Alabama Earns #1 in Blue Through and Through Top 25

Note:  When we list several unranked teams among a team's biggest wins (example TCU ), it isn't because they are big wins, but because those wins are simply their biggest victories and all of those wins are about the same in importance.

 Alabama's season-long performance earns the Crimson Tide the #1 spot in this week's Top 25.  Clemson had been the #1, but their biggest win has been over Notre Dame, which lost to Stanford yesterday.

All the other pollsters (except this one) had Michigan at #10 despite losses to Michigan State and Utah.  Ohio State showed the pollsters the error of their ways.  The pollsters looked silly in ranking Washington State, despite their loss to FBS Portland State, when Washington outclassed them 45-10.


#2-1 Alabama (11-1) flew by Auburn 29-13; Biggest Wins: #20 LSU 30-16, #21 Texas A&M 41-23, #23 Wisconsin 35-17, Mississippi State 31-6, and Georgia 38-10; Lost to #18 Mississippi 43-37
#1-2 Clemson (12-0) escaped with a 37-32 win over South Carolina; Biggest Wins: #8 Notre Dame 24-22 and #13 Florida State 23-13
#4-3 Iowa (12-0) tripped Nebraska 28-20; Biggest Wins: #7 Northwestern 40-10, #23 Wisconsin 10-6 and Pittsburgh 27-24
#8-4 Michigan State (11-1) blasted Penn State 55-16; Biggest Wins: #6 Ohio State, #19 Michigan 27-23 and Air Force 35-21; Lost to Nebraska 39-38


#7-5 Oklahoma (11-1) creamed #12 Oklahoma State 58-23; Biggest Wins: #10 Oklahoma State 58-23, #10 TCU 30-29 and #11 Baylor 44-34; lost to Texas 24-17 
#11-6 Ohio State (11-1) mashed #19 Michigan 42-13; Biggest Win: #19 Michigan 42-13; Lost to #4 Michigan State 17-14 
#12-7 Northwestern (10-2) downed Illinois 24-14; Biggest Wins: #8 Stanford 16-6 and #23 Wisconsin 13-7; Lost to #3 Iowa 40-10 and #19 Michigan 38-0  
#14-8 Stanford (9-2) beat #9 Notre Dame 38-36; Biggest Wins: #9 Notre Dame 38-36 and UCLA 56-35; Lost to #7 Northwestern 16-6 and Oregon 38-36 
#3-9 Notre Dame (10-2) lost to #8 Stanford 38-36; Biggest Wins: #22 Navy 41-24, #24 Temple 24-20 and Pittsburgh 42-30; Lost to #2 Clemson 24-22 and #8 Stanford 38-35 
#13-10 TCU (10-2) beat #11 Baylor 28-21 in two overtimes; Biggest Win: #11 Baylor 28-21; Lost to #5 Oklahoma 30-29 and #12 Oklahoma State 49-29
#9-11 Baylor (9-2) lost to #11 TCU 28-21 in two overtimes; Biggest Win: #10 Oklahoma State 45-35; Lost to #5 Oklahoma 44-34 and #10 TCU 28-21 





#10-12 Oklahoma State (10-2) was whipped by #5 Oklahoma 58-23; Biggest Win: #11 TCU 49-29; Lost to #5 Oklahoma 58-23 and #11 Baylor 45-35 



#19-13 Florida State (10-2) outclassed #17 Florida 27-2; Biggest Win: #17 Florida 27-2; Lost to #2 Clemson 23-13 and Georgia Tech 22-16 

 #15-14 Utah (9-2) got by Colorado 20-14; Biggest Win: #19 Michigan 24-17; Lost to USC 42-24 and Arizona 37-30  
#20-15 Houston (11-1) rocked #22 Navy 52-31; Biggest Win: 
Memphis 35-31; Lost to #22 Navy 52-31
#17-16 North Carolina (11-1) got by North Carolina State 45-34; Biggest Win: Pittsburgh 26-19; Lost to South Carolina 17-13 
#5-17 Florida (10-2) was manhandled 27-2 by #13 Florida State; Biggest Wins: #18 Mississippi 38-10 and Georgia 27-3; lost to #13 Florida State and #20 LSU 35-28 
#21-18 Mississippi (9-3) turned back Mississippi State 38-27; Biggest Wins: #1 Alabama 43-37, #20 LSU, #23 Texas A&M 23-3 and Mississippi State 38-27; Lost to #17 Florida 38-10, Memphis 37-24 and Arkansas 53-52 
#16-19 Michigan (9-3) fell to #8 Ohio State 42-13; Biggest Wins: #12 Northwestern 38-0 and BYU 31-0; Lost to #4 Michigan State 27-23, #6 Ohio State and #14 Utah 24-17 
#22-20 LSU (8-3) defeated Texas A&M 19-7; Biggest Wins: #17 Florida 35-28, #21 Texas A&M 19-7 and Mississippi State 21-19; Lost to #1 Alabama 30-16, #18 Mississippi and Arkansas 31-14
#23-21 Texas A&M (8-3) beat Vanderbilt 25-0; Biggest Win: Mississippi State 30-17; Lost to #1 Alabama 41-23, #18 Mississippi 23-3 and Auburn 26-10  
#6-22 Navy (9-2) lost to #15 Houston 52-31; Biggest Wins: Memphis 45-20 and Air Force 33-11; Lost to #9 Notre Dame 41-24 and #15 Houston 52-31
#25-23 Wisconsin (9-3) topped Minnesota 31-21; Biggest Win: Illinois 24-13; Lost to #1 Alabama 35-17, #3 Iowa 10-6 and #7 Northwestern 13-7 
#24-24 Temple (10-2) clipped Connecticut 27-3; Biggest Wins: Memphis 31-12 and Penn State 27-10; Lost to #9 Notre Dame 24-20 and South Florida 44-23 
Mississippi State (8-4) fell to #18 Mississippi 38-27; Biggest Win: Auburn 17-9; Lost to #1 Alabama 31-6, #18 Mississippi 38-27, #20 LSU 21-19 and #21 Texas A&M 30-17  












Dropped Out: Toledo



Also Considered:
Toledo (9-2) lost to Western Michigan 35-30; Biggest Win: Arkansas 16-12; Lost to Northern Illinois 32-27 and Western Michigan 35-30
Memphis (9-3) took it out on SMU 63-0; Biggest Win: #18 Mississippi 37-24; Lost to #15 Houston 35-31, #22 Navy 45-20 and #24 Temple 31-12 
UCLA (8-3) beat #14 Utah 17-9; Biggest Wins: #14 Utah 17-9 and BYU 24-23; Lost to #8 Stanford 56-35, Washington State 31-27 and Arizona State 38-23
Georgia (9-3) beat Georgia Tech 13-7; Biggest Win: Auburn 20-13; Lost to #1 Alabama 38-10, #17 Florida 27-3, and Tennessee 38-31BYU (9-3) blitzed Utah State 51-28; Biggest Win:Utah State 51-28 ; Lost to #19 Michigan 31-0, UCLA 24-23 and Missouri 20-16
Western Kentucky (10-2) slaughtered Marshall 49-28; Biggest Win: Marshall 49-28; Lost to #20 LSU 48-20 and Indiana 38-35
Oregon (9-3) got by Oregon State 52-42 ; Biggest Win:  #8 Stanford 38-36; Lost to #4 Michigan State 31-28, #14 Utah 62-20 and Washington State

Former Boise State Bronco Doug Martin Rushes for 235 Yards Vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Former Bronco running back Doug Martin ran for 235 yards Sunday in Tampa Bay's 45-17 win over Philadelphia.

It was the second 200-yard performance of Martin's brief NFL career, having topped the mark during his rookie season against the Oakland Raiders. Martin's 235 yards is the most of any NFL running back this season.

Cream Rising to the Top in Blue Through and Through Top 25

Note:  When we list several unranked teams among a team's biggest wins (example TCU ), it isn't because they are big wins, but because those wins are simply their biggest victories and all of those wins are about the same in importance.

All the other pollsters (except this one), which had Ohio State #1 all season long and even now rank them #3, were shocked with the Buckeye loss to Michigan State.  We were not, since Ohio State's biggest win still is the one over Penn State. 



#1-1 Clemson (11-0) clipped Wake Forest 33-13; Biggest Wins: #3 Notre Dame 24-22 and #19 Florida State 23-13
#2-2 Alabama (10-1) creamed Charleston Southern 56-6; Biggest Wins: #22 LSU 30-16, #23 Texas A&M 41-23, #25 Wisconsin 35-17, Mississippi State 31-6, and Georgia 38-10; Lost to #21 Mississippi 43-37
#3-3 Notre Dame (10-1) survived Boston College 19-16; Biggest Wins: #6 Navy 41-24, #24 Temple 24-20 and Pittsburgh 42-30; Lost to #1 Clemson 24-22
#4-4 Iowa (11-0) rocked Purdue 40-20; Biggest Wins: #12 Northwestern 40-10, #25 Wisconsin 10-6 and Pittsburgh 27-24
#6-5 Florida (10-1) beat Florida Atlantic 20-14 in overtime; Biggest Wins: #21 Mississippi 38-10 and Georgia 27-3; lost to #22 LSU 35-28
#9-6 Navy (9-1) took care of Tulsa 44-21; Biggest Wins: Memphis 45-20 and Air Force 33-11; Lost to #3 Notre Dame 41-24  
#13-7 Oklahoma (10-1) beat #13 TCU 30-29; Biggest Wins: #9 Baylor 44-34 and #13 TCU 30-29; lost to Texas 24-17 
#10-8 Michigan State (10-1) edged #11 Ohio State 17-14; Biggest Wins: #11 Ohio State, #16 Michigan 27-23 and Air Force 35-21; Lost to Nebraska 39-38 
#14-9 Baylor (9-1) downed #10 Oklahoma State 45-35; Biggest Win: #10 Oklahoma State 45-35; Lost to #7 Oklahoma 44-34 

#5-10 Oklahoma State (10-1) lost to #9 Baylor 45-35; Biggest Win: #13 TCU 49-29; Lost to #9 Baylor 45-35 





#7-11 Ohio State (10-1) lost to #8 Michigan State 17-14; Biggest Win: Penn State 38-10; Lost to #8 Michigan State 17-14 
#17-12 Northwestern (9-2) tripped #25 Wisconsin 13-7; Biggest Wins: #14 Stanford 16-6 and #25 Wisconsin 13-7; Lost to #4 Iowa 40-10 and #16 Michigan 38-0 

#12-13 TCU (9-2) lost to #7 Oklahoma 30-29; Biggest Wins: Texas Tech 55-52, Kansas State 52-45 and West Virginia 40-10; Lost to #7 Oklahoma 30-29 and #10 Oklahoma State 49-29 


#20-14 Stanford (8-2) turned back California 35-22; Biggest Win: UCLA 56-35; Lost to #12 Northwestern 16-6 and Oregon 38-36 
 #15-15 Utah (8-2) lost to Arizona 37-30 in two overtimes; Biggest Win: #16 Michigan 24-17; Lost to USC 42-24 and Arizona 37-30   

#16-16 Michigan (9-2) downed Penn State 28-16; Biggest Wins: #12 Northwestern 38-0 and BYU 31-0; Lost to #8 Michigan State 27-23 and #15 Utah 24-17  


#21-17 North Carolina (10-1) tipped Virginia Tech 30-27 in OT; Biggest Win: Pittsburgh 26-19; Lost to South Carolina 17-13
#22-18 Toledo (9-1) rolled past Bowling Green 44-28; Biggest Win: Arkansas 16-12; Lost to Northern Illinois 32-27
#23-19 Florida State (9-2) ripped Chattanooga 52-13; Biggest Win: Miami of Florida 29-24; Lost to #1 Clemson 23-13 and Georgia Tech 22-16
#11-20 Houston (10-1) fell to Connecticut 20-17; Biggest Win: Memphis 35-31; Lost to Connecticut 20-17  

#24-21 Mississippi (7-3) beat #22 LSU 38-17; Biggest Wins: #2 Alabama 43-37, #22 LSU and #23 Texas A&M 23-3; Lost to #5 Florida 38-10, Memphis 37-24 and Arkansas 53-52
#8-22 LSU (7-3) lost to #21 Mississippi 38-17; Biggest Wins: #5 Florida 35-28 and Mississippi State 21-19; Lost to #2 Alabama 30-16, #21 Mississippi and Arkansas 31-14
#25-23 Texas A&M (8-3) beat Vanderbilt 25-0; Biggest Win: Mississippi State 30-17; Lost to #2 Alabama 41-23, #21 Mississippi 23-3 and Auburn 26-10
------24 Temple (9-2) handed Memphis a 31-12 setback; Biggest Wins: Memphis 31-12 and Penn State 27-10; Lost to #3 Notre Dame 24-20 and South Florida 44-23
#19-25 Wisconsin (8-3) lost to #12 Northwestern 13-7; Biggest Win: Illinois 24-13; Lost to #2 Alabama 35-17, #4 Iowa 10-6 and #12 Northwestern 13-7


Dropped Out: Memphis





Also Considered:


Mississippi State (8-3) edged Arkansas 51-50; Biggest Win: Auburn 17-9; Lost to #2 Alabama 31-6, #22 LSU 21-19 and #23 Texas A&M 30-17 

Memphis (8-3) lost its third straight, this time to #24 Temple, 35-12; Biggest Win: #21 Mississippi 37-24; Lost to #6 Navy 45-20, #20 Houston 35-31 and #25 Temple 31-12
UCLA (8-3) beat #15 Utah 17-9; Biggest Wins: #15 Utah 17-9 and BYU 24-23; Lost to #14 Stanford 56-35, Washington State 31-27 and Arizona State 38-23
Pittsburgh (8-3) defeated Louisville 45-34; Biggest Win: Duke 31-13; Lost to #3 Notre Dame 42-30, #4 Iowa 27-24 and North Carolina 26-19
BYU (8-3) took care of Fresno State 52-10; Biggest Win: Boise State 35-24; Lost to #16 Michigan 31-0, UCLA 24-23 and Missouri 20-16
Air Force (8-3) held off Boise State 37-30; Biggest Wins: San Jose State 30-16 and Utah State 35-28; Lost to #6 Navy 33-11, #8 Michigan State 35-21, and Colorado State 38-23

Georgia (8-3) escaped with a 23-17 win in overtime over Georgia Southern; Biggest Win: Auburn 20-13; Lost to #2 Alabama 38-10, #6 Florida 27-3, and Tennessee 38-31
Western Kentucky (9-2) obliterated Florida International 63-7; Biggest Win: Vanderbilt 14-12; Lost to #22 LSU 48-20 and Indiana 38-35