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College Football Rankings - Top 30
by Gregory
Cox
College
Football Director
9/3/08
1-10
I 11-20 I 21-30
#21 (22) Kansas (1-0): Beating
arguably the worst team in the FBS isn’t going to remove any doubts I
have about this team’s ability to survive a much more rigorous schedule
this season. Quarterback Todd Reesing was pretty good in completing 71%
of his passes including 3 touchdowns to Dezmon Briscoe, but it took him
52 throws to reach 256 yards because his longest completion went 24
yards. Now I have to wonder if this offense might lack breakaway
playmakers. The defense totally stifled Florida International, giving
up just a field goal and only one of their drive went over 18 yards.
Now they face a potential disaster if they’re looking forward to a
Friday night tilt at South Florida because these Bulldogs just toppled
Mississippi State who was supposed to be improved coming off a bowl
win. Next: vs. Louisiana Tech
#22 (25) Utah (1-0): If the Utes had been able to finish some
drives and avoid a bevy of mistakes the sea of fans at the Big House
wouldn’t have been subjected to the false hope of a potential game
tying two point conversion late. The truth is that a Michigan team in
transition wasn’t going to win this game over a Utah team trying to
bust into the BCS. The Utes had 15 penalties and 3 turnovers including
one where they gave it right back to Michigan deep in their territory.
Their offense moved at will in the opening half before the Wolverine
defense cut them off completely in the second half. Even if their
weakened state this is the best opponent Utah will face for weeks and
given how their other BCS “Big Six” opponent Oregon State looked in
losing to Stanford this team might be in for a run. Next: vs. UNLV
#23 (27) Cincinnati (1-0): As Ben Mauk fights the system, new
Bearcat quarterback Dustin Grutza completed 75% of his passes for 296
yards and 3 touchdowns without an interception while also rushing for a
score. Playing against Eastern Kentucky at home they did exactly what
was expected of them by scoring touchdowns the first three times their
offense touched the ball. The defense allowed only one drive over 23
yards and they enjoyed a huge advantage in first downs (27-8) and total
yards (557-195). Will any of these prepare them for visiting Norman?
No, not really. Next: at Oklahoma
#24 (26) Penn State (1-0): How annoying is it going to be
having to hear weekly that either Joe Paterno or Florida State head
coach Bobby Bowden is the all-time leader in coaching victories? Now
they stand tied at 373 if anyone cares. In this one it was a bit of a
sluggish start against a Coastal Carolina team that didn’t exist a
decade ago, but a kickoff return for a touchdown when the visitors
scored to cut their lead to 14-7 seemed to open the floodgates. Five
Nittany Lions rushed for at least 43 yards as the team finished with
334 yards on the ground and 7 touchdowns. Three saw time at quarterback
and a baker’s dozen caught at least one pass although only one Jordan
Norwood (4 receptions) caught more than 2. It’s hard to get excited,
but they got through the game. Now the Beavers come in sputtering off a
loss to Oregon State meaning a 4-0 start is looking very likely. Next:
vs. Oregon State
#25 (6) Clemson (0-1): I feel
like dropping them completely out of the rankings. However, it would
take away from what Alabama accomplished and given their upcoming
schedule certainly this team is going to play their way back in anyway.
The one concern was their offensive line and it ruined them against the
Tide. Even with NFL scouts hovering over their quarterback, two running
backs and wide receiver this offense posted just 188 total yards and 3
points. C.J. Spiller and James Davis combined for 20 yards rushing on 8
carries and 3 receptions for 45 yards. At least Spiller showed
something returning a kickoff for a touchdown. Aaron Kelly caught five
passes, but for only 28 yards even with one going for 15. Cullen Harper
was a very ordinary 20/34 for 188 yards and an interception. Because of
Alabama’s dominance at the line of scrimmage Clemson touched the ball
only 9 times. By nearly the end of the third quarter they had run a
ridiculously low 30 plays on offense. One can argue they simply never
had time to get on track and that’s why it is so perilous to play a
strong opponent out of the gate. None of the teams they play in
September, all at home, will give them any problems. Next: vs. Citadel
#26 (30) Boise State (1-0): People expect the heavyweights to
treat a Big Sky opponent like Idaho State this way, but the Broncos did
a pretty good imitation. They finished with 230 yards rushing and 352
yards passing despite going to the reserves. Kellen Moore was 14/19
passing for 274 yards and a touchdown while Ian Johnson cruised to 87
yards rushing on 14 carries. The good news for fans is that after a
week off their next game has some meaning now that the Falcons have
knocked off Pittsburgh in their stadium. Comparisons will be drawn in
that one and a visit to Oregon follows. Next: off (vs. Bowling Green
9/13)
#27 (NR) East Carolina (1-0): The Pirates lost nearly 2,000
yards of total offense and 23 touchdowns when Chris Johnson took his
game to the NFL. They turned to three players who totaled 30 rushes for
134 yards plus 7 receptions for another 81 yards to fill the void. Mix
in quarterback Patrick Pinkney completing 83% of his passes and the
offense moved right along. Did I mention they did it against the
defending ACC champion Virginia Tech? The only surprising element is
that “Beamer Ball” almost took away the win. Because of a defensive
touchdown and blocked PAT returned for 2 what would have been a 21-13
lead late in the game was instead a 22-20 deficit. No matter, they beat
them at their own game with a blocked punt return for a touchdown. Now
lightning has to strike twice because here come the Mountaineers. Next:
vs. West Virginia
#28 (WL) South Carolina (1-0):
Any time an opponent gets the ball 12 times and your defense holds them
under 20 yards on all but one of those possessions you have to feel
good. Quarterback issues aside, the Gamecocks got off to a nice start
blanking N.C. State 34-0. They might not be a great offense, but that
was a dominant performance. Next: vs. Vanderbilt (Thursday)
#29 (#28) Illinois (0-1): No one gave this team a chance
against Missouri and they were never really in the game. However, the
Illini never stopped fighting and in the end wound up with 532 total
yards in an exhausting 52-42 loss. In the process the nation discovered
what a playmaker Juice Williams is and that he can throw the football.
There shouldn’t be an emotional letdown because of the level of
competition the next two weeks and I’m very curious to see this team
open Big Ten play a month from now at Penn State. Next: vs. Eastern
Illinois
#30 (NR) UCLA (1-0): The story of this game was perseverance
and tough defense, notably applying pressure straight up the middle
with their tackles. Quarterback Kevin Craft had such a poor first half
the announcers were discussing the single game interception record, but
in the second half he carved up Tennessee. There was certainly some
luck involved as well with the Volunteers missing a short field goal in
overtime and failing to capitalize on his 4 first half interceptions.
Considering the team had no running game whatsoever Philip Fulmer
should be looking for security when he gets off the plane back home.
The Bruins had no business being in this game much less winning it. The
get a week off now to soak this one up before the first of their two
games against “BCS busters” with the second being Fresno State. Next:
off (at BYU 9/13)
Dropped out:
was #14 Virginia Tech (0-1): There have been a lot of occasions
when the Hokies have gotten way with playing poorly and still won, but
at East Carolina the luck ran out. Glennon was not sharp at quarterback
and suddenly the defending ACC champs are staring at a rebuilding
season if they don’t rebound. Next: vs. Furman
was #20 Tennessee (0-1): It wasn’t just losing at UCLA, a team
who did go to a bowl game last year, but it was the way they lost. Most
ranked teams who have forced 4 interceptions in the first half compile
a lot more than their precarious 14-7 lead. Instead they let the Bruins
hang around and eventually it bit them. Worse yet, they regained the
lead, lost the lead and eventually couldn’t advance the ball in
overtime with another opportunity to win. In the end their regular
starting quarterback was the goat as Compton completed just 46% of his
passes while UCLA’s would have been third string guy Craft finished up
with 260 yards passing and went 18/25 in the second half. I expected
Arian Foster to be the story of this game, but other than a 41 yard run
he was held to 55 yards on 12 carries including a killer fumble in the
red zone. You can expect Tennessee’s next scheduled road trip into
California around 200 years from now.
was #21 Pittsburgh (0-1): A lot of people bought into the hype
and shame on me for being one of them. I really believed LeSean McCoy
would be enough to carry them this season, especially against teams
like Bowling Green. Instead it felt like the whole team was waiting for
him to take over and it never happened as he finished with 23 carries
for 71 yards (3.1 average). Certainly they overlooked a Falcons team
who ended their season with a 63-7 loss to Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl. It
remains to be seen if they can use this loss as fuel for their Big East
campaign starting in a month. Next: vs. Buffalo
Watch List:
Oklahoma State (1-0): Any time you can go on
the road in an opener and win 39-13 against a “Big Six” BCS opponent
eyes should be opened, even if it is Washington State. The Cowboys took
charge from the outset and played well in all phases. Even on the 4
occasions they punted Fodge averaged 43.5 yards and put half of them
inside the 20. Not to mention a 90 yard kickoff return for a touchdown
and 68 yard punt return. Teams will overlook them in the loaded Big
XII, especially in the South. Someone will pay the price and with four
home games in a row on tap I can see this team easily 5-0 heading to
Missouri. Next: vs. Houston
Connecticut (1-0): I will be honest it isn’t
anything the Huskies did in dispatching Hofstra 35-3 that earned them a
spot on the watch list, but for the record their defense forced 3
turnovers and recorded 7 sacks. It’s really the schedule which could
lead them to a 4-0 start (at Temple, Virginia, Baylor) before a three
game road trip (at Louisville, North Carolina and Rutgers). This team
could challenge for another high finish in the Big East. Next: at Temple
Iowa (1-0): The Big Ten is fairly wide open
after Ohio State and maybe Wisconsin. Could the Hawkeyes sneak into the
mix? Trampling Maine 46-3 isn’t significant and neither is beating
possibly the worst FBS team this week or even Iowa State after that.
However, their schedule is setting up nicely and now a trip to
Pittsburgh might not be so daunting for a 4-0 start before opening
conference play against lightweight Northwestern. Next: vs. Florida
International
TCU (1-0): It’s not time to get too excited
about the Horned Frogs after a 26-3 road win over New Mexico. However,
the Mountain West is looking like a decent conference at the top and
this team could muddy the waters. They also have an intriguing game at
Oklahoma as they are one of the two teams who have won at Norman over
nearly the past decade. Next: Stephen F. Austin
Arizona (1-0): I’m not sure Mike Stoops knows
that no matter how many points they put up on Idaho his job will be
decided in Pac-10 play. Score they did though in a 70-0 victory
including touchdowns on six of their seven first half possessions.
Because of two failed fourth downs they went 10 possessions in a row
without punting. Tuitama completed 81% of his passes and Grigsby rushed
for 169 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the charge. Now they play two
more lightweights before conference games begin. Next: vs. Toledo
1-10
I 11-20 I 21-30
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