1. Oregon Ducks (10-0) LW 2
Unlike last year, the Ducks didn't want to mess around with Cal and took the early lead and never looked back winning 59-17. This was the Ducks final tune up game before facing off against Stanford and then Oregon State. But the win also allows the Ducks to take advantage of Alabama's loss and move up into the #1 spot. This also assures the Ducks of going to the National Title Game if they win out.
2. Kansas State Wildcats (10-0) LW 4
I've thought about moving KState ahead of Notre Dame for a while, but finally pulled the trigger. This is especially true after KState continues to win and the Fighting Irish seem to be stalling. The Wildcats took care of the pesky TCU Horned Frogs with a 23-10 win. The win keeps the Wilcats in the title game hopes and continues Collin Klein's Heisman hopes. Now the Wildcats must hope that they're defense can slow down Baylor's high powered offense.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-0) LW 3
Notre Dame's momentum has slowed down. But almost a controversial win over Stanford, almost losing to Pitt and looking meh against Boston College will do that. The Irish could really benefit by throttling Wake Forrest this week and then beating USC the next week. But when there is three unbeatens and the Irish are the least sexy, it may be a little too late.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-1) LW 1
I'm not ready to have Alabama fall down too far. They squandered away their undefeated season and if there is two undefeated teams the Tide will miss out on the National Championship Game. That's too bad because Alabama is one of the better teams in the nation. But a hot A&M team and some crucial mistakes cost them. They have to be hoping for a few upsets to sneak their way back in.
5. Georgia Bulldogs (9-1) LW 5
It must be nice this year when you see Auburn as your next opponent. Nothing like cruising to an early lead and then being able to ride out the win. The Bulldogs finish the SEC conference slate with only one loss and will likely face Alabama in the SEC Title Game. Now the Bulldogs are on to win the state of Georgia. They have Georgia Southern and then Georgia Tech left.
6. Florida Gators (9-1) LW 6
Just think, if it wasn't for a blocked punt and recovery for a TD in the final seconds we could be talking about Louisiana Lafayette knocking off the Gators in overtime. Because the way the game was going, it certainly could have happened. But the Gators got the win and that's all that matters. Now they face off against FCS Jacksonville State in a tune up for Florida State to end the year.
7. Florida State Seminoles (9-1) LW 7
Florida State maintained their lead in the Atlantic Division with a win over Virginia Tech on Thursday night. It wasn't pretty, but it isn't going to be a beauty contest to get to the ACC Championship Game. They'll have to win out because Clemson won't likley lose. Once they get to the ACC Title Game it should be a breeze cause the Coastal Division is a joke.
8. LSU Tigers (8-2) LW 10
It's too bad that Zach Mettenberger is finally starting to come into his own, because it may be little too late. LSU even with the Alabama loss won't be in the SEC Title game and are hoping for an at large birth in a BCS Bowl. But they can't look past an Ole Miss team that is vastly improved.
9. Texas A&M Aggies (8-2) LW 16
What a win for the Aggies. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't see this coming. A&M has improved, but I thought that Alabama's veteran defense would be too much for freshman QB Johnny Manziel. Mainly because he struggled in the 2nd halves against LSU and Florida. But Manziel was able to continue his ascension and get the huge upset victory. Now he finds himself in the middle of the Heisman Race
10. Clemson Tigers (9-1) LW 8
The Tigers continue stay under the radar with their blowout win over Maryland. They need FSU to lose another game to get to the ACC Championship game, but even without going there they still have a shot at a BCS Game if they can beat in state rival South Carolina.
11. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-0) LW 9
Ohio State had a bye this week and it gives them a chance to get healthy before their final two games of the season. QB Braxton Miller needed the rest more than anybody and it will better serve them as they face off against Wisconsin and then Michigan. Both games will be very tough. But you have to wonder why Ohio State didn't take the bowl ban last year when they only won 7 games and not look forward to this year. Too bad because they could be a BCS Bowl team.
12. South Carolina Gamecocks (8-2) LW 11
South Carolina may have beaten Arkansas to get their 6th SEC win of the year, but with Georgia's win it eliminates the Gamecocks from the SEC Title Game. But the Gamecocks are in a position where if they win out they could get an at large birth in the BCS. They just have to beat Woffard (easy) and then in state rival Clemson (not that easy).
13. Oklahoma Sooners (7-2) LW 12
The win over Baylor moved HC Bob Stoops into second place in the Oklahoma all time wins list. He did it by slowing down the nations best passing team while getting 277 yards and 2 TDs from QB Landry Jones. The Sooners continue to roll and hoping that KState falls off a cliff. But that likely won't happen.
14. Stanford Cardinal (8-2) LW 15
It wasn't nationally known as a big game, but Stanford's win over Oregon State was huge for the Cardinal. Both teams were fighting for 2nd place in the conference and at a chance of sneaking their way into the Rose Bowl. Stanford's defense came to play and QB Kevin Hogan was able to give them the lead with a late TD pass. Now Stanford's reward for the win, a trip to Eugene. A win there would be hard, but people said that about Texas A&M and Alabama.
15. Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-2) LW 17
Can we call the Huskers the "cardiac kids?" Mainly because the way they have been coming from behind for wins has to be giving Husker fans all sorts of heart issues. Their win over Penn State was their fourth win this season after trailing by double digits. Heck their the anti Texas A&M from last year. Now Nebraska just has to not lay an egg against Minnesota and Iowa and they are set for the Big 10 Championship and a possible Rose Bowl.
16. Texas Longhorns (8-2) LW 18
Just when we thought that Texas was struggling and the push for HC Mack Brown to retire was starting to heat up, the Longhorns have gathered themselves and are on quite the roll. They were able to fly past the pesky Iowa State Cyclones and now could play spoiler on KState who they play the last weekend of the year. But don't look past TCU who is no slouch themselves.
17. Louisville Cardinals (9-1) LW 13
After having a few close games earlier in the season, the Cardinals couldn't keep the winning going and dropped their first game of the season to Syracuse. Not only did they lose, they got dominated by Syracuse who controlled the entire game left little doubt. Adding insult to injury, the Cardinals also lost star RB Senorise Perry for the season when he tore his ACL in the game. Louisville should still win the Big East, but their hopes for the BCS could be lost.
18. USC Trojans (7-3) LW 19
This is going to be a make or break two weeks for the Trojans. USC faces off against rival UCLA this weekend in a battle for Las Angeles. The winner of this game will represent the South Division against Oregon. Then USC hosts Notre Dame. A win there would ruin the Irish's undefeated season. Both games are winnable, but they both could be losses. If the Trojans lose both games they will finish the year at 7-5 and be a huge disappointment from a team that was #1 to start the year.
19. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (9-1) LW 20
It was a lot closer than LaTech would have hoped, but they beat Texas State 62-55 and improved their record to 9-1. Now the Bulldogs must face off against a very tough Utah State team in what is the de facto WAC Championship Game. If the Bulldogs keep winning they might be able to sneak into the BCS, but they could also lose their HC Sunny Dykes who is becoming a hot name for a better job.
20. UCLA Bruins (8-2) LW 21
Can you remember the last time that the Bruins vs Trojans match up was actually meaningful? Well this year it is as they face off to decide who goes to the Pac 12 Title Game. UCLA has steadied themselves after two early season conference losses, but ends the season with the Trojans and then Stanford.
21. Oregon State Beavers (7-2) LW 14
For a while it looked like the Beavers were going to pull out the win against Stanford, but the defense couldn't hold and the Cardinal got the late TD to get the win. The loss practically ends the Beavers chances off winning the Pac 12 North and will need to upset Oregon if they want to go to the Rose Bowl. Likely won't happen.
22. Michigan Wolverines (7-3) LW NR
When Dennard Robinson went down with the nerve injury against Nebraska and QB Russell Bellomy struggled immensely. But WR Devin Gardner was moved back to QB and the Wolverines offense has taken off. Heck the offense might be better off than it was with Robinson because Gardner is a better thrower. Don't be surprised when Dennard comes back they keep Gardner as the starter and work Robinson in at other spots.
23. Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-3) LW NR
After losing to Texas, the Red Raiders bounced back to knock off Kansas. It was a lot closer than it should have been, but a win is a win. Now the Red Raiders taken the #1 passing offense into Stillwater to face an Oklahoma State team that is no slouch passing the ball either. It should be a shootout and that could favor the Red Raiders who have the better defense.
24. Kent State Golden Flashes (9-1) LW NR
So far I've kinda had a jinx of small conferences in the rankings. At the beginning of the season I had FIU ranked #24 and they fell apart. Then I had Ohio in the rankings and they lost. Toledo jump up and then they lost. Now I have Kent State. Oh no, will it continue? But it's hard to ignore the season that Kent State is having. They gave Rutgers their only loss and have gone through the MAC schedule so far without a loss. Their only loss so far is to Kentucky which now looks a lot worse than what it was at the time.
25. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-1) LW 25
Rutgers was able to do what they couldn't do the week before and win against an inferior team. After losing to Kent State the week before the Knights were able to beat Army to get some momentum back. Now Rutgers enters the final stretch that sees them playing Cincinnati and then Louisville. Rutgers season will be defined by how they do in those two games.
Dropped From the Rankings: Toledo, Mississippi State, Northwestern
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