CFN Rankings No. 1 to 119 - Week 4, Sept. 23

Ranking all the teams from one to 119 based on how good they are at the moment

There's one very important distinction in the CFN rankings: these are based on how good the teams are and NOT how they're going to finish. Some teams have easier schedules than others, some get tougher road games and some will need a little bit of time to jell meaning they might be better than their final record might indicate.

Rankings Coaches | CFN Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

1. USC (3-0)
W, Washington State 47-14
next game: at Washington
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ...it took the Trojans more than four minutes to put away Washington State. Fine, so the ranking shouldn’t be any lower. USC wanted to run the ball against Nebraska, it did, and it won with ease. This week, it was about getting the passing game going. It tried, it succeeded, now it’ll move on. The offensive line has been fantastic.

2. LSU (4-0)
W, South Carolina 28-16
next game: at Tulane
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the offensive line is putting on a clinic. If it’s possible, LSU appeared to be toying around with South Carolina in the rainstorm, knowing its defense would come through while the offense could run any time it wanted to.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the offense; is it really that good? It’s not like the passing game has had to click yet, and the defense hasn’t had to face anyone who can actually come up with enough offense to pose a challenge. Let’s wait and see what happens in a few weeks against Florida.

3. Oklahoma (4-0)
W, at Tulsa, 62-21
next game: Auburn
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … Miami 31, Texas A&M 17. Anyone watching the Hurricane win over the Aggies had to notice just how fast Miami looked. That’s the same team that looked like it was running in mud against OU.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... Tulsa was able to throw a little too well on the OU secondary. The Golden Hurricane offense is going to light up just about everyone, and its all but shut down in the second half, but it still had its moments through the air.

4. West Virginia (4-0)
W, East Carolina, 48-7
next game: at South Florida
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the defense embarrassed East Carolina, while the offense was almost perfect. It’s like each offensive skill player get a turn to shine each week.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... since Maryland apparently stinks, Marshall is awful, and ECU isn’t that great, the world is still waiting for a big performance against a really, really good team. Not yet.

5. Florida (4-0)
W, Ole Miss, 30-24
next game: Auburn
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin deserve to be considered among the nation’s best twosomes. These two are going to do some very, very big things for the Gators over the next few years.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... there’s now a question mark about the team away from home. All the off-season fears kicked in at Ole Miss. The running backs had problems, the secondary was soft, giving up a 300-yard day to the putrid Rebel passing game, and there was a missed field goal.

6. Ohio State  (4-0)
W, Northwestern, 58-7
next game: at Minnesota
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the offense showed off the out-of-the-gate explosiveness against Northwestern that everyone’s been waiting for. The defense is playing as well as anyone in the country.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the win at Washington was nice, but there still hasn’t been a true test of the defense yet. There won’t be the week against Minnesota.

7. California (4-0)
W, Arizona, 45-27
next game: at Oregon
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … Cal just keeps on humming. The offense appears to be a lock for 40 points every time out. Arizona needed a good showing this week, and it got its doors blown off.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... there are going to be question marks about the defense until it proves itself. If the D comes through with a big game at Oregon, then I’ll truly be time to get fired up.

8. Oregon (4-0)
W, at Stanford, 55-21
next game: California
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the offense appears able to turn it on at a moment’s notice. Stanford was keeping the game close, and then Dennis Dixon and company cranked things up to another level. The win over Michigan looks even better now.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the defense didn’t do a shut-down job on Stanford, and now it’ll be tested by the Cal attack. There are several other teams worthy of being this high, and the Bear-Duck loser will take a tumble.

9. Boston College  (4-0)
W, Army, 37-17
next game: Massachusetts
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … there are few more complete teams. Matt Ryan is playing as well as any quarterback in America, the running game has been fantastic, and the defense has been stifling. Things won’t get any worse against UMass.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... either the Georgia Tech win wasn’t that great, or the Eagles broke the Yellow Jackets spirit. We’ll have to until late October, when BC goes to Virginia Tech, to see if this team is any good.

10. Clemson (4-0)
W, at NC State, 42-20
next game: at Georgia Tech
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … with QB Cullen Harper staying hot, and the running game rolling as expected, the Tigers are, along with BC, playing like the class of the ACC.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... beating up NC State isn’t anything to get excited over. However, these have been the games in the past when the Tigers struggled. Now they get a wounded Georgia Tech team, followed up by a date with Virginia Tech, to see just how good they are.

11. Wisconsin (4-0)
W, Iowa, 17-13
next game: Michigan State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … it’s all about surviving and moving on. Wisconsin seems to know what it is, and what it can do. Don’t screw up, make adjustments, run the ball in the second half, win the game, repeat.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the team is playing like it barely belongs in the top 25, much less around the top ten. The offensive line can’t handle any speed up front, and the defense can’t tackle.

12. Texas  (4-0)
W, Rice, 58-14
next game: Kansas State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Longhorns finally blew someone away. It might have only been Rice, arguably one of the five worst teams in America, but it was still a much-needed breather. This might be the spark the team needed.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... there’s no reason to get too hyped up over beating Rice. Crush Kansas State in a revenge game, and then it’s time to start thinking about big things.

13. Rutgers (3-0)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: Maryland
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the team is rested and ready to roll. The offense is balanced enough to get by most of the teams in the top ten, and now it gets a chance against Maryland to prove it belongs this high. A team supposedly this good should win by double-digit points.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the schedule has been as breezy light as could possibly be asked for. Beating Maryland would be nice, but it’s not like it’s going to get everyone jumping for BCS job. There’s still a lot of proving for this team to do.

14. Arizona State (4-0)
W, Oregon State, 44-32
next game: at Stanford
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the offense is humming on all cylinders. Known for being a finesse team in the past, the Sun Devils are pounding away on teams. They can hit the long ball, and they can run it whenever they have to.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the defense struggled for the first time all year in the win over Oregon State, but that’s nitpicking. There’s a chance this might be the second best team in the Pac 10 right now.

15. Kentucky (4-0)
W, Arkansas, 42-29
next game: Florida Atlantic
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Louisville win was nice, but everyone wanted to see if the Wildcats were for real. Question answered, as the offense came through in the clutch yet again in the win over Arkansas.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the Louisville win doesn’t appear to be nearly as big a deal now, while beating Arkansas isn’t like beating one of the top SEC teams. The meat of the schedule is coming up.

16. South Florida (3-0)
W, North Carolina, 37-10
next game: West Virginia
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … deep down, you probably believe USF will beat West Virginia this week. If the team is that good, and if it pulls off the win, it might be time to talk about the top ten.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the offense still hasn’t shown too much yet. This is a dominant defensive team that gets what it needs to offensively. Is the firepower there to beat a team like West Virginia? It’ll be one of the big games of the week.

17. Missouri (4-0)
W, Illinois State, 38-17
next game: Nebraska (Oct. 6)
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … offense, defense, special teams; everything’s working. The Tigers had their second half issues, but they still breezed through the first few games and now gets two weeks off to rest of and get ready for Nebraska.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... this hasn’t exactly been the most consistent program around, and it’s going to have to make sure it doesn’t get rusty over the two week layoff. The schedule hasn’t exactly been taxing.

18. Kansas (4-0)
W, 55-3, Florida International
next game: at Kansas State (Oct. 6)  
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … it’s fourth in the nation in total offense, fourth in total defense, and five in scoring defense. The return game is among the best in America, the pass rush has been phenomenal, and all the parts are working offensively.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... Central Michigan, SE Louisiana, Toledo, Florida International. Again, Central Michigan, SE Louisiana, Toledo, Florida International.

19. South Carolina (3-1)
L, at LSU, 28-16
next game: Mississippi State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … losing to LSU in Death Valley is nothing to get upset about. The defense got run over, but overall, it was a decent performance against one of the nation’s three best teams.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the offense simply isn’t there. Playing against Georgia and LSU is hardly a proper indicator of how good the attack is, but it’s still not showing much.

20. Cincinnati (4-0)
W, Marshall 40-14
next game: at San Diego State  
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … there might not be a tighter team in the country. The defense has been tremendous, with a scary ball-hawking ability, the pass rush is unstoppable, and the offense has rolled over the first four games. Don’t forget what a blowout the win over Oregon State was a few weeks ago.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the Beaver blowout was great, but the other three games were against SE Missouri State, Miami University and Marshall. San Diego State won’t offer much of a test. We’ll know more against Rutgers and Louisville in a few weeks.

21. Georgia (3-1)
W, at Alabama 26-23 OT
next game: Ole Miss
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … beating Alabama at Alabama showed just how good the team could become. Matthew Stafford could be the type of quarterback who can carry a good team and make it special.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... expect plenty of ups and down. There’s still plenty of developing to do. This could be the type of team that could beat Alabama, and then get tagged by Ole Miss.

22. Michigan  (2-2)
W, Penn State 14-9
next game: at Northwestern
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … beating Penn State might be better than you think. With a true freshman quarterback, and improved play from the defense, now the Wolverines are back among the living.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... Mike Hart can’t run it 40 times a game. Either Chad Henne has to get healthy, Ryan Mallett has to show he can open it up, or there will be problems down the road.

23. Alabama (3-1)
L, Georgia 26-23 OT
next game: at Florida State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the offense continues to be balanced, with John Parker Wilson appearing to gain confidence by the week. Losing to Georgia might hurt, but that’s life in the SEC. One week you win in the final seconds, the next week you lose in overtime.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the Florida State game could be the real test. It’s a good road game, even though it’s at a neutral site, and the team has to prove it can handle itself against a decent team in a semi-hostile environment. The bloom might be off the rose now.

24. Penn State (3-1)
L, at Michigan, 14-9
next game: at Illinois
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … Michigan might be back to being Michigan. Losing in Ann Arbor might sting, but the defense, for the most part, did a good job, and could still be considered among the best in the league, if not the best.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... Anthony Morelli didn’t take his game to another level. The Michigan game was a chance to break through and make a statement, and he was played evenly by Michigan’s Ryan Mallett.

25. Virginia Tech (3-1)
W, William & Mary, 44-3
next game: North Carolina
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the defense appears to have found its groove again over the last two weeks. After all the outside distractions, the team just needed to start playing like it’s supposed to, and now it is, at least on defense.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... Tyrod Taylor is still a major work in progress. It’s not like he lit up William & Mary, and he’ll need to be far more consistent, and far more accurate, one ACC play really starts to kick in.
 

26	Miami (3-1)
27	Nebraska (3-1)
28	Tennessee (2-2)
29	Michigan State (4-0)
30	Purdue (4-0)
31	Arkansas (1-2)
32	UCLA (3-1)
33	Connecticut (4-0)
34	Louisville (2-2)
35	Virginia (3-1)
36	Georgia Tech (2-2)
37	Mississippi State (3-1)
38	Texas Tech (3-1)
39	Texas A&M (3-1)
40	Oregon State (2-2)
41	Florida State (2-1)
42	Illinois (3-1)
43	Auburn (2-2)
44	Kansas State (2-1)
45	Hawaii (4-0)
46	Washington (2-2)
47	Tulsa (2-1)
48	Boise State (2-1)
49	Washington State (2-2)
50	Wake Forest (2-2)
51	BYU (2-2)
52	Air Force (3-1)
53	UCF (2-1)
54	Oklahoma State (2-2)
55	Colorado (2-2)
56	Maryland (2-2)
57	Iowa (2-2)
58	Indiana (3-1)
59	Wyoming (3-1)
60	TCU (2-2)
61	Fresno State (1-2)
62	Colorado State (0-3)
63	Vanderbilt (2-1)
64	New Mexico (3-1)
65	Pitt (2-2)
66	Southern Miss (2-1)
67	East Carolina (1-3)
68	Ole Miss (1-3)
69	Stanford (1-2)
70	Notre Dame (0-4)
71	Northwestern (2-2)
72	Nevada (1-2)
73	Houston (2-1)
74	Ball State (2-2)
75	North Carolina (1-3)
76	Bowling Green (2-1)
77	UNLV (2-2)
78	Baylor (3-1)
79	Troy (2-2)
80	Syracuse (1-3)
81	Navy (2-2)
82	Arizona (1-3)
83	New Mexico State (2-2)
84	Utah (1-3)
85	Florida Atlantic (3-1)
86	Minnesota (1-3)
87	Western Michigan (1-3)
88	Louisiana Tech (1-2)
89	NC State (1-3)
90	Akron (2-2)
91	UTEP (2-2)
92	Kent State (2-2)
93	Ohio (2-2)
94	Toledo (1-3)
95	UAB (1-2)
96	Miami University (1-3)
97	Iowa State (1-3)
98	Duke (1-3)
99	Arkansas State (1-2)
100	Memphis (1-2)
101	Central Michigan (1-3)
102	UL Monroe (0-3)
103	SMU (1-3)
104	Middle Tennessee (0-4)
105	Army (1-3)
106	Eastern Michigan (2-2)
107	Northern Illinois (1-3)
108	North Texas (0-3)
109	Idaho (1-3)
110	San Jose State (1-3)
111	San Diego State (1-2)
112	Buffalo (1-3)
113	Tulane (1-2)
114	Marshall (0-4)
115	Temple (0-4)
116	FIU (0-4)
117	UL Lafayette (0-4)
118	Rice (0-4)
119	Utah State (0-4)