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It was another wacky, crazy and adventurous weekend of college football where only the strongest survived. The night cap had quite the matchups as many scouts and die-hard fans were drooling over a certain matchup (FSU-Clemson). Most of the games lived up to the hype and here is your updated look at my new top 25 poll.
25. Tennessee
The Vols did not look overly impressive winning by just 3 TD over Akron, but Tyler Bray threw for 401 yards and 4 TD.
This offense is legit when their offensive line is playing well and the defense is much better than last season. They had the Gators right where they wanted them heading into the fourth quarter, but the defense imploded.
Still a very young team but this team should win at least 8 games, and it wouldn’t come to a shock if they give Alabama all they can handle down the road.
24. Rutgers
The 525 yards was not a shock against an awful Razorbacks defense, but Gary Nova was poise in a hostile environment and the Scarlet Knights took it a crushed Arkansas squad.
Jawan Jamsion ran like the stud he is, and the Big East actually is an intriguing conference with two legit teams (Louisville too).
23. Boise State
The Smurfs had their first game at Bronco Stadium without an offensive touchdown, and yet Chris Petersen still found a way to win.
Going 78-2 at home since 1999 is remarkable, but this is far from a BCS team at this moment in time. Joe Southwick and the passing game is far too inconsistent, but the defense still is very talented.
22. Nebraska
We will soon find out a bunch in the Big Ten since there will be zero games with BCS title impact, but a trip to the Big Ten title and Pasadena is still there. The Huskers offense looks like arguably the best in the conference, but the defense is not quite there.
Luckily, nobody in the Big Ten looks like a top 25 team and hosting Wisconsin next week could go a far way.
21. Michigan State
The Spartans defense looks like a top 10 defense but dear lord is there offense still a joke and Andrew Maxwell should be happy Le’Veon Bell still totes it like an All-American,
Is this Michigan State defense among the top 10 in the country, if they can perform as such they honestly could be the team to beat in the conference despite their other major struggles.
20. Oregon State
Those angry Beavers have already had two bye weeks since their opener was cancelled against Nicholls State (Hurricanes Isaac).
They are now 2-0, and despite a tough schedule coming up this is one of the better stories in college football right now. Mike Riley was on the so called hot seat entering the season and his defense (Scot Crichton is a stud) and passing game (Sean Mannion has been a stud at QB) has been borderline unstoppable.
19. Mississippi State
The Bulldogs have a ferocious pass defense and their matchup with the Tennessee receivers will be a treat, but will Tyler Russell continue to improve?
This team can only go as far as he takes them on offense, and nobody is talking about them in the West with LSU and Alabama. Plus, Arkansas and Auburn have struggles so mightily they too are getting more hype deservedly so or not.
18. Louisville
The ’Ville had a nice bye week and Teddy Bridgewater may not lose a game this season with the way their defense is capable of playing. Perhaps Rutgers and somebody else could stun them, but they truly are climbing up the polls with everybody falling like dominoes.
17. Ohio State
Braxton Miller is going bonkers totaling for 14 TD and he has officially entered the top 5 for the Heisman so as long as his Buckeyes keep winning.
Sadly Ohio State is ineligible for a Big Ten title which could hurt him into getting invited to NYC, but Ohio State also has a ton of vital games coming up.
Starting with Michigan State on the road, Miller needs some help since nobody else has really done too much.
16. Oklahoma
Landry Jones looked like the same quarterback we saw struggle without Ryan Broyles by his side in November last year, and this defense is not the same right now.
They lost a ton of talent in their front seven and they just are not a top 10 or even a top 15 defense. Losing just their third home game in the Bob Stoops is devastating because the Big 12 is arguably the best conference in America after the SEC.
15. Clemson
Clemson is still a top 10 thanks to arguably the best offensive team in America, and they will continue to prove. They ran into a buzzsaw in Florida State and if Tajh Boyd makes nice strides then there is no reason why they cannot run the table from here on out.
People forget this was just the second game back for Sammy Watkins and he is a vocal part of the offense, being he is the most electric player on the planet not named De’Anthony Thomas.
Clemson needs t dominate their ACC foes since all of the teams ahead of them will be playing in primetime games and the Tigers are practically done for the season outside of their home date with the Hokies on 10/20.
14. TCU
The Horned Frogs struggled offensively at times, and that was expected after losing Ed Wesley (knee) for the season. Casey Pachall can still sling it (305 yards), but they need to dominate a bit more up front on both sides of the ball.
13. USC
USC will still be questioned up front, but they did manage to gash the Cal Bears for 296 yards with Curtis McNeal and Silas Redd.
Matt Barkley did not exactly bounce back with the solid performance that many of us expected, as he threw for 2 more INT.
USC better pick it up because Utah has a solid defense at home, but Marqise Lee should continue to carry this offense in the passing game. Will they have the defense to slow down and keep up with the Ducks though?
12. Notre Dame
The Irish have one hell of a defense (top 10), but their offense was dreadful against Michigan. They forced Denard and Michigan’s offense into 6 turnovers and yet they were only able to tally 10 points off those awful mistakes.
That will not be good enough when teams like Stanford, Oklahoma and USC come up to bat which will be huge with BCS implications on the line.
11. West Virginia
Geno Smith is still the Heisman frontrunner, but this is a team game. The Mountaineers secondary had some holes and their front isn’t spectaculatr by any means.
The bottom line is they will get punched in the mouth by Texas and their BCS title and even Big 12 title dreams will be dashed if they do not get bailed out by the likes of Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, J.D. Woods and Ivan McCartney.
10. Stanford
We still need to see the Cardinal tested on the road, and these kids will have a few challenges down the road. Notre Dame and eventually Oregon could dash any hopes they have at playing in a BCS bowl.
Still, David Shaw and his coaching staff rank among the best in America and BCS or not they will win double-digit games at the very worst.
9. Texas
The Longhorns have failed to register a quality victory, and Oklahoma State in Stillwater would count for just that.
West Virginia and Oklahoma State are coming up which will only allow us to witness whether or not Texas is officially back towards another BCS title run.
8. Kansas State
The Wildcats soar up the rankings this week after becoming just the third team in the Bob Stoops era to upset his Sooners in Norman.
It was easier said than done, but Collin Klein is a flat out superstar and the defense is truly magnificent. Arthur Brown is among the best defensive players in the country, and there several others who are legit as well (Nigel Malone, Ty Zimmerman, Justin Tuggle, Adam Davis).
7. Florida
The Gators have a top 5 defense and their relentlessness is flat out filthy for the Gators. They have the best combo wins in the nation, with College Station and Knoxville being two difficult places to win.
Jeff Driskel has been a stud and Mike Gillislee is the best back in the SEC. Florida has LSU at home in two weeks before a trip to Jacksonville to perhaps decide the SEC East.
Throw in a battle at Tallahassee with BCS dreams on the line, and Florida could be the team to watch.
6. South Carolina
The Gamecocks demolished Missouri and Connor Shaw only went 20-for-21, which all of a sudden puts this squad on the map offensively. If they can continue to improve in the passing game as well as stopping the pass, then they might just be right there with Georgia and Florida.
5. LSU
The Bayou Bengals survived their rivalry with Auburn, but the offense was often lost. The passing game could not get it going and the loss of Mr. Blue in the backfield might be a tougher loss than some would like to admit.
Zach Mettenberger still won his first road contest and their matchup against the Gators will be must watch television in two weeks.
Not only will we be seeing two top 5 defenses, but the winner automatically becomes BCS National Championship contenders (LSU is still arguably the biggest favor of them all, let us not get carried away this is more for UF).
4. Georgia
The top five defenses in the country at the moment (minus Bama) looks like LSU, Florida State, Florida Texas and Georgia.
The Bulldogs sadly have not even played one game without their two best defenders yet (Alec Ogletree, Jarvis Jones) which spells doom for the SEC.
Florida and South Carolina are too heavyweight matchups coming up, and Aaron Murray can add even more to his resume with impressive SEC victories.
3. Oregon
The Ducks and D’eAnthony Thomas are coasting past the competition and it does not look they will stop with a top 10 caliber of a defense.
They pitched a shutout over an Arizona squad that many (myself included) thought would give them a solid game. Instead, Oregon is a legit BCS title contender and they only chance they may lose before the postseason would be against USC (perhaps twice).
2. Florida State
The Seminoles answered the bell against Clemson in their programs biggest and most vital game in the last decade.
Finally living up to the hype is far from over though, they have plenty of road hurtles to get past. However, E.J. Manuel is on the verge of becoming a Heisman frontrunner if he can remain near flawless with the Noles abundance of offensive weapons.
They have lacked the running game and killer instincts for a long, long time. Trailing by 7 at half and later by 14 after missing two field goals from their All-American kicker showed true grit and determination
1. Alabama
The Tide are the best team on the planet and arguably the most dominating in all of sports right now. A.J. McCarron has a tiny bit of Matt Ryan in him, but the talent around him is absurd.
The defense will be tested by Tennessee in a few weeks, but having arguably the best offensive line in the BCS era should lead to greatness.
Many forget the SEC is deep as it ever has been with 14 teams, but the SEC East is at the top of its game. Luckily, the schedule is not daunting if that even makes any sense for an SEC stalwart.
