College Football Rankings 2011 Week 3: 4 Teams That Will Crack Top 25 with Win

There is nothing quite like breaking into the top 25 rankings.

Teams that were disrespected by pollsters early in the year get their chance to show them how wrong they were. It’s a chance for teams to get confirmation that they are indeed one of the best  in the country.

Here are four squads that are a big weekend away from punching their ticket to the top 25:

Maryland Terrapins

Sure they don't have the most aesthetically pleasing jerseys, but the team is well balanced and has a great QB in Danny O'Brien. He is capable of making big plays while also staying away from stupid ones that result in turnovers.

Yet they are still stuck in the dreaded "also receiving votes" section, behind frauds like TCU and Auburn.

They have a date with No. 17 West Virginia this week and a win will get their top 25 ticket punched.

Michigan Wolverines

They have the dubious distinction of winning the most exciting game of the year thus far, yet it still wasn't good enough to get a spot in the top 25. The Wolverines, who are one of the top vote getters outside of the rankings, will get the invite soon. They welcome San Diego State into town before Minnesota travels to the Big House.

Expect Michigan to be comfortably in the top 25 by this time two weeks from now.

USC Trojans

They haven't won by much, but 2-0 is 2-0. They decided to challenge themselves early on and the pollsters should reward them for it, yet the stigma of the Reggie Bush scandal still casts a cloud over the team and in the polls.

In reality, the Trojans have one of the top QBs in the nation with Matt Barkley and have a ton of talent and depth on defense. They would be in the conversation for a BCS birth if they weren't on probation and the rankings need to properly reflect that.

Houston Cougars

One name: Case Keenum.

He's the Cougars Heisman hopeful QB that has thrown for more yards than any other player in the country thus far. The high-powered aerial attack is incredible to watch and the efficiency forecasts a ton of success in Houston this season.

With a great win over UCLA already in the books, they have been tested and need to be rewarded. If they take care of business on Saturday against Louisiana Tech, it should be the boost they need to catapult past a lesser top 25 team that gets upended.