College Football Top Ten Wrap Up

Welcome to the first edition of the Top Ten Wrap Up. Each week I’ll keep up with College Football’s best teams, focusing on the top ten, with some attention given to the rest of the ranked as time allows. For the first part of the season I’m going to use the AP rankings for my top ten discussion, but as the BCS rankings come out I’ll switch to them, since they’re far more applicable to the final results of the season.

Some things I’ll do in this column: I’ll hold teams, players, and coaches accountable for the outcomes of their games; I’ll give you straight up commentary about who is good, who isn’t good, and who’s worthy of notice in the 2007 football season; and I’ll keep my biases out of it. I’ll admit up front that I’m a Nebraska Cornhusker fan, but if they don’t earn praise on the field they don’t earn praise here. Period.

Some things I won’t do: I won’t buy in to the hype surrounding a team, I won’t pimp unworthy candidates for the Heisman, I won’t mix words, I won’t hesitate to tell you how much I hate the BCS, and I won’t call Division I-A the “Football Bowl Subdivision.” I don’t care if Red Grange himself comes back from the grave and begs me on his hallowed knees – it’s still Division I-A. I’m not changing.

 
So without further ado, here’s the Top Ten rundown from Week Two:

#1 –Southern California Trojans

Last Week: Team Pete sat on their couches and watched some football during their idle week.

Coming Up: At #14 Nebraska. This figures to be SC’s early season statement game, and should be their toughest non-conference test. Last year the Trojans pasted NU 28-10 in a game that wasn’t nearly as competitive as the score showed. After their unimpressive 38-10 win against Idaho in week one, this is a must-win game for the Trojans – and they must win it big. The way LSU is playing they’re beginning to make many voters rethink their preseason ranking of USC at #1, so don’t look for this game to be close, with John David Booty’s receivers flying all over the field on the overmatched NU secondary, while the speed of the Trojan defense stymies the Husker O.

 
#2 – Louisiana State Tigers

Last Week: #9 Virginia Tech – win, 48-7. LSU, WHATCHOO GOT? The Tigers lay the wood to Va. Tech in LSU’s second straight drubbing of an overmatched opponent. This time the victim was a (formerly) top ten team. There appear to be very few chinks in the armor of Les Miles’ 2007 squad. Bo Pelini’s defense has absolutely shut down both opponents in the young season, allowing only one touchdown in what was already garbage time late in the third quarter last week – but it bears noting that the points were given up by what was mostly the second string defense. It’s very telling that the Tigers’ backup quarterback threw two touchdown passes against what was considered a pretty good Va. Tech secondary. Break up the Tigers!!

Coming Up: Home vs. Middle Tennessee. Gosh, I hope LSU can somehow figure out a way to eke out a win against the Blue Raiders of MTSU, who nearly upset #9 Louisville last week. This game could be a nail-biter just like the Blue Raiders put up against Louisville… hahahaha! Sorry, I just couldn’t type that with a straight face. Look for another blowout victory against another vastly overmatched opponent. Middle Tennessee will soon discover that there are still some “Top Ten” teams who know how to play defense.

 
#3 – Oklahoma Sooners

Last Week: Miami – Win, 51-13. Someone tell Sam Bradford that he’s only a freshman! Bradford carves up another defense in OU’s second straight laugher, throwing a freshman school-record five TD passes – three to Malcolm Kelly – as OU dropped 51 points on a rebuilding Miami team. The Hurricanes kept it respectable at halftime, trailing only 21-10, but while first-year coach Randy Shannon’s Miami team slowed noticeably in the second half the Sooners stayed quite strong, pouring it on in the fourth quarter with 20 more points. Oklahoma’s knockout performance was enough to leapfrog them over West Virginia and Florida.

Coming Up: A bye week against Next Victim University, a.k.a. Utah State. You know the old saying about a snowball’s chance? Well, welcome to hell, snowball. Prediction: Oklahoma’s starters play little more than half this game.

 
#4 – West Virginia Mountaineers

Last Week: Marshall – win, 48-23. Want to know why you got dropped from #3 to #4 after a victory, Mountaineers? ‘Cause you barely beat a team that got walloped by The U – the same The U that just got walloped by Oklahoma, that’s why. The Mountaineers may not have been Michiganed but that first half was a debacle. Steve Slaton and Pat White looked far from Heisman-like, amassing barely more than 100 yards against a weak defense. It is amazing to see such a talented team play so poorly in a game they should cruise through, especially after the Michigan/Appalachian State fiasco got so much press. You would think that top-tier teams would have gotten the picture by now that the gap between them and the doormats is rapidly closing, but apparently not. Yeah, yeah – they turned it on in the second half with three straight scoring drives to start the third quarter. Color me unimpressed. Another lackluster performance like that this week and WVU could legitimately see themselves fall out of the ranks of the undefeated.

Coming Up: The Mountaineers square off against undefeated Maryland. The Terps are quite familiar with this Mountaineer team, having scored 24 points against them at West Virginia last year. This year they’re playing at Byrd Stadium, so Maryland ought to feel quite comfortable about their surroundings. I would bet that White and Slaton would have their best performance yet this year, but then I also thought they’d have no trouble with the Thundering Herd, either. It’s time for a statement game, Mountaineers. You can’t afford another first half lapse.

 
#5 – Florida Gators

Last Week: Troy – Win, 59-31. The Gators also got dropped this week, falling from #4 to #5 after beating up on the Trojans of Troy 59-31. This game was a laugher early as the Gators took a 49-7 lead into halftime, but lapses in defense by a bored first string (early) and backups (late) made the final score far from impressive. There ARE style points in College Football, and that’s precisely why the Gators lost a spot in the rankings. Oklahoma proved to the voters that they belonged in the top three. The news isn’t all grim for the Gators, though – Tim Tebow continues to impress, throwing for three touchdowns and running for a couple more. This kid can flat-out play, and in Urban Meyer’s offense he has a chance to truly shine… and bring home some hardware from New York. The biggest problem the defending champs face is finding an image on defense. Yeah they’re young, but that excuse isn’t going to cut it when the BCS sorts out its bowl bids. LSU looms on October 6th. You’re going to have to grow up quick, kids.

Coming Up: Home vs. #22 Tennessee. The Vols are probably still looking to make amends after their season-opening loss to Cal, but they’re not going to do it against Florida this week. The Gators should roll in this game even if they can’t stop Tennessee’s offense. Tebow and Co. are just too much.

 
#6 – Texas Longhorns

Last Week: #19 TCU – Win, 34-13. What’s up with this team? Great – you held the allegedly deadly Horned Frogs offense to six total points, but where are those gaudy numbers Colt McCoy is supposed to be putting up? Are we experiencing McCoy’s sophomore slump? The latest Texas Wonder Boy threw two first-half interceptions and looked far from perfect for the second straight week, leading the Longhorns into the locker room down 10-0. Yeah Texas rebounded in the second half, and yeah the defense held TCU to two field goals, but let’s face it – this will NOT cut it against Oklahoma in four weeks. The Longhorns defense is supposed to be good year in an year out, but even they aren’t impressing anyone, giving up 650 yards of total offense to two very overmatched opponents. Yeah, I know it was the nineteenth team in the land, but still. Impress me, Texas. Can you do that?

Coming Up: At Central Florida. Think this is another patsy game? Think again – the Golden Knights just knocked off NC State at NC State. Yeah, I know it’s only NC State, but this was UCF’s first game of the season, and they pulled off a road victory against a BCS conference team. If the first two weeks of this season have taught us anything about unranked teams it’s that they should all be treated with respect. As sluggish as the Longhorns have looked in their first two games, this one could be dangerous.

 
#7 – Wisconsin Badgers

Last Week: UNLV – Win, 20-13. They eked out a win against traditional powerhouse UNLV? I mean come ON! What was that? Having to come from behind to score a touchdown with less than two minutes to go against the Runnin’ Rebels? How is this the seventh best team in all the land when their two wins have been nail-biters against garbage teams? In ‘Sconsins’ two games they’ve gone into the fourth quarter either trailing (this week) or up by only one score (last week against Wazoo). So what’s the excuse this week? Too much Las Vegas buffet? This is exactly the problem with ranking teams this early – there’s no way if the polls came out after the non-conference games were over that this Badgers team would be ranked seventh. It is just this kind of lackluster performance that makes the rest of the country think the Big TEleveN is overrated.

Coming Up: Creampuff Polytechnic, aka The Citadel. Little Known Fact #1: The Citadel is actually a Division I-A school. Little Known Fact #2: The Bulldogs actually have a football team. The Citadel is really a very impressive football team – they’re 2-0 and they’re averaging over 50 points per game in the young season, including a 76-0 shellacking of Webber International, fielding only its sixth football squad ever (their program started in 2002). Why do I include all of this information about Wisconsin’s opponent? So their 27-17 win next week looks that much more impressive, that’s why.

 
#8 – California Golden Bears

Last Week: Colorado State – Win, 34-28. Yet another top ten team barely wins this week. So what’s the excuse, Golden Bears? Still slightly hung over from your win over Tennessee? Yeah, yeah – you had your scrubs in during the fourth quarter after going up 34-14 and gave up a couple of touchdowns. That’s understandable to an extent. So what happened in the first half? Leading 17-14 at halftime against a team that just got beat by Colorado – what’s that all about? I know everyone’s all hyped up on the Cal bandwagon after their glorious victory over the Vols, but this was a terribly unimpressive win. You’ve got a couple of patsies between now and Oregon, Cal. Better get that figured out, because that spread offense trashed Michigan, and the Wolverines have better athletes than you.

Coming Up: Home vs. LA Tech. This is the same LA Tech that just hung 44 on Hawaii (yes, the Warriors are still ranked after that game), so maybe Cal was looking past CSU to these guys? I don’t know if that’s true, but what I do know is that if Duh Bears sleepwalk through another game like last week they may not be fortunate enough to escape with a win. You’re a top ten team, Cal! Play like it!

 
#9 – Louisville Cardinals

Last Week: Middle Tennessee State U – Win, 58-42. Pardon me a moment… sorry. Just had to double-check my glasses there. I must have been seeing things… uh… nope. Looks like Louisville really DID give up 42 points, at home, to a team that has only been in Div. I-A since 1999. That’s only two recruiting cycles, kids. And yet, this Cardinals team featuring Heisman candidate Brian Brohm had to constantly go back to the salt mines all four quarters just to survive against a Blue Raiders squad that just got spanked by Florida Atlantic the week before. Looking ahead to Kentucky, were we, Louisville? Pardon me for not drinking the Big East Kool-Aid after they’ve started the season a combined 14-2, but when your marquee teams are squeaking out wins against bottom-dwellers it’s hard to be impressed, thanks.

Coming Up: At Kentucky. Put it together. Got a defense? Show it. Otherwise make room up here for more deserving teams. You’re not Cinderella any more.

 
#10 – Ohio State Buckeyes

Last Week: Akron – Win, 20-2. Ordinarily it would be somewhat impressive for a team to put up ten times their opponent’s points, but when your opponent scores two points, it’s not so impressive. This makes three straight teams (Cal, Louisville & OSU) who have been terribly unimpressive but who still hang on to their top spots in the poll. Go figure. As for THE Ohio State University, the offense played uninspired ball for the second straight week, but at least the defense showed up to play. Fun Fact #1: Akron punted 14 times. Fun Fact #2: at one point The Zips went three-and-out a dozen times… in a row! Yeah, it was against a crappy team, but that’s still a pretty impressive level of concentration against a look-ahead foe. But the Buckeye offense was inept once again, with turnovers and failed drives the norm rather than the exception. Team Tressel has some work to do in the next few weeks. Think Michigan is irrelevant this year? Think again – the way this team is playing the Wolverines could easily shut them down on offense (yeah, I’m aware of the Michigan troubles on defense), and they have talent to spare on offense – enough to move the ball on the Ohio State defense. If (when) Wisconsin slips up, OSU needs to put themselves in a position to take advantage. They’re not showing that ability yet.

Coming Up: At Washington. This could very well be the game that knocks Ohio State from the ranks of the undefeated. Someone’s going to do it, Ty Willingham has his kids playing some sound fundamental football right now, and their defense shut down Boise State last week. On a side note, this will be the second of four straight games the Huskies play against teams ranked in Week Two – (formerly) #22 Boise State, #10 Ohio State, #11 UCLA, and finishing up with #1 USC. That’s a tough stretch.

 
The Rest of the Ranked:
#11. UCLA – yes, Bruins fans. One of these teams: Louisville, Wisconsin, or Ohio State, are taking up your rightful spot in the top ten. You’ll get your chance to prove you belong if you can spank These Two Utes and the Huskies in the next two weeks.
#12. Penn State – One game to go before you, too, get to tee off on the Wolverines. No looking ahead.
#13. Rutgers – Yet another Big East team fails to impress this week. Don’t get all excited, Scarlet Knights, that was a Service Academy. Go play someone real. Wait – you play in the Big East. Scratch that.
#14. Nebraska – Finally got back to the grown-up table again, have you Huskers? Don’t sit down, though – you’re just here to sniff the food. Keep it within 21 points and you may still be ranked when the smoke clears.
#15. Georgia Tech – You’re ranked 15th but you haven’t beaten anyone. There’s nothing impressive about beating Samford, and everyone is going to beat the Irish this year. Take care of BC this week and you belong.
#16. Arkansas – You may have Darren McFadden but Alabama has Nick Saban, and he has never, ever, ever lost a game he coached. Ever.
#17. South Carolina – Nice win against Georgia, Gamecocks. You’ve got about two weeks to enjoy it before LSU steals your milk money and knocks your books into the mud. In front of your girlfriend. On national TV.
#18. Virginia Tech – That was an ugly loss, guys. Don’t worry though – by the end of November nobody will remember that game. And you’ll be unranked.
#19. Oregon – How does a team earn a top-twenty ranking after beating up on two patsies?
#20. Clemson – You gave up 26 points to Louisiana-Monroe. Are you kidding me? Enjoy Furman and NC State, because you’ve got two straight losses coming after that.
#21. Boston College – Hope you enjoyed your time in the Top 25. Buh-bye now.
#22. Tennessee – I hope you enjoyed your three weeks of rankings. Florida is going to moosh you in The Swamp, though.
#23. Georgia – what happened to you? You follow up an impressive win against Okie State with that schlockfest? You’re lucky to be ranked, Bulldogs.
#24. Hawaii – I have four words for why this team is clinging to the Top 25: Colt. Brennan. Heisman. Candidate. Pollsters hate to admit they’re wrong. They’re wrong about the Warriors.
#25. Texas A&M – That was ugly, Aggies. You’re going 5-7 this year if you keep this up. South Florida called – they said, “Any field, anywhere, any time.” You should be afraid. Very afraid.

 
Heisman Hopefuls
In a couple of weeks I’ll start talking about guys who have a shot at the hardware.

 
Worth Noting
The story of the young football season has to be the combined 0-4 start of Michigan and Notre Dame. Michigan’s winless start is clearly the more shocking of the two traditional powerhouses, but Notre Dame, while obviously sliding the past few years, is nearly as stunning. With Chad Henne, Mike Hart, and Mario Manningham returning from last season’s BCS team, the Wolverines seemed like a sexy pick for a National Championship contender. Then it all came crashing down against Appalachian State, and what hope for the season that remained after that loss departed with their latest crushing defeat to Oregon. Michigan, how can you be this bad?

Notre Dame, where to begin? Yes, you’ve lost to two ranked teams. But you haven’t even looked competitive in either game. Where are those great Charlie Weis teams we were led to believe would begin churning out every season from South Bend? This is beyond bad, it’s just ugly.

And now these two underachieving teams square off in a game which, before the season began, seemed to have lots of exciting story lines. Now the only story line of note is that no matter the outcome of this game, these teams will be a combined 1-5 three weeks into the season, and irrelevant to the national picture for the remainder of the season.

For Michigan, at least, this is a shocking and woeful start to what Wolverines players, coaches and fans thought would be their first title run in ten years. The Rose Bowl is still a very attainable goal, and would go a long way towards fixing the ills of the 2007 season.

Lloyd Carr is gone. That seems like a foregone conclusion. But as bad as the Irish are, will the love affair with Charlie “The Genius” Weis fall by the wayside this year? It is quite possible that Notre Dame could begin the season 0-8, or at best 2-6, assuming they can find a way to beat Michigan, Michigan State, and/or Purdue.

In all my life I never thought I’d see the day when Notre Dame would have to even think about the concept of a winless season. But with the way things are going in South Bend, that would not be impossible.

The thing that the casual college football fan may not realize is that these awful seasons won’t go away after the Bowl Games. Programs like Michigan and Notre Dame view the college football landscape in terms of eras, not seasons. They have pride and tradition that date back to before World War I. They have long, long memories. Let’s hope these memories fade quicker than others.

While it is important to note that neither team deserves sympathy – they’ve earned their current positions – they do still deserve our respect. Both programs have far more import to the college football landscape than many of today’s powerhouses. We can poke fun at their current teams, but we have to give the programs and the fans who support them our continued respect.

Over the past 100 years, they’ve certainly earned it.

 
OK, kids. That’s it for this week. See you next week.

 
Lance Knapp is one of a growing number of volunteers who write for the Cafe. Lance is well known for his college football insight, and is quite famous with the ladies for what can only be described as a shocking resemblance to Brad Pitt. Lance posts under the name of knapplc.
 

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