1. Oklahoma (4-0) – The Sooners’ defense has been awesome all season. The offense has wrecked shop the past two games and Antonio Perkins is the best punt returner in college football. Can anybody stop these guys?
2. Miami (4-0) – The Hurricanes are on cruise control. Frank Gore is getting his 20 carries and 110 yards per game, and Brock Berlin is consistent behind center. They get this week off before taking on West Virginia, and then the HUGE Oct. 11 game with Florida State.
3. Southern California (3-0) – No Carson Palmer? No problem. The Trojans have not skipped a beat. The Pacific 10 Conference is weak this year. Do not be surprised if USC is undefeated come January.
4. Virginia Tech (3-0) – Kevin Jones and the Hokies took care of business at home against Texas A&M on Thursday night in front of the entire country. Jones rushed for a career-high 188 yards against the Aggies and will probably do it again against UConn this week.
5. Florida State (4-0) – I can’t believe the Seminoles beat Colorado by 40 points Saturday. After wins against Maryland, Georgia Tech and a blowout against the Buffaloes, they deserve to be in the Top 5.
6. LSU (4-0) – The Tigers are 4-0 for the first time since 1996 and hope to move to 5-0. They are the team to beat in the Southeastern Conference right now, and the defense has been dominant.
7. Ohio State (4-0) – Three straight wins by a combined score of 16 points against some mediocre teams is not impressive. North Carolina State is not mediocre, but Bowling Green and San Diego State? Maurice Clarett is now suing the NFL. He is a disgrace to college football. I hope he loses and is forced to sit out of football for two more years.
8. Tennessee (4-0) – The Vols are getting it done on the ground, averaging 212 yards per game. Cedric Houston and Jabari Davis are each ranked in the top five in rushing in the SEC. Casey Clausen is steady and the Vols’ defense looks tough.
9. Michigan (3-1) – The Wolverines lost to Oregon because their special teams were not prepared and the coaching staff only gave Chris Perry 11 carries. The first rule of football (besides scoring more points than your opponent) is establishing the run. They did not even attempt to do that.
10. Arkansas (3-0) – The Razorbacks can prove their worth this weekend in the hostile environment of Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Crimson Tide needs a win after losing to Northern Illinois, and they will go after Arkansas with a lot of emotion.
11. Iowa (4-0) – The Hawkeyes’ defense was simply amazing against Arizona State on Saturday. Sun Devils quarterback Andrew Walter was putting up 250 yards and three touchdowns a game until they shut him down. He escaped with 160 yards and one pick. Iowa won the game 21-2.
12. Georgia (3-1) – Three missed field goals, seven missed chances inside LSU’s 40 yard line and many injuries hurt the Bulldogs on Saturday in Baton Rouge. They have a week off to lick their wounds before hosting Alabama on Oct. 4.
13. Kansas State (4-1) – Without Ell Roberson the Wildcats are not the same. Roberson would not have pitched the ball to Marshall’s defense on an option, he probably would have run for a touchdown. When he comes back, the Wildcats will jump back into the Top 10, until then, they will remain right here.
14. Texas (2-1) – The Longhorns went to Houston and took care of business in impressive fashion against an overmatched Rice team. Now Texas welcomes Tulane to Austin for another blowout win.
15. Oregon (4-0) – They were celebrating all weekend long in Eugene after the big win against the Big Blue. The Ducks get contribution from a long list of players and they don’t play USC this year. Lucky break.
16. Nebraska (3-0) – The Cornhuskers went back to the basics this year and are averaging nearly 300 rushing yards and 90 passing yards per game. Those corn-fed boys of the Midwest need to play well. College football is not as fun when Nebraska loses half the time.
17. Pittsburgh (2-1) – Larry Fitzgerald put up more than 200 yards, but that was not enough to hold off a pesky Toledo team. He can’t do it all.
18. Texas Christian (3-0) – The Horned Frogs handled business against Vanderbilt, 30-14. Now they get to build up some numbers and confidence against Arizona.
19. Washington (2-1) – Cody Pickett is averaging just a shade under 275 passing yards per game. Once he gets into the middle of Pac-10 play, those numbers will go up, way up.
20. Florida (2-2) – The Gators have faced the toughest schedule thus far, playing Miami and Tennessee. True freshman quarterback Chris Leak was named the starter for the Gators this weekend against Kentucky. The Mighty Crocs have the Oct. 11 matchup with LSU in Baton Rouge circled on their calendars.
21. Arizona State (2-1) – Thump! That was the sound of the Sun Devils’ offense hitting the ground last Saturday. They could not muster any offensive points against Iowa, but don’t expect them to be down for long. They will air it out again come Saturday.
22. Northern Illinois (3-0) – They beat Maryland. They beat Alabama. If the Huskies can beat Iowa State on Saturday, watch out. They should breeze through the MAC undefeated until that big game with Toledo in mid-November.
23. Alabama (2-2) – The Crimson Tide got embarrassed by the Huskies this past weekend. They can turn everything around with a win against Arkansas at home this Saturday in what will be the game of the week in the SEC.
24. Missouri (4-0) -The Tigers’ defense struggled against Middle Tennessee State, giving up 40 points in an overtime win. Lucky for them, quarterback Brad Smith threw for 192 yards, ran for 136 more and scored four touchdowns. This was a case where one man won the game.
25. Minnesota (4-0) – The Gophers average more than 40 points and 290 rushing yards per game, but they have played a pancake schedule so far. They open up Big Ten play this weekend against the Nittany Lions of Penn State, who are having some troubles scoring points. It should be another win for Minnesota.
26. Purdue (2-1) – The Boilermakers should be 6-1 when they play Michigan on Oct. 25. An opening day one-point loss to Bowling Green is the only blemish on Purdue’s season so far. That won’t change this week against lowly Notre Dame.
27. Wisconsin (3-1) – Even without Anthony Davis, the Badgers rushed for more than 200 yards against North Carolina. If Wisconsin’s offense keeps putting up the numbers, its defense will keep them in the games.
28. Washington State (3-1) – The Cougars have a big game this weekend in Eugene against the Ducks. If Michigan couldn’t escape Autzen Stadium with a win, what makes anyone think Wazzou will?
29. North Carolina State (2-2) – Philip Rivers has put himself in position to be in contention for the Heisman Trophy, IF the Wolfpack can win some big games. He has 1,325 yards and 11 touchdowns through four games with a 168.4 quarterback rating.
30. Texas A&M (2-1) The Aggies return home this weekend for the big game with Pittsburgh. They have not looked impressive this year at all. Do not expect them to win Saturday.