Top 25 College Football Ballot Week Two: USC, BYU, and Houston Move Up

This is the top 25 on my ballot:

(Tyler Stimson's ballot is used in the ESPNU fan poll)

1. Florida - Florida is still the vast favorite to repeat as national champions. I do wish they would schedule actual teams to start the season though. Maybe actually go on the road?

Regardless, Florida is clearly the team to beat. And even though their non-conference schedule lacks bite, they play in the SEC, by far the best conference in America.

2. USC - Beating Ohio State is much more impressive than Texas' victories so far. Barkley did look rattled at times, but calmly and coolly led them down the field on the game winning drive. USC represents the scariest challenger to the Gator's dominance.

3. Texas - Down 10-6 late in the first half against the fearless Cowboys of Wyoming, Texas easily pulled away in the second half, winning 41-10.

4. Alabama - Alabama has almost looked impressive enough to pass Texas in my poll after the first two games of 2009; especially considering they have actually played legitimate competition.

5. Mississippi - The third best team in the SEC is the fifth best in the nation. And they have one of the easiest schedules I can remember an SEC team having in recent memory.

6. BYU - While Tulane is clearly not elite competition, a 54-3 win on the road in a potential sandwich/trap game between Oklahoma and Florida St. is very impressive.

7. California - The Golden Bears looked impressive, blowing out what should be one of the top teams in the Sun Belt conference.

8. Penn State - Whooped up on really weak competition yet again. If Penn State doesn't go undefeated with their ease of schedule, they should not deserve a BCS bid. They have a very talented team, but play one of the easiest schedules in the history of the Big 10.

9. LSU - The SEC is clearly the most dominant conference in college football; hopefully they don't cannibalize each other. LSU's close victory against Washington last week will look better by the end of the year.

10. Boise State - Looking likely to finish another regular season undefeated.

11. Ohio State - Lost to one of the best teams in the nation at home on a long TD drive in the fourth quarter. They looked good, but ultimately could not pull off the win. Looking back on the game, the interception on their first drive, which led to a USC touchdown, was the difference.

12. TCU - We finally got to see TCU play, and they looked great, leading ACC opponent Virginia 30-0 before giving up two late garbage time touchdowns.

13. Houston -The second most impressive victory of the college football season vaults Houston into the top 15.

14. Oklahoma - 64-0, Oklahoma looked back to their regular form...against Idaho State.

15. Georgia Tech - Narrowly avoided the upset at home against Clemson.

16. Oklahoma State - Lost to what could be a very good Houston team.

17. Utah - Even though San Jose St. made Utah sweat this one out, a road win is a road win. They still carry the nations longest active win streak at 16 games.

18. Miami (FL) - Had to take a week off after their thrilling victory against Florida St. But we will see how good they are after the next three weeks, when they take on Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma.

19. Virginia Tech - Notched their first win of the season against cupcake competition after losing to Alabama in week one.

20. Cincinnati - Up 44-3 at the half is impressive, even against cupcake competition. They look to be the class of one of the weakest conferences (at least at the top) in the history of the BCS.

21. North Carolina - Narrowly avoided an upset against UConn.

22. Kansas - Yet another impressive win for a sleeper in the Big 12.

23. Michigan - In a good game against an improved Notre Dame team, Michigan showed that they might finally be back.

24. Nebraska - Nebraska is finally starting to look like a good team now that Bill Callahan is gone and Bo Pellini is running the show.

25. Iowa - Looked good beating in-state rival Iowa State after needing two blocked kicks in the final seven seconds to beat Northern Iowa last week.

Just Missed:

Georgia

Oregon State

UCLA

Notre Dame

Texas Tech

Keep in mind that:

1) I am part of the Mountain West media bias

2) I am a huge BYU football fan

3) I don't pretend to be an expert on other conferences besides the MWC

4) I have an anti-east coast/BCS bias

5) I am a freakin' genius (Just kidding. If only it were true...)

And finally: It is only the second week of the season. At this point it's a crap shoot.

Please post your own top 25, criticize my top 25, and/or tell me why I am wrong.