EZ's College Football Top 25, Week 1

I am happy to see another season of college football underway. Unlike last year, this season has not started quite so crazy. Still, we saw some upsets, and now, my initial update to my college football rankings is released.



1. USC Trojans – No Change
Off to a fast start, the Trojans dominated a very over matched Virginia Cavaliers team from the opening kick. Mark Sanchez looked awfully comfortable in leading the Trojan attack. Next up however is Ohio State, and I think we will have a better idea of what both teams are made of after that game.



2. Georgia Bulldogs – No Change
Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno lead the Bulldogs to the easy victory against Georgia Southern. No reason for anyone to think the Dawgs are no for real.




3. Ohio State – No Change
Even more impressive than the 43 points that OSU drubbed on Youngstown State, was the fact that the defense, lead by All-American candidates James Laurinitis and Malcolm Jenkins blanked the Pirates. As long as Beanie Wells is at full strength, this should be a great matchup next week.



4. Florida Gators – No Change
Easy victors in their opening day battle with Hawaii, the Gators look as if they will be in both the SEC and the National Title hunt all season long. They dominated the ground game, and Tim Tebow looked all the rage to defend his Heisman.



5. LSU Tigers – No Change
After Appalachian State opened last season with a win over Michigan, they hoped they could do it again, this time vs LSU. The Tiger though had other ideas. Charles Scott showed that the Tigers would not miss Jacob Hester, and they pounded App State to ensure that lightning wouldn’t strike twice.




6. Oklahoma Sooners – No Change
What a beating this team put on Chattanooga. Sure, it looked like a warm-up game going in, but to hold another team to 36 yards total offense is very impressive indeed.




7. Missouri Tigers – No Change
Unlike the teams above them in our poll, Mizzou opened up with a bang, taking on the Fighting Illini. This could have proven to be bad, but instead, Mizzou held their own and put up enough points to win the shoot-out. The Tigers are going to have to play better defense if they want to be in the title race this season, but a win against a quality opponent to start the year is very nice.




8. Auburn Tigers – +1
321 yards on the ground plus a Clemson loss has Auburn moving up into the 8th spot this week. Like some other top teams, Auburn was a heavy favorite against UL Monroe, but a shutout is a shutout, and the Tigers pulled one off.



9. Texas Longhorns – +1
QB Colt McCoy looked great, throwing for 3 TD’s and running for one more in the Longhorns opening day victory against a very overmatched Florida Atlantic team. The offensive outpouring has helped push Texas up one spot this week to #9.



10. West Virginia Mountaineers – +1
The Mountaineers break into our top ten with Pat White’s impressive 5 TD performance to open the season. Despite Villanova actually winning the yardage battle against the Mountaineers, WVU rolled to their first victory.





11. Texas Tech – +1
Graham Harrell opened the season throwing for over 500 yards in the Raiders beating of Eastern Washington. Texas Tech should not get looked past by the other national powers. This team is good.





12. Wisconsin Badgers – +1
PJ Hill eclipsed 200 yards on the ground as part of a 400+ yard effort for the Badgers. The ground game will support the Madison faithful all year long, and if they continue this pace, watch out Big 10.





13. Arizona State Sun Devils – +2
Zona State combines their victory with Clemson and Va Tech losses to move up two spots from our pre-season poll. Erickson would have probably liked a bit wider margin of victory from his Sun Devils, but will be happy to have left with a win. Next up, Stanford.







14. BYU Cougars - +2
The Cougars beating of Northern Iowa extends the nations longest win streak to 11, and helps BYU move up two spots in this weeks poll. With more than 550 yards of total offense, the Cougars look like they will be a tough team for all opponents this season.





15. Tennessee Vols – +2
At the time of this posting, the Tennessee vs UCLA matchup has yet to take place. Because of this Tennessee simply reaps the benefit of the losses above them. Next week however they will have the strength of two games effecting their ranking.





16. Kansas Jayhawks – +2
A big win for the Jayhawks over FIU moves them up two spots. Soon they match up with South Florida, and we will get to see how good they really are.







17. South Florida Bulls – +2
USF put up huge numbers against UT Martin in their opening day victory, and that was with their 2nd and 3rd string taking most of the snaps on both sides of the ball. Next up for the Bulls, the War on I4.





18. Alabama Crimson Tide – New to Poll
During my pre-season rankings I had a hard time deciding between the Tide and Pittsburgh for #25. Obviously I chose the wrong one. The Tide put a beating on my former #9, Clemson, while the Panthers laid an egg. The Tide enters the poll at #18 with their very convincing week one victory against a quality opponent.





19. Clemson Tigers – -11
Getting drubbed in a week one outing against the Tide is what has landed the Tigers this big drop in the poll. Zero yards rushing and controlling the ball for just over 18 minutes will not result in very many wins. Bowden needs to get his boys back on the horse ASAP. A game against the Citadel next week should be just what the Dr ordered.






20. Oregon Ducks – +1
Jeremiah Masoli is proving to be an adequate replacement for Dennis Dixon who bolted to the NFL. Careful with the football, and supported by a superb defensive outing, the new Duck signal caller proved that Oregon will be a player in the PAC 10.





21. Penn State – +1
College football’s eldest statesman earned his 373 win as Penn State completely rolled Costal Carolina. Paterno tied Bobby Bowden with this win, and I expect with the courses these two teams are currently on, that Paterno will again emerge as the winningest coach in college football history.





22. Wake Forest – +1
Riley Skinner looked awesome as the Deacons blew up Baylor during their week one matchup. Skinner is now the career leader in wins for the Deacons, and the team has risen two spots in this weeks poll.





23. South Carolina – New to Poll
Another SEC team breaks into EZ’s Top 25. Spurrier and his Gamecocks bowled through NC State to kick this college football season into gear, and with such a convincing win, they earn their ranking. Despite Beecher throwing 4 picks, they still dominated the Wolfpack.





24. Fresno State – New to Poll
Pat Hill’s team has not yet played, but with teams like the Illini and the Wolverines losing, the Bulldogs are moving on up without having played yet. They will face a good Rutgers team on Labor Day, and like Tennessee, they will benefit or pay for the results of this game on next weeks poll.






25. Illinios Fighting Illini – -5
Yes they lost, but they lost to a good Mizzou team. Because of this they fall, but not quite as far as some other teams. They remain in the Top 25, but they are simply hanging on right now. Next week they have a great “get right” opportunity against Eastern Illinois.