My B/R Top 25 (Sept. 29)

1. LSU: (previous: 3) The beneficiaries of my top two from last week (USC and Florida) tripping up and falling down. A workmanlike performance against conference rival Mississippi State last week, but the Bayou Bengals will need to maintain their focus and not get caught looking ahead. Nevertheless, they did what they needed to do. Warning, though: may drop a place next week due to the ever-present opponent, BYE. Next game is @ Florida on Oct. 11.
2. Oklahoma: (previous: 5) The Sooners were definitely NOT looking ahead or taking a win vs. the TCU "Horny Toads" for granted. An impressive win, but the toughest tests lie ahead, especially the Red River Shootout on Oct. 11 (see #3). In the meantime, the Sooners travel to Baylor this weekend.
3. Texas: (previous: 6) As I suspected, the Fighting Bevos tried to outdo Alabama on "style points" by running up the score on Arkansas. Credit to them for putting together a good team; however, we don't know if they are better than Oklahoma until the two teams meet on the field on Oct. 11! Stay tuned...
4. Alabama: (previous: 8) Replace the Georgia Bulldogs at #4, on the basis of their impressive road win in Athens. Poor UGA (the dog AND the team), they didn't even see it comin'... I guess it *was* a funeral. I'm still going to be interested in what happens with the Tide's game against Arkansas State on Nov. 1, though. *grin*
5. Penn State: (previous: 12) The big winners of the week, the Nittany Lions had a "whiteout" against Illinois and took care of business. Though much like Oklahoma, I'm still unsure about the relative quality of PSU. They could be anywhere between #5 and #11 at this point.
6. Utah: (previous: 9) Coasted over pastry product Weber State, but still get credit for having played, and thus leap over BYU. However, Utah's pass defense has more holes than a Wall Street investment bank. The Utes (My Cousin Vinny, anyone?) play at home this Thursday in the dreaded "Papa John's" slot vs. (wait for it...) Oregon State!
7. BYU: (previous: 7) Would have dropped a place due to facing look-alike program BYE this past weekend, but three teams above them lost, so the Cougars stay put. Next game on Friday @ Utah State is not likely to present much of a test, either.
8. Florida: (previous: 2) Tight game against Ole Miss, and it came down to a blocked extra point. Well done to the Rebels, who seem to have Florida's number, just as Oregon State seem to have the number of Southern California. The Gators are not out of the race for a BCS bowl just yet, but losing at home and in conference *has* to hurt. The "Cocktail Party" against Georgia still looms large. Highest-ranked team with a loss (3-1).
9. USC: (previous: 1) No excuses for the Trojans; they just didn't have the same level of intensity as the Beavers. They've had challenges on the road before, but for some reason, Corvallis seems to present a particularly tough challenge. With the loss, the home games against #19 Oregon (next week) and #17 Cal (on Nov. 8) increase in relevance. Second-highest ranked team with a loss (2-1).
10. Missouri: (previous: 10) Would have dropped a place, but stay at #10 (see BYU at #7). Playing anyone would have helped, especially in conference. Face a tough test next week on the road against Nebraska; the 'Huskers will be ready to get the bad taste of a home loss to Virginia Tech out of their mouths.
11. Ohio State: (previous: 13) Does the loss to USC look better or worse now? Who cares? Coach Tressel seems to have resolved to "bloody" Pryor (as the Brits would say), giving him ample playing time to develop, and to get him ready for battle in the BIG conference games. Circle Oct. 25 at home vs. Penn State (if the Bucks don't trip up before then). Third-highest ranked team with a loss (4-1).
12. Georgia: (previous: 4) Almost everyone's preseason pick for #1, the 'Dawgs still have a chance... but they have to first get over the humiliation at home at the hands of the Crimson Tide. Luckily, they face everyone's favorite opponent (BYE) this week, so they have time to lick their wounds and sharpen their teeth for Tennessee's visit on Oct. 11. I might have to drop them a spot for the week's rest, though. Fourth-highest ranked team with a loss (4-1), and now the fourth-best team in the SEC.
13. Auburn: (previous: 17) Jump a few spots with a lucky 14-12 win on the road against Tennessee, and the fact that so many teams above them lost. The "War Eagers" still create more questions than answers each week about their legitimacy, though. Could go down with a thud @ #16 Vandy this weekend, or they could spank the Commodores and move further up the polls. A riddle wrapped inside an enigma; the number 13 suits them fine. Fifth-highest ranked team with a loss (4-1).
14. Texas Tech: (previous: 14) Would have dropped a place, but stay at #14 (see #7 and #10). The Fightin' Leaches face their first legitimate opponent of the season this weekend @ Kansas State.
15. South Florida: (previous: 19) Impressive win on the road over N.C. State helps the Bulls make a significant jump. The charge that USF plays "up" or "down" to its opponent may still stick, though. The Big East schedule begins this week, with a Thursday night game at home vs. Pitt.
16. Vanderbilt: (previous: 16) The Fightin' Lionel Richies stay put (see #7, #10, and #14). Play at home vs. #13 Auburn this weekend. Vanderbilt might win 5-3...
17. California: (previous: 18) Narrow win over Colorado State means the Golden Bears get to nudge up one spot in a chaotic week for the polls. In a "normal" week (whatever that is), they might have slipped a spot or two. Still the second-best team in the Pac-10 in my opinion. Face Arizona State at home this weekend. Sixth-highest ranked team with a loss (3-1).
18. Wisconsin: (previous: 11) The Badgers failed their first conference test, coming from ahead to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against Mee-chee-gan, and so they fall hard. The next game, at home vs. Ohio State this weekend, will determine whether they stay in the Top 25. Seventh-highest ranked team with a loss (3-1).
19. Oregon: (previous: 21) Jump over Boise State because the Ducks actually played a game and rolled up some "style points" to boot, 63-14, even though it was against everyone's favorite Pac-10 Pastry Product, Washington State. Not much difference between Oregon and Cal at this time, really. However, the Ducks may be shot down when they travel to Los Angeles this week to face a suddenly angry USC team. Eighth-highest ranked team with a loss (4-1).
20. Boise State: (previous: 20) The "Smurf & Turf" Broncos stay put this week (see #7, #10, #14, and #16). Face a midweek game on "WTF" Wednesday, Oct. 1, at home vs. Louisiana Tech. As I said last week, a steep climb up the rankings is not very likely.
21. Connecticut: (previous: 24) Not under the radar anymore, due to a clutch win at Louisville last Friday, and due to "wonderback" Donald Brown, the nation's leading rusher at this time. Like Vandy two weeks ago, I had UConn in my Top 25 *last* week... so (again): neener, neener, NEE-ner!
    
    However, the Huskies lost starting quarterback Tyler Lorenzen, and so there is a danger opponents will stack the D-line the rest of the season. Replacement QB Zach Frazer may be in over his head. Watch for that this weekend in a suddenly intriguing matchup in Chapel Hill between UConn and the North Carolina Tarheels, who dispatched the Miami Hurricanes on the road last week. (Are we really sure that it isn't basketball season yet? hee hee)
22. Virginia Tech: (previous: NR) Ladies and gentlemen: the *best* team in the ACC. The Hokies should stick with their "throwback" unis (at least on the road), they seemed to do the trick in hostile territory last weekend against Nebraska. It's never easy to come out of Lincoln with a win. Showed signs that "Beamerball" special teams are back, too.
    
    The Hokies are undefeated in the ACC, for now, and taking a holiday this weekend, at home to the "baker's special" Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky (the 120th team at FBS/1-A level, beginning next year). Ninth-highest ranked team with a loss (4-1).
23. Northwestern: (prev: NR) The 5-0 Wildcats get the edge over 3-1 Fresno State for beating Iowa on the road last week, while the "West Coast Bulldogs" beat prospective WAC member UCLA on the road (and I say this as a UCLA alumnus... sad). Next week, though, the Wildcats face BYE.
24. Ball State: (prev: NR) The plucky 5-0 Cardinals poke their heads into the Top 25 for the first time, in part due to the bloodbath involving Top 25 teams last week. BSU was a tossup for this spot with fellow undefeateds Oklahoma State and Kentucky, but I've given the nod to Ball State for now based on their extra game and for "stepping up" by playing about the same schedule toughness.
    
    However, even if the Cardinals run the table, they're not likely to be able to crash the BCS party, because their *remaining* schedule (in the MAC) is just too soft.
25. Wake Forest: (previous: 15) The Demon Deacons only stay in the Top 25 because Clemson lost to Maryland, TCU lost to Oklahoma, and East Carolina lost to Houston. Having that non-con win over Ole Miss doesn't hurt, either.
    
    Losing at home to Navy won't impress anyone, though, in the ACC or nationally. No longer the best in the ACC; they're nicked by the Hokies for that less-than-stellar distinction. 10th-highest ranked team with a loss (3-1).