CFN Rankings No. 1 to 119 - Week 8, Oct, 21

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  (8-0)
W, Michigan State 24-17
next game: at Penn State
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it shouldn’t be. Don’t let the final score of the Michigan State game fool you. The defense didn’t give up the touchdowns; the offense did. While the Spartans returned two turnovers for touchdowns, OSU actually played well on offense with an efficient passing day, a great afternoon from Chris Wells, and, of course, the defense. If the D plays like it has all year long, OSU will win in without a problem at Penn State.

2. LSU (7-1)
W, Auburn 30-24
next game: at Alabama
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … no team has a better résumé. LSU can brag about wins over Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Florida and Auburn. On a straight “deserve” basis, it’s hard to knock the Tigers right now.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... all four of the big wins came at home, and although a win is a win is a win, the LSU coaching staff sort of lucked out that the final play against Auburn worked. Matt Flynn bailed the team out from a bad decision with a brilliant throw. The defense isn’t nearly as good as most are making it out to be.

3. Oklahoma (7-1)
W, at Iowa State 17-7
next game: Texas A&M
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … beating Missouri was great, and will look better and better over the final month. Lost in the close battle with Iowa State was how solid the defense was. It held when it had to in a strange game. But ....
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... … Iowa State might be one of the 15 worst teams in America. Everyone’s getting fat on the Cyclones, and even though it was windy, and even though it was on the road, a national title team wins that game in a walk.

4. Florida (5-2)
W, at Kentucky 45-37
next game: Georgia 
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Gators might actually be better than LSU. After all, the 28-24 loss was in Death Valley. On a neutral field or in Gainesville, who wins? Fine, so you can’t really do that and you have to go by what happened on the field, but Florida beat Kentucky in Lexington, and LSU didn’t. Of course …
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... … LSU beat Auburn at home, and Florida didn’t. You could do this all day with the SEC. Michigan RB Mike Hart is being touted as the MVP-type Heisman favorite, but really, Tim Tebow has to be considered the Most Valuable Player for any one team.

5. Arizona State (7-0)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: California
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … everyone else is getting picked off left and right, and ASU is still unbeaten. There hasn’t been a win of note yet, so call this a rent-a-spot until the next four weeks are over.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... those next four weeks are against Cal, at Oregon, at UCLA and USC, before the season-ending showdown with Arizona. If ASU wins all five of those, it’s the number one team in America. Yeah, right.
 
6.  Missouri (6-1)
W, Texas Tech 41-10
next game: at Colorado
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … losing to Oklahoma at Norman isn’t anything to dog the Tigers for, while stomping Texas Tech, and effectively shutting down its passing game, was as impressive as anything that happened all weekend. The team is getting contributions from several players.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... Oregon and Boston College could claim to be better than Mizzou, and we might not know a whole bunch more over the next few weeks. Beating Iowa State, Colorado, and Texas A&M won’t exactly bring BCS title talk to Columbia.
 
7. Oregon (6-1)
W, at Washington 55-34
next game: USC
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … yeeeeeesh. Injury-schminjury, the Duck offense continues to be a juggernaut despite a slew of personnel issues. Jonathan Stewart and Dennis Dixon are good enough to keep the attack rolling with huge days in the win over Washington. The Ducks scored 108 points over the last two weeks against the two Washington teams.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... this all might be a mirage. Oh sure, beating Michigan in Ann Arbor carries a ton of weight, but that seems like years ago. There hasn’t been a win yet over a Pac 10 team that’ll go to a bowl. Arizona is the only game left on the schedule against a team that probably isn’t going bowling.

8. Boston College  (7-0)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: at Virginia Tech 
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … BC is unbeaten and it is good. With a senior QB in Matt Ryan, a good running game, and a stout defense, this team really might be the real deal over the nasty next few weeks.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the impressive wins came against Wake Forest and Georgia Tech, and they both happened over a month ago. Beat Virginia Tech at Virginia Tech with the world watching on a Thursday night, and then the love will come pouring in.
 
9. South Florida (6-1)
L, at Rutgers 30--27
next game: at Connecticut
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … it’s not like Rutgers is Stanford, Appalachian State or Colorado, and it could be argued that it’s on par with Kentucky. Also, it’s not like the Bulls got clobbered. Only LSU can claim more impressive wins than at Auburn and against West Virginia.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it shouldn’t be. This still might be one of the five best teams in the country, even if it’s still just South Florida in many people’s eyes. Watch out; the Bulls will probably be favored in every game the rest of the way. The toughest game left is probably next week at UConn. It could be a shock if USF doesn’t go 11-1.

10. West Virginia (6-1)
W, Mississippi State 38-13
next game: at Rutgers
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Mountaineers are healthy and rolling again. If you’re going to suck up to the SEC and acknowledge that a Mississippi State could beat an Auburn, then you have to give WVU credit for beating that same Bulldog team in a blowout.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it shouldn’t be. Keep a close eye on what’s about to happen. WVU plays at Rutgers, Louisville, at Cincinnati, UConn and Pitt. A good win at Rutgers would all but erase the South Florida loss, and then look out for a sneaky run to national title-level status.

11. Kansas (7-0)
W, at Colorado
next game: at Texas A&M  
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … Oklahoma lost at Colorado, right? So why not give more credit to KU for coming out of Boulder with a win? A Big 12 team at 7-0 should probably deserve more respect.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... Kansas State is still the best win. Central Michigan is the only other win over a team that’s a lock to go to a bowl game. Next week’s game at Texas A&M should start to show a bit more.

12. California (5-2)
L, at UCLA 30-21
next game: at Arizona State  
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … there’s still that little matter of beating Oregon at Oregon a few weeks ago. If you’re going to call the Ducks the be-all-end-all, then you have to remember who beat them.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... that’s two losses in a row. However, the Bears don’t really deserve to be much lower considering they lost in the final moments to both Oregon State and UCLA. Beat Arizona State in the desert next week and it’ll be back to the top ten.
 
13.  Michigan  (6-2)
W, Illinois 27-17
next game: Minnesota
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the team has turned mentally tough. At this point, it’s possible the early season problems have turned out to become a positive. Now, the Wolverines are playing through injuries, tough environments, everything, to look like a true Big Ten title contender.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the team can’t keep rolling at peak efficiency if both Mike Hart and Chad Henne are banged up. Beating Minnesota with both of them hurt isn’t a problem, but they need to get healthy for the finishing kick against Michigan State, Wisconsin and Ohio State.

14. Auburn (5-3)
L, at LSU 30-24
next game: Ole Miss
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … it took a bizarre, all-time risky play call in the final few seconds for LSU to pull off the win at home over the game AU Tigers. If you believe LSU is really the best team in the country, then right now, theoretically, Auburn could be playing like one of the five best.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... three losses are still three losses, and there’s still going to be that little matter of the home loss to Mississippi State hanging over the head all year. Watch out. With three of the final four games at home, the Tigers could quickly move up.
 
15. South Carolina (6-2)
L, Vanderbilt 17-6
next game: at Tennessee
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Gamecocks are good enough to beat anyone ranked higher. The defense is just good enough to get by against any top offense, while the offense, at times, is opportunistic. Of course ...
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... … by losing to Vandy at home, USC proved it could lose to anyone. The offense just isn’t consistent with nothing to count on if the offensive line plays like it did against the Commodores.

16. Kentucky (6-2)
L, Florida 45-37
next game: Mississippi State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … UK might have lost to Florida, but there’s that still that little matter of beating the Tigers two weeks ago. If you really believe LSU is the nation’s best team, then you have to give the proper respect to the team that beat them.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it shouldn’t be. Losing to South Carolina and Florida still might mean UK is among the ten best teams in America. The offense put up 43 points on LSU and 37 on Florida. No matter how you cut it, that’s gettin’ it done.

17. USC (6-1)
W, at Notre Dame 38-0
next game: at Oregon
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the team’s getting healthier. Now the pieces are starting to come together to make USC the team everyone thought it’d be. If the Trojans win at Oregon next week, then it’ll be time to start believing they could actually be a national title contender again.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... beating Notre Dame shouldn’t fool anyone. Just be because USC came up with a blowout win in South Bend, that doesn’t mean it’s back to being USC. That just means it beat a horrible team.

18. Virginia Tech (6-1)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: Boston College
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … basically, Boston College is ranked No. 2, but it wouldn’t be if it had played LSU in Death Valley on September 8^th. Virginia Tech has beaten up everyone else, including a blowout win over Clemson, and now gets its shot to get back in the big picture with a date against the Eagles this week.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... let’s see just how good the offense is against a BC defense that’s the real deal. Everyone’s assuming Tech will win in a walk, but that’s a strong Eagle team that’s not just going to roll over. The Hokies have one good win, and a bunch of garbage.

19. Rutgers (5-2)
W. South Florida 30-27
next game: West Virginia  
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … Rutgers appears to be back to being the Rutgers everyone thought it’d be starting the season. The lines got nasty again, and the defense swarmed like it was supposed to from day one.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... there’s still the issue of losing to Maryland and Cincinnati. It’d be one thing just to lose to those bowl bound teams, but the defeats came at home. The West Virginia game this week will be the real test.

20. Alabama (6-2)
W, Tennessee 41-17
next game: LSU  
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … it all came together against Tennessee in the type of win Bama fans have been waiting for. Is this really an SEC title contender now? It certainly played like one.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... consistency is still an issue. It took everything to get past Houston and Ole Miss, and if that team shows up next week against LSU, things will get ugly. Georgia did beat Bama a few weeks ago, and is ranked lower. 

21. Tennessee (4-3)
L, at Alabama 41-17
next game: South Carolina
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the offense is still as scary as it gets when all the parts are working. It ran into a brick wall against Alabama last week, but this is still an explosive attack that, at home is scary-good. 3-0 in Knoxville so far, the Vols gets four straight home dates that could mean an 8-3 start with a win over South Carolina next week.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the defense has gone bye-bye on the road so far. In three big tests, UT has gotten blasted by Cal, Florida and Alabama. There are still major question marks about the secondary and overall pass defense.

22. Virginia (7-1)
at Maryland 18-17
next game: at NC State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Cavs aren’t just 7-1, they’ve won seven in a row and are finding ways to get it done. At some point, wins are wins are wins, and with a possible layup against NC State next week, 8-1 is likely.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the Cavs are this close to being 3-5. They’ve won four games by a total of six points. It’s all because of the defense, with an offense that’s averaging just 327 yards per game.

23.  Georgia (5-2)
Didn’t Play This Week
next game: Florida
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Dawgs actually beat Alabama at Alabama. There’s a chance Georgia, if things are right, can beat anyone in the SEC. Now that it’s rested, it should give Florida a nasty battle.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... you never know which team will show up. The offense has hardly been scintillating with a passing game that still has yet to find any consistency or efficiency.
 
24. Texas  (6-2)
W, at Baylor 31-10
next game: Nebraska
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … sort of quietly, the Longhorns are getting back on track. They beat the dregs of the Big 12, Iowa State and Baylor, by a combined score of 87 to 13 with another easy win, apparently, against Nebraska coming up. However …
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... … the win over Baylor was a bigger battle than it should’ve been. It took some defensive help to put it away. Right now, this is a good team, but not a great one by any stretch.

25. Texas Tech (6-2)
L, at Missouri 41-10
next game: Colorado
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … there’s no reason to punish the Red Raiders too much for a loss at Missouri. The Tigers are that good. Tech still has the offense no one is interesting in facing right now.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... there’s only one win of note, and that came against an average Texas A&M team. For all the numbers and all the bells and whistles, the wins over the decent teams need to start coming, and it starts against Colorado this week.
 

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