My B/R Top 25 (Nov. 23)

1. Alabama (previous: 1) 11-0; BYE

For those who consider the regular season to be one giant playoff, Alabama is the last “major” conference member standing. Shall we proclaim them champions by default? I thought not. First: the regular season is not a playoff. Second: the conference championships are not playoffs; they are “play-ins” (see Missouri 2007, for example).

The Tide have two games remaining on their pre-bowl schedule: this week vs. rival Auburn, and the SEC title game on Dec. 6 vs. No. 2(t) Florida.

2(t). Oklahoma (previous: 4) 10-1; beat No. 2 Texas Tech 65-21

The magnitude of Oklahoma’s thrashing of Texas Tech is such that I am placing them in a tie for second with Texas and with Florida. For purposes of the B/R poll (which doesn’t allow ties), I am putting Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida in that order (Nos. 2, 3, and 4). All three teams face their rivals next weekend; the Sooners have the toughest opponent, @ No. 13 Oklahoma State.

2(t). Texas (previous: 3) 10-1; BYE

Texas is leapfrogged by Oklahoma in part due to the latter’s margin of victory over Texas Tech, but also because of the bye. Yes, the Longhorns beat the Sooners on a neutral field.  But the fact that Oklahoma hasn’t lost since that game, while Texas has, figures into it (although in this article I consider them tied).

Thursday’s game vs. Texas A&M will be the chance for the ‘Horns to make a statement and (along with Oklahoma, no doubt) start intensive lobbying that will put Washington, D.C., to shame.

2(t). Florida (previous: 5) 10-1; beat The Citadel 70-19

Demolition of an inferior opponent: Check. Texas-sized (or Oklahoma-sized) chip on shoulder: Check. This weekend’s game @ rival No. 24 Florida State likely to be a blowout: Check. Place in SEC title game vs. No. 1 Alabama ready and set: Check. All systems go for Tebow & Co.

5. Utah (previous: 7) 12-0; beat No. 15 BYU 48-24

I had Utah ranked as high as No. 4 earlier this year, but the Utes went through a mid-season slump in which they failed to demolish the opposition, and I dropped them to No. 8. Then came the "Holy War” and Utah sealed the BCS deal. They have little to no chance at the BCS title game. But there is still something to prove, after last year’s Sugar Bowl between Georgia and BCS-buster Hawaii. The Utes should be ready.

6. Penn State (previous: 8) 11-1; beat No. 17 Michigan State 49-18

The Nittany Lions are happy to smell the roses, despite having come so close to an undefeated regular season. The opponent, of course, is yet to be determined; it could be No. 7 USC (which every ABC executive is hoping desperately for) or it could be No. 17 Oregon State (should the Beavers beat No. 25 Oregon this week).

7. USC (previous: 6) 9-1; BYE

Another bye, another missed opportunity to move up a rank or two. The Trojans have two games remaining, this week vs. Notre Dame and Dec. 6 @ UCLA. Carroll and his troops will have to win out and hope that the Big XII and/or SEC become a total mess. It could happen, but it’s not in USC’s control.

8. Texas Tech (previous: 2) 10-1; lost to No. 4 Oklahoma 21-65

Just as Texas did, Texas Tech stumbled at the end of their gauntlet... actually “stumble” is too kind a word to describe what happened. The Red Raiders have Sooner Schooner marks on their backsides… they can still count on a “prestige” bowl berth, but probably not a BCS berth. Nevertheless, Mike Leach has to be at or near the top of most people’s “Coach of the Year” list.

9. Boise State (previous: 9) 11-0; beat Nevada 41-34

A close win on the road against a tough Nevada team preserves the Broncos’ undefeated record, but No. 5 Utah has effectively beaten them to a BCS berth. This week’s season finale on Friday vs. Fresno State is not likely to change that. But Boise will still have a chance to demonstrate their credentials if they beat a BCS conference opponent in their bowl game.

10. Ohio State (previous: 10) 10-2; beat Michigan 42-7

Ohio State is a “bubble team” right now. The fan base might be enough to earn them a BCS slot (Fiesta?) if enough teams stumble...but that is another piece of evidence in favor of an eight-team playoff, not for expanding the array of dead-end BCS bowls. The Bucks must be wondering what might’ve been had they pulled out a win vs. Penn State…

11. Missouri (previous: 11) 9-2; BYE

Missouri is the greatest threat to Ohio State’s BCS bowl berth hopes. Depending on the outcome of this weekend’s rivalry game vs. Kansas at neutral Arrowhead Stadium, and the Big XII title game next week in the same location, the Tigers could really complicate things… like Oklahoma did last year.

12. Georgia (previous: 12) 9-2; BYE

Based on the preseason rankings, Georgia’s season has been a failure. Lucky for us that preseason rankings aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on, and that the only rankings that count are the ones that come out at the end of the season. Mark Richt will have been working on getting the ‘Dawgs ready for this weekend’s game vs. rival No. 22 Georgia Tech.

13. Oklahoma State (previous: 13) 9-2; BYE

From last week’s summary: “If they were in the Big XII North, they'd be leading it, due to their win over No. 11 Missouri... but the Cowboys can play spoiler if they can upset Oklahoma.” You think the ‘Pokes are lickin’ their chops at the chance to knock the Sooners out of the running? Gundy might be foaming at the mouth already…

14. TCU (previous: 16) 10-2; beat Air Force 44-10

The two losses are to No. 2(t) Oklahoma and No. 5 Utah. Not bad. The “Horny Toads” are runners-up in the tougher-than-people-think Mountain West Conference. TCU’s regular season is finished, so they will be looking to demonstrate their (and their conference’s) toughness, vs. a BCS conference opponent if possible. Perhaps No. 13 Oklahoma State (whose two losses are to Texas and Texas Tech)?

15. Ball State (previous: 14) 11-0; beat Central Michigan 31-24

Being a member of a conference that plays the bulk of its conference games on weekdays in order to get television coverage is a mixed blessing. The positive side is the television exposure, of course. The negative side is that the games themselves lack the prestige or attractiveness necessary to get the maximum exposure that comes with playing on Saturdays. A narrow win over Central Michigan isn’t going to thrill the nation.

16. Cincinnati (previous: 18) 9-2; beat Pittsburgh 28-21

The Bearcats are one of the surprise teams of the year, beating Big East conference opponents South Florida, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh (despite the Panthers attempting their version of “The Play” from the 1982 Cal-Stanford game). A win vs. Syracuse will guarantee them the Big East title and a BCS bowl berth, regardless of the outcome of the “13th game” @ Hawaii on Dec. 6.

17. Oregon State (previous: 20) 8-3; beat Arizona 19-17

The Beavers camethisclose to losing @ Arizona, where the Wildcats boast that “BCS dreams go to die.” OSU Kicker Justin Kahut got that rarest of opportunities, a chance to atone for a missed kick (a PAT) in the same game, by kicking the game-winning field goal. This week’s “Civil War” game vs. No. 25 Oregon in Corvallis will  be one of the biggest games in Oregon State history. So, no pressure then…

18. BYU (previous: 15) 10-2; lost to No. 7 Utah 24-48

Given the start to their season and the level of expectations, the Cougars have had a tough season. A case can be made, though, that their two losses were to higher-ranked teams (No. 5 Utah and No. 14 TCU), and that they beat (admittedly weak) Pac-10 opponents. It’s not a bad year for BYU; but it’s not as good as they’d like, either.

19. Michigan State (previous: 17) 9-3; lost to No. 8 Penn State 18-49

Winning in Happy Valley was always going to be a long shot. The Spartans were outrushed (Ringer held to 42 yards on 17 carries), outpassed, and generally outplayed by Penn State. But they can hold their heads up high; a third-place finish in the Big “11” will get them somewhere warm for the holidays—even though there won’t be roses between their teeth.

20. Northwestern (previous: 23) 9-3; beat Illinois 27-10

Most polls haven’t paid much attention to Northwestern in the last few weeks. I kept the Wildcats in, on the basis of their steady progress through the season; they followed each of their three losses with a win. A 9-3 record is good enough for fourth in the Big “11” and mostly likely means the ‘Cats will be in one of those “good bowls” around Jan. 1.

21. Mississippi (previous: NR) 7-4; beat No. 19 LSU 31-13

Wow. The fact that two of the Rebels’ seven wins have come ON THE ROAD against No. 2(t) Florida and (pictured) LSU—programs that captured the 2006 and 2007 BCS titles—is one reason to put them in the Top 25 as the only four-loss team.

Hotty Totty Gosh A-mighty, indeed! Currently the fourth-place SEC team by virtue of conference record, Ole Miss closes out the regular season Friday vs. rival Mississippi State.

22. Georgia Tech (previous: NR) 8-3; beat No. 25 Miami 41-23

What is with the ACC this year? I was half-kidding when I said “nobody wants to win it” last week. I don’t think I can kid now. If it wasn’t for Duke the whole conference could finish between 6-6 and 8-4. Georgia Tech looked impressive in the win over Miami, but can still lose the ACC Coastal if 7-4 Virginia Tech beats Virginia this weekend.

23. Boston College (previous: NR) 8-3; beat Wake Forest 24-21

By virtue of their win over No. 24 Florida State on Nov. 15, Boston College controls their own destiny. All they have to do is beat Maryland. Which means that they probably won't…

24. Florida State (previous: NR) 8-3; beat No. 22 Maryland 37-3

As an alumnus (M.S. Geography 1991), I send my congratulations to safety Myron Rolle for winning a Rhodes scholarship to study at Oxford University in England! I just wish that more of the players followed his example (particularly in the receiving corps). The ‘Noles will likely be 8-4 after the game in Tallahassee this weekend vs. No. 2(t) Florida, but they still have a shot at winning the ACC Atlantic (and thus the ACC) if No. 23 Boston College loses.

25. Oregon (previous: NR) 8-3; BYE

Despite not playing, the Ducks stick their webbed feet into the Top 25 due to the ACC-related carnage. This week’s rivalry game @ No. 17 Oregon State will be a tough one for the Ducks to win for two reasons: (1) the Beavers are now within reach of the Rose Bowl—Oregon has a technical chance itself, but it involves USC losing to UCLA—and (2) the game is in Corvallis, not in the “drizzly confines” of Autzen Stadium in Eugene.


Dropped out: No. 19 LSU (7-4), No. 21 Pittsburgh (7-3), No. 22 Maryland (7-4), No. 24 North Carolina (7-4), No. 25 Miami (7-4)