For what seemed like the first time all season, the top of my rankings actually remained the same this week -- No. 1 LSU and No. 6 Oklahoma were idle, while No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Boston College and No. 5 Arizona State all posted important victories.
The middle of the poll, on the other hand, was another story.
Six of the 10 teams I had ranked between seventh and 16th last week lost over the weekend, including several in embarrassing fashion. This left a huge, gaping hole in the middle of my ballot, with few sure-fire candidates to fill the void. As a result, two teams I did not even have ranked last week -- 7-2 Georgia and 7-1 Connecticut -- not only entered my ballot, they entered on the upper half.
Two weeks ago, you could not have convinced me that Mark Richt's Bulldogs would return to the top 10 anytime this season, nevertheless this soon. But in a rousing, 42-30 victory over longtime nemesis Florida, UGA seemingly took on an entirely different identity -- tough, physical and, most noticeably, emotional -- from that of their blowout loss at Tennessee just three weeks ago.
The Dawgs set the tone early, running right at the Gators for nine straight plays on the way to their first touchdown -- then running onto the field for a pre-planned mass celebration/psyche out. I don't know if they'll manage to stay at that level the rest of the season, but if they do, they might just go from one-time SEC afterthought to SEC title-game participant.
The Huskies, meanwhile, earned props for shutting down a USF team that sat atop these rankings just two weeks ago. I remain skeptical that UConn will ultimately contend for the Big East title, but as of now they're the only remaining team with an undefeated record in league play (3-0), and they've certainly proven to have a legit defense after first holding Louisville star Brian Brohm to his lowest production of the season (228 yards), then limiting the Bulls to 10 points in five red-zone trips.
I will be highly surprised if either the Dawgs or Huskies finish the regular season ranked at the same lofty perch where I have them now. But for this week, they certainly deserve to be ranked higher than the Gators or Bulls -- both of whom I still believe are legit, top-15 teams. Such has been the topsy-turvy course of this entire season.
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The last thing LSU needed heading into The Saban Bowl was yet another Ryan Perrilloux distraction. The oft-troubled QB reportedly called his lawyer to say he'd been "beat up" by bouncers during a late-night bar scuffle. Bad sign: a college QB who has his own attorney on call.
Last game: Beat Auburn, 30-24.
Next game: Saturday at Alabama.
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A week of build-up, a hostile venue, a prime time kickoff, all culminating in a Buckeyes blowout. Covering last Saturday's OSU-Penn State game felt eerily similar to covering a similar game at Iowa last season. Unfortunately for OSU, those similarities included the quality of the opponent.
Last game: Beat Penn State, 37-17.
Next game: Saturday vs. Wisconsin.
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Apparently the action in the press box during last Saturday's USC-Oregon game was as heated as the action on the field. According to Oregonian columnist John Canzano, Mike Bellotti's ex-wife, Colleen, got in his face over a recent, critical column. The scene he described sounded truly bizarre.
Last game: Beat USC, 24-17.
Next game: Saturday vs. Arizona State.
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The greatest part of Matt Ryan's game-winning touchdown against Virginia Tech: coach Jeff Jagodzinski's reaction. In a profession full of overly stoic figures, you've got to love a guy who celebrated the play in much the same, unfettered fashion as a BC fan watching from his living room.
Last game: Beat Virginia Tech, 14-10.
Next game: Saturday vs. Florida State.
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Amazingly, as late as Monday afternoon, Saturday's ASU-Oregon showdown was only going to be broadcast regionally by Fox Sports Net (example No. 2,793 of the Pac-10's archaic TV deal). Thanks to some 11th-hour negotiating, ESPN is now airing the game to the rest of the country.
Last game: Beat Cal, 31-20.
Next game: Saturday at Oregon.
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In 2003, the Sooners humiliated Texas A&M in Norman, 77-0. At the time, the game showed just how much rebuilding Dennis Franchione had to do to make the Aggies competitive with the Big 12's top dogs. Another anticipated blowout on Saturday will show just how little progress he's made.
Last game: Beat Iowa State, 17-7.
Next game: Saturday vs. Texas A&M.
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We're used to seeing "West Virginia" among the NCAA's leaderboards when it comes to offense (currently they're No. 2 in rushing, No. 7 in scoring), but who saw this coming? NCAA total defense leaders, through last weekend's games: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 LSU, No. 3 ... West Virginia.
Last game: Beat Rutgers, 31-3.
Next game: Nov. 8 vs. Louisville.
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The Jayhawks are 8-0 for the first time since 1909, and at this point, I'd be more surprised if KU isn't 11-0 heading into its Nov. 24 showdown with Missouri. The Jayhawks' next three games are home against 4-5 Nebraska, at 5-3 Oklahoma State and home against 1-8 Iowa State.
Last game: Beat Texas A&M, 19-11.
Next game: Saturday vs. Nebraska.
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The Tigers, meanwhile, have to play two tough road games over the next three weeks, starting Saturday in Boulder. (They're at K-State on Nov. 17). Just one loss may render them eliminated from division contention before they even get to the Kansas game. No pressure or anything.
Last game: Beat Iowa State, 42-28.
Next game: Saturday at Colorado.
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I can't even imagine how intense the Georgia-Florida rivalry will be these next two years. The opposing QBs (Matthew Stafford and Tim Tebow), Georgia's running-back sensation (Knowshon Moreno) and most of the Gators' now-sure-to-be-ticked-off defenders were all underclassmen.
Last game: Beat Florida, 42-30.
Next game: Saturday vs. Troy.
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