With nine ranked teams losing, including four of our previous top eight, this week's initial ballot has a new look to it. Alabama was most impressive and with that offensive line and the game JPW played, it wasn't hard to slot them at #2.
As usual, I'm sure we'll be up for the Coulter/Krugman award for homerism with OSU in the 10th spot but I honestly think that's where this team belongs right now. It's a different team with Pryor and Beanie on the field.
With all the upsets, I'm sure you'll all have different opinions so please voice them in the comments. I'm conflicted on where Florida truly fits and what about Texas Tech? Should they really be that high just because they haven't lost?
The final ballot isn't due until Wednesday.
| 1 |  |
Oklahoma avoided the upset bug behind Sam Bradford's 411 yards passing and 4 TD's in a 35-10 thrashing of TCU. Shockingly, the Sooners rushed for only 25 yards on 36 carries. Still, the win is enough to put them atop our initial ballot. |  1 |
| 2 |  |
I admit, I didn't think 'Bama was good enough to roll into Athens and put a thumping on UGA but props to JPW (13/16, 205, 1TD) and Bedouin Saban for having his team ready to play. 'Bama has yet to trail in a game this season. | 9 |
| 3 |  |
Bye week. Next up: @ Nebraska 9pm ESPN | 3 |
| 4 |  |
The Tigers beat Miss State 34-24 behind Charles Scott's 4th straight 100 yard game (27/141, 2 TD). Not an overly impressive performance considering the competition and 2 turnovers but on this weekend it was all about survive and advance. | 1 |
| 5 |  |
Colt McCoy is quietly rewriting Texas record books after 5 TD (3pass, 2 rush) in 52-10 stomping of Arkansas. McCoy's 75 career TDs moved him one behind Ricky Chong, er Williams and the Longhorn D held the Razorbacks to 11 yards rushing. Texas' brutal October schedule has them traveling to Colorado next week before a trip to Norman to face the Sooners on 10/11 then they host Mizzou on 10/18. | 2 |
| 6 |  |
Human Highlight Derrick Williams ran for a score, caught a TD pass and ran a kickoff back to paydirt in PSU's 38-24 win over Zooker's Illini. PSU ran for 241 yards and committed only one penalty dropping Illinois t o 3-22 against ranked teams since '02. | 4 |
| 7 |  |
Bye week. Next up: @ Kansas State | 2 |
| 8 |  |
Keeping with past trends, Surfer Pete blew another one against an inferior foe as the Beavers shocked USC 27-21 in Corvallis. Freshman RB Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 186 yards and 2 TDs showing the Buckeyes how to beat the Trojans. Oye. |  7 |
| 9 |  |
Georgia sported the rarely seen black jerseys but found out "there's more to life than being really, really ridiculously good looking" as the Crimson Tide opened up a 31-0 first half can of whoop-ass en route to a 41-30 win betwixt the hedges. Bulldogs have now lost 5 of last 6 against top 10 teams including all 3 at home. | 5 |
| 10 |  |
The Beanie/Pryor combo (22 for 203, 2 TD) provided a much needed reality check to Gopher Fan in a 34-21 win in the 'Shoe. The score doesn't do the game justice as OSU was firmly in control midway through the 3rd qtr (27-6) before giving snaps to everyone wearing a uniform. | 2 |
| 11 |  |
Bye week. Next up: @ Utah State | 2 |
| 12 |  |
South Florida racked up 520 yards of offense behind 259 yards passing and 68 rushing from Bulls QB Matt Grothe to hand NC State a 41-10 defeat. The teams combined for 21 penalties. | 2 |
| 13 |  |
A blocked PAT on a late 4th qtr score, an INT and fumble from St. Tebow, 1/11 on 3rd downs and a stuffed 4th and 1 in the final minute combined to give Ole Miss a 31-30 upset win in the Swamp. Florida moved to 0-5 when trailing at any point in the second half with Tebow under center. See ya, Heisman hopes. | 10 |
| 14 |  |
Auburn squeaked past hapless Tennessee 14-12 thanks to a defensive effort that yielded just 67 yards passing, 191 total, and 9 first downs. The Tigers' sad offense better find some production, especially from the QB spot or else the D is eventually going to tire out. | 1 |
| 15 |  |
Bye week. Next up: @ Iowa State | 3 |
| 16 |  |
The Utes scored 30 straight points to beat Weber State 37-21. Next up: @ giant killer Oregon State. | 5 |
| 17 |  |
Bye week. Next up: host Louisiana Tech on Wednesday, 8pm ESPN | 5 |
| 18 |  |
Bulldog QB Tom Brandstater passed for 236 and 3 scores and RB Ryan Mathews went for 21/166 helping Fresno State to a 36-31 win at UCLA. Brandstater has 7 TD tosses in last 2 games. | 5 |
| 19 |  |
Bye week. Next up: host Auburn 6pm Saturday. | 6 |
| 20 |  |
The Badgers blew a 19-0 halftime lead allowing Michigan to rally back from the largest deficit ever at home in a 27-25 loss in the 500th game in the Big Hole in the Ground. Wonder if they got caught looking ahead to OSU? | 12 |
| 21 |  |
The Cowboys moved to 4-0 racking up 612 yards of offense in a 55-24 beating of Troy. Kendall Hunter (24/169) and Keith Toston (17/114) gave OSU a pair of 100 yard rushers and QB Zac Robinson threw for 254 and 3 TDs. | NR |
| 22 |  |
The Hokies picked up their 4th straight win with a 35-30 victory at Nebraska. The Tech D held the Huskers to 55 yards rushing and 2/11 on third down. | NR |
| 23 |  |
The banged up Ducks got 3 rushing TD's each from LaGarrette Blount and Jeremiah Johnson as Oregon blitzed a bad Washington State squad 63-14 in Pullman. Turnovers: Cougars 4, Ducks 0. | NR |
| 24 |  |
Uconn moved to 5-0 with a 26-21 win at Louisville. The Huskies closed the game on a 16-0 run and Donald Brown rushed for 190 yards on 33 carries (1 TD). | NR |
| 25 |  |
Sparty improved to 4-1 beating Indiana 42-29 behind 198 yards rushing from Javon Ringer. Brian Hoyer added 261 yards passing and 2 TD in addition to another on the ground. | NR |
DROPPED OUT: Wake Forest (#16), Illinois (#17), Nebraska (#19), Clemson (#20), TCU (#24).
Comments
Love the notes about Georgia and the black jerseys. Zoolander is a God. (BTW, Georgia does look sweet in the blacks!)
Sorry, USC beats an unranked opponent (that got creamed by Penn State) and still stays in the top 10? I live out here in La La Land and the passes (pardon the pun) that SC gets for losing to teams like Stanford and OSU amazes me.
Yea I'm quite pissed about the fact that we didn't move up A SINGLE SPOT, yet teams that lose to abismal competition barely move. FLORIDA!? Loses to Ol' Miss and drops like 4 spots, are you kidding me?! Georgia? USC still in the top 10? How much *#&# do you have to suck Surfer Pete to pull that one out? We come out and beat a solid Minny team and get no recognition. At least one spot was earned IMHO. Eff the poles.
Georgia and Florida both got exposed this weekend because their defenses aren't the same caliber as their offenses. They will both lose again.
Alabama may have played their way into the MNC game this weekend. Their schedule is pitiful. Kentucky, bye, Ole Miss, @Tennessee, Arkansas State, @LSU, Miss. State, bye, Auburn. They'll be favored big in every game except @LSU. They can lose that game and still win the SEC title and end up in the MNC.
It pains me to say that, because if you thought ND fans were bad you should try living in the South with Alabama fans.
Texas is flying sooooo far under the radar from a media standpoint. I think the Big 12 teams are going to knock each other off though.
If Northwestern finds a way against Sparty in two weeks we could very well face them in Evanston undefeated at 9-0 on Nov. 8. There are no gimmes left on our schedule (OK maybe Purdue).
Everybody is gung-ho for what Terrelle Pryor has done so far. Count me in that number as well. Keeping Boeckman focused will be critical. If we get down in a game and have to start throwing the ball we may need TB. Pryor has shown a lot of discipline throwing the ball, but it is obvious he is limited as a passer thus far.
polls are monitors of public opinion. that means our bad losses come back to haunt us. it's not right, it's not fair, but it is reality. until we beat someone that counts (and now Wisky doesn't count as much) this is our fate.
a note for future blog polling: Texas Tech will disappoint you. all offense, no defense. played the Little Sisters of the Poor and several directional schools. they aren't that good even though they are everyone's sexy pick.
expect Texas to lose 2 out of the next 3. Colorado could get them - Texas isn't as good as advertised and haven't played anybody. Stoopes and Company will roll them and Mizzou prolly will too.
It's obvious that Ohio State will not get any love in the polls against 1 loss SEC or Big 12 teams. We could have used a victory by Badgers & will need to beat a top 10 Penn State team. Our only hope is that the pollsters realize that with Pryor & Beanie, this is a different team than the one that lost to USC. We still need to run the table (impressively) & hope for more losses by the teams ahead of us.
OSU i don't believe should be in the top ten as you have two teams sitting behind them that are undefeated who have beaten the same caliber teams as OSU. With Oregon State knocking off USC, OSU's loss to them is that much more embarrassing.
While it technically doesn't make sense for USC not to drop out of the top 10 after losing to an unranked opponent, pollsters are looking at the bigger picture. At the end of the day, USC is still an extremely talented team that still beat a #5 team to the tune of 35-3. I don't blame any voters for keeping them ahead of tOSU or undefeated teams. A lot of teams saw improbable losses last year and because of that, a team that didn't belong backed its way into the NC. They're trying to avoid that, because it looks like we're going to see a similar year.
Looking around the interwebs today, I'm kinda surprised no one has 'Bama at #1. The Clemson win is less impressive now and its hard to explain away a close one at Tulane... but beating two top 10 teams to a bloody pulp is more impressive to me than rolling though Cincy, Washington and TCU.
Also, I'm not sold on Texas yet.
There's no way Texas Tech even deserves to be in the top 10...Wait until they play a true opponent...At the moment Florida deserves their spot...Sorry
Wow, Buckeyes at #10? You guys are gonna be knocking on the door of the C-K Award this week. You're gonna tempt the wrath of the C-K Award the week we play Wisconsin? Shame on you.