How things appear after today's games, with strengths and weaknesses of each team:
teams that look really good so far
1.) Oregon
strengths: outscored Stanford 49-10 the last three quarters; dominant in 2nd half all season; explosive offense
weaknesses: outscored in the first half by Arizona St.; let Washington St. and Tennessee hang around too long
2.) Boise St.
strengths: beat VaTech; handled Oregon St.
weaknesses: no decisive victories over top teams; weak schedule
3.) TCU
strengths: beat Oregon St.; crushed Baylor; crushed Air Force
weaknesses: were only up 6-0 at halftime vs. Colorado St.
teams that might be really good
4.) Auburn
strengths: beat South Carolina; beat Arkansas; the next Tim Tebow at QB
weaknesses: almost lost to Mississippi St.; almost lost to Kentucky; almost lost to Clemson
5.) Alabama
strengths: crushed Florida; beat Arkansas; dominant running game
weaknesses: lost to S. Carolina; inconsistent passing game; young defense
6.) Michigan St.
strengths: beat Wisconsin; beat Michigan
weaknesses: needed a trick play in OT to beat Notre Dame; barely beat Northwestern
7.) Arizona
strengths: soundly beat Iowa; crushed Washington
weaknesses: lost to Oregon St.
8.) Missouri
strengths: beat Oklahoma
weaknesses: no other victories over top teams
9.) Oklahoma
strengths: destroyed Florida St.; beat Air Force; beat Texas
weaknesses: barely escaped Cincy
10.) Wisconsin
strengths: beat Ohio St.; beat Iowa
weaknesses: struggled far too often against inferior teams
11.) Ohio St.
strengths: handled Miami; dynamic QB
weaknesses: escaped Illinois; no victories over top teams
12.) Stanford
strengths: beat USC; destroyed UCLA; strong-armed QB
weaknesses: outscored 49-10 by Oregon the last three quarters
13.) Utah
strengths: beat Pitt; blew out Iowa St.
weaknesses: only beat Pitt by 3 in OT; have yet to play a top team
14.) Florida State
strengths: beat Miami soundly; blew out 4 of other 6 opponents
weaknesses: blown out by Oklahoma; barely beat BC
teams that might be pretty good
15.) South Carolina
strengths: beat 'bama
weaknesses: lost to Kentucky; struggled to put away Vandy
16.) Nebraska
strengths: beat Oklahoma St.; destroyed Washington; destroyed Kansas St
weaknesses: lost to Texas; only beat South Dakota St. 17-3
17.) Iowa
strengths: soundly beat Penn St.; beat Michigan; elite defense
weaknesses: soundly beaten by Arizona; no victories over top teams
18.) LSU
strengths: beat Florida; played Auburn close; luckiest coach on Earth
weaknesses: almost blew a huge lead against a depleted UNC team; should've lost to Tennessee at home; almost lost to W. Virginia at home; took a 10-3 lead against Vandy into the 4th quarter; inconsistent offense
teams that haven't proven much of anything
19.) USC
strengths: crushed Cal; almost beat Stanford
weaknesses: lost to Washington; no victories over top teams
20.) Virginia Tech
strengths: almost beat Boise St.; beat NC State
weaknesses: lost to James Madison
21.) Oklahoma St.
strengths: undefeated; high-scoring offense
weaknesses: no impressive victories; almost lost to Texas A&M; gave up 51 points to Nebraska
22.) Arkansas
strengths: almost beat Alabama; strong-armed QB
weaknesses: barely beat Texas A&M; gave up 65 points to Auburn; unimpressive win vs. Ole Miss; interception-prone QB
23.) Miami
strengths: crushed Pitt; crushed UNC
weaknesses: crushed by Florida St.; handled by Ohio St.; interception-prone QB
24.) Mississippi State
strengths: beat Florida
weaknesses: barely beat UAB;
25.) Nevada
strengths: destroyed Cal; prolific offense
weaknesses: struggled to put away BYU; lost to Hawaii
teams with resumes no less impressive
NC State
Pitt
Oregon St.
Baylor
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Top 25 Update
How things appear after today's games, with strengths and weaknesses of each team:
teams that look really good so far
1.) Oregon
strengths: outscored Stanford 49-10 the last three quarters; dominant in 2nd half all season; explosive offense
weaknesses: outscored in the first half by Arizona St.; let Washington St. and Tennessee hang around too long
2.) Boise St.
strengths: handled Oregon St.
weaknesses: escaped VaTech
3.) TCU
strengths: beat Oregon St.; crushed Baylor
weaknesses: were only up 6-0 at halftime vs. Colorado St.
4.) Oklahoma
strengths: destroyed Florida St.; beat Air Force; beat Texas
weaknesses: barely escaped Cincy
teams that might be really good
5.) Alabama
strengths: crushed Florida; beat Arkansas; dominant running game;
weaknesses: lost to S. Carolina; inconsistent passing game; young defense
6.) Auburn
strengths: beat South Carolina; beat Arkansas; the next Tim Tebow
weaknesses: almost lost to Mississippi St.; almost lost to Kentucky; almost lost to Clemson
7.) Michigan St.
strengths: beat Wisconsin; beat Michigan
weaknesses: needed a trick play in OT to beat Notre Dame
8.) Arizona
strengths: soundly beat Iowa
weaknesses: lost to Oregon St.
9.) Iowa
strengths: soundly beat Penn St.; beat Michigan; elite defense
weaknesses: soundly beaten by Arizona; no victories over top teams
10.) Wisconsin
strengths: beat Ohio St.
weaknesses: struggled far too often against inferior teams
11.) Ohio St.
strengths: handled Miami; dynamic QB
weaknesses: escaped Illinois; no victories over top teams
12.) Stanford
strengths: beat USC; destroyed UCLA; strong-armed QB
weaknesses: outscored 49-10 by Oregon the last three quarters
13.) Utah
strengths: beat Pitt
weaknesses: only beat Pitt by 3 in OT; have yet to play a top team
14.) Florida State
strengths: beat Miami soundly; blew out 4 of other 6 opponents
weaknesses: blown out by Oklahoma; barely beat BC
teams that might be pretty good
15.) South Carolina
strengths: beat 'bama
weaknesses: lost to Kentucky; inconsistent offense
16.) Nebraska
strengths: destroyed Washington; destroyed Kansas St.; talented QB
weaknesses: lost to Texas; only beat South Dakota St. 17-3; young QB
17.) LSU
strengths: beat Florida; luckiest coach on Earth
weaknesses: almost blew a huge lead against a depleted UNC team; should've lost to Tennessee at home; almost lost to W. Virginia at home; took a 10-3 lead against Vandy into the 4th quarter; inconsistent offense; playing poorly and using poor strategy is bound to backfire eventually
18.) Texas
strengths: beat Nebraska; loads of talent
weaknesses: blown out at home by UCLA; no impressive victories; inexperienced QB
teams that haven't proven much of anything
19.) Oklahoma St.
strengths: undefeated; high-scoring offense
weaknesses: no impressive victories; almost lost to Texas A&M
20.) Arkansas
strengths: almost beat Alabama; strong-armed QB
weaknesses: almost lost to Georgia; barely beat Texas A&M; interception-prone QB; suspect defense
21.) West Virginia
strengths: 5-1
weaknesses: no really impressive victories; almost lost to Marshall
22.) USC
strengths: crushed Cal; almost beat Stanford
weaknesses: lost to Washington; no victories over top teams
23.) Virginia Tech
strengths: almost beat Boise St.; beat NC State
weaknesses: lost to James Madison
24.) Missouri
strengths: undefeated; beat San Diego St.
weaknesses: haven't beaten any other teams with a winning record
25.) Nevada
strengths: destroyed Cal; prolific offense
weaknesses: struggled to put away BYU; lost to Hawaii
teams with resumes no less impressive
Mississippi St.
Miami
Kansas St.
North Carolina
NC State
Rutgers
Oregon St.
teams that look really good so far
1.) Oregon
strengths: outscored Stanford 49-10 the last three quarters; dominant in 2nd half all season; explosive offense
weaknesses: outscored in the first half by Arizona St.; let Washington St. and Tennessee hang around too long
2.) Boise St.
strengths: handled Oregon St.
weaknesses: escaped VaTech
3.) TCU
strengths: beat Oregon St.; crushed Baylor
weaknesses: were only up 6-0 at halftime vs. Colorado St.
4.) Oklahoma
strengths: destroyed Florida St.; beat Air Force; beat Texas
weaknesses: barely escaped Cincy
teams that might be really good
5.) Alabama
strengths: crushed Florida; beat Arkansas; dominant running game;
weaknesses: lost to S. Carolina; inconsistent passing game; young defense
6.) Auburn
strengths: beat South Carolina; beat Arkansas; the next Tim Tebow
weaknesses: almost lost to Mississippi St.; almost lost to Kentucky; almost lost to Clemson
7.) Michigan St.
strengths: beat Wisconsin; beat Michigan
weaknesses: needed a trick play in OT to beat Notre Dame
8.) Arizona
strengths: soundly beat Iowa
weaknesses: lost to Oregon St.
9.) Iowa
strengths: soundly beat Penn St.; beat Michigan; elite defense
weaknesses: soundly beaten by Arizona; no victories over top teams
10.) Wisconsin
strengths: beat Ohio St.
weaknesses: struggled far too often against inferior teams
11.) Ohio St.
strengths: handled Miami; dynamic QB
weaknesses: escaped Illinois; no victories over top teams
12.) Stanford
strengths: beat USC; destroyed UCLA; strong-armed QB
weaknesses: outscored 49-10 by Oregon the last three quarters
13.) Utah
strengths: beat Pitt
weaknesses: only beat Pitt by 3 in OT; have yet to play a top team
14.) Florida State
strengths: beat Miami soundly; blew out 4 of other 6 opponents
weaknesses: blown out by Oklahoma; barely beat BC
teams that might be pretty good
15.) South Carolina
strengths: beat 'bama
weaknesses: lost to Kentucky; inconsistent offense
16.) Nebraska
strengths: destroyed Washington; destroyed Kansas St.; talented QB
weaknesses: lost to Texas; only beat South Dakota St. 17-3; young QB
17.) LSU
strengths: beat Florida; luckiest coach on Earth
weaknesses: almost blew a huge lead against a depleted UNC team; should've lost to Tennessee at home; almost lost to W. Virginia at home; took a 10-3 lead against Vandy into the 4th quarter; inconsistent offense; playing poorly and using poor strategy is bound to backfire eventually
18.) Texas
strengths: beat Nebraska; loads of talent
weaknesses: blown out at home by UCLA; no impressive victories; inexperienced QB
teams that haven't proven much of anything
19.) Oklahoma St.
strengths: undefeated; high-scoring offense
weaknesses: no impressive victories; almost lost to Texas A&M
20.) Arkansas
strengths: almost beat Alabama; strong-armed QB
weaknesses: almost lost to Georgia; barely beat Texas A&M; interception-prone QB; suspect defense
21.) West Virginia
strengths: 5-1
weaknesses: no really impressive victories; almost lost to Marshall
22.) USC
strengths: crushed Cal; almost beat Stanford
weaknesses: lost to Washington; no victories over top teams
23.) Virginia Tech
strengths: almost beat Boise St.; beat NC State
weaknesses: lost to James Madison
24.) Missouri
strengths: undefeated; beat San Diego St.
weaknesses: haven't beaten any other teams with a winning record
25.) Nevada
strengths: destroyed Cal; prolific offense
weaknesses: struggled to put away BYU; lost to Hawaii
teams with resumes no less impressive
Mississippi St.
Miami
Kansas St.
North Carolina
NC State
Rutgers
Oregon St.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Top 25 Update
How things appear after today's games, with strengths and weaknesses of each team:
teams that look really good so far
1.) Oregon
strengths: outscored Stanford 49-10 the last three quarters; dominant in 2nd half all season; explosive offense
weaknesses: outscored in the first half by Arizona St.; let Washington St. and Tennessee hang around too long
2.) Ohio St.
strengths: handling Miami
weaknesses: escaping Illinois
3.) Boise St.
strengths: handling Oregon St.
weaknesses: escaping VaTech
4.) TCU
strengths: beat Oregon St.; crushed Baylor
weaknesses: were only up 6-0 at halftime vs. Colorado St.
5.) Oklahoma
strengths: destroyed Florida St.; beat Air Force; beat Texas
weaknesses: barely escaped Cincy
teams that might be really good
6.) Nebraska
strengths: destroyed Washington; destroyed Kansas St.; talented QB
weaknesses: haven't played a top team; only beat South Dakota St. 17-3; young QB
7.) Auburn
strengths: beat South Carolina
weaknesses: almost lost to Mississippi; almost lost to Kentucky; almost lost to Clemson
8.) South Carolina
strengths: beat 'bama
weaknesses: no other really impressive victories; inconsistent offense
9.) Alabama
strengths: crushed Florida; beat Arkansas; dominant running game; probably better than many teams above them
weaknesses: lost to S. Carolina; inconsistent passing game; young defense
teams that are probably pretty good
10.) Michigan St.
strengths: beat Wisconsin; beat Michigan
weaknesses: needed a trick play in OT to beat Notre Dame
11.) Arizona
strengths: soundly beat Iowa
weaknesses: lost to Oregon St.
12.) Iowa
strengths: soundly beat Penn St.; elite defense
weaknesses: soundly beaten by Arizona
13.) Arkansas
strengths: almost beat Alabama; strong-armed QB
weaknesses: almost lost to Georgia; barely beat Texas A&M; interception-prone QB
14.) Stanford
strengths: beat USC; destroyed UCLA; strong-armed QB
weaknesses: outscored 49-10 by Oregon the last three quarters
15.) Utah
strengths: beat Pitt; blew out Iowa St.
weaknesses: only beat Pitt by 3 in OT; have yet to play a top team
16.) Florida State
strengths: beat Miami; blew out 4 of other 5 opponents
weaknesses: blown out by Oklahoma
teams that might be pretty good
17.) Nevada
strengths: destroyed Cal; prolific offense
weaknesses: struggled to put away BYU
18.) LSU
strengths: beat Florida; luckiest coach on Earth
weaknesses: almost blew a huge lead against a depleted UNC team; should've lost to Tennessee at home; almost lost to W. Virginia at home; took a 10-3 lead against Vandy into the 4th quarter; inconsistent offense; playing poorly and using poor strategy is bound to backfire eventually
19.) Air Force
strengths: almost beat Oklahoma on the road; beat Navy; strong ground game
weaknesses: only beat Wyoming by 6; less talent than top teams
20.) Oregon St.
strengths: beat Arizona
weaknesses: lost to Boise/TCU
21.) North Carolina State
strengths: soundly beat Georgia Tech; beat Cincy; dynamic QB
weaknesses: blew large lead against Virginia Tech; barely beat UCF
Teams that haven't really earned a spot in the top 25, but I can't just leave the rest blank
22.) Wisconsin
strengths: managed to win 5 games
weaknesses: struggled far too often against inferior teams
23.) Texas
strengths: played in the national title game last year; beat Texas Tech; loads of talent
weaknesses: blown out at home by UCLA; no impressive victories; inexperienced QB
24.) Oklahoma St.
strengths: undefeated; high-scoring offense
weaknesses: no impressive victories; almost lost to Texas A&M
25.) West Virginia
strengths: 4-1
weaknesses: no impressive victories; almost lost to Marshall
teams with resumes no less impressive
Miami
Florida
Missouri
I'm skeptical that South Carolina or Auburn are legitimate top 10 teams, but Auburn has to be above S. Carolina, who has to be above Alabama, who I'm pretty sure is a legitimate top 10 team (at least). On a related note, I'd be shocked if Alabama won out and didn't go to the national championship game over an undefeated Boise State, TCU, Utah, or Nevada.
teams that look really good so far
1.) Oregon
strengths: outscored Stanford 49-10 the last three quarters; dominant in 2nd half all season; explosive offense
weaknesses: outscored in the first half by Arizona St.; let Washington St. and Tennessee hang around too long
2.) Ohio St.
strengths: handling Miami
weaknesses: escaping Illinois
3.) Boise St.
strengths: handling Oregon St.
weaknesses: escaping VaTech
4.) TCU
strengths: beat Oregon St.; crushed Baylor
weaknesses: were only up 6-0 at halftime vs. Colorado St.
5.) Oklahoma
strengths: destroyed Florida St.; beat Air Force; beat Texas
weaknesses: barely escaped Cincy
teams that might be really good
6.) Nebraska
strengths: destroyed Washington; destroyed Kansas St.; talented QB
weaknesses: haven't played a top team; only beat South Dakota St. 17-3; young QB
7.) Auburn
strengths: beat South Carolina
weaknesses: almost lost to Mississippi; almost lost to Kentucky; almost lost to Clemson
8.) South Carolina
strengths: beat 'bama
weaknesses: no other really impressive victories; inconsistent offense
9.) Alabama
strengths: crushed Florida; beat Arkansas; dominant running game; probably better than many teams above them
weaknesses: lost to S. Carolina; inconsistent passing game; young defense
teams that are probably pretty good
10.) Michigan St.
strengths: beat Wisconsin; beat Michigan
weaknesses: needed a trick play in OT to beat Notre Dame
11.) Arizona
strengths: soundly beat Iowa
weaknesses: lost to Oregon St.
12.) Iowa
strengths: soundly beat Penn St.; elite defense
weaknesses: soundly beaten by Arizona
13.) Arkansas
strengths: almost beat Alabama; strong-armed QB
weaknesses: almost lost to Georgia; barely beat Texas A&M; interception-prone QB
14.) Stanford
strengths: beat USC; destroyed UCLA; strong-armed QB
weaknesses: outscored 49-10 by Oregon the last three quarters
15.) Utah
strengths: beat Pitt; blew out Iowa St.
weaknesses: only beat Pitt by 3 in OT; have yet to play a top team
16.) Florida State
strengths: beat Miami; blew out 4 of other 5 opponents
weaknesses: blown out by Oklahoma
teams that might be pretty good
17.) Nevada
strengths: destroyed Cal; prolific offense
weaknesses: struggled to put away BYU
18.) LSU
strengths: beat Florida; luckiest coach on Earth
weaknesses: almost blew a huge lead against a depleted UNC team; should've lost to Tennessee at home; almost lost to W. Virginia at home; took a 10-3 lead against Vandy into the 4th quarter; inconsistent offense; playing poorly and using poor strategy is bound to backfire eventually
19.) Air Force
strengths: almost beat Oklahoma on the road; beat Navy; strong ground game
weaknesses: only beat Wyoming by 6; less talent than top teams
20.) Oregon St.
strengths: beat Arizona
weaknesses: lost to Boise/TCU
21.) North Carolina State
strengths: soundly beat Georgia Tech; beat Cincy; dynamic QB
weaknesses: blew large lead against Virginia Tech; barely beat UCF
Teams that haven't really earned a spot in the top 25, but I can't just leave the rest blank
22.) Wisconsin
strengths: managed to win 5 games
weaknesses: struggled far too often against inferior teams
23.) Texas
strengths: played in the national title game last year; beat Texas Tech; loads of talent
weaknesses: blown out at home by UCLA; no impressive victories; inexperienced QB
24.) Oklahoma St.
strengths: undefeated; high-scoring offense
weaknesses: no impressive victories; almost lost to Texas A&M
25.) West Virginia
strengths: 4-1
weaknesses: no impressive victories; almost lost to Marshall
teams with resumes no less impressive
Miami
Florida
Missouri
I'm skeptical that South Carolina or Auburn are legitimate top 10 teams, but Auburn has to be above S. Carolina, who has to be above Alabama, who I'm pretty sure is a legitimate top 10 team (at least). On a related note, I'd be shocked if Alabama won out and didn't go to the national championship game over an undefeated Boise State, TCU, Utah, or Nevada.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Top 25 Update
After 5 weeks of football, we now have enough info to start making some educated guesses as to which are the best teams in college football. Here's how I'd rank the top 25, with the most impressive and least impressive thing that each team has done:
teams that are probably really good
1.) Alabama
most impressive: crushing Florida
least impressive: getting down early vs. Arkansas
2.) Oregon
most impressive: outscoring Stanford 49-10 the last three quarters
least impressive: being outscored in the first half by Arizona St.
3.) Ohio St.
most impressive: handling Miami
least impressive: escaping Illinois
4.) Boise St.
most impressive: handling Oregon St.
least impressive: escaping VaTech
teams that might be really good
5.) TCU
most impressive: crushing Baylor?
least impressive: being up 6-0 at halftime vs. Colorado St.
6.) Oklahoma
most impressive: destroying Florida St.
least impressive: barely escaping Cincy
7.) Nebraska
most impressive: destroying Washington
least impressive: beating South Dakota St. 17-3
8.) Arkansas
most impressive: almost beating Alabama
least impressive: almost losing to Georgia
9.) Arizona
most impressive: soundly beating Iowa
least impressive: barely beating Cal
10.) Iowa
most impressive: soundly beating Penn St.
being soundly beaten by Arizona
teams that are probably pretty good
11.) Florida
most impressive: not losing its first 4 games despite trying pretty hard to do so
least impressive: being crushed by Alabama
12.) Stanford
most impressive: destroying UCLA
least impressive: being outscored 49-10 by Oregon the last three quarters
13.) Auburn
most impressive: beating South Carolina
least impressive: almost losing to Mississippi
14.) Utah
most impressive: beating Pitt
least impressive: only beating Pitt by 3 in OT
teams that might be pretty good
15.) Michigan St.
most impressive: beating Wisconsin
least impressive: needing a trick play in OT to beat Notre Dame
16.) Michigan
most impressive: its offense in every game
least impressive: its defense in every game
17.) Miami
most impressive: destroying Pitt
least impressive: every ball Jacory Harris floats up in the air hoping it gets caught by his team
18.) Nevada
most impressive: destroying Cal
least impressive: struggling to put away BYU
19.) LSU
most impressive: somehow winning every game they've played
least impressive: the offense, almost blowing a huge lead against a depleted UNC team, almost losing to Tennessee at home, almost losing to W. Virginia at home, taking a 10-3 lead against Vandy into the 4th quarter, and being far more talented than every team they've played but still routinely being outplayed . . . also, why wasn't LSU flagged on the penultimate play against UT when the player removed his helmet and threw it to the ground? I'd have to surmise it was b/c the refs thought the game was over. Oops.
20.) Air Force
most impressive: almost beating Oklahoma on the road
least impressive: only beating Wyoming by 6
teams that are probably above average and could possibly be better, but we're not really sure
21.) South Carolina
most impressive: beating Georgia?
least impressive: that their signature win came when they scored 17 points against a now 1-4 team
22.) Wisconsin
most impressive: managing to win their first 4 games
least impressive: struggling to win too many of their first 4 games
23.) Texas
most impressive: playing in the national title game last year
least impressive: being blown out at home by UCLA
23.) Florida State
most impressive: blowing out 4 of their 5 opponents
least impressive: getting blown out by Oklahoma
24.) North Carolina State
most impressive: soundly beating Georgia Tech
least impressive: blowing a large lead against Virginia Tech
25.) Kansas St.
most impressive: beating above average teams UCLA and Iowa St.
least impressive: only beating UCF by 4
As you can see, there aren't many teams that have done much to prove themselves this year. I'm confident that the top 10 teams are all good teams that deserve to be ranked in the top 25, but the next 10 are dicey and after #20 we might as well just pull 5 teams out of a hat.
teams that are probably really good
1.) Alabama
most impressive: crushing Florida
least impressive: getting down early vs. Arkansas
2.) Oregon
most impressive: outscoring Stanford 49-10 the last three quarters
least impressive: being outscored in the first half by Arizona St.
3.) Ohio St.
most impressive: handling Miami
least impressive: escaping Illinois
4.) Boise St.
most impressive: handling Oregon St.
least impressive: escaping VaTech
teams that might be really good
5.) TCU
most impressive: crushing Baylor?
least impressive: being up 6-0 at halftime vs. Colorado St.
6.) Oklahoma
most impressive: destroying Florida St.
least impressive: barely escaping Cincy
7.) Nebraska
most impressive: destroying Washington
least impressive: beating South Dakota St. 17-3
8.) Arkansas
most impressive: almost beating Alabama
least impressive: almost losing to Georgia
9.) Arizona
most impressive: soundly beating Iowa
least impressive: barely beating Cal
10.) Iowa
most impressive: soundly beating Penn St.
being soundly beaten by Arizona
teams that are probably pretty good
11.) Florida
most impressive: not losing its first 4 games despite trying pretty hard to do so
least impressive: being crushed by Alabama
12.) Stanford
most impressive: destroying UCLA
least impressive: being outscored 49-10 by Oregon the last three quarters
13.) Auburn
most impressive: beating South Carolina
least impressive: almost losing to Mississippi
14.) Utah
most impressive: beating Pitt
least impressive: only beating Pitt by 3 in OT
teams that might be pretty good
15.) Michigan St.
most impressive: beating Wisconsin
least impressive: needing a trick play in OT to beat Notre Dame
16.) Michigan
most impressive: its offense in every game
least impressive: its defense in every game
17.) Miami
most impressive: destroying Pitt
least impressive: every ball Jacory Harris floats up in the air hoping it gets caught by his team
18.) Nevada
most impressive: destroying Cal
least impressive: struggling to put away BYU
19.) LSU
most impressive: somehow winning every game they've played
least impressive: the offense, almost blowing a huge lead against a depleted UNC team, almost losing to Tennessee at home, almost losing to W. Virginia at home, taking a 10-3 lead against Vandy into the 4th quarter, and being far more talented than every team they've played but still routinely being outplayed . . . also, why wasn't LSU flagged on the penultimate play against UT when the player removed his helmet and threw it to the ground? I'd have to surmise it was b/c the refs thought the game was over. Oops.
20.) Air Force
most impressive: almost beating Oklahoma on the road
least impressive: only beating Wyoming by 6
teams that are probably above average and could possibly be better, but we're not really sure
21.) South Carolina
most impressive: beating Georgia?
least impressive: that their signature win came when they scored 17 points against a now 1-4 team
22.) Wisconsin
most impressive: managing to win their first 4 games
least impressive: struggling to win too many of their first 4 games
23.) Texas
most impressive: playing in the national title game last year
least impressive: being blown out at home by UCLA
23.) Florida State
most impressive: blowing out 4 of their 5 opponents
least impressive: getting blown out by Oklahoma
24.) North Carolina State
most impressive: soundly beating Georgia Tech
least impressive: blowing a large lead against Virginia Tech
25.) Kansas St.
most impressive: beating above average teams UCLA and Iowa St.
least impressive: only beating UCF by 4
As you can see, there aren't many teams that have done much to prove themselves this year. I'm confident that the top 10 teams are all good teams that deserve to be ranked in the top 25, but the next 10 are dicey and after #20 we might as well just pull 5 teams out of a hat.
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