In case of ASU, record doesn't tell entire story

Rudy Burgess and the Sun Devils are likely the best two-loss team in the country. John W. McDonough/SI

Do you realize if Arizona State had held on to beat LSU a few weeks back, the Sun Devils would be a top-five team right now?

Do you realize if they'd also held on against USC last weekend, they might be No. 1?

It's a fine line between the top of the poll and the top 15. Clearly, Dirk Koetter's squad isn't too far from the very best in the country. But ASU is also, as of this week, a 3-2 team. So where do you rank the Devils?

For now, I have them just outside the top 10, which is generous for a two-loss team (considering there are undefeated teams below them) but deserved, since the two defeats came by the slimmest of margins to a pair of top-10 teams. If the Sun Devils keep their heads up, it's easy to see them going the rest of the season without a loss, which would likely mean a BCS bowl.

NCAA Football Power Rankings Rank LW Team 1 1 USC Trojans (4-0) For their next act, the Trojans will ask a crowd member at the L.A. Coliseum to randomly choose a number between 1 and 30 & and that's the halftime deficit from which USC will come back to win. Next game: Saturday vs. Arizona 2 2 Texas Longhorns (4-0) It's Mack Brown's chance to exorcize five years of frustration. Texas is so much better than Oklahoma that the Longhorns should not only win, they could conceivably run up the score on nemesis Bob Stoops. At this point, however, Texas fans will gladly take a one-point victory. Next game: Saturday vs. Oklahoma. 3 3 Virginia Tech Hokies (5-0) Is it time to start giving Marcus Vick some Heisman love? Following his near-flawless performance against West Virginia (15-of-17 passing, 177 yards, two touchdowns; 12 carries, 74 yards, one rushing touchdown), he's No. 2 in the country in pass efficiency. Next game: Saturday vs. Marshall. 4 5 Ohio St. Buckeyes (3-1) Even when Penn State has had losing teams, Ohio State has still struggled in Happy Valley (29-27 loss in 2001, 21-20 win in '03). The Nittany Lions' defense will wreak havoc on the Buckeyes' running game, but QB Troy Smith's mobility could be the X-factor. Next game: Saturday at Penn State. 5 19 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0) What Mike Shula is accomplishing is nothing short of remarkable. The Crimson Tide are still well short of 85 scholarships, most of their starters were not nearly as heralded recruits as Florida's, and yet they thoroughly whipped the Gators last Saturday. Next game: Oct. 15 at Ole Miss. 6 6 Georgia Bulldogs (4-0) Saturday brings D.J. Shockley's first true test. With all due respect to Boise State, South Carolina, Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State, he hasn't faced nearly the kind of pressure he will against Tennessee. Rick Clausen has his own work cut out for him against the Dawgs' defense. Next game: Saturday at Tennessee. 7 8 Florida St. Seminoles (4-0) If you thought the Seminoles would be 4-0 after watching the Miami game, raise your hand. Thanks to both of you. Drew Weatherford continued his steady progress against Syracuse, and Mickey Andrews' dominant defense notched another six sacks. Next game: Saturday vs. Wake Forest. 8 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1) Charlie Weis vs. Pete Carroll -- let the countdown begin. You know Weis will be salivating watching tape of the Trojans' first half against Arizona State. You know he can't wait to unleash Brady Quinn on those cornerbacks. And you know Carroll still has Reggie Bush and LenDale White. Next game: Oct. 15 vs. USC. 9 9 Tennessee Volunteers (3-1) It's a good thing Tennessee's defense has a penchant for big plays (like Jonathan Wade's 19-yard interception return for touchdown against Ole Miss), because its offense sure doesn't. The Vols have had just four touchdown drives of 35 yards or longer. Next game: Saturday vs. Georgia. 10 13 Wisconsin Badgers (5-0) Brian Calhoun gave away the spotlight for a week. The star of Saturday's 34-17 win over Indiana was receiver Brandon Williams, who had six catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns and also returned a punt 62 yards for another score. Next game: Saturday at Northwestern. 11 12 LSU Tigers (2-1) Last week I accidentally dropped LSU a spot behind Arizona State, which it beat on the field. This week I corrected that by flipping the teams, even though the Sun Devils looked far more impressive in defeat Saturday than the Tigers did in victory over Mississippi State. Next game: Saturday at Vanderbilt. 12 11 Arizona St. Sun Devils (3-2) While receiver Derek Hagan had a huge day against USC (10 catches, 162 yards), the Sun Devils' other most impressive offensive weapon may be tight end Jamaal Lewis, who repeatedly got open over the middle, catching five passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. Next game: Saturday vs. Oregon.

Read on for teams 13-25 ...