Bleacher Report's College Football Top25: Week 13

Hard to believe the holidays are here.  And before we know it, bowl season will be upon us.

This college football season has been the gift that keeps on giving—or taking away, depending on your perspective. 

For the programs in this week’s BR Top 25, it’s time to give thanks. 

One-loss teams like Missouri and West Virginia are grateful that upset losses have become the trendy gift idea of 2007.  LSU offers thanks for Les Miles’ testicular fortitude, and hopes he isn’t too high on Michigan’s Christmas List. 

Speaking of the Wolverines, the Buckeyes want to personally thank Lloyd Carr for all the bragging rights he’s bestowed on them throughout his tenure with the Maize and Blue. 

Personally, I’m thankful for the nine healthy, Heisman-worthy weeks that Dennis Dixon gave us.  Thankful for the Pac-10 and ESPN working together to disseminate West Coast football east of Tucson.  For Tim Tebow going 20-20, and for Charlie Weis’ new-found humility. 

Most of all, I’m thankful for gratuitous pictures of Mark Mangino. 

Enjoy the Thanksgiving spread, pollsters.  But go easy—remember what happened to Troy Smith?

Voting totals in parentheses.  Strength of schedule based on cumulative record of past opposition.

#1  LSU  10-1  (303)
Previous:  2
Strength of Schedule: 32
Last Week:  Beat Ole Miss 41-24
This Week:  Arkansas (+12)

If there’s any program more upset to see Lloyd Carr go than Ohio State, it’s LSU.

With the Michigan clause in Les Miles’ contract, there will be no end to the rumors that he’s leaving for Ann Arbor.

Let it rest, says Miles—which is like asking Jim Tressel to sew sleeves on his sweater.

The Hat is in a no-lose situation.  He’s at the top of the most competitive conference in college football, with an open invitation to relocate to his alma mater. 

With two games standing between them and a BCS championship berth, though, the Bayou Bengals stand to lose a lot more than just their head coach.

#2  Kansas  11-0  (298)
Previous:  3
Strength of Schedule: 105
Last Week: Beat Iowa State 45-7
This Week: Missouri (+1.5)

The Jayhawks and Tigers must feel like Pilgrims, sharing in their first Thanksgiving. 

And not only are Kansas and Missouri invited to the Big 12 banquet—they’re at the head of the table.

It took 116 meetings for this rivalry game to really mean something outside the states’ borders.  Only Minnesota and Wisconsin have a more extensive series history. 

There’s little doubt that this one will have been worth the wait.

If either team can win out, they’ll claim their first outright conference title and play for the national prize.

T-#3  Missouri  10-1  (280)
Previous:  6
Strength of Schedule: 52
Last Week:  Beat Kansas State 49-32
This Week:  Kansas (-1.5)

Mizzou assumes Oklahoma’s spot as the second-ranked Big 12 team, but make no mistake about it—the Tigers cringed when the Sooners took a tumble at Tech. 

As a 10-1 team—with its only loss coming in Norman—Missouri was hoping that consecutive wins over Kansas and Oklahoma could vault its program into the top two in the BCS standings. 

While Chase Daniel and Co. are tied with West Virginia in our poll, the Mountaineers have the edge in the BCS standings—and it’s unclear whether a Big 12 Championship win over a two- (or even three-) loss Oklahoma will be enough.

T-#3  West Virginia  9-1  (280)
Previous:  5
Strength of Schedule: 68
Last Week:  Beat Cincinnati 28-23
This Week:  Connecticut (+17)

West Virginia is thankful for losing early, and having two more opportunities to impress late.

After last week’s column, you probably never thought I’d make this argument for a Big Ten team.  But compare the Mountaineers with the Buckeyes. 

At the moment, Ohio State has the same number of losses and one more win against a stronger schedule.  OSU’s only loss came against BCS No. 17 Illinois—West Virginia’s against No. 23 South Florida. 

Why, then, does West Virginia pull rank? 

Primarily because the Bucks breakdown in Week 11 is fresh in our minds, while West Virginia’s wreck in Week Five is virtually forgotten.

The Mountaineers will gain schedule strength with a victory over UConn, not to mention a second Big East title in three seasons.  And even ugly wins in the next two weeks will preserve their lead over Ohio State. 

#5  Arizona State  9-1  (254)
Previous:  9
Strength of Schedule: 66
Last Week:  BYE
This Week:  USC (-3, Thursday)

The Oregon loss puts Arizona State back on the lead lap of the Pac-10 race.  A win over USC could also bring a BCS title back into the picture.

On Thanksgiving Day, Troy’s hopes for a sixth-consecutive Pac-10 crown and a seven-game winning streak over ASU are on the line in prime time. 

In addition to winning out, the Trojans need an Oregon loss—which all of a sudden looks far more possible, if not probable—to secure a berth in the Rose Bowl. 

The Sun Devils control their own destiny.  Win, and they’re in—Pasadena or Louisiana remains to be seen.

#6  Ohio State  10-1  (250)
Previous:  7
Strength of Schedule: 42
Last Week:  Beat Michigan 14-3
This Week:  Watching, Waiting…

The best—and perhaps only—chance that Ohio State has to make at return trip to the BCS Championship Game goes something like this...in order of simplicity, not importance:

a) West Virginia loses one of its final two.

b) USC or Arizona beats Arizona State.

c) LSU loses this week against Arkansas, or loses to Tennessee in the SEC title game, or wins out.

If Georgia wins out, the Bulldogs would probably move ahead of Ohio State in the BCS standings.  That’s why it’s important for LSU to lose to Tennessee or win out. 

d) The Big 12 falls apart.  Best case scenario, Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma and Texas loses at Texas A&M.  Missouri beats Kansas.  That would put the Sooners and the Tigers in the Big 12 Championship.

Then, the three-loss Sooners knock off the Tigers for a second time this season.  Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri would all wind up below the Buckeyes.

If Kansas makes it to San Antonio, there’s no way of knowing whether a conference championship loss would drop them below OSU.  However, it’s very likely that if Oklahoma runs the table and finishes as a two-loss team, it will move back ahead of Ohio State. 

I’m ready for seconds, how 'bout you?

#7  Georgia  9-2  (246)
Previous:  8
Strength of Schedule: 15
Last Week:  Beat Kentucky 24-13
This Week:  at Georgia Tech (+3.5)

Mark Richt gambled when he sent the entire sideline out for an excessive celebration against Florida.

The question this week is the same as it was last week:  Do the Bulldogs want to gamble with an SEC Championship Game?

A win at Tech would complete a 10-2 season and virtually guarantee the Bulldogs a BCS berth...so long as they don’t play another game.

But if Tennessee loses at Kentucky, Georgia gets the invitation to play LSU for the SEC title. 

With an 11th win in Atlanta over the top-ranked Tigers, there’s an outside chance Uga could earn an invitation to Louisiana.  However, I expect that a loss in the conference championship would knock the Bulldogs out of the BCS altogether, and 9-3 Florida would get the SEC’s second bid. 

Of course, Richt doesn’t actually have to pony up—he can only watch the ponies run the race like the rest of us.

#8  Oklahoma  9-2  (204)
Previous:  4
Strength of Schedule: 62
Last Week:  Lost to Texas Tech 34-27
This Week:  Oklahoma State (+11.5)

If you’re a true college football fan, you can’t take any pleasure in what happened in Tucson and Lubbock last week.

Two of the best quarterbacks in the country were injured early in pivotal conference clashes, costing both their teams any real chance of competing for a national title.

But whereas Dennis Dixon is done for the season with a bum knee, a concussed Sam Bradford will be in the lineup when the Sooners host Oklahoma State this Saturday.

The Crimson and Cream have claimed four straight in the Bedlam rivalry, and a win—or a Texas loss to A&M—will send them back to the Big 12 Championship. 

A win in San Antonio will send them back to the Fiesta Bowl.

#9  Oregon  8-2  (203)
Previous:  1
Strength of Schedule: 6
Last Week:  Lost to Arizona 34-24
This Week:  at UCLA (+1)

Oregon has every right to be the bitter, drunk, twice-divorced aunt at the Thanksgiving table:

Left not at the altar but at the goaline in the final minute against Cal.  Jilted again by an injury to their Heisman-caliber quarterback in a loss to lowly Arizona. 

There’s a very real possibility that the Ducks could finish in the bottom half of the Pac-10 standings, despite sitting atop the conference and the country just last week. 

#10  Virginia Tech  8-2  (197)
Previous: 11
Strength of Schedule: 26
Last Week:  Beat Miami 44-14
This Week:  at Virginia (+3.5)

With the Coastal Division still undecided, all we know is this: Only one ACC team can finish with two losses.  

Given the perceived lack of strength in the conference, that means only one ACC team is going to the Bowl Championship Series—Boston College, Virginia, or Virginia Tech.

The Hokies are hoping Christmas comes early, in the form of a rematch with BC in the championship game.  And with their offense in rhythm after back-to-back 40 point efforts, VaTech would probably be the favorite to win that contest and represent the ACC in the BCS.

To earn that privilege, however, the Hokies must win the most impactful meeting in the 112 year history of the Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalry.   

#11  USC  (8-2)
Previous:  10
Strength of Schedule: 104
Last Week:  BYE
This Week: at Arizona State (+3)

#12  Florida   (8-3)
Previous:  14
Strength of Schedule: 4
Last Week:  Beat FAU 59-20
This Week:  Florida State (+13.5)

#13  Hawaii  (10-0)
Previous:  15
Strength of Schedule: 119
Last Week:  Beat Nevada 28-26
This Week:  Boise State (+3.5)

#14  Texas  (9-2)
Previous:  12
Strength of Schedule: 54
Last Week:  BYE
This Week:  at Texas A&M (+5.5)

#15  Virginia  (9-2)
Previous:  13
Strength of Schedule: 77
Last Week:  BYE
This Week:  Virginia Tech (-3.5)

#16  Boston College  (9-2)
Previous:  18
Strength of Schedule: 35
Last Week:  Beat Clemson 20-17
This Week:  Miami (+14.5)

#17  Boise State  (10-1)
Previous:  17
Strength of Schedule: 118
Last Week:  Beat Idaho 58-14
This Week:  at Hawaii (-3.5)

#18  Illinois  (9-3)
Previous:  19
Strength of Schedule: 9
Last Week:  Beat Northwestern 28-21
This Week:  End of regular season

#19  Tennessee (8-3)
Previous:  20
Strength of Schedule: 31
Last Week:  Beat Vanderbilt 25-24
This Week: at Kentucky (-2.5)
 
#20  Connecticut  (9-2)
Previous:  25
Strength of Schedule: 72
Last Week:  Beat Syracuse 30-7
This Week:  at West Virginia (+17)

#21  BYU  (8-2)
Previous:  NR
Strength of Schedule: 59
Last Week:  Beat Wyoming 35-10
This Week:  Utah (+4.5)

#22  Clemson   (8-3)
Previous:  16
Strength of Schedule: 30
Last Week:  Lost to Boston College 20-17
This Week:  at South Carolina (+2.5)

#23  Wisconsin  (9-3)
Previous:  24
Strength of Schedule: 50
Last Week:  Beat Minnesota 41-34
This Week:  End of regular season

#24  Cincinnati  (8-3)
Previous:  21
Strength of Schedule: 25
Last Week:  Lost to West Virginia 28-23
This Week:  at Syracuse (+19)

#25  South Florida (8-3)
Previous:  NR
Strength of Schedule: 15
Last Week:  Beat Louisville 55-17
This Week:  at Pittsburgh (+10)


Others receiving votes:  Auburn, Texas Tech, Air Force, Michigan, Kentucky, Penn State, Utah, Arkansas, Cal, Central Florida.

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

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.