Blue Through and Through Rankings--Week Four

We debuted our Top 25 last week, though the rankings won't settle down for a couple more weeks.  Of note, our #1 pick last week, Wisconsin, the #11 choice of the other media in the nation, demolished the media's #8 team, Michigan State.  While the Badgers take a hit because of LSU's loss, they gained with the win over the Spartans.  Still, A&M's win over Arkansas is the biggest win of the year and they vault to #1.

(Note:  the rankings are based on logic rather than hype or potential.  Teams with the same record are judged by their biggest wins and their losses, if any.  Impressive wins over Top 25 teams are more important than other wins, and losses to Top 25 teams hurt far less than other losses.)


3-1     Texas A&M (4-0) tamed #14 Arkansas 45-24; Biggest Win: #14 Arkansas 45-24
1-2     Wisconsin (4-0) whipped #15 Michigan State 30-6; Biggest Win:  #15 Michigan State 30-6
2-3     Louisville (4-0) whipped Marshall 59-28; Biggest Win: #17 Florida State 63-20
19-4   Tennessee (4-0) toppled #22 Florida 38-28; Biggest Wins: #22 Florida 38-28 and Virginia Tech 45-24
15-5   Stanford (3-0) put the game away in the final seconds to top UCLA 22-13; Biggest Wins:  USC 27-10 and UCLA 22-13
8-6     Houston (4-0) humiliated Texas State 64-3; Biggest Win: Cincinnati 40-16

7-7     Ohio State (3-0) did not play; Biggest Win: Oklahoma 45-24

10-8   Alabama (4-0) annihilated Kent State 48-0; Biggest Win: Mississippi 48-43

4-9     San Diego State (3-0) was idle this week; Biggest Win: California 45-40

9-10   Clemson (4-0) topped Georgia Tech 26-7; Biggest Win: Auburn 19-13
---11  Baylor (3-0) bounced Oklahoma State 35-24; Biggest Win: Oklahoma State 35-24
16-12 Michigan (4-0) punished Penn State 49-10; Biggest Win: Colorado 45-28

11-13 Nebraska (4-0) beat Northwestern 24-13; Biggest Win: Oregon 35-32
5-14   Arkansas (3-1) lost to #1 Texas A&M 45-24; Biggest Win: #20 TCU 41-38; Lost to #1 Texas A&M 45-24
13-15 Michigan State (2-1) was humbled by #2 Wisconsin 30-6; Biggest Win: Notre Dame 36-28; Lost to #2 Wisconsin 30-6
20-16 Utah (4-0) squeaked by USC 31-27; Biggest Wins: BYU 20-19 and USC 31-27
17-17 Florida State (3-1) outpointed South Florida 55-35; Biggest Win: Mississippi 45-34, Lost to #3 Louisville 63-20
----18 Arizona State (3-0) turned back California 51-41; Biggest Win:  California 51-41
----19 Washington (3-0) survived Arizona 35-28; Biggest Win: Arizona 35-28
22-20 TCU (3-1) trounced SMU 33-3; Biggest Win: Iowa State 41-20, Lost to #14 Arkansas 41-38
25-21 Western Michigan (4-0) took care of Georgia Southern 49-31; Biggest Wins: Northwestern 22-21 and Illinois 34-10
18-22 Florida (3-1) lost to #4 Tennessee 38-28; Biggest Win: Kentucky 45-7; Lost to #4 Tennessee 38-28
----23  Boise State (3-0) scored a 38-24 win over Oregon State; Biggest Wins: Washington State 31-28 and Oregon State 38-24
----24 West Virginia (3-0) beat BYU 35-32; Biggest Wins: Missouri 26-11 and BYU 35-32
----25 Memphis (3-0) crushed Bowling Green 77-3; Biggest Win: Kansas 43-7

Dropped Out:  LSU, UCLA, Central Michigan, North Carolina, California, Georgia

Also Considered:
Colorado (3-1) beat Oregon 41-38; Biggest Win:  Oregon 41-38; Lost to #12 Michigan 45-28
Wake Forest (3-0) beat Indiana 33-28; Biggest Win:  Duke 24-14
Georgia (3-1) fell hard to Mississippi 45-14; Biggest Win: North Carolina 33-24; Lost to Mississippi 45-14
North Carolina (3-1) edged Pittsburgh 37-36; Biggest Win: Pittsburgh 37-36, Lost to Georgia 33-24
Toledo (3-0) did not play; Biggest Win: Arkansas State 31-10
Cincinnati (3-1) beat Miami of Ohio 27-20; Biggest Win:  Purdue 38-20; Lost to #6 Houston 40-16

Miami of Florida (3-0) did not play; Biggest Win: Appalachian State 45-10
Minnesota (3-0) clipped Colorado State 31-24; Biggest Win:  Oregon State 30-23
Virginia Tech (2-1); was victorious over East Carolina 54-17; Biggest Win:  East Carolina 54-17; Lost to #4 Tennessee 45-24
Air Force (3-0) beat Utah State 27-20; Biggest Win:  Utah State 27-20
Maryland (3-0) was idle; Biggest Win:  Central Florida 30-24
South Florida (3-1) lost to #17 Florida State 55-35; Biggest Win: Syracuse 45-20; Lost to #17 Florida State 55-35
Texas (2-1) did not play; Biggest Win: Notre Dame 50-47 in OT, Lost to California 50-43
Central Michigan (3-1) lost to Virginia 45-35; Biggest Win: Oklahoma State 30-27; Lost to Virginia 45-35
Minnesota (3-0) downed Colorado State 31-24; Biggest Win:  Oregon State 30-23
Navy (3-0) was idle; Biggest Win:  Connecticut 28-24