The weekly power poll and Heisman spotlight
Consistency is a crazy thing. It’s a tough thing to achieve. But four legitimate (BCS conference) teams, plus one small conference (Hawaii) squad have done it to this point.
You can talk all you want about thinking that LSU or Oregon are better teams than the likes of Ohio State, Boston College, Kansas, Arizona State and even Hawaii have done one thing the others haven’t. They’ve been consistent, week in and week out.
Consistency is making the plays on the road. Consistency is protecting your home stadium. Consistency is playing your game each and every week. And most of all, consistency is not forgetting to write your weekly column.
For that reason, undefeateds are skyrocketing up the Top 15 this week. At this point in the year, it becomes less about impressive moments and talent, and more about the overall body of a team’s work.
That’s why this week’s Top 15 is brought to you by the number zero: the total number of losses between OSU, BC, KU, ASU and Hawaii. It’s not funny, it’s not flashy, but it’s true, much like the teams it represents.
No. 1 – Ohio State Buckeyes
(9-0, def. Penn State 37-17) Last Week: 1
Stop if you’ve heard this one before: The Bucks look good but they haven’t played anybody yet. This weekend is the team’s first true test. That’s what they said about Washington, Purdue and most recently, Penn State. At what point will this team get their due?
No. 2 – Kansas Jayhawks
(8-0, idle) Last Week: 12
The second ranked scoring defense and the fifth ranked scoring offense call Lawrence their home, but nobody has seemed to notice. They suffer from the same “who have they beaten?” problem that the Buckeyes suffer from, but they’re winning their games by over 30 points on average.
No. 3 – LSU Tigers
(7-1, idle) Last Week: 4
They avoid the punishment other teams have felt for a first loss given their resume (wins against South Carolina and Florida) and the team who beat them (Kentucky). What happened to Glenn Dorsey and the Tigers D?
No. 4 – Oregon Ducks
(7-1, def. USC 24-17) Last Week: 8
Talking to my brother last week, you knew he’d been a Ducks fan for a while. He was absolutely convinced that this was the game that would de-rail Oregon’s season. Well, these ain’t your big brother’s Ducks. Believe in this this team.
No. 5 – Arizona State Sun Devils
(8-0, def. Cal 31-20) Last Week: 11
Remember when Dirk Koetter got killed for starting Rudy Carpenter over Sam Keller? With a win over Oregon this weekend, Rudy’s Devils can vault themselves to the top of the National Championship picture. How’s Sam doing in Lincoln again?
No. 6 – Boston College Eagles
(8-0, def. Virginia Tech 14-10) Last Week: 3
I’ve maintained all season that Virginia Tech simply isn’t that good. Boston College looked almost as bad, and would have lost if not for Heisman front-runner Matt Ryan.
No. 7 – Oklahoma Sooners
(7-1, idle) Last Week: 9
Seemingly lost in the shuffle, Bob Stoops’ squad is lurking. A few breaks here or there and they’re right back in this thing.
No. 8 – Missouri Tigers
(7-1, def. Iowa State 42-28) Last Week: NR
There’s so much hullabaloo about the Pac 10 and SEC, but the Big XII might be the deepest and best conference in the land. Where else would Chase Daniel blend with the crowd?
No. 9 – West Virginia Mountaineers
(7-1, def. Rutgers 31-3) Last Week: 10
Fullback Owen Schmitt is a bad, bad man. Without him opening holes, the Slaton and White show doesn’t roll.
No. 10 – Georgia Bulldogs
(6-2, def. Florida 42-30) Last Week: NR
An old AC/DC song comes to mind when talking about Mark Richt. Who’s got the biggest balls of them all? Now it’s Georgia, not Tennessee, Florida or Kentucky, who’s in control of the SEC East.
No. 11 – Connecticut Huskies
(7-1, def. USF 22-15) Last Week: NR
UConn and Kansas in the Top 15? Believable. But in football? Oddly enough, Jayhawks headman Mark Mangino is the only guy keeping the Huskies’ Randy Edsall from a Coach of the Year award.
No. 12 – Michigan Wolverines
(7-2, def. Minnesota 34-10) Last Week: NR
Appalachian State and Oregon are distant memories. Has anybody else noticed that these guys play better with Ryan Mallet than Chad Henne?
No. 13 – Hawaii Warriors
(8-0, def. New Mexico State 50-13) Last Week: 15
Some extra rest for Colt Brennan will be great for the Warriors as they prep for their final run at a BCS berth.
No. 14 – Auburn Tigers
(6-3, def. Mississippi 17-3) Last Week: 14
They could have easily beaten LSU, and with such a mess in the middle of the pack, there’s no real reason not to have them here.
No. 15 – Virginia Tech Hokies
(6-2, lost to Boston College 14-10) Last Week: NR
I still hate Virginia Tech, but who else is going to go here? USC? Florida?
Dropped from the top:
No. 2 USF Bulls, No. 4 South Carolina Gamecocks, No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats, No. 7 California Golden Bears, No. 13 Florida Gators
On the Fringe:
Alabama Crimson Tide (6-2), South Florida Bulls (6-2), Texas Longhorns (7-2), Virginia Cavaliers (7-2)
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Heisman Spotlight
When was the last time you had no idea who was going to win the Hesiman on November 1? I’m not sure it’s ever been as wide open as it is today.
1. Matt Ryan, QB – Boston College
It wasn’t Doug Flutie, but the next best thing isn’t so bad either. So long as Boston College keeps winning, Ryan will stay near the top of the list.
2. Dennis Dixon, QB – Oregon
Dixon’s the difference between the never-say-die Ducks of today and the roll-over ducks of yesteryear. This is a big week for him against a coach (Dennis Erickson) who’s meant trouble for the Ducks before.
3. Mike Hart, RB – Michigan
As well as he’s played, nobody’s ever won a Heisman for three quarters of a season’s work. He’s got to get back on the field.
4. Todd Boeckman, QB – Ohio State
Quietly, Boeckman has amassed the third highest passer efficiency rating in the nation. As the quarterback of the No. 1 team in the country, the microscope is going to be on for the next three weeks.
5. Tim Tebow, QB – Florida
As Florida, Kentucky and Louisville fade farther and farther into the distance, so do the Heisman hopes of Tebow and his counterparts, Andre Woodson and Brian Brohm.