2009 CFN Rankings
Week 5, Oct. 4
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1. Alabama 5-0
Last Week: W, at Kentucky 38-20
This Week: at Ole Miss
Why the ranking is too high: The punting game
isn't that big a deal. There have to be some warts,
right? Going through the motions a bit, the Tide was
outplayed for a long stretch by Kentucky. It was
still an easy 38-20 win as all the parts continue to
hum.
2. Florida 4-0
Last Week: Didn't Play This Week
This Week: at LSU
Why the ranking is too high: It this really
the No. 2 team in America it Tim Tebow is hurt/out?
The Tennessee game is still a little fresh, the
Gators didn't look that great, and there might be a
question mark about whether or not the offense, that
isn't getting much out of the receivers, can produce
against a great D if it's Tebow left, Tebow right,
Tebow up the middle.
Why the ranking is too low:Yeah, if Florida
isn't No. 1, it's No. 1A. Tebow's melon is
supposedly fine, LSU isn't all that great, and the
Gators, for any problems you might want to come up
with, has outscored everyone by an average score of
45.5 to 7.25. The offense is third in the nation and
the defense is first.
3. Texas 4-0
Last Week: Didn't Play This Week
This Week: Colorado
Why the ranking is too high: Colt McCoy has
been fine, but he hasn't been the Colt McCoy of last
year quite yet. The offense is working more with the
running backs, but it still has to prove it can
produce against a real defense. That win over Texas
Tech doesn't seem like any big deal, and it seems
even more mediocre since it was such a struggle and
with the problems Houston had this week against
UTEP. Of course ...
Why the ranking is too low: ... that the UTEP
team that hung up 58 points on Houston gained a
total of 53 yards on Texas. The Longhorns appear to
be all tuned up and ready to take on the big boys
coming up soon. With a week off to prepare for
Colorado, this might not be pretty unless the
Longhorns are licking their chops after watching
OU's loss to Miami.
4. Virginia Tech 4-1
Last Week: W, at Duke 34-26
This Week: Boston College
Why the ranking is too high: Yeeeeeeeesh. You
don't struggle that much against Duke. Yeah, the
Hokies had the game in hand throughout, for the most
part, but a top four team doesn't beat Duke by
eight. The offensive line has been good, but
inconsistent.
Why the ranking is too low: Everyone seemed
to take last week off except for Tyrod Taylor. The
Hokie QB proved once again that he can throw a
little bit, and while he might not be a bomber, he's
becoming tremendously efficient.
5. Auburn 5-0
Last Week: W, at Tennessee 26-22
This Week: at Arkansas
Why the ranking is too high: The run defense
has been a tad soft, and the pass defense is the
only one in FBS or FCS that couldn't come up with a
pick of Tennessee QB Jonathan Crompton. The pass
rush isn't at an elite level and there aren't enough
big plays being made behind the line.
Why the ranking is too low: The offense is
almost perfectly balanced averaging 254 rushing
yards and 259 passing yards per game. With wins over
Mississippi State, West Virginia, and now Tennessee,
the Tigers are building a decent résumé, and if they
play up to their talent level over the next two
weeks, they'll by 7-0 before going to LSU. Welcome
to the party, other polls.
6. Miami 3-1
Last Week: W, Oklahoma 21-20
This Week: Florida A&M
Why the ranking is too high: If Oklahoma two
points better if Sam Bradford is under center? The
Virginia Tech blasting is still a little too fresh,
and while the Canes looked athletic, fast, and
extremely talented against Oklahoma, this still
could be a flaky enough team to go into the tank
like it did in Blacksburg.
Why the ranking is too low: It's almost as if
the team went from thinking it had swagger and
confidence to actually getting both. Give credit to
Jacory Harris for overcoming the adversity of a
rough start to settle down and get the win over the
Sooners. There's no one on the schedule, with the
possible exception of North Carolina in Chapel Hill,
who can touch the Canes before the trip to South
Florida.
7. USC 4-1
Last Week: W, at California 30-0
This Week: at Notre Dame (Oct. 17)
Why the ranking is too high: Fine, so
blasting California isn't necessarily a reason to
put USC in Pasadena already, but that was a dominant
defensive performance against a talented offense. At
some point, Matt Barkley is going to have to start
putting it up deep. USC has to prove it can produce
in a shootout (like it might have against Notre Dame
next week).
Why the ranking is too low: Forgetting the
loss to Washington for a moment, the defense really
has been good. The Trojans have allowed just nine
points in the last two weeks. In five games, USC has
given up just two meaningful touchdowns. The run
defense is giving up just 65 yards per game ...
that's not a good sign for Oregon on Halloween.
8. Ohio State 4-1
Last Week: W, at Indiana 33-14
This Week: Wisconsin
Why the ranking is too high: The Buckeyes
could lose to Wisconsin. The Badgers are a bad
matchup for the Buckeyes and might pull off the
upset if the OSU passing game doesn't get rolling.
Yeah, the team has looked great over the last three
games winning by a combined total of 101 to 14, but
that was against Toledo, Illinois, and Indiana.
Whoopee.
Why the ranking is too low: The defense
really is good. You probably can't name any of
Buckeye defenders, but outside of a big pass play by
Navy and a late Matt Barkley drive, the defense
hasn't given up anything meaningful.
9. Nebraska 3-1
Last Week: Didn't Play This Week
This Week: at Missouri
Why the ranking is too high: The Huskers will
probably lose at Missouri on Thursday night. The
offense hasn't produced enough points against anyone
with a pulse and it will have to prove it can keep
up in a firefight, which it might be in Columbia.
Why the ranking is too low: It took a
miraculous last second pass for Virginia Tech to
beat the Huskers, and if the D could've held firm,
the ranking might be in the top five. Nebraska had
an easy time against an Arkansas State team that
gave Iowa a big push.
10. Wisconsin 5-0
Last Week: W, at Minnesota 31-28
This Week: at Ohio State
Why the ranking is too high: The team can't
close. The Badgers were in complete control late
against Northern Illinois, Fresno State, Michigan
State, and Minnesota, and they found ways to make
all four games far too interesting. The secondary
has to be much, much tighter.
Why the ranking is too low: It's almost like
the team is a few tweaks away from being truly
special. The offensive line is starting to heal up
and come together, the run defense has been solid,
and there's perfect offensive balance averaging 217
rushing yards per game and 216 through the air.
11. LSU 5-0
Last Week: W, at Georgia, 20-13
This Week: Florida
Why the ranking is too high: LSU came up with
its best performance of the year on the lines
against Georgia, but it was still a horrible,
horrible unsportsmanlike penalty call away from
probably losing. One rumbling touchdown run from
Charles Scott aside, the offense was mediocre yet
again.
Why the ranking is too low: The talent is
there. The Tigers might not be looking like world
beaters, but they're winning. 3-0 in the SEC is 3-0,
and now there are chances to prove they're for real
with Florida and Auburn at home over the next two
weeks and Alabama coming up in early November.
12. Iowa 5-0
Last Week: W, Arkansas State 24-21
This Week: Michigan
Why the ranking is too high: The offense
stinks. Oh sure, QB Ricky Stanzi was fine against
Arkansas State, but there isn't enough happening on
the ground and the points aren't coming. Needing to
battle to beat Northern Iowa in the opener is an
aberration, but struggling against Arkansas State at
home, too, shows the team's problems.
Why the ranking is too low: This appears to
be the type of team that's going to find ways to
win, even if it's not pretty. The secondary is
playing tremendously well and the run defense has
been solid. Now comes another Prove It game, two
weeks after the Penn State victory, with Michigan up
next.
13. Boise State 5-0
Last Week: W, UC Davis
This Week: at Tulsa (Wednesday, Oct. 14)
Why the ranking is too high: Uhhhhhhh, 34-16
against UC Davis? If you're Boise State and you have
no one left on the schedule, you can't do that. The
Oregon win was nice, but the other three FBS wins
were against Miami University, Fresno State, and
Bowling Green. Those three teams have combined to
win one FBS game.
Why the ranking is too low: It's not. The
Oregon win is looking better and better, but that
was a different Duck team. The Broncos had better
blast Tulsa next Wednesday or the ranking is
dropping.
14. TCU 4-0
Last Week: W, SMU 39-14
This Week: at Air Force
Why the ranking is too high: The offense is a
whole bunch of bleccchhh. The running game is fine
and the passing game is efficient, but can it
produce against a real live defense? It's not going
to have a chance to find out in Mountain West play.
Why the ranking is too low: The defense is
phenomenal. It's leading the nation against the run,
allowing just 47 yards per game, and the pass rush
is tremendous. The scary part is that this group
appears to be just scratching the surface.
15. Oregon 4-1
Last Week: W, Washington State 52-6
This Week: at UCLA
Why the ranking is too high: How flaky are
the Ducks? Oh sure, there were the impressive
performances against Cal and Washington State, but
will the passing game that was so poor against Utah
show up in one of the four road games in the next
six? Basically, do you trust this team?
Why the ranking is too low: 94-9. That's the
combined score that Oregon beat Cal and Washington
State over the last two weeks. USC is ranked much
higher, but it wasn't as impressive against the
Bears and Cougars over the last two games.
16. Cincinnati 5-0
Last Week: W, Miami Univ. 37-13
This Week: at South Florida (Oct. 15)
Why the ranking is too high: Miami University
is awful. Every team is allowed a down week, but
after a shaky performance against Fresno State, the
Bearcats needed to be better against one of
America's worst teams. The running game isn't doing
well enough to scare South Florida.
Why the ranking is too low: UC is going
through the motions. Yeah, it was a bit of a
lifeless performance against the RedHawks, but it
didn't matter. The passing game is among the best in
the country, the defense is first in tackles for
loss and second in sacks. But now we get to see if
the team is the real deal. A win over South Florida
in Tampa and UC might be in the top ten.
17. Kansas 4-0
Last Week: W, Didn't Play This Week
This Week: Iowa State
Why the ranking is too high: Now that
Southern Miss had a clunker against UAB, the win
over the Golden Eagles doesn't seem that impressive.
No, beating UTEP, even after the Houston win, isn't
any big deal. The secondary will struggle against
just about everyone in the Big 12 who can throw.
Why the ranking is too low: The run defense
is third in the nation. While there haven't been too
many great running games to deal with so far, the D
really is playing well. No quarterback in the nation
is playing as well as Todd Reesing, who has thrown
for 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns with two picks.
KU will rip up Iowa State and Colorado over the next
two weeks.
18. South Florida 5-0
Last Week: W, at Syracuse 34-20
This Week: Cincinnati (Wednesday, Oct. 15)
Why the ranking is too high: Beating Florida
State isn't all that big a deal now, and the second
best win is over Syracuse. The team has been good,
but it needs a bigger win than the FSU victory to
prove it's great. Beating Cincinnati would prove the
team is among the elite.
Why the ranking is too low: B.J. Daniels has
stepped in for Matt Grothe without skipping a beat.
The Bulls are third in the nation in passing
efficiency and the pass rush, even without George
Selvie playing at an All-America level at the
moment, has been strong. And yeah, the win over the
Seminoles really was good.
19. Missouri 4-0
Last Week: Didn't Play Last Week
This Week: Nebraska
Why the ranking is too high: Bowling Green
has been lousy, making the rough outing at home look
that much worse. The best win at the moment is over
Nevada ... whoopee. This is still a developing team
that's going to be inconsistent, and if defense
isn't a little more stout, there will be problems
over the next three weeks against Nebraska, Oklahoma
State, and Texas.
Why the ranking is too low: The Nevada win
looks really nice after the Pack ripped off 559
rushing yards and seven scores against UNLV. With
the way QB Blaine Gabbert was playing before the
time off, the offense should have a puncher's chance
against everyone left on the schedule.
20. Oklahoma 2-2
Last Week: W, at Miami 21-20
This Week: Baylor
Why the ranking is too high: The Sooners are
0-for-2 this year outside of the state of Oklahoma.
The defense is also 0-for-2 on coming up with clutch
stops late, while the offense doesn't have nearly
the same pizzazz it had last year. And no, it's not
just because Sam Bradford isn't playing. The line
isn't dominating, the ground game hasn't been
consistent, and the best win was against Tulsa.
Why the ranking is too low: The Sooners lost
their two big games by two points. If Bradford is
back and up to his old tricks, everything might
quickly turn around. if OU beats Texas in two weeks,
it might be game on against for the national title
hunt (IF Bradford is Bradford again).
21. Penn State 4-1
Last Week: W, at Illinois
This Week: Eastern Illinois
Why the ranking is too high: The offense
still hasn't proven much. Daryll Clark didn't have
to do too much to beat a horrible Illinois, while
the running game still has to show it can produce
against a good D. If you don't believe in Iowa, then
Penn State might not be a top 25 team.
Why the ranking is too low: The team is
better than it has played offensively. At some
point, everything is going to start clicking on the
line, and every game the young receiving corps gets
more work will mean a vast improvement to the
passing attack. Fortunately for the Nittany Lions,
Eastern Illinois is up next to turn things up even
more.
22. West Virginia 3-1
Last Week: W, Colorado 35-24
This Week: at Syracuse
Why the ranking is too high: The offense
can't stop giving the ball away. Part of the key to
West Virginia's success has been forcing turnovers
while being stingy with the ball, but the team is
118th in the nation in turnover margin. The
secondary is struggling way too much.
Why the ranking is too low: Losing to Auburn
at Auburn deserves more respect. WVU might be a top
ten team if it can stop giving the ball away, while
the offense appears to be just scratching the
surface of how good it can become. QB Jarrett Brown
is coming into his own.
23. Georgia 3-2
Last Week: L, LSU 20-13
This Week: at Tennessee
Why the ranking is too high: The defense has
gone bye-bye, especially when it needs to come up
with a truly big stop, and there have been way too
many errors on offense. Where's the running game?
Where's the secondary? Where are the playmakers
outside of A.J. Green?
Why the ranking is too low: 3-2 is a very
unGeorgia-like record, but the schedule has been
murderous and the Dawgs are battling hard. Who else
would only have two losses with at Oklahoma State,
South Carolina, at Arkansas, Arizona State, and LSU
to deal with? The offense might not be consistent,
but it's putting up numbers.
24. Stanford 4-1
Last Week: W, UCLA 24-16
This Week: at Oregon State
Why the ranking is too high: Is beating UCLA
and Washington that big a deal? The offense is
turning the ball over too much, the defensive front
hasn't been a rock, even though it hasn't faced
anyone great, and the passing attack could stand to
put up a few more yards.
Why the ranking is too low: Stanford is one
bad call against Wake Forest away from being
unbeaten. Toby Gerhart is pounding away for the
efficient attack, while the O line is playing well
enough to pound away over the next few weeks at
Oregon State and Arizona to pull off wins. The team
is the real deal.
25. Georgia Tech 4-1
Last Week: W, at Mississippi State 42-31
This Week: at Florida State
Why the ranking is too high: Is the running
game really back to its old self? Beating
North Carolina and Mississippi State isn't anything
special, while the defense hasn't done quite enough
to keep up its end of the bargain.
Why the ranking is too low: Has the offense
found itself again? After sputtering a little too
much against Clemson and then getting stopped by
Miami, it's back on track. Now it has to show it
against Florida State and Virginia Tech over the
next two weeks.
26. South Carolina 4-1
27. Notre Dame 4-1
28. Michigan State 2-3
29. Michigan 4-1
30. Washington 2-3
31. Ole Miss 3-1
32. Houston 3-1
33. Oklahoma State 3-1
34. BYU 4-1
35. NC State 3-2
36. California 3-2
37. Pitt 4-1
38. Texas Tech 3-2
39. Arizona 3-1
40. Utah 3-1
41. Oregon State 3-2
42. Arkansas 2-2
43. Connecticut 3-1
44. Boston College 4-1
45. Florida State 2-3
46. Arizona State 2-2
47. Wake Forest 3-2
48. Central Michigan 4-1
49. UCLA 3-1
50. Tennessee 2-3
51. Indiana 3-2
52. North Carolina 3-2
53. Fresno State 1-3
54. Texas A&M 3-1
55. Mississippi State 2-3
56. Minnesota 3-2
57. Clemson 2-3
58. East Carolina 2-2
59. Kentucky 2-2
60. Louisville 1-3
61. Northwestern 3-2
62. Tulsa 4-1
63. Idaho 4-1
64. Colorado State 3-2
65. Navy 3-2
66. Baylor 3-1
67. Vanderbilt 2-3
68. Illinois 1-3
69. Air Force 3-2
70. Rutgers 3-1
71. Northern Illinois 3-2
72. Purdue 1-4
73. Syracuse 2-3
74. Toledo 3-2
75. Nevada 1-3
76. Southern Miss 3-2
77. Colorado 1-3
78. Wyoming 3-2
79. Ohio 3-2
80. Marshall 3-2
81. Troy 2-2
82. Arkansas State 1-3
83. San Jose State 1-3
84. Louisiana Tech 2-2
85. Duke 2-3
86. UCF 3-2
87. Kansas State 3-2
88. Middle Tennessee 3-1
89. Maryland 2-3
90. Virginia 1-3
91. Bowling Green 1-4
92. UNLV 2-3
93. Iowa State 2-3
94. Hawaii 2-1
95. Western Michigan 2-3
96. Akron 1-3
97. North Texas 1-3
98. Kent State 2-3
99. Louisiana-Lafayette 2-2
100. SMU 2-2
101. UAB 2-3
102. ULM 3-2
103. Temple 2-2
104. Tulane 2-2
105. Buffalo 1-4
106. Army 2-3
107. Memphis 1-4
108. Washington State 1-4
109. UTEP 2-3
110. Utah State 1-3
111. FIU 0-4
112. San Diego State 2-3
113. Florida Atlantic 0-4
114. Eastern Michigan 0-4
115. Miami Univ. 0-5
116. Rice 0-5
117. New Mexico State 2-3
118. Ball State 0-5
119. New Mexico 0-5
120. Western Kentucky 0-4