College Football Top 25 - Week 9
ByThere was a question asked earlier last week about whether we should totally re-evaluate our entire top 25 process and stop keeping teams in their old position simply because we thought they were going to be good in the preseason and they haven’t lost yet. We did that and shook some things up a little bit. Even in our poll, which is based on whether or not you can beat the team ahead of you on a neutral field, we had to move some things around.
1. Florida (8-0) - Don’t worry Gator fans, you’re still going to the BCS title game. Nice pounding over Mark Richt’s pathetic excuse for an SEC team.
2. Texas (8-0) - We sat back and thought about it this weekend. Texas has been the team all season waiting in the bushes and beating everybody they were supposed to. They have a great offense and most of the Big 12 can play defense all of a sudden.
3. Alabama (8-0) - They will get exposed against a more veteran, more athletic Florida team. It might even happen this weekend against LSU! Uh, oh………..
4. Oregon (7-1) - The BCS is NOT allowed to put Oregon ahead of Boise State unless the Broncos lose. We are though, and it’s undeniable that this is the best team in America right now. No visiting team would have won that game in Oregon this weekend.
5. Boise State (8-0) - Chris Peterson has proven he can beat anyone on a neutral field given a month to prepare so we’re comfortable putting the Broncos in this spot.
6. USC (6-2) - Shut up, they’ll beat your favorite team in a bowl game any day of the week. Wait until they play Alabama in a bowl game and show them what a real offense looks like.
7. TCU (8-0) - What’s going to happen at the end of the year when TCU and Boise State are ranked in the top 5 of the BCS?
8. Cincinnati (8-0) - Beat Syracuse, 28-7, with their backup quarterback who might be better than Tony Pike in the first place. Brian Kelly would be crazy to leave the Bearcats any time soon.
9. LSU (7-1) - Watch them beat Alabama this weekend and send the BCS into a stir of “what if’s”.
10. Georgia Tech (8-1) - Jonathon Dwyer is now averaging over 100 yards a game and has made the Yellow Jackets a force in the ACC.
11. Iowa (9-0) - Came back to beat Indiana in a game that could have burst the bubble for the entire Big Ten. That will happen when the Hawkeyes play the Buckeyes instead.
12. Miami (6-2) - They went into Wake Forest and came away with a very impressive 28-27 come-from-behind victory that proved a lot about their program.
13. Houston (7-1) - Dropped 50 points on Southern Miss in a win which is nothing new. Giving up 43 isn’t great though.
14. Utah (7-1) - This is a great program. They were supposed to be a little down this year but their only loss has been to Oregon by touchdown. They deserve a lot more respect.
15. Oklahoma (5-3) - Their three losses have come by a combined 5 points.
16. Oklahoma State (6-2) - Got exposed against Texas this weekend and might be a few years, and a f
ew playmakers, away from being a serious contender in the Big 12. They will always be in the mix as long as Boone Pickens is alive though.
17. Arizona (5-2) - The most underrated team in the country.
18. Notre Dame (6-2) - Beat up on Washington State, 40-14, but they need to get a signature win to be taken seriously.
19. Ohio State (6-2) - No Big Deal: They covered against New Mexico St. (45-0) Big Deal: The spread was 44 points!!!
20. Pittsburgh (7-1) - Their loss to NC State is going to bite them in so many different ways at the end of the season. It looks terrible for the Big East too.
21. California (6-2) - The roller coaster never stops at Cal. Just strap on your seatbelt and go along for the ride if you’re a Bear fan.
22. South Florida (6-2) - Beat West Virginia, as we predicted, and have pushed West Virginia into their free fall. Jim Leavitt is one of the best coaches in college football and seems to love his job at USF.
23. South Carolina (6-3) - They are the 2nd best 3-loss team in the country. That and a ticket will get you into the conference title game.
24. Penn State (8-1) - There’s a new form of torture used by Marines. They make POWs break down tape of Big Ten quarterbacks.
25. Virginia Tech (5-3) - Remember last week when we said they wouldn’t lose another game all season? We’ll try it again and hope for it to go right.
Laughable not to have IOWA anywhere in your top 25. They have beat 2 teams in your top 25. You dont have to like Iowa, and I know you love the flashy teams but not to respect an undefeated team and leave em out of any top 25 is sad.
Dude, the hatred of all things Iowa is hilarious…you do know they beat Arizona though, right? They also overcame 6 freaking turnovers and a 9 yard shanked punt, to win by 18 Saturday…granted they are ugly wins, but they are wins. You have also incorrectly mentioned the lack of star recruits. Clayborn, Angerer, Edds, Sash, Ballard, Binns, and Hunter were all 4 star or high 3 star players…all starting on Defense. On offense, we have 5 lineman in the 2 deeps who were 4 stars or better, and I think Moeaki was a 4 or 5 star. At least get your stuff right. Also, correct people who say the UNI kicker missed 2 field goals…they were blocked, and it was a fluke call to allow the 2nd attempt anyway.
So little Colin has his little gig now, sticking it to the Big 10. Have at it sonny boy, the Big 10 was an NCAA power long before your brief stay on the scene and will be there long after. As for Iowa, yeah all they do is beat the SEC in Florida in January and lose in the last minute in Texas against Texas. Beating Arizona, Penn State on the road, Wisconsin on the road, Michigan State on the road and demolishing a BCS in state rival on the road is not enough to make your vaunted Top 25. Nice to be outrageous even at the expense of any sports, let alone journalistic, credibility.
Just wondering if you have an axe to grind with Iowa. I can appreciate a difference of opinion and perhaps not putting them in the top 5-10. But nowhere in your top 25? They’ve played an exceptionally tough in-conference road schedule. And like your Texas Longhorns, they’ve beaten everyone they were supposed to…all of them to be exact. And they won some they weren’t supposed to win. They were underdogs in all of their conference road games.
Hahahaha. You forgot the only 9-0 team in college football west coaster! Why don’t you throw Washington State in there.
You can’t leave Iowa out of there. Not only are they undefeated but they beat your “most underrated team in the country” AND Penn State in State College.
Your omission of Iowa flushes all your credibility down the toilet.
Do you watch sports? Do you watch college football? Does Pete Carrol know about the horrible mancrush you have on him. That poll is idiotic and so are you!
As you would say you fall into the “don’t get it category.” Last time I checked Iowa was 9-0 and beat your most underrated team in Arizona. Also beat Penn State in a white out at night, which isn’t the easiest thing to do. Why again is Iowa not in the top 25? Why not just reply with things that you make to try to prove your point. I thought the object of football was to just win and that’s Iowa has done. They play there when it matters the most in the 4th quarter. Not sure how you have any credibility left after this poll. You do realize that Coach Ferentz and the rest of the team could care less about how they win, right? I’m beginning to think you tried to get an interview and he turned you down, which is why you aren’t even close to Dan Patrick who did get an interview. Again you have lost all credibility and nobody cares about you. I won’t lose any sleep waiting for a reply back, but I do know you will make up what you want to hear to prove your point. Anybody that allows to leave comment should reply and I’ll be waiting.
The hawkeyes DOMINATED Arizona..your “most underrated” team dumbass. As a hawk fan I would love to play USC on a neutral field. Most overrated team in the nation.
All Iowa does is beat every team on the schedule, (including your most under rated team in the nation) with one of the toughest schedules in the nation… but your shriveled little brain can\\\’t figure out that they belong on the top 25…why exactly do you have a job in sports radio?
Colin,
I\’m an avid listener but you seem to be holding a grudge against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Say what you want but they are undefeated and the only team to win 9 games so far this year. I agree it isn\’t pretty, but I thought football was about the final score? I get that you are a coast kind of guy and don\’t really understand why anyone would care to live in the midwest, but your bias seems to be a bit over the top. I won\’t be listening anymore. Good luck to ya.
Cowherd, your claims are so ridiculous, I take comfort in knowing you can’t quite possibly be that dumb and you are just be facetious. That being said, what’s sad for you, your act will tire and you’ll be a blowhard without a medium to practice your tired craft.
Funny how Iowa beat your two most underated teams. I guess strength of schedule (Iowa has both Florida and Texas, along with BSU, TCU, Cincy, YOU NAME IT) beat, means nothing.
Keep spouting venom, you’re only doing yourself in.
This website should probably be deleted, its for the best. Just sayin… Top 3 big ten teams can beat any team in the country on any field. Just because the big ten doesn’t have every recruit or high power offenses, doesn’t mean they can’t win…
Arizona the most underated team in the country huh? Iowa didn’t underate them, cause they beat them. Big Ten hater sitting in your SoCal house trying to figure what happend to USC against Oregon….
Are you on crack? Iowa not in the top 25. You truly are the homer of all homers
Hahahahaha Fellas, I gotta take the heat for this one. Colin and I go through the top 25 every Sunday morning. We even talked about how Iowa is creeping into our top ten but then when I wrote the poll I forgot to put them in their spot. That’s my mistake. Change your diapers and wipe the tears away, I made a mistake. The funny thing is that I did the same thing with Ohio State at the beginning of the year. Sorry Hawkeyes - Fireman Mike
Cowherd has really turned into a horse’s @$$. How do you not rank Iowa who has beaten Penn St, Arizona (who he calls the most under-rated team in the country), Michigan, Wisconsin and Michigan St. What an idiot. He has lost all credibility and can now be considered just a blowhard shock jock
Mike I need the picks to get hot made so $$ this week
Children of the Corn are 9-0!
“Just win baby” - Al Davis
Colin,
Your opinion on Iowa is unbelieveable. It looks like you are punishing them for being undefeated. Just because they win in an ugly fashion you can’t take away from them actually winning these games. If it was a PAC 10 team you would call it moxy, fortitude, or a never quit metality. Since it’s Iowa, a Big 10 team, you call it luck. Don’t give me “lack of team speed or quality athletes” as we are 2 and 1 against SEC teams in bowl games the last 5 years. What can we do to make you happy?
Let’s see how long it takes for Hawkeyes fans to stop going straight from their message board to the comment section of our site before realizing it was a simple mistake.
Don’t forget you Hawkeye fans, we were one of the only places that had Iowa ranked in the top 25 at the beginning of the season. Now since you guys have beat up on the BIg Ten your egos get inflated - which is cool with us, enjoy the ride fellas - and start ripping us. Chill out and look at our track record. We’ve been on the Hawkeye bus all season, with the exception of week 2 when they scared us too much.
Go back and take a look at how much we talk about the NFL talent on the Iowa roster and the bright futures of Brian Bulaga and Amari Speivey (who I watched play running back in high school in CT). We apologize, now stop acting like idiots. Thanks - Fireman Mike
http://www.theherdsword.com/2009/09/03/the-herds-word-preseason-top-25/
http://www.theherdsword.com/2009/09/08/the-herds-word-top-25-week-1/
http://www.theherdsword.com/2009/09/21/college-football-top-25-week-3-2/
http://www.theherdsword.com/2009/09/28/college-football-top-25-week-4/
How many times does USC have to loss to get dropped down??? It must be nice to not have to prove it on the field, but only on the recruiting trail to be a top 10 team.
I enjoy reading the rankings of people that don’t hold loses against teams. Sure, teams should primarily concern themselves with winning games, but it’s okay to lose to a weak opponent and a good opponent so long as you recruit well and really beat up the rest of those weak opponents. Teams can even lose
Oh, and Fireman. There is a huge difference between people crying (”wipe away those tears”) and telling you that your rankings don’t reflect the reality of the season. USC and Oklahoma have proven that they CAN’T beat any team put in front of them. USC has lost 25% of their games. Oklahoma? 37.5%. They just aren’t that good. Sorry.
unbelievably shallow grasp of college football and worthless biased content. one time visitor here.
“Don’t forget you Hawkeye fans, we were one of the only places that had Iowa ranked in the top 25 at the beginning of the season.”
http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings/_/week/1
-#22 in the AP, #21 in the USA Today
“Go back and take a look at how much we talk about the NFL talent on the Iowa roster and the bright futures of Brian Bulaga and Amari Speivey”
Like when Kirk Herbstreit was on your show talking about how Iowa’s speed was underrated and how they DO have NFL prospects? “Oh yeah, maybe for the Lions…..or the Rams” was Cowherd’s response.
Get a clue, or better yet, get a fact checker.
It is ridiculous to have USC in the top 10, they may have all world talent, but they forget too often that the game is played on the field. USC perennially does not show up against some lower tier and gets a pass. Oregon was a team that beat them in every phase, but the Washington loss is embarassing.
8. Oklahoma (3-1) - As the weeks go by, one loss will mean less and less. Oklahoma will be in contention until the end.
I like how you said this in week 4. 2 wins against nobody and 2 loses against good teams later and Oklahoma is still in contention. Why? Because you still have \’em in your top-15. Gotta love self-fulfilling prophecies.
It is funny how SEC teams like Alabame and Florida play close games and it is called a hard fought victory in the tough SEC conference (b***s***) and when Iowa plays a close game in the big ten it is because Iowa is not that good and the big ten sucks. People have annointed the SEC as the undisputed #1 conference in America, but to be honest the SEC has its share a crappy teams just like every other conference. The media just continues to have a man crush on the SEC. I agree that they have better top end teams than the big ten, but top to bottom the bottom teams in the big ten would roll teams like Kentucky, Vandy, and Miss St.
I also do not understand why people continue to bring up Iowa’s lack of star recruits. They cant be good if they dont get 5 star recruits!! HAHA the media is so stupid. Look at Illinios if you think recruiting is exerything.
Cowherd is just pissed because Kirk made him look like an idiot when they talked about Iowa….HAHA
Collin,
I always enjoy listening to you on espn radio, but I have to say you are way off on Iowa. Sure the Indiana game was a psycho game, but to have us at #11 while being undefeated and having the 6th hardest schedule out of anyone on your list is just dumb. You call Arizona the most underrated team in the country which we soundly beat. You might not think we deserve #4 but your #11 ranking just shows your extreme lack of knowledge concerning college football.
I love how negative his comments are concerning Iowa. (Definitely the most negative concerning any team in his ranking) Already predicting we’ll lose and burst the big 10 bubble. How about the PAC 10 bubble that got completely decimated with their love child USC getting completely worked by Oregan who got beat by the most overrated team in the country Boise State.
Seriously man do you really think a team that goes undefeated with one of the hardest schedules in the country will have “pretty games.” What about Florida v. LSU- that was one of the worst games i’ve ever watched on TV.
If ignorance is bliss, Colin is a very happy man.
Are you for real. check the facts, watch some games. Bama has the worst red zone offense in the country. Florida is up and down.. but Iowa can’t crack your top 10.. Are you football retarded.. Iowan 3-1 agains SEC in bowl games since 04. Barely lost to Texas in another and have one of the toughest schedules in the country. teams like Norte Dame fart and get rated.. USC has to lose twice before people concede this might not be there year.. Check your facts and trying watching some games before you speak or write.. first and last time on your site.. idiot
Better to be silent and thought an idiot the speak and remove all doubt………
I can’t waith for the Rose Bowl this year when Oregon POUNDS Iowa. How many years in row does the BIG 10 need to be embarrased during bowl season before people “get it”. If you replaced “10″ with “East” nobody would be complaining about Iowa and the conference not getting any respect. Just look at the track record of the conference in Bowls, especially BCS bowls. Hate to tell you this but 2002 was a looong time ago.
I used to respect you. I thought you were a “national” news personality. The fact that you edited your top 25 and stuck Iowa at 11 almost makes you look like a bigger biased moron that you already did. Also the fact you have an average USC team up that high when they have shown the entire world they just aren’t that good. Yes they probably do have the most “talent” in college football.. but ask Ron Zook if that means you always win. Douche.
Who cares what Jim Rome Jr says or writes. This guy is one of the biggest flip-floppers in sports radio. He\’s just a loud-mouthed, bug-eyed, snaggletooth DB.
So Iowa has one of the toughest schedules in the country. Has gone undefeated thus far beating #11 Penn State (by double digits on the road), #18 Arizona (27-10 before Ariz scores garbage TD), and #21 Wisconsin (by double digits on the road) and has fought some critical injuries all year long but still aren’t good enough for your top 10? You are a disgrace to objective journalism. Let me guess if they beat OSU (and 4 of the top 21 teams in the country) then they are worthy of your top 10? That is just ridiculous. Florida has played TWO teams with a winning record! Who has Texas played? Boise State outside of Oregon? TCU?
You keep claiming that you have always favored Iowa but listening to you over the course of the season you have CLEARLY dislike Iowa. You have on numerous occasions talked trash about Iowa. How people can still respect your ‘analysis’ is beyond me. I hope the Hawkeyes beat Ohio State (the 4th win against a top 21 team in the process) so that they could maybe crack your precious top 10. You are insane man.
Wow! Do people really take you seriously?! USC at #6 after they just got rolled with over 600yds of offense. It also appears you don’t like Iowa too much, even though I’ve read they have played the hardest schedule in the country and actually won every game.
Shock jock at best. Hard up for ratings?
Number of opponents defeated that currently have winning records:
1. Iowa 6
2. Cincinnati 4
TCU 4
Texas 4
5. Oregon 3
Alabama 3
7. Boise State 2
Florida 2
Total won-lost records (and winning %) of defeated opponents:
1. Iowa 44-31 .586
2. Florida 36-29 .554
3. Texas 35-30 .538
4. Oregon 29-28 .508
5. TCU 34-33 .507
6. Bama 32-35 .478
7. Cincinnati 30-36 .454
8. Boise State 27-37 .421
Total won-lost records of opponents defeated in their home stadiums (i.e. road wins)
1. Iowa 23-12 .657
2. Texas 15-9 .625
3. Florida 15-10 .600
4. Bama 14-10 .583
5. TCU 19-14 .575
6. Cincinnati 21-20 .512
7. Boise State 14-18 .437
8. Oregon 6-10 .375
Number of defeated opponents ranked in current BCS Top 25:
1. Iowa 3 (Penn State, Arizona, Wisconsin)
Oregon 3 (USC, Utah, California)
3. Texas (Okla, OKST)
4. Boise State 1 (Oregon)
5. Cincinnati 1 (South Florida)
Florida (LSU)
Bama (VT)
8. TCU 0
Won-lost records of remaining teams left on schedule:
1. Bama 22-12 .647
2. Iowa 17-10 .629
3. Oregon 19-12 .612
4. Cincinnnati 19-13 .593
5. Texas 18-14 .563
6. Boise State 20-22 .476
7. TCU 15-17 .468
8. Florida 14-20 .292
Read the last sentence of your post bro. Did you get that off a bumper sticker or something? If so, you should have slowed down and remembered it a little better.
Brandon, you neglect to mention weeks 2,3 and 4 when the polls couldn’t run far enough away from Iowa and we had them in the 20’s. We even called the Penn State upset, which we didn’t think was an upset at all. Nice try though.
http://www.theherdsword.com/2009/09/25/fireman-mikes-fab-five-football-bets-2/
Read the last sentence of the breakdown.
You guys called the PSU upset and think that\\\’s so special, SO DID EVERYONE! Florida fans called it, most people at ESPN called it, anyone with a brain could tell you that this game wasn\\\’t an upset.
\\"12. Miami (6-2) - They went into Wake Forest and came away with a very impressive 28-27 come-from-behind victory that proved a lot about their program.\\"
Beating Wake Forest proves a lot about their program?
We were just talking about resiliency that good programs have. Places like Wake Forest, Clemson, UConn, Rutgers, BYU, Wisconsin, etc. are underrated in terms of tough road games. UConn and Wake aren’t so much about the crowd but about how good the Huskies and Demons play at home. That’s all we’re saying dude. Good programs come back from 14 down to beat those teams. Great programs never put themselves in that situation in the first place. Miami is back to being a good program after a few years of crap.
You have an amazing point there about good teams compared to great teams.
Iowa cannot be considered a great team this year. If they were a great team, why is 75% of hawkeye fan base worried about losing home games to awful opponents?
I’ve been worried about having close games(and/or losing) for every game this year except Arky State and look what happened in that. Florida/Bama/Texas fans don’t worry about losing home games to bad teams.
Get serious Iowa fans, this will not matter because you will not beat Ohio State in Columbus. If you get to the Rose Bowl you will be a 7+ point dog to Oregon or SC for a reason. Your a “cute” story that will flame out by the end of the season.
As an Arizona fan, I would love to play Iowa again with Nick Foles at QB instead of Matt Scott who started and played for the majority of the Iowa game. Good thing they come to Tucson next year! I think Iowa is a good team.
well said, Ryan. all these Iowa fans are doing is legitimizing the criticism of their team by freaking out. it’s obvious that they’re scared the ride is going to end any second, so they’re living it up while they can. rational people see that Iowa is a GOOD team that will be over it’s skis come time to play in Pasedena. but live it up, Hawkeyes. you’ve earned a high ranking and should be proud of your season. just don’t come crawling back asking for forgiveness when the ride stops…
and name-calling is super immature…way to represent that old-fashioned midwest sensibility. “you don’t agree with me so your a loser/DBag/idiot”. eloquently stated
LOL Mississippi St 4th best in any other conference? Laughable, I didnt realize a marque win over Vandy by 12 made you an elite team. When will you people realize maybe the SEC is haveing a down year with 3 very solid teams and the rest down. I hope Iowa just starts scheduling cupcakes and takes Pitt and Arizona off their schedule because it’s not who you beat it’s by how much. I understand how Iowas wins over Arizona, Penn St, Wisconsin,Iowa St, Michigan, Michigan St. Those are meaningless wins. Now Beating Tulsa by 7, and UC Davis by 18 WOW thats an impressive body of work.
Spin it how you like man, you used to be fun to listen to. But lately some Iowa wrestler punched you in a bar or something because your blind hate is just too much.
Iowa fans, please stop confusing honesty with hate and think about what you’re saying. You’re claiming that we ‘hate’ Iowa and we are out to route against them. Why the hell would we ‘hate’ the Iowa football program.
We’ve been honest with their ranking all season, from the start of the season when people were dropping them from the polls until now when they are everybody’s favorite story. We didn’t love the Hawkeyes six weeks ago and we don’t hate the Hawkeyes now. Any realistic Iowa fan knows where the program ranks right now, it’s not a secret or a conspiracy.
Vegas has them ranked in the same position we do, 11th. Hell, the media only has them 3 spots higher. We know it’s tough to be honest with yourself when you’re a fan of a college team especially but give it a shot and you’ll see where we’re coming from.
Joel and Ryan,
And what if Iowa DOES win in Columbus? Iowa has won by double digits at TOUGH venues in #11 Penn State and #21 Wisconsin (who was 34-2 in their last 36 home games). Lets make it more interesting and say what if Arizona defeats Oregon in the process. What does that say about Iowa?
There are a lot of scenarios that can play out. Many of them stand to depict Iowa in an even better light. You sound like the haters Ohio State had to deal with in 2002. Winning ugly is still winning. And winning ugly doesn’t make you a bad team a la OSU 2002.
Well it does seem like a bit of ‘hate’ when you rag on Iowa just the other day for its ‘cupcake’ schedule when Iowa played two BCS schools both of whom should be bowl elgible. You conveniently left out Arizona, your ‘most underrated team in the country’, in that discussion. It’s sly ‘journalism’ like that which peeves Iowa fans. In actuality Iowa’s SOS is ranked #7 in the country. Multiple times this year you have misled your listeners on Iowa with blatant mistruths. You fail to show respect when it is due. I’m sure you’re just trying to rile up fans b/c that is what you do. But don’t be a crybaby when the fans hit back.
Boy, I’ve never seen Cow Poop’s face before but he really has a face for radio. I believe there is no need to play games. All we should do is ask the “Vegas Guys” who should win and add up a team’s five star recruits and declare that team the winner. Since we are at it, we should reverse the following champs since Vegas would determine they should have won:
1969 Jets and Mets, 86 Penn State, 05 Texas.
The Oregon victory over USC should be reversed since Vegas would detrmine USC to be the favarite in a rematch. Also, the Stanford victory over USC should be null and void since USC was the overwhelming favarite as determined by the Vegas guys and had many more 5 star recruits.