. Oklahoma

12. SEC

13. SEC

14. Louisville

15. Oregon State

16. Stanford

17. USC

18. Boise State

19. Nebraska

20. Texas Tech

21. Oklahoma State

22. Rutgers

23. Arizona

24. West Virginia

25. UCLA

Week 9 Top 25

No time for a full update again this week.  Not a whole lot changed at the top this week, but Collin Klein and the Gayta both made statement wins to solidify their spots in the top five.  West Virginia and South Carolina fell on the receiving end of those beatings, removing any possible chance they might make a run as one-loss teams.  The Gamecocks fall to number 13 while the Mountaineers fell all the way out.  Notre Dame stayed undefeated in a holy war with BYU.  The Irish will a part of one of the two huge top ten matchups this week against Oklahoma.  Bama and Mississippi State mark the other.  Sadly, Cincinnati fell out after losing to Toledo, so Munchie Legeaux will not be making an appearance this week.  Okay, fine, that was just an excuse to mention Munchie Legeaux.  Nobody really cares about Cincinnati.

Week 9

1. SEC

2. Oregon

3. Collin Klein

4. SEC

5. Notre Dame

6. SEC

7. Oregon State

8. Oklahoma

9. SEC

10. Florida State

11. Clemson

12. USC

13. SEC

14. SEC

15. Rutgers

16. Texas Tech

17. Louisville

18. Stanford

19. SEC

20. Michigan

21. TCU

22. Ohio

23. Boise State

24. Texas

25. Arizona State

Week 8 Top 25

Here is the top 25 for week 8.  Again, there was a lot of shuffling at the top, and given how many SEC and Big 12 teams are up there, we aren't even close to done yet.

Week 8
1. SEC	Nothing to see here.  Move along.
2. Oregon	Nothing new here either.  Keep going.
3. Collin Klein	Collin Klein is moving into territory even RG3 couldn't reach.  Of course, he's supported by a better defense, but Klein should be squarely in the Heisman discussion.  Bill Snyder just knows how to win and after all these years may have his best chance yet to win a title at Kansas State.
4. SEC	The Gayta just keeps rising as others fall.  Jeff Driskel is making just enough plays on offense while Mike Gillislee is having a very good year.  The defense is still what makes this team go, and we'll see what this team is really made of with South Carolina and Georgia up next.
5. Notre Dame	Sometimes they win ugly, and sometimes they win big, but they've won every game this year.  Despite the QB struggles, what is really impressive about the Irish is that they have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this year, or at least the refs haven't.  It looks like another ugly physical game coming up this week against BYU.  We get to see what Notre Dame really has in them in two weeks at Oklahoma.
6. SEC	Lester still has some of the magic and came up with a novel idea to win on Saturday: Don't let Zach Mettenberger decide the game.  Without the ball in the Offendor's hands to lose the game, freshman Jeremy Hill had a breakout game on the ground as the Tigers pounded it right at Clowney & Co while the defense held on.
7. SEC	Connor Shaw finally came back down to Earth and got knocked around in Baton Rouge.  If he doesn't overthrow a wideopen receiver only to hit Eric Reid right in the numbers, the Gamecocks may have won.  He did however lead the team to 21 points, which could have been enough had the defensive line- which just dominated UGA- not been bowled over in the second half.
8. Oregon State	I don't feel the least bit authoritative on Oregon State.  That's probably because I've barely seen highlights of them this season.  They did, however, put up 42 points on a previously dominant BYU defense, which has to count for something.  That was also 42 points without starting QB Sean Mannion.  Interestingly, the Beavers have rescheduled their original game with Nicholls State for Dec. 1.  The Pac 12 championship game is on Nov. 30.  I guess they expect to lose to Oregon again this year.
9. Oklahoma	Big Game Bob gave Texas a big game beatdown in the Cotton Bowl.  This could be the Sooners' surge back to the top if others keep falling.  With about 10 minutes to go in the second quarter, OU was already outgaining Texas by over 300 yards.  They get an offweek against Kansas before Notre Dame comes to town for a game that will be so hyped up you would think Tim Tebow was playing.
10. SEC	The Bulldogs still haven't done anything terribly impressive this year except go 6-0.  The defense had a bit of a lapse against the Vols but has otherwise been stellar, while the offense is doing everything it  needs to do.  If they can get by powerhouse MTSU, they will be 7-0 going to Tuscaloosa in two weeks.
11. Florida State	FSU rebounded by blowing out BC.  That is, of course, to be expected because BC is one of the worst teams in the country.  The Noles travel down to South Florida this week for blockbuster rivalry formerly known as FSU/Miami.  FSU has had little trouble winning at Miami their last few trips.
12. Clemson	Clemson got a week off to rest, which they surely needed after putting up 1,200 yards on Georgia Tech.  VPISU comes to town this week, which gives a Clemson a chance to show off against a supposedly good defense.  It also gives the Tigers a chance to lose a game they shouldn't in the second half of the season.
13. USC	USC had another rather uninspiring win this week over Washington.  The Trojans built up a 24-7 lead in the first half and then just held on waiting for the Dawgs to come from behind, which fizzled out anticlimactically after just one score.
14. SEC	The dogs had a week off to lick their wounds, which were plenty after the beating they took in Columbia.  They get a chance to take out some frustration on Kentucky before their annual showdown in Jacksonville, which suddenly looks much less appealing again.
15. Rutgers	Rutgers continues to do what they do: score just enough and play shutdown defense.  It has worked well enough to get to 6-0 and should get them to 9-0 with Temple, Kent State, and Army coming up.  The Big East race will get muddy at the end of the year with Cincinnati, Pitt, and Louisville on the schedule to close the season.
16. Louisville	Louisville has been playing in close games for a month, which means they are either about to snap or the experience will carry them through the end of the year.  They should continue their 6-0 start over struggling USF this week before Cincinnati comes to town for a big matchup.
17. Cincinnati	Munchie Legeaux cleaned his plate with Fordham easily as expected.  Toledo is up next with a 6-1 record.  Cincinnati should be able to take care of the Rockets, but it could be tough, giving them a good warmup before going to Louisville next week.
18. Texas Tech	Here is the big story of the week.  Texas Tech didn't just upset West Virginia.  They whipped them up and down the field, busted into their home, and set their couch on fire.  It shouldn't be a huge surprise that the Red Raiders put up 49 points in the game, but they held WVU to 14 points, outgaining them by almost 300 yards.  Of course, we've seen TTU win big games before only to tank the following week.  With TCU, Collin Klein, and Texas up next, they will need to maintain that intensity.
19. TCU	TCU followed up their loss to Iowa State with a 49-21 point win over Baylor, holding the Bears under 47 points for the first time this season.  The TCU defense continues to be strong, and the offense and team as a whole may benefit from the final departure of Casey Pachall.  They are entering their big stretch run which now looks even tougher after Texas Tech's domination of West Virginia.
20. Arizona State	Arizona State avoided a letdown against Colorado, winning 51-17.  The real test comes this Thursday when Oregon comes to the desert.  The good news is that the Sun Devils won't have to go to Eugene.  ASU will have to play a near perfect game to have a chance to win, but they will be the most physical team Oregon has seen this year.  We will see how the Ducks respond to being hit (that is assuming ASU can catch them).
21. West Virginia	And just like that, the national title hopes are over in Morgantown.  Given a strong Big 12 schedule, the Couchburners could have hoped to sneak into the title game with one loss to someone like Oklahoma.  Those hopes are gone now that that one loss is a 49-14 beatdown from Texas Tech, and given their pitiful performance, more losses seem likely.  After being abused by the TTU defense, Geno Smith's Heisman campaign might be over now too.
22. SEC	The Aggies didn't really do a ton to bolster their resume in a 59-57 win over LaTech.  Johnny Manziel is leading the offense to a lot of points, probably even more than expected.  The defense, however, has to get a lot better.  The overall numbers on the season aren't bad, but 27 points in the 4th quarter to LaTech is very bad, especially with the Bayou Bengals coming to town this week.
23. Stanford	Stanford may have gotten screwed against Notre Dame, but four chances from inside the four yard line is plenty.  It's hard to punish them too much after an overtime loss to a top five team, but the Cardinal really needs to step up and take care of Cal in the Big Game this weekend after losing two of three since upsetting USC.
24. Texas	Mack Brown said he was embarassed after last years 55-17 loss to Oklahoma and thought his team was mature enough now to avoid another 38 point loss.  Well, maybe they are more mature because they upped the ante with a 42 point loss this time.  What's really shocking is how bad the Texas defense is.  Manny Diaz is known to be a great coordinator, and the Longhorns supposedly have great talent, but neither has shown up this year.  They are on pace to set a school record for points and yards allowed.  Not bad for one of the best defenses in the country.
25. Ohio	Who knew that there are three undefeated teams in Ohio this season?  They haven't exactly run the gauntlet, but Tyler Tettleton may be the country's best kept secret at QB.  It's entirely possible that the Bobcats run the table, though this is pretty much their ceiling as far as ranking goes.  But hey, they are ranked higher than any Big Ten team right now.

Week 7 Top 25

Here's the top 25 on time this week.  Obviously, there was a big shakeup at the top.  What hasn't been noted here due to their probation is the performance of Braxton Miller.  He's transformed from a rushing specialist last year to a big time playmaker.  If Miller keeps it up, he will be in New York for the Heisman ceremony, and Ohio State will be a preseason favorite next year.  Urban is still working the kinks out, but Miller is a perfect fit at QB.  He clearly ain't come to play school.

Week 7
1. SEC	The safest place to be for a top five team on Saturday was sitting in front of the TV watching everyone else lose.  The Tide got a week off before presumably resuming their dominance against Mizzou this week.  Looks like poor Mizzou will go to 0-4 in conference.
2. Oregon	Oregon won in another yawner.  I wonder if Oregon fans ever get bored of winning 50-something to 20-something every week.  Maybe Arizona State will be tougher this week, though it's doubtful.
3. SEC	Despite pooping around in the second quarter, the Gamecocks still dominated the dogs 35-7.  The display put on by Clowney and the defensive line was nothing short of spectacular.  If they come to play like that every week, we may be talking about a second title for Spurrier (of course this means they probably lose in Baton Rouge this week).
4. West Virginia	Well, it wasn't 70 points, but 45 is still a lot against Texas, and the defense made some big stops when they needed to.  That said, the Mountaineers won't be able to play with fire every week and expect to play for the national championship, but it can get them close.
5. Collin Klein	Collin Klein continued to do what he does in a 56-16 win over Kansas.  Iowa State provides a tougher test this week coming off an upset over TCU, but it's nothing Klein can't handle.
6. Notre Dame	Notre Dame has now one three straight over Michigan, Michigan State, and Miami and has done so in dominating fashion.  The defense is giving up a touchdown per game so far.  With Stanford up next, the Irish have the chance to take down another ranked opponent.  If the defense keeps it up, it won't matter who is playing QB.  Of course, I'm sure Everett Golson learned his lesson from being suspended for pregame warmups.
7. SEC	The Gayta are making their way back.  Pretty soon, we'll be seeing Percy Harvey back in Blue and Orange.  LeSU has had major trouble on offense all year, so we won't be crowning them just yet, but it looks like there is another team squarely in the mix to win the East now.
8. Texas	What's that?  The Longhorns moved up a spot after a loss?  Yes, that's correct.  They lost by 3 points to the fourth ranked team.  That's a better loss than any of the other one-loss teams, which puts Texas at #8.  Oklahoma is up next in Dallas, so Texas needs to come out firing and ready to prove they do belong at the top.
9. SEC	The Tigahz are still les than impressive on offense.  In face, it's getting really bad.  The natives may be getting restless soon and Muttonburger looks like the goat.  It doesn't get any easier when the Gamecocks come to town this week with what looks like the best D-line in the country.
10. Oklahoma	The Sooners finally woke up against Texas Tech and delivered an appropriate beatdown.  They may be heating up just in time to head to the Cotton Bowl and make a run to the top.  If the Sooners can run the table, they may sneak in as a one-loss team.  That's a lot of big games though for Big Game Bob.
11. Florida State	Here we go again.  It's been evident this year even more than the last few that FSU has the talent.  It was made evident again on Saturday that they don't have the mental makeup to win a title.  The Noles had every opportunity to win but wouldn't allow themselves to close the deal against NCSU.  EJ Manuel burned 2 timeouts then took a sack, knocking them out of field goal range in the 4th quarter.  Jimbo Fisher wasted the third by challenging a clearly correct call on the field.  FSU basically took a knee three times instead of playing for a first down to end the game.  NCSU then blocked the ensuing punt before scoring the winning touchdown.  Just for good measure, FSU delivered a late hit on the game winning score.  Yet again, the talent is there, but the brains are not.
12. Clemson	Tahj Boyd set a personal record for passing yards against Georgia Tech, and DeAndre Hopkins was the primary benefactor.  Lost in all the Sammy Watkins hype is that Hopkins has emerged as one of the country's most dominant receivers (if not the most).  The defense still isn't any good but should be enough for them to roll into the South Carolina game with just one loss.
13. USC	It looked like Utah was going to blow the Trojans away, but the Utes got a little too excited a little too early and the Trojans came exploding back to retake the lead by half time.  Once USC got up, Utah couldn't find an answer.  Matt Barkely rounded back into form which should relieve many concerns.
14. SEC	Andy Murray's forray into American football didn't go too well.  The dogs were completely dominated on both sides of the ball by the Gamecocks, leaving Spurrier in a familiar position of having won three straight over the dogs.  The shaky line and freshmen RBs were bound to catch up to Mark Richt, but the defense is a bigger cause for concern.  Even with Ogletree and Rambo back, Todd Grantham's vaunted D is giving up points in bunches.
15. Oregon State	They just keep winning, and defense has become a constant.  Maintaining the high level of performance on defense will be important against BYU this week.  BYU's defense has been nothing short of dominant, so Oregon State better not plan on scoring much.
16. SEC	It's time to start taking notice of Dan Mullen's Bulldogs.  They don't have a signature win yet, but all of their wins have been solid and decisive, if not dominant.  The defense is one of the best in the country, and Tyler Russell is finally living up to the hype.  They probably can't really challenge Bama, but it may get interesting.
17. Rutgers	Rutgers just keeps winning with dominant defense.  This will take them a long way towards a BCS bid.  By nature of playing the Big East, a national championship shot probably isn't realistic, but they have a shot to run the table.
18. Louisville	Louisville had a week off before travelling to Pitt on Saturday.  This is a game Louisville should win, but you never know with Pitt being very up and downt his year.
19. Cincinnati	Munchie Legeaux made sure that both Miami's received a thorough beating on Saturday with a 52-14 win over the rival Redhawks.  They've got a really tough test against Fordham this week.  Raise your hand if you are surprised by the fact Fordham has a football team.
20. Stanford	Stanford responded to the UW loss with a good comeback win over Arizona in overtime.  What's important is that Josh Nunes finally had a good game, albeit against a subpar defense.  Maybe this gives him confidence to play well going forward.  I'm still not overly confidenct though.
21. Iowa State	Iowa State pretty much dominated TCU.  The Cyclones have sneakily been building a good program under Paul Rhodes and the fruits are starting to show.  Of course, they are a long way from competing for the Big 12, but they are also a long way from Gene Chizik.
22. TCU	Iowa State pretty much dominated TCU.  The Horned Frogs defense collapsed, and the offense couldn't respond.  A lot of that probably has to do with QB Casey Pachall, who is in trouble yet again, this time for a DUI.  Pachall was suspended before the game and probably won't play for TCU again.
23. SEC	Contrary to the former Big 12 counterpart, A&M has had a pretty good run to start SEC play.  Having to come from behind late to beat Mississippi isn't very good, but a 4-1 record is.  That one loss was a close one to the Gayta, who have made their way into the top ten.
24. Arizona State	Mizzou may not be able to win any conference games, but they were able to beat Arizona State.  In fact, they've been the only team to beat ASU.  Outside of that loss, the Sun Devils have been near dominant, including blowouts over Utah and Illinois.  We get to take a good look at Todd Graham's work now with consecutive Thursday night games against Colorado and Oregon coming up.
25. Duke	Don't laugh.  Okay, fine, laugh.  Duke has jumped out to a 5-1 record, and even though it has been against weak competition, Duke is still 5-1.  Barring a collapse, they are going to a bowl game and may be a legitimate contender in the Coastal division.  In the grand scheme of things, though, winning the Coastal this year won't count for much.  But, hey, it's Duke.

Week 6 Top 25

Week 6
1. SEC	The Tide got a little bit more of a test from the Black Bears than expected.  Kirby Smart's seat may be getting warm after giving up a whopping 14 points to Mississippi.  They get an off week before travelling to the other Columbia to face Mizzou.
2. Oregon	There's not much interesting to say about Oregon these days.  They score a lot, but that's nothing new.  What may be interesting is how little an impact De'Anthony Thomas has been having lately.  Kenjon Barner has taken a firm hold of the number one ball carrier position, leaving little need for Thomas.  Washington suddenly looks like a tougher opponent this week after beating Stanford.
3. SEC	Yet again, the Tigers looked les than impressive verses a lesser opponent, but they hold at #3 for now.  They have a chance to validate themselves against the Gayta this week.
4. Florida State	Free Shoes U showed some signs of weakness against USF but avoided a letdown.  This is the stretch where we find out what the Noles are really made of.  The schedule sets up well for them to run the table as long as they stay focused.
5. SEC	The dogs get to bump up a spot this week, more as a result of West Virginia's utter lack of defense than their own dominance.  Holding on to beat Derek Dooley 51-44 is less than an impressive defensive showing, but we have to take note of the points the offense is putting up.  It's not a total surprise that the loss of Isaiah Crowell has not really hurt the team, but the performance of freshmen Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall is.  We will see if they can keep it up the rest of the way.
6. West Virginia	Speaking of West Virginia's lack of defense, the Couchburners fall one spot this week despite remaining undefeated.  They can make a living only for so long simply outscoring people, and that will be put to the test against Texas this week.  We'll get to see how tough WVU really is against a real defense.
7. Collin Klein	So far, Bye is still the only team that has managed to stop Collin Klein.  Klein has yet to record a point against Bye.  He should have an easier go at it against Kansas this week.
8. SEC	It's time for the Cocks to stand up and prove they belong in the national title conversation.  They didn't give a ringing endorsement up in Kentucky last week, and they can't afford to sleep walk through the first three quarters against the dogs this week.  Connor Shaw and Marcus Lattimore need to be at 100% if they want a chance to win.
9. Texas	The Texas defense has yet to live up to its potential, but David Ashe and the offense have exceeded expectations.  The return to the running game with Joe Bergeron is a welcome change for the Longhorns after their inability to do so recently.  Texas dropped a spot this week due to the questionable nature of their win over Oklahoma State, when Bergeron lost control of the ball as he crossed the goalline for the winning TD.
10. Notre Dame	Notre Dame took a well deserved break before resuming their murderer's row against Miami this week.  This will offer a new test to the Irish defense, as the Canes have proven an ability to score in bunches and throw the ball all over the field.  Whoever the quarterback is, the Irish will likely need to get the offense going to stay undefeated.
11. Oklahoma	Somehow, Oklahoma has only managed to play three games this year: a shaky win over UTEP; a blowout over FAMU; and a loss to Collin Klein.  It's October, and we still don't really know anything about the Sooners.  They get 4-0 Texas Tech this week looking to make a statement themselves.  This is the time for OU to take a step back towards the top ten before facing Texas.
12. TCU	TCU is getting a nice easy welcome into the Big 12.  They've feasted on the weak so far, allowing them to build up an inflated record before closing the season with Oklahoma State, WVU, Collin Klein, Texas, and Oklahoma in order.
13. Clemson	Clemson still has no trouble scoring points, but they're still having trouble stopping people too.  This week is the opportunity for Dabo to show off what all his weapons can do against a GT team that just got blown out by MTSU.  You can't fault the Tigers for losing to FSU, and they can still have a great season if they keep it together mentally, though history has been known to repeat itself in Clemson.
14. USC	The Trojans had a week off to refuel and have to get back up quickly against Utah Thursday night.  The Utes have had a rocky start to the season, so this is a chance for USC to continue to get back on track after the Stanford loss.  This is also a chance for the USC o-line to prove doubters wrong against a stout front-4 of Utah.
15. Nebraska	Nebraska responded in a way it hasn't in the past couple years by coming from behind to beat Wisconsin.  He may have been wearing a stupid looking uniform while he did it, but Taylor Martinez finally put his big boy pants on and led Nebraska to the win.  It doesn't get any easier this week with undefeated Ohio State up next.
16. SEC	The Gayta got a week off so they would have plenty of time to listen to ESPN talk about how great they are.  We'll find out for real this week when Lester and Company come to Gainesville.  I don't exactly have as much confidence in Jeff Driskel as the talking heads seem to.
17. Oregon State	Oregon State is somehow a big 3-0 with wins over Wisconsin, UCLA, and Arizona.  Washington State is up next which means there is a good chance the Beavers move to 4-0.  This team is still a bit of a mystery to me.
18. Rutgers	Ranking Rutgers this high just doesn't feel right.  Their defense, though, is one of the best in the country.  They're the first of three Big East teams bunched together here, and a lot will change before the end of the year.
19. Louisville	Louisville keeps hanging on after a close win over Southern Miss.  They get Pitt next who may or may not be any good.  This begins a tough stretch for them with USF and Cincinnati up after that.
20. Cincinnati	VPISU is the latest team to come down with a case of the Munchies.  Muchie Legeaux's last second pass to beat VPI is a leading candidate for play of the year.  With MiamiU, Fordham, and Toledo, chances are good Cincinnati moves to 6-0.
21. Northwestern	Northwestern is still undefeated after taking care of Indiana and can become bowl eligible already with a win over a surprisingly tough Penn State team.  The schedule sets up well for the Wildcats to possibly win 9-10 games this year.
22. SEC	The Bulldogs of the West got a week off before going to Lexington, KY this week.  The schedule has been weak and continues to be so this week, but Dan Mullen and the jumbotron are still unbeaten.  They won't climb much higher though until they beat somebody with a pulse.
23. Washington	The Dawgs surprised with a big win over Stanford on Saturday.  Many people left UW for dead after a rough start but that was a big step in the right direction.  Unfortunately for the Huskies, though, Oregon is up next which will likely send them a couple steps back in the wrong direction.
24. Stanford	Josh Nunes clearly isn't Andrew Luck, and he may not be the starter for much longer.  He ranks near the bottom of the Pac-12 in nearly every passing statistic.  As evidenced by the loss to Washington, the defense can only take the Dancing Trees so far.
25. Michigan State	Michigan State gets a bit of amnesty given that their two losses are to Notre Dame and Ohio State.  Notre Dame is in the top ten, and Ohio State likely would be if not for some free tatoos.  They're on their last straw, though, and risk falling out of the B1G race with another conference loss (which won't come this week against Indiana).