1. LSU (6-0)
W, Florida 28-24
next game: at Kentucky
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... there isnt much of a passing game at the moment. Defensively, its not like Floridas offense is as high-powered as it should be at the moment, yet it took a mega-physical effort, and a few gambles to come away with the win. Thats nitpicking. This is the number one team in the country right now, but
2. Ohio State (6-0)
W, at Purdue, 23-7
next game: Kent State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
shhhhhhh, Ohio State, not LSU, might have the nations best defense. To keep Purdue in check is one thing, but to do it in West Lafayette is another.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the best win yet is over Purdue, whos best win was over, um, uhhh, yeah. The offense still hasnt been tested, and the Big Ten isnt exactly playing like a bunch of world-beaters.
3. California (5-0)
Didnt Play This Week
next game: Oregon State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
the Tennessee win looks a heck of a lot more impressive now. With USCs loss, Cal suddenly becomes the class of the Pac 10.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it shouldnt be. This might be the number two team in the country. Yes, even after the win over Oregon, there are still a few questions about the banged up defense. Could the offense roll on the South Florida D?
4. Oklahoma (5-1)
W, Texas 28-21
next game: Missouri
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
theres still a theory that the Sooners are as loaded as anyone in the country, and if everything comes together, could beat anyone in America. As long as the team doesnt blow it, it could be in the national title picture again very soon thanks to the USC loss.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the Miami win doesnt look like any big deal right now, while struggling to beat Texas, even in a rivalry game, doesnt earn too many points. Heck, UCF came close to beating the burnt orange.
5. Missouri (5-0)
W, Nebraska, 41-6
next game: at Oklahoma
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
beating Illinois now looks like a really, really big deal. That wasnt just a beating of Nebraska this week; that was total and complete annihilation. A win against the Sooners this week would get national title talk going.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... is this team for real? Havent we done this the last few years? Actually, this is exactly where it should be. There are few weaknesses if it plays as well as it did against the Huskers. However, beating up Nebraska might not be anything to write home about right now.
6. South Florida (5-0)
W, at Florida Atlantic, 35-23
next game: UCF
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
beating Auburn at Auburn is looking better and better. West Virginia is still really good, and that win will carry more and more weight as the year goes on.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... no top five team should come that close to losing to Florida Atlantic. That was a closer game than the final score indicates.
7. Florida (4-2)
L, at LSU 28-24
next game: at Kentucky (Oct. 20)
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
theres no need to punish the Gators for a hard-fought loss in Death Valley. If anything, that game should move the team back up.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... Auburn, technically, should be higher, but isnt because of the loss to Auburn. At the end of the day, Florida is on a two-game losing streak, even if the losses are relatively forgivable. Actually, this is probably one of the five best teams in America.
8. Arizona State (6-0)
W, at Washington State, 23-20
next game: Washington
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
the win over Colorado continues to look impressive. Now the team is more battle tested, having to fight to beat Washington State.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... that was a shaky performance against a Cougar team that hasnt been special in any way. It might be a big stretch to put the Sun Devils ahead of Boston College right now.
9. Oregon (4-1)
Didnt Play This Week
next game: Washington State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
as long as Michigan keeps winning, that blowout win in Ann Arbor will carry more and more weight. As the season goes on, losing to Cal on such a close late play might look better and better.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... will the team come back out roaring after the loss to Cal and the time off? If this is really a top ten team, it blasts Washington State at home.
10. USC (4-1)
L, Stanford 24-23
next game: Arizona
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
if the teams head is actually in the game, and John David Booty isnt throw his passes like Manute Bol was his primary receiver, this still might be the best team in the country. Lets not get too carried away here.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... you dont lose to Stanford at home. No, you dont lose to Stanford at home. Again, you do NOT lose to Stanford at home. The first rule of fight club is that you dont lose to Stanford at home. The second rule of fight club is that you dont lose to Stanford at home.
11. Boston College (6-0)
W, Bowling Green, 55-24
next game: at Notre Dame
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
there might not be a more complete team in the nation. All the parts are working from a ball-hawking defense, to Matt Ryan and the offense. Everything clicked against Bowling Green. Of course
.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... that was Bowling Green. Yeah, BC is complete, but it might be complete with above-average players. The heart of the ACC schedule is about to kick in, and now the Eagles have to overcome their consistency issues.
12. Illinois (5-1)
W, Wisconsin, 31-26
next game: at Iowa
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
the one loss was to Missouri, and the Illini almost pulled off a late comeback win. Not only did they beat Wisconsin and Penn State in the last two weeks, they were more physical, mistake-free, and didnt play like the young, immature team its supposed to be.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... Illinois played a nearly perfect game and still almost lost to Wisconsin. Now the spotlight is on; can the team handle it? How will it play if it suffers a few turnovers and has to come from behind?
13. South Carolina (5-1)
W, Kentucky, 38-23
next game: at North Carolina
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
the defense took out the Kentucky offense, and now, the Gamecocks are in the drivers seat in the East. They still have to deal with Florida, but with the only loss to LSU, its possible this is a top ten team.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... No one is afraid of the offense. The D saved the day against UK. This has been a good enough team to win the relatively ugly, tight games, but will it keep getting the right breaks and the big plays at the right times?
14. West Virginia (5-1)
W, at Syracuse, 55-14
next game: Mississippi State (Oct. 20)
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
this still might be the best team in the Big East. Dont give up on the Mountaineers just yet after the South Florida loss two weeks ago.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it appears Pat White will have injury problems throughout the rest of the year. Jarrett Brown is good, and he will be special, but hes not White.
15. Kansas (5-0)
W, at Kansas State, 30-24
next game: Baylor
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
you wanted to see what KU would do, and it showed you. Kansas State had the momentum, it had the crowd, it had everything apparently going its way, but the Jayhawks came though in the fourth quarter.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it shouldnt be. This is about right. The offense is playing well, while the defense did a great job against the Wildcat running game. Bigger tests are ahead.
16. Wisconsin (5-1)
L, Illinois, 31-26
next game: at Penn State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
P.J. Hill was hurt, and the running game wasnt going anywhere, but the Badgers still almost beat Illinois through the air. Illinois had to do everything perfectly, and it still needed a late fourth down conversion to seal the win.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... this isnt a physical team. The offensive line failed to get any push on the Illinois front, while the defensive tackles got destroyed all game long. The defense is going to have problems for the rest of the year.
17. Cincinnati (6-0)
W, at Rutgers, 28-23
next game: Louisville
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
it might be better than South Florida, who has the ranking along with all the national love. No one gets big defensive plays like the Bearcats, while the offense is doing just enough to win.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the offense did just enough to beat Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights had a shot late to win, but got picked off. Can the team win a big game if it doesnt get a ton of turnovers?
18. Purdue (5-1)
L, Ohio State, 23-7
next game: at Michigan
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
theres no real reason to drop after losing to Ohio State. The Buckeye defense might have the best in America.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... now theres reason to question the Boilermakers. Oh sure, the Buckeyes were great, but if Purdue is a top 15 team, it shouldve been able to crank out more than a touchdown in the final ten seconds at home.
19. Virginia Tech (5-1)
W, at Clemson, 41-23
next game: at Duke
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
now thats Virginia Tech football. Big defense, big special teams, just enough offense. When the formula works, few teams can touch the Hokies.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the nations 113th ranked offense is still having issues. Tech isnt going to get two returns for touchdowns every game. Eventually, the offense will have to be consistent, and so far, it hasnt been. Everything has to go right for the Hokies to beat the better ACC teams. Thanks to the D and special teams, everything went right against Clemson.
20. Auburn (4-2)
W, Vanderbilt, 35-7
next game: at Arkansas
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
that Florida win looks tremendous now. This is probably too low a ranking by at least five spots because of the way the defense is playing, and with the way QB Brandon Cox has turned things around.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... its still hard to overcome that loss to Mississippi State. Theres a logjam of teams in the top 25, and that one gaffe is enough to keep the Tigers down for a little while longer.
21. Florida State (4-1)
W, NC State 27-10
next game: at Wake Forest
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
this seems like the type of team thats going to keep getting better and better week after week. Its hardly a killer right now, but its getting by, and its getting wins. This year, playing one bad half in a loss to Clemson, and winning everything else, probably deserves a top ten spot.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it seems like at some point, everything is going to fall apart. Very soon, the offense is going to have to come through with a big comeback in a firefight, and it might not be equipped to do it.
22. Kentucky (5-1)
L, at South Carolina, 38-23
next game: LSU
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
the Wildcats struggled, and it still took everything the South Carolina defense had to win. This offense is the real deal. Its going to nail someone else big on the schedule.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... beating Louisville now isnt remotely impressive, and Arkansas is hardly playing line an SEC star. Those are the two games UK hung its hat on.
23. Kansas State (3-2)
L, Kansas, 30-24
next game: Colorado
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
winning at Texas is still impressive, and the team proved it was good enough to come this close to beating Auburn. The defense, despite its problems with Kansas late, is good enough to beat almost anyone in the Big 12.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... KU shut down the running game. If the Wildcats arent generating turnovers and coming up with big plays on special teams, theyre going to have big problems beating the better teams without some ground support.
24. Texas (4-2)
L, Oklahoma, 28-21
next game: at Iowa State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
if you believe Oklahoma is a top ten caliber team, or higher, then you have to give more respect to a Texas team that played well in Dallas. Colt McCoy is playing as gutty as any quarterback in America.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the offensive line is getting McCoy killed. There wasnt much going for the running game against OU, and the receivers, for the most part, continue to struggle to help out the cause.
25. Michigan (4-2)
W, Eastern Michigan, 33-22
next game: Purdue
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because
eventually, this offense has to starting working, right? Mike Hart is running as well as any back in America. Behind a strong line, hes carrying the team.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... you dont struggle that much with Eastern Michigan and stay in the top 25. The Wolverines should probably be ranked in the mid-30s.
