College Football Rankings - Top 35
by Gregory Cox
College Football Director
10/23/09

I do fancy myself as a bit of a hybrid between a computer and a human so it is probably fitting that my rankings line up fairly well with the BCS standings. The only difference in the 25 teams listed there and the first 25 here is my inclusion of Wisconsin at #24 and omission of California, who I list at #26. It should be noted that while I unleash these rankings days after the polls come out, I ignore them until after I finish. Think of it like putting your fingers in your ears at work when you had to put "The Office" on your DVR. Anyway, at the end of each blurb I’m including most of the usual ranking comparisons this week. I have the AP, USA/Today, Harris Poll, BCS standings and Rivals in that order.

#1 (1) Florida (7-0): It was supposed to be all about Tim Tebow and the defense in their BCS title defense. Instead, scratch the first part. Bad luck or not, Tebow kept a bad Mississippi State in the game with the Gators. This might, and I say might with emphasis, matter at South Carolina to derail their perfect season. (1, 1, 1, 1, 3)

#2 (2) Alabama (8-0): I have stayed the course, leaving them behind Florida even as they looked more impressive week after week. Uh, about that escape against Tennessee at home. Was that the same team UCLA (0-4 in Pac-10 play) beat? Clearly they were looking ahead to LSU. (2, 2, 2, 1, 1)

#3 (3) Texas (7-0): Seriously people, since when is routing Missouri so impressive? I hear all of this chatter about how the Longhorns might be the best team in country based on putting one on the Tigers. You mean the team that is now 0-3 playing in the horrific Big XII North? Their joke non-conference schedule combined with the misfortune of the Oklahoma schools, and weakness of the other division makes their inclusion in the “national championship” undeserved if they get there. (3, 3, 3, 3, 2

#4 (4) Boise State (7-0): There are some people who woke up and realized some of these non-BCS teams can play. Immediately after TCU pounding BYU some piled on the Broncos saying the Horned Frogs are the best of that bunch. Well, if Oregon wins the Pac-10 (see this week vs. USC) I hope they reconsider. Some also say they are unimpressive. They won 54-9 on an island (at Hawaii) what do you want? (6, 5, 5, 7, 8)

#5 (5) Cincinnati (7-0): Whoever made the final decision, a doctor or a coach, keeping Pike out was the right move. It’s not just Collaros’ near perfect performance in a 41-10 whacking of Louisville making me say that either. Having Pike ready for the stretch run is key to surviving their brutal final month of games. As I told Ken Broo this week, seemingly much to his surprise, they can make the BCS title game with breaks on November 14. (5, 7, 6, 8, 6)

#6 (6) TCU (7-0): See, I don’t have to overreact to them whacking BYU 38-7 in Provo because my ranking has been high since before the season even started (#11). Their resume got an added boost when Clemson knocked off a BCS top 10 team in Miami, FL. These things matter in this messed up system. (8, 6, 7, 6, 7)

#7 (7) Iowa (8-0): It is impossible not to love this team and root for them. I was watching every moment as they fell behind before pulling out a miracle at Michigan State. In my preseason rankings I said a stunning Big Ten title would not come easy because of their schedule. They have survived thus far, but going to Ohio State without leading rusher Adam Robinson could be the end. They have two lesser teams (Indiana, Northwestern) at home to adjust the offense. We’ll see. (7, 8, 8, 4, 5)

#8 (12) Oregon (6-1): Wow. They treated Washington like a high school team, which is more than LSU or USC can say on that field. I have rewarded them accordingly. Their only black mark is escaping Purdue 38-36, which is amazing considering how much talent was lost from last year’s top 10 finisher. Obviously it is all on the line this week against USC. (10, 12, 11, 10, 10)

#9 (10) LSU (6-1): They hammered Auburn, but the running game needs work. Very quietly they still control their destiny in the SEC West. Can they win at Alabama with this offense though? There is no problem with looking ahead this week against Tulane. Les Miles can talk all he wants about keeping money in Louisiana by scheduling bad teams. The bottom line is they’re playing a dog. (9, 9, 9, 9, 11)

#10 (9) USC (6-1): The same rules really don’t apply to the Trojans. Voters could care less if they lost at Washington, an otherwise 2-5 team. They’re USC right? I have no problem with them struggling a bit against Oregon State, but putting them ahead of undefeated teams at this point is ludicrous. Based on what? Winning this week at Oregon will not change my mind, but it would be huge for a team trying to maintain their swagger despite giving up 63 points in two weeks. (4, 4, 4, 5, 4)

#11 (11) Georgia Tech (7-1): Things are never over in the ACC. However, when the Hurricanes were upset the Yellow Jackets just about punched their ticket to the conference title game by smacking Virginia 34-9 on the road. Wake Forest is dangerous, but will they lose to them at home? Even if a trip to Duke is not as much of a freebie as usual it would be a shocker. Their ceiling is a conference title though. (11, 11, 12, 11, 9)

#12 (13) Penn State (7-1): Whenever I want to bury the Nittany Lions, they turn in another impressive win. This time it was a 35-10 beat down at Michigan, a team that has been very troublesome for them to say the least. It is just so unfortunate that we have to sit through them playing Akron, Temple and Eastern Illinois because how good are they really? Great in the Big Ten, we know, but great against anyone else? (12, 10, 10, 12, 13)

#13 (15) Houston (6-1): I think a lot of people expected the Cougars to go away by now. Their 58-41 loss at UTEP could have thrown them into a tailspin. It did not. When everyone talks about BCS outsiders, TCU and Boise State are at the top. Neither of those teams are 3-0 against the Big XII/SEC right? It confounds me considering most “experts” say those are the best two conferences. Embarrassing loss (didn’t USC lose at Washington?) aside they can play with any non-BCS team in the country. (15, 16, 16, 18, 14)

#14 (16) Oklahoma State (6-1): I hope Deion Sanders is happy. He has derailed any realistic chance the Cowboys had of finally getting over the top against Texas. Sure, Halloween could be a treat for OSU anyway. It would be a huge upset now, whereas with Dez Bryant (now officially out for the season) in the mix no one would be too surprised. Feel free to chalk them up at a boring 9-3. (13, 13, 13, 14, 15)

#15 (19) Virginia Tech (6-2): It was a painful week off for the Hokies who saw their third Coastal division title in a row hopes dwindle considerably with Miami’s loss to Clemson. There are five games they should win left on the schedule. Unfortunately for them even finishing 7-1 in the ACC and 10-2 overall might not get them into a BCS game. (14, 14, 14, 13, 12)

#16 (18) West Virginia (6-1): They are always just good enough. Playing Connecticut in the wake of tragedy was no easy task. The Mountaineers could have folded up when they fell behind. Instead Noel Devine got a big play in and they pulled it out. I don’t expect them to finish the Big East slate, including three road games, unscathed. (20, 20, 20, 21, 20)

#17 (8) Miami, FL (5-2): I will say this. Clemson is better than most people think. C.J. Spiller would win the Heisman if he played for Alabama. However, the ‘Canes had their chances to beat them and the game was at home. In the blink of an eye their season went from playing in the BCS as possibly a top 5 team if they kept winning to not even winning the ACC Coastal division. Like Virginia Tech, even with 10-2 finish frustration awaits. (18, 18, 18, 19, 16)

#18 (21) Pittsburgh (7-1): How in the world did this team lose 38-31 at N.C. State? Anyone who wonders why BCS teams are afraid of scheduling other BCS teams, especially on the road, can point to that loss as a clear reason why. If Pitt had played another dog that week, where might they be ranked at 8-0 right now? As it is, the Backyard Brawl (at West Virginia) is their only remaining road game this season and expectations are high even without the lofty ranking. (16, 17, 17, 15, 18)

#19 (23) Utah (6-1): This is a broken record. All they do is win games. Sure, it was an ugly fight against Air Force, at home no less. The goal is to win though right? There are chances to earn respect left on the schedule with November visits to the acronym teams (TCU, BYU). Winning out might not be enough to crash the BCS again though. (19, 19, 19, 16, 17)

#20 (24) Arizona (5-2): The Wildcats found a way to dispose of UCLA despite 5 turnovers. For two more weeks their high hopes will continue. They are off this weekend, then play doormat Washington State. Unfortunately, things get very difficult from there. First they visit California, then host Pac-10 leader Oregon. A trip to rival Arizona State is never easy and they close with USC. Their destiny remains in their own hands, but a 7-5 finish is not out of the question either. (23, 24, 25, 20, 19)