CFN Rankings - No. 1 to 119 - Week 7

Jordan Shipley's performance in the win over Oklahoma shot Texas up to No. 1 in the latest CFN Rankings, but who gets the No. 2 slot? There was a big shakeup at the top for yet another week. Check out the latest CFN ranking of all 119 teams.

2008 CFN Rankings - Week 7

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. 

Click on the teams for the recaps and thoughts on every game or click here for the team pages.

Rankings CFN Preseason | Coaches
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6

1. Texas (6-0)
W, Oklahoma 45-35
next game: Missouri
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... uuhhhh, the defense? Fine, so that's sort of nitpicking after the Longhorns picked apart the nation's No. 1 team. Oklahoma bombed away, but Texas always had an answer. The top spot is good for now, and it could be solidified with a win over Mizzou.

2. Penn State (7-0)
W, at Wisconsin 48-7
next game: Michigan
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … there's nothing else the team can do to look impressive. It has dominated everyone in the way, and a blowout win at Wisconsin just cements how good this team is. There was speed, power, and a whole bunch of "wow" moments.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because .. to nitpick, Wisconsin didn't exactly look like Wisconsin. That was a bit of a lifeless team the Nittany Lions just blasted. Whatever ... if you want to put Penn State No. 1, there's no beef here.

3. Alabama (6-0)
Didn't Play This Week
next game: Ole Miss
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … it had a week off and it got knocked down from two to three?! This might be the No. 1 team in America after the first half it came up with at Georgia.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it's not like Georgia is crushing and killing everything in its path. It struggled to put away Tennessee and it hasn't played like the top team many thought it would be. The Tide will get a few big chances to strut its stuff over the next several weeks.

4. Oklahoma (5-1)
L, Texas 45-35
next game: Kansas
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because …an argument could be made that this is the nation's No. 2 team. The offense was breathtaking at times against Texas.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because .. oh yeah, the defense. The special teams weren't exactly a prize, but the defense was the biggest issue, especially in the secondary. Things could only get worse with star LB Ryan Reynolds out for the year with a knee injury.

5. Florida (5-1)
W, LSU 51-21
next game: Kentucky (Oct. 25) 
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … that's a really, really good LSU team the Gators ripped through. The offense showed what it could do when all the parts are working. Mr. Tebow is starting to look like Mr. Tebow again.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because .. sorry, but the Ole Miss gaffe can't be dismissed that easily. Maintaining focus throughout the season is a key to being a true national title contender.

6. Oklahoma State (6-0)
W, at Missouri 28-23
next game: Baylor
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … Missouri had everything on the line and Oklahoma State was the cooler, calmer team. All of a sudden, for the first time all year long, the defense showed a pass rush to go along with the special offense. The Cowboys played like a team that didn't seem to care about the pressure, but ...
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ..  ... that will quickly change. OSU will no longer be the South's little secret anymore. The national spotlight will be on and the Cowboys will be the hunted. Yeah, that was a great win over Missouri, but the Tigers did their best to screw things up.

7. LSU (4-1)
L, at Florida 51-21
next game: at South Carolina
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … Florida really might be the nation's best team. The Tigers ran into a Gator buzzsaw with everything working to near-perfection. That's not to say it wouldn't be a far different story if this was played in Death Valley ... or in the SEC title game.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... all of a sudden, the quarterback situation appears to be a bit of an issue. It's not like Jarrett Lee and Andrew Hatch were awful, but they weren't playmakers. The supposedly strong LSU defensive front gave up 265 rushing yards. Does Ricky Jean-Francois really mean that much to the front four?

8. Georgia (5-1)
W, Tennessee 26-14
next game: Vanderbilt 
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … Matt Stafford appears to be ready to become the No. 1 pick in the draft. The Georgia passing game stepped up its play another level in the win over Tennessee, and the run defense was awesome.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it took way, way too long to put the Vols away. The Bulldogs dominated, but the offense generated too many field goals when it should've been providing a knockout punch.

9. USC (4-1)
W, Arizona State 28-0
next game: at Washington State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … beating Arizona State 28-0 is impressive. No matter how it happened, a big blowout win is a big blowout win. Survive and move on. However ...
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... ... the Trojans weren't exactly crisp. Turnovers, penalties, and too many misfires marred an otherwise fun game for USC. The team will have to overcome the almost-certain upcoming malaise with a lame Pac 10 schedule kicking in over he next few weeks.

10. Missouri (5-1)
L. Oklahoma State 28-23
next game: at Texas
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Oklahoma State game could be played ten times and Chase Daniel wouldn't have brain cramped as much as he did. Not to take anything away from the Cowboys, but Mizzou screwed up. A missed catch for an interception, special teams breakdowns, and no running game in the second half; this was a strange game for the Tigers, but it can quickly get back in the title hunt with a win at Texas.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because .. with everything on the line, including the No. 1 ranking and a lead spot in the Heisman race, Mizzou got very, very tight. It's hard to beat a team as good as Oklahoma State with both hands around your neck.

11. Ohio State (6-1)
W, Purdue 16-3
next game: at Michigan State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the defense is back to being on track. Purdue's Curtis Painter threw 51 times and was able to come up with just 228 yards and no scores. The Buckeyes were able to win without breaking much of a sweat.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ...97 yards passing? 222 yards of total offense? It's not like Ohio State beat Penn State 16-3. Purdue isn't that great, and a possible national title contender, like Ohio State still wants to be, has to be much better and needs to crank up the style points in a big way.

12. BYU (6-0)
W, New Mexico 21-3
next game: at TCU
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Cougars keep on rolling. Even when they're not playing all that well, the Cougars are still winning with relative ease. The defense shut down New Mexico
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... it's New Mexico. If BYU really wants to make the easy schedule factor a non-issue, it needs to be blowing away teams like this far easier. The game was still a battle late into the fourth quarter. Call it a lookahead to the upcoming TCU showdown.

13. California (4-1)
Didn't Play This Week
next game: at Arizona 
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Michigan State win is looking better and better. After a week off, the team should be as healthy as it's been all year.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the Pac 10 stinks. It's going to be hard to get too much national love unless the Bears can beat USC..

14. Utah (7-0)
W, at Wyoming 40-7
next game: Colorado State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … not only are the Utes playing extremely well on offense, but the special teams are taking things to another level. The special teams scored twice against Wyoming. The team is playing as well, and better than some areas, as the more respected BYU.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the win at Michigan doesn't appear to be any big deal at this point. The team's one impressive win is against Oregon State. Whoopee..

15. Texas Tech (6-0)
W, Nebraska 37-31 OT
next game: at Texas A&M
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the team showed against Nebraska that it can answer a challenge. The offense was fine, but it wasn't humming and the defense still found a way to come up with the final stop needed.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... Nebraska stinks. Chalk it up to a bit of a hiccup, but compared to the Big 12 juggernauts, Texas Tech blinked. An argument could be made that beating Nebraska in overtime is worse, at least as far the degree of difficulty, than losing to Oklahoma State at home, like Missouri did.

16. Kansas (5-1)
W, Colorado 30-14
next game: at Oklahoma
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … Jake Sharp has grown into a real live rushing threat. There might actually be a little more balance going into the meat of the Big 12 season and the team might not just rely on Todd Reesing for everything.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because .. this isn't the same offensive juggernaut as last year, and it has to prove it cam keep up against a big-time offense like Oklahoma. So far, the Jayhawks have played one ranked team, USF, and lost.

17. Michigan State (6-1)
W, at Northwestern 37-20
next game: Ohio State
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … beating Northwestern at Northwestern is better than it might appear. The team got up early, and coasted from there. There's more of a passing game to rely on now with Brian Hoyer throwing effectively.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because .. if Northwestern is your best win, there's a problem. The Ohio State game this week will show if the team is a pretender or a contender.

18. Boise State (5-0)
W, at Southern Miss 24-7
next game: Hawaii
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the Oregon win is going to be the one the team hangs its hat on the rest of the year. In the other four games, the Broncos haven't allowed more than seven points and have given up 24 points in those four.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the schedule is miserable. There's Oregon and nothing else. The Broncos have to not only win out to make the BCS, but they have to win in big blowouts.

19. Virginia Tech (5-1)
Didn't Play This Week
next game: at Boston College
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the week off, coming off a mental week off against Western Kentucky, should have the team rested and ready for a nasty stretch with road games against Boise College and Florida State over the next two weeks.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because .. there's still a question about the offense that struggled with its consistency. There's little room for error.

20. Georgia Tech (5-1)
W, Gardner-Webb 10-7
next game: at Clemson
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … let's just assume the Gardner-Webb game was a lookahead to Clemson. The defense really is good enough to win the ACC title by itself no matter what the offense does.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because .. if you need a blocked field goal to avoid overtime against Gardner-Webb, things are quite working correctly. To be fair, the team's third quarterback, Calvin Booker, ran the offense, but still, 10-7 over Gardner-Webb. Yeeeeeesh.

21. North Carolina (5-1)
W, Notre Dame 29-24
next game: at Virginia
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the defense is as ball-hawking as any in the country. The secondary is pouncing on every mistake, while the offense impressively came through clutch to beat Notre Dame.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because .. it really can't be. The Tar Heels are athletic and improving. The schedule isn't all that bad with the two biggest games left, Boston College and Georgia Tech, at home.

22. TCU (6-1)
W, at Colorado State 13-7
next game: BYU
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the defense continues to be amazing. Outside of the loss to Oklahoma, the Horned Frogs have allowed seven points or fewer in five games, and allowed 14 in the easy win over Stanford.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... when your best win is over Stanford, there's area for debate about the ranking. Everything can change on the 16th when BYU comes to town.

23. Minnesota (6-1)
W, at Illinois 27-20
next game: at Purdue (Nov. 25)
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … from 1-11 a year ago to bowl eligibility, this has been a special season for the Gophers after the win over Illinois. The defense is starting to play well and the offense is coming up with big plays. The Illinois win legitimizes the record.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... the second best win is over Bowling Green. No, Minnesota isn't going to Pasadena, but if the team's the real deal, it beats Purdue at Purdue, Northwestern, and Michigan over the three weeks following an off-week.

24. Boston College (4-1)
Didn't Play This Week
next game: Virginia Tech
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … the team got through the first half of the schedule well, and now with a week off, it should be ready for a nasty finishing kick. We'll know just how good the Eagles are in a big hurry; the easiest remaining game is probably a home date against Maryland.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ...the best win so far is at NC State, and that was a 38-31 struggle. It's prove it time against Virginia Tech. Win that, and the respect will follow.

25. Wake Forest (4-1)
W, Clemson 12-7
next game: at Maryland
The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … Wake Forest had a fully focused Clemson team to deal with and the defense came through. There might not be a signature win, although beating Clemson comes close, but the wins over Baylor, Ole Miss and Florida State aren't bad.
The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ...it shouldn't be. The Demon Deacons should probably be in the top 20. The loss two weeks ago to Navy isn't that bad.

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