CFN Rankings No. 1 to 119 - Week 7, Oct, 14

You must rank teams based on how good you believe they are at the moment. That's the point when it comes to putting the teams in some order. However, once the year is complete, it's only fair to take the subjectivity out of it and go by what actually happened on the field.

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.

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1. Ohio State  (7-0)
W, Kent State 48-3
next game: Michigan State
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... in this crazy year of upsets, Ohio State hasn’t been pushed by anyone with a real pulse. If Washington and Purdue are the best wins, there’s something wrong. Even so, the defense is playing out of this world, and the offense is as efficient as ever. This might be a default number one team, but it’s not screwing up like everyone else is.

2. Oklahoma (6-1)
W, Missouri 41-31
next game: at Iowa State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Missouri win is better than you think. That Tiger team is the 100% real deal. When it needed it, the OU defense came up with the big plays, while the offense got an ultra-efficient day from Sam Bradford.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the jury’s still out on the defense. It might be really, really good, but Chase Daniel was able to throw well, and there’s still a concern that the secondary is beatable on key plays deep. This is a nasty team, but consistency might be the issue the rest of the year.

3. LSU (6-1)
L, at Kentucky 43-37 3OT
next game: Auburn
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … on a neutral field, really, would you take Oklahoma, Ohio State, or LSU? A triple overtime loss to a ranked SEC team on the road is nothing to get in a big twist over; the Tigers are still in the national title hunt. Remember, while UK beat LSU, South Carolina beat UK, and LSU beat South Carolina.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the defense finally played a real, live diverse offense, and one without RB Rafael Little, and it struggled. The offense might be strong, but it needs to do more than run up the middle in crunch time.

4. South Florida (6-0)
W, UCF 64-12
next game: at Rutgers
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Auburn win now looks amazing. Who has two better wins than at Auburn and West Virginia? Everyone wants to dismiss the team because it’s South Florida, but the defense is amazing, and the offense is starting to hit it’s stride.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it shouldn’t be. It should probably be number two. Do you want to face George Selvie and this defense right now?

5. Florida (4-2)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: at Kentucky  
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … if the Gators beat Kentucky, then all of a sudden, they should probably move into the top five. After all, losing a heartbreaker at LSU is as impressive as beating just about anyone else. Now the team is rested.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... Auburn should probably be higher. This will be a theme for a while, but the Tigers, with the win in the Swamp, technically needs to be ahead of Tim Tebow and the bows. That Mississippi State loss is still haunting them.
 
6.  Arizona State (7-0)
W, Washington, 44-20
next game: California (Oct. 27)
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the team is really, really good. Is anyone watching how efficient it is? In case you haven’t noticed, this is the one unbeaten Pac 10 team left, and considering it beat Oregon State, it technically has to be here ahead of Cal.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... we’ll know a lot more in two weeks when the real schedule starts to kick in. So far, ASU’s best win is probably over Colorado. Cal, at Oregon, at UCLA, and USC are the next four games on deck.
 
7. Missouri (5-1)
W, Nebraska, 41-6
next game: at Oklahoma
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … if you believe Oklahoma is one of the top three or four teams in the country, then Missouri should probably stay one step behind. If it had RB Tony Temple healthy, things might have been far different in Norman.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... is this when Missouri starts the slide everyone’s waiting for? With Texas Tech coming to Columbia next week, it’ll be shootout, shootout, shootout. If The Tigers lose that, then it might just be the Mizzou we’re all used to.

8. California (5-1)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: Oregon State  
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … if Nate Longshore was under center against Oregon State, we’d be talking about the number one Cal Bears this week. When fully healthy, this might be the best team in America. Of course ….
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... you can’t do that. The defense appears to be the only one on Oregon State’s schedule that couldn’t force Sean Canfield mistakes, while the offense didn’t do enough to get DeSean Jackson the ball in his hands. As good as Cal is, it still appears to be a team renting, not buying, a space in the top five.
 
9. Oregon (5-1)
W, Washington State, 53-7
next game: at Washington
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the offense got a week off to lick its wounds after the California loss, and it blew the doors off of poor Washington State. The Quack Attack is humming on all cylinders. The team might be a fumble through the end zone away from being No. 2.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it shouldn’t be. The team is playing among the five best in the country. We’ll know more in a few weeks with USC and Arizona State come to Autzen.
 
10. Boston College  (7-0)
W, at Notre Dame 27-14
next game: at Virginia Tech (Oct. 25)
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the team just keeps doing its thing. Now, along with Matt Ryan, RB Andre Callender is starting to become a major all-around weapon for the offense. The defense dominated Notre Dame.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... style points have to count. Notre Dame stinks, and while BC was never really threatened, it would’ve been nice to have been a bigger blowout. That’s nitpicking. The Eagles probably belong in the top five. Raise your hands if you think BC is beating Virginia Tech in two weeks.

11. South Carolina (6-1)
W, at North Carolina, 21-15
next game: Vanderbilt
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the defense is playing at another level. The win at Kentucky looks far more impressive now, while the loss at LSU was hardly anything to get upset over. Now, QB Chris Smelley is starting to play very, very well.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... struggling to get by North Carolina isn’t a plus. The Gamecocks do what they have to do to win, and while it’s effective, getting defense against UK, getting the passing game against UNC, it’s hardly impressive. A good running team should be able to hammer away on the front seven.
 
12. West Virginia (5-1)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: Mississippi State (Oct. 20)
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the team got a much needed week off at just the right time for a finishing kick. If you’re going to put South Florida in the top four, then West Virginia might be fifth. Don’t forget how close that game in Tampa was, and that was without Pat White at the end.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... Mississippi State could be a big trap game this week, If Sylvester Croom’s Bulldogs are feisty, the run defense could pose huge problems for the Mountaineers.
 
13. Kansas (6-0)
W, Baylor, 58-10
next game: at Colorado  
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … at this point in the year, it’s about scoring, winning and moving on. 6-0 in this wacky season is impressive no matter what.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... everyone’s still waiting for the “prove it” game. Beating Kansas State was nice, but the rest of the schedule is among the worst in America. If KU is for real, it goes 11-0 (at Colorado, at Texas A&M, Nebraska, at Oklahoma State, Iowa State) before facing Missouri. A top ten team wins four of the five before the clash with the Tigers.
 
14. Kentucky (6-1)
W, LSU 43-37 3OT
next game: Florida
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the team just beat the number one team in America! Shouldn’t it be ranked ahead of LSU? Here’s the problem; where do you put South Carolina (who lost to LSU but beat Kentucky)? Beat Florida this week, and then you’re in the top five. It’s a promise.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it shouldn’t be. No arguments here if you want to put the Cats in the top ten, or higher.
 
15. Auburn (5-2)
W, Arkansas 9-7
next game: at LSU
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the defense has been lights out all year long. It gets overshadowed thanks to the mediocre, inconsistent offense, but it’s as good as any D in the country. The win over Florida should probably merit a higher ranking, and it’ll come big-time if the Tigers can beat LSU in Baton Rouge.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... there’s no passing game and not much of a ground attack to worry about against the better defenses. What happens if LSU gets up early? If the defense struggles just a little bit, the O is in huge trouble.
 
16. Kansas State (4-2)
W. Colorado 47-20
next game: at Oklahoma State  
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the team is playing very, very fast. Colorado couldn’t seem to handle the Wildcat team speed. The defense stopped the Buff passing game, but ….
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it got run over by Hugh Charles. The trip to Oklahoma State could be a problem next week if Dantrell Savage and the Cowboy running game start to get rolling early.

17. USC (5-1)
W, Arizona 20-13
next game: at Notre Dame
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the defense, for all the injuries, is still among the best in the country. Lost in all the problems is how the D is only allowing 267 yards per game and stuffing everyone’s running game.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... enough is enough. If it weren’t for the USC brand name, this would barely be a top 25 team. The offense is playing like garbage, having problems against the lousy Pac 10 teams on the slate, and after facing the Irish, it gets really tough, really fast. All the injuries are taking their toll. .

18. Virginia Tech (6-1)
W, at Duke, 43-14
next game: Boston College
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the offense started to pick it up when Sean Glennon came in for an injured Tyrod Taylor. The defense is still amazing, and if Glennon can be steady, the offense might be more consistent.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the offensive line was lousy against Duke, getting no push for the running game and having a problem with sacks. If the Boston College defensive front is willing to take some chances, it can come up with plenty of big plays in the backfield next week.

19. Michigan  (5-2)
W, Purdue 48-21
next game: at Illinois
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … Michigan finally looked like Michigan again in the win over Purdue. If the passing game really is back, then there’s no stopping the offense. The defense has quietly turned things around over the last month thanks to tremendous linebacker play.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... if Mike Hart is hurt at all and can’t be the workhorse, can Chad Henne and the passing game carry the offense? The wins over Penn State and Purdue were great, but the world still wants to see more. .

20. Tennessee (4-2)
W, Mississippi State 33-21
next game: at Alabama
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … very quietly, at least on a national scale, Tennessee has found its running game. Even more quiet has been the publicity for Lucas Taylor, who’s quickly emerging as a star target for Erik Ainge.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it shouldn’t be. The two losses to Cal and Florida, as ugly as they might have been, still might mean the Vols are a top 15, possibly a top ten team. With a trip to Alabama up next, followed up by a date with South Carolina, the chances will be there to move up big-time.

21. Texas Tech (6-1)
W, Texas A&M 35-7
next game: at Missouri
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the offense not only turned it up a notch over the last 45 minutes against Texas A&M, but the defense turned into a brick wall. Finally, the team got a decent win to hang its hat on.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... when’s the crash going to come? We all know Tech is overdue for one of those inexplicable games when Graham Harrell bounce-passes everything. The trip to Missouri this week will go a long way towards the ranking..

22. Cincinnati (6-1)
W, Louisville 28-24
next game: at Pitt  
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Bearcats basically lost to Louisville because Brian Brohm was acting like a multi-millionaire NFL quarterback. This is still a good enough Bearcat team to beat most of the teams ranked in the top 20 on a given day.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... if UC doesn’t win the turnover battle, apparently, it doesn’t win. This will be a fun team to track with South Florida and West Virginia coming up soon.

23. Illinois (5-2)
L, Iowa 10-6
next game: Michigan
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the running game is still among the best in the country, despite getting stuffed by Iowa. It took a special day from the Hawkeye front seven to shut it all down, and even so, Illinois had the ball in a position to win the game late, but Eddie McGee threw a pick in the end zone. A touchdown and a win would’ve probably meant a spot in the top ten.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the win over Wisconsin doesn’t seem like the be-all-end-all now. Iowa is really, really struggling; that was a game a top team should’ve won.
 
24. Georgia (5-2)
W, Vanderbilt 20-17
next game: Florida (Oct. 27)
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … this might be the toughest team in the SEC to figure out. The defense is solid, and the potential is there to be terrific. Now the big chance comes with the showdown against Florida in two weeks.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the best win is against Oklahoma State in the season opener. The Alabama win doesn’t appear to be any big whoop, and the other SEC wins were over Ole Miss and Vandy. It’s “prove it” time.
 
25. Texas  (5-2)
W, Iowa State 56-3
next game: at Baylor
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the team is starting to play better. Yeah, it might’ve just been a blowout win over Iowa State, but it was a dominant performance coming off a not-that-bad game against Oklahoma.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it’s still just Iowa State. Consistency is going to be the issue, and now the O line has to prove it can keep playing well week in and week out.
 

26	Penn State (5-2)
27	Maryland (4-2)
28	Wisconsin (5-2)
29	Virginia (6-1)
30	Oregon State (4-3)
31	Alabama (5-2)
32	Georgia Tech (4-3)
33	Boise State (4-1)
34	Rutgers (4-2)
35	Arkansas (3-3)
36	Clemson (4-2)
37	Texas A&M (5-2)
38	Oklahoma State (4-3)
39	Colorado (4-3)
40	Hawaii (7-0)
41	Michigan State (5-2)
42	Purdue (5-2)
43	Indiana (5-2)
44	Connecticut (5-1)
45	Mississippi State (4-3)
46	Wake Forest (4-2)
47	New Mexico (4-2)
48	Wyoming (4-2)
49	Washington (2-4)
50	Florida State (4-2)
51	UCLA (4-2)
52	Louisville (4-3)
53	Miami (4-3)
54	TCU (4-3)
55	BYU (4-2)
56	Iowa (3-4)
57	Air Force (5-2)
58	East Carolina (4-3)
59	Tulsa (4-2)
60	Washington State (2-5)
61	Northwestern (4-3)
62	Nebraska (4-3)
63	Fresno State (4-2)
64	UTEP (4-3)
65	Vanderbilt (3-3)
66	Stanford (2-4)
67	Ole Miss (2-5)
68	Navy (4-2)
69	Troy (4-2)
70	Houston (3-3)
71	North Carolina (2-5)
72	Notre Dame (1-6)
73	Pitt (2-4)
74	Utah (4-3)
75	Arizona (2-5)
76	Southern Miss (3-3)
77	Baylor (3-4)
78	UCF (3-3)
79	Nevada (2-3)
80	Central Michigan (4-3)
81	Miami University (4-3)
82	UNLV (2-5)
83	Florida Atlantic (3-3)
84	Ball State (4-3)
85	San Jose State (3-4)
86	San Diego State (2-4)
87	Western Michigan (3-4)
88	NC State (1-5)
89	Kent State (3-4)
90	Minnesota (1-6)
91	UAB (2-4)
92	Duke (1-6)
93	Bowling Green (3-3)
94	Syracuse (1-6)
95	Louisiana Tech (2-4)
96	New Mexico State (3-4)
97	Arkansas State (3-3)
98	Buffalo (3-4)
99	Army (3-4)
100	Iowa State (1-6)
101	Temple (2-5)
102	Akron (3-4)
103	Toledo (2-5)
104	Ohio (3-4)
105	Eastern Michigan (2-5)
106	Middle Tennessee (2-5)
107	Colorado State (0-6)
108	Memphis (2-4)
109	Rice (1-5)
110	SMU (1-5)
111	Idaho (1-6)
112	Marshall (0-6)
113	North Texas (1-5)
114	UL Monroe (1-5)
115	UL Lafayette (1-6)
116	Tulane (1-5)
117	Northern Illinois (1-6)
118	Utah State (0-6)
119	FIU (0-6)