You can tell a good Top 25 ranking when the teams don't move much, especially late in the year--it means the teams are generally ranked where they should be. The Coaches and AP Polls both had Arkansas ranked ahead of Auburn, unlike this ranking. Since Auburn trounced the Hogs 56-3, it's pretty obvious that Arkansas isn't better than Auburn.
The other key question of the week is: will the major polls continue to rank a four-loss Mississippi? This ranking didn't even consider them last week and hasn't had them in the Top 25 for several weeks, for good reason.
Very close between #1 and #2. Alabama has the biggest win (over #4 Texas A&M), but Clemson has three wins over Top 25 teams. The Tide gets the nod with bigger wins over Top 25 teams; Clemson's three wins were all tight.
Yet another measure of a good ranking--the major polls had Ohio State as their #2 team. This ranking had them #4. The loss to Penn State very well could be an upset, but going in, there was no reason to have them #2; they had less going for them than Alabama, Clemson and Texas A&M and the loss to Penn State proved that.
Washington continued to fall as their biggest win (Stanford) continues to look less and less impressive. Oklahoma has a similar story, as their loss to Houston looks worse in hindsight.
The other key question of the week is: will the major polls continue to rank a four-loss Mississippi? This ranking didn't even consider them last week and hasn't had them in the Top 25 for several weeks, for good reason.
Very close between #1 and #2. Alabama has the biggest win (over #4 Texas A&M), but Clemson has three wins over Top 25 teams. The Tide gets the nod with bigger wins over Top 25 teams; Clemson's three wins were all tight.
Yet another measure of a good ranking--the major polls had Ohio State as their #2 team. This ranking had them #4. The loss to Penn State very well could be an upset, but going in, there was no reason to have them #2; they had less going for them than Alabama, Clemson and Texas A&M and the loss to Penn State proved that.
Washington continued to fall as their biggest win (Stanford) continues to look less and less impressive. Oklahoma has a similar story, as their loss to Houston looks worse in hindsight.
(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.
The "Biggest Win" refers to the highest-ranked win; generally, only ranked teams and teams being considered are listed. Sometimes, as in the case of Western Michigan, they don't have a win over teams in these rankings, and it is unknown at this time which of their listed wins is the biggest.)
3-1 Alabama (7-0) bounced #4 Texas A&M 33-14; Biggest Wins: #4 Texas A&M 33-14, #12 Tennessee 49-10 and Arkansas 49-30
1-2 Clemson (7-0) did not play; Biggest Wins: #5 Louisville 42-36, #13 Auburn 19-13 and #18 Troy 30-24
5-3 Michigan (7-0) blasted Illinois 41-8; Biggest Wins: #15 Wisconsin 14-7, Colorado 45-28 and Penn State 49-10
2-4 Texas A&M (6-1) lost to #1 Alabama 33-14; Biggest Wins: #12 Tennessee 45-38 in two overtimes, #13 Auburn 29-16 and Arkansas 45-24; Lost to #1 Alabama 33-14
6-5 Louisville (6-1) thrashed North Carolina State 54-13; Biggest Win: #23 Florida State 63-20; Lost to #2 Clemson 42-36
7-6 Boise State (7-0) edged BYU 28-27; Biggest Win: Washington State 31-28
10-7 Baylor (6-0) did not play; Biggest Win: Oklahoma State 35-24
12-8 West Virginia (6-0) stopped TCU 34-10; Biggest Win: TCU 34-10
11-9 Nebraska (7-0) came back to beat Purdue 27-14; Biggest Win: Wyoming 52-17
8-10 Washington (7-0) crushed Oregon State 41-17; Biggest Win: Stanford 44-6
9-11 Western Michigan (8-0) turned back Eastern Michigan 45-31; Biggest Win: Northwestern 22-21 and Central Michigan 49-10
16-12 Tennessee (5-2) did not play; Biggest Wins: #16 Florida 38-28 and #21 Virginia Tech 45-24; lost to #1 Alabama 49-10 and #4 Texas A&M 45-38 in 2 OT's
13-13 Auburn (5-2) annihilated Arkansas 56-3; Biggest Wins: #19 LSU 18-13 and Arkansas 56-3; Lost to #2 Clemson 19-13 and #4 Texas A&M 29-16
4-14 Ohio State (6-1) lost to Penn State 24-21; Biggest Wins: #15 Wisconsin 30-23 in overtime and #25 Oklahoma 45-24; Lost to Penn State 24-21
14-15 Wisconsin (5-2) downed Iowa 17-9; Biggest Win: #19 LSU 16-14; Lost to #3 Michigan 14-7 and #14 Ohio State 30-23 in overtime
17-16 Florida (5-1) was idle; Biggest Win: Kentucky 45-7; Lost to #12 Tennessee 38-28
18-17 Navy (5-1) took care of Memphis 42-28: Biggest Wins: #24 Houston 45-40 and Memphis 42-28; Lost to Air Force 28-14
20-18 Troy (6-1) beat South Alabama 28-21; Biggest Win: Southern Mississippi 37-31; Lost to #2 Clemson 30-24
22-19 LSU (4-2) ripped Mississippi 38-21; Biggest Wins: Mississippi 38-21 and Southern Mississippi 45-10; Lost to #13 Auburn 18-13 and #15 Wisconsin 16-14
23-20 Utah (7-1) outlasted UCLA 52-45; Biggest Win: USC 31-27; Lost to California 28-23
-----21 Virginia Tech (5-2); blasted Miami of Florida 37-16; Biggest Wins: #22 North Carolina 34-3 and Miami of Florida 37-16; Lost to #12 Tennessee 45-24 and Syracuse 31-17
-----22 North Carolina (6-2) routed Virginia 35-14; Biggest Wins: #23 Florida State 37-35, Miami of Florida 20-13 and Pittsburgh 37-36; Lost to #21 Virginia Tech 34-3 and Georgia 33-24
-----23 Florida State (5-2) was idle; Biggest Wins: Miami of Florida 20-19 and Wake Forest 17-6; Lost to #5 Louisville 63-20 and #22 North Carolina 37-35
19-24 Houston (6-2) lost to SMU 38-16; Biggest Win: #25 Oklahoma 33-23; Lost to #17 Navy 45-40 and SMU 38-16
The "Biggest Win" refers to the highest-ranked win; generally, only ranked teams and teams being considered are listed. Sometimes, as in the case of Western Michigan, they don't have a win over teams in these rankings, and it is unknown at this time which of their listed wins is the biggest.)
3-1 Alabama (7-0) bounced #4 Texas A&M 33-14; Biggest Wins: #4 Texas A&M 33-14, #12 Tennessee 49-10 and Arkansas 49-30
1-2 Clemson (7-0) did not play; Biggest Wins: #5 Louisville 42-36, #13 Auburn 19-13 and #18 Troy 30-24
5-3 Michigan (7-0) blasted Illinois 41-8; Biggest Wins: #15 Wisconsin 14-7, Colorado 45-28 and Penn State 49-10
2-4 Texas A&M (6-1) lost to #1 Alabama 33-14; Biggest Wins: #12 Tennessee 45-38 in two overtimes, #13 Auburn 29-16 and Arkansas 45-24; Lost to #1 Alabama 33-14
6-5 Louisville (6-1) thrashed North Carolina State 54-13; Biggest Win: #23 Florida State 63-20; Lost to #2 Clemson 42-36
7-6 Boise State (7-0) edged BYU 28-27; Biggest Win: Washington State 31-28
10-7 Baylor (6-0) did not play; Biggest Win: Oklahoma State 35-24
12-8 West Virginia (6-0) stopped TCU 34-10; Biggest Win: TCU 34-10
11-9 Nebraska (7-0) came back to beat Purdue 27-14; Biggest Win: Wyoming 52-17
8-10 Washington (7-0) crushed Oregon State 41-17; Biggest Win: Stanford 44-6
9-11 Western Michigan (8-0) turned back Eastern Michigan 45-31; Biggest Win: Northwestern 22-21 and Central Michigan 49-10
16-12 Tennessee (5-2) did not play; Biggest Wins: #16 Florida 38-28 and #21 Virginia Tech 45-24; lost to #1 Alabama 49-10 and #4 Texas A&M 45-38 in 2 OT's
13-13 Auburn (5-2) annihilated Arkansas 56-3; Biggest Wins: #19 LSU 18-13 and Arkansas 56-3; Lost to #2 Clemson 19-13 and #4 Texas A&M 29-16
4-14 Ohio State (6-1) lost to Penn State 24-21; Biggest Wins: #15 Wisconsin 30-23 in overtime and #25 Oklahoma 45-24; Lost to Penn State 24-21
14-15 Wisconsin (5-2) downed Iowa 17-9; Biggest Win: #19 LSU 16-14; Lost to #3 Michigan 14-7 and #14 Ohio State 30-23 in overtime
17-16 Florida (5-1) was idle; Biggest Win: Kentucky 45-7; Lost to #12 Tennessee 38-28
18-17 Navy (5-1) took care of Memphis 42-28: Biggest Wins: #24 Houston 45-40 and Memphis 42-28; Lost to Air Force 28-14
20-18 Troy (6-1) beat South Alabama 28-21; Biggest Win: Southern Mississippi 37-31; Lost to #2 Clemson 30-24
22-19 LSU (4-2) ripped Mississippi 38-21; Biggest Wins: Mississippi 38-21 and Southern Mississippi 45-10; Lost to #13 Auburn 18-13 and #15 Wisconsin 16-14
23-20 Utah (7-1) outlasted UCLA 52-45; Biggest Win: USC 31-27; Lost to California 28-23
-----21 Virginia Tech (5-2); blasted Miami of Florida 37-16; Biggest Wins: #22 North Carolina 34-3 and Miami of Florida 37-16; Lost to #12 Tennessee 45-24 and Syracuse 31-17
-----22 North Carolina (6-2) routed Virginia 35-14; Biggest Wins: #23 Florida State 37-35, Miami of Florida 20-13 and Pittsburgh 37-36; Lost to #21 Virginia Tech 34-3 and Georgia 33-24
-----23 Florida State (5-2) was idle; Biggest Wins: Miami of Florida 20-19 and Wake Forest 17-6; Lost to #5 Louisville 63-20 and #22 North Carolina 37-35
19-24 Houston (6-2) lost to SMU 38-16; Biggest Win: #25 Oklahoma 33-23; Lost to #17 Navy 45-40 and SMU 38-16
21-25 Oklahoma (5-2) outpointed Texas Tech 66-59: Biggest Win: TCU 52-46; Lost to #14 Ohio State 45-24 and #24 Houston 33-23
Dropped Out: TCU, Memphis, Arkansas
Also Considered:
Arkansas (5-3) lost to #13 Auburn 56-3; Biggest Win: TCU 41-38; Lost to #1 Alabama 49-30, #4 Texas A&M 45-24, and #13 Auburn 56-3
Miami of Florida (4-3) lost to North Carolina 20-13; Biggest Win: Georgia Tech 35-21 and Appalachian State 45-10; Lost to #21 Virginia Tech 37-16, #22 North Carolina 20-13 and #23 Florida State 37-35
Colorado (6-2) outscored Stanford 10-5; Biggest Win: Arizona State 40-16; Lost to #3 Michigan 45-28 and USC 21-17
Memphis (5-2) lost to #17 Navy 42-28; Biggest Win: Kansas 43-7; Lost to #17 Navy 42-28 and Mississippi 48-28
Washington State (5-2) held off Arizona State 37-32; Biggest Win: Arizona State 37-32; Lost to #6 Boise State 31-28 and Eastern Washington 45-42
Toledo (6-1) defeated Central Michigan 31-17; Biggest Win: Central Michigan 31-17 and Eastern Michigan 35-20; Lost to BYU 55-53
Oklahoma State (5-2) rocked Kansas 44-20; Biggest Win: Pittsburgh 45-38; Lost to #7 Baylor 35-24 and Central Michigan 30-27
Pittsburgh (5-2) did not play; Biggest Win: Penn State 42-39; Lost to #22 North Carolina 37-36 and Oklahoma State 45-38
Penn State (5-2) upset #14 Ohio State 24-21; Biggest Win: #14 Ohio State 24-21; Lost to #3 Michigan 49-10 and Pittsburgh 42-39
Wake Forest (5-2) did not play; Biggest Wins: Indiana 33-28 and Duke 24-14; Lost to #23 Florida State 17-6 and North Carolina State 33-16
Arkansas (5-3) lost to #13 Auburn 56-3; Biggest Win: TCU 41-38; Lost to #1 Alabama 49-30, #4 Texas A&M 45-24, and #13 Auburn 56-3
Miami of Florida (4-3) lost to North Carolina 20-13; Biggest Win: Georgia Tech 35-21 and Appalachian State 45-10; Lost to #21 Virginia Tech 37-16, #22 North Carolina 20-13 and #23 Florida State 37-35
Colorado (6-2) outscored Stanford 10-5; Biggest Win: Arizona State 40-16; Lost to #3 Michigan 45-28 and USC 21-17
Memphis (5-2) lost to #17 Navy 42-28; Biggest Win: Kansas 43-7; Lost to #17 Navy 42-28 and Mississippi 48-28
Washington State (5-2) held off Arizona State 37-32; Biggest Win: Arizona State 37-32; Lost to #6 Boise State 31-28 and Eastern Washington 45-42
Toledo (6-1) defeated Central Michigan 31-17; Biggest Win: Central Michigan 31-17 and Eastern Michigan 35-20; Lost to BYU 55-53
Oklahoma State (5-2) rocked Kansas 44-20; Biggest Win: Pittsburgh 45-38; Lost to #7 Baylor 35-24 and Central Michigan 30-27
Pittsburgh (5-2) did not play; Biggest Win: Penn State 42-39; Lost to #22 North Carolina 37-36 and Oklahoma State 45-38
Penn State (5-2) upset #14 Ohio State 24-21; Biggest Win: #14 Ohio State 24-21; Lost to #3 Michigan 49-10 and Pittsburgh 42-39
Wake Forest (5-2) did not play; Biggest Wins: Indiana 33-28 and Duke 24-14; Lost to #23 Florida State 17-6 and North Carolina State 33-16
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