The top 25 is still quite muddled, but I do feel that there is an obvious choice for who should be the #1 team in the country. This week I’m changing the format a bit (only in terms of presentation), and as promised, I am offering more justification.
25. Texas Tech Last Week: NR
Their stock is still low from having beaten a 1-AA team week one (and looking sloppy while doing so), but they did beat a solid Nevada team on the road, which is no small feat, as Nevada was 19-5 at home over the last 4 seasons. Tech is a trendy pick to sneak into the Big 12 Championship game, but their defense still needs to improve (they allowed Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick to pass for 264 yards and 68% completion while running for 92 yards).
24. Kansas Last Week: 25
Nice job trouncing Louisiana Tech, who looked completely satisfied in their win against Mississippi State. I still don’t know what to make of this team, but I will after they travel to South Florida this Friday.
23. South Florida Last Week: NR
They almost gave that game against Central Florida away, but they held on, and the defense looked solid (barring a few lapses). I have zero faith in Matt Grothe, but if Mike Ford comes back and the defense proves to be as formidable as last year, they should easily win the Big East. If USF wants any National Title consideration this year, then defeating Kansas this Friday is a must.
22. Rice Last Week: NR
This is presumably where the eyes start rolling. Rice’s offense has looked excellent. They’ve outgunned two high-powered offenses thus far. They travel to Vanderbilt next week in what is actually a mildly intriguing game. Win that, and 10 wins is a possibility.
21. Arizona State Last Week: NR
Nice win against Stanford. I really would like to write this team off, because I don’t think Rudy Carpenter is particularly good, but they’ve earned a spot in the rankings thus far. They should continue to coast until the September 20 matchup against Georgia…then they’ll have their chance to impress me.
20. Auburn Last Week: 17
*Yawn*…Auburn hasn’t really played anybody, but Southern Mississippi is sorta alright, and they’ve looked good winning, which helps. They should slaughter Mississippi State this week, but you never can tell which MSU team will show up.
19. Texas Last Week: 18
They allowed UTEP to hang around for longer than they should have, but at least Colt McCoy looks like a Big 12 quarterback again. The defense was problematic last year, and I’m still not sold on it.
18. Arkansas State Last Week: 14
WHA?!?! After upsetting Texas A&M, the Red Wolves hung 83 (!) points on Texas Southern. ASU had a mind-boggling 441 rushing yards in the game. They go on to play Southern Mississippi, Memphis, and Middle Tennessee, all of whom are okay teams. If they emerge unscathed from that stretch, ASU could take its place among the top mid-major programs in the country.
17. Oklahoma Last Week: NR
Cincinnati hung around for a while, but Bradford proved to be too much for them. ESPN loves this team, but when was the last time they won a big game? If they go undefeated, I’ll eat my hat.
16. Brigham Young Last Week: NR
They looked servicable against Washington, and now they should be favored in every game left on the schedule (unless Utah is also undefeated). That late showdown against the Utes could be a classic between two 11-0 teams!
15. Penn State Last Week: NR
They absolutely dismantled Oregon State. This team has me oscillating, but after a performance like that, you have to take them seriously. Should be in the clear at least until Illinois on September 27.
14. Georgia Tech Last Week: NR
Paul Johnson’s flexbone experiment seems to be working! The Yellow Jackets were sloppy on offense, but still managed to gut out a conference road win, which do not tend to come easily (especially against Boston College). They can really make a statement by going on the road again and beating Virginia Tech this weekend.
13. Utah Last Week: 8
Utah probably receives a higher boost that it should from beating Michigan, but it was a road win at a tough venue (and they were repeatedly hosed by the refs), so it is here that they remain for now. I don’t really love this team as much as I should love the #13 team in my poll, but they have beaten two FBS opponents. They should thoroughly demolish Utah State, but then Air Force could provide some problems. The rest of the schedule is more or less a cakewalk though until BYU.
12. Oregon Last Week: 9
Through the first two weeks of the season, it’s safe to say that Oregon has the scariest offense in the nation. Losing Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart does not seem to have slown them down one bit (though I think Dixon may have actually held them back a bit). The defense has looked solid as well. The Ducks have an interesting matchup against another high-powered offense this weekend when they travel to Purdue. Trouncing the Boilermakers will look good, but OU’s real test will come October 4th against USC.
11. Oklahoma State Last Week: NR
This is another team that I have ranked surprisingly high, but they beat Washington State in what was essentially a road game, and then defeated Houston in fine form. Zac Robinson has proved solid in leading the offense thus far, and they should be 5-0 heading into the showdown at Missouri.
10. Florida Last Week: 16
Florida destroyed a punchless Hawaii team, and then when their offense appeared lifeless against Miami, the defense clamped down and allowed 1.6 yards per carry. Florida gets a bye this week, but Tennessee looms on the horizon, and the Gators will need to look sharper than they have the first two weeks to win in Knoxville.
9. Vanderbilt Last Week: 19
This has been the most impressive coaching job this season. Bobby Johnson just does what he needs to do to win. The victories have been close, but they are tied for the lead in the SEC, and have enough winnable games to make it to their first bowl since 1982. Rice should prove to be a challenge this weekend, but the Commodores should be favored to come out of that game 3-0 heading into a huge game against Ole Miss.
8. Fresno State Last Week: 7
The Bulldogs are still riding high after the road win over Rutgers. This weekend they can make some serious noise with a win over a vulnerable-looking Wisconsin team at Camp Randall. All signs point to this team being for real.
7. Wake Forest Last Week: 15
The Deacons completed a nice last-minute drive to beat Ole Miss, but the fact that Ole Miss nearly beat them is troubling for the ACC. That said, Wake Forest won’t have to see Houston Nutt’s quirky offense again. They now have two weeks to prepare for Florida State, who will still be missing several key players due to suspensions (shocking, I know). At this point, Wake has to be considered the favorite in the ACC.
6. Southern California Last Week: 5
The Trojans were idle this week, so we have only their thrashing of Virginia on the road to judge them. Now, don’t get me wrong, UVA is horrendous, but I just can’t penalize a team that goes on the road for a week one game against a team that went to a bowl last season. All eyes will be on USC’s game against Ohio State this weekend. Should the Trojans win, they’ll be in the driver’s seat for the National Championship.
5. Missouri Last Week: 1
The Tigers suffer a slight fall after beating Southeast Missouri State. Mizzou has two more warmups against Nevada and Buffalo before things start getting interesting in conference play. There is much to love about this team, Chase Daniel (my early Heisman frontrunner) not being the least of which.
4. California Last Week: 11
Cal has beaten two middling BCS teams. After a so-so start against Michigan State, the Golden Bears throttled Washington State 66-3…on the road, no less! Such a door-knob-sack-beating has to be rewarded, and with few other teams stepping up in week two, Cal checks in at the #4 spot. Cal should bludgeon a very below-average Maryland team this weekend, and really won’t be tested again until they host Arizona State on October 4th.
3. UCLA Last Week: 3
The Bruins are still riding high on their victory over Tennessee. A tough game against Brigham Young in Provo looms this weekend. A victory would turn some heads, and show that Rick Neuheisel is unparalleled when coaching other people’s recruits. However, remembering how poorly Kevin Craft played against Tennessee…at home…suggests that he may struggle against the Cougars.
2. Alabama Last Week: 2
The Crimson Tide came back down to earth against Tulane (to the surprise of no one). That was a sloppy performance by the offensive line and by John Parker Wilson. I am still not buying Wilson as an elite quarterback, or even a serviceable quarterback when he gets hit a few times. Alabama will win on defense and special teams this year, and that should be enough in the next two games against Western Kentucky and Arkansas, but probably not on the road against Georgia on September 27th.
1. East Carolina Last Week: 4
This team has been unbelievable. I saw the Virginia Tech upset coming, but I was completely unprepared for their performance against West Virginia. Patrick Pinkney’s efficiency has been remarkable, and the defense has been SAVAGE. That is the only word that seems to adequately define the ferocity the Pirates have displayed thus far. Their remaining schedule is by no means a cakewalk, but they have already beaten their two most difficult opponents this season. In my mind, if ECU finishes the season 13-0 and is not granted a National Championship berth, it will be a travesty.
