Blogpoll Top 25 Week 3 and Week Two Recap

1. Southern Cal(1)
2. Virginia Tech(2)
3. Louisiana State(3)
4. Texas(6)
5. Tennessee(7)
6. Ohio State(5)
7. Georgia(9)
8. Florida State(10)
9. Notre Dame(nr)
10. Florida(12)
11. Alabama(11)
12. Boston College(15)
13. Georgia Tech(13)
14. Purdue(14)
15. Miami(16)
16. Michigan(4)
17. Arizona State(23)
18. North Carolina State(18)
19. Michigan State(22)
20. Cal(nr)
21. Texas Tech(17)
22. Texas A&M(19)
23. Clemson(20)
24. Louisville(24)
25. Fresno State(nr)

out-Iowa(8), Penn State(21), TCU(25)

just missed-Penn State, Iowa State, UCLA, Minnesota

on the radar-Northwestern, Vanderbilt, New Mexico

last weeks top 25 ballot

last weeks Blogpoll

Notes:

• There is no reason to remove USC from the top spot. Texas and LSU had huge wins but not enough to overtake the national champs.
• Virginia Tech looked great, albeit it was Duke. The Hokies are my number two, unless Tennessee knocks off Florida and LSU in back to back road games to end the month.
• Ohio State is a great team, and of the Big Ten's ranked top ten teams that lost, the Buckeyes were the only ones that looked respectable.
• Georgia had a tougher time than expected against South Carolina, but showed some grit that was not needed the previous week.
• Florida State was actually trailing the Citadel in the first half, but the 'Nole's offense exploded in the second half. FSU moves up by default, with very few teams looking impressive.
• Notre Dame probably has played the toughest slate to date and are unbeaten. If I was a bigger believer in Florida, and if Alabama, Georgia Tech, and Purdue would have been more impressive ND would not have made my top ten.
• Boston College deserves serious top ten consideration. If the Eagles beat Florida State they will move up. If they show they can move the ball on that defense, I won't drop them far.
• Is Michigan a top 10 team? Not if the offense keeps playing the way they did against the Irish. This is one the most talented teams in the country, and that is the only thing keeping them above #20 right now.
• Arizona State passed all over the LSU defense, USC has to be concerned. The Sun Devils are very good, but the Pac 10 is tougher than many think. ASU still could lose three conference games.
• Michigan State's offense is moving the ball at will, but have yet to face a defense the caliber of Notre Dame's. If the Spartans beat the Irish this weekend, MSU will move closer to the top ten.
• California returns to the rankings after pasting Washington. The Bears offense shredded a decent defense, and looked like a Jeff Tedford coached team this past weekend.
• Texas Tech dropped even though they blew out Florida International 56-3. Tech does not play anybody until league play, and not until then will I rank them above #20 again.
• Clemson won another close game this week. They host Miami this week, and the Tigers need to win this one for Tommy Bowden's job security and to get back in the national spotlight.
• Louisville has a make or break game, in my book, against Oregon State this Saturday. This should be one of the better games this weekend and if the Cards are for real, they should beat the Beavers by at least ten points.
• Fresno State cracks the top 25, but will solidify their position this weekend at Oregon. A close win keeps them ranked, a loss will drop them out, but a decisive win moves them near the top 15.
• Penn State needs to look better before I rank them again. The offense showed some life, but Cincinnati is not a very good team to give up 360 yards to.
• Iowa looked awful, but they had a tough loss to Arizona State last year early and rebounded to win the Big Ten.
• TCU is not that good. The win over Oklahoma does not mean much, now.
• Iowa State beat up on Iowa, but may be Iowa is not that good. Illinois State played Iowa State better than the Hawkeyes did.
• UCLA looks as good as anyone in the country. Too bad Oklahoma is not the measuring stick this year as in years past.
• Minnesota looks impressive early every year. It is in mid-season when the Gophers are exposed.
• Northwestern had a last minute win over a good N.Illinois team, and the prior week's whipping of Ohio looks even more impressive now. Beat Arizona State and.....
• Vanderbilt has opened with two very good wins, at Wake Forest and at Arkansas. The Commodores host Ole Miss this week, win and they should be 5-0 when LSU comes to Nashville October 8.
• New Mexico overcame a record breaking night by Missouri's Brad Smith to pull the upset in Columbia. NMSU comes to town this week, but back to back games at UTEP and at TCU will prove if the Lobos are a top 25 team or not.

Games I watched...
Oklahoma State-Fla Atlantic(1st half)
Pitt-Ohio(1st & 4th quarters)
Notre Dame-Michigan(all)
Clemson-Maryland(all on second tv)
Cal-Washington(2nd and third quarters)
Hawaii-Michigan State(1st half on second tv)
Oklahoma-Tulsa(4th quarter)
Boise State-Oregon State(all on recast)
Ohio State-Texas(1st quarter)
Weber State-Fresno State(first three quarters live & 4th on radio)
UCLA-Rice(first half on recast)

Games of the Week:

1. LSU 35 at Arizona State 31
2. Texas 25 at Ohio State 22
3. N. Illinois 37 at Northwestern 38

Heisman Hype

• Vince Young, QB, Texas 270 yds passing 2tds, 76 yds rushing
• Sam Kellar, QB, Arizona St. 461 yds passing 4tds
• Cody Hodges, QB, Texas Tech 454 yds passing 4tds
• Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma 220 yds rushing 3tds
• Bruce Gradkowski QB, Toledo 338 yds passing 3tds
• Robert Jordan, WR, California 11 ctchs 192 yds 3tds
• Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota 126 yds rushing 2tds
• Chad Jackson, WR, Florida 5 ctchs 105 yds 1td
• Dion Byrum, CB, Ohio 2 ints, 2tds