NCAA Top 25 (Week 9)

1.  Alabama Crimson Tide (8-0) LW 1
Is it possible that the team that won the National Title last year and has been the #1 ranked team most of the year is underrated?  Maybe forgotten?  In a season where we are all trying to see who is the 2nd best team it seems that Alabama is being overlooked.  But they go out and dominate week in and week out.  This weekend was no different as they gave Miss State their first loss of the season.  Now they can move on to LSU.


2.  Oregon Ducks (8-0) LW 2
To me it's a shame that Oregon is #4 in the BCS.  I know it's all because of their schedule, but they are clearly the second best team in the nation.  Offensively they are unstoppable averaging over 53 points per game.  This weekend they had 56 on Colorado at half.  Defensively they are much better, but because they pull their starters so early, their scoring defense isn't a good reflection.  Their game against USC this weekend will be a good showcase of how good they truly are.


3.  Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-0) LW 3
If you haven't taken Notre Dame serious so far this season, it's about time you do.  After racing out to a 7-0 start, the Fighting Irish had to travel to Oklahoma to face the top 10 rated Sooners.  Not only did Notre Dame win, but they pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 30-13.  Manti Te'o was the star of the game totalling 11 tackels, a sack, and the game clinching INT.  The win keeps the Irish unbeaten and gives them a great shot at a possible National Title appearance.


4.  Kansas State Wildcats (8-0) LW 5
Kansas State has had a habit of blowing out ranked teams.  After only beating Oklahoma by 5 the Wildcats smothered both West Virginia and Texas Tech in route to big victories.  With each game QB Collin Klein seems to be turning in bigger game after game.  This past weekend he had 4 TDs to go along with his 316 yards.  Will this trend continue against Oklahoma State?


5.  LSU Tigers (7-1) LW 6
LSU fans had to be pleased with the performance the Tigers had coming from behind to beat Texas A&M.  Now all the Tigers get to do is rest up and prepare to play host to Alabama.  The winner of this game would be in the drivers seat to the SEC Title Game and more than likely the National Championship game.


6.  Georgia Bulldogs (7-1) LW 14
After getting blown out by South Carolina and only narrowly beating Kentucky it looked like the Bulldogs were going downhill and their game against Florida was going to be their second loss.  Instead the defense stepped up and got them the win.  The biggest reason was that they forced the Florida offense into six turnovers!  It's pretty hard to lose when you are doing that.  But if Georgia wants to win the SEC East, they'll need Aaron Murray to play a better game than he did this weekend.


7.  Florida Gators (7-1) LW 4
All the Gators had to do was beat Georgia and they would clinch the SEC East and be assured their spot for a possible National Championship opportunity.  However it's hard to win games when you turn the ball over 6 times.  It stings even worse when you force 3 INTs your self and still lose.  But that's what happens when you have a ball control offense.  Now the Gators must hope that Georgia losses another game or their left on the outside looking in.


8.  Florida State Seminoles (8-1) LW 11
Florida State is another team that people are tending to forget about.  They were considered by some to be a National Title contender before they lost to NC State, but they've bounced back and have a great shot at meeting Florida in the final week for state supremacy.  This past weekend they handled a Duke team that surprisingly is pretty solid.  Next up is Virginia Tech.


9.  Clemson Tigers (7-1) LW 12
Wake Forrest really didn't have a chance.  Especially when QB Tajh Boyd sets school records for passing yards (428) in a game and TDs (5) and WR Sammie Watkins set the new school record for most receiving yards (202) in a game.  You also have to be impressed with the defense only giving up 13 points in a blowout.


10.  Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0) LW 10
I know that Ohio State isn't allowed to be ranked in the BCS standings or even the Coaches Poll, but you have to wonder how well would they do if they were?  I know the Big 10 is down, but the Buckeyes are likely go to undefeated.  Would they be a title contender?  Either way they scored a huge victory over Penn State this weekend.  Let's call it the "Ineligi-Bowl."  Braxton Miller continued to show us how good he is and that he can bounce back from his trip to he hospital.  Now it should be easy sailing for Ohio State until their end of the year rivalry game with Michigan.


11.  South Carolina Gamecocks (7-2) LW 13
They may have beat Tennessee, but it feels .like the Gamecocks lost.  Probably because of the injury to RB Marcus Lattimore is such a blow.  Not only are you losing your best player, but you feel awful for the young man that he's having to deal with this again.  They do have a weekend off to get things figured out before facing Arkansas in on November 10th.


12.  Oklahoma Sooners (5-2) LW 8
Beating Notre Dame would have given the Sooners the jump start that they needed to get back into the National Title picture.  Instead a poor fourth quarter gives the Sooners their second loss of the season and ends their chances.  Now the Sooners hope to win out and get back into a BCS Bowl.


13.  Louisville Cardinals (8-0) LW 15

All Louisville needs to do is beat Cincinnati and Rutgers and they should finish with the Big East Title and an undefeated season.  Louisville got one part of that done on Friday Night beating Cincinnati in OT 34-31.  The Cardinals intercepted Cincinnati and then kicked the winning field goal to get the "Keg of Nails" and stay unbeaten.

14.  Oregon State Beavers (6-1) LW 9
Oregon State's dream season came to an abrupt end at the hands of Washington.  It was the same Washington team that knocked off Stanford.  Oregon State mounted a comeback, but it was for not because Washington was able to get the game winning field goal.  Oregon State's season isn't over and they still have a chance to beat Oregon in a couple of weeks

15.  Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-1) LW 16
Mississippi State didn't move a lot in the rankings because it's hard to fault a team that has only one loss and that loss was the consensus #1 team Alabama.  It's hard to gauge how good the Bulldogs really are against such a good team, but we'll find more out when they host Texas A&M this weekend. 

16.  USC Trojans (6-2) LW 7
Do you remember when USC was considered the best team in the nation and thought to go undefeated.  Well after losses to Stanford and now Arizona have ruined the Trojans season.  What makes matters worse is that they face off against Oregon this weekend and a loss there would give them their third of the season.  Add in Notre Dame at the end and we could be looking at a USC team with 4 or more losses.


17.  West Virginia Mountaineers (5-2) LW 19
This bye week couldn't have come at a better time for West Virginia.  After riding high for their first five games the Mountaineers have gotten punched in the mouth two straight weeks.  Hopefully they can take some time to get things figured out offensively and get back to the same team we saw early in the season. 


18.  Stanford Cardinal (6-2) LW 21
If it wasn't for their defense we could be talking about a Stanford team with more than two losses.  Instead the defense continues to play at a high level and give the offense enough breathing room to get wins.  After disposing of Washington State the Cardinal move on to face hapless Colorado.  That should be an easy win before they face Oregon and Oregon State.

19.  Texas A&M Aggies (6-2) LW 25
You'd be a lier if you thought A&M would be contending for the SEC West at the beginning of the season.  But the Aggies have only two losses and in both games they were leading by double digits.  A&M didn't want that to happen against Auburn where they jumped out to an early 42-7 lead at halftime and cruised to an easy victory.  Now the Aggies have a little tougher competition against Miss State this weekend.  The winner here still has an outside shot at the SEC West.  The loser will be eliminated.


20.  Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-2) LW NR
After Nebraska lost big to Ohio State it looked like the Huskers had too many questions and not enough answers.  But the Huskers got things figured out after their bye week and got big wins at Northwestern and against Michigan.  Now Nebraska is in the lead of the Legends Division and has four winnable games to end the season.  With the Big 10 down this could be a great opportunity for the Huskers to make it back to a BCS Bowl.

21.  Texas Longhorns (6-2) LW 24
You have to be a little concerned how Texas only beat a horrible Kansas team by 4 points.  Ever since the Oklahoma game the offense has really taken a nose dive.  QB David Ash is on the verge of losing his job and the defense is a sieve.  They better get it fixed because an improved Texas Tech team in coming to town and they have a great opportunity to beat Texas and drop them out of the rankings.

22.  Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (7-1) LW NR
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs made an appearance a couple of weeks ago in the rankings but fell after a tough loss to Texas A&M.  But they've rattled off two straight wins and are setting at 7-1 on the season.  Pair that up with four very winnable games left and the Bulldogs should finish with an 11-1 record. 

23.  Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-2) LW 23
Sure Texas Tech lost to Kansas State, but they didn't get blown out and they did a lot better against the Wildcats than West Virginia or Oklahoma did.  Was it luck or are the Red Raiders better than we think?  We can find this out this weekend as they travel to Austin to face the Longhorns.  If the Red Raiders can win that game they will be in 3rd place and and chance to play in an upper tier bowl game.

24.  Penn State Nittany Lions (5-3) LW 17
Penn State's five game winning streak came to and end this weekend at the hands of Ohio State.  Going into the game the Nittany Lions were playing like one of the conferences best, but the talented Buckeye team was just too much for this undermanned team.  Penn State now faces off against a reeling Purdue team before they travel to Lincoln to play the red hot Huskers.

25.  Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-1) LW 18
There is something about MAC schools ruining the Big East race.  Last week it was Toledo that ended Cincinnati's perfect season, and now Kent State did the same against Rutgers.  What makes matters worse is that Rutgers now has a week off to think about the loss before they play Army in two weeks.


Dropped From the Rankings:  Ohio Bobcats, Michigan Wolverines

NCAA Top 25 (Week 8)

1.  Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0) LW 1
The Crimson Tide kept their roll going against an reeling Tennessee team.  QB AJ McCarron lead the way with 306 yards passing and 4 TDs.  McCarron continues to improve and is no longer simply a game manager.  They'll need McCarron to be at his best when they play host to undefeated Mississippi State this weekend.  Should be a good test for Alabama who hasn't really been tested so far.


2.  Oregon Ducks (7-0) LW 2
If you happened to turn the channel to watch the NFL game or ran a quick errand, you probably came back to the game being practically over.  Oregon jumped out to a quick 43-7 lead at halftime and cruised their way to the victory.  Oregon continues to roll and should until they face USC in two weeks.  Until then, Colorado is just another speed bump.


3.  Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-0) LW 3
There are some people that are freaking out about Notre Dame only beating BYU by 3 and having to come back to do so.  However people need to relax.  Notre Dame did win and they were able to rush for 270 yards on at top 5 rushing defense.  That's pretty impressive for an offense that has had it's struggles.  Now Notre Dame moves onto their game at Oklahoma.  This will be Notre Dame's toughest test and a win would really set them up for a run at the National Title.


4.  Florida Gators (7-0) LW 4
Any questions on whether Florida is for real or not have been answered.  With a win over LSU already, the Gators destroyed a South Carolina team many thought would be the favorite to win the SEC West.  Their 44-11 was even more impressive considering Florida's offense isn't very explosive.  But the Gators can't get too confident because they have to travel to Georgia this weekend.  A win there would lock them into the SEC Title Game.


5.  Kansas State Wildcats (7-0) LW 5
It's safe to say that Kansas State's win over West Virginia was  statement game.  Not only did KState beat West Virginia to remain unbeaten, they steam rolled the Mountaineers and established themselves at the team to beat in the Big 12.  QB Collin Klein was amazing.  He had over 300 total yards of offense and 7 TDs.  Klein is now the front runner for the Heisman and the Wildcats are contenders for the National Title Game.  But Texas Tech looms this weekend.  The Red Raiders are better than most people think and have the ability to knock off KState.


6.  LSU Tigers (7-1) LW 6
For most of the first half it looked like the Tigers were going to suffer their second loss of the season.  But 14 quick points at the end of the 1st half gave LSU the lead and they never looked back.  RB Jeremy Hill lead the way with 127 yards rushing and a TD.  But QB Zach Mettenberger continues to struggle.  The Tigers have a week off, but they then have to face Alabama.  Their going to need Mettenberger to step up if they want to win there.


7.  USC Trojans (6-1) LW 8
It was against Colorado, but it was still nice to see USC's offense break out.  Especially QB Matt Barkley who has had a pretty underwhelming year so far.  But against the Buffaloes Barkley completed 19/20 passes and threw 6 TDs.  The Trojans have to hope that this game was a sign of things to come because USC has some big games on the horizon.


8.  Oklahoma Sooners (5-1) LW 10
RB Roy Finch made an impact on special teams returning two kick offs 100 yards to get the Sooners going from the start.  Add in another great game by QB Landry Jones and the Sooners are ready to go for their huge match up against Notre Dame.  The Sooners could really use the win to get them back into the National Title race.  But they'll need to do it against one of the best defenses in the nation.


9.  Oregon State Beavers (6-0) LW 15
It's still amazing the season that Oregon State is having.  After beating Utah 21-7 the Beavers improve their record to 6-0 and have moved into the top 10 in the rankings.  But they can't get too comfortable because they have to travel to Washington this weekend.  This is the same Washington team that knocked Stanford out of the top 10.


10.  Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0) LW 9
After surviving a scare with Braxton Miller and an near upset by Purdue, the Buckeyes are ready for their showdown with Penn State.  It's amazing that these two teams are probably the best in the Big 10 and neither team is eligible for the post season.  If not, this could be a game that would be for the Leaders Title.  Instead it will just be one heck of a game to watch.


11.  Florida State Seminoles (7-1) LW 14
Looking to move their way back into the top 10, Florida State had to beat in state rival Miami.  The Seminoles started off slow and struggled throughout the first half, but were still able to take the lead and then took control in the second half.  Florida State better hope that they can get things figured out because they will face off against Duke this weekend and the Blue Devils are no longer a push over.



12.  Clemson Tigers (6-1) LW 11
Last year the Clemson Virginia Tech game would have been a must see game to help decided ACC supremacy.  Instead VaTech is struggling and the Tigers don't have a lot of hype around them.  But that didn't stop them from taking control in the second quarter and getting out with the victory.



13.  South Carolina Gamecocks (6-2) LW 7
After beating Georgia it looked like the Gamecocks were going to be the team to beat in the SEC East.  Instead they dropped two straight games and are in a free fall.  QB Connor Shaw has struggled and even got benched against Florida.  Luckily the Gamecocks get a break and face off against a Tennessee team is is on their own losing streak.  Which one will come to an end?

14.  Georgia Bulldogs (6-1) LW 13
Kentucky was suppose to be an easy bounce back win for the Bulldogs.  They won, but it was too close for comfort.  But as they say a win is a win.  That's especially true since South Carolina lost again and that puts the Bulldogs right back into the SEC East Title race.  If they can beat Florida this weekend they will be in the lead.  But Georgia will need their defense to step up and stop the run.  No easy task. 


15.  Louisville Cardinals (7-0) LW 16

It took a Tedd Bridgewater TD pass with 1:35 left in the game to take the lead and win the game.  In a case of looking ahead, the Cardinals looked past South Florida to their showdown with Cincinnati and were lucky to escape with the win.  But unlike Cincinnati, they got the win.  Louisville now can focus on the Bearcats and a win would give them one of the two wins they need to win the Big East.

16.  Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-0) LW 17
With their victory over Middle Tennessee State, the Bulldogs got their easy part of the schedule out of the way.  Now the Bulldogs move into the hearth of their SEC schedule and we'll get to see how good this team really is.  First up in Alabama. 

17.  Penn State Nittany Lions (5-2) LW 21
Penn State went into their game against Iowa looking to continue their hot streak.  Not only did they win, they took the Hawkeyes behind the shed and whooped them.  They lead Iowa by 31 at one point.  Now Penn State moves on to host Ohio State in what could have been a game that would decide the Leaders Division.  Instead with both teams ineligible, it's just a game between two very good teams. 

18.  Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-0) LW 19
Trailing 10-0 at halftime it looked like Temple was going to spoil Rutgers perfect season.  But QB Gary Nova lead the Scarlet Knights to 35 straight points and the defense held the Owls scoreless and we ended with a blowout.  Now Rutgers has to try not to look past MAC foe Kent State or they could suffer the same fate that Cincinnati did against Toledo.

19.  West Virginia Mountaineers (5-2) LW 12
Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when West Virginia had just out dueled Texas and moved up to top 5 territory.  Geno Smith was the front runner for the Heisman.  All was good in Morgantown.  Then two straight losses and the Mountaineers are reeling.  Was it just games against two tough teams or was most of the season a fluke?  But West Virginia couldn't have a bye week at a better time.  Rest up and fix what has been going wrong.

20.  Ohio Bobcats (7-0) LW 20
After cracking the Top 25 for the first time in school history the Bobcats enjoy a weekend off before their game at Miami of Ohio.  This bye week will allow the Bobcats a chance the heal up and prepare for a possible undefeated season.  This is especially true for QB Tyler Tettleton who is a little banged up.


21.  Stanford Cardinal (5-2) LW 22
There wasn't any bands on the field nor did this game come down to the wire.  It was basically a butt whooping.  Even though the score (21-3) didn't indicate it, Stanford manhandled Cal and did whatever they wanted to.  And when you do that it's easy to win games.  Stanford will look to do that again when they host Washington State this Saturday.


22.  Michigan Wolverines (5-2) LW 23
Michigan hasn't beaten Michigan State in four straight years.  Nobody on Michigan's team has beat the Spartans.  So it must have felt pretty good when Brendon Gibbons' FG made it's way through the uprights and gave the Wolverines the win.  This is also quite the turnaround for Michigan who looked dead in the water earlier in there year.  Now all they have to is beat Nebraska and they have the Legends Division and a possible Big 10 Title within their grasps.

23.  Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-1) LW NR
After Texas Tech lost big to Oklahoma many thought their early season success was nothing more than just feasting on inferior competition.  But wins against West Virginia and now TCU have people thinking that the Red Raiders are for real.  The biggest different in this years Red Raider teams is that they are playing defense.  That defense will be put to test this weekend as they travel to KState and face off against Collin Klein and the Wildcats.  A win there would really throw a monkey wrench into the Big 12 standings.


24.  Texas Longhorns (5-2) LW 25
Texas survived a shootout with Baylor to improve to 5-2 on the season.  The win was a good one in that it gets them back on track after their blowout loss to Oklahoma the week before.  Things only get better as the Longhorns get to travel to Lawrence to face the Jayhawks.  That should be an easy win.

25.  Texas A&M Aggies (5-2) LW 18
They have new coaches, new schemes and some new players, but the Aggies are suffering the same problems that they had last year.  Holding on to leads.  In both of the Aggies losses they had double digit leads only to let the game slip away.  Against LSU they were up 10 points but then gave up two quick TDs at the end of the second quarter and were never able to make up for it.  But they do catch a break this weekend as they face off against an Auburn team that might be one of the worst teams in a BCS conference.

Dropped From the Rankings: Cincinnati

College Football Top 25 (Week 3)

1.  USC Trojans (2-0) LW 1
Not even a lighting storm could stop the Trojans in their win over Syracuse at Met Life Stadium.  Behind QB Matt Barkley's 6 TDs passes the Trojans cruised to an easy victory.  This game also saw former Penn State RB Silas Redd surpass the 100 yard mark for the first time as a Trojan.  The only cause for concern may be USC's defense.  They gave up 29 points to Syracuse and even though the game was already decided it raises some red flags for bigger games.  Either way the Trojans should get their first true test with Stanford next.

2.  Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0) LW 2
In the week leading up to the game Alabama Head Coach took the local media to task about taking Western Kentucky too lightly.  It was all a motivational ploy to make sure his players didn't let up after drilling Michigan the week before.  Saban probably didn't need to do so, but none the less the Crimson Tide rolled Western Kentucky and even shut out the Hilltoppers.  Next week Saban shouldn't have any trouble motivating his players as they travel to Arkansas.  And even though Arkansas lost to Louisiana-Monroe, they are still a very dangerous team with the ability to upset the Tide.

3.  LSU Tigers (2-0) LW 3
In what what was thought to be a be a good match up between up and coming Washington and the 3rd ranked Tigers turned out to be a blowout.  Behind a strong running game, the LSU Tigers were able to manhandle the Huskies to the tune of 242 yards and 3 TDs.  Alfred Blue lead the way with 102 yards and a score while Kenny Hilliard had two scores also.  QB Zach Mettenburger also step up his game from week 1 and looked a lot more comfortable running the offense.  Next week should be an easy one for the Tigers as they play host to Idaho.  Which should serve as another warm up game to get ready for SEC play.

4.  Oregon Ducks (2-0) LW 4
The running backs were main story in Oregon's 42-25 victory over Fresno State.  Kenjon Balmer was the star of the game with his 201 yards rushing and 3 TDs.  His running mate De'Anthony Thomas chimed in with 102 yards and 2 TDs also.  Oregon was able to do what ever they wanted rushing the ball and it showed.  The Ducks have one more tune up game (Tennessee Tech) left before they start the Pac 12 season.  They'll use it to get even more experience for QB Marcus Mariota who they'll need to have a big year if they want to make it back to their 2nd National Championship game in three years.

5.  Georgia Bulldogs (2-0) LW 5
After trailing for most of the game, Georgia had to rally late to get the win.  Welcoming Missouri to the SEC.  A huge reason for the comeback was the play of start OLB Jarvis Jones.  Jones  forced a fumble when he sacked Missouri QB James Franklin and then on the next series he picked off a Franklin pass which he nearly took back for a TD.  Those two plays really jump started the Bulldogs and allowed them to cruise to a 41-20 win.  This win had to be extra satisfying mainly because Georgia had to endure Missouri players running their mouth about the Bulldogs playing "Old Man Football."  This weekend the Bulldogs should have an easier road against Florida Atlantic which should allow them to work out some cinks.

6.  South Carolina Gamecocks (2-0) LW 6
When it was announced that QB Connor Shaw wasn't going to play, I didn't get all the concern people where having.  Sure not having your starting QB is a big issue.  But when your team is build around the running game and defense and your playing a average at best CUSA team it shouldn't be too big of a concern.  That proved to be right when the Gamecocks roared out of the gates and won by 38 points and backup QB Dylan Thompson looked very good.  330 yards and 3 TDs good.  Thompson played so good I would rest Shaw in their game against UAB to make sure that he is fully rested.  UAB isn't very good and Thompson should be able to lead them to victory.

7.  Oklahoma Sooners (2-0) LW 7
It was your typical top 10 team vs FCS type of game here.  Oklahoma overwhelmed Florida A&M in route to a 69-13 victory.  It's hard to gauge much from a game like this, but Sooner fans have to be excited about the play of junior RB Damein Williams.  Williams stole the show with 156 yards and 4 TDs.  The speedster had scores from 89 and 65 yards.  The Sooners were also able to get Penn State transfer WR Justin Brown into the action and hopefully get him some chemistry with QB Landry Jones.  Oklahoma has a week off before their big showdown with #15 Kansas State. 

8.  Clemson Tigers (2-0) LW 8
Clemson's offense is really starting to take off and they still haven't had stud WR Sammie Watkins who was still serving a suspension.  QB Tajh Boyd has continued to improve his accuracy and running this team.  His play in big games could be the difference between them going undefeated or losing a key game or two.  But none the less this Clemson offense is going to be even more dangerous than last year.  The biggest key will be their defense which didn't get tested against Ball State and probably won't against next week's opponent, Furman. 

9.  Michigan State Spartans (2-0) LW 10
After their big victory over Boise State in week 1, the Spartans had an easier road against in state Central Michigan.  RB Le'Veon Bell didn't have a huge game, but Michigan State didn't need him to do so.  Instead they used this opportunity to get QB Andrew Maxwell's confidence going.  And they definitely did that here.  Maxwell passed for 275 yards 2 TDs and 0 INTs.  Right now Michigan State looks like the cream of the crop of the Big 10 and they're going to need a big season out of Maxwell if they want to continue this positive momentum.  They get a big opportunity this weekend when they host Notre Dame.  Notre Dame has played well so far, so a win by the Spartans could jump them past a few teams here in the rankings.

10.  Virginia Tech Hokies (2-0) LW 12
It's always nice to have a cupcake game right after a hard fought contest to start the year.  After beating Georgia Tech and their triple option offense the Hokies got a break facing off against FCS foe Austin Peay.  In their win it was vintage Beamer Ball.  VaTech had a blocked punt and a near punt return for a TD to help get things going before they open things up offensively in route to a 42-7 victory.  You have to wonder if slow starts like they've had both games could come back to hurt them once they get to ACC play.  We'll find out this week as they face off against Pittsburgh who is struggling now, but still has a ton of talent.

11.  Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0) LW 13
Braxton Miller continues to shine in Urban Meyer's spread offense.  This week he did it mainly with his legs.  Miller rushed for 141 yards and 3 TDs and is putting fear into defensive coordinator minds.  However he did struggle passing the ball which could hurt him come conference season.  But with a strong defense the Buckeyes are going to be one heck of a team to beat.  This upcoming weekend they'll face off against California who got back on track after losing to Nevada to start the season.

12.  Michigan Wolverines (1-1) LW 14
After being embarrassed at the hands of Alabama, the Wolverines were anxious to get back on the field and show everybody that they are a much better team that what they showed in that game.  Against Air Force their offense showed that they are still very dangerous.  QB Dennard Robinson bounced back and had a combined 426 yards and 3 TDs.  However there are still some concerns since they only beat an average Air Force team by 6 and gave up 25 points.  What will happen when they play Michigan State, Ohio State, or Nebraska whose offenses are far superior than them.

13.  West Virginia Mountaineers (1-0) LW 15
After a big blowout of Marshall, West Virginia enjoyed an off week.  I'm not a big fan of off weeks this early in the season, but at least it five st eh Mountaineers to fine some mistakes they saw in the opener.  If there were any.  This weeks match up against James Madison should be interesting.  Meaning how many points is Dana Holgerson and QB Geno Smith going to put up on the FCS school.  Will they approach the 84 that Oklahoma State put up on Savannah State or will they call of the dogs early?

14.  Florida State Seminoles (2-0) LW 17
Just think what could have been.  FSU was scheduled to play West Virginia this game, but because the Mountaineers went to the Big 12 they had to opt out of this game.  FSU then was forced to schedule Savannah State because they had no other option.  Instead of a top 15 match up we got to see FSU just steam roll a team that might be lucky to win 2 games against FCS competition.  Luckily the game was called in the 3rd quarter due to lightning and we didn't have to endure too much more of it.  As of right now we still don't know how good of a team FSU is, but we'll get a better look this weekend as they face off against a much improved Wake Forrest team.  This could be a trap game with a trip to Clemson on the horizon.

15.  Kansas State Wildcats (2-0) LW 19
With Miami coming to town everybody was primed for hard fought game between two good teams.  Well KState quickly showed that they were the better team and asserted their dominance winning 52-13 over the Hurricanes.  The Wildcats jumped on Miami right out the gate and never stood a chance.  With 281 yards and 4 TDs total, Klein has shown everybody that he is a real contender for the Heisman Trophy.  Look for more the same with the Wildcats when they face off against North Texas this weekend.  But a big time showdown with Oklahoma is right around the corner.

16.  Florida Gators (2-0) LW 21
Along with Georgia, the Florida Gators had the luxury of welcoming a newcomer to the SEC.  Here it was Florida traveling to College Station to face off against the Aggies.  It didn't start out very good for Florida who gave up 17 points in the first half and trailed 17-10 at halftime.  But the Gator defense stepped up and shut the Aggies down in the 2nd half to get their first win for HC Will Muschamp when trailing at halftime.  Along with a stellar defensive performance, the Gators were able to make the comeback largely due to their running game.  RB Mike Gillislee had another strong showing rushing for 83 yards and both Florida TDs.  But Florida won't be able to start off slow against their next opponent, because the Tennessee Volunteers offense is one of the best in this young season.  Their game should be a must watch and will really tell us where both of these teams stand.

17.  Texas Longhorns (1-0) LW 18
It was a dominant performance on both sides of the ball for the Texas Longhorns.  Defensively they did give up 241 yards to the Lobos, but they were able to shut them out and force two turnovers.  But the big story was the play of QB David Ash.  Ash threw for 221 yards and 2 TDs and even had a nice 49 yard run for a TD.  If Texas wants to get back to the top of the Big 12 they are going to need David Ash to become a big time player.  Otherwise they'll get lost in the schuffle like they have for the past couple of years.  Their game against Ole Miss should be an interesting gauge.  Ole Miss comes into this game 2-0 and a win over UTEP.  This was the same UTEP team that gave Oklahoma fits. 

18.  Lousiville Cardinals (2-0) LW 20
Sophomore QB Teddy Bridgewater used a career day to help the Cardinals soar past FCS Missouri State.  Bridgewater threw for 344 yards and 2 TDs, but what has been the most remarkable stat for Bridgewater has been his accuracy.  Against Missouri State he completed 77% of his passes.  No matter who you play that is pretty damn good.  Add in that the Cardinals defense held the Bears to only one TD and it was a pretty successful day. 
19.  Tennessee Volunteers (2-0) LW NR
One of the biggest stories to this young college football season has been the Tennessee Volunteers.  Picked by many to finish as one of the worst teams in the SEC might have a legit shot to winning the SEC West.  The biggest reason has been the play of their offense.  QB Tyler Bray is a potential top 10 pick and he has a couple very talented WRs that he can get th ball to.  In their game against Georgia State WR Justin Hunter was unstoppable grabbing 8 balls for 146 yards and 3 TDs.  But we'll really see if this Tennessee team is for real when they face off against lon time rival Florida this weekend.  A win there would really give the Vols a ton of momentum to carry themselves through the season.

20.  TCU Horned Frogs (1-0) LW 22
With their win over Grambling State, TCU head coach Gary Patterson has become TCU's all time winningest coach.  The Horned Frogs definitely decided to get him his win in easy fasion.  What's most impressive in this game is that QB Casey Pachall threw for 201 yards completing all 9 of his passes. Pretty fantastic.  But this year will be a true test of how good of a program Patterson has built.  Coming from the Mountain West to the Big 12 (Which was rated as the #2 conference last year) it's going to be a step up week in and week out.  But at least the Big 12 did them a favor by scheduling their first conference game with Kansas.  Which should be an easy win.

21.  Stanford Cardinal (2-0) LW 24
In what could have easily been a trap game, the Caridnal were able to quickly dispose of Duke without the fear of an upset.  Drew Terrell was the star of the game with a punt return for a TD and a TD reception.  So far this season the Cardinal have aired it out a lot more.  And why not, they know what they have in Stepfan Taylor and they might as well work on the pass game before their big game against USC this weekend.  This game will really show what this team will be like without Andrew Luck and company.

22.  Baylor Bears (1-0) LW 25
It was an off week for the Bears before they play host to Sam Houston State.  If Baylor can play at the same high level they did in their opener against SMU they should be able to win convinclingly against the FCS school.  However don't sleep on Sam Houston State.  It was Sam Houston State that made it to the FCS National Championship game and lost in a close game.  So they won't be a push over.  However Baylor just has too much fire power for the Bearkats to handle.  This should be an easy one.

23.  UCLA Bruins (2-0) LW NR
This doesn't look like your UCLA teams of the past 10 years.  New head coach Jim Mora Jr. has really done wonders with this roster.  The biggest difference has been the intensity.  In their win against Nebraska their defense was all over the field and laying the lumber to the Husker players.  Offensively offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone has the offense running at an extremely high level.  QB Brett Hundley is a threat both on the ground and through the air.  But the true star is RB Jonathan Franklin.  Against Nebraska he ran for 217 yards while scoring on the game clinching TD reception.  Watch out for this team, because they have a ton of talent and schedule that should allow them to get off to a great start.

24.  Arkansas Razorbacks (1-1) LW 9
It was a very bad day for the Razorbacks.  Not only did they lose a bad game to a Lousiana-Monroe team that they should have never lost to.  But starting QB Tyler Wilson suffered a concussion and may be out of action for a while.  Not what you want when you have to face off against Alabama this next week.  But if Arkansas can't fix their issues on defense it won't matter who is playing QB for them. 

25.  Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-1) LW 16
Nebraska let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers.  UCLA is a much better team than they have been in the past, but the Huskers were a better team and still should have won.  Their defense was the huge issue giving up 653 total yards.  UCLA spread them out and beat them in one on one situations.  Offensively they had things rolling in the first half, but stalled in the 2nd.  And once they got behind they became very predictable.  The sky isn't falling, but the Huskers now have to fix some major holes on defense if they want to challenge Michigan and Michigan State for the division crown.

Dropped From Rankings:  Wisconsin Badgers, Oklahoma State Cowboys

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