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NCAA Football Top 25 Rankings – Week 11 – by Neil Kogut
It really is funny how things change so quickly. A week ago, the big story was Oregon’s domination of USC and the subsequent discussions regarding Oregon and Boise State’s slotting in the polls. Seven days later, that conversation is as irrelevant as ever and as is usually the case in College Football, there really is no reason to worry about rankings and positioning as at the end of the season it usually works itself out. With that in mind, I am not going to bother doing rankings this week as by next weekend all my work will be turned upside down. HA! You think I’d go a week without rankings? You silly kids…
1. Texas (1) – This offense just seems to be clicking now. It took them a little while to get going vs. UCF, but McCoy to Shipley is a fun thing to watch. Their defense is salty as well.
2. Alabama (2) – What looked like a nail biter, turned into a good Bama win at home vs. LSU. I am really worried about this team because of their unspectacular quarterback play, but if they can keep getting the ball into Julio Jones’ hands, they can turn the offense around.
3. Florida (3) – To all the people that have Florida as their number one team, you need to wake up. I know they haven’t lost in their last 19 games. I know they are defending champions. I also know that nine games into the season, they don’t have the offensive firepower that they did and reputation alone shouldn’t keep you ranked as the top team in the nation.
4. Cincinnati (5) – Cincinnati had over 700 yards and held off a furious comeback by an inspired Connecticut team to hold onto a 2 point victory. Sophomore QB Zach Collaros continued his fantastic play with 555 total yards and three touchdowns. The schedule picks up a bit as CInci hosts West Virginia on ESPN Friday Night.
5. Boise State (6) – Louisiana Tech got within two points in the fourth quarter, but Boise State was too much and took home their 12th straight win. Kellen Moore had another stellar outing with over 350 yards passing and three touchdowns.
6. TCU (7) – Five different players scored touchdowns and the Horned Frogs’ defense created four turnovers in an easy 55-12 win over San Diego State. As promised, if TCU can defeat Utah this weekend, they will jump Boise State into my top 5.
7. Georgia Tech (11) – It took overtime for Georgia Tech to outlast a fighting Wake Forest team. After a Wake Forest field goal, the Yellow Jackets went for it on fourth down, picking up the yard and scoring on the next play. I would really love to see this team play Florida or Alabama in a BCS bowl.
8. LSU (10) – LSU’s offense looked like it had figured it out on the first drive against Alabama. It was a mirage as they barely eclipsed 250 yards of offense after injuries to Charles Scott and Jordan Jefferson. Once Jarrett Lee came in all hopes of an upset went down the drain.
9. Iowa (4) – The magical run ended for Iowa as Ricky Stanzi was injured and the comeback kids couldn’t do it one more time against Northwestern. I know a lot of people dogged on Iowa for barely squeaking by teams, but I have a lot of respect for the resolve they have shown and the wins they have gotten. I believe they would have won this game with Stanzi playing. They need to regroup and beat Ohio State this week to make their plans for Pasadena.
10. Miami (13) – The Hurricane’s defense held Virginia to 149 total yards in an easy 52-17 win. They started slow, trailing 10-3 early before rolling up 49 of the next 56 points.
11. Houston (14) – Houston needed another miracle finish to get the win in Tulsa. This team is lacking a good defense and that is why they will not make a BCS bowl. I am not so sure that UTEP loss was a fluke as they have been challenged a lot in the recent weeks.
12. Pittsburgh (16) – Syracuse began and ended the scoring, but it was the 37 unanswered points by Pittsburgh that was the difference in the game.
13. Oregon (8) – Oregon came out after a huge win over USC and answered the critics questions. No, they should not be ranked over Boise State. Oregon needs to win out to make the Rose Bowl now.
14. USC (11) – USC showed little life in barely squeaking by a punchless ASU squad. They ran three total plays on ASU’s side of the field ALL GAME. Other than the 77 yard screen pass for TD and a 55 yard pick six, ASU completely dominated this game.
15. Ohio State (15) – With a win over Iowa this weekend, Ohio State can clinch the Big 10. Again. Terrelle Pryor was unspectacular but still had three touchdowns in leading the upset over Penn State.
16. Penn State (12) – Penn State showed no punch while totaling 201 yards of offense against Ohio State. Any chance of a return BCS trip is now out of the question for the Nittany Lions.
17. Utah (17) – Utah was not caught looking ahead to their matchup with 6th ranked TCU, notching an easy victory over New Mexico. Freshman QB Jordan Wynn won his first start throwing for 295 yards and two touchdowns leading Utah’s very balanced offensive attack.
18. Oklahoma State (18) – Kendall Hunter who? Keith Toston rushed for 205 yards and three touchdowns, while the Cowpoke defense forced three turnovers in a thrashing of Iowa State.
19. BYU (22) – Max Hall threw for four touchdowns and BYU shutout Wyoming 52-0.
20. Arizona (21) – The Wildcats returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and added a punt return for a score all the while obliterating hapless Washington State. It was an easy day for Nick Foles as he only needed to throw for 136 yards in the snooze fest.
21. Wisconsin (23) –The Badgers used smashmouth football to wear down the overmatched Indiana Hoosiers and thwart their late comeback. Wisconsin gained almost 300 yards on the ground in the seven point win.
22. Virginia Tech (24) – The Hokies ended a two game slide and won a defensive battle at East Carolina. In the past few weeks, Virginia Tech isn’t playing anywhere near the quality football that they started the season with.
23. Clemson (NR) – CJ Spiller had 312 all-purpose yards in a come from behind win over Florida State. Spiller had two touchdowns and the defense forced five Florida State turnovers to finish off their 16 point win.
24. Oregon State (NR) – Each of the Rodgers brothers scored a touchdown and Sean Canfield had 342 yards and two scores, easily dispatching of a disappointing California team. With the win Oregon State is bowl eligible for the fourth straight year.
25. Stanford (NR) – At times Stanford looks like they could be the best team in the PAC-10 and that is no joke. They absolutely were in control of the shootout against Oregon. Give this team a few years and they will be in contention for a Rose Bowl.
- I believe that it is time to start thinking outside of the box with this year’s Heisman Trophy award. Since the beginning of the season, it seems that the media and fans everywhere have been trying to force the award to either Colt McCoy or Tim Tebow and this must stop. The Heisman trophy is not set aside for the best player on the best team, just the best player. Heisman.com states in its mission, “The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.”
- Nowhere in this mission does it state that record or team prestige should overrule any efforts made by any players. Nor does it read that past performance should add into any bias in awarding the Heisman Trophy. With that out of the way, I declare Toby Gerhart as my choice for the Heisman if the voting were today; assuming I had a vote. Gerhart is second in the nation in rushing yards and touchdowns, scoring 16 so far this year. Gerhart has been held under 100 yards only twice, has been held without a touchdown only once and gained over 200 yards twice. In the two games I watched, he has helped the Stanford offense gain 6, 7, 8 yards consistently on FIRST DOWN. With that help, it really opened up the pass game and Andrew Luck has been able to have time in the pocket and pass the ball all over the place. Stanford is by no means a consistent team yet, as they are young in key areas, but it is without a doubt in my mind that without Toby Gerhart, Stanford would not even be bowl eligible and the team would be a shell of who they are with him.
- What makes this worse is that people actually still consider Tim Tebow a Heisman candidate. First, his numbers from this year aren’t even going to touch the numbers he had the past two years when he was invited to New York. He also has not been very consistent. Only twice has he totaled over 300 yards of offense in one game. Only twice has he thrown for more then three touchdowns. Those numbers are just not consistent enough for a Heisman winner and its time to withdraw his name from the hat. I haven’t seen enough from his team that he will be able to have a great last four games and get back into the race. Tim Tebow should be done.
- I am very glad to see the return of LeGarrette Blount to the football field. Other than the fact that he is back just in time to face my Sun Devils, I think that an eight game suspension was plenty and he has served his time. There is no doubt that his punch was a terrible thing for his University and his sport, but I am assuming he has grown as a man and been responsible with his situation, and that is why Chip Kelly is bringing him back. I also like how the University handled it, telling him that he was done for the year, but making him practice and keep up with his school work. It would have been too easy for him to just quit and start prepping for the NFL, but the fact that he stuck with it and continued to help and support his team showed a lot of growth in this young man. Best of luck to you LeGarrette; after this week of course.
- There is another bias I think it is time to dismiss, and that is the reputation the SEC has as the best conference in the country. This is no longer a hands down argument. I think you could make many good arguments that it is the best conference, but in past years there was no doubt that was the case. After Alabama and Florida, there just aren’t any teams that stand out as great football teams. LSU is a good team, but played two winnable games against Florida and Alabama and looked flat. I understand that they were going up against two of the best defenses in the country, but there was little they have shown me in their other games to make me believe they are a team that belongs in the upper echelon of the top 25. It is safe to say that Kentucky and Vanderbilt are awful this season. Mississippi and Georgia have been two of the most disappointing teams in the country and Auburn has shown signs of being an improved team, only to get brought right back down to earth. Mississippi State, Arkansas and South Carolina all started the season strong, but once SEC competition kicked in they have fallen off the map. Tennessee has been a pleasant surprise considering where they started, but are not quite there yet. There is nothing to lead me to believe that the bottom ten teams in that league are that much better then the bottom of the Big XII or the Pac-10. The argument that Alabama or Florida should be number one because they play in the SEC is no longer valid. Whether or not you believe they should be number one is definitely an arguable topic, but I will no longer put them there by default because of the supposed strength of their conference.
- It makes me excited to think that TCU and Boise State will grab BCS bids this season. They really have been outstanding and I can’t wait to see them go up against the big boys. Notre Dame’s loss to Navy eliminated them from BCS contention as did Penn State’s loss. The winner of the Ohio State-Iowa game will go to the Rose Bowl and I think the loser should be out of the BCS. IF USC or Oregon don’t wrap up the Pac-10 title I think they should be Holiday Bowl Bound. Given the lack of strength of the at-large teams I think this is the year that these two underdogs rightfully get a place in the BCS.
If the season ended today, my Heisman ballot would read—
1. Toby Gerhart
2. Mark Ingram
3. Case Keenum
4. Colt McCoy
5. Golden Tate
Week 5 predictions:
*Projected Winner in CAPS
West Virginia @ CINCINATTI
Tennessee @ MISSISSIPPI
Iowa @ OHIO STATE
MIAMI @ North Carolina
NEBRASKA @ Kansas
Utah @ TCU
Notre Dame @ PITTSBURGH
Upset Special:
STANFORD @ Usc
Last Week: 2-6
Overall: 46-30  |
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