Ranking the Top 25 As the Dust Settles

Wow! What a week!

The college football day is coming to a close, and another long week for ranked teams will create more fluid polls.

How will this week's losers realign the polls? Which conferences feel good about themselves? Who wants this week back?

I personally believe that there shouldn't be any polls until after the conference schedules begin, which was today. With that in mind, and with this weekend's crazy action fresh in our minds, let's rank the new Top 25 in college football.

1. Florida 4-0

They're the defending champions and handled their business at Kentucky on Saturday.

But the ugly, scary injury to superstar Tim Tebow's head might cast a long shadow on the rest of Florida's season. To say he has a concussion might be an understatement, and he's the most valuable college football player of this generation.

They're next game is in two weeks at LSU. If Tebow can't go, the Gators might not get a chance at repeating as national champs.

2. Texas 4-0

They're the next-best thing since sliced bread behind Florida, and they also handled their business on Saturday.

Unfortunately for Colt McCoy and his teammates, the Longhorns will probably stay at Number Two until someone beats Florida. But that might only take two weeks...

3. Alabama 4-0

Bama is undefeated and, like Texas and Florida, they took care of their game on Saturday.

If they continue playing well, they might face the winner of the LSU-Florida game for a shot at the National Championship later this year.

4. LSU 4-0

They're undefeated and barely escaped Mississippi State to remain undefeated. And by barely, I mean by about a foot.

The Bayou Bengals have a dangerous trap coming up, though. They're undoubtedly staring at their home game against a now-questionable Florida team on October 10, but have to go to Athens, Georgia next week.

Overlooking Georgia could be a terrible mistake for LSU.

5. Virginia Tech 3-1

They lost to Alabama to start their season, and I have them ranked third. This weekend, they hosted everyone favorite rising team, Miami, and threw a beat down.

They now have their hands on the reigns in the ACC and could ride Tyrod Taylor all the way into National Championship contention. They probably won't have to worry about an upset as much as some teams, as they travel to Duke next weekend.

6. Iowa 4-0

I can't wait to field the comments for putting A) a Big Ten team and B) Iowa this high.

But's let's talk about reality here. Iowa beat a 3-1 Arizona team last week, and went to formerly-#5 Penn State and won by two scores.

It's time to respect Iowa. They took care of a good Pac 10 team last week and the top ranked Big Ten team this week. They're for real.

7. Boise State 4-0

I slide Iowa in front of the Smurf Turf dwellers because of the win at Penn State. But Boise State's nothing to shy away from.

In case you forgot, they beat a pretty good Oregon team to open the season and haven't lost yet. In a year defining parity, they might get their shot at busting the BCS.

8. Oregon 3-1

Kinda surprised to see Oregon as my top ranked Pac 10 team?

Consider they're only loss was at Boise State to start the year, and they've outscored Utah and Cal, both ranked when they played, by a combined score of 73-27.

They destroyed sixth-ranked Cal on Satuday, too.

If they continue playing well, and keep finding gorgeous throw back uniforms in the back of the locker room like they did for Saturday, they might sneak up on the Pac 10 and win it this year.

9. Michigan 4-0

For a squad that won only three games last year, I might be dangerously close to making Michigan "the new Miami" by putting them this high on the list.

But the more Notre Dame wins, the better Michigan's comeback victory looks. And there just seems to be something to Tate Forcier that's special. The Wolverines haven't run away from anyone this year, but he's closed the deal every time.

10. USC 3-1

They went to Columbus and beat Ohio State on the road. The loss at Washington last week won't help, especially with Washington losing to Stanford, but USC seems to win games.

And they beat Ohio State, so they have to be ranked higher than the Buckeyes.

11. Miami (FL) 2-1

Yes, they got stomped on Saturday. Badly, too.

But let's not be too quick to sell short the home field advantage Virgina Tech has at Blacksburg.

Miami has played three games against teams that were, at the time, ranked in the top 20, and they beat Florida State and Georgia Tech well. They'll need to pick up the pieces from their loss quickly, though, as they have a date with Oklahoma and, probably, Sam Bradford this weekend.

12. Ohio State 3-1

They've pitched consecutive shut outs and their only loss was to USC.

They haven't beaten a big-time team yet, though. Their next test will be against Wisconsin in two weeks (they host Indiana next weekend).

13, Oklahoma 2-1

They lost to BYU, who lost to Florida State, who lost to South Florida.

That doesn't help their case. Neither does this photo, of the reigning Heisman Trophy Winner with his arm in a sling.

They'll get their shot to step back into the elite with their game against Miami next weekend.

14. Houston 4-0

They're undefeated, and two of their wins are over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

They might be a nice sleeper for this year's BCS Buster du jour.

15. Cincinnati 4-0

They're undefeated, yes...

But they also haven't played anyone. They'll get a good test against South Florida, who beat Florida State today, in a couple weeks.

16. BYU 3-1

The loss at home to Florida State hurts, but they've beaten everyone else they've played so far.

And that includes Oklahoma.

They defeated a previously undefeated Colorado State team on Saturday, and continue to roll.

17. California 3-1

They got whooped by Oregon on Saturday but still only have one loss. They have plenty of chances to redeem the loss in a good Pac 10 conference.

18. Oklahoma State 3-1

Their only loss to Houston will look better to the computers as long as Houston keeps winning. They took care of Georgia to open the season, which is a quality win as well.

They'll be tested in the Big 12.

19. Georgia 3-1

They lost at Oklahoma State to open the season, but have looked good since.

They get LSU at home this coming weekend, which could go a long way to showing their strength.

20. TCU 4-0

They're undefeated and won at Clemson this weekend. That's good enough for the top 20. They'll need to run the table to make the top 10, though.

21. Kansas 4-0

They took care of a previously-undefeated Southern Miss team on Saturday, and are quietly undefeated in the Big 12.

They'll need to stay that way to move up the ranks, though.

22. Missouri 4-0

They're undefeated, but they haven't played anyone yet.

Guess what... that's gonna change real soon.

Their next three games: Nebraska, at Oklahoma State, Texas.

Good luck.

23. Notre Dame 3-1

They're only loss was to Michigan, which looks better with each passing week that Michigan doesn't lose.

They'll be tested by Washington and USC in the coming weeks, both of whom appear to be stronger than the Michigan State and Purdue teams that took them to the brink the last couple weeks.

24. South Carolina 3-1

The Ol' Ball Coach has his Gamecocks playing well, and they just upset the number four ranked team in Ole Miss. Standing 3-1 with that win under their belt, you bet they're ranked!

25. Georgia Tech 3-1

They defeated a ranked North Carolina team on Saturday and appear to be getting their complicated running attack together just in time for the conference schedule.

Their only loss was to Miami.