Top 25
1. Alabama, 10-0, 1
2. Florida State, 10-0, 2
3. Baylor, 9-0, 4
4. Ohio State, 10-0, 3
5. Oregon, 9-1, 6
6. Clemson, 9-1, 7
7. Auburn, 10-1, 8
8. Missouri, 9-1, 9
9. Texas A&M, 8-2, 10
10. Stanford, 8-2, 5
11. South Carolina, 8-2, 11
12. UCLA, 8-2, 12
13. Oklahoma State, 9-1, 13
14. Louisiana State, 7-3, 14
15. Michigan State, 9-1, 18
16. Wisconsin, 8-2, 17
17. Arizona State, 8-2 16
18. Central Florida, 8-1, 15
19. Louisville, 9-1, 19
20. Oklahoma, 8-2, 21
21. Northern Illinois, 10-0, 23
22. Fresno State, 9-0, 22
23. Minnesota, 8-2, 24
24. Southern Cal, 8-3, NR
25. Duke, 8-2, NR
OUT: Texas (20) and Georgia (25)
VOTES: Mississippi, Georgia, Washington, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Miami and Texas.
NATIONAL ANALYSIS: Washington played well at UCLA, even after losing quarterback Keith Price, but could not overcome UCLA and new two way star Myles Jack.....Alabama did not play particularly well but still smothered nemesis Mississippi State...UCF needed a one handed catch for the ages in climbing back into the game at Temple to beat the Owls late....OU, tied at the half, woke up and pounded Iowa State....Wisconsin is beginning to dominate...Duke controls their own destiny in the ACC Coastal after pounding Miami in surprising fashion...Va Tech fell at home to Maryland, having their worst season in many a moon....BC seems to have gotten rolling behind talented back Andre Williams...Wazzu got a big win over Arizona....Oklahoma State pounded Texas at Austin....Florida rose up to challenge South Carolina, but fell late.....USC got Stanford at the Coliseum, and one wonders if Ed Orgeron can keep that gig?.....Baylor, scared early, came back to pound Texas Tech.... Arizona State keeps rolling on.....Ohio State bombed Illinois, but gave up an alarming 35 points, costing the Buckeyes a spot in some polling...Michigan got Northwestern in three overtimes......Kansas upset West Virginia, their first Big XII win in years....Clemson rolled GT, hopes for BCS bid but will need to beat Gamecocks on the road.
Georgia came back from a 20 point deficit to appear on the verge of beating Auburn on plain, and with Auburn facing 4th down and forever, the celebration was set to begin. Then, this happened:
Now, referred to as The Prayer at Jordan Hare, this is among many Hail Mary plays that have worked this year. In the deep south, this game being the oldest rivalry in the SEC, the loss is as bitter as the win is sweet. Bulldog nation is now in therapy.
NEBRASKA ANALYSIS:
I had written that I had a high degree of confidence that Nebraska would be able to move the football against the vaunted Michigan State defense and would win the home game with the Spartans. That prediction was based on the turnover margin being somewhat equal. No such luck as Nebraska turned the ball over 5 times, three deep in Husker territory each leading to Spartan scores, against zero for Michigan State. With the turnover margin against you in such dramatic fashion, it is difficult to defeat poor teams, much less the team with the top statistically ranked defense in the land. Michigan State won going away, 41-28. Nebraska did move the ball, when the hing on to it. Ameer The Spartans were only allowing 43 rushing yards per game at 1.6 per rush, but Abdullah ran for over 123yards and Nebraska 182 averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Husker QB Tommy Armstrong connected on two touchdown passes. Even with the dismal failure to protect the football, a founding principle of the game, the Huskers trailed 21-27 late in the third and the game was there for the taking. But, the errors continued, and Michigan State would collect their first program victory over Nebraska, eliminating the Big Red from the Legends Division title. Defensively, Nebraska played well enough to win, but defending short fields gets tiresome and even the greatest of stop side units breakdown when repeatedly placed in that position. This brings us back to the same old song when it comes to execution on the gridiron, something Nebraska consistently cannot perform, for whatever reason. The coaches are dumbfounded. Maybe they should have asked some Spartan coaching staff members, who played turnover free ball in the hostile sea of red environment. If Nebraska wins out, unless there is an outstanding coach ready to come in, I would not replace Pelini and then begin a search. The future is bright with the talented bunch of youngsters out on the field, a group that made a lot of mistakes on this day. However, should they lose to Penn State, Iowa or both, that changes the analysis. And in a final note, in contrast to a large contingent of the Big Red fan base; if Taylor Martinez gains 100% health, he should be playing quarterback for this team. That would of course include the bowl game.
FLORIDA STATE ANALYSIS:
The Seminoles continue to dominate, wining their second consecutive game 59-3, this time versus visiting Syracuse. It got ugly early for the Orange, with FSU leading 28-0 after the first quarter. Many thought focus would be lost for the Seminoles, as the name of quarterback phenom Jameis Winston has turned up in a police inquiry in a sexual battery case. In speaking to everybody and anybody in the know on this ongoing investigation, there does not appear to any evidence to suggest any wrong doing by Winston. Of course, should such evidence come forward, we all recognize the seriousness of sexual battery and appropriate action will be engaged. However, all indications are there is nothing to see here as it pertains to Winston. Certainly, his play and demeanor on the field were seemingly not affected by the accusations and having his name dragged through the mud. Winston was very sharp, directing a balanced offense that is looking impossible to stop. Winston is the total package, as evidenced by the block he threw 40 yards down field blocking for true freshman Kermit Whitfield of Orlando Jones on his 74 yard touchdown scamper.
Defensively, the Seminoles are smothering, and the list of contributors to making great plays from sideline to sideline is growing. Tim Jerrnigan owns the interior line of scrimmage, and Christian Jones, coming on of late, has joined Telvin Smith in busting up plays from their linebacking positions. The secondary, which will bring blitzes from any spot on the field, is the nations best. Senior LaMarcus Joyner is the leader, but youngsters like Nate Andrews and Jalen Ramsey are playing like veterans. Idaho is in Tallahassee next week to get destroyed, and then it is off to Florida Field to play the struggling Gators before the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, likely against Duke. The table is set to play for the national title, and if the Seminoles keep within the process and deliver a high level of execution, they will be there.
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