College Football Rankings: Re-Ranking the Top 10 After Week 4

What a weekend it was in the landscape of college football. Despite no alarming upsets, we saw quite a few of heavyweight slugfests. LSU and West Virginia battled and despite the lopsided loss for the Mountaineers, they showed they can fight hard despite not having the defense up front to hang with the elites.

However, Les Miles is smiling right about now knowing he has gone through the thick of his schedule unscathed as if the team has not even dropped a sweat. I mean, are you kidding me? It goes without saying how difficult their SEC slate will be, but they just dropped haymakers all night on Oregon in the opener and they gave the Mountaineers a spanking in their own backyard.

Alabama obliterated a solid Arkansas team and Boise State, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Oregon, South Carolina and Florida just kept on rolling in the early stages of the season.

Oklahoma State may have picked up the most impressive victory (save Clemson) as it went into College Station and trailed 20-3 at halftime. Most teams would throw in the towel and lose by 40 points, but Brandon Weeden had the game of his life and willed his team to victory.

1. LSU Tigers (4-0)

No. 1? Yes! They are the best team in America with their beatdown in Morgantown. I expected them to win by two touchdowns, but not by nearly four! Sure, they gave up over 400 yards passing but their relentless defensive line and trash-talking secondary was making plays all night. Tyrann Mathieu should be running for mayor and Les Miles has this team clicking on all cylinders right now.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0)

The Tide rolled over Arkansas with a defensive and special teams touchdown that turned the game into an eventual blowout victory for Nick Saban. Trent Richardson is clearly the anchor, but not enough can be said about the physical presence of the defense. It pin its ears back and comes after you with an array of different looks that even Tom Brady maybe could not figure out. Hats off to Saban and his staff for once again coming up big at home against solid competition.

3. Oklahoma Sooners (3-0)

A slow start had some fans worried in Norman, but the Sooners offense picked it up with Landry Jones leading the way. Kenny Stills was out due to injury (head), but Ryan Broyles led the way hauling in 13 passes for 154 yards and 3 TDs for the Boomer Sooners offense. Jones ended up throwing for 448 yards along with 3 TDs and 2 INTs.

4. Boise State Broncos (3-0)

Kellen Moore only played three quarters, but the Smurfs did not lack any production in the fourth quarter since he already had 279 yards and 4 TDs. The man is simply unbeatable, as he has never trailed at halftime in his entire career! Chris Petersen is an amazing coach and the defense up front for Boise State always leads to turnovers (4 INTs). If they keep steamrolling opponents they will get a sure-fire BCS Bowl and a possible crack at the national title.

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-0)

Brandon Weeden has been a stud this season for the Pokes and throwing for a career-high 438 yards was certainly a Heisman-type of performance. He has a great chance at getting invited to New York despite getting some votes taken away by Justin Blackmon, but I wonder what happens in the Heisman race if these Cowboys rise high in the sunset and knock off those Sooners?

6. Wisconsin Badgers (4-0)

A test next weekend at home against Nebraska will be their chance to show the nation they are a legit top 10 team. I have my questions still for this defense since it has not played any good, let alone decent, team yet. The Badgers just keep hanging 40-plus on every team they face. Nebraska's defense will be in high gear with the return of Alfonzo Dennard and I wonder if the Badgers can stop Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead despite playing at Camp Randall?

7. Stanford Cardinal (3-0)

I knock Andrew Luck and the Cardinal down two spots because of the bye week and due to the fact that they have not passed the eyeball test as a legit top five team. If they were to go 11-1 again, then certainly they would crack my top five, but they need to not get spanked by Oregon and prove to me they are legit by beating up on some Pac-12 teams.

8. Oregon Ducks (3-1)

Darron Thomas and LaMichael James have been sensational when on the field together, but I still am unsure of what to make of the Pac-12 at the moment. There are some weak teams early on in the season (Arizona, I am talking to you!) and I am not ready to put the Ducks into the conversation as serious national title contenders—though I certainly think they will be favored to win the rest of their games including the very first ever Pac-12 Championship Game played most likely at Eugene since it belongs to the team with the best record in conference. If Oregon can continue to hang 40-plus every weekend, then I will have no choice but to keep moving them up a spot with the teams ahead of them likely to bounce eventually.

9. Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-0)

They have not been that impressive as of late, though they had no problems with the Cowboys of Wyoming. They avoided any risk of losing Taylor Martinez so they did not let him run around at all—though they still won by 24 points in Laramie. Burkhead and their ground is their calling card and the defense still wreaks havoc despite giving up a chunk of yards due to several breakdowns in communication and poor tackling. Jared Crick and Lavone David better be ready for the bowling ball Monte Ball and the speed demon himself James White or else they may get embarrassed in front of the "Jump Around" crazies next Saturday night.

10. South Carolina Gamecocks (4-0)

They are still my dark horse to knock off one of the big dogs in the SEC Championship game and it looks as if the defense is finally making its strides. Though it was against Vandy, holding any team under 100 yards of total offense is impressive. Marcus Lattimore remains my top choice for the Heisman in September and as long Stephen Garcia avoids passing to the other team, the Gamecocks will be favored to win 11 games this season.

10. Florida Gators (4-0)

A big test down the road against South Carolina will be quite the matchup, but they must go to "Death Valley" first to see if they are legit top 10 contenders. The Gators offense has been arguably the most impressive unit in the nation with Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey running roughshod on the opposition, but once again, they have not played any stellar teams. Kentucky's offense likes to go backwards most of the time so I am not sure what to make of their win over the 'Cats—though a top 10 ranking at the moment speaks volumes.