Bleacher Report's College Football Top25: Week 12

It’s great to be back after a one-week hiatus.

Many thanks to Will Schmidley for pinch-hitting during the bye.  Hope you enjoyed his Week 11 write-up. 

So we’ve lost another No. 1 team.  And six of the eight Top 10 teams play away from home this week, including new No. 1 Oregon. 

Making matters even more perilous for the Ducks? 

A Thursday night game on ESPN, where road favorites go to die.

The Buckeyes fell to seventh in Week 12, while the Illini catapulted into the Top 25 for the first time since Week Seven. Kansas has still been unable to surpass the one-loss leaders, while two-loss Georgia continues its meteoric rise. 

#1  Oregon (8-1)
Previous:  3
Strength of Schedule: 3
Last Week: BYE
This Week:  at Arizona (+12, Thursday)

Each week, in addition to their BR Top25 ballots, many voters submit comments to complement—or in some cases, justify—their rankings. 

One struck me as particularly apropos this week:

Oregon is my top team by an inch. I consider their loss to Cal to be, essentially, a tie. I've long thought the rule that ended that game to be flawed. Why is a team so severely penalized for fumbling over the end zone boundary? I don't believe it should be a turnover or a penalty at all—just place the ball at the one. –Frank Swanagan

To recap Week Five in Autzen against Cal: Oregon drove 77 yards in 1:33, trailing by a touchdown.  On 1st-and-goal at the five, Cameron Colvin fumbled into the end zone while trying to reach for the goaline. 

The Golden Bears took over and took a knee.

If, as suggested, the ball had been placed at the one—or even at the spot of the fumble, as it would have been if fumbled forward and out of bounds anywhere but the end zone—Oregon would have had three more shots to tie. 

At the time, it seemed that the play cost the Ducks a chance at the Pac-10 title.  In retrospect, it will probably prove to be irrelevant. 

But why not discuss the rule?

#2  LSU  (9-1)
Previous:  2
Strength of Schedule: 17
Last Week:  Beat Louisiana Tech 58-10
This Week:  at Mississippi (+19.5)

From retrospective debate to forward-looking controversy.

The top team in the BCS checks in at No. 2 in the BR Top25.  And rather than discuss this week’s game at Ole Miss—a team that is winless in conference play—it’s time to start weighing the fairness of letting a contender host the championship game. 

The Bayou Bengals control their own destiny in the BCS standings and are three wins away from earning a bowl trip to…the Louisiana Superdome.

It wouldn’t be the first time.  In fact, there’s a good chance it could be a rematch of the 2003 BCS National Championship Game, which featured LSU and Oklahoma.

Sure, the logistics would be chaotic.  And the city of New Orleans would have a right to cry foul if an event like this was relocated to Tempe.  But the Sooners, Ducks, or Jayhawks should be just as galled at the prospect of playing LSU in the Superdome. 

If there’s one advantage to the five-week layoff leading up to this game, it’s that the BCS has time to adjust the site according to who the participants are.  

#3  Kansas  (10-0)
Previous:  4
Strength of Schedule: 86
Last Week: Beat Oklahoma State 43-28
This Week: Iowa State (+26)
 
Finally, to some football—and Kansas is playing the game better than any team in the country. 

The Jayhawks haven’t committed a turnover since October 20th against Colorado.  In the three games since, their turnover margin is +10.

No wonder they’re undefeated.

It’s not as if they’re playing a conservative style, either.  Kansas ran nearly 80 offensive plays in Stillwater last weekend, and Todd Reesing chucked it 40 times.

The Jayhawks are the only team in the nation that currently ranks in the top 20 in both rushing and passing—and that balance is a huge reason why KU is 10-0 for the first time since 1899.

Iowa State, Missouri, and Oklahoma stand between Mark Mangino and the banquet table that is the BCS Championship.  Ask Raimond Pendleton (#9, pictured left) how that feels...

#4  Oklahoma   (9-1)
Previous:  5
Strength of Schedule: 65
Last Week:  Beat Baylor 52-21
This Week:  at Texas Tech (+8.5)

The Sooners can clinch the Big 12 South with a win at Texas Tech, but they’ll have to shake off their road woes in order to do so.

Oklahoma’s average margin of victory in seven in-state games this season is +38.  In three games outside the Sooner borders, OU is +5, with a record of 2-1.

That doesn’t exactly make the Crimson and Cream a prime candidate to be LSU’s guest in January. 

Given the $10,000 statement that Mike Leach made to conference officials last week, it will be interesting to see how the flags fly on Saturday in Lubbock.

#5  West Virginia  (8-1)
Previous:  6
Strength of Schedule: 81
Last Week:  Beat Louisville 38-31
This Week:  at Cincinnati (+6.5)

Cincinnati got right back in the Big East title hunt with an emphatic win over Connecticut.  Now it’s West Virginia’s turn to enter vaunted Nippert Stadium—with a conference crown on the line.

With two Big East losses, the Bearcats trail the one-loss Huskies and Mountaineers in the standings.  But an upset of West Virginia on Saturday would give Cincinnati the head-to-head advantage over both teams. 

If West Virginia could then hand Connecticut its second conference loss, guess who’s going to the BCS?

From West Virginia’s perspective, this is a third consecutive must-win game.  Victories over Rutgers and Louisville have bumped the Mountaineers back into the BCS Top 10.  However, an upset loss this weekend means a Gator Bowl bid at best.

#6  Missouri  (9-1)
Previous:  7
Strength of Schedule: 43
Last Week:  Beat Texas A&M 40-26
This Week:  at Kansas State (+7)

If the Tigers can sweep the Sunflower State in the next two weeks, they’ll earn the rematch with Oklahoma that the Columbia contingent so desperately craves.

But before the conference championship in San Antonio, and before the Big12 North championship in Kansas City, Missouri must first win in Manhattan this weekend.

K-State appears to be coming apart at the seams, losing three of the last four, including a 73-31 thrashing at the hands of lowly Nebraska.

As with Kansas, let’s hope that Missouri doesn’t look ahead to next week’s showdown—because the rest of the college football world surely is.

#7  Ohio State  (10-1)
Previous:  1
Strength of Schedule: 46
Last Week:  Lost to Illinois 28-21
This Week:  at Michigan (No Line)

It’s always windy in Big Ten country—but especially so this week, as college football fans breathe a sigh of relief.

Thank you, Juice Williams.

What a crime it would have been to see the BCS’ weakest conference send a representative to the National Championship Game.

Anyone else tired of hearing about all the bowl-eligible teams in the Big Ten?  For the record, there are already 10 of them.  Only Minnesota will finish with a losing record this season.

But here are some of the nonconference gems the Big Ten schedules have to offer:

Ohio State 33, Washington 14
Oregon 39, Michigan 7
Missouri 40, Illinois 34
Illinois 41, Syracuse 20
Washington St. 21, Wisconsin 42
Syracuse 0, Iowa 35
Iowa 13, Iowa St. 15
Duke 20, Northwestern 14
Michigan St. 17, Pittsburgh 13

Ladies and gentlemen, that is the comprehensive list of non-conference games the Big Ten played against BCS opponents this season. 

The Big Ten’s combined record in those games, 5-4.  And only two of those opponents—Oregon and Missouri—have winning records in their own conference.  (Disclaimer: Michigan, Penn St., Michigan St., and Purdue all played and beat independent Notre Dame.) 

Pathetic.

Several of our pollsters represent the Big Ten.  Personally, I am a fan of the conference and respect its athletic programs.  But as a fan, this has to stop. 

Keep in mind, the Big Ten chooses not to play a full round robin or split into divisions and play a conference championship game.  Instead, it allows member schools to fill schedules with The Citadel, and Kent St., and Buffalo, and Florida International. 

No conference has abused the 12-game format more than the Big Ten.

And this weekend’s Big Game has never felt so small.

#8  Georgia  (8-2)
Previous:  10
Strength of Schedule: 21
Last Week:  Beat Auburn 45-20
This Week:  Kentucky (+8)

That loss to Tennessee looms large in Georgia. 

Tied with the Vols in the loss column, the Bulldogs need to win out and hope that Vanderbilt or Kentucky can beat Phil Fulmer.  Otherwise, Rocky Top will represent the SEC East in the conference championship game.

Then again, that might be the best thing for Georgia.

Just as LSU went to the Sugar Bowl last season without having to play in the conference championship, the Bulldogs stand a much better chance of earning a BCS berth if they don’t have to play LSU in December.

With two losses, the Dawgs’ national championship aspirations are unrealistic.  So why run the risk of losing a third game and missing out on the BCS altogether?

It’s the fuzzy logic that can only exist in college football.

#9  Arizona State  (9-1)
Previous:  8
Strength of Schedule: 57
Last Week:  Beat UCLA 24-20
This Week:  BYE

Arizona State isn’t out of this thing yet. 

In fact, don’t be surprised to see 85 Sun Devils mixed into the student section in Tucson Thursday night.

The bye week comes at a perfect time for ASU, enabling the entire fan base to root for rival Arizona against Oregon.  That upset would put Dennis Erickson and Co. right back in the Pac-10 driver’s seat as the only one-loss program in the conference.

#10  USC  (8-2)
Previous:  14
Strength of Schedule: 100
Last Week:  Beat Cal 24-17
This Week:  BYE

USC has been to an unprecedented five consecutive BCS games, and is on the verge of earning a sixth invitation.

Remember, no conference is allowed to have more than two BCS representatives per year, and right now the Trojans are third in the Pac-10 pecking order. 

Of course, that provision is rendered irrelevant by the November 22 clash between Arizona State and USC.  Given the strength of the conference this season, the winner of that game will earn a berth, barring any other pitfalls.

#11  Virginia Tech  (8-2)
Previous: 13
Strength of Schedule: 23
Last Week:  Beat Florida State 40-21
This Week:  Miami (+16.5)

#12  Texas  (9-2)
Previous:  16
Strength of Schedule: 53
Last Week:  Beat Texas Tech 59-43
This Week:  BYE

#13  Virginia  (9-2)
Previous:  22
Strength of Schedule: 71
Last Week:  Beat Miami 48-0
This Week:  BYE

#14  Florida   (7-3)
Previous:  15
Strength of Schedule: 4
Last Week:  Beat South Carolina 51-31
This Week:  Florida Atlantic (+34)

#15  Hawaii  (9-0)
Previous:  18
Strength of Schedule: 119
Last Week: Beat Fresno State 37-30
This Week:  at Nevada (No Line)

#16  Clemson   (8-2)
Previous:  21
Strength of Schedule: 42
Last Week:  Beat Wake Forest 44-10
This Week:  Boston College (+7)

#17  Boise State  (9-1)
Previous:  19
Strength of Schedule: 112
Last Week:  Beat Utah State 52-0
This Week:  Idaho (+34)

#18  Boston College  (8-2)
Previous:  9
Strength of Schedule: 55
Last Week:  Lost to Maryland 42-35
This Week:  at Clemson (-7)

#19  Illinois  (8-3)
Previous:  NR
Strength of Schedule: 9
Last Week:  Beat Ohio State 28-21
This Week:  Northwestern (+13)

#20  Tennessee (7-3)
Previous:  23
Strength of Schedule:  33
Last Week:  Beat Arkansas 34-13
This Week:  Vanderbilt (+11.5)

#21  Cincinnati  (8-2)
Previous:  NR
Strength of Schedule: 40
Last Week:  Beat Connecticut 27-3
This Week:  West Virginia (-6.5)

#22  Michigan  (8-3)
Previous:  11
Strength of Schedule: 37
Last Week:  Lost to Wisconsin 37-21
This Week:  Ohio State (No Line)

#23  Kentucky (7-3)
Previous:  24
Strength of Schedule: 24
Last Week:  Beat Vanderbilt 27-20
This Week:  at Georgia (-8)

#24  Wisconsin  (8-3)
Previous:  NR
Strength of Schedule: 18
Last Week:  Beat Illinois 37-21
This Week:  at Minnesota (+14)

#25  Connecticut  (8-2)
Previous:  12
Strength of Schedule: 47
Last Week:  Lost to Cincinnati 27-3
This Week:  Syracuse (+18.5)


Others receiving votes:  Penn State, BYU, Air Force, South Florida, Auburn

Be sure to check out the full slate of pollster comments and Heisman rankings from Week Twelve.

The Bleacher Report Top25 is college football’s most inclusive and transparent ranking system.  Our voting pool includes campus writers, bloggers, and members of our own community.  If you’d like more information on joining this college football fraternity, send an email to trey@bleacherreport.com.

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