College Football Rankings - Top 35
by Gregory Cox
College Football Director
10/13/09

For all the hype surrounding two “huge” SEC showdowns, this past weekend was pretty boring. It had nothing to do with a few top teams being off and a lot to do with the most action coming from quality teams struggling against some bad ones. Worry not college football fans. This week is going to be a lot better. We finally get to see Texas play a real opponent in the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma. Two Big East unbeaten teams, South Florida and Cincinnati, square off. Iowa’s unlikely title run continues at 5-1 Wisconsin. Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech get it on in the ACC. South Carolina tries to play spoiler at Alabama. Finally, USC goes to Notre Dame. Let’s have some fun. For now we look back and I give you my rankings. This week I’m going with the AP, USA Today, Harris and Rivals.com 1-120 for comparison. Those appear in ( )’s at the end of each team’s blurb.

#1 (1) Florida (5-0): Their 13-3 win at LSU was about as exciting as a trip to the post office. We found out the Gators can play defense. Wait, we already knew that. Tim Tebow is going to continue playing football. Was there really any doubt? This offense is not very good, even with a Terminator at quarterback. This top ranking is out of respect. Even in a flawed system they are the defending champs and deserve to have it clawed away from them. Like when the Tide beats them for the SEC title. (1, 1, 1, 2)

#2 (3) Alabama (6-0): I believe in this team a little more every week, and at this point enough to put them in the top spot. It just seems pointless to make the swap knowing that eventually they will be able to prove their worth on a neutral field against Florida. I’ll tell you one thing though. I’m not Gary Danielson crazy about the SEC beyond these top two teams. (2, 3, 3, 1)

#3 (2) Texas (5-0): Trailing 14-3 to a pretty poor Colorado team is not what the ‘Horns had in mind for their tune up leading into the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma. The poll drop is meaningless because, as we found out a couple years ago when undefeated Michigan lost to undefeated Ohio State at the end of the season, there will never be a rematch for the national title game. Keep winning and they are in, but that could change this week. (3, 2, 2, 3)

#4 (4) Boise State (5-0): National writers who probably never watch the Broncos play unless it is a bowl game or ESPN is broadcasting them like to rip the schedule. They were off this week and play their final non-WAC opponent in primetime. Going to Tulsa is more challenging than anything they will face in conference play, so the “haters” can get ready to pounce if they fail. We’ll see. (5, 6, 5, 8)

#5 (5) Cincinnati (5-0): The Bearcats are stuck in the Big East, but they keep winning. This week at South Florida, on national television, is a great opportunity to impress voters. Coming off a bye the pressure has mounted and we know how midweek games go for the higher ranked visitors. (8, 9, 8, 7)

#6 (6) TCU (5-0): It is getting tougher to love the Horned Frogs. Sure, they skated past Air Force 20-17. Some of that I chalk up to being on the road, in inclement weather against a team motivated by revenge for last year’s 44-10 whooping TCU put on them. At this point busting the BCS is the best they can hope for if they run out. (12, 8, 10, 10)

#7 (8) Iowa (6-0): If the Hawkeyes played the worst team in the FCS I get the feeling it would be a 10-9 game. I could say the same if they took on an NFL team. Well, not really on either account, but they keep it interesting. After another close home win they hit the road for three of their next five and all of those teams (Wisconsin, Michigan State, Ohio State) are clearly good enough to beat them. (11, 12, 11, 6)

#8 (10) Kansas (5-0): Right now the Jayhawks are here by default because if I was playing prognosticator, ranking teams based on how they might perform head to head against every other team it would be a different story. Struggling to beat Iowa State, at home, is a black eye. Their biggest win is over no one worth mentioning. However, all of their tough games are ahead of them and should they keep winning this ranking will be deserved. (17, 15, 16, 25)

#9 (11) Virginia Tech (5-1): It is pretty simple where the Hokies are concerned. They rule the ACC. Hammering Boston College is just par for the course. As wacky as this conference can be, if VT can win at Georgia Tech this week it would take a complete collapse for them to not secure the Coastal division title. (4, 4, 4, 5)

#10 (12) South Florida (5-0): Expectations have gone through the roof even with the Bulls not playing a game. Hosting Cincinnati in a battle of Big East unbeatens will tend to do that, especially with a few million home viewers tuning in. (21, 21, 21, 27)

#11 (14) Miami, FL (14): It must have been fun for the ‘Canes to play FAMU after a month of games against ranked (at the time at least) opponents. Another in-state game at UCF continues their far less challenging middle of the schedule. Unfortunately none of it really matters unless Virginia Tech loses twice. (9, 11, 12, 11)

#12 (15) USC (4-1): A week without Trojan football? It’s a good thing Southern California sports fans were kept occupied by the Angels and Dodgers ruling the baseball playoffs. They are back in a big way this week at Notre Dame. The Clausen-Barkley thing might get a little hype on ESPN. I think. (6, 5, 6, 4)

#13 (7) LSU (4-1): So much for Death Valley on a Saturday night. It wasn’t a bad loss, obviously. However, the offense failed to muster up a touchdown and they are clearly not in Florida’s class. They still have a chance to earn a rematch though and stranger things have happened. (10, 10, 9, 12)

#14 (16) Ohio State (5-1): Has a 31-13 win over a previously undefeated team ever been less impressive? Wisconsin had OSU beaten 13-10 if returns didn’t count. The 368-134 deficit in total yards, at home, was eye opening. None of it really matters until November though, when the Big Ten title will be won or lost on the field. (7, 7, 7, 9)

#15 (17) Georgia Tech (5-1): They overcame some history, and a Florida State team motivated by their embattled legendary head coach. It was a classic “trap” game in advance of this week’s big one against Virginia Tech. Either the Yellow Jackets turn it into a 3-team race for the Coastal division or it’s over. (19, 20, 20, 14)

#16 (18) Oregon (5-1): The Pac-10 looks quite mediocre this season. Just about any team can beat any other if breaks go their way. All it took for them to win at UCLA was what I guess PTI would call “five good minutes” to start the second half. Sandwiched around it they were unimpressive without Masoli. (13, 16, 14, 13)

#17 (20) Nebraska (4-1): After three quarters at Missouri the ‘Huskers looked like they would head back into the abyss of being an also-ran. Then everything changed, and when it was over a 27-12 win kept their Big XII North title hopes alive. (15, 17, 19, 15)

#18 (22) Penn State (5-1): Taking a break from the usually brutal Big Ten schedule the Nittany Lions took on Eastern Illinois. When Paterno finally retires will this madness end? I hope so. (14, 13, 13, 17)

#19 (23) BYU (5-1): The Cougs smoked UNLV and hopefully got used to playing outside of Utah. Three of their next four are on the road, and the home game is a big one against TCU. (18, 19, 17, 16)

#20 (24) Houston (4-1): Now do you see why I kept them in the rankings? You just never know in college football. The butt kicking at UTEP might haunt them all year, but with two wins over Big XII teams and now a road win against the SEC (Mississippi State) they deserve a lot of respect. (23, 23, 23, 20)

#21 (24) Oklahoma State (4-1): The Cowboys found a way to win at Texas A&M without offensive stars, but with Missouri and Texas visiting this month it is safe to say their Big XII South title hopes are in serious trouble without them. (16, 14, 15, 21)

#22 (19) Wisconsin (5-1): It had to be disheartening for them to go into the Horseshoe against Ohio State, beat them in so many ways and come up 31-13 short on the scoreboard. Now the challenge is to put it behind them and man up against Iowa. (30, 30, 29, 18)

#23 (29) South Carolina (5-1): Very few teams were impressive this week so I can’t be too hard on them. Kentucky is bad though, and the Wildcats had a chance to tie the game with a two-pointer late. The Gamecocks probably were looking ahead to going to Alabama this week. (22, 22, 22, 23)

#24 (9) Auburn (5-1): What a crushing setback. Arkansas took them out behind a building and treated them badly. Naysayers got their “I told you so!” on, but I don’t think you can throw out their wins over West Virginia and Tennessee just yet. The soft defense let them down. (27, 26, 24, 31)

#25 (31) West Virginia (4-1): Very quietly the Big East teams go about the business of winning. The Mountaineers are one of five teams in the conference at 4-1 or 5-0. Certainly the level of competition has a lot to do with that. Like say, Marshall showing up on the schedule this week. Wins are wins, I guess. (28, 31, 31, 26)

#26 (13) Missouri (4-1): I will admit it. I almost turned the game off. The Tigers seemed to be totally in control of Nebraska in a snoozer. Then the proverbial wheels fell off and they are back to being a bit of an afterthought in the Big XII again. The next two weeks provide a shot at redemption with a trip to Oklahoma State and home tilt against Texas. (31, 24, 27, 33)

#27 (26) Michigan (4-2): Rankings are arbitrary by nature, and it is probably wrong of me to have them as the “best” two-loss team in the country. However, they proved a lot in hanging tough at Iowa, especially with 28 points scored against a stingy defense. Besides, at least I don’t have to worry about them losing this week (Delaware State) and searching for a team to replace them. (34, 36, 33, 39)

#28 (27) Notre Dame (4-1): The Irish took a week off and reflected on their series of heart stopping games. If this week’s showdown with USC is close it will be an instant classic, and with all home games in October they can insert themselves into the BCS picture again starting here. Boston College, Washington State and Navy are next so getting by the Trojans will pave the way to 8-1. (25, 25, 25, 24)

#29 (NR) Oklahoma (3-2): Sam Bradford is back and the Sooners have returned to my rankings because a lot of teams look so bad. Needless to say this week against Texas will answer most questions about OU on the field so let’s see what they are made of. (20, 18, 18, 19)