JP Top 25: Week 11

Note: J.P. Giglio is one of 65 voters in the AP Top 25. This is his ballot.

• JP Top 25 archive
• AP Top 25, BCS rankings

I take pride in being an AP voter and being the true top 25. Our vote doesn't count in the BCS formula but the history of the poll goes back to 1936, which gives the AP top 25 a certain credibility with college football fans.

That being said, I just don't get the other voters — AP, USA Today, Harris, you name it. Florida over Texas? USC over Penn State? Those decisions just don't make any sense.

Florida's the so-called "best team right now." I love that phrase, as if losing to an unranked team at home didn't happen. That's college football. You take the entirety of the season not just what's convenient for your argument.

I made the point about Texas-Florida last week but Penn State's loss to Iowa brings a new set of circumstances.

Let's look at the common opponents between Penn State and USC. They both beat Ohio State — USC more handily but the game was in LA and Ohio State's best player was not on the field — still both teams beat OSU.

But there's another "OSU." Penn State beat Oregon State 45-14 at Happy Valley. USC lost to the Beavers, 27-21, on the road.

So Penn State's 2-0 against common opponents and USC is 1-1. So why is USC ahead of Penn State in the AP, USA Today, Harris and BCS polls? Because Penn State lost on Saturday and USC lost in September.

Repeat after me: It doesn't matter when you lose.

1. Alabama

Record: 10-0
Good wins: @ UGa, @ LSU, vs. Clemson
Loss(es): none
Last week: 1 (beat LSU, 27-21, OT)
Next: Mississippi State

Can't wait to see what Nick Saban does with Florida's offense. Thankfully we'll get the chance on Dec. 6.

2. Texas Tech

Record: 10-0
Good wins: Texas, Oklahoma State, @ Kansas
Loss(es): none
Last week: 3 (beat Oklahoma State, 56-20)
Next: @ Oklahoma (Nov. 22)

The Big 12 tiebreaker would get real interesting if the Red Raiders were to lose to Oklahoma in two weeks.

If Tech, OU and Texas are all 7-1 with a win over each other, who goes to the Big 12 title game? The highest-ranked team in the BCS. Who would that be?

3. Texas

Record: 9-1
Good wins: vs. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri
Loss(es): @ Texas Tech
Last week: 4 (beat Baylor, 45-21)
Next: @ Kansas

Texas' heavy lifing is done. The Horns don't have a strong opponent left. All they can do is hope Texas Tech loses to Oklahoma and then wait for the ballots.

4. Florida

Record: 8-1
Good wins: Georgia, LSU
Loss(es): Ole Miss
Last week: 4 (beat Vanderbilt, 42-14)
Next: South Carolina

Unlike Texas, Florida controls its own title destiny.

5. Oklahoma

Record: 9-1
Good wins: TCU, Kansas
Loss(es): Texas
Last week: 6 (beat Texas A&M, 66-28)
Next: Texas Tech (Nov. 22)

Of the three Big 12 South contenders, the Sooners have the toughest remaining schedule with Texas Tech and a road trip Oklahoma State.

6. Utah

Record: 10-0
Good wins: TCU, Oregon State, @ Air Force
Loss(es): none
Last week: 10 (beat TCU, 13-10)
Next: @ San Diego State

Another team that should be front of USC. The Mountain West is 6-1 against the Pac-10 and not one of those six wins came against Washington State, the worst team in the BCS.

The Utes also beat Oregon State, the team responsible for USC's one loss. Maybe if Utah beats BYU in two weeks, the other voters will jump them over USC but they should be there already.

7. Penn State

Record: 9-1
Good wins: @ Ohio State, Oregon State
Loss(es): @ Iowa
Last week: 3 (lost at Iowa, 24-23)
Next: Indiana

Still have the Big Ten title to play for and, maybe, the BCS dominoes could fall in front them, like they did for Ohio State last year, but seeing as how the Nits are behind USC, I don't see how they can jump them with wins over Indiana and Michigan State.

8. USC

Record: 8-1
Good wins: Ohio State, Oregon, Cal
Loss(es): @ Oregon State
Last week: 7 (beat Cal, 17-3)
Next: @ Stanford

Dan Wetzel, of Yahoo! Sports, wrote a great column about the Trojans' predicament in the hapless Pac-10.

9. Boise State

Record: 9-0
Good wins: @ Oregon
Loss(es): none
Last week: 11 (beat Utah State, 49-14)
Next: @ Idaho

Lots of BYU fans in Boise these days.

10. Oklahoma State

Record: 8-2
Good wins: @ Missouri
Loss(es): @ Texas, @ Texas Tech
Last week: 8 (lost at Texas Tech, 56-20)
Next: @ Colorado

Top of the two-loss heap because they lost on the road to No. 2 and No. 3.

11. Georgia

Record: 8-2
Good wins: @ LSU
Loss(es): Alabama, Florida
Last week: 12 (beat Kentucky, 42-38)
Next: @ Auburn

So much for the Auburn trip being a preview of the SEC title game, more like the all-disappointment game.

12. Ohio State

Record: 8-2
Good wins: @ Michigan State
Loss(es): @ USC, Penn State
Last week: 13 (beat Northwestern, 45-10)
Next: @ Illinois

The Bucks owe Illinois one from last year.

13. TCU

Record: 9-2
Good wins: BYU
Loss(es): @ Oklahoma, @ Utah
Last week: 10 (lost at Utah, 13-10)
Next: Air Force (Nov. 22)

Tough loss for the Horned Frogs, who deserve a better bowl than wherever the MWC will send them.

14. Ball State

Record: 9-0
Good wins: Navy
Loss(es): none
Last week: 15 (beat Northern Illinois, 45-14)
Next: @ Miami, Ohio (Tuesday)

Cards looked good in romping Northern Illinois, shouldn't have any problems with the RedHawks on Tuesday, either. 

15. BYU

Record: 9-1
Good wins: none
Loss(es): @ TCU
Last week: 16 (beat San Diego State, 41-12)
Next: @ Air Force

Look past Air Force and the Falcons will send the Cougs to their big date with Utah with two losses, instead of one.

16. Missouri

Record: 8-2
Good wins: Illinois
Loss(es): Oklahoma State, @ Texas
Last week: 17 (beat Kansas State, 41-24)
Next: @ Iowa State

I have Mizzou lower than any other AP voter. I'm OK with that.

17. UNC

Record: 7-2
Good wins: Georgia Tech, Boston College, Notre Dame
Loss(es): Virginia Tech, @ Virginia
Last week: 19 (beat Georgia Tech, 28-7)
Next: @ Maryland

Big difference from the beginning of the season, and the stupid penalties against Virginia Tech, to Saturday's mistake-free dominant win over Georgia Tech. That's the sign of good coaching.

Look out, though, here comes Maryland's Super Bowl.

18. Oregon State

Record: 6-3
Good wins: USC
Loss(es): @ Stanford, @ Penn State, @ Utah
Last week: 20 (beat UCLA, 34-6)
Next: Cal

Remember three weeks ago when I was the only AP voter with Oregon State in the top 25? The Beavers are No. 23 in the proper poll this week.

19. Michigan State

Record: 8-2
Good wins: Northwestern, Notre Dame
Loss(es): @ Cal, Ohio State
Last week: 23 (beat Purdue, 21-7)
Next: @ Penn State (Nov. 22)

Bye week for the Spartans and then off to Penn State.

20. Florida State

Record: 7-2
Good wins: Virginia Tech
Loss(es): Wake Forest, @ Georgia Tech
Last week: not ranked (beat Clemson, 41-27)
Next: Boston College

The Noles are 12 points away from being unbeaten. Their speed creates problems for Boston College.

21. LSU

Record: 6-3
Good wins: none
Loss(es): Alabama, @ Florida, Georgia
Last week: 14 (lost to Alabma, 27-21, OT)
Next: Troy

Alabama fell apart after losing the Saban Bowl last year, losing to a Sun Belt team at home. The same could happen to the Tigers on Saturday.

22. Cincinnati

Record: 7-2
Good wins: @ West Virginia, South Florida
Loss(es): @ Oklahoma, @ UConn
Last week: Not ranked (beat West Virginia, 26-23)
Next: @ Louisville (Friday)

Someone has to win the Big East, why not the Bearcats? The BCS bowl might be the last for Cincy with coach Brian Kelly.

23. South Carolina

Record: 7-3
Good wins: none
Loss(es): @ Vanderbilt, Georgia, LSU
Last week: Not ranked (beat Arkansas, 34-21)
Next: @ Florida

The Gators blocked a field goal in 2006 to hold Steve Spurrier and South Carolina in the Swamp. Will the Ol' Ball Coach test the Gators again? 

24. Tulsa

Record: 8-1
Good wins: none
Loss(es): @ Arkansas
Last week: 24 (bye)
Next: @ Houston

Tulsa lost to Arkansas, hence its spot behind 7-3 South Carolina, which beat Arkansas.

25. Air Force

Record: 8-2
Good wins: none
Loss(es): Navy, Utah
Last week: not ranked (beat Colorado State, 38-17)
Next: BYU

Troy Calhoun has quietly rebuilt the Falcons going 9-4 in 2007 and 8-2 so far this season after Fisher DeBerry went 8-15 in his final two seasons.

Out: Maryland (18), Georgia Tech (21), Cal (22), West Virginia (25)