We are into October, the heart and soul of college football. It was a monster weekend of conference clashes highlighted by three top ten vs. top ten showdowns. There is a charmed team in Knoxville. Tennessee, Clemson, Michigan and Washington were the big winners of the week.
1. ALABAMA
Nick Saban has the Crimson Tide rolling again. Alabama made it 5-0 with a win over Kentucky, and now the focus is on Arkansas. The Hogs are improved and may hang tough. But Bama is better across the board.
2. OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes continue their tour de domination of the Big Ten with a blowout win over Rutgers. Urban Meyer has this team, which had to replace a lot of talent, really cooking.
3. CLEMSON
The Tigers picked the perfect time to get the offense clicking, as they took down high powered Louisville. Next up is a Friday night affair at Boston College. Clemson’s D-Line is strong.
4. HOUSTON
The Cougars lost just once last season, to Connecticut. There would be no upset this season, as Tom Herman’s team blew past the Huskies 42-14. Greg Ward Jr. pilots an electric offense. It’s a tough one Saturday, as Houston visits Navy.
5. WASHINGTON
The Huskies have been a sleeping giant of a program for 15 years. They have truly awoken under Chris Petersen, and got the breakthrough win with a 44-6 thrashing of Stanford on Friday night at Husky Stadium. Can they handle success? There are demons to exorcise this week at Oregon.
6. MICHIGAN
The Wolverines got a classic, hard fought defensive victory over Wisconsin 14-7. With the struggles of Michigan State the last two weeks, the Buckeyes and Maze and Blue are separating themselves.
7. TEXAS A&M
Nice win for Texas A&M avoiding the upset trap at South Carolina. The Aggies have a monster showdown with Tennessee Saturday. It’s the first meeting between the two with A&M a member of the SEC.
8. TENNESSEE
It was a win for the ages in Athens, as Tennessee shocked Georgia on a last-play Hail Mary. For a second straight week, the Vols rallied from a big first half deficit. They are flying high off to Aggieland.
9. LOUISVILLE
The Cardinals came fighting back, but Clemson prevailed in Death Valley. Louisville has this week off, then comes a Friday visit from Duke. Louisville will be favored heavily in the rest of its ACC games.
10. WISCONSIN
It was a tough loss for the Badgers, as they fell to Michigan 14-7. Wisconsin is off to an excellent start this year, but things stay tough. After an open date, the Badgers host Ohio State then go to Iowa.
11. STANFORD
It was a perfect storm that the Cardinal ran into at Husky Stadium. Stanford should get back on the winning track Saturday with Washington State coming to The Farm.
12. NEBRASKA
Big Red is playing solid, spurred on by the big victory over Oregon. Cornhusker fans are dreaming big. At 5-0, Nebraska is off this week, then goes to Indiana and hosts Purdue.
13. NORTH CAROLINA
What a comeback it was for North Carolina on the last second field goal after the missed PAT to topple Florida State. The Heels have come back strong since the season-opening loss to Georgia with some impressive wins.
14. MIAMI
Mark Richt made it a perfect 9-0 at historic Grant Field, as the Hurricanes downed Tech 35-21. Miami’s schedule is rugged. The big one with Florida State is this week, and a win here really puts the Canes in business.
15. WEST VIRGINIA
Dana Holgerson is smiling big as the Mountaineers pulled off a huge 17-16 win over Kansas State in Morgantown to make it 4-0 on the season. West Virginia is off Saturday, then makes the trip to Lubbock for the Red Raiders.
16. ARKANSAS
The Razorbacks are a big surprise this season, improving to 4-1 with a win over Alcorn State. Things get turned way up now, though. The schedule is absolutely brutal the rest of the way, starting with a visit from Bama Saturday.
17. BOISE STATE
The Broncos keep on rolling. Arguably the most consistent program out west over the past decade, Boise State is again in position to crash the big boys party. San Diego State’s loss to South Alabama helped.
18. FLORIDA
The Gators were able to grind out a tough victory at Vanderbilt to make it 4-1 on the year and 2-1 in the SEC. Now comes the big showdown with LSU in The Swamp. A win could get the Gators rolling.
19. UTAH
The Utes lost a tough one to Cal to fall to 4-1 on the season. The good news for Utah is that it was not a division game. The PAC-12 South is tough and balanced, and the boys from Salt Lake City will try and bounce back at home against Arizona Saturday.
20. ARIZONA STATE
The undefeated season for the Sun Devils came crashing down hard, as struggling Southern Cal was clicking on all cylinders in a demolition of ASU. It stays tough this week, as UCLA visits.
21. FLORIDA STATE
The Seminoles didn’t expect to have two losses already, and a tough schedule offers another challenge as they head to Miami. The loss to North Carolina doomed any ACC Championship Game hopes.
22. OLE MISS
It was another impressive performance for the Rebels, who took down Memphis to make it 3-2 on the year. Ole Miss is off this week and then hits a tough stretch of schedule that begins with a trip to Arkansas.
23. AUBURN
The Tigers made it 3-2 with a win over Louisiana- Monroe. A win in Starkville over Mississippi State would boost the SEC record to 2-1. Auburn is one of those teams in the league that is right there even with many others in the middle of the pack.
24. LSU
It was a smashing debut for Ed Oregeron, as the Bayou Bengals steamrolled Missouri to make it 3-2. LSU has a huge challenge Saturday as the Gators await in Gainesville.
25. GEORGIA
The Bulldogs are in Heartbreak Hotel after the Hail Mary loss to the Vols. Can Georgia somehow recover emotionally? It will be tough Saturday at South Carolina where the Dogs have lost three straight.