The Eleven Warriors ballot has been submitted and there was a nice shake-up this week with Florida's loss.
Feel free to let us know what you think in the comments.
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Alabama rolled Mississippi State in what was supposed to be a good SEC matchup. Obviously Alabama is the best team in the country. | -- |
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Oregon put up 70 points effortlessly against Colorado and travels to USC this coming Saturday in what many were hoping to be a top-10 matchup. It will still be a great game in L.A. | -- |
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Kansas State is definitely the real deal. They beat Texas Tech, 55-24, and welcome a surging Oklahoma State to Manhattan, KS. |
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Notre Dame is also the real deal and could be playing for the BCS title if they keep on winning. They straight up dominated Oklahoma in Norman in primetime. The play Pitt this weekend. |
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They haven't been pretty, but LSU keeps winning big SEC games. Another showdown against Alabama this weekend will definitely be one of the most watched games of the year, but hopefully it's better than a 6-3 final. | -- |
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The Buckeyes keep winning and move to 9-0. Braxton Miller was back and scored two highlight reel touchdowns on the ground that silenced the Beaver Stadium crowd. The Buckeyes welcome Illinois before finishing the year at Wisconsin and Michigan at home. |
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No Urban Meyer on the opposing sideline = easier time for Mark Richt. Georgia took down the undefeated Gators, 17-9. |
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Florida's SEC roll hit a halting stop against Georgia in Jacksonville. UF plays Missouri, then a few cupcakes, before finishing the year against FSU. Florida has to rely on a Georgia loss to make the SEC title game. |
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Florida State beat a decent Duke team, 48-7. Enough said. |
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South Carolina lost their best player in RB Marcus Lattimore with a gruesome knee injury, but rallied to beat Tennessee. |
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Clemson keeps winning, beating Wake, 42-13, earlier in the week. |
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Oklahoma had a difficult time at home against Notre Dame, but still has a shot to win the Big 12. |
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Louisville won an entertaining game against Cincinnati in overtime. Cincy QB Munchie Legeaux had a difficult time in extra time. Louisville is primed to win the conference. |
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Oregon State showed that they are perhaps not elite, losing to Washington. |
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Alabama was here. That is all. |
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Stanford doesn't blow out inferior opponents, but gets it done. They're looking to finish near the top of the Pac-12, but that may be a best-case scenario. |
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A&M ran over Auburn, 63-21, and travels to #15 Mississippi State this coming Saturday. |
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Boise State could, once again, sneak into a BCS spot if they win out. They're 7-1 with a week one loss at Michigan State. |
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Nebraska is probably the second-best team in the Big Ten, but the best eligible team. They are in the driver's seat to win the Legends division and play for the Big Ten title. | -- |
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SC put up some nice stats, but not nice enough. Arizona was able to come away with the W. |
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Texas Tech battled early with K-State before getting blown out by a superior team. |
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Tech has only lost that one crazy 1am game to Texas A&M and clearly deserves to be ranked in the top-25. |
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Bear Down on SC. Arizona looked good late to top the Trojans. | -- |
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Toledo could be the best team in the MAC, which is a very strong conference this year. The Rockets beat Cincy last week and are 8-1 overall. | -- |
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Besides losing to Cal, UCLA has looked pretty good and good enough to make the top-25. The Bruins topped ASU in a high scoring thriller, 45-43. | -- |
| Dropouts: Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Michigan Wolverines, Ohio Bobcats, Penn St. Nittany Lions | |||
| SB Nation BlogPoll College Football Top 25 Rankings » | |||
Comments
Mississippi State played no one. I'd honestly say that Kansas State is the best team in the country. Good poll overall.
As much as it pains me to say it...ND is one of the best teams (if not the best team) in College football. They've played well on both sides of the ball, have continued to trudge through a ridiculous schedule, and have absolutely electric Linbecker. While I might die if they win the MNC, if they go undefeated and aren't in the game that might be the biggest BCS blunder of all time.
Still don't know how LSU ranks ahead of Florida...
/Duff'd It
Alabama might be better than the Jets!
This is something I'd actually love to see. Take the NCAA champs and the team with the worst record in the NFL and see what happens. Wouldn't prove much, but it could be pretty entertaining.
Well, it would prove that the college team does not belong on the same field as the worst NFL team. TBDBITL, I know sometimes these comparisons can be tempting, but these are still full grown, professional athletes we are talking about here on the worst NFL team. The NCAA champ would conceivably play the Browns or the Panthers or some other team. Cam Newton would make them look silly. Trent Richardson would make them look silly. The real difference though is in the sheer depth and at the lines. Every single player on the NFL team is good enough to make the NFL (obviously), however the best college team has maybe 20-25 NFL players and that is counting the underclassmen that will eventually be in the pros in two or three years. It's tempting to say, but there is just too much size, strength, and athleticism on a pro team for these college kids to deal with.
Here's to hoping that whomever plays Alabama for the NC (yes, I'm assuming they'll be in - I think the only team left on their schedule that can beat them is Alabama)....be it Oregon, ND, or KSU....I hope they are legit enough to make it a GOOOD NC game. Preferrably resulting in the SEC being de-throned.
The MAC has 4 good teams : Ohio, Kent State, Northern Illinois and Toledo. Ball state isn't too shabby either.
Kent State lost to Kentucky and Northern Illinois lost to Iowa. KSU got lucky against Rutgers and NIU hasn't played anyone yet.
/Duff'd It
They dont put an asterisk in the win for "Luck". A win is all the same.
Whoops, that was bad wording by me. Everyone knows "luck" doesn't exist in football, excluding Andrew Luck of course.
/Duff'd It
I think moving South Carolina up 6 spots after beating an extremely average Volunteer team and losing their star player was way too generous. And I hate to say it but Georgia has to be ranked higher than the Buckeyes based on athletes alone. Completely agree with the top 4 though. I can't believe how many people are punishing Oregon for handling their business week in and week out. After the top 10 it really is a crap shoot this year. There's just so many average teams. Love the site, keep up the awesome work.
Georgia got absolutely HOUSED at South Carolina, 35-7.
No offense, but I think these Urban Meyer coached Buckeyes would do better than that.
Class of 2008
It's definitely hard to see past that huge choke job the Bulldogs pulled in Columbia. However, I do believe that when it comes to rankings you have to give teams the right to improve. And while I have felt that Florida was a WAY overrated #2 the defensive performance by UGA really impressed me. But hey, I tend to get way over critical of the Bucks and over analyze every performance so maybe that's why I'm being hard on them here. If we didn't play down(up) to the level of competition every week I'd be a lot higher on the team.
Agree with your comment! Also, moving Ta&m up so far for beating AWFUL Auburn???
Don't think South Carolina is a top 10 team without Lattimore.
SC is not a top ten team unless every big game they play is at home. They showed twice in a row that if they arent at home for big games they cant get the job done. Not a top ten team IMO.
K State should be number 2, ND number 3.
Oregon has played exactly no one..and for that matter, I'm not convinced Alabama has played anyone all that tough either..but they are Alabama.
SEC teams still seem over-ranked based on the premise that they beat each other and they're all awesome. I've watched South Carolina, Florida, LSU, and Georgia..I'm not convinced any of those teams are all that awesome (not to mention Mizzou, Vandy, and Kentucky).
Discuss.
Class of 2008
FYI, KSU and ND are #2 and #3 in latest BCS. KSU slid up with FL losing, and ND jumped Oregon. Your comment about Oregon not playing anyone...the computers would agree!
It'll be interesting to see how it plays out!
Agreed! Should be interesting. Surprised I agree with the Top 4 the BCS kicked out.
Class of 2008
Agree. CFB fans, NOW is when it really gets interesting. Who can survive?
New York Buckeye
I think K-State should honestly get consideration for number 1. They have played some pretty good teams and beat them up pretty bad. K-State is for real. I'm pulling for them to get a national title this year. I think if they play Bama, they beat Bama.
Agreed. Neutral site, Kansas State beats anyone in the country. They have the most impressive body of work.
When they finish undefeated they will be rewarded. Until then, it is still too early to make declarations --- including mine that 'Bama is #1 LOL
New York Buckeye
By your reckoning ND has played nobody because they all have at least 2 losses. Actually UMASS has had the toughest schedule because everybody has beaten them.
New York Buckeye
I think that South Carolina shouldn't be rankedd as high as they are. After barely escaping from Tennessee at home AND losing their leading rusher/reciever for the season. probably career.
Reality goes to "Red Stick" this week and LSU drops out of the top 10. I would flip LSU and Florida. We Buckeyes have our toughest games ahead of us, beginning with Illinois (the ones we won are easy and can't be lost). Until something convinces me otherwise, 'Bama is the best team in the country. Which team (Oregon, K-State, or ND) will be lucky enough NOT to get invited to the National Championship slaughterhouse and finish undefeated and #2?
New York Buckeye
What makes you so certain that anyone that faces Alabama, will be slaughtered? Who exactly has Alabama even played?
I hate to answer a question with a question, but who has Bama played that hasn't been totally and thoroughly dominated in all facets of the game? To be so dominant is as impressive in my opinion. They've shown me nothing but near perfection. I know they are an easy team to hate because Saban would sell his own young into the sex trade if it meant landing 100 more recruits but remove emotion from it. Bama is the class of the nation. No one can move the ball against them.
Now I'll give KSU credit-they took the shine off WVU's apple, whacked a pretty good TTU team and went into Norman to beat Oklahoma and have looked good doing it-they've also never seen a defense the likes of Bama's. They are playing at a totally different level than anyone else in the nation and are probably the most physical team in the country as well.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
Couldn't one argue that Alabama has also not faced an offense and player so dynamic like KSU and Collin Klein? KSU beat West Virginia 55-14 in Morgantown, Texas Tech 55-24 at home, Oklahoma 24-19 in Norman, and Miami 52-13 at home. Those are their four most impressive victories. Alabama beat Michigan 41-14 in Dallas, Arkansas 52-0 in Fayetteville, Tennessee 44-13 in Knoxville, and Mississippi State 38-7 at home, those are their four most impressive victories. KSU's outweigh Alabama's in my mind. I still don't know how Mississippi State was ranked so high after beating the likes of Troy, South Alabama, Jackson State, Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and Auburn. I mean Hell Louisville should've been ranked higher than they were.
Yes, certainly but if the past has shown us anything about Anyone V. The SEC, the better defense has prevailed-with the exception of maybe LSU beating OSU-that OSU D was number 1 in the nation if I'm not mistaken. LSU, even if not statistically OSU's equal was probably the better unit.
KState is a great team, but they are reliant on the run and you can't run on Bama-so something would have to give. I'm not content just writing a team off or giving a nod to a team based soley off of who they have beaten. I mean, MSU was undefeated at the time so they were probably ranked where they belonged. I get that you are hung up on who's playing who but how they are doing it works for me more-WVU was piss poor defensivley, and KSU struggled with a defense not nearly as good as Bama when they went to OU.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
I wouldn't say you can't run on anyone. It's about execution, and I'd be confident that K-State could run the zone-read well enough with Klein to keep Alabama honest.
That's certainly where we differ. Saban mixes up schemes so well and has the horses to run whatever he wants against anyone he plays. It'd be an uphill battle for KSU to say the least.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
I love KSU's succes this year - I hope they do go the NC and win. But, this is mostly the same Bama defense that didn't let the 2nd best SEC team even get across the 50 yard line until the 3rd quarter last year! And they posted a shut out in the NC game! Their defense is very fierce. Maybe KSU can move the ball on them, but I'm leaning towards not so much.
Yes, I would say KSU has a better resume at this point, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are better. Obvious point: you can't tell one team is better than another by only looking at who they've played.
Here's to hoping that KSU wins out so we get the chance to see what would transpire. Might be a heck of a game!
Loved the commentary on #7 Geogia. "No Urban Meyer on the opposing sideline = easier time for Mark Richt. Georgia took down the undefeated Gators, 17-9."
MAC > Big LEast
The Ohio State University, College of Arts & Sciences, Class of 2006
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Class of 2009
MAC> All but two teams in the ACC, but could see FSU and Clemson's hairs standing up playing any of the top MAC teams.
Ohio, Toledo, Kent, and N. Illinois could probably beat most of the Big E, ACC, and the bottom rungs of B1G this year.
MAC victims in BCS conferences so far this year:
This doesn't even count the narrow escapes by Minnesota (v. W. Michigan), Iowa (again, v. N. Illinois), Arizona (v. Toledo), and Connecticut (again, v. Buffalo!).
BCS teams have only had a few solid wins against the MAC this year, with more than one coming at the expense of first year FBS member UMass. CRAZY!
The Ohio State University, College of Arts & Sciences, Class of 2006
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Class of 2009
What has the SEC proven THIS YEAR that makes them have 5 of the top 10 teams? It is a self-fulfilling prophesy at the moment. "Oh Miss. St. was a fraud but oh South Carolina must be awesome then lets bump them up a ton..." I am thinking more and more that Alabama is the only team that you'd even call very good let alone great out of the SEC this year. Not that there are lots of teams in other conferences, but I think the SEC is getting way too much benefit of the doubt in polls. It's like when in doubt vote the SEC team higher.
That FLA\GA game really made the whole SEC love fest look bad. That was a terrible, awful football game.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
The only way for this cycle to end is to have them lose their bowl games. If that happens, it will do a lot for convincing people that maybe the SEC isn't as dominating as they thought. If all they do is keep beating each other but still win the bowls, that will be enough justification for the polls to keep them up there.
This is one of the main reasons in years other than this one that the B1G has been considered weaker. The impression is that the conference has performed comparitively poorly lately in polls. (This year being another story where the conference is just performing poorly period. (alliteration and double parentheses for the win!))
You can kill a fly with your slipper or a cannon. Either way, the fly dies. -Ramzy
A DOUBLE PARENTHETICAL SIGHTING!?
The SEC hasn't performed all that well in bowl games overall. It's just the BCS championship game they've done well in. Besides, ranking teams based on what happened in a bowl game (most of which are often meaningless) 4,5,6 years ago, and not even based on the team in question but some other team in their conference is so illogical and irrational it is utterly mind boggling. (I know you were explaining the reasoning of others, not directed at you.)
Agreed - BCS title games aside, and OSU's lack of success aside, the SEC and BIG are very even in the BCS era in bowl games.
It's looking like once again the SEC will have an unfair advantage over the Big Ten during bowl season. If we can come within one of TYING the SEC, then people might start to look a different way.
/Duff'd It
I understand that getting thumped by Bama would happen to most teams in the country but they are still ranked way too high.
-Mix
I think the bigger problem this year is how bad the rest of the teams have looked more than that the SEC is totally dominant. Outside of Alabama who I still think is closer to an NFL team that a college program, everyone has weaknesses. Until the other conferences can field teams that looks more impressive the SEC will continue to dominate the top spots.
Yes there are two Buckeyes in Ann arbor on this site!
Compare the resumes of Oklahoma and South Carolina then explain how South Carolina is ranked higher other than SEC bias. Oklahoma has played a tougher schedule and has losses to 2 current top 5 teams and the K-State game was really close. South Carolina moves up 4-5 spots after beating Tennessee 38-35 while Oklahoma loses to undefeated and top 5 Notre Dame and drops about the same # of spots. Is it some transitive nonsense where Georgia beat Florida despite SC losing by 33 to Florida last week?
Next week you'll have mediocre Texas A&M who has beaten no one playing mediocre Miss. St. who had beaten no one yet. But they are #15 and #16 so you'll probably end up with the loser of the game still ranked top 20 and the winner ranked around 10th.
But... but... but... but........... THEY HAVE SEC SPEED!!!!!!!!
/Duff'd It
FSU in the top 10 for only beating a ranked Clemson team. Haven't seen them any competiton yet this year
I am flat out rooting for Notre Dame now. Yes I hate them but 1.) we don't play them this year 2.) we can't win the NC this year 3.) what would be a more embarassing and painful way for SEC dominance to fall? Think about it.
If ND winds up being the team to (somehow, against all odds) beat say Alabama in the NCG, how freaking awesome would that be from an ESSS EEE SEEE SCHADENFREUDE point of view? The same reasons we hate ND also apply for every other team in the country. If Bama loses to Oregon or KSt they'll just be like well we had an epic run and this wasn't the strongest Bama team/year for the SEC, blah blah blah. I wanna see those PAWWWLLLL southerners SILENCED. If freaking NOTRE DAME with their onerous attitude and epic media slobbering hype and ancient history BS beats the SEC ... man. I would enjoy that.
Also, Manti Te'o is a freaking Man and I can't help for root for the dude.