My B/R Top 25 (Nov. 17)

1. Alabama (previous: 1) 11-0; beat Mississippi State 32-7

The 'Tide keeps on Rolling. Now, a week to rest before the rivalry game with Auburn. No certainties in that game; throw records out the window. See: USC vs. UCLA, 2006. And then there's that small matter of No. 5 Florida in the SEC title game...

2. Texas Tech (previous: 2) 10-0; BYE

Biggest test of the year this week @ No. 4 Oklahoma. Yes, bigger than the game against Texas. If the Red Raiders pass this one, they should start watching the DVDs of Missouri to make sure they don't face the same fate Mizzou did last year...

3. Texas (previous: 3) 10-1; beat Kansas 35-7

The only weakness Texas has shown is losing too late; Oklahoma lost earlier, and has had more time to impress the voters, if not the computers. The remaining game vs. rival Texas A&M on Thanksgiving *should* be easy enough (see No. 1 Alabama)...

4. Oklahoma (previous: 4) 9-1; BYE

Oklahoma has bounced back admirably since the loss to Texas; well enough that the Sooners stand to benefit immensely should they be able to lay a smackdown on No. 2 Texas Tech this week in Norman (I'm leaning towards having the three Big XII programs tied for No. 2 or No. 3 if that happens).

5. Florida (previous: 5) 9-1; beat No. 24 South Carolina 56-6

The freakin' Citadel? *sigh* OK, Gators, have your pastry product and eat it too. Just keep in mind this is gonna hurt your SOS, and your rep. Try scheduling Central Florida or South Florida next time. Also keep in mind the rivalry game Nov. 29 @ Florida State is not a foregone conclusion (see No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Texas).

6. USC (previous: 6) 9-1; beat Stanford 45-23

The Trojans might be wishing right now that their remaining opponents, vs. Notre Dame (Nov. 29) and @ UCLA (Dec. 6), had better records, to boost their SOS. As it stands now, they have to cross their fingers and hope their BCS title dreams don't pop like an overinflated...well, Trojan. And isn't this weekend like their fourth bye or something?

7. Utah (previous: 7) 11-0; beat San Diego State 63-14

Quoting last week's summary: "This is the second 13-10 win for the Utes, so to impress the finicky pollsters they will try to pile the points on this week @ San Diego St." One game remains: this week's "Holy War" vs. No. 15 BYU.

8. Penn State (previous: 8) 10-1; beat Indiana 34-7

Only the game this week in Happy Valley vs. No. 17 Michigan State remains between the Nittany Lions and the roses of Pasadena. And for Big "11" teams, that still means something. Likely opponent: No. 6 USC. However, a rematch vs. No. 20 Oregon State is quite possible, and the Beavers will be out for revenge!

9. Boise State (previous: 9) 10-0; beat Idaho 45-10

Along with Utah, the Broncos are making the case for a revamp of the BCS criteria for participation, specifically the granting of automatic bids to the champions of the "BCS Six". One need look no further than the bottom reaches of this poll (for the "best" of the ACC and Big East) to see why.

10. Ohio State (previous: 10) 9-2; beat Illinois 30-20

Ohio State must rely on No. 17 Michigan State to upset No. 8 Penn State to make the Rose Bowl. Otherwise, the Buckeyes face the distinct possibility of being shut out of a BCS bowl berth altogether, unless Utah or Boise State lose. This week's rivalry game vs. 3-8 (!) Michigan *should* pose no threat (see No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Texas, No. 5 Florida)...

11. Missouri (previous: 12) 9-2; beat Iowa State 52-20

The Tigers are on a mission to atone for last year's Big XII title game loss to Oklahoma. Thankfully, they reside in the Big XII North, and more or less have a lock on it now. Mizzou has a week off before the rivalry game on Nov. 29 vs. Kansas at neutral Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

12. Georgia (previous: 11) 9-2; beat Auburn 17-13

Yes, a win is a win. No, road games in the SEC are never easy. But the 'Dawgs drop a spot, switching places with Missouri. Only the rivalry game on Nov. 29 vs. Georgia Tech remains (see No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Texas, No. 5 Florida, No. 10 Ohio State)...

13. Oklahoma State (previous: 13) 9-2; beat Colorado 30-17

The Fightin' Gundys have had a fine run this year, having lost only to No. 2 Texas Tech and No. 3 Texas. And if they were in the Big XII North, they'd be leading it, due to their win over No. 11 Missouri. Such is life amongst the sharks of the Big XII South. But the Cowboys can play spoiler if they can upset No. 4 Oklahoma in their final game on Nov. 29 in Stillwater.

14. Ball State (previous: 14) 10-0; beat Miami (OH) 31-16

The Cardinals *seem* invincible so far. Of course, their weak schedule is their main enemy. And a possible upset lurks this week on "WTF Wednesday" (as I like to call it) @ MAC West division rival Central Michigan.

15. BYU (previous: 16) 10-1; beat Air Force 38-24

At 8-2 before the game, Air Force was no pushover. The Cougars lined themselves up for this week's "Holy War" game @ No. 7 Utah. A win over the Utes would create a three-way logjam in the Mountain West (on conference record), similar to what could happen in the Big XII South.

16. TCU (previous: 15) 9-2; BYE

The "Horny Toads" had the week off, and so drop a spot, despite having beaten No. 15 BYU. A win vs. Air Force this week could boost them back up, especially if the Cougars lose to No. 7 Utah.

17. Michigan State (previous: 17) 9-2; BYE

The Spartans' chances of making the Rose Bowl are not good; they have to win this week's game @ No. 8 Penn State, and also hope that Michigan upsets No. 10 Ohio State in Columbus. But the fact that Sparty is still in the reckoning at this late date speaks volumes.

18. Cincinnati (previous: 20) 8-2; beat Louisville 28-20

The Bearcats are proving to be a resilient team; consecutive road wins in conference games against West Virginia and Louisville have shown that they are legitimate contenders for the Big East title. Games against Pitt, Syracuse, and Hawaii (special 13th game) remain. That said, if the best team in the Big East is ranked No. 18...

19. LSU (previous: 19) 7-3; beat Troy 40-31

The Tigers almost pulled an "Alabama 2007" by losing to a Sun Belt rival at home. Luckily for the Bayou Bengals, Troy seemed to run out of gas after three quarters, at which time they led 31-10 (!)... in Death Valley? Maybe the Tigers ought not to wear those purple jerseys at home any longer.

20. Oregon State (previous: 23) 7-3; beat California 34-21

Hmm. This could get interesting. The Beavers have two games remaining, this week @ Arizona, and Nov. 29 vs. rival Oregon. If they win them both, they're in the Rose Bowl, and USC is left at the mercy of the BCS bowl committees for an at-large spot. Wow.

21. Pittsburgh (previous: 21) 7-2; BYE

It's crunch time in the Big East. This weekend's game @ No. 18 Cincinnati will either boost the Panthers to the top of the conference, or eliminate them from serious contention. If the former occurs, the game vs. West Virginia on Friday, Nov. 28 will decide the Big East title.

22. Maryland (previous: NR) 7-3; beat No. 18 North Carolina 17-15

Does anybody actually WANT to win the ACC? In either division? I hear the calls for conference "demotion" to non-BCS status growing louder...

23. Northwestern (previous: 25) 8-3; beat Michigan 21-14

A home win over rival Illinois this weekend puts the Wildcats at 9-3, which is a good result for them. It was a tossup whether to put Northwestern or Oregon here; if Oregon beats rival Oregon State, they'll be in the Top 25. Conversely, if Northwestern loses to Illinois, they'll be out.

24. North Carolina (previous: 18) 7-3; lost to Maryland 15-17

Just when the Tar Heels looked like a quality program... just when they thought they were free of the ACC morass... they get *pulled* back in! Remaining games vs. North Carolina State this week, and @ Duke Nov. 29 are winnable, but that may not be enough to get UNC to the ACC title game.

25. Miami (previous: NR) 7-3; beat Virginia Tech 16-14

The 'Canes have a game this Thursday @ ACC Coastal Division rival Georgia Tech; the winner will likely be in the ACC title game. *Yawn*...

Dropped out: No. 22 Florida State, No. 24 South Carolina