TOP 25
Little change at top continues
A month into the season there has been little change to the top of the rankings. Alabama and Ohio State are solidly entrenched as the top two, with non-automatic qualifiers Boise State and TCU close behind. Then there is another tier of undefeated BCS conference teams with little to separate them. That group includes four from the Pac-10 (Arizona, Oregon, Stanford, USC); three from the Big Ten (Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State) and SEC (Auburn, Florida, LSU); and two from the Big 12 (Nebraska, Oklahoma). Separation is soon to come as teams begin conference play.
| Team » Comment » Pvs Rank 1. Alabama (4-0) » Alabama-Florida: The SEC bluebloods go at it again » 1 2. Ohio State (4-0) » Heisman stuff from Pryor, but came vs. Central Mich. » 2 3. Oregon (4-0) » Do Ducks have the D to hang with No. 11 Stanford? » 4 4. Boise State (3-0) » Another impressive victory over a quality opponent » 5 5. TCU (4-0) » At SMU, Kerley provided the turnaround for Frogs » 6 6. Nebraska (4-0) » Will traveling to unproven KSU (4-0) be a real test? » 7 7. Florida (4-0) » Gators have found touchdown maker in Trey Burton » 9 8. Oklahoma (4-0) » UT-OU? Whoa Nelly, they plain don’t like each other » 8 9. Arizona (4-0) » Get a week off before hosting dangerous Oregon State » 11 10. LSU (4-0) » Winning ugly. Same story, different year for Tigers » 12 11. Stanford (4-0) » Stanford-Oregon. Rose Bowl implications already? » 17 12. Auburn (4-0) » Wins over Clemson, SC: Same state, same script » 18 13. Wisconsin (4-0) » Will the Badgers finally get tested in East Lansing? » 13 14. Utah (4-0) » Should be 7-0 when they go to Air Force on Oct. 30 » 14 15. Iowa (3-1) » Backup PK Murray warming up for Nittany Lions » 16 16. Arkansas (3-1) » Mallett’s Heisman Trophy bid was fun while it lasted » 10 17. Miami (2-1) » Canes at Clemson (2-1): two best in weak the ACC? » 21 18. USC (4-0) » Interesting QB matchup at USC: Barkley vs. Locker » 23 19. S. Carolina (3-1) » At Auburn, 4 turnovers in 4th quarter spelled doom » 15 20. Michigan (4-0) » QB Robinson (knee) expected back Saturday at IU » 20 21. Michigan St. (4-0) » The Spartans have scored at least 30 in every game » 24 22. Penn State (3-1) » Last trip to Iowa City (2008) was stunner for Lions » NR 23. Texas (3-1) » Pat Forde curse at work for error-prone Longhorns » 3 24. Nevada (4-0) » New to top 25, Wolf Pack and Wolfpack (N.C. State) » NR 25. N.C. State (4-0) » Last time Wolfpack were off to a 4-0 start was 2002 » NR |
HEATING UP
Florida / Also » USC, Auburn, Nevada
COOLING DOWN
Texas / Also » Arkansas, South Carolina
TOP 25 GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 7 Florida at No. 1 Alabama
The national champions from 2008 (Florida) and 2009 (Alabama) meet in a rematch of the last two SEC Championship games. Florida discovered a weapon in freshman Trey Burton, who scored a program-record six touchdowns in just 10 touches Saturday in a romp over Kentucky. Alabama has multiple offensive weapons in Heisman Trophy-winning RB Mark Ingram, RB Trent Richardson, WR Julio Jones, and QB Greg McIlroy.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Russell Wilson, N.C. State, QB
Virginia Tech is always the litmus test for up-and-comers in the ACC. Saturday it will be Wilson and N.C. State (4-0) trying to earn their stripes. Wilson leads an offense that has averaged 37.8 points a game against solid competition (Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, UCF). Wilson was snowed under last November (7 carries, -43 yards) in a 38-10 Tech victory in Blacksburg. But since then, State is undefeated, thanks largely to the 5-foot-11 junior.
STORYLINES
1. Pistol whipped » How did James Madison shock Virginia Tech? How did UCLA stun Texas? And how did Nevada climb into the rankings for the first time since 1948? The answer to all three questions is the pistol offense. Developed early in the decade by Nevada coach Chris Ault, the offense features a quarterback in mini-shotgun formation with a running back lined up straight behind. After shooting blanks with the pistol in the first two weeks, UCLA (2-2) has run it to perfection, rushing for 264 and 266 yards in consecutive upsets of ranked teams — including Texas on Saturday, which ranked No. 1 in rush defense.
2. Hail Bama » Since losing the final four regular season games in his first season at Alabama (2007), Nick Saban has led the Crimson Tide to 28 straight regular-season victories. Bama extended the string Saturday at Arkansas, 24-20, with the kind of gut-check win that has become its hallmark. The Tide trailed 20-7 late in the third quarter before rallying. The signatures of the comeback were familiar — physical play, a turnover-causing defense, and a determined, ground-oriented offense. During the streak, Alabama has won six games by six or fewer points, and two others in which it trailed in the fourth quarter.
3. Big Least » The Big East went all ACC last weekend as its top four programs lost to out-of-conference foes. While Pitt was humiliated at home by Miami, Cincinnati, West Virginia and Rutgers lost by respectable margins to strong BCS conference foes. After a banner 2009, the Big East has bottomed out. Pitt, Cincinnati and UConn have been much weaker than expected. In games against BCS conference teams, the Big East has a 1-10 record — the lone win coming by West Virginia, 31-17, over Maryland. For the first time in more than two years, no Big East team is ranked in the AP Top-25 this week.
AREA INTELLIGENCE
MARYLAND
The smallest home crowd in Ralph Friedgen’s 10 seasons (33,251) witnessed a stellar starting debut for freshman QB Danny O’Brien (18 of 27, 250 yards, two touchdowns, no turnovers) in a 42-28 win over Florida International. Next up is defenseless Duke (1-3) in the Terps’ ACC opener at home. Up next » vs. Duke, Sat., 6 p.m., ESPN3
NAVY
The Midshipmen (2-1) face a stiff test at Air Force (2-1). Navy has beaten the Falcons seven straight times and has won seven straight Commander-in-Chief’s Trophies, a record since the award was established in 1972. Air Force has thrived by mimicking Navy’s success running the triple-option offense. Up next » at Air Force, Sat., 2:30 p.m., VERSUS
VIRGINIA
After a week off and a laugher over VMI, 48-7, Virginia gets back into the mix with an ACC test against visiting Florida State (3-1), who defeated Wake Forest 31-0 on Saturday. The Cavaliers rolled over VMI with three touchdown passes from Mark Verica and a return touchdown from Reynard Horne. Up next » Florida St., Sat., noon, ACCTV
VIRGINIA TECH
The Hokies (2-2) notched their first shutout in four years, 19-0, at Boston College. QB Tyrod Taylor hit 16 of 21 passes for 237 yards to lead an offense that struggled in the red zone, settling for four field goals from Chris Hazley. Tech has an interesting challenge at N.C. State (4-0), a 45-28 winner at Georgia Tech. Up next » at N.C. State, Sat., 3:30 p.m., ABC
GEORGETOWN
After losing 10 straight to Holy Cross, the Hoyas (3-1), who were winless last year, stunned the defending Patriot League champions, 17-7, as QB Chris Darby threw for 191 yards and rushed for 98. Off to their best start in the Patriot League since 2001, the Hoyas play at Colgate on Saturday. Up next » at Colgate, Sat., 1 p.m..
