1. Alabama (7-0)The clear #1 team, with the most valuable offensive player (Mark Ingram, pictured above running through Stephon Gilmore) and the most valuable defensive player (Rolando McClain, the real Superman). That said, Greg McElroy's QB play and the inability to get Julio Jones properly involved is a bit unsettling. To the film room!
2. Florida (6-0)
Anyone else think a close win was the worst thing that could've happened to the Gators? Remember, Tebow's (in)famous "promise" last year came after a close loss and it galvanized Florida on the way to their championship run. After a close win, what can you do but exhale?
3. Texas (6-0)
The Texas offense hasn't looked particularly sharp this year, but I'm gonna cut the Horns some slack regarding the Red River Slugfest. The OU D has made every offense work for its points, so Saturday was par for the course. Let's see how the Horns fare against Missouri and Oklahoma State before putting Bevo on the overrated wagon.
4. Iowa (7-0)5. Cincinnati (6-0)
6. USC (5-1)
Even though I agree that USC has better players than Iowa and Cincy, why should USC be rewarded for finding a way to lose a game? Don't get me wrong, Trojan wins at Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Cal all look good. But, are they really objectively better than Iowa's wins at Penn State, at Wisconsin, and home against Arizona? And Cincy's wins at Oregon State, at Rutgers, and home against South Florida (pictured above) are maybe a small step down. Which still leaves USC's loss to Washington. That has to matter.
7. TCU (6-0)
8. Boise State (6-0)
BSU's victory at home over Oregon is the best win of these two programs. However, their second best win is a struggle on the road against Tulsa, who is decent, but come on. It's Tulsa. Meanwhile, TCU went on the road to beat Clemson and Virginia, neither of whom are that great, but significant steps up from Tulsa, let alone anyone else on either schedule. While I'm not crazy about either team being this high, you can't penalize a team too harshly for being undefeated in mid-October.
9. Miami (FL) (5-1)10. Georgia Tech (6-1)
11. Virginia Tech (5-2)
While these teams have all lost to each other, VT comes last because of the 2 losses and Miami comes first because of the head-to-head win over GT. But, they could be interchangeable and can each point to at least 1 quality win. Miami soundly beat 1-loss GT and I think their win over Oklahoma is still good, despite the Sooners being 3-3. The Jackets just beat a very good Hokies squad (pictured above) and are a complete pain in the ass to prepare for on a week's notice. VA Tech, of course, thrashed the Canes and Boston College, and held on to beat a good Nebraska team. That they're this high with 2 losses is mitigated in my eyes by the fact those losses came to teams whose combined record is 13-1.
12. Houston (5-1)
OK, so the loss to UTEP was a head-scratcher. But, has anyone else noticed that the Cougars have beaten 3 BCS teams? Granted, one of those teams was Mississippi State, but a road win is a road win, especially when you consider Conference USA vs. SEC. And wins at 1-loss Oklahoma State and home against 2-loss Texas Tech aren't too shabby. Let's just say, find me another 1-loss team with a bona fide quality win, let alone 2 such wins, and I'll put them here. Can't be done.
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