Each week, State News football reporter Ethan Conley offers his own Top 10 college football rankings.
No. 1 — Ohio State (No. 1 AP, No. 1 BCS)
No. 2 — Michigan (No. 2 AP, No. 2 BCS)
Those one-possession victories over Illinois and Ball State? Those weren't indicators that the Buckeyes and Wolverines are overrated. They're just bored.
No. 3 — Texas (No. 4 AP, No. 5 BCS)
With BCS voters likely to hold a grudge against Louisville — even if the Cardinals run the table — Texas has positioned itself for a berth in the national championship game. And why not? From week to week, is there a team that's improved more than Texas? Look no further than Colt McCoy. He was completely flustered against Ohio State. Now? He's stepping into throws, getting right back up after big hits, leading game-winning drives and giving post-game interviews with blood dripping from his lip. Now that is a quarterback.
(Yeah, I know, I write about McCoy way too much. But don't worry, there's no Monica Seles-type incident on the horizon.)
No. 4 — Louisville (No. 3 AP, No. 3 BCS)
I just can't look at the Cardinals and think, "This is a better team than Texas." That's not to say they couldn't beat the Longhorns (or any other team in the nation). But nine times out of 10, I'd put my money on the team wearing burnt orange. And that's why — even with an undefeated record — Louisville is No. 4.
However, hindsight being 20/20, it was incredibly stupid of me to pick against the Cards last week. I should've stuck to my guns. I've been piling on West Virginia for being undisciplined and overrated all season.
And that's exactly what they were — the Nov. 2 game against Louisville just brought it to a bigger stage. That Mountaineers team you saw that night? It's the same one that's been playing all season, racking up stupid personal foul penalties and playing weak competition that protected the sieve-like defense.
So what happened when the Mountaineers finally met an opponent that pushed back? They crumbled. The best thing was Steve Slaton on the sideline, making sure to keep squeezing that hand whenever ESPN had a camera focused on him.
(Please, please, please, Louisville: Don't blow it against Rutgers after this goes to print. Stupid Thursday night games.)
No. 5 — Auburn (No. 5 AP, No. 6 BCS)
No. 6 — Florida (No. 6 AP, No. 4 BCS)
I've got a bad feeling about the Gators. Maybe it's because they just kicked the leader of their defense (defensive tackle Marcus Thomas) off the team. Or maybe it's because I wouldn't trust Chris Leak with a kneel down in a tight game, let alone third-and-long. Or maybe I'm just worried Nike is about to send them out wearing pink uniforms. You figure it out.
Speaking of Thomas, his high school coach, Richard Burnoski, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that Thomas is taking the punishment in stride.
"He's depressed, man," Burnoski said. "It looks horrible for him right now. He said he wants to focus on keeping a positive attitude, smoking some high-quality green and getting ready for the (NFL) Combine."
OK, so I made that pot part up.
(… And with the No. 4 pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select Marcus Thomas!)
No. 7 — Cal (No. 8 AP, No. 8 BCS)
Very quietly, the Golden Bears have won eight straight games.
Warrants mentioning, no?
No. 8 — Notre Dame (No. 9 AP, No. 9 BCS)
I don't have anything to say about the Irish this week, except that Charlie Weis is still a very large man.
No. 9 — Arkansas (No. 11 AP, No. 11 BCS)
Can the Razorbacks protect their home turf? Two of their last three games are at home, but both contests are against legit competition: Tennessee and LSU.
No. 10 — LSU (No. 12 AP, No. 12 BCS)
That win against Tennessee (not to mention West Virginia's meltdown) boosts the Tigers back into my Top 10. They've been on the outside looking in for weeks.
No. 11 — MSU
That's right, No. 11. They're on the brink. We're only a year away! Wahoo!
Ethan Conley can be reached at conleyet@msu.edu.
