First, in the AP and Coaches Polls, we say goodbye to four teams who may yet return. Last week’s #20 Tennessee, #22 Texas Tech, #23 Cincinnati, and #25 Kansas State lost their games. (That may be an understatement for what happened to Tennessee against Alabama, where the score was 41-17, but it will do.) These teams have been replaced by four who have been here before only to fall or who are completely new to these lofty heights this year. Virginia, Alabama, Penn State, Rutgers and Wisconsin have been added to the polls. (The last two share the Number 25 slot in the two polls being ranked #25 in one but unranked in the other.)
Here are the new rankings with the AP/Coaches ranking and their opponents this week.
#1 Ohio State (8-0, 4-0) remains on top but plays at #24/22 Penn State (6-2, 2-2) and you just know Joe Paterno will want to challenge the Buckeyes' position.
#2 Boston College (7-0, 3-0) will finally play a “quality” opponent when they travel to Blacksburg, VA to face #8/9 Virginia Tech (6-1, 3-0).
#3 LSU (7-1, 3-0) is idle this week as they prepare to travel to currently #22/24 Alabama (6-2, 4-1), also idle this week, on November 3.
#4 Oklahoma (7-1, 3-0)
#5 Oregon (6-1, 3-1) travels down the coast to play #9/8 Southern California (6-1, 3-1).
#6 West Virginia (6-1, 1-1) heads into the lion’s den that is home to #24/NR Rutgers (5-2, 2-1).
#7 Arizona State (7-0, 4-0) puts its undefeated season on the line when they host #18/20 Cal (5-2, 2-2).
#8/9 Virginia Tech (6-1, 3-0) hosts #2 Boston College (7-0, 3-0) in an ACC battle.
#9/8 USC (6-1, 3-1) hosts #5 Oregon (6-1, 3-1) in a PAC 10 battle as both chase AZ State.
#10/11 Florida (5-2, 3-2) crosses the border to visit #20-19 Georgia (5-2, 3-2).
#11/12 South Florida (6-1, 1-1) will be at UConn (6-1, 2-0) trying to make the BIG EAST even more interesting.
#12/10 Kansas (7-0, 3-0) goes west to face Texas A&M (6-2, 3-1).
#13 Missouri (6-1, 2-1) hosts Texas Tech (6-2, 2-2).
#14/15 Kentucky (6-2, 2-2) is at home for Mississippi State (4-4, 1-3).
#15/17 South Carolina (6-2, 3-2) heads to Tennessee (4-3, 2-2).
#16/14 Hawaii (7-0, 4-0) goes back to work when they host New Mexico State (4-4, 1-2).
#17/16 Texas (6-2, 2-2) will be home against Nebraska (4-4, 1-3).
#18/20 Cal (5-2, 2-2) heads into the desert to take on #7 Arizona State (7-0, 4-0).
#19/21 Michigan (6-2, 4-0) hopes to continue its six game winning streak when they host Minnesota (1-7, 0-4).
#20/19 Georgia (5-2, 3-2) is at home against #10/11 Florida (5-2, 3-2).
#21/18 Virginia (7-1, 4-0) travels to North Carolina State (2-5, 0-3).
#22/24 Alabama (6-2, 4-1) is idle as they look forward to #3 LSU on November 3rd.
#23 Auburn (5-3, 3-2) hosts Mississippi (2-6, 0-5).
#24/22 Penn State (6-2, 3-2) hopes Happy Valley will be as they host #1 Ohio State (8-0, 4-0).
#25/ NR Rutgers (5-2, 2-1) hopes to avenge last year’s triple OT loss in West Virginia when they host the #6 Mountaineers (6-1, 1-1).
NR/#25 Wisconsin (6-2, 2-2) hosts Indiana (5-3, 2-3).
The BCS ranking of the top 10 teams is slightly different than those above:
#1 Ohio State
#2 Boston College
#3 LSU
#4 Arizona State
#5 Oregon
#6 Oklahoma
#7 West Virginia
#8 Virginia Tech
#9 Kansas
#10 South Florida
College football being what it is, expect these positions to be somewhat ephemeral. That will be especially true this week as 12 of the 26 teams I listed above will be playing one another and, obviously, six of them are fated to lose and fall down/out of the rankings.
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