SPEEDYLEE COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS

(Week 5)

          Every team in the Speedylee Top 10 that played this week, won. #2 Clemson proved why playing in a conference is so much tougher than playing as an independent with its narrow victory over North Carolina. Northwestern tried to prove the same lesson to #8 Wisconsin. There was some shuffling, despite all the wins, as #2 Clemson dropped a spot and #3 LSU moved up one without playing a game. #7 Auburn swapped places with #6 Ohio State. Iowa joined the party at the Big Boys Table, moving into a 10^th place tie with Texas. Remember, for all intents and purposes, nothing outside of the top six really matters at the end of the season.

1.     Georgia (4-0) rested up for a rough second half of the season.

2.     LSU (4-0) cleverly did not play and moved up a spot.

3.     Clemson (5-0) narrowly beat North Carolina, 21-20.

4.     Alabama (5-0) beat Mississippi 59-31.

5.     Oklahoma (4-0) handled Texas Tech, 55-16. The Sooners are pounding on the Final Four door.

6.     Auburn (5-0) beat Mississippi State, 56-23.

7.     Ohio State (5-0) beat Nebraska 48-7.

8.     Wisconsin (4-0) defeated Northwestern 24-15.

9.     Florida (5-0) blanked Towson 38-0.

10.  Texas (3-1) did not play.

 Iowa (4-0) beat Middle Tennessee 48-3.

WATCHLIST: Notre Dame (3-1) beat Virginia 35-20, Utah defeated Washington State 38-13, Michigan (3-1) found someone it could beat and spanked Rutgers 52-0, Army (3-1) did not play.

NOTES: It’s one thing to win a national title. It’s another thing to defend one, as #3 Clemson is learning. … #6 Auburn has probably played the toughest schedule in the country so far this season and still has a tough row to hoe. There is very little difference between the teams in the top six. … The two QBs who played for Alabama in its national championship game victory over Georgia two seasons ago both played very well Saturday. Both are strong contenders for the Heisman Trophy this season and one of them plays for Oklahoma. … Southern Cal’s inconsistency, which can partially be explained by its rash of QB injuries, bit the Trojans this week against Washington. … Slippery Rock improved to 4-0 with its 55-14 victory over Seton Hill.

NEXT WEEK’S KEY GAMES: #6 Auburn vs. #9 Florida, #7 Ohio State vs. unranked Michigan State.

INELIGIBLE: Penn State.