Blue Through and Through Top 25

Note:  When we list several unranked teams among a team's biggest wins (example TCU and Oklahoma State), 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.

In this year of parity, Miami of Florida was the only team this week to score a Top 25 win (over Duke), and now Duke is no longer in the Top 25.  Those pollsters who were surprised by Florida's 27-3 win over their #23 team Georgia didn't realize that Florida should be #2.

Many of the top teams were idle this week, leading to little movement.  Iowa and Ohio State jumped ahead of both Baylor and TCU as those two teams are hurt by the Big 12's conference strength.  Iowa has now beaten two teams in the Top 25.  Ohio State's win over Penn State is now more impressive than the biggest win for Baylor and TCU.  Texas Tech, still the biggest win for both Baylor and TCU, lost to Oklahoma State for the Red Raiders' fourth loss of the year.

Pollsters who have Stanford ranked high and do not rank Northwestern forgot that Northwestern defeated the Cardinal.  While Stanford should be ranked higher because of one less loss, the difference between the two teams should not be much.

Most of the nation's pollsters were surprised when North Carolina beat one of their "top 25 teams", Pittsburgh.  We were not, as Pittsburgh has not been ranked this season.  We did have both teams in the "other teams considered" list.  The pollsters will now have to admit they were wrong and drop Pitt from their top 25 lists.

Navy's biggest win is now over Air Force, as the Falcons have surpassed East Carolina as Navy's toughest opponent.

#1-1 LSU (7-0) did not play; Biggest Wins:  #2 Florida 35-28 and #21 Mississippi State 21-19

#2-2 Florida (7-1) ripped Georgia 27-3; Biggest Wins: #11 Mississippi 38-10 and Georgia 27-3; lost to #1 LSU 35-28
#3-3  Michigan State (8-0) was idle this week; Biggest Win: #14 Michigan 27-23  
#4-4 Memphis (8-0) took care of Tulane 41-13; Biggest Win: #11 Mississippi 37-24
#5-5 Clemson (8-0) outlasted North Carolina State 56-41; Biggest Win: #15 Notre Dame 24-22

#6-6 Alabama (7-1) did not play; Biggest Wins:  #17 Texas A&M 41-23, #24 Wisconsin 35-17 and Georgia 38-10; Lost to #11 Mississippi 43-37
#9-7  Iowa (8-0) turned back Maryland 31-15; Biggest Wins:  #18 Northwestern 40-10, #24 Wisconsin 10-6 and Pittsburgh 27-24 
#10-8  Ohio State (8-0) did not play; Biggest Win: Penn State 38-10
#7-9 Baylor (7-0) was idle; Biggest Wins: Texas Tech 63-35 and West Virginia 62-38
#8-10 TCU (8-0) blew away West Virginia 40-10; Biggest Wins:  Texas Tech 55-52, Kansas State 52-45 and West Virginia 40-10

#11-11   Mississippi (7-2) got by Auburn 27-19; Biggest Wins:  #6 Alabama 43-37 and #17 Texas A&M 23-3; Lost to #2 Florida 38-10 and #4 Memphis 37-24
#13-12 Oklahoma State (8-0) came from behind to beat Texas Tech 70-53; Biggest Wins: Texas Tech 70-53, Kansas State 36-34, West Virginia 33-26 in overtime
#12-13   Utah (7-1) frustrated Oregon State 27-12;  Biggest Wins:  #14 Michigan 24-17 and California 30-24; Lost to USC 42-24
#14-14   Michigan (6-2) pulled out a 29-26 win over Minnesota; Biggest Win:  #18 Northwestern 38-0; Lost to #3 Michigan State 27-23 and #13 Utah 24-17

#15-15  Notre Dame (7-1) struggled to a 24-20 win over #22 Temple; Biggest Wins:  #22 Temple 24-20 and Navy 41-24; Lost to #5 Clemson 24-22
#16-16 Stanford (7-1) pulled out a 30-27 win over Washington State; Biggest Win: #25 UCLA 56-35; Lost to #18 Northwestern 16-6
#17-17 Texas A&M (6-2) downed South Carolina 35-28; Biggest Win: #21 Mississippi State 30-17; Lost to #6 Alabama 41-23 and #11 Mississippi 23-3
#19-18  Northwestern (6-2) was idle; Biggest Wins:  #16 Stanford 16-6 and Duke 19-10; Lost to #7 Iowa 40-10 and #14 Michigan 38-0
20-19 Toledo (7-0) did not play; Biggest Win: Arkansas 16-12
24-20 Houston (8-0) shut out Vanderbilt 34-0; Biggest Wins: Vanderbilt 34-0 and Louisville 34-31
21-21 Mississippi State (6-2) was idle; Biggest Win: Auburn 17-9; Lost to #1 LSU 21-19 and #17 Texas A&M 30-17 
#18-22 Temple (7-1) lost to #15 Notre Dame 24-20; Biggest Win: Penn State 27-10; Lost to #15 Notre Dame 24-20
#23-23 Florida State (7-1) took it out on Syracuse 45-21; Biggest Win: Miami of Florida 29-24; Lost to Georgia Tech 22-16
------24 Wisconsin (7-2) bombed Rutgers 48-10; Biggest Win: Illinois 24-13; Lost to #6 Alabama 35-17 and #7 Iowa 10-6

#25-25 UCLA (6-2) edged Colorado 35-31; Biggest Win:  California 40-22; Lost to #16 Stanford 56-35 and Arizona State 38-23

Dropped Out:  Duke

Also Considered:

Oklahoma (7-1) crushed winless Kansas 62-7; Biggest Win:  Texas Tech 63-27; lost to Texas 24-17
BYU (6-2) did not play; Biggest Win:  Boise State 35-24; Lost to #14 Michigan 31-0 and #25 UCLA 24-23

Navy (6-1) came from behind to beat South Florida 27-19; Biggest Win: Air Force 33-11; Lost to #15 Notre Dame 41-24
Penn State (7-2) blanked Illinois 39-0; Biggest Win:  Indiana; Lost to #10 Ohio State 38-10 and #18 Temple 27-10
Boise State (7-2) ran away from UNLV 55-27; Biggest Win: Washington 16-13; Lost to BYU 35-24 and Utah State 52-26
USC (5-3) beat California 27-21; Biggest Wins:  Utah 42-24 and California; Lost to #15 Nore Dame 41-31, #16 Stanford 41-31 and Washington 17-12
North Carolina (7-1) defeated Pittsburgh 26-19; Biggest Win:  Pittsburgh 26-19; Lost to South Carolina 17-13
California (5-3) lost to USC 27-21; Biggest Win: Washington 30-24; Lost to #12 Utah 30-24, #25 UCLA 40-22 and USC 27-21
Pittsburgh (6-2) fell to North Carolina 26-19; Biggest Win:  Virginia Tech 17-13; Lost to #9 Iowa 27-24 and North Carolina 26-19
Georgia (5-3) fell to #2 Florida 27-3; Biggest Win: Vanderbilt 31-14; Lost to #2 Florida 27-3, #6 Alabama 38-10 and Tennessee 38-31
Appalachian State (7-1) beat Troy 44-41 in three overtimes; Biggest Win:  Georgia Southern 31-13; Lost to #5 Clemson 41-10
Duke (6-2) lost to Miami of Florida 30-27; Biggest Win: Virginia Tech 45-43; Lost to #19 Northwestern 19-10 and Miami of Florida 30-27
Western Kentucky (7-2) trounced Old Dominion 55-30; Biggest Win:  Vanderbilt 14-12; Lost to #1 LSU 48-20 and Indiana 38-35

Marshall (8-1) thwarted Charlotte 34-10; Biggest Win:  Purdue 41-31; Lost to Ohio 21-10

Boise State Edges From 30-28 in Sagarin

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sagarin/

Broncos Have Record Day in 55-27 Win Over UNLV

LAS VEGAS--Quarterback Brett Rypien threw for a freshman school record 469 yards as Boise State put away a pesky UNLV this afternoon 55-27.

Rypien three two touchdown passes and caught another on a pass from Thomas Sperbeck to lead the Broncos to their seventh win of the season against just two defeats. More importantly, the Broncos remained tied atop the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference with a 4-1 league mark. Offensive Coordinator Eliah Drinkwitz presided over a Bronco unit that recorded 705 yards against the Rebels, who fell to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in conference.

With the win, Boise State achieved their 17th consecutive season with seven or more wins tying the most successful eras of all-time for Miami of Florida (1980-1996), Notre Dame (1964-1980)and Penn State (1967-1983). See the table at the bottom of this article.

Safety Darian Thompson, who earlier in the week was named as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, had an acrobatic interception in the fourth quarter to give Thompson 19 for his Boise State career. With the pick, Thompson broke the all-time Mountain West mark for career interceptions previously held by Utah's Eric Weddle, who is now an All-Pro safety in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers.

Thompson also moved into sole possession of third place on the all-time Boise State list, and is behind only Steve Forrey (1968-1970), who had 24 career picks, and Frank Robinson (1988-1991), who had 22.

Boise State scored on its first three drives of the game, and then, after UNLV stiffened in the middle portion of the game, the Broncos scored on their final four drives as well to break open what was a close game.

With Boise State leading 24-17 at halftime, the Broncos generated a drive midway through the third quarter to the UNLV 27, where Tyler Rausa booted a 44-yard field goal. UNLV countered with a 27-yard field goal of their own from Nicolai Bornand to make it 27-20. The Broncos scored in the opening minute of the fourth quarter on a five-play, 50-yard drive that culminated when wide receiver Shane Williams-Rhodes ran it in from nine yards out on an end-around.

UNLV then came knocking on the door, but Xzaviar Campbell was stopped at the goal line by the Bronco defense. On the way down, officials ruled that he fumbled and Rebel offensive lineman Eric Noone recovered it in the end zone to cut the margin to 34-27.

It took Boise State just four plays to score on their next possession, with Rypien finding Chaz Anderson on a deep route from 54 yards out. After the Bronco defense held the Rebels out of the end zone on four plays from the Bronco 5, Boise State engineered a 95-yard drive with Jeremy McNichols racing for a 40-yard touchdown, and then Kelsey Young gained 65 yards on five consecutive plays to the UNLV two before reserve quarterback Thomas Stewart carried it over from there.

Cornerback Raymond Ford thwarted a last Rebel attempt to score when he intercepted a Blake Decker pass at the Bronco goal line.

Rypien broke Kellen Moore's freshman records for attempts (48) and passing yards (414), both vs. Nevada, and completions (33 vs. Hawai'i) in a single game that Moore set in the 2008 season. Rypien finished 35-52 for the night. Rypien now stands second all-time at Boise State for attempts in a game and third all-time for passing yards and completions in a game.

Sperbeck had a great night with 10 catches for 163 yards and a touchdown, plus the TD toss to Rypien.  Sperbeck led 10 Broncos who caught passes from Rypien, as Anderson also topped the century mark with 7 receptions for 106 yards and a score and Williams-Rhodes added 7 grabs for 48 yards.

McNichols gained 122 yards on 22 carries (5.5 avg.) to lead the Bronco ground game. McNichols, who sat out the Utah State game with a concussion, has now topped the 100-yard rushing mark in the last four games in which he has played.

25-year-old UNLV quarterback Blake Decker completed 29-of-50 attempts for 357 yards for the Rebels. Devonte Boyd, who last year was named a Freshman All-American, caught 10 passes for 116 yards while Aaron Criswell had 6 for 105.

After games in nine consecutive weeks in which injuries have piled up for Coach Bryan Harsin and his team, the Broncos get a well-deserved week off.

Consecutive Seasons of Seven or More Wins:

1.    Nebraska…35 (1969-2003)

2.    Florida State…33 (1982-2014)

3.    Yale…28 (1882-1909)

4.    Princeton…27 (1881-1907)

5.    Harvard…25 (1886-1910)

5.    Pennsylvania…25 (1888-1912)

7.    Florida…23 (1988-2010)

7.    Michigan…23 (1985-2007)

9.    Oklahoma…22 (1970-1991)

10.  Virginia Tech…21 (1993-2013)

11.  Miami of Florida…17 (1980-1996)

11.  Notre Dame…17 (1964-1980)

11.  Penn State…17 (1967-1983)

11.  Boise State…17 (1999-2015)

14.  Michigan…16 (1968-1983)

14.  Tennessee…16 (1989-2004)

14.  Oklahoma…..16 1999-2014)

18.  LSU............15 (2000-2014)

18.  Ohio State…15 (1972-1986)

20.  Oklahoma…14 (1946-1959)

21.  Alabama…13 (1971-1983)

21.  Georgia…13 (1997-2009)

21.  Georgia Tech…13 (1997-2009)

21.  Virginia…13 (1987-1999)

21.  Wisconsin 13 (2002-2014)

26.  Alabama…12 (1985-1996)

26.  Boston College…12 1999-2010

26.  Carlisle…12 (1902-1913)

26.  Mississippi…12 (1952-1963)

26.  Notre Dame…12 (1938-1949)

26.  Texas…12 (1998-2009)

Passing Yards, Single Game

1.    Ryan Dinwiddie (532) vs. Louisiana Tech, 2003

2.    Ryan Dinwiddie (509) vs. SMU, 2003

3.    Kellen Moore (507) vs. Hawai’i, 2010

4.    Brett Rypien (469) vs. UNLV, 2015

5.    Kellen Moore (457) vs. Toledo, 2011

6.    Jim McMillan (454) vs. UNLV, 1974

7.    Kellen Moore (414) vs. Nevada, 2008

8.    Grant Hedrick (410) vs. BYU, 2014

9.    Ryan Dinwiddie (406) vs. Fresno State, 2002

10.  Bart Hendricks (405) vs. Idaho, 2000

10.  Ryan Dinwiddie (405) vs. Tulsa, 2001

12.  Jim McMillan (403) vs. Montana,1974

13.  Ryan Dinwiddie (399) vs. Louisiana Tech, 2002

14.  Jared Zabransky (392) vs. UTEP, 2004

15.  Tony Hilde (388) vs. Montana, 1993 

16.  Greg Stern (386) vs. UNLV, 1975

16.  Kellen Moore (386) vs. Oregon, 2008

18.  Duane Halliday (382) vs. Nevada,1990

18.  Grant Hedrick (382) vs. Oregon State, 2013

20.  Bart Hendricks (381) vs. Utah State, 2000

21.  Bart Hendricks (378) vs. Idaho,1997

22.  B.J. Rhode (376) vs. Utah State, 2002 

23.  Bart Hendricks (375) vs. New Mexico State, 2000

23.  Ryan Dinwiddie (375) vs. Nevada, 2003

25.  Kellen Moore (370) vs. Wyoming, 2010

Completions, Single Game

1.    Ryan Dinwiddie (40) vs. Louisiana Tech, 2003

2.    Grant Hedrick (36) vs. Mississippi, 2014

3.    Brett Rypien (35) vs. UNLV, 2015

4.    Kellen Moore (33) vs. Hawai'i, 2008
5.    Kellen Moore (32) vs. Toledo, 2011

5.    Grant Hedrick (32) vs. Oregon State, 2013

7.    Travis Stuart (31) vs. Weber State, 1992

7.    Joe Southwick (31) vs. Fresno State, 2013
8.    Joe Southwick (30) vs. Utah State, 2013 

       Kellen Moore (30) vs. Hawai'i, 2010
       Kellen Moore (30) vs. Southern Mississippi, 2008
       Taylor Tharp (30) vs. Washington, 2007
       Ryan Dinwiddie (30) vs. Louisiana Tech, 2001
       Jeff Mladenich (30) vs. Idaho, 1991
       Jim McMillan (30) vs. Idaho, 1974
16.  Kellen Moore (29) vs. Nevada, 2008
16.  Jim McMillan (29) vs. UNLV, 1974

18.  Kellen Moore (28) vs. Georgia, 2011

18.  Kellen Moore (28) vs. TCU, 2011

18.  Kellen Moore (28) vs. San Diego State, 2011

18.  Kellen Moore (28) vs. New Mexico, 2011

Passing Attempts, Single Game

1.    Ryan Dinwiddie (60) vs. Louisiana Tech, 2003

2.    Brett Rypien (52) vs. UNLV, 2015

3.    Travis Stuart (51) vs. Montana, 1992

3.    Keith Jarrett (51) vs. Oregon State, 1986

5.    Ryan Dinwiddie (49) vs. Louisiana Tech, 2001

5.    Jeff Mladenich (49) vs. Idaho, 1991

7.    Kellen Moore (48) vs. Nevada, 2008

7.    Bart Hendricks (48) vs. Idaho, 1997

9.    Taylor Tharp (47) vs. Washington, 2007

9.    Vince Alcalde (47) vs. Weber State, 1987

9.    Eric Guthrie (47) vs. Weber State, 1971

12.  Tony Hilde (46) vs. Northern Arizona, 1993

12.  Danny Langsdorf (46) vs. Northeastern, 1993

12.  Travis Stuart (46) vs. Montana State, 1992    

12.  Grant Hedrick (46) vs. Mississippi, 2014

16.  Vince Alcalde (45) vs. Montana, 1987

16.  Joe Southwick (45) vs. Fresno State, 2013

18.  Grant Hedrick (44) vs. Oregon State, 2013

18.  Joe Southwick (44) vs. Utah State, 2013

20.  Mike Virden (44) vs. Weber State, 1989

20.  Duane Halliday (44) vs. Eastern Washington, 1988

20.  Eric Guthrie (44) vs. Idaho State, 1971