Breaking Down This Week's College Football Top 25

Loses from No. 4 Ole Miss, No. 5 Penn State, No. 6 Cal and No. 9 Miami ensured the Top 25 would undergo significant upheaval this week. Let's take a look.

Top 25 Upsets: No. 4 Ole Miss, No. 5 Penn State, No. 6 Cal, No. 9 Miami, No. 18 Florida State, No. 22 UNC, No. 24 Washington

Top 25 Teams Near-Upsets: No. 7 LSU (30-26 Miss. St.), No. 14 Cincinnati (28-20 Fresno St.), No. 15 TCU (14-10 Clemson), No. 17 Houston (29-28 Texas Tech), No. 21 Georgia (20-17 Arizona St.), No. 23 Michigan (36-33 Indiana)

Therefore, only 12 of the 25 teams played as was expected, completely reshaping the face of the Top 25. The following is the updated Top 25 for this upcoming week.

1. Florida (4-0)—Decisive victory over Kentucky, they are the consenus No.1 team in the country, and deservingly so. Next game is at No. 4 LSU after their bye week, and will show if this team really is the best in the nation. With Tebow down, that could be a tough task ahead.

2. Texas (4-0)—Texas smashed UTEP, and though they have not faced much opposition yet this seaon, they have performed when called upon. Next week they'll play Colorado, and then on to the Red River Rivalry with Oklahoma. If they can get out 2-0 in the next two weeks, they could take the No.1 spot.

3. Alabama (4-0)—Alabama was not-over-the top impressive this week like Texas or Florida, but they have had a tougher road than both teams and sit 4-0 rather comfortably. They are young on offense and at times it shows, but the defense has been very impressive. No. 20 Ole Miss in two weeks will be a real test for this team on the road. However, after Virginia Tech had probably the most impressive performance of any team this week, the Crimson Tide's win over them looks better and better each week.

4. LSU (4-0)—Tough game this week against Mississippi State. It's difficult for me to say this is the fourth best team in college football, but they are undefeated and 1-0 in the SEC—with notable victories over Washington and Mississippi. Both games, however, were too close to merit a dominating performance that would be expected from a No. 4-ranked team. Their fate will be decided over the next two weeks as they face No. 18 Georgia and No. 1 Florida. Not sold on this team yet.

5. Boise State (4-0)—It is always tough to judge this team, providing significant problems to pollsters and BCS voters as their competition is usually very low and their wins are tough to judge. However, this season they topped Oregon—coming off a dominant win over then-No. 6 Cal (No. 24 this week)—and Fresno State, who almost knocked off No. 10 Cincinnati.

Thus far, their body of work has been as impressive as any team in the Top 25. As it stands, though, those other teams in the Top 5 all battle each other throughout the year, while Boise State does not. In fact, they likely will not play a team in the Top 25 again this season. They will—and should—run the table, which (depending on how the other teams ahead of them do) will pose a serious problem as to whether they deserve a shot at the national title.

6. Virginia Tech (3-1)—Virginia Tech had a great week after annihilating No. 17 Miami (No. 9 at the time), and showed that they can finally put the whole package together with offense, defense and (of course) Frank Beamer's special teams. This is a dangerous team with big-time athletes, great coaching, and a favorable schedule from here on out. They are without a doubt the team to beat in the ACC, and could very easily run the table as only one ranked team (No. 25 Georgia Tech) remains on the schedule.

7. USC (3-1)—The best of the Pac-10 has still not shown the offense they need to be a top-ranked team. Their talent and defense, however, is as good as any team's in the country. As freshman QB Matt Barkley adapts to the college game, USC will continue to grow. I would not count them out of the national championship conversation.

Their toughest weeks are ahead of them, with No. 24 Cal and Notre Dame on the road. USC is known for its inconsistency in away games, and Cal will be looking for blood after being embarasssed last week. Not to mention Notre Dame, with a healthy Jimmy Clausen, is an extremely dangerous team at home.

8. Oklahoma (2-1)—This one puzzles me the most. The Sooners lose to No. 20 BYU and have had two wins—blowouts against no-namers—that justify a No. 8 ranking? This is while teams that have had much more impressive victories and stand at 3-1 are in the mid-20s. Oklahoma faces Miami this week, and that will show where the Sooners stand on the national level. I'm not sure No. 8 has been earned...yet.

9. Ohio State (3-1)—The Buckeyes had an impressive win over Illinois this weekend, and are going to be favored from here on out, though they've got three tough games against three ranked teams to close out the season.

Yes, Ohio State has been excellent on defense. But I'll say it: I'm not sold on Terrelle Pryor. He has all the tools and size, but the kid is a shaky thrower at best, his decision-making is suspect and I am not confident that he knows how to manage a game. He is raw with tons of upside, but he has a lot to show me before I talk about him in the same manner as the ESPN commentators.

10. Cincinnati (4-0)—This Big East team is undefeated and deserves this spot at the No. 10 because though they do not blow teams out of the water, they are able to win the grudge matches. They have not beaten any notables and there are no ranked teams left on its schedule, so this is a team that could run the table if they continue to improve each week.

11. TCU (3-0)—Not sure about these guys yet. They have won all three of their games, but according to this ranking they are better than Penn State? I don't think so. Their only real competition from here on out is No. 20 BYU, so the result of that game will show me how good this team is, as I'm not sold quite yet.

12. Houston (3-0)—Of all the suspect non-BCS conference teams such as Boise State, TCU, and Cincinnati, I believe this team is the best. They have a Heisman candidate at QB and an offense that can play with anyone. This is my sleeper team for a BCS bowl game.

13. Iowa (4-0)—This team has been as impressive as any of the teams ranked above them, as proven by beating a very talented Penn State at their home (in front of more than 100,000 fans). However, before the season is out they have to face No. 22 Michigan and No. 9 Ohio State. This team will end up in the Top 25 if they keep up this pace.

14. Oklahoma State (3-1)—This is a talented team with a great offense, but their loss to Houston showed that their offense alone cannot win them games and make them a BCS contender. They also have  Texas and Oklahoma left on the schedule, though I think they take one of those games. This team is Big 12 threat, but will probably fare alright outside the BCS this year.

15. Penn State (3-1)—Penn State had it going for them, firing on all cylinders with a managable schedule—until this week. Facing Iowa, the team that knocked them off last year with a game-winning field goal, they faltered again. This team cannot afford another loss if they want to win the Big 10. I still believe this is the team to beat in the Big 10 this year.

16. Miami (3-0)—Tough Loss to Virginia Tech, how they respond this week against Oklahoma will show their worth.

17. Kansas (4-0)—Have not seen much competition yet, but the Jayhawks won the games they were supposed to so far. I don't see them going above the top 15 this season, and will probably end up outside the top 25 once they get deeper in their schedule.

18. Georgia (3-1)—One of the most schedules so far of all the Top 25 and they have hung on with their only loss coming in the first game of the season. They face a dangerous LSU team next week but with an upset their then Georgia will step into the national picture again.

19. BYU (3-1)—Overrated. Thats about all I have to say on this one.

20. Ole Miss (3-1)—Far too big a drop—from fourth to 20th in one week—for Ole Miss with their loss to Southern Carolina. This is a good football team with some great young talent that will only go up from here.

21. Michigan (4-0)—Their schedule has been weak thus far, and they have just squeaked past Indiana and Notre Dame with last-minute heroics. But Tate Forcier is a gamer, and this team is making some noise in the Big Ten. They are still a few years away, but it's hard to argue with their production thus far this year.

22. Nebraska (3-1)—The Huskers responded well after a disappointing loss last weekend. This team is a contender in the Big 12.

23. California (3-1) After being ranked 6th in the nation and the favorite for the Pac 10 they laid an egg vs. Oregon this week as they were destroyed on the road.

24. Georgia Tech (3-1)—Big win over UNC, could be a threat in the ACC

25. Oregon (3-1)—A crushing win over No. 6 Cal at the time, who now stands at No. 24 all because of the Ducks. Now that they have learned to throw the football effectively, this is a team under a new coaching staff that will turn heads this season. I believe the arrow is only pointing up.

Outside the Top 25: Missouri (4-0), Auburn and South Florida.