I do this a little differently than most. Instead of ranking a team based on what they might do in the future, I rank them on what they have done in the past while positioning them properly to advance in the rankings. I don't account for what team X would do against team Y, simply what they have shown so far. As the season goes along I will adjust and wind up with more accurate rankings than the AP junk. #1 (1) USC (4-0): Unless they cut games in half I won’t penalize them for slow starts.

#2 (2) Texas (4-0): Like the Trojans they stalled early but got in control and stayed there.

#3 (3) Florida State (4-0): Wasting Syracuse was a foregone conclusion and they are rolling along.

#4 (4) Virginia Tech (5-0): Smoking West Virginia illustrates that they are an elite team.

#5 (6) California (5-0): Shutting out a team is no easy task, especially one that just tested Purdue.

#6 (8) Georgia (4-0): Extra week to prepare for Tennessee comes in handy.

#7 (11) Alabama (5-0): Blowing out Florida is a good way to get in the national title picture.

#8 (7) UCLA (4-0): Ugly comeback win was definitely a case of looking ahead to showdown with Cal.

#9 (12) Ohio State (3-1): An extra week to prepare for suddenly important trip to Penn State.

#10 (16) Miami, FL (3-1): Another solid defensive effort and no tests until the end of the month.

#11 (17) Texas Tech (4-0): Kansas is slightly less terrible than the teams they have pounded so far.

#12 (5) Florida (4-1): It isn’t so much that they lost, but 31-3 is an embarrassment.

#13 (13) Tennessee (3-1): Winning big on a short week was fine, but Georgia is on deck.

#14 (22) Wisconsin (5-0): Let’s be honest, Indiana is horrible and this week’s opponent Northwestern is too.

#15 (14) LSU (2-1): Blowing out Mississippi State gives them confidence if nothing else.

#16 (25) Penn State (5-0): Destroying Minnesota puts them in position to make some noise.

#17 (15) Arizona State (3-2): It seems like 21-3 would be a safe lead but Keller threw it away, literally.

#18 (NR) Michigan (3-2): Great win at Michigan State, but still a two loss team.

#19 (9) Michigan State (4-1): Crushing loss to Michigan, but two weeks to prep for rebound at Ohio State.

#20 (19) West Virginia (4-1): Losing to Virginia Tech is no shame, but they were just trying to keep it close.

#21 (24) Notre Dame (4-1): They have punished another overrated team.

#22 (30) Nebraska (4-0): Big win as they try to bumble towards the top of the Big XII North.

#23 (NR) Colorado (3-1): Shutout win on the road against a 3-0 team good enough to pop them back up.

#24 (NR) Oregon (4-1): Toasted Stanford and needs to win in Arizona State to stay here.

#25 (NR) Louisville (3-1): Okay, I’ll rate them after blowing out Florida high school, I mean International.

#26 (NR) Georgia Tech (3-1): With N.C. State and Duke on deck they warrant watching.

#27 (NR) Auburn (4-1): I haven’t forgiven the Georgia Tech loss, but they play solid defense.

#28 (NR) Boston College (4-1): With wins rolling in they are back in contention.

#29 (18) Iowa State (3-1): I guess being my favorite to win the Big XII North was too much pressure.

#30 Connecticut (3-1): Two shutouts and their loss was at Georgia Tech.


Out of last week’s rankings and needing to play their way back in:

NR (10) Virginia (3-1): Disappointing loss for a team building momentum. Too many field goal drives.

NR (20) Minnesota (4-1): With Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State up next they appear to be in trouble.

NR (21) Washington State (3-1): Unfortunate stumble for them but should be a bowl eligible team.

NR (23) Vanderbilt (4-1): Sadly, the dream unbeaten run is over and now comes LSU and Georgia.

NR (26) Kansas State (3-1): They weren’t up to the challenge against Oklahoma.

NR (27) Indiana (3-1): Given a chance to shine in a showdown with Wisconsin they folded.

NR (28) UTEP (3-1): Gee, I seem to be the snake pit prediction man because they fell flat.

NR (29) Oklahoma State (3-1): Another team I gave a chance that turned in a disastrous game.

Still on the watch list:

Toledo (3-1): I suppose until they lose in conference they warrant keeping an eye on.

Fresno State (2-1): I believe they are the best team in the WAC so we’ll find out.

Added to the watch list:

TCU (4-1) They have won a slugfest over Oklahoma 17-10 and a shootout 51-50 over BYU. Weird.

Wyoming (4-1) Their only loss is to Florida and if they beat TCU they likely crack my top 30.

UAB (3-1): Only lost 17-10 to Tennessee and could make a run in Conference USA.

Texas A&M (3-1): Besting Baylor isn’t impressive, but they are in position to make a move.

Off the radar completely:

South Florida (3-2): They might be back when the competition softens, but were blitzed by Miami.

Kansas (3-1): Not a terrible showing in a loss at Texas Tech, but they have no big wins.

Baylor (3-1): Almost pulled it out at Texas A&M but back to the bottom of the line now.

New Mexico (3-2): Blown out by TCU and officially in oblivion.

Purdue (2-2): Totally off the board after getting worked over by Notre Dame.