NCAA Top 25 (Week 4)

1.  Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0) LW 1
If it wasn't for giving up a late TD, this would have been a perfect game for the Crimson Tide.  Both sides of the ball were really running on all cylinders.  AJ McCarron continues his development and is showing people he is far from just being a "game manager."  Defensively Alabama was at it's best, holding the Florida Atlantic to only 110 yards of total offense.  Pretty impressive no matter who the opponent is.  Next up for Alabama is the start of SEC conference action.  First up Ole Miss.  This should be fun!

2.  Oregon Ducks (4-0) LW 3
Don't get me wrong.  Oregon's 49-0 win over Arizona was impressive.  However I don't think Arizona was as good as some people were making them out to be.  But with their win and LSU's clunker against Auburn vaults the Ducks into the #2 ranking ahead of LSU.  Oregon scoring 49 points isn't a surprise.  Their offense is stacked and Arizona is dreadful.  But what impressed me the most was that the Ducks shut out Arizona.  This was an Arizona team under Rich Rod that averaged more than 46 points per game.  And the Ducks (whose defense isn't know for being good) shut them out.  Look for the Ducks to continue their momentum into this weekend where they face off against a Washington State team that gave Colorado their first win.  Should be another blowout.


3.  LSU Tigers (4-0) LW 2
LSU's game against Auburn is a true testimat of how tough the SEC is.  Auburn (who almost lost to Lousiana Monroe) isn't a very good team.  However they gave the Tigers a huge scare and almost upset the (previously) #2 ranked team.  Good thing LSU has such a good defense, because their offense was horrible in this game.  The big concern has to be the offense.  QB Zach Mettenberger was beginning to look pretty good, but he struggled in this game.  He only completed 55% of his passes and had 2 first half fumbles.  However the Tigers have this next weekends game against Towson to work out the cinks before they get into the heart of their SEC schedule. 

4.  Georgia Bulldogs (4-0) LW 4
Even though Vanderbilt is struggling, it's still a big accomplishment for the Bulldogs to lay the lumber to them.  Georgia started early and keep and often cruisng to an early 27-3 lead at halftime.  QB Aaron Murray continues to run this offense like a fine oiled machine.  He threw for 250 yards and 2 scores.  But the story is the defense.  Holding the Commadores to only 3 points is pretty good.  If the defense keeps playing at this level the Bulldogs should win the SEC East and have a good shot at winning the conference.  But they'll have to get past an improved Tennessee team before thier big showdown with South Carolina.


5.  South Carolina Gamecocks (4-0) LW 5
Even though there was some mismanagement of Connor Shaw, luckily he was alright and able to play in their game against Missouri.  And it's a good thing he did play, because Shaw was one of the biggest reasons that the Gamecocks were able to get an easy 21 point win.  Shaw was so good that he complete 20 straight passes in route to 249 yards and 2 TDs.  That's pretty good considering he hurt his shoulder two weeks in a row.  The Gamecock defense was also on theri game against Missouri.  Holding the Tigers high powered offense to only 10 points.  South Carolina now travels to Kentucky before their big time showdown with Georgia.  Kentucky isn't very good, but South Carolina cannot afford to look past the Wildcats because if this season is any indicator.  Anything can happen.


6.  Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0) LW 12
I wasn't a big believer of Notre Dame early in this season, but their wins against Michigan State and Michigan have shown us that this Fighting Irish team is their best they've had in 10 years.  And are a serious contender.  The biggest reason is the play of their defense.  Lead by Manti Te'o the Irish defense is suffacating and has help both Michigan Schools to a total of 9 points.  Pretty good considering that Michigan's Dennard Robinson is such a dynamic player.  However their downfall could be the offense.  Surprising since HC Brian Kelly is a "offensive guru."  Notre Dame needed back up QB Tommy Rees to come in to spark the team to get the win.  When they play against Stanford and USC they'll need more than 13 points to get the win.


7.  Florida State Seminoles (4-0) LW 11
In the battle for ACC supremiscy, the Seminoles came out the winner.  Their game against Clemson was suppose to be a battle between Clemson's high powered offense vs the Seminoles stout defense.  But it was Florida State's offense that got them the victory.  EJ Manuel was the star of the game.  He threw for 380 yards and rushed for another 102 yards.  Manuel's preformance has thrust him right into the Heisman Race.  Defensively the Seminoles were far from great, but they did enough to insure the win.  Florida State has an easy schedule ahead of them.  As long as they stay focused, their only two challenges will come from Virginia Tech and Florida. 


8.  Kansas State Wildcats (4-0) LW 14
After losing to Oklahoma by 41 points last year, the Wildcats were out for revenge and to show everybody that they are for real.  They sure did that in their win over the Sooners.  QB Collin Klein was his typcial self, but it was the play of RB John Hubert that allowed the Wildcats to get the victory.  Hubert rushed for 130 yards and a score to help take some of the burdeon off Klein.  Add in a TD off a fumble recovery and it was a good game all around for KState.  KState has a bye week before facing off against in state rival Kansas.  The bye week could allow the Wildcats a chance to regroup after a big win, but they can't get too big.  However they do face off against Kansas ni their next game.  So playing an in state rival could keep their focus.  But the Wildcats are for real and have a great shot at winning the Big 12.


9.  Stanford Cardinal (3-0) LW 8
After upsettting USC, the Cardinal had a week off to rest up before continuing their Pac 12 schedule.  Their opponent this weekend is a Washington team whose only loss came at LSU.  Mobile QB Keith Price will really test how good this Cardinal defense really is.  However if Stanford plays like they did against USC, they should have no issues with Washington.  But they can't take them lighly.  Washington is very underrated.


10.  USC Trojans (3-1) LW 9
After losing to Stanford, the Trojans were happy to get back to playing and took out some of their frustrations on California.  The Trojan offense focused their efforts to the ground and it payed off with Silas Redd and Curtis McNeal both going for over 100 yards and combining for 273 yards.  This is a good sign because USC struggled to run the ball last year.  Elsewhere, QB Matt Barkley continued to play sloppy throwing 2 INTs for the second straight week. USC has a bye week this weekend to get things in order before they get into the heart of Pac 12 play.  They'll need to get the offense back in order if they want to get victories over UCLA, Oregon State, and Oregon.


11.  West Virginia Mountaineers (3-0) LW 10
It wasn't the blowout or the video game like stats we thought we'd get from West Virginia's game against Maryland.  But the biggest thing was that the Mountaineers got the victory.  QB Geno Smith didn't complete 90% of his passes, but he still played at a high level throwing 338 yards 3 TDs and 0 INTs.  WR Tavon Austin had a career day against his home state team.  He caught 13 passes (sets the WV all time receptions record) for 179 yards and 3 TDs.  After a realtively weak non conference season, the Mountaineers begin their first Big 12 season and they drew a dousy to start.  Baylor and West Virginia will be a shootout between to high powered offenses.  However the Mountaineers appear to have the better defense and the game is at home.  But this will be a fun game to watch.


12.  Clemson Tigers (3-1) LW 7
Could you imagine how good Clemson could be if their defense was above average?  We may be talking about a National Championship contender.  They brought in Brent Venables (former Oklahoma DC) to be their new DC, but they haven't seen an immediate return.  The offense did their job scoring 37 points.  Which in most games will get you a win.  However the defense allowed Florida State to score 49.  That's just not going to cut it.  Luckily the Tigers don't have to face a lot of high powered offenses the rest of the season.  But if Clemson ever wants to get to the next level.  They are going to need to figure it out.


13.  Oklahoma Sooners (2-1) LW 6
Landry Jones' struggles were a big reason the Sooners lost to Kansas State.  Sure you can't place the entire blame on him, but he did make some crucial errors at the wrong time.  He had a critical fumble that KState ended up returning for a TD and then threw a INT that helped give the Wildcats the lead.  Landry was thought at one time to be a future top 10 pick in the NFL Draft, but his play since the middle of last year has left a lot to be desired.  Add in that backup QB Blake Bell's fumble at the goal line resulted in a FG instead of a TD doesn't make matters any better.  It's a shame because this Sooner defense is pretty good.  Oklahoma now has a bye this weekend for them to stew about this loss before they play Texas Tech before the Red River Shootout against Texas.  The Sooners cannot afford to look past the Red Riaders, because they've done it before and it's come back to bite them.

14.  Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0) LW 15
Ohio State gets the win over UAB to stay perfect.  However you have to wonder when or if their struggles are going to catch up to them.  In every game so far this season the Buckeyes have struggled at some point.  Their biggest struggle is slow starts.  Those are fine when you are playing UCF and UAB, but in Big 10 play teams could jump out early and take you out.  However QB Braxton Miller has sparked the Buckeyes to get the victories.  Against UAB he was just average.  He'll need to be at the top of his game this weekend against Michigan State.  The Spartan defense is one of the best in the nation and has the athletes to contain Miller.

15.  Florida Gators (4-0) LW 16
It wasn't much of a challenge for Florida in their 38 to 0 win over Kentucky.  Florida started early and never let up.  But did you know that this shut out win was the first time the Gators have shut out an SEC opponent since 2001?  That's over 10 years!  With all the crappy offenses we've seen in the SEC lately, the Gators haven't shut one out.  That's pretty remarkable.  Florida can now shift their focus towards LSU who they play in two weeks.  Having an extra week to prepare should get the Gators extra focused.

16.  Michigan State Spartans (3-1) LW 17
I know that Eastern Michigan is improving, but seriously Michigan State?  Your going to struggle against them?  I guess you were really looking ahead to the Ohio State game.  Because there is no reason that Michigan State had to score 20 straight points to sneak away with a victory.  What's even more alarming is that Le'Veon Bell got 36 carries.  This was suppose to be a game where the Spartans could rest Bell a little before the Big 10 season.  Instead they needed all 36 carries to get the win.  What's worse is that the Spartans now face an Ohio State team that has a ton of talent.  Michigan State is going to need QB Andrew Maxwell to really show up if they want to win.

17.  Texas Longhorns (3-0) LW 18
Texas enjoyed a nice weekend off in preperation for the start of Big 12 season.  Texas starts off conference play with back to back tough games against the state of Oklahoma.  Oklahoma State is up first.  This ain't your Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon Oklahoma State teams, but they still know how to score and they're going to put Texas defense to the test.  After Okie State, Texas then travels up to Dallas for the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma.  The Sooners have dominanted lately, but there coming off a loss to KState and the Longhorns now have some stability at the QB position.  Because history has told us that the team with the best QB usually wins that game.


18.  Louisville Cardinals (4-0) LW 19
Even without Teddy Bridgewater at the top of his game, the Cardinals were able to secure a victory over Florida International and get revenge from last year's defeat.  Bridgewater threw for more incompletions in this game than he had all three previous.  Add in 2 INTs and it wasn't what we've seen so far this year.  However he throw 2 TDs and rush for another one to help keep Lousiville undefeated.  Louisville now moves on to face Southern Miss who despite an 0-3 record is still a dangerous team.

19.  TCU Horned Frogs (3-0) LW 20
It was a complete game victory for the Horned Frogs.  Defensively TCU played up to their reputation.  They held Virginia to 7 points and forced 4 turnovers.  offensively QB Casey Pachall had a game.  He threw for 305 yards and 3 TDs.  WR Brandon Carter was the leading receiver and made a highlight one handed catch that put TCU ahead for good.  TCU now moves on to face in state rival SMU to finish out the non-conference schedule.  SMU should be an wasy win and give the Horned Frogs their 12 straight win.


20.  Virginia Tech Hokies (3-1) LW 21
Virginia Tech couldn't wait to get back onto the field after their horrible loss to hapless Pittsburgh.  What better way to do that then to beat up on a MAC school.  That's exactly what VaTech did in their 37-0 victory over Bowling Green.  QB Logan Thomas didn't put up eye popping numbers, but he ran and passed for 209 yards and 3 TDs.  But what is alarming is that VaTech has to rely on Thomas to help their running game.  That will be something they figure out soon because it could cost them a few games.  Especially if Thomas gets banged up.  The Hokies now travel to Cincinnati which has all the firepower to knock off the Hokies.


21.  Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1) LW 23
When you schedule a FCS opponent your suppose to be them like Nebraska did against Idaho State 73-7.  Severly overmatched the Bengals just couldn't do much against the Huskers.  Heck Nebraska even rested QB Taylor Martinez in the 1st quarter.  The game didn't accomplish much, but it did allow the Huskers to get RB Rex Burkhead back on the field and get some reps before their game against Wisconsin.  The Big 10 is wide open this year and it may come down to whose offense is playing the best.  And right now the Huskers are the only team (besides Ohio State who is ineligible) whose offense has shown that can put up points consistantly.  Add in Wisconsin's struggles so far and this should allow the Huskers to get revenge from last year's beat down in Madison.


22.  Baylor Bears (3-0) LW 24
After knocking off Arkansas and then almost getting Auburn, the Lousiana Monroe Warhawks almost got another BCS conference team.  Baylor needed two late TDs to take then lead and then get some breathing room.  Baylor was lead by QB Nick Florence's 351 yards 4 TDs.  But the big concern with Baylor is always their defense.  If they give up 42 points to Lousiana Monroe, how many are they going to give up against West Virginia?  That game could be a track meet.


23.  Tennessee Volunteers (3-1) LW 25
Everybody was real quick to write off Tenessee after their loss to Florida.  However they almost won that game and still have looked pretty impressive so far this season.  They followed up the loss to Florida with a 21 point win over Akron.  The offense continues to score a boat load of points, but if they want to make some noise in the SEC, they'll have to play some defense.  Georgia is their next opponent and that will be tough.  However they have the firepower to do so.


24.  Northwestern Wildcats (4-0) LW NR
One of the surprise teams so far this season has to be Northwestern.  The Wildcats are 4-0 and have three wins over BCS conference schools.  It's not like Northwestern's success is a product of their schedule.  They've looked impressive in wins over Vanderbilt, Syracuse, and Boston College.  The schedule also sets up where they can be 7-0 heading into the game against Nebraska.  The same team Northwestern beat in Lincoln last year.  The Big 10 is wide open right now and with the scoring they can do, they could be a sleeper in the Lengends Division.


25.  Michigan Wolverines (2-2) LW 13
Michigan was everybody's darling to start the season.  With Dennard Robinson back, Greg Mattison's defense, and Brady Hoke's personality the Wolverines were going win the Big 10 and be a contender for the National Championship.  Their dominating loss to Alabama in the first game was a huge blow, but their latest loss against Notre Dame was even more damning.  We all knew that there were questions about their defense, but the loss to Notre Dame raises questions about their ability to score.  Notre Dame has a good defense, but Michigan should be able to score at least a TD.  Michigan now moves on to face a Purdue team that is underrated.

Dropped From the Rankings:  UCLA

Pre-season Top 25

1.  USC Trojans
It's been quite a while since we've seen USC at the top of the rankings.  But through the hard work of Lane Kiffin and the return of star players TJ McDonald and Matt Barkley, the Trojans are poised to make a run at another National Title.  On offense they are loaded.  Matt Barkley is a stud and will probably be the top QB taken in the 2013 NFL Draft.  He has Robert Woods and Marqise Lee at WR who might be the two best WRs in college football.  Then add in RB Silas Redd (Penn State) and Curtis McNeal the offense will be extremely tough to stop.  The real key will be the defense.  In a offensive minded conference they'll have to stop teams to beat them.  Mainly Oregon who they'll have to beat twice to put themselves in a position to play for a National Title.

2.  LSU Tigers
Don't let the talk of Tyrann Mathieu being kicked off the team make you think they aren't a favorite for the National Championship.  Mathieu was a great player, but LSU is so loaded with talent that they will be able to recover from his loss.  Aside from the Mathieu talk, the biggest story has been QB Zach Mettenberger.  The former Georgia Bulldog has a cannon for an arm and the Tigers are hoping his passing ability will keep defenses from loading up the box and freeing up their running game.  If LSU can get a more explosive offense, they should be right back to the Title Game.

3.  Alabama Crimson Tide
Ever since Nick Saban has taken over the Crimson Tide program, they've been a major player in college football.  This year should be much the same.  They've always been known for their top notch defense, however losing 6 starters to the NFL including 3 from the secondary they won't have the same bite.  Good thing that the offense should be able to pick up the slack and carry the team for most of the year.  QB AJ McCarron is coming into his own and the running game should be fine behind the best offensive line in college football.  Their big test will be on Nov 3 when they travel to LSU.  The winner of that game could likely decide the SEC and which team goes to the National Title Game.

4.  Oregon Ducks 
Despite losing QB Darron Thomas and RB LeMichael James, the Ducks are right back into the thick of the National Championship hunt.  Bryan Bennett will get the nod at QB and many thought he out played Thomas last year.  Losing James is big, but the Ducks still have Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas to carry the load.  Add in stud WR Josh Huff and the offense will continue to run at a high octane.  But the true story of this team will be their defense.  They return 6 starters, but many are considering this to be Chip Kelly's best defense.  But the biggest path to their success could be their schedule.  They have a weak non-conference slate (Arkansas State, Fresno State, and Tennessee Tech) and the last time they played this easy of a non-conference schedule they were in the National Title Game.

5.  Michigan Wolverines
Michigan's success last season was one of the biggest stories in college football.  Brady Hoke turned around this program that was underachieving under Rich Rodriguez.  The biggest reason was the play of their defense.  This year they return 7 starters on a group that DC Greg Mattison has running on all cylinders.  But as we've seen in previous years, the team goes as Dennard Robinson goes.  If he plays like he did last year, the Wolverines will be the Big 10 favorites.  But if he can't stay healthy and goes back to throwing interceptions, the offense will struggle.

6.  Oklahoma Sooners
It's pretty telling how good your program is when a 10-3 season is considered to be a downer.  But things should improve for the Sooners who return 15 fo their 22 starters and key platyers all over the field.  On offense they get back 4 year starter Landry Jones at QB, WR Kenny Stills, and RB Domminque Whaley.  But we all know that the Sooners are a defensive team and their loaded again.  Oklahoma might have one fo the best secondaries in the nation and that comes in very handy in the pass happy Big 12. 

7.  Georgia Bulldogs
After being on the hot seat for the better part of the past several years, HC Mark Richt could have his best team yet.  The strength of this team in their defense.  Jarvis Jones is the leader of the defense and is a dominant threat on the outside rushing the passer. Georgia is also deep along the defensive line and will make it tough for opposing defenses to run the ball on them.  On offense QB Aaron Murray returns for his 3rd year as a starter and should continue his development.  The only thing holding this offense back is a running game.  If they can find somebody to step up in replacement of Isaiah Crowell they could really take off.

8.  South Carolina Gamecocks
Last year the Gamecocks went 10-2 and did so without starting QB Stephon Garcia (kicked off) or RB Marcus Lattimore (injury).  Their offense struggled at times with Connor Shaw at QB, but as the season progressed, so did he.  This year they get Lattimore back which should help the offense, but they also lose WR Alshon Jeffery who was a big part of their passing game.  But the biggest losses will be on defense.  They'll have to replace most of their secondary and top pass rusher in Melvin Ingram.  But this does mean that super sophomore Jadeveon Clowney will get more time.  It also doesn't help that they added LSU back to schedule.  But there is still a lot of talent there and the Gamecocks will battle Georgia for the SEC West crown.

9.  Wisconsin Badgers
You would think after being the back to back Big 10 Champions, more people would be talking about Wiscosin.  Instead the Big 10 teams we are hearing about are Michigan and Ohio State.  Part of that might be the fact that Russell Wilson has left and practically their entire coaching staff.  But the Wisconsin program has a system in place that should allow them to keep the momentum rolling. Wilson may be gone, but they secured another transfer in Danny O'Brien (Maryland) who gives them 17 starts under his belt.  This should help, but we all know that this is RB Monte Ball's offense and he'll get the ball even more than last year.  Add in that Wisconsin has an easy road to the Big 10 Title Game (Ohio State and Penn State ineligble) makes them a team to watch out for.

10.  Clemson Tigers
After a breakout year that got Clemson to their first BCS game, the Tigers are looking to build off their success and take it to another level.  They should be pretty well set on offense with Taj Boyd, Sammie Watkins, DeAndre Hopkins, and Andre Ellington all back.  This also gives the Tigers another year in OC Chad Morris' offense which should only make them better.  But the big story is their defense.  They were so embarrassed by the thrashing that West Virginia gave them that they fired DC Kevin Steele and replaced him with one of the top DCs in the game in Brent Venables (Oklahoma DC).  If Venables can improve the defense, this team has the firepower and talent to make some serious noise.

11.  Arkansas Razorbacks
Poor Arkansas.  For the past couple of years they've been the 3rd best team in the SEC, however they happen to be in the same division as the two best teams.  However Arkansas gets both LSU and Alabama at home this year.  No better of a time to make a move to the top of the conference.  Things looked to be optimistic for them, they returned stud QB Tyler Wilson and get back RB Knile Davis.  The defensive was continuing to get better and the two paired together was ready to break through to the top.  But then HC Bobby Petrino's off the field behaviors got him fired and the school tabbed crazy John L Smith to be the interm coach.  Smith is fimilar with the program (special teams coach last year) but he has a history of doing some odd things.  If he can stay out of the way, the Razorbacks could be very good.  If not, they could struggle with no real future leader in place.

12.  Virginia Tech Hokies
Always a favorite in the ACC and a darkhorse National Championship candidate, this year is no different for the Hokies.  Their lead by Heisman Trophy candidate Logan Thomas at QB who really emerged as the end of last season and is looking to continue the upward swing.  They'll need to count on Thomas even more without the services of speedy RB David Wilson.  But VaTech is known for having great RBs and they're hoping rFr Michael Holmes is that next good back.  But with all that said, VaTech has been built off defense and speical teams and we know those will be good again.  Their big key is getting past Clemson who they have to go on the road to play this year.

13.  Michigan State Spartans
I really want to have Michigan State higher here.  They easily have the best defense in the Big 10 and have a really good running game.  They have two of the best cornerbacks in the nation and maybe the most feared pass rusher in William Gholston.  But the thing holding them back from being ranked higher is questions about their QB and WR positions.  The biggest one is replacing Kurt Cousins at QB.  Andrew Maxwell will get the nod at QB, but if they want to make it back to a 2nd straight Big 10 Title game they'll need him to be more than just a game manager.

14.  Ohio State Buckeyes
There sure has been a lot of buzz Ohio State this off season.  Sure Urban Meyer has taken over, but this is still a team coming off a 7-6 season and can't participate in any post season games.  Meyer has brought his high intensity and spread to the Horshoe and that has really got people excited.  But this offense is still sketchy in certain areas.  Mainly the skill positions.  DaVier Posey is gone, so is Dan Herron.  Meyer kicked TE Jake Stoneburner off the team and he was their only returning threat.  But they do have QB Braxton Miller whose speed and quickness should fit into the offense well.  But the Buckeyes are going to need to rely on their defense to win a majority of their games.

15.  Texas Longhorns
Despite having some of the best talent in all of college football, the Texas Longhorns have struggled to play at a high level.  A big part of that has been the QB position.  Despite all the talented QBs that come out of Texas, the Longhorns haven't had somebody come out and take the job over.  Right now Chase McCoy and David Ash are battling for the job.  If the Longhorns want to go from average team to National Title contender, they need one of those two players to step up and take over.  Because all the other pieces are there.

16.  Kansas State Wildcats
It's safe to say that everybody was surprised with the season that Kansas State had last year.  They were so good that they should have earned a Sugar Bowl invite.  KState is lead by Heisman Trophy contender Colin Klein at QB.  It doesn't always look pretty, but Klein does it all for the Wildcats.  He is a tough runner and at his size (6'5 226) is very tough to bring down and is a better passer than many people think.  He is the heart and sole of their offense and if he's going, they are tough to beat.  On defense they are lead by Aurther Brown who is all over the field making plays.  KState should be good again this year, however they have the dubious honor of traveling to their toughest opponents (Oklahoma, TCU, West Virginia, and Baylor) which will make it hard for them to get back to 10 wins again.

17.  Florida State Seminoles
I guess I don't get it.  For the past couple of years there has been a lot of hype about Florida State in the pre-season.  Last year they got all the way up to #5 before being beat down by Oklahoma and then dropping games to Clemson and even Wake Forrest.  Now this year they are right back into the top 10 in the pre-season polls with nothing to show for it.  Yeah they return a lot of starters, but they have to replace both offensive tackle positions and the team hasn't shown that they are "back" yet.  So I'm taking the wait and see approach.  But don't get me wrong, they'll have a shot to win their division, but they aren't one of the ten best teams in the nation.

18.  West Virginia Mountaineers
Things went pretty well for West Virginia in HC Dana Holgerson's first season.  The Mountaineers finished the season 10-3 with the offense picking up steam throughout the season and it ended with a 70-33 beatdown of Clemson in the Orange Bowl.  In the off-season the Mountaineers joined the Big 12 Conference where they actually fit in pretty well.  Not in location (like TCU), but in style of play.  The Big 12 is known for high flying offenses, and you don't get anymore high flying than Dana Holgerson.  However the biggest different West Virginia will see is the step up in compition.  No longer are they playing the Rutgers and Pittsburghs.  Now they'll be seeing the Oklahoma's and the Texas.  And they'll need every bit of their explosive offenses if they want to contend for a league title in year 1. 
19.  Nebraska Cornhuskers
In their first season as members of the Big 10, the Huskers were favorites to win the conference.  However they fell apart at the end of the season and ended up not even making the Big 10 Title Game.  This year there isn't a whole lot of hype around the team, but that may be a good thing.  Bo Pelini's teams have always been known for their defense, but it may be the offense that has to carry the load to start the season.  Offensively they return all their skill position players and if Taylor Martinez can get back to his running ways, it could be very  hard to stop them.  On defense they should be good, but lack the difference makers they've had the previous coupld of years.  The Huskers should be good, but they aren't one of the elite teams in the Big 10.

20.  Florida Gators
Despite all the talent on the roster, the Gatros have struggled under Will Muschamp to gain any consistencey and get back to the program that was a regular contender for the SEC Title.  But things may change this year.  The Gators return 17 starters and 10 of them are on defense.  Best case scenario for the Gators is the young talent has finally developed and another year in the system allows them to challenge for the SEC West Title.  But there is still a lot of inexperience and lack of playmakers on the offense that could really hold this team back.

21.  Stanford Cardinal
In my opinion we will really get to see how good of a coach David Shaw really is.  Sure he had success last year, but he also had an offense that had Andrew Luck at QB, Coby Fleener at TE and David DeCastro and Jonathan Martin along the offensive line.  Those three players will make a lot of coaches look good.  This year they have to break in a new QB and fill some big shoes along the line.  Luckily they still have Stepfan Taylor at RB who can carry the load.  But the strength of this team will be their defense.  Shayne Skov and Chase Thomas as the two headliners of this defense that has a lot of talent.  They'll need the defense because they cannot count on the offense to simply outscore teams like they did at times last year.  Stanford will be solid, but they won't reach the same success they've had recently.

22.  Lousiville Cardinals
In year 3 of the Charlie Strong era, the Cardinals are the favorites to win the Big East and make it back to the BCS since the days of Bobby Petrino.  Unlike Petrino, Strong has built this team on a strong (pun intended) defense.  This year should be even better with 8 returners on that side of the ball.  On offense the Cardinals return promising QB Teddy Bridgewater who is looking to improve an offense that had to switch play callers mid-season.  Louisville's schedule also stacks up nicely with a weaker non-conference that could allow them to approacth the 10 win mark.

23.  TCU Horned Frogs
For the longest time Non-AQ schools like Utah, Boise State, and TCU have wanted a chance to play with the big boys.  Utah got their chance by joining the Pac 12, now TCU gets their shot by joining the Big 12.  TCU will get to show if they truely belong with the big boys.  However this may not be the best year.  Their defense was ravaged by a drug ring that resulted in key defensive players being kicked off the team, including their returning tackle leader.  But HC Gary Patterson is a defensive guru and will work his butt off to make up for the losses.  Combine that with the continued development of QB Casey Pachal and the Horned Frogs shouldn't be any form of a push over.

24.  FIU Golden Panthers
It's not too often we see Sun Belt Conference teams in the pre-season rankings, but this FIU team isn't your standard Sun Belt team.  The Panthers return 17 of 22 starters on a team that won 8 games last year.  10 of those starters are defensive players.  FIU should roll through an improved Sun Belt, but will be put to the test against #22 Louisville (who they beat last year) and Central Florida.  If they can beat both of those teams it isn't out of the question for them to go undefeated.  But no matter what, FIU is one of the top 25 teams in the nation.

25.  Boise State Broncos
I believe we will finally get to see how good of a program Boise State really is.  The Broncos lose a lot of big time players including 4 year starter Kellen Moore.  HC Chris Peterson will have to break in a new QB and still have the Broncos playing at a high level.  Luckily the Mountain West isn't the same conference anymore without BYU, TCU, and Utah.  Boise State still has more talent on their roster than their conference opponents and should still be a contender for 9 or 10 wins.  But they won't be a darkhorse favorite for the National Title like they have in past years.

Top 25 (End of Regular Season)

1. LSU Tigers (12-0)

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1)

3. Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-1)

4. Oregon Ducks (11-2)

5. Stanford Cardinal (11-1)

6. Arkansas Razorbacks (10-2)

7. Wisconsin Badgers (11-2)

8. USC Trojans (10-2)

9. Boise State Broncos (11-1)

10. Michigan Wolverines (10-2)

11. South Carolina Gamecocks (10-2)

12. Kansas State Wildcats (10-2)

13. Michigan State Spartans (10-3)

14. TCU Horned Frogs (10-2)

15. Georgia Bulldogs (10-3)

16. Baylor Bears (9-3)

17. Clemson Tigers (10-3)

18. Oklahoma Sooners (9-3)

19. Virginia Tech Hokies (11-2)

20. Houston Cougars (12-1)

21. Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-3)

22. West Virginia Mountaineers (9-3)

23. Penn State Nittany Lions (9-3)

24. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (10-2)

25. Cincinnati Bearcats (9-3)

NCAA Top 25 (Week 12)

1. LSU Tigers (10-0) LW 1

You know it's a blowout when you are taking 4 straight kneels within the 10 yard line so you don't run it up on the opposing team. LSU took care of business against Ole Miss winning 52-3 and setting themselves up to face off against #3 Arkansas in a game that will decide who is the SEC West Champion. Arkansas is going to be able to put points up on LSU, but can the Tigers muster enough points?

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1) LW 3

Alabama benefited more from what happened this weekend than anybody else. Right now they are sitting at the #2 spot in the BCS and all they have left is the Iron Bowl against an Auburn team that they should beat easily. LSU is ahead of them, but they have to play the SEC Title Game and a very tough Arkansas team. If Alabama gets by Auburn they should be sitting pretty and back into their 2nd National Title game in 3 years.

3. Arkansas Razorbacks (10-1) LW 7

The Arkansas Razorbacks might be the hottest team in college football right now. After losing a tough game to Alabama they haven't looked back and are now in a place where they can really throw the sport into a tailspin. This Friday they face off against an LSU team that is ranked #1 and is the only undefeated team in the country. A win over them could slide Arkansas into the SEC Title Game and possible National Title appearance.

4. Stanford Cardinal (9-1) LW 6

After a weekend full of upsets, the Cardinal almost lost their second straight game to long time rival Cal. However Stanford, behind Andrew Luck's 257 yards and 2 TDs, was able to win the "Big Game" 31-28 and stay at only 1 loss. But Stanford has a tough tough game against a Notre Dame that is playing pretty well. A victory over them should allow them to get their 2nd straight BCS game and should allow Andrew Luck to win a Heisman Trophy.

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-1) LW 2

Just when you thought we'd see a Oklahoma State vs LSU match up in the National Title to see the Cowboys high powered offense against the Tiger's stingy defense, but Okie State had to go to Iowa State and lose 37-31. Gone are the dreams of the National Title. But what is worse is that Iowa State showed the blue print of how to slow their offense. Now the Cowboys has to face off against in state rival Oklahoma to determine who the Big 12 Champion will be. A win over the Sooners will get the Cowboys their 1st ever BCS Bowl, but not the one that they wanted.

6. Oregon Ducks (9-2) LW 4

Riding high off their win over Stanford, the Ducks just couldn't keep the momentum going and lost to USC on a missed FG at that would have sent the game into overtime. The loss ends Oregon's chance of getting into the National Title Game. However they still will be heading to the Pac 12 Title Game and more than likely another Rose Bowl.

7. Oklahoma Sooners (8-2) LW 5

Big Game Bob strikes again. With a tie game and less than a minute to go, Baylor had the ball and was content to go to overtime. But Stoops called a time out and Baylor decided to go after a score. Baylor was able to capitalize and get a late TD pass that won them the game. This loss is huge because Oklahoma was in prime contention to play for a National Title if they were to upset Oklahoma state. But now they are in jeopardy to even make a BCS Game.

8. Boise State Broncos (9-1) LW 9

It's pretty sad that when three teams ahead of you lose games, you can't overtake them. But that's why it is so crucial for Boise State to go undefeated. This week they took care of business against a quality San Diego State team winning 52-3, with games against Wyoming and New Mexico remaining. However neither of those teams should pose a threat and won't do anything for Boise in the BCS standings. This is why their TCU loss is so huge. They'll like land in the Las Vegas Bowl.

9. Virginia Tech Hokies (10-1) LW 10

After struggling through most of the season, QB Logan Thomas is really starting to play well and that is really doing wonders for the Hokie offense. Thomas didn't have eye popping stats, but he threw for 195 yards 2 TDs and 0 INTs. Heck he even rushed for a TD. Thomas' strong play can't come at a better time because the Hokies have big game against rival Virginia to see who goes to the ACC Title game to face Clemson. Wins over both teams would give the Hokies their second straight ACC Championship.

10. Michigan State Spartans (9-2) LW 12

After a brief hiccup against Nebraska, the Spartans have been playing some very good football. Their 55-3 domination of Indiana and Nebraska's loss to Michigan clinched the Leaders Division and secured their position in the first ever Big 10 Championship Game against either Penn State or Wisconsin. And a win there would get the Spartans to their first Rose Bowl since 1988. But they can't look past Northwestern who could knock off any team any week.

11. Wisconsin Badgers (9-2) LW 11

Down 17 points in the first half, the Badgers rallied back to score 28 unanswered points to win the game. Monte Ball continues to have an amazing season, rushing for 224 yards and 2 TDs in against Illinois. Those 2 TDs brings Ball's total to 30 rushing TDs, but you have to wonder. Why isn't he getting any Heisman hype? But this win also sets up a huge showdown between them and Penn State where the winner goes on to face Michigan State in Indianapolis. I'm sure Wisconsin is looking to get some revenge on Michigan State for their Hail Mary victory.

12. Houston Cougars (11-0) LW 13

It's too bad that the Houston/SMU game was more remembered for Lee Corso dropping the F-Bomb, and not for Houston extending their unbeaten streak to 11. Case Keenum had another good day. Throwing for 318 yards and 2 TDs. He even ran one in too. Keenum also broke Graham Harrell's record for the most completions in NCAA history. Their last two games of teh season should tell us how good of a team Houston really is. They'll face off against Tulsa and Southern Miss who are very tough opponents. And if Houston wants to make it to their first BCS Game in school history, they'll have to win both of those games.

13. Georgia Bulldogs (9-2) LW 14

Georgia's 19-10 victory over Kentucky clinches the SEC East Title and puts them into the Championship Game. Quite the accomplishment for a team that many considered dead in the water to start the season. QB Aaron Murray has really done a great job of leading this offense without a dependable running back or a big time receiver like they had last year with AJ Green.

14. Clemson Tigers (9-2) LW 8

Turnovers cost the Tigers another one. It is too hard to win games in college football, especially when you turn the ball over 4 times. It's too bad because Clemson was looking to be a force this year. But too many slow starts and turnovers cost them their perfect season. However they still have a game against in state rival South Carolina and the ACC Title Game. So a BCS Bowl isn't out of the question, but to beat VaTech again they are going to have to get some consistent play out of QB Tajh Boyd.

15. Michigan Wolverines (9-2) LW 17

Michigan did a great job of exploiting Nebraska's weaknesses on defense in route to a 45-17 win. Denard Robinson was his old self rushing for 2 TDs and throwing for 2 more. But what is even more amazing was that the Michigan defense was able to contain Rex Burkhead and Taylor Martinez. The Wolverines won't be able to go to the Big 10 Championship Game, but if they beat hated rival Ohio State, they could sneak their way into a BCS Bowl.

16. USC Trojans (9-2) LW 18

The job that Lane Kiffen has done this year is nothing short of amazing. USC con't go to a bowl game or the Pac 12 Title Game, and they are also 15 scholarships down. It would have been easy for USC to pack in the season and not put up much effort. But they have worked hard all year and it showed in their upset win over Oregon. Matt Barkley threw for 323 yards and 4 TDs despite not having a 100% Robert Woods. It's also too bad they can't play in the Pac 12 Title game, because they could beat Stanford if they play again.

17. South Carolina Gamecocks (8-2) LW 15

Normally the Citadel doesn't pose much of a threat to BCS schools. But only down 7 points at halftime, they were giving South Carolina all they could handle. However South Carolina kicked it into gear and ended up winning 41-20. But with Georgia's win the Gamecocks are eliminated from the SEC Title Game and don't have a shot at going to a BCS Bowl Game. However if they can knock off in state rival Clemson they have a shot at one of the SEC's to bowl games. Not too bad for all the injuries they have suffered this year.

18. Kansas State Wildcats (9-2) LW 19

Colin Klein didn't have his usual huge numbers, but his 2 TDs where enough for the Wildcats 17-13 victory over Texas. This win was huge for KState because if basically assures the Wildcats of a 10-2 regular season record and a probably Cotton Bowl appearance. All that is left is a game against Iowa State in "Farmagedon" which should be an easy win for them. This is all coming from a program that was at the bottom of the barrel in the Big 12 a couple of years ago. Bill Snyder deserves coach of the year consideration for sure.

19. TCU Horned Frogs (9-2) LW 21

TCU's 34-10 win wasn't anything amazing, but TCU took care of business. Waymon James rushed for 107 yards, Casey Pachall was very efficient, and Tank Carder returned an interception 68 yards for a touchdown. TCU only has UNLV left and should cruise to the Moutain West Conference Title before they move to the Big 12 next year. And after starting the season with losses to Baylor and SMU they have rebounded very nicely.

20. Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2) LW 22

Not too many people gave Penn State much of a chance against Ohio State. And why would they? They just dropped a game against Nebraska and was still dealing with all the distractions with the Peterno/Sandusky travesty. However the Penn State football team came together and beat Ohio state 20-14. This weekend they face off against Wisconsin and whoever wins this game will win the Leaders Division and face off against Michigan State in the Big 10 Title Game. And you know the Nittany Lions want to win the award for their former coach.

21. Baylor Bears (7-3) LW NR

Baylor's 45-38 win over Oklahoma was their first win over the Sooners in school history. Robert Griffin continues to play at a high level and is carrying the Bears to their best season they've had in a long time. Baylor finishes the season with Texas Tech and Texas. Both games are winnable. And if Baylor can win those two games they might be able to make it to a good bowl game which is a great accomplishments for a team that will be going back to a bowl game for the second straight year.

22. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-3) LW 24

Notre Dame has really bounced back after a couple of early season tough losses. this past weekend they were able to hold off a pesky Boston College team and now get ready for a showdown with cross country rival Stanford. A win against Stanford would really do wonders for this program as they are trying to get back to the National Power that they feel they are. However they'll have to do it without RB Jonas Gray who has really meant a lot ot their running game.

23. West Virginia Mountaineers (7-3) LW 23

After taking care of business against Cincinnati, West Virginia enjoyed a weekend off before their stretch run to end the season. They have to win games against Pittsburgh and at South Florida to help them win the Big East and get back to the BCS. But if they slip they have Rutgers right behind them, waiting to take over.

24. Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-3) LW 16

It was a pretty ugly loss for Nebraska in their first trip to the "Big House" as a member of the Big 10 Conference. Michigan won a 45-17 beat down on the Huskers and made Nebraska's defense look pretty bad. The Huskers were considered to be the cream of the Leaders crop after their win against Michigan State, but have dropped two ugly games since. Head Coach Bo Pelini needs to get things figured out because Iowa is no push over.

25. Virginia Cavaliers (8-3) LW NR

What a turnaround the Cavaliers been. Under Al Groh, Virginia on a regular basis sent players to the NFL but could never show for it in the win column. Now in Mike London's 2nd year as Head Coach he has turned the Cavaliers into a ACC contender. This past weekend they knocked off previously ranked Florida State to improve their record 8-3. And a win over Virginia Tech this weekend would put them into the ACC Title Game against Clemson.

Dropped From Rankings: Southern Miss, Cincinnati Bearcats

NCAA Top 25 (Week 10)

1. LSU Tigers (9-0) LW 1

It wasn't quite "Game of the Century" nor was it pretty, but LSU was able to go into Tuscaloosa and come out with the victory. Now all the Tigers have to do is keep their focus and they'll end up in the National Title Game. Next week should be a cake walk when they host Western Kentucky. But the Arkansas game in the last week of the season should be a good one.

2. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-0) LW 3

It wasn't the blowout we expected, but it doesn't matter much because they won the game. Brandon Weeden continues to play at a high level, throwing for a school record 502 yards. We know that the offense is going to put up numbers, but if they want to beat Oklahoma and make it to the National Title game, they are going to have to play much better defense than they did this Saturday. They can't take next week off because they'll be traveling to Texas Tech who knocked off Oklahoma a couple of weeks ago.

3. Stanford Cardinal (9-0) LW 4
Stanford did what they needed to do against Oregon State. Win easily. Now we have the game we've been waiting for all season long. Their game against Oregon doesn't have the same feel since Oregon has 1 loss already. But this game should decide who wins the Pac 12. If Stanford is able to win this game, they can hold out hope for a possible National Title Game appearance, but a loss would mean no Pac 12 Title.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1) LW 2
All Alabama needed was 1 TD and they would have probably won the game and be the #1 ranked team in the nation right now. Heck all they needed was their kicker to make 1 of his 3 missed FGs and they might have won it. Now they are sitting on the outside looking in and have to hope that LSU loses the SEC Title Game and Oklahoma State and Stanford to also lose games so they can sneak into the National Ttile.

5. Boise State Broncos (8-0) LW 5
After a week off, the Boise State Broncos made little work with UNLV and are now set up to face new conference rival TCU. This was once thought to be a chance for Boise State to win a huge game at the end of the season that would help vault them into possibly a National Championship Game. But even though they aren't the team we thought they'd be, it still is a recognizable name. Look for Boise State to be BCS bound, just not the big one.

6. Oklahoma Sooners (8-1) LW 6
Just think, if they didn't lose to Texas Tech it would be the Sooners sitting at #2 and not their in-state rival. However all Oklahoma can do now is keep winning and hope that teams ahead of them lose and they can slide back into contention. But they'll have to do that without their best offensive weapon Ryan Broyles, who tore his ACL in their win against Texas A&M. Luckily their deep at WR and have a couple of games to figure it out before they face off against Oklahoma State.

7. Oregon Ducks (8-1) LW 7

Oregon is just not the same team that we've seen the past couple of years. Injuries have taken a toll or maybe teams are starting to understand their offense better. But either way, they aren't putting those high numbers up like they did last year. But that can all be forgotten if Oregon can knock off Stanford this Saturday. A win will get everybody buzzing about the Ducks again and they could shoot up the boards as one of the best 1 loss teams.

8. Arkansas Razorbacks (8-1) LW 9

Don't know if you knew it, but besides the LSU/Alabama game there was another match up of two top 10 ranked teams. Arkansas hosted South Carolina. But lost in all the so called "Game of the Century" talk, Arkansas on the back of QB Taylor Wilson rolled to a 16 point victory. Arkansas continues to roll until they match up against #1 LSU the last weekend of the regular season. Even LSU's top ranked defense will have trouble with this passing attack.

9. Clemson Tigers (8-1) LW 11

After their disappointing loss to Georgia Tech, the Tigers had to sit through a bye week and think about it even more. However the week off also gave them the opprotunity to fix their slow starting offense that has caused them to have to play from behind multiple weeks. Luckily Clemson faces off against a Wake Forrest team that shouldn't pose too tough of a game.

10. Virginia Tech Hokies (8-1) LW 12

Virginia Tech might just be the most ignored 1 loss team in college football right now. Nobody is talking about them, but they just keep winning. This past week they had a bye and it couldn't have come at a better time. Because they have to face off against Georgia Tech and their triple option offense on a Thursday night. That extra time should allow DC Bud Foster ample time to game plan against Paul Johnson's offense and allow the Hokies to move to 9-1.

11. Wisconsin Badgers (7-2) LW 13
Coming off of two straight losses, a game against Purdue was exactly what the doctor ordered. Monte Ball ran like a beast gaining 223 yards and 3 TDs and just couldn't be stopped. Look for next week to be much the same as the Badgers face off against an improving Minnesota team, but who is still not at the same level as Wisconsin.

12. Michigan State Spartans (7-2) LW 14
A week after dropping a game to Nebraska, the Spartans were in a dog fight with the most unlikely of opponents. Minnesota. The Spartans had to get a defensive stop on their own half of the field to avoid getting upset by a team that many considered to be the worst BCS team in college football. However a win is a win and that is what the Spartans got. They also were able to get a leg back up in the Legends Divison with Nebraska's loss to Northwestern. Now all the Spartans have to do is win out and they will be in Indianapolis for the Big 10 Title Game.

13. Houston Cougars (9-0) LW 16
Case Keenum didn't break anymore NCAA records, but the Cougars continued their dominance of Conference USA with a 56-13 blowout of UAB. Keenum continues to have this offense rolling and is on pace to have the Cougars undefeated and playing for a CUSA Title. This next week they face off against a Tulane team that has an interim HC and shouldn't provide much of a challenge. But their game against SMU should be a good indicator of how good they really are.

14. Auburn Tigers (6-3) LW 18

The Tigers enjoyed a nice week off before their big game against Georgia this weekend. Auburn have exceeded my expectations this year and have won games that I thought they'd wouldn't have won. Now Auburn doesn't have a shot at the SEC Title Game, but they have a chance to really finish the season with games against Georgia and Alabama left. This week they face off against a hot Georgia team.

15. Georgia Bulldogs (7-2) LW 19
Georgia took a week off from the rugged SEC and gave a beat down to New Mexico State, winning 63-16. What a turnaround we have seen with Georgia. They went from 0-2 and Mark Richt's job on the line, to 7 straight wins and a possible berth in the SEC Title Game. This weekend the Bulldogs face off against an Auburn team that is very dangerous.

16. South Carolina Gamecocks (7-2) LW 10

It was only a matter of time before the loss of Marcus Lattimore caught up with South Carolina. Without their star RB the Gamecocks were one dimensional on offense and just couldn't keep up with Arkansas' high powered offense. South Carolina gets a break this weekend when they face off against a struggling Florida team. But they are going to have to figure out their new plan of attack if they still want to stay alive in the race for the SEC East Title.

17. Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-2) LW 8

Fresh off their big win against Michigan State, the Huskers dropped the ball and lost to a Northwestern team that they should have beaten easily. I don't believe Nebraska is a bad team but they can't afford to take teams lightly. This weekend they face off against a Penn State team that has to be distracted with all that is going on. But Nebraska should be focused as they look to get back on track and stay in the Legends Race.

18. Penn State Nittany Lions (8-1) LW 21

Besides the victims and their families, the people that I feel the worst for is the current Penn State players who did nothing wrong and have to deal with the fallout of this. They were in the mist of a good season and have a tough three teams to end the season. It was going to be tough to win out, but I don't see it happening this week. This whole situation is just flat out awful.

19. Michigan Wolverines (7-2) LW 15

Sitting with only 1 loss in the conference, the Wolverines needed to win out and hope that Michigan State would lose and they could represent the Legends Division in the Big 10 Title Game. However that doesn't seem to likely after they lost to an Iowa team that just lost to Minnesota. Now Michigan is going to need a lot of help if they want to make it. But their defense is really going to need to step up against an Illinois offense that can be very explosive.

20. USC Trojans (7-2) LW 23

USC bounced back after their 3 OT loss to Stanford with a beat down of Pac 12 newbie Colorado 42-17. USC continues to get better as the season goes forward and its too bad that they can't play in the conference championship game because they might have a shot at winning it. This week they face off against a Washington team that hasn't had a big win this season but is much improved.

21. Cincinnati Bearcats (7-1) LW 24

Who would have thought that it would be Cincinnati leading the Big East race and undefeated in the conference. The same team that only won 4 games last year. But Cincinnati's winning streak is a little flawed. They still haven't played the elite (lol...sorry) Big East schools and might not make it through unscathed. But for now they are the leaders of the pack.

22. Kansas State Wildcats (7-2) LW 20

I didn't drop KState too far because I never really ranked them that high to begin with. Even after racing off to a 7-0 record. But those wins were all against the bottom of the Big 12. Against Oklahoma they got drilled, and against Oklahoma State they showed that they might not be at the same level as Okie State, but they are still a quality team. However they still have games against Texas A&M and Texas left. Both teams aren't having great seasons but are very dangerous and are looking to turn their seasons around.

23. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-2) LW 25

After scoring a huge upset over previously undefeated Clemson the Yellow Jackets enjoyed a week off before they face off against Coastal Division foe Virginia Tech. If Georgia Tech is able to beat VaTech they would be in the drivers seat to make it to the ACC Title Game. That would be a great deal after they dropped two straight games to Virginia and Miami.

24. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (8-1) LW NR

Southern Miss makes their first appearance in the rankings in the middle of a 7 game winning streak. This weekend the Golden Eagles face off against a Central Florida team that was once thought to make a run at an undefeated season. So Southern Miss can't take them lightly, but it looks like they'll go into the CUSA Title Game against Houston with a 11-1 record.

25. Texas Longhorns (6-2) LW NR

We are really going to see what type of team Texas is with their remaining four games. They have to still play Kansas State, Baylor, Texas A&M, and Missouri. All teams that they should be able to beat, but they could lose to each team too. But the Longhorns are bowl eligible which is an improvement over last year.

Dropped From Rankings: Arizona State, West Virginia

NCAA Top 25 (Week 7)

1. LSU Tigers (7-0) LW 1
2. Oklahoma Sooners (7-0) LW 2
3. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0) LW 3
4. Boise State Broncos (6-0) LW 4
5. Stanford Cardinal (6-0) LW 5
6. Wisconsin Badgers (6-0) LW 6
7. Clemson Tigers (7-0) LW 7
8. Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-0) LW 8
9. Oregon Ducks (5-1) LW 9
10. Arkansas Razorbacks (5-1) LW 10
11. South Carolina Gamecocks (6-1) LW 11
12. Virginia Tech Hokies (6-1) LW 14
13. West Virginia Mountaineers (5-1) LW 15
14. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1) LW 16
15. Michigan State Spartans (5-1) LW 24
16. Kansas State Wildcats (6-0) LW 25
17. Auburn Tigers (5-2) LW 21
18. Michigan Wolverines (6-1) LW 13
19. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-1) LW 12
20. Illinois Fighting Illini (6-1) LW 18
21. Arizona State Sun Devils (5-2) LW 19
22. Texas Longhorns (4-1) LW 22
23. Texas A&M Aggies (4-2) LW 23
24. Houston Cougars (6-0) LW NR
25. Washington Huskies (5-1) LW NR

Dropped Out: Florida Gators, Baylor Bears

NCAA Top 25 (Week 6)

1. LSU Tigers (6-0) LW 1
LSU took advantage of Florida team without their starting QB. Their defense was lethal again, holding Florida to only 11 points. But a good sign for the Tigers is that QB Jarrett Lee is starting to play well and doing a great job of throwing the ball down field. Add in returning QB Jordan Jefferson helping out running the ball and you have a very good team getting even better.

2. Oklahoma Sooners (6-0) LW 2
It was a one sided Red River Shootout this year. Behind 3 defensive touchdowns and QB Landry Jones the Sooners rolled Texas 55-17. The game wasn't even close. Oklahoma is showing teams that they are a National Title contender and a team not to forget about.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0) LW 3
QB AJ McCarron enjoyed the best game of his career throwing for 237 yards and 4 TDs in a 34-0 victory over Vanderbilt. This is a great sign for Alabama who is going to need him in big time games when teams load up the box to stop RB Trent Richardson. The Tide defense continues to play strong holding Vanderbilt to 0 points.

4. Boise State Broncos (5-0) LW 4
After struggled against Nevada the week before, the Broncos were back to their usual self routing former WAC rival Fresno State. The Bulldogs were thought to give Boise State some problems, but Kellen Moore carved up the defense in route to a 57-7 win. Moore even threw two TDs to Geraldo Boldewijn showing that he doesn't need top level WRs to score points.

5. Stanford Cardinal (5-0) LW 5
Stanford did their best to initiate Colorado into the Pac 12 with a big time butt kicking. Andrew Luck had a career day and the Cardinal rolled. Stanford hasn't lost a beat with the absence of Jim Harbaugh, but having Andrew Luck doesn't hurt. Next week Stanford travels to Washington State where they should continue their winning streak.

6. Wisconsin Badgers (5-0) LW 6
After their beat down of Nebraska the Badgers enjoyed a week off to get ready for the rest of their B1G Ten schedule. The Badgers are one of the top teams in the nation and if they can make it through the B1G 10 season undefeated they have an outside shot at a National Title appearance. this week they face off with bottom dweller Indiana before a two game stretch against Michigan State and Ohio State.

7. Clemson Tigers (6-0) LW 7
Clemson was able to keep their winning streak alive with a win over a struggling Boston College team. But in their win Tajh Boyd hurt his hip and had to leave the field on a cart. Luckily the injury wasn't severe and he'll be back for their game against Maryland. Maryland isn't very good and the Tigers should win easily. This could be a chance for Boyd to get out early to help rest his hip.

8. Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-0) LW 8
It looks like the top two teams in the Big 12 both reside in Oklahoma. The Cowboys made little work with Kansas this weekend putting up 70 points on the Jayhawks. But that shouldn't be a surprise. Kansas is bad and the Cowboys offense is one of the best. But if the Cowboys want to make it to the BCS party they are going to need their defense to come up big the rest of the year.

9. Oregon Ducks (4-1) LW 9
I will never understand why teams leave in their star players deep into blowout wins. Sure the Ducks want LeMichael James to put up big numbers for a chance to win a Heisman Trophy, but you would think over 200 yards would be enough? Oregon beat Cal easily, but James dislocated his elbow pretty bad and could miss some time. When will coaches learn?

10. Arkansas Razorbacks (5-1) LW 10
Arkansas didn't need a big come from behind win in the 2nd half to beat Auburn. They just did it right from the start. But the Arkansas offense continues to be on a roll. Taylor Wilson is showing everybody that he can be just as good (or maybe better) than Ryan Mallett last year. He didn't throw for over 300 yards in this game, but he didn't throw any picks and was very accurate. This Arkansas team is somebody you have to watch out for.

11. South Carolina Gamecocks (5-1) LW 11
After their loss to Auburn the Gamecocks decided it was time to switch QBs from Stephen Garcia to Connor Shaw. In his first game as the starter this year Shaw looked very good. He threw for 311 yards and 4 TDs in a 54-3 route of Kentucky. Next week they face off against a Mississippi State team that has a bunch of talent, but has underachieved this year. So it won't be easy.

12. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-0) LW 13
Despite a late rally, the Yellow Jackets were able to hold off Maryland to improve their record to 6-0. Paul Johnson has the Ramblin' Wreck's offense running on all cylinders. They look like the the Tech team that won the ACC a couple of years ago.

13. Michigan Wolverines (6-0) LW 16
It looked like the Wolverines prefect season was about to end in Evansville, but Denard Robinson bounced back from 3 early picks and dominated the 2nd half to win the game. Next week they face off against in state rival Michigan State in what will be a tough match up. But as long as the Michigan defense keeps improving, they'll have a great shot at representing the Leaders Division in the first ever B1G 10 Title Game.

14. Virginia Tech Hokies (5-1) LW 14
After losing to Clemson the week before, the Hokies were looking to get back on track. However they needed a late TD with 56 seconds on the clock to squeak out the win against a depleted Miami team. VaTech is a talented team, but they are going to need to play much better than this weekend if they want to stay in the hunt to make it to the ACC Title game.

15. West Virginia Mountaineers (5-1) LW 18
UConn was no match for the Mountaineers who cruised to a 43-16 win. Geno Smith was brilliant again throwing for 450 yards and 4 TDs. West Virginia's only loss this season was to #1 LSU. The Big East is pretty weak this year and the Mountaineers are clearly the class of the conference. They should roll through conference play as long as they keep their foot on the peddle.

16. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1) LW 19
It took the largest come from behind win in school history for the Huskers to get their first B1G 10 conference win. The defensive continued to struggle, but they came up big against Ohio State when they needed it. On offense they seem to be finding their rhythm with QB Taylor Martinez and RB Rex Burkhead leading the way.

17. Baylor Bears (4-1) LW 20
After losing to Kansas State the week before, the Bears wanted to show that they are still a player in the Big 12. They did so defeating Iowa State 49-26. Griffin was his usual dynamic self, but this time he did it with his feet more so than his arm. He ran for a season high 107 yards to go with the 212 through the air. However, next week will be a huge game for them. They host Texas A&M this weekend in a game that they are going to need to win if they want to prove to people that they are the real deal.

18. Illinois Fighting Illini (6-0) LW 21
It didn't take much for the Illini to beat up lowly Indiana. QB Nate Scheelhaase was his normal explosive self leading Illinois to 41 points. The Illini win makes them bowl eligible for a second consecutive year for the first time in many years. Now all they have to do is face off against an Ohio State team that is coming off an game they should have won. This game could give us an indicator or how good Illinois really is.

19. Arizona State Sun Devils (6-0) LW 22
Arizona continues to win knocking off the pesky Utah Utes 35-14. This wins keeps the Sun Devils perfect in the Pac 12 and gives them an early lead in the South Division. However they shouldn't get over confident because they have to travel up to Oregon to face off against the top 10 ranked Ducks who are ready to prove that they are still the class of the Pac 12. This will be let another one of the prove it games we'll be seeing.

20. Florida Gators (4-2) LW 15
It was going to be a hard game to win against LSU anyways, but factor in that starting QB John Brantley was out and they had to start a true freshman against one of the best defenses in the nation. So when they lost nobody was surprised. Brantley won't be playing this upcoming week against Auburn, so they'll be facing an uphill battle against the talented Tigers.

21. Auburn Tigers (4-2) LW 17
Auburn has to be one of the most inconsistent teams in college football. They should have lost to Utah State, lost to Clemson, beat South Carolina, and then lost to Arkansas. They have a lot of talent, but just can't seem to put it all together on a consistent basis. Against Arkansas their defense had no answer for QB Taylor Wilson and the Razorback offense. A big key to their continued success is finding a consistent offensive threat outside of RB Michael Dyer.

22. Texas Longhorns (4-1) LW 12
Going into this season it looked like the Longhorns were one year away from being back. But with their early success it looked like they were a year ahead of schedule. Well Oklahoma snapped them back into reality in the Red River Shootout with a 55-17 beat down. And to make matters worse, they have to face off against Oklahoma Sate this weekend..Tough scheduling.

23. Texas A&M Aggies (3-2) LW 23
After two straight weeks of blowing 2nd half leads, it looked like the Aggies were going to do it again. However the Aggies stepped up and ended their losing streak by beating the Texas Tech Red Raiders. But A&M fans can't get too comfortable, because they have to go on th road and face off against a Baylor team that is out to prove that they are for real. A&M on the other hand, can't afford to lose this game.

24. Michigan State Spartans (4-1) LW 24
The Spartans get a week off after their win against Ohio State. Despite losing talent on defense the Spartans have one of the best defenses in the nation. They are going to need the defense to be good this weekend when they play in state rival Michigan and the dynamic Denard Robinson. The winner of this game should be in a good positing in the wide open Leaders Division.

25. Kansas State Wildcats (5-0) LW NR
KState has been one of the surprises this season at 5-0 with a win over Baylor two weeks ago and now they continued the momentum with their victory over Missouri. These Wildcats might be for real. They held Missouri's potent offense to only 17 points and got another good performance from QB Collin Klein.

Dropped Out: Florida State Seminoles

NCAA Top 25 (Week 5)

1. LSU Tigers (5-0) LW 1

The Bayou Bengals continue to roll in a route over Kentucky. In a game that wasn't really close we saw the return of QB Jordan Jefferson and CB Tyrann Mathieu set the LSU record for forced fumbles. This Tiger team looks better and better as the year goes forward. Its going to be tough for any team (even Alabama) to knock them off.

2. Oklahoma Sooners (4-0) LW 2

Their game against Ball State was nothing more than a glorified scrimmage before their match up against Texas this upcoming week. In typical Oklahoma fashion, they rolled through the poor MAC school with ease winning 62-6. However they can't take the Longhorns lightly who are quietly making their way back up the rankings. However the Sooners shouldn't have any trouble with their Red River Rival.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0) LW 3

It had the potential to be a good game, with Florida's offense playing extremely well so far this year. However Alabama didn't get the memo and made quick work with the Gators. It was the Trent Richardson show for the Tide as he racked up 181 yards on the ground as Alabama controlled the game. Alabama has some easier games against Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Tennessee before the huge game against LSU in 4 weeks.

4. Boise State Broncos (4-0) LW 4

Boise State avenged their loss to the Nevada last year that ended their perfect season. With QB Kellen Moore struggling the Broncos turned to RB Doug Martin to provide with the offense they needed to win. Doesn't help that the Boise State defense showed up too. With the exception of 10 late points the Broncos defense was very dominant. The Broncos now have to travel to Fresno State and play a Bulldog team that is really improved and is probably their toughest opponent besides Georgia.

5. Stanford Cardinal (4-0) LW 5

We've come to see a lot of things Andrew Luck can do. Besides throwing the ball like Peyton Manning, Luck has also shown that he can run and make bone jarring tackles. But in their win against UCLA Luck showed us that he can make one handed catches falling out of bounds. That's just impressive. What is even more impressive is that Stanford continues to roll through teams with ease. Next up is Colorado who is struggling so far this season. Stanford shouldn't see a competitive game till they match up with USC and then Oregon in a couple of weeks.

6. Wisconsin Badgers (5-0) LW 6

Wisconsin did their best to initiate Nebraska into the Big 10. A 48-17 beat down sure did the job. Wisconsin broke the game open at the end of the 2nd half when they picked off QB Taylor Martinez twice. QB Russell Wilson converted both of those turnovers into TDs and the game went from 14-13 to 27-14 in a matter of minutes. Wisconsin looks like the real deal and their is no reason that they couldn't end the regular season undefeated.

7. Clemson Tigers (5-0) LW 11

In most years, the Clemson Tigers would have lost this weekend. They were coming off two big wins, everybody was jumping on the bandwagon, and they had to travel to VaTech and play the ranked Hokies in the rain. Normally they would lose. But this year is looking to be different. Instead of finding a way to lose, the Tigers were able to pull out the big road win. They also did it without stud freshman WR Sammy Watkins having a great game. If Clemson can continue to not let up, they have a great shot at winning all their games. However, their game against Georgia Tech could be a road block for them.

8. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-0) LW 10

After their big come from behind win against Texas A&M the Cowboys enjoyed a week off. This gave them a chance to regroup and get ready for the rest of the Big 12 Conference season. This week they'll face off against a Kansas team that has been on the wrong end of a couple of blowouts. However after the Kansas game we get to really see what this Cowboy team is made of with games against Texas, Missouri, Baylor, and Kansas State. It will be either sink or swim for the Pokes.

9. Oregon Ducks (3-1) LW 8

Oregon continues to fly under the radar after their opening week loss to LSU. But that might not be a bad thing for the Ducks. As they keep winning they continue to stay in the hunt for a top ranking. Remember its better to win early in the season and not late. If Oregon can keep this up and knock off Stanford on November 12th, they should be right in line of the top one loss teams. There is still hope for the Ducks.

10. Arkansas Razorbacks (4-1) LW 13

After losing to Alabama last week it was important for the Razorbacks to bounce back against former Southwest Conference rival Texas A&M. But it looked like A&M was going to be victorious, but behind the play of QB Taylor Wilson Arkansas fought back and won the game by 4 points. They had some question marks about their offense, especially without Knile Davis, but this game showed that they can still put up points against a quality opponent.

11. South Carolina Gamecocks (4-1) LW 7

I think it's safe to say that if Marcus Lattimore is held in check, you have a great shot to beat South Carolina. Auburn held the dynamic RB to only 66 yards rushing an 0 touchdowns and escaped with a win. You have to wonder why South Carolina didn't try and get the ball to Alshon Jeffery more. I know that Auburn had their focus on him, but with a dynamic player like that you should be able to get him the ball more often. Now I'm not ready to write off the Gamecocks, but they have to figure out their offense if they want to win the SEC East. Because Florida isn't going to be a push over this year.

12. Texas Longhorns (4-0) LW 19

What a turn around it has been in Austin. Last year at this time the Longhorns were at .500 and on their way to not making a bowl game. This year with the emergence of Chase McCoy they are right back on track. This past weekend they faced off against an Iowa State team that was on a roll and looking for and upset. However Texas took control early and blew out the Cyclones 37-14. Now Texas faces off against Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout. It should be a tough game for the Longhorns. Oklahoma has a tough D the likes that Chase McCoy hasn't seen yet. How he plays will tell us if they have a shot to win.

13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-0) LW 21

After a down year, the Yellow Jackets and their triple option attack are back. After drubbing Kansas the week before, they opened up ACC play win a win over NC State. The Georgia Tech offense continues to rack up points and put up 24 points in the 4th quarter to get the win. Now the Yellow Jackets face off against a Maryland team that is reeling. Their game against Clemson in a couple of weeks should be a good one.

14. Virginia Tech Hokies (4-1) LW 12

It was all set up for the Hokies to get the win over Clemson and take an early lead in the ACC. However their offense couldn't put up the points and their normally stout defense couldn't make plays when they needed it to. VaTech was unable to get David Wilson going, and his first quarter fumble gave Clemson an early lead. VaTech still has the ability to bounce back and make it to the ACC Championship where they can get their rematch with the Tigers.

15. Florida Gators (4-1) LW 14

Not only did the Florida Gators lose the game to Alabama, but they lost their starting QB John Brantley too. Florida looked ready jumping out the an early 7-0 lead, but in the long run they couldn't stop the run and that proved to be the difference. What makes matters worse is that the Gators have to face off against LSU next week. If Florida couldn't stop the run against Alabama, they are going to have to fix it because that's what LSU loves to do too.

16. Michigan Wolverines (5-0) LW NR

For the second straight year the Wolverines start the season 5-0, but the big difference so far is the play of the defense. Even though they haven't played the toughest schedule, the Michigan defense has really stepped up so far. Last year they had to outscore teams to beat them. This year they have held four out of five opponents to 10 points or less. Considering how they have played that is a feat. Their schedule sets up well, but they do have three tough games on the road to end the season.

17. Auburn Tigers (4-1) LW NR

The Auburn Tigers are a team that exceeding a lot of people's expectations. Thought to maybe not even make a Bowl game. Their narrow win against Utah State didn't help with the perception. Despite a loss to a talented Clemson team they have rattled off wins against Mississippi State and South Carolina. But we'll see how good they really are with games against Arkansas, Florida and LSU back to back to back.

18. West Virginia Mountaineers (4-1) LW 18

Though this young season, the Mountaineers have struggled to run the ball. However this weekend against Bowling Green, they might have found their answer. Dustin Garrison took control and ran for a very impressive 291 yards. West Virginia hopes that Garrison can continue to get yards on the ground and help make this offense even more dangerous.

19. Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-1) LW 10

Nebraska's struggles continue, however unlike their first three games they weren't able to still get the win. Against a very good Wisconsin team Nebraska was exposed. Too many errors on offense, and the inability to cover in the passing game was their downfall. If the Huskers want to get a rematch with Wisconsin they are going to have to realize they can't have Taylor Martinez throwing to win games. If this continues it'll be Michigan State or Michigan in the first Big 10 Championship Game.

20. Baylor Bears (3-1) LW 17

Robert Griffen III had been amazing this year. He has thrown for over 1,300 yards 18 touchdowns and only 1 INT. However that one INT came at the worst time. With Baylor up by two points and needing to run out the clock, RG3 threw a pick that set up the go ahead FG. That allowed KState to get the victory and end Baylor's three game winning streak. Now that the undefeated season is over, the Bears can refocus and work on finishing in the upper tier of the Big 12. Next week they face off against an Iowa State team that just got smashed by Texas. This would be a great game to get their confidence back before playing A&M.

21. Illinois Fighting Illini (5-0) LW 23

Facing off against in-state rival Northwestern, it looked like the Illini's four game winning streak was going to come to an end. But 21 4th quarter points and a TD with 13 second left on the clock got them a win. QB Nate Scheelhaase continues to play well. He threw for 391 yards and 3 TDs and ran in for another one. Illinois should continue their winning ways against Indiana next week before matching up with a struggling Ohio State team. Its too bad that Wisconsin is in their division or they could have a realistic shot at playing in the Big 10 Championship Game.

22. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1) LW NR

It wasn't pretty but the Sun Devils were able to get a win against a bad Oregon State Beavers team. Brock Osweiler didn't have his best game throwing for 3 INTs, but he ended up with 258 yards and 2 TDs which helped get the victory. ASU isn't going to be able to win games like this again with Utah on their schedule next and Oregon after them.

23. Texas A&M Aggies (2-2) LW 16

If football games only lasted one half, the Aggies would be undefeated. For a second straight game the Aggies have had a lead at halftime only to end up losing. If the Aggies want to finish strong in their final season in the Big 12 they are going to need figure out their defense after halftime. Won't help with the passing attack of Texas Tech coming next week.

24. Michigan State Spartans (4-1) LW NR

It was a defensive struggle, but the Spartans were able to get the victory over the Buckeyes. This victory also ended a seven game losing streak to Ohio State. However if the Spartans want to make a run at the Legends Division Title they are going to have to score more points than 10 to do so.

25. Florida State Seminoles (2-2) LW 25

After two straight loses it probably suits the Seminoles good to have a week off. Hopefully they've been able to get EJ Manuel healthy and ready for the rest of the season. With him in there their offense is much better. Nothing against Trickett, but he isn't on the same level as Manuel. But whoever is starting on Saturday the Seminoles should get the victory over Duke.

Dropped Out: South Florida, TCU Horned Frogs, Ohio State Buckeyes, Mississippi State Bulldogs