College Football Top 25

By Matt Smith

1. LSU (6-0): The Tigers are a clear cut number one and in fact look pretty unstoppable. They passed a major test on Saturday by beating a very good, hungry and angry Florida team.

2. Cal (5-0): The only other legitimate unbeaten team is the Golden Bears. They have a few hurdles to clear, but with that many weapons it’s easy to see how they could play for a National Title.

3. Ohio State (6-0): The Buckeyes just keep winning and with a very weak Big Ten Conference, they could keep doing so and even without being dominant could play for a National Title.

4. Oregon (4-1): Forget conventional rankings where you lose and drop and have to move up slowly. This poll is who I think the top teams are and Oregon is as good as anyone. They were six inches from taking Cal into overtime. Those two teams are very even.

5. Boston College (6-0): I think they are very good and with the lack of dominant teams in college football, I suppose they are a top five team.

6. Oklahoma (5-1): They bounced back from a tough loss in Boulder to beat Texas in the Red River shootout. I think Oklahoma is going to be okay, and probably won’t lose again.

7. Florida (4-2): Two losses or not, the Gators are still very good. They have lost both games by a combined seven points, including a field goal as time expired and lost to LSU in the final minute in Baton Rouge.

8. USC (4-1): I wish I could drop them, but I just kept looking at teams to rank them behind and I couldn’t do it. They certainly deserve to be dropped after allowing Stanford to convert on fourth and 20 and then win the game on fourth and goal. They have struggled with Washington and Idaho as well, so they aren’t as good as we thought going into this year.

9. South Florida (5-0): What is wrong with this picture? What? If I didn’t think so highly of West Virginia, there is now way I would have the Bulls this high.

10. West Virginia (5-1): Despite the Big East being weak, I do think WV is legit. They just can’t beat South Florida. Two years in a row they have had their title hopes dashed by the Bulls.

11. South Carolina (5-1): Perhaps I am overvaluing the SEC, but their only loss is by 12 to LSU. The Cocks are a solid squad.

12. Missouri (5-0): I think the Big 12 is awful, but the Tigers keep winning convincingly. They pounded Nebraska and have a nice win over Illinois to their credit.

13. Virginia Tech (5-1): I don’t think they are that good, but I think the ACC is worse. I guess beating Clemson is a nice win.

14. Illinois (5-1): Ron Zook has got himself a good team in Champagne. I feel they are easily a top 15 team considering the field this year, and perhaps the Big Ten favorite.

15. Wisconsin (5-1): It was just a matter of time before they got beat. They are a solid squad, just not an unbeaten, BCS contender.

16. Arizona State (6-0): They are an upset waiting to happen, but they keep getting by.

17. Hawaii (6-0): Colt Brennan’s nickname is throw. The Warriors offense is trouble for anyone they play.

18. Cincinnati (5-0): Danny Fortson and Nick van Exel are stoked.

19. Tennessee (3-2): They have losses to Cal and Florida. Can’t get too many better losses than that. Pummeling Georgia showed they are a good team. Or is Georgia just terrible?

20. Kentucky (5-1): Again, the SEC gets some love. They are a top 25 team, but I don’t know if they are any more than that.

21. Michigan (4-2): They aren’t exactly dominating as they bounce back from starting 0-2, but they are still better than all but 20 teams in the country. At least for now.

22. Georgia (4-2): I love the SEC. Who else? Everyone sucks this year.

23. Auburn (4-2): The South Florida loss doesn’t look bad now, but the Mississippi State loss does. A win over Florida shows they are still a good team who went through a rough stretch.

24. Texas (4-2): The name on the front of their jersey keeps them ranked. Despite looking bad in starting 4-1, they looked better in losing to Oklahoma by just a touchdown.

25. Florida State (4-1): Whatever.