The Color & Pageantry Top 25

College Football

Top 25

1.      Alabama, 11-0, 1
2.      Florida State, 11-0, 2
3.      Ohio State, 11-0, 3
4.      Clemson, 10-1, 6
5.      Auburn, 10-1, 7
6.      Missouri, 10-1, 8
7.      Oklahoma State, 10-1, 13
8.      Stanford, 9-2, 10
9.      South Carolina, 9-2, 11
10.    Baylor, 9-1, 3
11.    Michigan State, 10-1, 15
12.    Louisiana State, 8-3, 14
13.    Wisconsin, 9-2, 16
14.    Arizona State, 9-2, 17
15.    Oregon, 9-2, 5
16.    Texas A&M, 8-3, 9
17.    Central Florida, 9-1, 18
18.    UCLA, 8-3, 12
19.    Louisville, 10-1, 19
20.    Oklahoma, 9-2, 20
21.    Northern Illinois, 11-0, 21
22.    Fresno State, 10-0, 22
23.    Southern Cal, 9-2, 24
24.    Duke, 9-2, 25
25.    Notre Dame, 8-3, NR

OUT: Minnesota (23)

VOTES:  Texas, Ole Miss, Georgia, Nebraska, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Washington, Arizona, East Carolina, Vanderbilt and Miami.

NATIONAL ANALYSIS:

The Florida Gators, who have suffered extensive injuries during 2013, were resigned the season was lost and were looking forward to regrouping with hopes of a much better season next fall.  Coach Will Muschamp was recently given a 100% vote of confidence from University officials; however, this was before the absolute debacle which took place on Saturday at Florida Field.  The once mighty Gators fell to Georgia Southern 26-20, displaying a new level of ineptitude on both sides of the ball.  GSU, 7-4 and not the stellar team of past years under Erk Russell and Paul Johnson, never threw a pass and ran for well over 400 yards against a Gator defense one would suspect had stopping the run as a priority. There is a glaring lack of playmakers on offense, and the defense seems undisciplined. The metric for Muschamp has dramatically changed, as this type of loss is unacceptable at The University of Florida, with unrivaled resources including a cash heavy booster base. Absorbing this kind of defeat does not bode well in the locker room, and with high flying and undefeated Florida State coming to town, the thought of tens of thousands of Seminoles frolicking around in a half empty Swamp reveling in a dominant victory sends shiver down the spine of the Gator nation.  I suspect the loss to Georgia Southern will be too much for Muschamp to overcome, but when contemplating what coaches may be available, the life of Muschamp at UF may be extended, as a potential list does not present an obvious choice ready to come.  If a change is made, if I were them I would target James Franklin of Vanderbilt. 

Ohio State was won 23 in a row, but has not played top level competition, with remaining games against the weakest Michigan team in moons and an upstart Michigan State, which should be challenging.....With all the coaches on the hot seat, I don't hear anything about Brady Hoke at Michigan, and I wonder why considering the major disappointment the Wolverines have been since his arrival....UCF continues to roll on, thumping Rutgers, but Cincinnati is playing very well in the AAC....Duke controls their destiny in the ACC Coastal, needing only to beat UNC, who scored 80 this past weekend......Andre Williams and Boston College have really been playing well, winning at Maryland and are going bowling....LSU overpowered Johnny Football and the Texas Aggies in Death Valley......An awful season for Georgia got worse last night as signal caller and fourth year senior Aaron Murray of Tampa Plant HS, blew out his knee.  Murray, who could have gone pro after his junior season, deserved so much better, but he is no doubt someone the Dawg nation can be awful proud of....Michigan State dominated a reeling Northwestern team, who came into 2013 with high hopes....Cincinnati is playing well, and disposed of Houston...OU got needed win at K-State and Iowa dumped Michigan in Iowa City.....East Carolina pounded NC State...Georgia Tech may have hope against the Dawgs with Murray out...Notre Dame got by a decent BYU team...Wisconsin clamped down on a decent Minnesota team...Arizona ran wild and crushed former BCS darling Oregon, once again illuminating line of scrimmage issues for the Ducks....Wazzu is bowl eligible in spanking Utah....Stanford crushed Cal in the Big Game....Arizona State jumped all over UCLA and held on late for a huge win for the Sun Devils.....Mizzou looked good in beating Ole Miss in Oxford...Vandy made it three in a row over Tennessee, winning at Knoxville.....Okie State crushed undefeated Baylor with seeming ease....Washington is the best 7-4 team out there, pummeling Oregon State....Boise State lost to San Diego State, and at 7-4 has had worst season in moons.

FLORIDA STATE ANALYSIS

First, the saga surround the accusation of sexual assault looming around FSU quarterback Jameis Winston continues to be a hot topic in college football. Allegations are distractions. At this point, Jameis Winston is guilty of nothing. Should the evidence lead to Winston being charged, the metric changes completely. If a charge happens, the State of Florida will let a jury of our peers decide the case. Until then, while for the time being this country continues to follow the rule of law, Winston is innocent until proven guilty. Seminoles, along with the greater majority of most Americans, strongly support justice, and are steadfast in our respect for the rule of law. The evidence will dictate.

Florida State welcomed a poor Idaho team to Tallahassee and although not playing with the sharpest of focus, the Seminoles dominated by scoring a program high 80 points en route to an 80-14 victory. The Vandals must be given some credit as they did not show up to lay down, offering s strong performance for their talent level.  Florida State was effective in every fashion offensively, and dominated up front defensively as one would suspect.  Many young players got prime playing time, with linebacker EJ Levenberry perhaps making the most of it, tipping, then intercepting a pass which he returned 76 yards for a touchdown.  This day was much about honoring the seniors who helped bring this program back to a level of competing for national championships.  LaMarcus Joyner, Telvin Smith, Christian Jones, Kenny Shaw of Orlando Dr. Phillips, Byron Stork, who has one of the few Bowden recruits still on the team, Chad Abram, Demonte McCallister, Jacobbi McDaniel, Dan Hicks and Terrance Brooks are notable.  Florida State travels down to hogtown on Saturday to take on a sinking ship identified as the Florida Gators, who dropped a home game to Georgia Southern on Saturday. This is a fierce rivalry, but odds strongly favor the Seminoles, who have scored at least 40 points in each game, are set to put some kind of whippin on the boys in orange and blue.

NEBRASKA ANALYSIS

Nebraska overcame a series of mind boggling mistakes to defeat Penn State at Happy Valley in overtime 23-20.  Say this about the Huskers; they fight to end, which is a signal they support the coaching staff and will battle to the end for them.  This bodes well as all indications are there are questions from the administration on whether Bo Pelini should continue as head coach.  Steve Sipple of the Lincoln Journal Star weighs in, and not withstanding a home loss to Iowa, I agree with him.  A home loss to Iowa would perhaps change the metric for me, as I have exhausted my allotment for losses to inferior teams, particularly at home.  I do not expect to lose this game, however.  Tommy Amstrong was not effective and was replaced, perhaps as some have said, due to an ankle.  Ron Kellogg came in and had his moments, leading the team to victory. While neither of these two are Taylor Martinez, they are effective most times in their own way.  Having a stellar tailback in Ameer Abdullah certainly helps, although both Kellogg and Abdullah both fumbled away the ball at inopportune times, breaking the most fundamental practice in the game of protect the football.  Nebraska appeared to sezie control, but Penn State got a score which seemed to turn the tide, but Kenny Bell returned the following kickoff 100 yards and gave the Huskers the opportunity to regain authority.  Abdullah seemed to break the game open on a 62 yards TD sprint, only to have a ridiculous penalty negate the score.  This call was one of the worst I have seen, bringing back painful memories of a horrendous and crucial call on this field back in 1982.  Nebraska, with a patchwork offensive line which deserves a ton of credit, scored anyhow and after Penn State missed an overtime field goal attempt wide right, Pat Smith of Nebraska, after the seemingly common false start back the Big Red up five yards to increase the degree of difficulty, nailed the winning kick.  A gut check win on the road against a tough Penn State team was huge for the Nebraska, and the seemingly embattled coaching staff.  There is no room for error with Iowa visiting on Friday; this is a must win game for Pelini.  Should Nebraska get that done, a bowl victory could springboard the platform for a great season in 2014. The defense is really emerging, with Randy Gregory a future All America.  If Abdullah returns, and I have not heard anything to suggest he won't, the makings of an outstanding offensive unit are in place.  I am all N.  Go Big Red!