EZ's College Football Top 25, Week 5

There is no question that week five will go down as upset weekend. 4 of the top ten fell, including the #1, #2, and #4. And if that wasn’t enough, Clemson, Wake, Illinois, TCU, and ECU all went down too. Oh the changes in our poll.



1. Oklahoma – +2
The Trojans and the Dawgs both lost, and the Sooners put a beating on the former top 25 TCU Horned Frogs. Bob Stoops and his super QB Sam Bradford have lifted Oklahoma into priority position for the national title.





2. LSU Tigers – +3
Although I am not convinced yet in the Tiger’s ability to run the SEC table, but right now the Tigers are the number 2 team in our poll. Their win this week, combined with the looses from those above them, including conference rival Florida, has moved the Tigers back into national title consideration.





3. Alabama Crimson Tide - +7
Oh how the Tide has changed. To start the year, many of you will remember my snubbing the Tide, calling the the nations 26th best team behind the like of Pittsburgh. Now, after dismantling the Bulldogs in Georgia, the Tide have emerged as legit national title contenders. What Saban has done in Tuscaloosa is nothing less than amazing. In fact I came so close to pushing the Tide above the Tigers into the number two.





4. Missouri Tigers – +2
Mizzou was off this crazy week, and with the teams above them all falling, the Tigers earn the two spot bump. Chase Daniels and company will face Nebraska and Oklahoma State before the mega battle with Texas.





5. Texas Longhorns – +2
Colt McCoy continues to prove he is one of the best in the nation, as the Longhorns simply dominated the Razorbacks behind Colt’s 5 touchdown performance. This team has outplayed everyone this year. Now things get crazy though. Next week the Horns face Colorado, in a game that could be an upset if Texas looks past them. Considering their next two after are against Oklahoma and then Mizzou, that is a distinct possibility.






6. Texas Tech – +3
Texas Tech is another team who moves on up without having to play this weekend. The Red Raiders are a good team, and they don’t look like they will be challenged in their next three. However, if this weekend showed us anything, it is anyone can beat anyone on any weekend.





7. Penn State Nittany Lions - +6
The Lions continue their charge up the rankings with their win this week over top 25 Illini. This team is now the class of the Big 10 after Wiskey laid an egg against the Wolverines. Purdue, Wisconsin, and Michigan await, so it will not be an easy task to stay in the top 10, but they are looking good right now.




8. BYU Cougars - +3
Another week, another three spot jump for the Cougars, and this time they didn’t even have to play. Hall and his team do not have any one lined up who should challenge them until the Utes, but again, anyone on any weekend.




9. South Florida Bulls – +3
The Bulls decided they had to make a statement this week before their Big East schedule gets going. They absolutely dominated the NC State Wolfpack from the opening kickoff, putting to rest any ideas of the Pack playing spoiler for their second top 25 team in as many weeks. The Bullsare right now the top team in the Big East, along with UConn. Pittsburgh awaits these Bulls in Tampa on Thursday night.





10. Ohio State Buckeyes – +4
It seems each week the Big Ten has a new Big Daddy. As a result the Buckeyes are not out of the picture just yet. The earned another win this week by beating Minnesota with beanie Wells returning. Next week however one Big Ten team will fall out of the picture as Ohio State plays Wisconsin.





11. Georgia Bulldogs - -9
Early in the game against Bama, the Dawgs looks complete overmatched. They did mount a come back and tried to make a game out of it, but still it has to be looked at as a disappointment for Georgia. There is still a lot of football to be played though, and a strong showing against other SEC opponents could get the Dawgs back into the picture.





12. USC Trojans - -11
Well it seems like the Trojans need to go back to the drawing board after losing to Oregon State for the second straight year. I simply don’t understand how this team that has looked so dominant all season long could loose to an unranked Oregon State again. It is not like they didn’t remember last year. Now the Trojans are left hoping the top continues to rotate out like last season if they are to get back into the title fight.





13. Florida Gators - -9
Even though the Gators lost, they lost to a pretty good Ole miss team. The Gators are still a very dangerous team, and like the rest of the country they have a lot of games still to play to prove it. Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin make an awesome combination, and this is a team that will be back.






14. Auburn Tigers - +2
Auburn is still a team that is not impressing me. They played well enough to win, but it was against a Tennessee team who is simply not in the same class as many of the SEC opponents. Auburn still has a very tough schedule in front of them, and we will see if they are the real deal soon enough.






15. Kansas Jayhawks - +3
Kansas was off this week, and get the benefits of chaos all around them to garner this three spot bump. Kansas is a pretty darn good football team, with their only loss coming on a last second field goal against a top ten South Florida team, on the road. Todd Reesing will not have it easy against Colorado and Oklahoma in two of their next three.






16. Utah Utes – +3
Another close game for the Utes, but the important part is that they continue to win. Bryan Johnson is a tough competitior, and he will need to be to keep Utah in the picture.






17. Wisconsin Badgers - -9
The Badgers were en route to roll Michigan on Saturday, until they forgot there were four quarters of football to play. They opened the door, and the Wolverines barged right in to beat favored Wisconsin in the 500th game at the Big House. Championship caliber teams do not let this type of thing happen. Wisconsin has to rebound quickly as Ohio State is next on the docket.






18. Vanderbilt – +3
Vandy was off this week too, but they get to move up three spots in our poll thanks to teams around them falling apart. They next few weeks will not be easy for the Commodores as they face Auburn, Mississippi State, and Georgia in their next three. By then we will know if Vandy is going to be a real player in the SEC race, or if they will be an afterthough in a crowded conference.





19. Boise State – +4
La Tech, Iowa, and Hawaii are next up against Boise State, and they are a good program who is getting better. If not for that obnoxious blue field, I would be rooting for the Broncos to spoil the BCS party, but that darn blue field is a deal breaker for me. Seriously though, if Ian Johnson continue to run at better than 4.5 yard per clip, the Broncos are going to be tough competitors.





20. Virginia Tech Hokies – New to Poll
The Hokies return to the polls as one of the lead player is an awfully confusing ACC. Normally a conference dominated by the like of Florida State, Miami, and Va Tech, this year, it seems like the Hokies are out in front. Teams like Clemson, and Wake Forrest have proven themselves pretenders, so the ACC can be anyone’s game. They can’t look past WKU or BC but that showdown with the Noles looms large on the horizon.




21. Fresno State - +4
Another week, and another tough battle for the Bulldogs, but most importantly for Pat hills gang… another win. No one can say that Fresno State plays a cupcake schedule. They leave it all on the line each and every week, and I respect them greatly for that.





22. Connecticut Huskies – New to Poll
Here is a great trivia question. Who is the best running back in the nation that you’ve never heard of? The answer is definitely Donald Brown who in 5 games has amassed 906 yards, 6.2 YPC and 11 touchdowns. This puts him on pace for 1993 yards, and 24 touchdowns. UConn is 5-0, and they are pushing the USF Bulls for the Big East crown right now.





23. Oklahoma State Cowboys – New to Poll
All season long I have been touting the power of the SEC, but the Big 12 is not going to be forgotten. O.K. State adds themselves to the top 25 with their beating of Troy. They won’t stick around for long though unless they play well against A&M and then show up against Mizzou.





24. Oregon Ducks – New to Poll
The Ducks were early season players on the poll, but after a close game at Purdue and a loss to Boise State, the Ducks found themselves on the outside looking in. This week, they reminded everyone why they were ranked in the first place. They destroyed Washington State 63-14, to regain top 25 status. But how long will it last? That will all depend on what they do next week against Southern Cal.






25. Wake Forrest Demon Deacons - -8
True, the Deacons lost to a Navy squad who hadn’t beaten a raked team since 1986, however, this is still a good football team. The ACC is up for grabs, and a 1 loss team is not out of the game.