My B/R Top 25 (Nov. 2)

1. Alabama (previous: 2) 9-0; beat Arkansas St. 35-0

No stumble, no looking past the opponent at hand. Nothing earth-shattering, given the opponent, but that's still miles ahead of what happened last November. Top spot is now the Crimson Tide's to lose.

2. Texas Tech (previous: 9) 9-0; beat No. 1 Texas 39-33

Credit to the Red Raiders: they held off a fierce Longhorns challenge at the death. The over/under (72) was just a bit higher than the Longhorns wanted it, and just a bit lower than the Red Raiders wanted it. Tech now must undergo what Texas has undergone: come out unscathed against Oklahoma State this week and @ Oklahoma on Nov. 22.

3. Penn State (previous: 3) 9-0; BYE

The Nittany Lions picked a bad week for a bye. Per my usual rule, they stay put. They have a chance to make it up, though, on Nov. 15, when Texas Tech has a bye. If PSU demolishes Iowa this week and Indiana on Nov. 15, then they might jump into the second spot. All's fair in love and non-playoff football, folks.

4. Texas (previous: 1) 8-1; lost to No. 9 Texas Tech 33-39

The highest-ranked team with one loss, Texas came within a dropped interception and a tightrope-act dance by Michael Crabtree of winning the game. It's an argument whether to put Oklahoma ahead of Texas; I don't, given the head-to-head result. Therefore, the 'Horns don't drop too far, and they still have a shot at the Big XII North if Texas Tech stumbles.

5. Oklahoma (previous: 5) 8-1; beat Nebraska 62-28

Every team in the Big XII is playing like Texas Tech; whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is left for you to decide. Having North and South divisions is a farce; the conference should drop two teams and play a complete (nine-game) conference schedule. Oklahoma might be better than Texas at this point; there's no sure way to tell, so I leave them in fifth.

6. Florida (previous: 7) 7-1; beat No. 8 Georgia 49-10

Right now there's a logjam behind the top three; all hell will break loose (again) if there are six or seven one-loss teams at the end of the regular season. Florida did its part to stake its claim for title game consideration (but that's counting the Alabama game before it hatches, of course). Georgia didn't look like it belonged on the same field for most of the game.

7. USC (previous: 6) 7-1; beat Washington 56-0

I dropped the Trojans one place despite their win over Washington. This is due to the effectiveness of Florida's flattening of Georgia in the SEC East showdown, rather than any inherent flaw in the Trojans' performance. This could be rearranging deck chairs, though, if the top two or three win out. This week vs. No. 25 California is the toughest test remaining.

8. Utah (previous: 4) 9-0; beat New Mexico 13-10

How can a win result in dropping four places? When it's a narrow win in which there is no sign that the winning team had all that much interest in the game. That is, Utah was likely looking forward to the game vs. No. 12 TCU this Thursday, Nov. 6. Hence, with the stellar performances of other teams near them, the Utes take a hit. They're still on track for a BCS berth if they win out, though.

9. Oklahoma State (previous: 10) 8-1; beat Iowa State 59-17

The Cowboys inherit the Red Raider's spot from last week. If they had been able to beat Texas two weeks ago, the roles would've been reversed. The 'Pokes made sure not to let the loss to Texas affect them (I've said previously I feel sorry for teams that play teams that lost to Texas the week before). This week @ No. 2 Texas Tech is now the umpteenth "Game of the Decade" in the Big XII.

10. Boise State (previous: 12) 8-0; beat New Mexico St. 49-0

The Broncos are demonstrating how to "ramp up" a BCS-busting challenge; Utah could learn a thing from these guys. Boise leap-frogs idle Ohio State, and if they win out while Utah loses one, they will beat TCU into a BCS bowl. And more importantly, there's nothing that indicates that they'd be overmatched against teams near them in the rankings.

11. Ohio State (previous: 11) 7-2; BYE

The highest-ranked team with two losses, the Bucks joined Penn State on R & R this week, and so they stay put. This week @ No. 19 Northwestern is not a given; OSU will have to be careful not to get caught making Rose Bowl plans ahead of time.

12. TCU (previous: 13) 9-1; beat UNLV 44-14

TCU also showed No. 8 Utah how a mid-major BCS-buster needs to perform; more crucially, the matchup @ Utah this Thursday, Nov. 6, will put one of them in the driver's seat in the Mountain West Conference. However, with their one loss, TCU are at a disadvantage as a BCS-buster unless Boise State stumbles.

13. Georgia (previous: 8) 7-2; lost to No. 7 Florida 10-49

The Bulldogs are not going to the title game. That's about all that's certain at this point. However, coach Richt and his staff will be reminding the team that they still have a shot for a BCS bowl if they pay attention to the tasks in front of them. Wins @ Kentucky, @ Auburn, and vs. No. 22 Georgia Tech would give the 'Dawgs a 10-2 record.

14. Ball State (previous: 14) 8-0; BYE

Not much to be said about the Cardinals; they didn't play last weekend because they're about to become "WTF Wednesday" regulars. I suppose the television exposure is a good thing for them, but a BCS bowl is definitely out of reach. The game Nov. 19 @ Central Michigan is going to be a tough game for the "Fighting Lettermans".

15. Missouri (previous: 16) 7-2; beat Baylor 31-28

The Tigers are still in the driver's seat in the Big XII North; that's not saying much, though... ;-) Games vs. Kansas State and @ Iowa State mean the Tigers should go into the "Border War" with Kansas with a 9-2 record. Perhaps they're thinking about that rivalry game already; how else to explain a three-point margin over Baylor?

16. LSU (previous: 17) 6-2; beat Tulane 35-10

The game against Tulane was a much needed break of chicory coffee in between the high -octane, 100-proof "hurricanes" against powerhouses Georgia (two weeks ago) and Alabama (next week). Perhaps that's why the Tigers were wearing purple jerseys at home? LSU may need to wear the special *green* jerseys to pull an upset over No. 1 Alabama on Nov. 8.

17. BYU (previous: 18) 8-1; beat Colorado State 45-42

Uh oh. Cutting it a bit too close, Cougars! Where do you think you are, the Big XII? Hee hee... a win is a win, but no bonus points or jump in the rankings. "No soup for you!"

18. Michigan State (previous: 19) 8-2; beat Wisconsin 25-24

A surprisingly competitive game; I (and others) thought the Badgers were toothless by now. Credit to them for putting a scare into the Spartans. But they... can't... stop... Javon... Ringer... from... scoring!

19. Northwestern (previous: NR) 7-2; beat No. 15 Minnesota 24-17

And thus we come to the "Big 11 also-ran" portion of the ranking. Actually, Northwestern is *back* in the rankings after having dropped out of last week's ranking due to the loss to Indiana. Redemption came in the form of a game-ending (just about) "peek seeks". Nicely done, Wildcats. Now go out there and give No. 11 Ohio State some fight!

20. North Carolina (previous: 20) 6-2; BYE

The Tar Heels become the class of the ACC by not playing, since it seems every time an ACC team pops into the Top 25, it then loses (see "Dropped out" below). Two key games in a row are upcoming: this week vs. No. 22 Georgia Tech (a Coastal Division rival), and Nov. 15 @ No. 24 Maryland (narrowly topping Florida State in the Atlantic Division).

21. Minnesota (previous: 15) 7-2; lost to Northwestern 17-24

Losing to Northwestern at home was a key blow to the Gophers' Big "11" title hopes. They still have an excellent shot for a prime bowl game, though, and unless the bottom falls out of their season, Tim Brewster is still a good bed for Coach of the Year.

22. Georgia Tech (previous: NR) 7-2; beat No. 23 Florida State 31-28

Georgia Tech can't decide whether it's a Top 25 team or not. It's ba-aaack, after dropping out of last week's ranking due to the loss to Virginia. A thrilling game against Florida State helps them back in, at the expense of the 'Noles. Staying will be a challenge; the remaining three games are this week @ No. 20 North Carolina, Nov. 20 vs. Miami, and Nov. 29 @ No. 13 Georgia.

23. West Virginia (previous: NR) 6-2; beat Connecticut, 35-13

Uh... the best team in the Big East. Can't we just go ahead and demote this conference to "mid-major" status? If you're wondering why, take another look at the conference membership again... It'd only be fair to the other "mid-majors"; do them a favor and put these guys in the basket with them.

24. Maryland (previous: NR) 6-2; BYE

Also got in because Florida State lost. Tough schedule remains: this Thursday, Nov. 6 @ Virginia Tech; Nov. 15 vs. No. 20 North Carolina; and Nov. 22 vs. Florida State in a possible Atlantic Division decider.

25. California (previous: NR) 6-2; beat No. 24 Oregon 26-16

The "challenger" in the Pac-10 (pause). I had to stop laughing. Seriously, this week's game @ No. 7 USC is not likely to be an "upset special". The Golden Bears get back into the Top 25 by beating Oregon. Nice all-yellow uniforms (see picture at top of article); they're reminiscent of another schizophrenic 6-2 team, No. 23 West Virginia.

Dropped out: No. 21 South Florida (6-3), No. 22 Tulsa (8-1), No. 23 Florida State (6-2), No. 24 Oregon (6-3), No. 25 Virginia (5-4).