SportsFullCircle

This Week 5 brought multiple upsets and surprises to the Top 25 as some BCS Title hopes have been dashed, yet some seem very much alive in the early goings of this College Football season.

Oklahoma may be one of those teams saying goodbye to National Championship dreams as they traveled to Landshark Stadium in Miami to face the Hurricanes who have seemingly re-taken their place as a perennial powerhouse thus far. Miami put together 14 second-half points after a dismal 1st quarter, in which quarterback Jacory Harris threw two interceptions in as many series.

A team that has vaulted themselves into serious National Championship contention has been the LSU Tigers. LSU spent last week in Starkville, Mississppi fending off Miss. State with a closing second defensive stop to keep their unbeaten season chugging along. This week, the Tigers had to travel to 18th-ranked Georgia and did so, 20-13 with another late defensive play, this time an interception by linebacker Perry Riley.

Just behind the powerhouse unbeaten’s (Florida, Texas, LSU and Alabama) sit a whole mess of one-loss and some low-key unbeaten’s nipping at their heels, just waiting for a slip-up. Leading that pack is Virginia Tech whose one loss came against Alabama in a neutral field game in the Georgia Dome. Along with Virginia Tech there are teams such as Boise State, who still has yet to be beaten. There is a reason however, that the Broncos do not belong in the aforementioned “Powerhouse 4″. The Broncos have a particularly benefiting schedule playing only one ranked for the whole duration of the year. To their credit, they disposed of that one team, Oregon, by winning at home 19-8.

Other teams in that same hunt are Cincinnati, who remain unbeaten through 5 relatively easy games behind stud QB Tony Pike, USC, who dropped a game to Washington but made up for it with a win against Ohio State at the “Horseshoe”. Miami also resurrected themselves after an excruciating loss to Virginia Tech in a big way, Saturday night with a win over #8 Oklahoma.

Through Week 5 I have my Top 25 like this:

1. Alabama 5-0 - I can’t get over that neutral field win against Virginia Tech. Four straight tough ones on the way though with Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and the showdown against LSU.
2. LSU 5-0 - I like Florida and Texas but the teams LSU have beaten are tremendous, including last week against Georgia.
3. Florida 4-0 - Still undefeated with potentially the biggest game of the year next week, Florida vs. LSU. Tebow has not been cleared to play as of Monday, which is obviously a downfall.
4. Texas 4-0 - Undefeated with one of the best playmakers in College Football, Colt McCoy.
5. Virginia Tech 4-1 - A close victory against Duke propels VT to spot #5 with a lopsided win over Miami on the resume.
6. Boise State 5-0 - Weak competition is their only downfall. An undefeated season is not out of the question.
7. USC 4-1 - A talented team behind a talented freshman qb in Matt Barkley. The one game he missed, the Trojans were upset by un-ranked Washington. However, a win over Ohio State boosts their status.
8. Cincinnati 5-0 - One of the pleasant surprised so far this season behind stud, Tony Pike.
9. Miami 3-1 - All of my Miami Hurricane fan bias aside: “The U” is back after going 3-1 against 4 ranked teams including a win over Oklahoma. Their one loss..to Va. Tech. Not bad huh?
10. TCU 4-0 - Same situation as their fellow Boise State Broncos, not enough big games on their schedule.
11. Oregon 4-1 - Their one loss came at the “Smurf Turf” in Boise, but a couple blowouts against Cal and Washington State and a slim victory against Utah have made the Ducks a top 11 team.
12. Ohio State 4-1 - A loss at home to USC hurt the Buckeyes, but games against Iowa and Penn State could potentially help OSU.
13. Iowa 5-0 - For some reason, I am not a fan of Iowa. They have played down to competition such as Northern Iowa and Arkansas State, however they did beat Penn State in Happy Valley.
14. Auburn 5-0 - The Tigers solidified themselves as SEC contenders after a 26-22 road win against Tennessee.
15. Oklahoma State 3-1 - A big win against Georgia helps the Cowboys, but a loss to Houston hinders the voters spirits.
16. Penn State 4-1 - I feel as though PSU were praised after beating three very weak oppenents. A loss to an overrated Iowa team has dropped the Nittany Lions to outside the top 15.
17. Kansas 4-0 - Weak competition so far, Big 12 Conference play will decide their fate.
18. Ole Miss 3-1 - Snead hasn’t lived up to his potential just yet, but big games are coming soon for a chance of redemption.
19. Oklahoma 2-2 - The Sooners’ two losses to BYU and Miami were not terrible losses, which keep them in the top 25.
20. BYU 4-1 - A big opening win against Oklahoma followed by a sloppy loss to Florida State leave them at top 20.
21. South Florida 5-0 - A win against Florida State is helpful, but a weak schedule is also evident. A real chance to win the Big East and finish undefeated.
22. Nebraska 3-1 - The Cornhuskers are two-points away from being 4-0.
23. Missouri 4-0 - Weak schedule so far, but Big 12 play beginning shortly.
24. South Carolina 4-1 - A good team in the SEC Conference, and a potential Florida contender.
25. Notre Dame 4-1 - Close wins against some talented teams and a last minute loss to Michigan leave the Irish at 25 behind Heisman hopeful, Jimmy Clausen.