NCAA Football Rankings 10-9-6

THIS WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN OCTOBER 9, 2006

1. OHIO STATE (7-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Michigan State 38-7
Next Game: 10-21 vs Indiana (4-3)
Well I said the Buckeyes need to be more impressive and they responded with a solid beating of Michigan State. Can you imagine this offense if Santonio Holmes doesn’t leave OSU early?

2. MICHIGAN (7-0)-
Last Week: Won @ Penn State 17-10
Next Game: 10-21 vs Iowa (5-2)
It kills me to do this but yes, I am ranking two Big Ten teams as the top two teams in the country. After watching Michigan dominate Penn State in every aspect of the game, it is hard for me to not have them at #1, but that problem will be solved in the Big Ten championship game played at the horseshoe November 18th, that is if Michigan doesn’t overlook Iowa this week.

3. SOUTHERN CAL (6-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Arizona State 28-21
Next Game: 10-28 @ Oregon State (3-3)
Maybe the bye week will help USC get their heads on straight. The offense just simply isn’t clicking. In a conference in which good defenses are about as common as Oakland Raider touchdowns, you would think that this team could put up some points. The Trojans have a brutal finish to the end of the schedule, we will see how good Pete Carroll really is if he can get that team in shape by then.

4. WEST VIRIGINA (6-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Syracuse 41-17
Next Game: 10-20 @ Connecticut (3-3)
West Virginia was losing a game for the first time since October 15, 2005 in the first quarter against Syracuse, but that didn’t last long. As good as Steve Slaton is, Pat White is what really gets that offense moving. UCONN gives up over 175 ypg on the ground this year, so expect another big day from the White and Slaton combination.

5. TEXAS (6-1)-
Last Week: Won vs Baylor 63-31
Next Game: 10-21 @ Nebraska (6-1)
Should tell us a lot about both Nebraska and the Longhorns in Lincoln on Saturday. People are wondering about Nebraska and the Big XII North, and Texas has looked real good since taking one on the chin against Ohio State. Could this be a preview of the Big XII Title game? I think so.

6. AUBURN (5-1)-
Last Week: Won vs Florida 27-17
Next Game: 10-21 vs Tulane (2-4)
This is exactly why Tommy Tuberville said that no SEC school would win the national title without a playoff. With how difficult every conference game is in the SEC it is nearly impossible for one of these teams to run the table. Auburn loses last week, comes back to beat undefeated Florida. And suddenly no SEC team is in the hunt for the National Title. The guy has a point.

7. LOUISVILLE (6-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Cincinnati 23-17
Next Game: 10-21 @ Syracuse (3-4)
The Cardinals almost ruined everything for the Big East by just squeaking past Cincinnati last week. The much-hyped showdown between WVU and Louisville is now just one more win away.

8. TENNESSEE (5-1)-
Last Week: OFF
Next Game: 10-21 vs Alabama (5-2)
The only easy week in the SEC schedule, but now things start up again. Alabama is loaded with talent, but just can’t seem to put it all together. A win can get them right back into the SEC EAST picture.

9. CALIFORNIA (5-1)-
Last Week: Won @ Washington State 21-3
Next Game: 10-21 vs Washington (4-3)
This is the team to beat in the Pac-10. Boy I beat they wish they had a do-over from that season opener in Tennessee. I can’t think of another team in the country playing a more solid all-around game right now then the Golden Bears. Their uniforms are still ugly though!

10. FLORIDA (6-1)-
Last Week: Lost @ Auburn 27-17
Next Game: 10-28 vs Georgia (5-2)
The game formally known as the World’s Largest Cocktail Party isn’t quite what people thought it would be since Georgia has struggled in recent weeks, but it doesn’t mean that the Gator fans won’t have a good time partying in Jacksonville.

11. LSU (5-2)-
Last Week: Won vs Kentucky 49-0
Next Game: 10-21 vs Fresno State (1-5)
Expect much of the same this week when the Bulldogs come to Death Valley. This game probably looked attractive to LSU fans when it was scheduled a few years ago, but with Fresno in a major down year this should be just another warm-up before the Tigers need to finish off the SEC slate.

12. NOTRE DAME (5-1)-
Last Week: OFF
Next Game: 10-21 vs UCLA (4-2)
This week, from his chocolate factory, Charlie Weis said that he would be a college football coach until he dies. Do you think he also noticed how Oregon racked up 404 yards 256 on the ground against UCLA last week? I bet he did. The Irish just need to stay health at this point; they play in their annual military tour and a couple other scrubs before they end at USC.

13. CLEMSON (6-1)-
Last Week: Won @ Temple 63-9
Next Game: 10-21 vs Georgia Tech (5-1)
I nearly dropped the Tigers with their lackluster efforts last Thursday. They were actually losing to Temple!!!!!

14. GEORGIA TECH (5-1)-
Last Week: OFF
Next Game: 10-21 @ #13 Clemson (5-1)
A week to prepare for the ACC showdown. Georgia Tech comes into the game as the only ACC team without a conference loss, so they can afford a loss here, but they want to make a statement with this game. This could be a preview of the ACC Championship game…wasn’t that set up so FSU and Miami would play in that every year??

15. NEBRASKA (6-1)-
Last Week: Won @ Kansas State 21-3
Next Game: 10-21 vs Texas (6-1)
The Blackshirts are alive and well in the Nebraska defense, but where did the offense go? Only 21 against K-State, you will have to do better then that to beat the Horns.

16. ARKANSAS (5-1)-
Last Week: Won vs Southeast Missouri State 63-7
Next Game: 10-21 vs Ole Miss (2-5)
Already basically 2 games up in the SEC West, the Backs really have a chance to run the SEC table. After Ole Miss, they have road games with South Carolina and Mississippi State, but get LSU and Tennessee at home

17. RUTGERS (6-0)-
Last Week: Won @ Navy 34-0
Next Game: 10-21 @ Pitt (6-1)
So do you think Navy was sick of saying that they weren’t for real. They dominated a good Navy team, holding the nations leading rushing attack to over 200 yards UNDER their average.

18. OREGON (5-1)-
Last Week: Won vs UCLA 30-20
Next Game: 10-21 @ Washington State (4-3)
Washington State gave USC some trouble at home; let’s see how the Ducks deal with the pressure. It should give Oregon a pretty good idea were they rank in the Pac-10; I think they might just be the 2nd best team behind Cal.

19. OKLAHOMA (4-2)-
Last Week: Won vs 34-9
Next Game: 10-21 vs Colorado (1-6)
Why was the possibly the best running back in college football since Barry Sanders in the game in the game up 18 points late in the 4th quarter? Is Bob Stoops and Oklahoma going to ask that any losses due to him not playing be struck from BCS voters minds too?

20. WISCONSIN (6-1)-
Last Week: Won vs Minnesota 48-12
Next Game: 10-21 @ Purdue (5-2)
Can anyone tell me who the nations 2nd leading rusher this season is? Did you know that he was a TRUE freshman? At 5’9 242 The Badgers have themselves a mini Ron Dayne in PJ Hill Jr. Big ten teams get ready, this load is here for a while.

21. BOSTON COLLEGE (5-1)-
Last Week: Won vs Virginia Tech 22-3
Next Game: 10-21 @ Florida State (4-2)
The Noles are 55-3 all time in home ACC games, but this isn’t your average Florida State team. Boston College is right in the thick of the ACC Atlantic race and a win in Tallahassee would do wonders for their chances.

22. BOISE STATE (7-0)-
Last Week: Won @ New Mexico State 40-24
Next Game: 10-21 vs Idaho (4-3)
They are beating the teams that they are asked to beat, there is nothing more that the Broncos can do, but boy are those other teams BAD!?! Boise State is the perfect reason why the BCS should NOT include mid-major schools.

23. TEXAS A&M (6-1)-
Last Week: Won vs Missouri 25-19
Next Game: 10-21 @ Oklahoma State (4-2)
After a very good victory last week the Aggies control their own destiny, if they win out, they play for the Big XII Title. The only problem is that to win out they still have to beat Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas in the final 3 weeks of the season.

24. PITT (6-1)-
Last Week: Won @ Central Florida 52-7
Next Game: 10-21 vs Rutgers (6-0)
A win on Saturday would be a huge one for the Dave Wannestedt Era. People said all year long how nice the schedule set up for this young Panther team, now they just need to be able to take advantage of it.

25. MISSOURI (6-1)-
Last Week: Lost vs Texas A&M 25-19
Next Game: 10-21 vs Kansas State (4-3)
The Tigers need to take care of business against K-State this week and get back on the winning track because after the Wildcats, Oklahoma comes to town followed by a trip to Nebraska. These will be the games for Mizzou to prove they belong.

NEXT 5:
26. Iowa (5-2)- A big performance in the Big House will get them back in the top 25.
27. Georgia (5-2)- 2 losses, now a new QB, trouble in Athens???
28. BYU (4-2)- Could win out setting up a nice bowl for the Cougars.
29. Wake Forest (6-1)- Still haven’t had any impressive wins.
30. Alabama (5-2)- Took OT to beat a bad Ole Miss team, but a win is a win.