Power Rankings

1) Alabama (9-0, 6-0, +18) - It's a little ironic that the game that finally elevates Alabama to my No. 1 is the one where they looked the most vulnerable, needing a 28-yard touchdown off a screen pass with 51 seconds left to win at LSU, 21-17.  Alabama gave up 435 yards of offense on 5.1 yards per play, while gaining 331 yards on 6.4 ypp.  The key for LSU's almost-win was time of possession, which they led by a whopping 39:15 to 20:45.  This meant that Alabama's defenders lost a little gas at the end of the game, and allowed LSU to have two touchdown scoring drives in the second half.  On the other hand, the Tigers botched a disastrous fake field goal in the first half, missed another in the second, and turned the ball over on downs in the 4th quarter.  Sometimes, the team that wins is simply the team that doesn't make as many mistakes.  Next week will be interesting, as the Tide host Texas A&M's high powered Big-12 style offense and their elite QB, Johnny Manziel.

2) Notre Dame (9-0, 0-0, +17) - OK, I am officially off the Notre Dame bandwagon.  The Irish needed a furious comeback and a botched field goal to beat mighty 4-4 Pittsburgh 29-26 in triple overtime.  I know that every championship team needs the football gods on their side at some point in the season, but not against a Big East also-ran.

Now, here's the thing.  If, in August, you told me that Notre Dame would go 12-0 and beat Michigan State, Michigan, Stanford, Oklahoma, and USC, I would say that they're an elite team and are in the National Championship, because I'm expecting at least 2 conference championships and 3 BCS bowl berths from those teams.  But then you tell me that none of those teams win their conference, and only one (Oklahoma) will be playing in a BCS bowl.  Just says something about how much pre-season expectations shape how we view the actual season. 

3) Kansas State (9-0, 6-0, +17) - I really hope that Collin Klein is OK.  The do-everything QB left Kansas State's 44-30 win over Oklahoma State with an unspecified knee injury and he is questionable for next week's game against TCU.  The Wildcats need to win 2 out of their last 3 against TCU, Baylor, and Texas to win the Big 12 and go to the Fiesta Bowl, which they could do without Klein, because of their good defense and ability to control the ball.  But their eyes are on a bigger prize right now.  And I think they will need Klein at 100% to do that. 

4) Oregon (9-0, 6-0, +15) - For the first time all season, I think I saw an Oregon team that belongs on the same field as Alabama in their 62-51 win at USC.  Kenjon Barner had a historic day, rushing for 321 yards and 5 touchdowns, and the Ducks put up 730 yards of offense on 8.8 yards per play.  And, even though they gave up 615 yards and 7.7 ypp to the Trojans, I was still impressed with Oregon's defense.  They forced three first half turnovers, two of them in the red zone, and if it were not for one 75 yard Marquise Lee touchdown catch and one 82 yard Marquise Lee kickoff return, the game would not have been nearly as close.  Something to note: There were two punts in the entire game, one by each team, 0 in the first half.

5) Georgia (8-1, 6-1, +11)

6) Florida (8-1, 7-1, +12) - The Gators needed a last minute interception in the endzone to defeat Missouri, 14-7, and wrap up their SEC schedule.  If Georgia stumbles next week against Auburn, the Gators win the East and will head to the SEC Championship.  However, even if Georgia wins, Florida can still compete for an invitation to the Sugar Bowl if they beat Florida State.  In fact, Florida still has an outside chance at getting to the National Championship if they win out, if Georgia loses to Alabama, and if everybody outside the SEC suffers at least one loss.  In the meanwhile, they get to rack up the ticket receipts with awkward home games against Louisiana-Lafayette and Jacksonville State. 

7) Ohio State (10-0, 6-0, +10) - The Buckeyes won at home against Illinois, 52-22, and the Big Ten narrowly averted disaster with Nebraska beating Michigan State, 28-24.  The Cornhuskers remain the Big Ten's last bowl eligible team with fewer than 3 losses.  Nebraska remains the favorite to reach the Big Ten championship, with games left against Penn State, Minnesota, and Iowa.  There, they will probably meet Wisconsin, although there is a chance that 4-5 Indiana could meet them there, if the Hoosiers win out against Wisconsin, Penn State, and Purdue.

And what to make of Ohio State's curious season?  They're undefeated, but their opponents are a combined 44-49, with only three (Nebraska, Penn State, and UCF) currently with winning records.  They still get Wisconsin and Michigan, and could ruin either or both of those teams Rose Bowl hopes.  But I seriously doubt that an undefeated Ohio State will have enough respect to get a split national title from the AP.  (They are fifth this morning.) 

8) Oregon State (7-1, 5-1, +10)

9) LSU (7-2, 3-2, +10) - The Tigers don't get punished much for losing to the #1 team in the country by a last-minute touchdown, dropping from 7th to 9th.  (5th to 9th in the AP.)  However, their second loss seriously damaged their chances at securing an at-large BCS bowl berth.  Their head-to-head loss to Florida looms large, and they would probably be picked after a two-loss Georgia team, too, unless the Bulldogs just get blown out by Alabama in the SEC Championship game.  The Tigers still have work to do, with Mississippi State up next.  Even if they miss out on the Sugar Bowl, a Cotton Bowl berth against, say, Texas or Oklahoma would be nothing to sneeze at.  

10) Louisville (9-0, 4-0, +9)

11) Oklahoma (6-2, 4-1, +7)
12) Florida State (8-1, 5-1, +6)
13) Kent State (8-1, 5-0, +6) 
14) South Carolina (7-2, 5-2 , +5)
15) Texas A&M (7-2, 4-2, +5)

16) Rutgers (7-1, 4-0, +4) 

17) Toledo (8-1, 5-0, +4) - Toledo is ranked for the first time ever this week, debuting at #23 in the AP poll.  Northern Illinois, Kent State, and Ohio have all received votes, too.  The MAC won't get settled out for another two weeks, when Toledo plays at Northern Illinois on Wednesday, Nov. 14, and Ohio plays at Kent State on Friday, Nov. 23.  I highly doubt that even a one-loss MAC champ will be invited to a BCS bowl, although it is possible, especially since the Big Ten will probably only be sending one team this year. 

18) Clemson (8-1, 5-1, +4)

19) UCLA (6-2, 3-2, +3) - In case you didn't notice, there were two games played in the Los Angeles area last night, and the same Arizona team that beat USC 39-36 last week fell on the road to UCLA 66-10.  In the first half, Arizona had 79 yards on 25 plays, and the Bruins led 42-3 at the half.  UCLA, USC, and Arizona State all still have a chance at winning the Pac-12 South.  The Bruins have a one-game lead and hold the tie-breaker over ASU, with game left at Wazzu, vs. USC, and the finale at home against Stanford.  Arizona State needs to beat USC and then have UCLA lose twice. The Trojans can still win the division by winning out: They host ASU next week and then take on the Bruins in the Rose Bowl on Nov. 17th.  That game should be fun. 

20) Stanford (7-2, 5-1, +3) - Stanford beat Colorado, ending a brutal three-game stretch where the Buffaloes lost at USC 50-6, at Oregon 70-14, and against Stanford 48-0.  The Cardinal end their season at home against Oregon State, at Oregon, and at UCLA.  (APs, 13, 2, and 17).  Next week's OSU game will essentially be a "play-in" for the Pac-12 North Division, with the winner getting a shot at the Ducks for the division title and the loser having 2 conference losses and awaiting a Holiday Bowl invitation in the mail. 

21) Texas (7-2, 4-2, +3)
22) Ohio (8-1, 4-1, +3)
23) Texas Tech (6-3, 3-3, +3)
24) Northern Illinois (9-1, 6-0, +3)
25) Louisiana Tech (8-1, 3-0, +2)