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
At the end of the 1978 season, Alabama was ranked No. 1, Penn State was No. 4 and Texas was No. 9.
So little has changed in 30 years, or everything has, either way, three of the oldest powers in the game are still at the top of the leaderboard, with Texas at No. 1. The Horns are a unanimous No. 1, the first of the season, in the AP poll after whipping Missouri 56-31.
Seven new teams in the top 25 this week after a rash of losses at the bottom of the poll. There are still three ACC teams in, but a new set after Wake Forest, UNC and Virginia Tech all lost.
And, yes, I put a three-loss team at No. 25 (Oregon State), because as UNC learned Saturday, teams can improve from Week 1 and since the loss to Stanford, the Beavers own a win over USC, which is a better win than any other two-loss team can claim.
1. Texas
Record: 7-0
Good wins: vs. Oklahoma, Missouri, @ Colorado
Loss(es): none
Last week: 2 (beat Missouri, 56-31)
Next: Oklahoma State
Confidence, talent and a hot quarterback, what else is there?
2. Alabama
Record: 7-0
Good wins: @ UGa, vs. Clemson
Loss(es): none
Last week: 1 (beat Ole Miss, 24-20)
Next: @ Tennessee
Two years ago, Florida strung together 11 not-so-pretty wins then painted a Monet in the BCS title game. It's not how you win but if.
3. Penn State
Record: 8-0
Good wins: Oregon State, @ Wisconsin, Illinois
Loss(es): none
Last week: 3 (beat Michigan, 46-17)
Next: @ Ohio State
Penn State's 0-7 at Ohio State since joining the Big Ten.
4. Florida
Record: 5-1
Good wins: LSU
Loss(es): Ole Miss
Last week: 5 (off)
Next: Kentucky
The Gators jump up because Missouri's not that good, which devalues Oklahoma State's big win.
5. USC
Record: 5-1
Good wins: Ohio State, Oregon
Loss(es): @ Oregon State
Last week: 7 (beat Washington State, 69-0)
Next: @ Arizona
It's not that USC's win over an awful Washington State team was that impressive, it's that I think USC is a better team than Oklahoma or Oklahoma State. This week anyway.
6. Oklahoma State
Record: 7-0
Good wins: @ Missouri
Loss(es): none
Last week: 4 (beat Baylor, 34-6)
Next: @ Texas
Mizzou's clunker at Texas takes some of the shine off of the Pokes' big win, not that much, just a two-spot drop and still ahead of OU.
7. Oklahoma
Record: 6-1
Good wins: TCU, Kansas
Loss(es): Texas
Last week: 6 (beat Kansas, 45-31)
Next: @ Kansas State
The way the computers work, TCU's win over BYU last Thursday was big for the Sooners, who beat the Horned Frogs 35-10.
8. Georgia
Record: 6-1
Good wins: Vanderbilt
Loss(es): Alabama
Last week: 9 (beat Vanderbilt, 24-14)
Next: @ LSU
Elimination game in the SEC for UGa and LSU. The Dawgs have traditionally been strong on the road under Mark Richt.
9. Ohio State
Record: 7-1
Good wins: @ Wisconsin, @ Michigan State
Loss(es): @ USC
Last week: 13 (beat Michigan State, 45-7)
Next: Penn State
Step 1 of the OSU recovery program — blast Penn State. Step 2 — root for every team that plays USC.
10. Utah
Record: 8-0
Good wins: Oregon State, @ Michigan
Loss(es): none
Last week: 10 (beat Colorado State, 49-16)
Next: @ New Mexico
The Utes may want to hold off on celebrating BYU's loss until they play TCU.
11. LSU
Record: 5-1
Good wins: @ Auburn
Loss(es): @ Florida
Last week: 14 (beat South Carolina, 24-17)
Next: Georgia
Georgia-LSU should have been the '07 BCS title game. Saturday's loser will have to start looking ahead to '09.
12. Texas Tech
Record: 6-0
Good wins: Nebraska
Loss(es): none
Last week: 8 (beat Texas A&M, 43-25)
Next: @ Kansas
Sorry, I'm just no sold on Texas Tech. Just because they're unbeaten, doesn't make them great.
13. Boise State
Record: 6-0
Good wins: @ Oregon
Loss(es): none
Last week: 15 (beat Hawaii, 27-7)
Next: @ San Jose State (Friday)
The Spartans are 3-0 in the WAC, so this might be the Broncs' toughest test before the season-finale against Fresno State.
14. TCU
Record: 7-1
Good wins: BYU
Loss(es): @ Oklahoma
Last week: Not ranked (beat BYU, 32-7)
Next: Wyoming
The Frogs go to Utah on Nov. 6. I think a one-loss Mountain West champion — Utah, TCU or BYU — deserves a BCS bid.
15. Pitt
Record: 5-1
Good wins: @ USF
Loss(es): Bowling Green
Last week: Not ranked (beat Navy, 42-21)
Next: Rutgers
Credit to the Wannstache, that team could have quit after losing at home to a MAC team in the opener but the Panthers have rebounded to win five straight.
16. South Florida
Record: 6-1
Good wins: Kansas
Loss(es): Pitt
Last week: 19 (beat Syracuse, 45-13)
Next: @ Louisville
The Bulls need help to pass Pitt in the Big East standings and get to the BCS. They also have to take care of business themselves.
17. BYU
Record: 6-1
Good wins: none
Loss(es): @ TCU
Last week: 11 (lost to TCU, 32-7)
Next: UNLV
Funny, no hate mail from fans of the Greatest Team Ever this week. Maybe it's because I actually have the Cougs higher than the proper AP poll?
18. Ball State
Record: 7-0
Good wins: Navy
Loss(es): none
Last week: 19 (bye)
Next: Eastern Michigan
Cards are about to hit the ceiling, maybe they can get to No. 15 but I don't see them getting much further up the rankings than that.
19. Tulsa
Record: 7-0
Good wins: none
Loss(es): none
Last week: 22 (beat UTEP, 77-35)
Next: UCF (Sunday)
The second half of the "Giglio Actually Knows What He's Talking About" duo, the Golden Hurricane cranked out 77 points against Mike Price and UTEP.
20. Missouri
Record: 5-2
Good wins: Illinois, Nebraska
Loss(es): Oklahoma State, @ Texas
Last week: 12 (lost to Texas, 56-31)
Next: Colorado
Back to the drawing board for Mizzou, which had such high hopes for this season. The only way into the BCS now is to win the Big 12 North and then win the Big 12 title game.
21. Boston College
Record: 5-1
Good wins: Virginia Tech
Loss(es): Georgia Tech
Last week: Not ranked (beat VT, 28-23)
Next: @ UNC
I'll admit it, I didn't think BC would start 5-1 without Matt Ryan. I thought they would be good enough to win six games but not start like this. Shows you how far play-calling can take a team.
And one minor error here, Georgia Tech, which beat BC, should have been No. 21. I'll flip the two next week if they both win.
22. Georgia Tech
Record: 6-1
Good wins: @ Boston College
Loss(es): @ Virginia Tech
Last week: Not ranked (beat Clemson, 21-17)
Next: Virginia
I'll admit, I thought if everything went right for the Jackets, they could get to a bowl this season. I didn't think they'd start 6-1.
One note about those six wins — two are against I-AA teams and only of those can count towards bowl eligibility.
23. Florida State
Record: 5-1
Good wins: none
Loss(es): Wake Forest
Last week: Not ranked (beat N.C. State, 26-17)
Next: Virginia Tech
I've never seen a team with such a bad offensive line consistently win football games. Like GT, the schedule has been favorable, but the Noles are winning with a comination of a good defense, a good running back and a great kicker.
They're winning in spite of their offensive line and their coaching.
24. Minnesota
Record: 6-1
Good wins: @ Illinois
Loss(es): @ Ohio State
Last week: Not ranked (bye)
Next: @ Purdue
Not many colleges have the courage to hire a former coach UNC, Tim Brewster, and a former Duke coach, Ted Roof, to turn around a football program but the Triangle combo has the Gophers at 6-1 after a 1-11 record in 2007.
25. Oregon State
Record: 4-3
Good wins: USC
Loss(es): @ Stanford, @ Penn State, @ Utah
Last week: Not ranked (beat Washington, 34-13)
Next: bye
I'm open to suggestions for this spot. The Beavers have clearly improved since losing to Stanford and are the losses to Penn State and Utah really that bad in retrospect?
Out: Virginia Tech (16), Vanderbilt (17), Wake Forest (18), UNC (21), Kansas, Cal (24), Michigan State (25)
Comments
JPG
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 20:58 — gvillegatryou do realize (not that you prolly care!) you and someone else were the only ones to give Oregon St a vote at #25??
Beavers
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 23:25 — jpg (author)Like I said, I'm open to suggestions. Oh and I was the only one voting for Ball State for a couple of weeks, so ...
does Ball St really count in
Tue, 10/21/2008 - 09:59 — gvillegatrdoes Ball St really count in the bigger picture??
Penn State
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 15:12 — Jamie G (not verified)How could someone named Joseph Paterno have so little love for the Lions??? Maybe they'll surprise you this week...
sounds like Jamie G has some
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 20:53 — gvillegatrsounds like Jamie G has some inside info!?
Is it true, JP?
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 17:38 — JPDOhioAre you a distant relative of Joe Pa with some deep seated family resentment that colors your judgement?
Not a relative
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 19:23 — jpg (author)Just a namesake, that's what the JP stands for
OSU-PSU
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 14:31 — JPDOhioThis is the week we can take measure of Penn State. I think they will be up to the challenge in Ohio Stadium, but I don't think either team will be blasting the other. Penn State comes out on top of a close one.
OSU-PSU
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 20:51 — gvillegatrPenn St hasnt beaten OSU since they became a member of the Big Televen. while i'll be rooting for the Nittany Lions, there is no way on Gods green earth they will win inside The Shoe on a saturday night. OSU wins by at least 10.
Bama football
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 12:16 — gvillegatrloses at Neyland this weekend. booooook it.
Truly uninformed
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 10:59 — Geoff (not verified)I have no issue with where you rank FSU in your top 25, just WHY you have them there.
Sure, their offensive line is young; but to comment on how "bad" they are is plain ignorant.
Two very important stats are being ignored:
FSU is currently the 17th best rushing team in the country.
4 sacks given up the entire year puts them tied for 4th in the country. I hope you are not forming your opinion after watching a true freshman get called for 3 holds in one bad half of football.
And to say that they are poorly coached is to admit you haven't been paying attention since Jeff Bowden was shown the door. Their offense in MILES ahead of where they were 2 years ago, and will only improve as Fisher gets more and more time running the show.
Did you watch the Wake or State games?
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 19:22 — jpg (author)Their line stinks. That's not the coaches fault, three starters either failed out of school or were injured in the offseason.
Antone Smith is good and having a great season against I-A teams.
The problem with the coaching is there are too many cooks — Bowden, Fisher, Chuck and Mickey. I didn't say the coaching was bad just that they are overcoming what is a combustible situation with mutliple personalties.
One example would be the QB situation. Fisher's doing that for his good, not the program's.
— JPG
not sure about who you took out...
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 10:02 — izzykareemNot sure how you can drop VT, UNC-CH or Vandy (especially) out.
I hate UNC-CH, but they lost on the road in overtime.
Vandy, lost on the road
I guess i can see dropping VT, they seem to be a little overrated, considering they probably should have lost to UNC-CH.
I guess Oregon State's losses are more impressive though than UNC-CH's and VT's. But not sure about dropping Vandy out.
At least...
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 08:51 — scocca...you didn't have to worry about the relative rankings of UNC and Wake this week.