College Football Week 9 Power Rankings - Vito's View - Comcast.net Sports

While Florida and Alabama held on to the top two spots in this week's rankings and Texas surged into the three-spot, there's a new member of the top five that announced its return to the national title race.

In an absolute butt-whoopin', Oregon handed USC its worst loss of the Pete Carroll era, essentially ended the Trojans' seven-year run atop the Pac-10 and put itself in position to win the conference title. But more importantly, the resounding triumph enabled Oregon to jump into the national championship conversation.

I have them lurking behind the top three – and ready to pounce should any of them falter.

This week's rankings:

1. Alabama (8-0)
Previous Rank: 1
Last Week: Idle
’Bama boasts the fifth-best scoring defense in the country, allowing only 11.4 ppg. But the offense is struggling, hitting paydirt just once in the last two games. “The fact that we’ve only scored one touchdown in the last two games is certainly not what we’re trying to do,” coach Nick Saban said. “It’s not what we’re focused on.” (Really, it's not?) Coming off the bye week, the Tide will be tested immediately against LSU and the nation’s seven-ranked scoring defense, which is yielding just 12.1 ppg.

2. Florida (8-0)
Previous Rank: 2
Last Week: W, Georgia, 41-17
The Gators pounded their rivals in the Cocktail Party (again) but the larger question is: Brandon Spikes, what are you doing? Trying to gouge the eyes of your opponent? C’mon, man. You’re better than that, even if your teammates justify it by claiming it was retaliation. Urban Meyer has suspended you for the first half of the Vandy game and you’ll be lucky to see the field at all. Of course, you left him with little choice.

3. Texas (8-0)
Previous Rank: 4
Last Week: W, at Oklahoma State, 41-14
The numbers are a little unnerving on the surface – the ’Horns were outgained by the Pokes (277-275) and were held to under 300 yards of offense for the second time in three games. But the defense forced five turnovers, including a pair of pick-sixes, and gave the offense a short field all night. Texas’ road to the Big 12 title game is now clear, but I have a note of caution for ’Horns fans penciling their team into the national title game: Your rivals over at A&M are beginning to play some solid football.

4. Oregon (7-1)
Previous Rank: 9
Last Week: W, USC, 47-20
Umm, wow. I mean, just … wow. Good thing the World Series was on because it gave college football fans a compelling game to watch. QB Jeremiah Masoli was awesome (222 yards and a TD through the air; 164 yards and a TD on the ground) and RB LaMichael James was very impressive (183 yards and a score) as Oregon racked up 613 yards of offense on the vaunted Trojans’ defense. Boise State fans are going to give me the business because the Broncos beat the Ducks in the season-opener, but Oregon has won seven straight since that setback and now owns the inside track on its first Pac-10 title since 2001.

5. Cincinnati (8-0)
Previous Rank: 3
Last Week: W, at Syracuse, 28-7
QB Zach Collaros threw four TD passes – one in each quarter – but it wasn’t pretty. In fact, three of the scoring passes were on improvised plays with Collaros scrambling, including one on a botched FG attempt. Although Collaros has completed 75 percent of his passes for nine TDs with just one INT, the Bearcats have to be looking forward to the stability QB Tony Pike will restore upon his return. That could be this week against UConn.

6. Iowa (9-0)
Previous Rank: 5
Last Week: W, Indiana, 42-24
QB Ricky Stanzi had thrown a career-high five picks, Iowa entered the fourth quarter with a 10-point deficit and the Hawkeyes’ bid for perfection was on the fritz. But the Hawkeyes took advantage of a blown replay reversal and scored 28 points in the fourth to win going away. It was the fourth time this season that Iowa entered the fourth quarter facing a deficit. “Our guys don’t buckle,” coach Kirk Ferentz said. “If they were ever going to buckle, I think [Saturday] would have been the day.”

7. TCU (8-0)
Previous Rank: 6
Last Week: W, UNLV, 41-0
In their last three games, the Horned Frogs have outscored opponents 123-13 – and that stretch includes the resounding win over BYU two weeks ago. While the dominant defense is allowing just 213.3 ypg over the three games, QB Andy Dalton has been just as masterful, throwing for eight TDs without an INT during the run. “We feel like to pitch a shutout means we played close to a complete game,” safety Tejay Johnson said after the UNLV win. “I think it’s one of our best performances. But I think we can do a lot better.”

8. Boise State (8-0)
Previous Rank: 8
Last Week: W, San Jose State, 45-7
Oregon’s huge win over USC is big for Boise State in the BCS standings (even if it doesn’t help them as much in my rankings). Still, the reality is that Boise is locked in a tough fight with TCU for one BCS slot, and style points could determine who gets it. Coach Chris Peterson doesn’t want to play that game: “When you get caught up in those numbers and get caught up in the scores of games and get caught up in how bad you should be beating people, it works against you,” the coach said.

9. Georgia Tech (8-1)
Previous Rank: 10
Last Week: W, at Vanderbilt, 56-31
A week after they piled up 362 yards rushing and held the ball for almost 43 minutes against Virginia, the Yellow Jackets rushed for 404 yards and controlled the ball for nearly 40 minutes against Vandy. The better news? RB Jonathan Dwyer finally had his breakout game, running for a career-high 186 yards and three TDs. The Ramblin' Wreck returns to conference play over the next two weeks with a spot in the ACC title game in the balance.

10. LSU (7-1)
Previous Rank: 11
Last Week: W, Tulane, 42-0
It’s Saban Bowl III as LSU and Alabama knock heads in a pivotal SEC West showdown in Tuscaloosa. The Tigers’ stingy defense, which is allowing just 12.1 ppg, gets a ’Bama offense that’s scored just one TD in its last two games. But QB Jordan Jefferson and the offense get a defense that is even stingier – Alabama’s D is yielding only 11.4 ppg. “It is our championship game next week,” Jefferson said. “We are going to prepare ourselves for Alabama and come out ready to fight.”

11. Penn State (8-1)
Previous Rank: 13
Last Week: W, at Northwestern, 34-13
The Nittany Lions scored three TDs on three straight offensive plays in the fourth to put Northwestern away and keep their hopes for a Big Ten title intact. Whether QB Daryll Clark and Co. can repeat as conference champs – they need to win out and Iowa to lose twice – will largely depend on Penn State’s ability to beat Ohio State in consecutive years for the first time since it joined the Big Ten in 1993.

12. Pittsburgh (7-1)
Previous Rank: 15
Last Week: Idle
The Panthers’ bye week came at an interesting time, which, depending on how the rest of the season plays out, will be considered either perfect or disruptive. Since it came before games against Notre Dame, Cincinnati and West Virginia, the timing will be considered perfect if they win out. But since it also came on the heels of a four-game winning streak in which the Panthers looked to be getting better each week, the timing will be considered a catastrophic disruption if they fall at home to Syracuse this week.

13. Houston (7-1)
Previous Rank: 16
Last Week: W, Southern Miss, 50-43
The Cougars’ offense can keep up with anyone in the country. It’s the defense that makes this team vulnerable, as evidenced by the loss to UTEP and the 608 yards it allowed against Southern Miss. This time, the D needed the offense to bail it out in the final minute – and QB Case Keenum obliged. Keenum threw for a career-high 559 yards and had five touchdowns (the last with 21 seconds remaining) as Houston won its fourth straight. “Keenum’s level of play establishes an attitude for our whole team,” coach Kevin Sumlin said. “If we’re behind, we’re going to win the game, and if it’s close, we’re going to win that game.”

14. USC (6-2)
Previous Rank: 7
Last Week: L, at Oregon, 47-20
At least it wasn’t one of those last-second losses to an unranked team that have come to haunt USC in recent years. The Trojans have always been able to bounce back and win the Pac-10. This one essentially ends USC’s seven-year reign atop the conference. In addition to the 47 points, the Trojans allowed the Ducks to rack up a mind-numbing 613 yards of offense. What’s scary for USC fans is that this isn’t a complete aberration. In the last three games, the Trojans have given up 110 points and 1,462 yards of offense. “Oregon did everything it wanted to do,” coach Peter Carroll said after the worst loss of his USC tenure.

15. Ohio State (7-2)
Previous Rank: 17
Last Week: W, New Mexico State, 45-0
Even against an inferior opponent, Terrelle Pryor’s sophomore slump continued. The QB completed just 11-of-23 for 139 yards and a score. Although he did find success on the ground, rushing for 83 yards and a TD, his struggles in the passing game could cost the Buckeyes in their quest to win at least a share of a fifth straight Big Ten title. Ohio State faces a brutal stretch to close out the season (@Penn State, Iowa and @Michigan) and has no room for error, thanks to Pryor’s meltdown against Purdue a few weeks ago.

16. Oklahoma State (6-2)
Previous Rank: 12
Last Week: L, Texas, 41-14
QB Zac Robinson failed miserably in proving he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Colt McCoy and the best single-callers in the country. He entered as the Big 12’s top-rated passer but was picked off a career-high four times with the Longhorns returning two for TDs. A win against either of the two best teams in the conference over the last five years is long overdue for this program -- the Cowboys are now 0-9 against Texas and Oklahoma since coach Mike Gundy took over.

17. Utah (7-1)
Previous Rank: 19
Last Week: W, Wyoming, 22-10
The dreaded QB controversy has found its way to Salt Lake City. Junior college transfer Terrance Cain started every game this season but was pulled in favor of Jordan Wynn at the start of the second half. Wynn completed 9-of-14 for 82 yards and a TD and led the Utes on three scoring drives. Although Kyle Whittingham hasn’t decided who will get the start this week against New Mexico, he offered a weak defense of the incumbent. “[Cain] didn't play poorly,” Whittingham said, “but he just couldn’t finish drives, and we were not converting on third downs.” That can’t be very reassuring for Terrance. Even if he does get the nod, he’ll undoubtedly be on a very short leash.

18. Arizona (5-2)
Previous Rank: 21
Last Week: Idle
The Wildcats come off the bye facing a daunting stretch to close the season (@Cal, @Arizona State and @USC. Plus, they get Oregon at home. With that gauntlet ahead of them, Arizona better have solved its turnover woes during the off week. Good thing the ’Cats get another week of practice in the form of Washington State this week.

19. Miami (6-2)
Previous Rank: 18
Last Week: W, at Wake Forest, 28-27
The ’Canes got away with one, scoring with just over a minute remaining to win a game in which they were outgained 555-356, had just 26 yards rushing and picked up 14 fewer first downs than their opponent.

20. Notre Dame (6-2)
Previous Rank: NR
Last Week: W, Washington State, 40-14
The Irish jump back into the rankings after notching their first blowout since the opener against Nevada. Although most college football fans don’t want to hear it, Notre Dame will reach a BCS game if it wins its final four games of the season. “I’d be a hypocrite if I went any further than talking about [this week’s game with] Navy,” coach Charlie Weis said. “But I will tell you that we at least put ourselves in position where good things can happen this year. And we get to control our own destiny.”

21. BYU (6-2)
Previous Rank: 24
Last Week: Idle
The Cougars enter the final stretch of the season with a pair of road games before heading home to close out the season against Air Force and rival Utah. The two home games against tough opponents could mean more trouble in LaVell Edwards Stadium, where the Cougars have somehow lost twice in ’09 after winning 18 straight over the three previous seasons.

22. Oklahoma (5-3)
Previous Rank: NR
Last Week: W, Kansas State, 42-30
Coach Bob Stoops feels that freshman QB Landry Jones, thrust into the spotlight with Sam Bradford’s injury, is finally coming into his own. Jones threw four TD passes in the Sooners’s win over K-State. “The most exciting part was the offense answered back when it had to,” Stoops said. “It’s a sign we’re becoming a more complete team.”

23. Virginia Tech (5-3)
Previous Rank: 14
Last Week: L, North Carolina, 20-17
The Hokies followed up a season-opening loss to Alabama with five straight wins, a run that put them in the middle of the national title race. But a loss at Georgia Tech two weeks ago destroyed those dreams, and now their conference title hopes have been dashed by last week’s setback to North Carolina. The Hokies need to regroup before this thing spirals out of control and the entire season is lost.

24/25. Cal/Wisconsin
Previous Rank: NR
When you look at their records and their seasons to this point, it’s eerie how similar these teams are. They are both 6-2, they both crushed the weaker teams on their schedules and they both dropped their biggest games of the season on consecutive weeks: Cal lost back-to-back games at Oregon and home to USC; Wisconsin lost back-to-back games at Ohio State and home to Iowa. Since I can’t put one in without the other, they squeak in together and we’ll see what they can do from here.

Dropped Out:
West Virginia (6-2)
Previous Rank: 20
Last Week: L, at South Florida, 30-19
South Florida QB B.J. Daniels had 336 total yards. The Mountaineers had 323.

South Carolina (6-3)
Previous Rank: 22
Last Week: L, Tennessee, 31-13
Apparently, the gamesmanship Tennessee pulled with the black jerseys got to the Gamecocks, who fumbled twice on their first five plays to help spot the Vols 14 points in the first four minutes of the contest.

Ole Miss (5-3)
Previous Rank: 23
Last Week: L, Auburn, 33-20
This team is driving me crazy. I put them in the rankings and they get hammered. I take them out and they win big. I put them back in and they get hammered again.

Central Michigan (7-2)
Previous Rank: 25
Last Week: L, at Boston College, 31-10
I wrote last week that the Chippewas can justify their spot in the rankings with a strong showing at Boston College. Well, they failed ... miserably.

On the radar:
South Florida (6-2)
The Bulls took a big step to getting back in the rankings with that performance against West Virginia. But more importantly, they showed that they aren’t going to collapse like they did the last two years.

Auburn (6-3)
After winning five straight in high-flying fashion to start the season, the Tigers appeared to be on a tailspin with three straight losses in which they scored just 16 ppg. But with a resounding 33-20 win over Ole Miss and the annual grudge match against Alabama remaining, Auburn still has time to save the season and jump back into the rankings.

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Email me at vitosview@comcast.net; follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/vjforlenza.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.


Message Edited by Vito_Forlenza on 11-03-2009 04:38 PM