Why Michigan stays put and USC leapfrogs SEC duo

Well, there are two pretty notable occurrences in this week's ballot that I know people are going to say contradict some of my previous statements (one of them flat-out does), so I best go ahead and address them now:

Why did I keep Michigan No. 2 when I was so adamantly anti-rematch last week?

Because, like I said last week, the season isn't over yet. At this point, Michigan is still the second-best team in my mind, not as much because of its performance last Saturday (the Wolverines did give up 500-plus yards and, contrary to how many remember it, only had one series the entire second half where they had the ball with a chance to take the lead), but because no one else has yet to step up and make a statement that they're definitively better. That could happen over the next two weeks, however, and in fact one team is getting awfully close. Which leads me to ...

Why did I bump USC ahead of Arkansas and Florida after scoffing at others who did the same thing last week?

Two reasons, actually. First of all, the Trojans finally looked like the Trojans in the second half against Cal, burying the Bears under a barrage of successful blitzes, C.J. Gable runs and two beautiful John David Booty touchdown passes, one of them a check-off to Steve Smith (the play was supposed to be a short pass to Patrick Turner but Booty instead went deep to Smith) that I'm not sure he would have pulled off earlier in the season.

But beyond that, I'll also admit I changed course in my thinking about the USC/Arkansas situation. While I do still recognize that the Razorbacks are an entirely different team now and that a second game between the two could easily go either way, now that they're both in contention for a national-title spot, I just no longer felt comfortable having the Trojans behind a team they beat 50-14. If that seems a little John Kerry-esque of me ... well it is.

NCAA Football Power Rankings Rank LW Team 1 1 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0) Last Saturday's game was a big testament to coach Jim Tressel and his staff. Obviously, their offensive game-plan (heavy on four and five receivers) worked to perfection. But also, listening to the players speak afterward, I don't know that I've ever heard a team so in unison with their coach. Next game: Jan. 8 vs. TBD. 2 2 Michigan Wolverines (11-1) Considering the opponent and the atmosphere, I thought QB Chad Henne handled himself exceptionally Saturday. He made one crucial mistake early in the game, overthrowing Mario Manningham on what would have been an easy touchdown, but overall he played very well. Next game: Bowl game TBD. 3 5 USC Trojans (9-1) "Maturation" is the buzzword around Heritage Hall this week -- not just the maturation of Booty, but of a young defense that, after struggling earlier in the season, has allowed a total of 19 points in its last three games. Young safeties Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays made big plays against Cal. Next game: Saturday vs. Notre Dame. 4 3 Arkansas Razorbacks (10-1) Darren McFadden's versatility just keeps growing. Against Mississippi State, he rushed 26 times for 84 yards, completed his only pass attempt for 16 yards and returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. I cannot wait to watch him go up against LSU's sixth-ranked rushing defense. Next game: Friday vs. LSU. 5 4 Florida Gators (10-1) While I certainly understand Urban Meyer's position about the Ohio State-Michigan rematch issue, I'm not sure complaining about it now when your team still has two losable games left is the right approach. Take care of your own business -- then start the lobbying effort. Next game: Saturday at Florida State. 6 8 West Virginia Mountaineers (9-1) Is it possible to nominate a tandem for the Heisman? The Pat White-Steve Slaton show against Pittsburgh last Thursday was unbelievable. White: 220 yards rushing, 204 passing (on 11-of-16 attempts). Slaton: 215 yards rushing, 130 yards receiving. They also scored all six WVU touchdowns. Next game: Saturday vs. USF. 7 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1) The war of wits between Charlie Weis and Pete Carroll on Saturday is going to be unreal. Weis said after the Army game that he's watched every USC play this season. And Carroll has been chomping at the bit for another shot at Weis ever since people said he got outcoached last year. Next game: Saturday at USC. 8 7 Louisville Cardinals (9-1) The Cardinals' slight drop this week had nothing to do with their 31-8 rout of USF. The fact is, after covering both West Virginia-Louisville and Louisville-Rutgers, the Big East team that impressed me most was the Mountaineers. In light of Rutgers' blowout loss at Cincinnati, I made an adjustment. Next game: Saturday at Pittsburgh. 9 12 Wisconsin Badgers (11-1) Oh, the irony. If Michigan winds up going to the title game, the Rose Bowl will have an empty spot opposite USC just begging to be filled by an 11-1 Big Ten team, but the BCS can't take a third conference team. There are certainly worse consolation prizes than Orlando for New Year's though. Next game: Bowl game TBD. 10 9 LSU Tigers (9-2) JaMarcus Russell did it again, completing a fourth-down touchdown pass to Dwayne Bowe with 14 seconds left to send the Ole Miss game to overtime. The question is, how were the 3-8 Rebels able to hang with LSU in the first place? Not exactly encouraging heading into Arkansas week. Next game: Friday at Arkansas.