The Confidential

The Confidential’s College Football Top 25 & Bottom 4: Week 5

Each week, the Confidential will provide its ranking of the top 25 teams in College Football, as well as the Bottom 4 BCS-level teams.  Here is the Week 5 version, with analysis of the top 15 and bottom 4:

1. Alabama (4-0): Alabama went easy on Florida Atlantic.  Good for them.  They still won by 30+.  Next up: Mississippi.
2. Florida State (4-0): Nobody in the top 3 has a better win than Florida State, with the Clemson win.  They are outscoring opponents now by a mere 55-10.   Next up: @ South Florida.
3. LSU (4-0):  The Tigers struggled to beat the Tigers.  Typical SEC game.  Oh yeah–the LSU Tigers beat the Auburn Tigers 12-10.  Next up: Towson.
4. Oregon (4-0): The Ducks looked very good in dispatching Arizona.  They shut out a Rich Rodriguez-coached team.  Nice.  Next up: @ Washington State.
5. Kansas State (4-0): Kansas State has beaten top 5 Oklahoma, in Oklahoma, and destroyed 3-1 Miami.  Anyone have a better resume?  Next up: Kansas.
6. Georgia (4-0): Took Vanderbilt to the cleaners, 48-3.  Georgia is looking like a solid #3 team in the SEC.  Next up: Tennessee.
7. Notre Dame (4-0): The Fighting Irish beat Navy in Ireland, Purdue, Michigan State, and Michigan.  Pretty impressive set of wins.  Next up: Michigan.
8. South Carolina (4-0): The Gamecocks had little trouble with Missouri.  Welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!   Next up: @ Kentucky.
9. West Virginia (3-0): In its first real challenge of the season, West Virginia allowed Maryland to hang around.  Need to turn it up a notch in the Big XII.  Next up: Baylor.
10. Stanford (3-0): Stanford got the week off.  They play a Thursday game against the Huskies in Washington this week.  Next up: @ Washington.
11. Florida (4-0): The Gators are beating up on the middling teams of the SEC.  Up next is LSU on October 6th.  Next up: Idle.
12. Louisville (4-0): Louisville was not exactly dominant against FIU–a team that Duke handled.  At least it was a road game.  Next up: @ Southern Mississippi.
13. Clemson (3-1): Clemson did well against Florida State, all things considered.  They need to avoid the losing streak of last year though.  Next up: Boston College.
14. Ohio State (4-0).  Ohio State still hasn’t really played anyone good.  This changes immediately.  Next up: @ Michigan State.
15. TCU (3-0).  The Horned Frogs looked very good against Virginia.  Have you looked at TCU’s last four games on the season?  Wow.  Next up: @ SMU.
16. Texas (3-0). Next up: @ Oklahoma State.
17. Oklahoma (2-1): Next up: Idle.
18. USC (3-1). Next up: @ Utah.
19. Michigan State (3-1). Next up: Ohio State.
20. Oregon State (2-0).  Next up: @ Arizona.
21. Northwestern (4-0). Next up: Indiana.
22. Mississippi State (4-0).  Next up: Idle.
23. Virginia Tech (3-1). Next up: Cincinnati.
24. Michigan (2-2): Next up: @ Purdue.
25. Rutgers (4-0). Next up: Idle.

* * *

121. Syracuse (1-3).  Syracuse has played a brutal schedule of USC, Northwestern, and Minnesota (away).  Still, the only Orange victory was against FCS Stony Brook, 28-17.

122. Temple (1-2).  The win over Villanova was nice.  And Penn State and Maryland are improved.  Still–only victory is over an FCS foe.

123. Boston College (1-2).  Boston College has lost to Miami and Northwestern.  No shame in that.  The only victory is over FCS New Hampshire, not exactly a power.

124. Arkansas (1-3).  Arkansas has officially collapsed.  The only win is over an FCS foe.  With its starting QB, they are dominated by Rutgers.  This should not happen to a good SEC team at home.

So there it is.  If you do not like it… sorry.  But feel free to share your reasons why…