What a weekend of college football with upsets all around and massive shifting in the Power Rankings. A few teams make their debut in the top 11 and not surprising a new team moves into the poll position for the race to Glendale.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes - With all questions answered its time for Tressel to sit back and start watching some Southern California game film and start prepping his boys for a massive layoff.Quality Wins: Penn St., @Texas, Michigan
2. Southern Cal Trojans - My preseason National Champion pick moves on to one rivalry game away from Glendale. The Trojans moved the ball at will on Notre Dame again showing Notre Dame's biggest weakness, a lack of depth and skill in the secondary. In additon the Trojans played better defense than their title game team last year and are looking like the legit 2nd best team in the Nation, unfortunate for Wolverine fans like myself but true. Quality Wins: Nebraska, @Arkansas, Oregon, Cal, ND Bad Loss: Oregon St.
3. Michigan Wolverines - The Wolverines couldn't get what they needed from USC and honestly the weekend could not have broken worse for Big Blue. With USC soundly defeating Notre Dame they moved comfortably in front of Michigan, in addition the SEC conference had a big weekend winning all three rivalry games over their stateside ACC opponents so even though Florida yet again failed to accumulate style points the SEC finally backed up their best conference hype machine. Quality Wins: Wisconsin, @ND, @Penn St.
4. Florida Gators - Those who expected the Gators to run up the scoreboard against the Seminoles were let down. Unfortunately the Gators are a big play team and not one who puts together methodical drives. The Gators got their couple of big plays and that was enough for them to carry through the big in state rival. While they didn't get that signature blowout victory, they still have a bigger case that the SEC is the best conference after their win as well as South Carolina and Georgia's wins over top ACC teams. Quality Wins: @Rocky Top, LSU, South Carolina
5. Louisville Cardinals - The Cardinals had a good weekend for their at large hopes with the Hurricanes coming through with a big conference win and USF pulling off a major upset at West Virginia. While I still think they will get into the BCS auto-style via a loss by Rutgers in Mountain country, their case for getting that one bid over the Bayou Bengals was held in parallel even with LSU showdown win by the Cardinals big win and the wins just noted by previously defeated teams. Quality Wins: Miami, WVU, @Kansas St., South Florida
6. Louisiana State Tigers - A little proof to go along with the hype for the Bayou Bengals. If only the Bengals had a win better than the Arizona Wildcats out of conference. I think they'll get the BCS bid anyway, however they have to hope the Gators win on saturday else that will create an interesting scenario for the BCS games to choose which secondary SEC teams they would like for an at large selection between the two. Once again congrats to Les Miles, former Michigan Man, on his big win.Quality Wins: @Tennessee, @Arkansas
7. Arkansas Razorbacks: McFadden is the real deal but honestly how good could a team be when they are completely without production at the quarterback position. 3-19 with an INT for Casey Dick? Why even play the pass, the only reason they were effective was the motion in the Wildcat formation. Right now, I think I've changed my mind about who will win the SEC title game. McFadden is special and Felix Jones is very good, but Florida's got a very good defense and facing a one dimensional offense, I just don't see them getting gashed as badly as the Bayou Bengals did this weekend. Quality Wins: @Auburn, @South Carolina, Tennessee Bad Loss: USC
8. Wisconsin Badgers - Man I wish Wisconsin played a single out of conference game of note or played Ohio St. I have a feeling that I might be overrating them simply because their only loss was a strong showing against the Wolverines. We'll see how good Wisconsin really is when they play in the Capital One Bowl against the leftover third SEC squad.Quality Wins: Penn St., @Purdue
9. Boise St. Broncos - Alright I finally succumbed to putting the Broncos in the top 11. Why, well Oregon St. is apparently the 3rd best team in the Pac 10 and they absolutely thumped them on the Smurf turf and apparently the Rainbow Warriors of Hawaii are a ligit team as they beat the Boilermakers at home this weekend. In addition you had to like how well they dealt with the massive amounts of pressure this weekend against Nevada in clinching a trip to the BCS. Go Smurf Turf, I'm so excited to see your matchup against the Sooners.Quality Wins: Oklahoma, @Nebraska
10. Auburn Tigers - The Tigers remain stationary after their idle week and their season concluded. Unfortunately for them the Razorbacks lost to the Bayou Bengals decreasing the likelihood that the Tigers will play in the Capital One Bowl against Wisconsin. A loss by the Razorbacks to the Gators and that remains a possibility else they'll have to settle for a showdown against Joe Pa and the Nittany Lions in the Outback Bowl. Quality Wins: Florida, LSU Bad Loss: Georgia
11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish - It's certainly obvious that when Charlie Weis finishes up his recruiting trail in the coming months that he better focus highly on athletes who can play corner and safety. Its been the Irish's biggest flaw during his tenure and in all the games that they have lost they have given up a ton of points. The Irish hold on because really no one out of the top 11 would have faired any better against the Wolverines and the Trojans this season. Quality Wins: Penn St., @GaTech Bad Loss: Michigan
Dropped Out: Texas Longhorns picking up L #3, Georgia Tech falling yet again to cross state rival Georgia.
Bubble Teams: VaTech, Oklahoma, Rutgers
Past Power Rankings: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Notes
~I don't want to hear whining from either Florida or Michigan fans or staff if the Trojans win this week and head to the BCS Title game. Simple reason, the Trojans went out and set up the best out of conference schedule in the Nation. Pete Carroll obviously does not shy away from big games, and ended up beating a top 10 team and two teams going to their respective conference title games. The Gators beat a terrible FSU squad and Michigan beat only ND. Florida plays in the best conference and Michigan lost by 3 to the best team, but boys thats not enough, play good teams out of conference, stop playing terrible MAC teams to start the season and a 1-AA team to conclude the season. No whining.
~Best game of the weekend hands down was the Rivalry matchup in Death Valley vs. Clemson and South Carolina. A ton of momentum swings, an INT to the house, a Leon Lett fumble play, Tommy Bowden turning into Herm Edwards clock management guy, and a missed buzzer beater field goal. Great, Great Game.
~Sportscenter needs a college jakked up segment, I saw some huge hits this weekend that I would very much like to see from every angle.
~Speaking of crushed, Colt McCoy could not have felt good after the one cheap shot and the other big hit in the closing minutes.
~VaTech is the best team in the ACC. They had two big time slip ups, but right now they are the best team in the conference and will give a good matchup in the Peach Bowl.
~The Firing Squad was out Amato, Coker, Koetter, Shula... there will be more.
~Slaton fumbles too much, WVU should not have lossed that game and killed their BCS hopes.
~I hope Peterson plays in the Big 12 title game, then I may think about watching it.
~Congrats to Wake, who saw that coming, I hope they can beat Tech to head to the Orange Bowl.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes - With all questions answered its time for Tressel to sit back and start watching some Southern California game film and start prepping his boys for a massive layoff.Quality Wins: Penn St., @Texas, Michigan
2. Southern Cal Trojans - My preseason National Champion pick moves on to one rivalry game away from Glendale. The Trojans moved the ball at will on Notre Dame again showing Notre Dame's biggest weakness, a lack of depth and skill in the secondary. In additon the Trojans played better defense than their title game team last year and are looking like the legit 2nd best team in the Nation, unfortunate for Wolverine fans like myself but true. Quality Wins: Nebraska, @Arkansas, Oregon, Cal, ND Bad Loss: Oregon St.
3. Michigan Wolverines - The Wolverines couldn't get what they needed from USC and honestly the weekend could not have broken worse for Big Blue. With USC soundly defeating Notre Dame they moved comfortably in front of Michigan, in addition the SEC conference had a big weekend winning all three rivalry games over their stateside ACC opponents so even though Florida yet again failed to accumulate style points the SEC finally backed up their best conference hype machine. Quality Wins: Wisconsin, @ND, @Penn St.
4. Florida Gators - Those who expected the Gators to run up the scoreboard against the Seminoles were let down. Unfortunately the Gators are a big play team and not one who puts together methodical drives. The Gators got their couple of big plays and that was enough for them to carry through the big in state rival. While they didn't get that signature blowout victory, they still have a bigger case that the SEC is the best conference after their win as well as South Carolina and Georgia's wins over top ACC teams. Quality Wins: @Rocky Top, LSU, South Carolina
5. Louisville Cardinals - The Cardinals had a good weekend for their at large hopes with the Hurricanes coming through with a big conference win and USF pulling off a major upset at West Virginia. While I still think they will get into the BCS auto-style via a loss by Rutgers in Mountain country, their case for getting that one bid over the Bayou Bengals was held in parallel even with LSU showdown win by the Cardinals big win and the wins just noted by previously defeated teams. Quality Wins: Miami, WVU, @Kansas St., South Florida
6. Louisiana State Tigers - A little proof to go along with the hype for the Bayou Bengals. If only the Bengals had a win better than the Arizona Wildcats out of conference. I think they'll get the BCS bid anyway, however they have to hope the Gators win on saturday else that will create an interesting scenario for the BCS games to choose which secondary SEC teams they would like for an at large selection between the two. Once again congrats to Les Miles, former Michigan Man, on his big win.Quality Wins: @Tennessee, @Arkansas
7. Arkansas Razorbacks: McFadden is the real deal but honestly how good could a team be when they are completely without production at the quarterback position. 3-19 with an INT for Casey Dick? Why even play the pass, the only reason they were effective was the motion in the Wildcat formation. Right now, I think I've changed my mind about who will win the SEC title game. McFadden is special and Felix Jones is very good, but Florida's got a very good defense and facing a one dimensional offense, I just don't see them getting gashed as badly as the Bayou Bengals did this weekend. Quality Wins: @Auburn, @South Carolina, Tennessee Bad Loss: USC
8. Wisconsin Badgers - Man I wish Wisconsin played a single out of conference game of note or played Ohio St. I have a feeling that I might be overrating them simply because their only loss was a strong showing against the Wolverines. We'll see how good Wisconsin really is when they play in the Capital One Bowl against the leftover third SEC squad.Quality Wins: Penn St., @Purdue
9. Boise St. Broncos - Alright I finally succumbed to putting the Broncos in the top 11. Why, well Oregon St. is apparently the 3rd best team in the Pac 10 and they absolutely thumped them on the Smurf turf and apparently the Rainbow Warriors of Hawaii are a ligit team as they beat the Boilermakers at home this weekend. In addition you had to like how well they dealt with the massive amounts of pressure this weekend against Nevada in clinching a trip to the BCS. Go Smurf Turf, I'm so excited to see your matchup against the Sooners.Quality Wins: Oklahoma, @Nebraska
10. Auburn Tigers - The Tigers remain stationary after their idle week and their season concluded. Unfortunately for them the Razorbacks lost to the Bayou Bengals decreasing the likelihood that the Tigers will play in the Capital One Bowl against Wisconsin. A loss by the Razorbacks to the Gators and that remains a possibility else they'll have to settle for a showdown against Joe Pa and the Nittany Lions in the Outback Bowl. Quality Wins: Florida, LSU Bad Loss: Georgia
11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish - It's certainly obvious that when Charlie Weis finishes up his recruiting trail in the coming months that he better focus highly on athletes who can play corner and safety. Its been the Irish's biggest flaw during his tenure and in all the games that they have lost they have given up a ton of points. The Irish hold on because really no one out of the top 11 would have faired any better against the Wolverines and the Trojans this season. Quality Wins: Penn St., @GaTech Bad Loss: Michigan
Dropped Out: Texas Longhorns picking up L #3, Georgia Tech falling yet again to cross state rival Georgia.
Bubble Teams: VaTech, Oklahoma, Rutgers
Past Power Rankings: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Notes
~I don't want to hear whining from either Florida or Michigan fans or staff if the Trojans win this week and head to the BCS Title game. Simple reason, the Trojans went out and set up the best out of conference schedule in the Nation. Pete Carroll obviously does not shy away from big games, and ended up beating a top 10 team and two teams going to their respective conference title games. The Gators beat a terrible FSU squad and Michigan beat only ND. Florida plays in the best conference and Michigan lost by 3 to the best team, but boys thats not enough, play good teams out of conference, stop playing terrible MAC teams to start the season and a 1-AA team to conclude the season. No whining.
~Best game of the weekend hands down was the Rivalry matchup in Death Valley vs. Clemson and South Carolina. A ton of momentum swings, an INT to the house, a Leon Lett fumble play, Tommy Bowden turning into Herm Edwards clock management guy, and a missed buzzer beater field goal. Great, Great Game.
~Sportscenter needs a college jakked up segment, I saw some huge hits this weekend that I would very much like to see from every angle.
~Speaking of crushed, Colt McCoy could not have felt good after the one cheap shot and the other big hit in the closing minutes.
~VaTech is the best team in the ACC. They had two big time slip ups, but right now they are the best team in the conference and will give a good matchup in the Peach Bowl.
~The Firing Squad was out Amato, Coker, Koetter, Shula... there will be more.
~Slaton fumbles too much, WVU should not have lossed that game and killed their BCS hopes.
~I hope Peterson plays in the Big 12 title game, then I may think about watching it.
~Congrats to Wake, who saw that coming, I hope they can beat Tech to head to the Orange Bowl.
Comments
For instance did you give Notre Dame credit last season for beating Michigan and Tennessee when UT missed out on a bowl and Michigan had their worst season in memory.
Sometimes you try to schedule big games and they just don't work out.