Power Rankings after Week 1
1. Alabama 1-0 (1st)
2. Oklahoma 1-0 (2nd)
3. LSU 1-0 (3rd)
4. Florida State 1-0 (4th)
5. Texas A&M 1-0 (6th)
6. Boise State 1-0 (9th)
7. South Carolina 1-0 (5th)
8. Oregon 0-1 (7th)
9. Ohio State 1-0 (12th)
10. Stanford 1-0 (13th)
11. Nebraska 1-0 (14th)
12. Oklahoma State 1-0 (15th)
13. Wisconsin 1-0 (NR)
14. Arkansas 1-0 (NR)
15. Mississippi State 1-0 (NR)
Out: Georgia (8th); Texas (10th); USC (11th).
Explanation: I’m not really sure why, but I don’t seem to have as much patience this year, as I booted 3 teams from top 15 after just 1 week. The top 4 remained the same. Boise State, Ohio State, Stanford, Nebraska, and Oklahoma State all moved up 3 spots in my rankings. Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Mississippi State jumped into the top 15, while Georgia, Texas, and USC fell out. In the case of the 3 teams who fell out of my rankings, I can’t deny that my quick judgment is greatly influenced by last year’s results. But to be honest, I think that only makes sense.
1. Alabama: 1-0 (won vs. Kent State, 48-7). Bama stays as my top team because they didn’t do anything to make me change my opinion that they are the best team in the country.
2. Oklahoma: 1-0 (won vs. Tulsa, 47-14). Oklahoma stays at #2, as they demolished perhaps the best team in C-USA.
3. LSU: 1-0 (won vs. Oregon [Arlington], 40-27). LSU stays at #3, as they got the biggest win of opening weekend, whipping Oregon on a neutral field without their starting QB. My belief that the Tigers are one of the best teams in the nation was reaffirmed, as they “upset” the Ducks in a game that was not as close as the final score indicated.
4. Florida State: 1-0 (won vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 34-0). FSU stays at #4, as the Noles shutout ULM, who should be one of the better teams in the SBC this season. Like Bama, FSU didn’t do anything to make me change my opinion of them, taking care of business against a weaker opponent.
5. Texas A&M: 1-0 (won vs. SMU, 46-14). A&M moves up a spot to #5, as they crushed one of the better teams from C-USA. The Aggies held what should be a high powered SMU offense to just 16 points.
6. Boise State: 1-0 (won vs. Georgia [Atlanta], 35-21). Boise State moves up 3 spots to #6, as they soundly defeated an SEC team in its own backyard. While we don’t yet know how good or bad Georgia is, we do know that the Dawgs have talent, and the Broncos were able to control things on both sides all night. And they did this despite playing on the other side of the country in front of a huge crowd that was overwhelmingly against them. As long as Boise State has Kellen Moore they have a chance to beat any team in the country.
7. South Carolina: 1-0 (won vs. East Carolina [Charlotte], 56-37). South Carolina moves down 2 spots to #7, as they fell behind big to ECU, and ended up allowing 37 points. I realize that Stephen Garcia began the game on the bench, but still, they were down 24-14 at the half, and 31 of ECU’s 37 points were scored when the game was still very much in doubt. Plus, if Garcia is still having conduct issues at this point, then he’ll probably continue to make mistakes on the field as well.
8. Oregon: 0-1 (lost vs. LSU [Arlington], 27-40). Oregon moves down a spot to #8, as they were soundly defeated by LSU at Texas Stadium. I’m not going to kick the Ducks out of my power rankings just because they lost to my #3 team by 13 points on a neutral field in week 1. They were without DB Cliff Harris, who is a major difference maker both at corner and as a return man. Remember, this was the first game of the season. They made some mistakes and the Tigers made them pay. They are still one of the most capable teams in the country, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they went undefeated the rest of the way.
9. Ohio State: 1-0 (won vs. Akron, 42-0). Ohio State moves up 3 spots to #12, as they shutout Akron 42-0. The Buckeyes didn’t do anything to change my opinion of them. Even with all of the missing players (and there were a ton of them) and the coaching changes, the Bucks still have more than enough to crush one of the weakest teams in the FBS.
10. Stanford: 1-0 (won vs. San Jose State, 57-3). Stanford moves up 3 spots to #10, as they crushed a weak opponent in week 1. Even though they were playing at home against one of the weaker teams in the FBS, I was still kind of impressed at how thorough Stanford was in their beat down of the Spartans.
11. Nebraska: 1-0 (won vs. Chattanooga, 40-7). Nebraska moves up 3 spots to #11, as they rolled over an FCS opponent. Nebraska didn’t do anything to change my opinion of them, and they benefited from several teams moving out of my rankings.
12. Oklahoma State: 1-0 (won vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 61-34). Okie State moves up 3 spots to #12, as they creamed an SBC team. 34 points is a lot to give up to ULL, and the Cowboys really didn’t play all that well after going up 31-3 to start the game. Brandon Weeden threw 3 interceptions, including a pair of pick-sixes. Still, Ok State didn’t do anything to change my opinion of them, and they benefited from the 3 teams dropping out of my rankings.
13. Wisconsin: 1-0 (won vs. UNLV, 51-17). Wisconsin jumps into my rankings at #13, as they ran over UNLV. The Badgers had won of the more impressive opening weekend performances. UNLV is one of the weaker FBS teams, but the Badgers were up 51-3 midway through the 3rd and called the dogs off. More importantly, Russell Wilson showed that the transition from NC State to Wisconsin might go much smoother than many expected. Wilson going to Wisconsin might end up being the most underappreciated move of the offseason, and could (in my opinion) spark off a debate about whether such moves should be allowed.
14. Arkansas: 1-0 (won vs. Missouri State, 51-7). Arkansas climbs into my rankings at #14, as they rolled over an FCS team. I still have my doubts about the Hogs, but they didn’t do anything to change my opinion of them, and they benefited from 3 teams falling out.
15. Mississippi State: 1-0 (won at Memphis, 59-14). Miss State moves into the rankings at #15, as they walked over Memphis despite missing a number of players. Memphis may very well be the worst FBS team this season, but the Bulldogs could only take care of their business, and that’s what they did.
Teams Falling Out of the Rankings
Georgia: 0-1 (lost vs. Boise State [Atlanta], 21-35). Georgia falls out of the rankings from #8, as they were solidly beaten by the Broncos despite playing something like a home game at the Georgia Dome. The Georgia offensive line couldn’t protect Aaron Murray or create enough holes for the running game to sustain drives. Meanwhile, Kellen Moore carved up the Georgia defense seemingly with ease.
While things certainly could have been more competitive, it’s probably closer to the truth to say that things could have been much worse. I know I should probably try harder not to overrate my team, but I’m not sure that I can. However, as much as I love the Dawgs, there simply is no good reason to have them anywhere near the top 15 at this point.
Texas: 1-0 (won vs. Rice, 34-9). Texas drops out of the rankings from #10, as they had a lackluster win over Rice at home. The victory was similar to last year’s season opener. Last year the game was on a neutral field and the Longhorns were 31-point favorites, but they struggled offensively and ended up winning just 34-17. It was a portent of things to come, as the Longhorns struggled offensively all season and wound up losing 7 of their last 9 to finish 5-7.
I really expected the Horns to be back this season, as their defense is top notch, they have good running backs, and QB Garrett Gilbert would have a year of experience under his belt. But it was probably not a good sign that Mack Brown waited until the last moment to announce that Gilbert was the starting QB. On Saturday, the Horns ended up outgaining Rice 506-224, but they were ahead just 13-9 midway through the 3rd. Rice is an improved team, but Gilbert’s 13/23-239Yd- 1TD performance was nonetheless underwhelming.
USC: 1-0 (won vs. Minnesota, 19-17). USC drops out of the top 15, as they had to hang on to beat Minnesota at home. USC and Texas are very similar situations. Like Texas, I expected USC to bounce back this season, as they are a year removed from the shock of NCAA sanctions, and QB Matt Barkley is now a junior. However, their shaky win over what figures to be a very weak Minnesota team was quite reminiscent of the start of last season. Last year USC opened the season in Hawaii, winning by 13 as a 21-point favorite. They then won just 17-14 at home over a very weak UVA team as a 20-point favorite. In week 3, they won on the road against a very weak Minnesota team, 32-21, as 11-point favorites.
This weekend they were 23.5-point favorites and had to hold on for a 2-point win at home. I definitely believe that Jerry Kill will get Minnesota back to decency, and I’m sure he’s already made them a better team than they have been in years, but on talent alone the Trojans should be doing better than outgaining the Gophers 371-302. Minnesota shutout the Trojans in the 2nd half! And while Minnesota’s last minute drive was halted on an interception at midfield, the fact is that a fluke play or a penalty was all they needed to be in position for a shot at a game winning field goal. USC just isn’t USC anymore.
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