1. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-0) LW 1
Each week Alabama looks even better. LSU was a trendy upset pick, but the Crimson Tide wanted nothing to do with that. Alabama used three straight touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters to blow this game open and cruise to win. They look unbeatable.
2. Florida State Seminoles (9-0) LW 3
With Oregon losing to Stanford, the Seminoles were the biggest winner this weekend. They just have to keep winning and they'll be back into the National Title game. That started this weekend when they used their defense to blow out Wake Forrest.
3. Baylor Bears (8-0) LW 5
Not too long ago it was Baylor getting blown out on a regular basis. But how things have changed. This past Thursday the Bears 41-12 beat down of Oklahoma puts them in the drivers seat in the Big 12 and puts the Bears in a position for a possible National Title appearance.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0) LW 4
Florida State is the biggest winner of Oregon's loss, but Ohio State is right there too. They are still on the outside looking in, but they are one step closer. They'll need to keep blowing out teams if they want to stay put, cause Stanford could get votes over them.
5. Stanford Cardinal (8-1) LW 6
How did this team lose to Utah? The same Utah team that has only one conference win. Even with Oregon making a late run Stanford controlled this game and looked like one of the nation's elite. It's just too bad they did lose that game against Utah or they would easily be the #2 team.
6. Oregon Ducks (8-1) LW 2
Just when you thought Oregon was heads and shoulders above everybody else, they came crashing down. Stanford's power rushing attack was too much and an injury to QB Marcus Mariota made the offense ordinary. Shot at the conference and national titles are now unlikely.
7. Auburn Tigers (9-1) LW 7
Tennessee has been a pesky team all year long, but Auburn cruised through the Volunteers to get the 55-23 win. A healthy QB Nick Marshall and RB Tre Mason lead the way on the ground teaming up to rush for 331 yards. They'll need that this week against Georgia.
8. Clemson Tigers (8-1) LW 8
It's a bye week for the Tigers and they are rest up before their final stretch of the season. Even without going to the ACC Title Game, the Tigers should find themselves back into a BCS Bowl again. But they'll have to beat a South Carolina team that's looking to win the SEC East.
9. Missouri Tigers (9-1) LW 10
It was only a win over Kentucky, but the more and more you watch Missouri the more you realize that they are for real. It also helps that the Tigers are getting former #1 recruit Dorial Green-Beckham going. His three TDs showed the elite talent he has.
10. Texas A&M Aggies (8-2) LW 11
Johnny Manziel is a treat to watch and is doing amazing things for the Aggies. However his freelance style also tends to hurt the team also. Even with A&M's weak defense, they should have rolled through Miss State. But throw in three Manziel picks and they are right in it.
11. South Carolina Gamecocks (7-2) LW 13
South Carolina has the weekend off before hosting Florida. Even though the Gators are not very good this year, they are still a prideful team that is going to look to knock the Gamecocks out of the East race. But getting QB Connor Shaw back healthy will help.
12. Michigan State Spartans (8-1) LW 14
Sparty is in the driver's seat in the Legends division being the only undefeated team in the division. However they had to sit back and watch Nebraska's defense dominate Michigan and know they'll have a dog fight this weekend in Lincoln for the division.
13. Wisconsin Badgers (7-2) LW 20
Often overshadowed by Monte Ball and now Melvin Gordon, it has been James White who has emerged as the top back for the Badgers. His 147 yards and two touchdowns paced the Badgers past a good BYU team. Their game against Minnesota in two weeks could be interesting.
14. UCLA Bruins (7-2) LW 18
After a tough two week stretch the Bruins are back on the winning side beating Arizona 31-26. The story was LB Myles Jack who played both ways rushing for 120 yards and a touchdown while getting 8 tackles and a fumble recovery on defense.
15. Fresno State Bulldogs (9-0) LW 15
For most of the first half the Bulldogs were on upset watch, but reeled off 42 unanswered points to continue their undefeated season and run at a BCS at large bid. With only New Mexico and San Jose State left to go the Bulldogs should have no problems.
16. Central Florida Knights (7-1) LW 16
Not only beating Houston to remain in first place in the American Athletic Conference, but they were able to hold the Cougars to 14 points when they'd been averaging close to 40 all season. With their final four opponents having a combined 11 wins, the road ahead should be pretty easy.
17. Oklahoma Sooners (7-2) LW 12
For a program that had a distinct identity looks like a team that doesn't know what they want to do. They've always been sound defensively, but have been getting gashed a lot. Offensively they don't know if they want to be a running team or a passing team. Better get it figured out.
18. Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-1) LW 19
After disposing Kansas 42-6 the Cowboys have now completed the easy part of their schedule. Their final three games come against Texas, Baylor and Oklahoma. Hard to find a tougher stretch. Should also tell us if they like Texas Tech are overrated or for real.
19. LSU Tigers (7-3) LW 9
Through most of three quarters the Tigers were within striking distance of knocking off LSU, instead 'Bama scored three straight touchdowns to break open the game and never look back. They won't be able to sulk long with Texas A&M coming to town.
20. Arizona State Sun Devils (7-2) LW 25
History tells us that down twelve points going into the fourth quarter it's likely Arizona State loses that game. But this is a different team under Todd Graham who scored two touchdowns to get the one point win. They have a shot to win the South Division, but they'll need to beat both Oregon State and UCLA to do so.
21. Louisville Cardinals (8-1) LW 21
It was another win for Louisville, but Louisville continues to look blah against whoever they play. Even in this game against winless UConn the Cardinals never looked dominant. But that's probably why they are all the way down here with only one loss.
22. Northern Illinois Huskies (9-0) LW 24
Don't think they planned it when they made the schedule, but the bye week comes at a perfect time. Their biggest test of the season will be this week in a game against a Ball State team that is unblemished in MAC play. We may find out how good they are.
23. Miami Hurricanes (7-2) LW 17
Their loss to Virginia Tech was their second loss in a row and sends the Hurricanes reeling. This was also the first game without their star RB Duke Johnson who was so much of their offense. They'll need to get things figured out because Duke is a legit threat.
24. Texas Longhorns (7-2) LW NR
After two early season back to back losses to BYU and Mississippi the Longhorns were written off. But they've won every game since and are the only team in the Big 12 without a conference loss. But like most Big 12 teams their schedule is back loaded with Oklahoma State, Baylor and Texas Tech still to come.
25. Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-2) LW NR
When Minnesota beat Northwestern it looked like a huge upset. Then they beat Nebraska. Then came the win over Indiana and also a dominating victory over Penn State this past weekend. No team is hotter than the Gophers. But getting Wisconsin and Michigan State in their next two games will be daunting.
Dropped Out: Notre Dame Fighting Irish, BYU Cougars
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