B/R Top 25 College Football Poll: Week Five
By on September 24, 2008
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What is this, the NFL?
What’s with all the bye weeks? Of the teams in our poll, six have the week off. That doesn’t bode well for holding position in the rankings. Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Illinois all lost a spot without losing—or playing—a game last weekend.
Fresh off a road win at Arizona State, Georgia reclaimed the No. 2 spot in our Top 25. Now the Bulldogs focus their attention on No. 7 Alabama—the SEC’s second straight top 10 matchup.
The 'Dawgs weren’t the only team making moves in the South. Florida and LSU both climbed over Missouri with conference road wins, so there’s been a shift in power from the Big 12 to the SEC.
Here’s how you voted.
Number of Voters: 85
Click on each team for more commentary from our pollsters.
Previous: 1
Last Week: BYE
This Week: at Oregon State (+26)
Do the Trojans need to root for Ohio State and Notre Dame?
That’s the popular question among college football insiders as the initial outline of a national championship picture takes form.
Last week we documented USC’s lackluster remaining schedule (read: the Pac-10 slate). Now the concern is that lack of competition could keep Troy out of Miami if a Big 12 and SEC team are able to run the table.
Now, if the Buckeyes can win a third straight Big 11 title and the Irish come to Los Angeles in good standing, those non-conference wins should be enough to keep USC afloat. But in addition to pulling for Ohio State and Notre Dame, Southern California might want to start rooting against teams like Florida and Oklahoma.
Previous: 3
Last Week: Beat Arizona State 27-10
This Week: No. 7 Alabama (+7)
The Bulldogs have the opposite problem—their schedule is too tough.
We knew about the road games at South Carolina, Arizona State, LSU, and Auburn. All carried preseason rankings.
But now Vanderbilt is a top 25 team. Kentucky is threatening to crack the rankings. The World’s Largest Cocktail Party is anything but for the teams on the field.
And oh yeah, did anyone notice Alabama is suddenly a conference championship contender?
Georgia answered the traveling question with a resounding win in the desert. However, sometimes the toughest part of road trips can be the ride home. It’s the kind of thing that requires a strong cup of coffee.
That’s where the Crimson Tide comes in...led by junior running back Glen Coffee, who rushed for 162 and a pair of scores against Arkansas last week.
To extend the metaphor further than I should, the Bulldogs will take their coffee black this weekend—as in a planned blackout of Sanford Stadium on Saturday, where the fans will attempt to keep their Bulldogs unbeaten.
Previous: 2
Last Week: BYE
This Week: No. 22 TCU (+17.5)
One of my favorite nuggets in the world of college football: TCU is one of only two programs (the other being Oklahoma State) to win in Norman during the decade-long Stoops era. (The important caveat is that Texas doesn’t get to challenge OU at home, as the Red River Rivalry is played in the Cotton Bowl every season.)
In the 2005 opener for both teams, the unranked, 25-point underdogs upset No. 5 Oklahoma, leading members of the coaching staff to speculate that the Horned Frogs had spied on the Sooners’ preseason scrimmages.
Stoops rejected the notion this week. However, he did close virtually all of camp—and especially the scrimmages—to the media and public this fall.
The Sooners’ wariness is warranted, as the Horned Frogs are back to playing TCU football—namely playing opportunistic defense. They rank first in the nation in total defense and second in turnover margin.
Those stats might take a hit on Saturday.
Previous: 5
Last Week: Beat Tennessee 30-6
This Week: Mississippi (+23.5)
Has there ever been a better rivalry game coach than Urban Meyer?
With last week’s win over Tennessee, Meyer improved to 8-1 against the Gators’ most hated opponents—Georgia, Florida State, and the Vols. The New Ball Coach also joined the Ol’ Ball Coach as the only men to beat Phil Fulmer in four straight seasons.
No rivalry game this week. Just Ole Miss.
Previous: 6
Last Week: Beat Auburn 26-21
This Week: Mississippi State (+24.5)
Les Miles should be institutionalized.
Look, it’s one thing to go for fourth downs. Another to go for the end zone.
But letting a redshirt freshman backup quarterback throw the football in plus territory when a field goal will win it?!?
That’s what I was thinking when Jarrett Lee took the hit and delivered a nine-yard strike in traffic to Charles Scott (on first down, mind you).
When he subsequently threw an out to Brandon LaFell that resulted in the game-winning touchdown, I was floored.
Leaving more than a minute on the clock for your opponent to potentially drive for the winning score?
Sooner or later this is going to come back to bite Miles. And when it does, it will be just as entertaining as Saturday night was.
Previous: 4
Last Week: Beat Buffalo
This Week: BYE
What more can I say about how impressive the Florida and LSU road wins were?
How about the fact that our voters took an undefeated Missouri team coming off a 21-point win and dropped the Tigers two spots?
Chase Daniel and company have done everything possible to impress—including completing a Big 12 record 20 straight passes against Buffalo.
Now they’ll have a bye week to feel disrespected and prepare for a Nebraska team that could be undefeated and ranked when the Tigers travel to Lincoln for the Big 12 opener.
Previous: 9
Last Week: Beat Arkansas 49-14
This Week: at No. 2 Georgia (-7)
I had the privilege of watching this team in person last weekend in Fayetteville. Let me tell you, Julio Jones is an incredible physical specimen—especially for a freshman.
But he’s nothing compared to nose guard Terrence Cody. The 6'5", 365-pounder made my jaw drop.
Cody is a big reason—pun very intended—why Alabama ranks eighth in the nation in rushing defense...only five spots behind Georgia.
I take back the cheap shot regarding bye weeks. I’m glad there won’t be any other games worth watching so I can concentrate on this one.
Previous: 7
Last Week: Beat Rice 52-10
This Week: Arkansas (+27.5)
The team the Tide pummeled last week, Arkansas, travels to Austin for a weather-postponed game against UT.
Colt McCoy passed for four touchdowns against Rice and set a school record with 62 for his career. However, the rage is his running ability. Eight carries for 83 yards and a scoring play that left two defenders wondering where the 18-wheeler came from.
Saturday will be the final tune-up for the Longhorns, who will then play road games against Colorado and Oklahoma before coming home for games against Missouri and Oklahoma State before another road game against Texas Tech...now we know why Mack Brown wasn’t thrilled about giving up this open date.
Previous: 8
Last Week: BYE
This Week: at Michigan (+6)
We’re used to the Big 11 title coming down to late November, when Ohio State meets Michigan. But what if the conference championship was already sewn up by the second week of October?
That’s what Wisconsin will attempt to do in three consecutive games against the Big 11’s most prominent programs—Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. Of those three, this weekend’s matchup against the Wolverines is the only one that will be played outside of Madison.
All right Illini fans. Before you fire up the hate mail machine, I’ll throw you a bone and mention that Illinois is technically “better” than Michigan by virtue of their No. 24 ranking. But you also get a trip to Camp Randall this October, and I’m willing to bet you won’t be ranked when you get there.
Now you can start emailing.
Previous: 14
Last Week: Beat Temple 45-3
This Week: No. 23 Illinois (+14.5)
Oh, what a coincidence!
Speaking of the Zookers...they drew an opener on the road against a Penn State program that is absolutely rolling.
The Nittany Lions have won their four games by an average of 43 points, the widest differential in the nation. That either means Joe Paterno scheduled opponents he knew he could outrun even with a sore leg, or that Penn State is the best thing since point differential became a statistic.
Previous: 11
Last Week: Beat UMass 56-14
This Week: BYE
Previous: 13
Last Week: Beat Wyoming 44-0
This Week: BYE
Previous: 12
Last Week: Beat Florida Int’l 17-9
This Week: at NC State (+8.5)
Previous: 10
Last Week: Lost to LSU 26-21
This Week: Tennessee (+6.5)
Previous: 16
Last Week: Beat Troy 28-10
This Week: Minnesota (+17.5)
Previous: 18
Last Week: Beat Florida State 12-3
This Week: Navy (+15.5)
Previous: 19
Last Week: Beat Air Force 30-23
This Week: Weber State (no line)
Previous: NR
Last Week: Beat Oregon 37-32
This Week: BYE
Previous: 20
Last Week: Beat Sam Houston St. 38-14
This Week: BYE
Previous: NR
Last Week: Beat Mississippi
This Week: BYE
Previous: 21
Last Week: Beat South Carolina St. 54-0
This Week: Maryland (+11.5)
Previous: NR
Last Week: Beat SMU 48-7
This Week: at No. 3 Oklahoma (-17.5)
Previous: 22
Last Week: BYE
This Week: at No. 10 Penn State (-14.5)
Previous: 15
Last Week: Lost to NC State 30-24 OT
This Week: Houston (+10.5)
Previous: 25
Last Week: Beat Toledo 55-54 OT
This Week: at UCLA (+6.5)
Also receiving votes
Oregon, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Michigan State, Arkansas, Nebraska, Tulsa, Miami, UConn, Cal, Michigan, Texas A&M, Arkansas State, Tulane, Florida State, Kentucky
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