Last week’s rank in parentheses:
TOP 25
1. Alabama, 4-0 (1): Only challenge for Tide in regular season will be LSU on Nov. 3.
2. Oregon, 4-0 (3): If Ducks’ offense can catch up to the defense, watch out. Wait …
3. LSU, 4-0 (2): Facing Towson a break before traveling to The Swamp to face Gators.
4. Florida State, 4-0 (4): Now that ’Noles have swagger back, expect more cutoff jerseys.
5. Georgia, 4-0 (5): Things about to get much tougher – Tennessee this week, at South Carolina in two weeks.
6. Stanford, 3-0 (7): Cardinal win today may send ex-coach Jim Harbaugh on celebratory rant about overpaid UW assistants like the one after 2010 win.
7. South Carolina, 4-0 (9): Spurrier doesn’t take questions for two straight days, new practice facility being built to house ego.
8. Notre Dame, 4-0 (11): Instead of “Rudy” speech to fire up team, showing Sean Astin’s speech from “The Goonies.”
9. USC, 3-1 (10): Lane Kiffin hoping to avoid another gaffe-tastic week. Odds are low.
10. West Virginia, 3-0 (12): Mountaineers in for a test against Baylor this week.
11. Florida, 4-0 (14): Gators get two weeks to prep for LSU.
12. Texas, 4-0 (13): Averaging 514 yards of offense, scored 66 on Mississippi last week.
13. Kansas State, 4-0 (16): Big win at Oklahoma, but we’re not convinced because the Sooners self-destructed.
14. Oklahoma, 3-1 (6): Sooners didn’t have loss to K-State in plans.
15. TCU, 3-0 (17): Horned Frog least-threatening mascot, but TCU routinely one of most dangerous programs.
16. Clemson, 3-1 (8): Chance for recovery because next seven vs. mediocre or poor foes.
18. Ohio State, 3-0 (13): Would like to see more from Buckeyes than uncomfortable wins.
19. Oregon State, 2-0 (NR): Mike Riley proves being open with the media produces wins.
20. Louisville, 4-0 (20): Cards able to fool folks until end of year. Just one ranked team on schedule (Rutgers).
21. Michigan State, 3-1 (21): Chance for upward movement comes with hosting of Ohio State this weekend.
22. Nebraska, 3-1 (22): No way to score 73 points then claim you weren’t running up the score, backups or not.
23. Boise State, 2-1 (24): After 7-6 win over BYU, Broncos looking for better start this week.
24. Mississippi State, 4-0 (25): Still waiting for Bulldogs to play a legit opponent.
25. Arizona State, 3-1 (NR): Sun Devils look legit after dismantling of Utah on Saturday.
Pac -12
1. Oregon, 4-0 (1): Ducks face Washington State in Seattle. This Battle in Seattle will be more like a bloodbath.
2. Stanford, 3-0 (2): Cardinal hoping to have 3 tight ends at least 7-foot tall by 2013.
3. USC, 3-1 (3): Trojans sorting things out, will be plenty dangerous by end of season.
4. Oregon State, 2-0 (6): The more success Mike Riley has, the more foolish tyrant coaches look.
5. Arizona State 3-1 (8): Two road games before hosting Oregon, which could be clash of division leaders.
6. UCLA 3-0 (3): Rick Neuheisel fuming in Pac-12 studios, wanting just one more year.
7. Washington 2-1 (10): UW gets to show whether it’s an upper- or lower-half Pac-12 squad against Stanford.
8. Arizona 3-1 (5): Cats host a stubborn Oregon State “D” this weekend.
9. Utah 2-2 (7): Scoring, still an issue for Utes, won’t be any easier vs. USC on Saturday.
10. Cal 1-3 (9): Jeff Tedford will feel heat again if he doesn’t get it straightened out soon.
11. Colorado 1-3 (12): Can Buffs bottle fourth quarter from Pullman? Unlikely.
12. Washington State 2-2 (11): At some point, Mike Leach may start running the ball with a fourth-quarter lead. Maybe.
todd.dybas@thenewstribune.com
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