The Sweet 16: Complex College Football Power Rankings, Week 6

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Enough fooling around. Last week we debuted our Power Rankings with a list that featured all undefeated teams. Of course to make that list, we had to include traditional powerhouses like North Dakota State, who's not even eligible to play in the BCS Championship (although, FWIW, they still have the No. 1 Points Allowed defense in the entire NCAA). But the first BCS rankings come out after this weekend, so it's time to get down to business. We've got three one-loss teams in the top 10, each of which actually have half a chance of winning the whole thing if they win out from here. First though, we go to Twitter, for some "fan" mail, from reader Matt Sanders in Eugene: "Complex. Great with style. Great with music. But I'd leave the football to the pros. Oregon Ducks are better than 10/16 you pick." After we read that, we said, "Wait, Complex covers music?" But once we got over our initial shock, we decided that if Matt's so smart, maybe he'd like to do his own list. Here it is: 

1. LSU- Almost flawless until they face the Crimson Tide on Nov. 5th.

2. Alabama- Pure Powerhouse with the focus to win it all.

3. Wisconsin- Pretty sure they grow 345 pound Offensive linemen on trees.

4. Oklahoma- No reason to fret over the recent drop in the polls. Room to grow.

5. Stanford- Future NFL star QB anxiously waiting for Oregon to head south Nov. 12th.

6. Oklahoma State- QB/WR duo for the ages with the second flyest uniform combo in the nation.

7. Clemson- Unlike the majority of these teams, Clemson has proven its deserving rank against 3 AP top 25 teams.

8. Oregon- Fastest rush offense in the nation and a sneaky freshman Snoop Dogg named Black Mamba.

9. Arkansas- Pass heavy SEC power with a proven come from behind victory over Texas A&M.

10. Michigan- Denard Robinson is a beast. Dude doesn’t even tie his shoes!

11. South Carolina- Gamecock fans may finally rest. Looks like the end of the Stephen Garcia era.

12. Nebraska- Punked by Wisconsin, but still no cupcake.

13. Boise State- Great Quarterback, but the blue turf drops them down a few notches on this list.

14. Illinois- Big win over ASU wont be enough to make it through the Big Ten.

15. Arizona State- Vontaze Burfict is one bad dude, and that Offense put up 43 on USC.

16. Georgia Tech- Undefeated through six with the big one vs. Clemson on Oct. 29.

Each week we'll feature contributions from readers. This week's question: "Which team currently NOT in our top 10 has the best chance of making the BCS Championship?" Follow Complex_Sports and tweet your answer there. The author of the best response will get the chance to write their own top 16 in next week's ranking.

16. Houston

Last Week's Rank: 15
Record: 6 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. East Carolina, 56-3
Up Next: vs. Marshall (10/22)
Trending: Up

Do we really believe Houston is better than some of the teams not on this list (Texas A&M, Texas, Nebraska, even Arizona State)? Yes! Why else would they be on the fucking list? OK, do we "Bet the house, farm, and stamp collection" believe that they're better than those squads? Maybe not. But we had them in our "All Undefeated" rankings last week, they made the AP top 25 this week, and they've got the No. 1 passing game in the country. And who knows, if these BCS heavyweights beat up on each other enough, the Cougars might land on somebody else's rankings too. —Jack Erwin

15. Kansas State

Last Week's Rank: 9
Record: 5 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Missouri, 24-17
Up Next: @ Texas Tech
Trending: Up

Bill Snyder is to college football coaches what Charles Woodson is to NFL cornerbacks — they've got the fountain of youth on lock. His Wildcats are 5-0 and scratching up the polls, and if they get past Texas Tech Saturday, they've only got a match-up with in-state rival Kansas between them and a 7-0 record going into the "Ring of Fire" portion of their schedule: consecutive games against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas A&M. —Richard Boadu

14. Illinois

Last Week's Rank: 13
Record: 6 - 0
This Week's Game: W @ Indiana, 41-20
Up Next: vs. Ohio State
Trending: Up

At 6-0, the Illini have the school's best record since 1951. Falling behind 10-0 early, Illinois made sure to keep the streak alive with three massive plays: An A.J. Jenkins 77-yard reception, a 66-yard fumble recovery for a TD, and another Jenkins 67-yard TD. The team also rushed for a total of 308 yards. If they can keep an offensive balance like that, they should be able to take down Ohio State when they come to town this weekend. —Tony Markovich

13. Georgia Tech

Last Week's Rank: 12
Record: 6 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Maryland, 21-16
Up Next: @ Virginia
Trending: Up

The good news: Virginia doesn't have a very good football team this year. So GT should be able to stay undefeated for another week pretty easily. The bad news: They've got games against the Miami, Clemson, Virginia Tech, AND Georgia still on the schedule (eesh!). So we really don't expect it to stay that way. Grab a drink, get comfortable, and enjoy your time at the Complex Power Ranking party, guys! 'Cause the way things are looking, you're probably not gonna be here for long. —Chris Yuscavage

12. Michigan

Last Week's Rank: 10
Record: 6 - 0
This Week's Game: W @ Northwestern 42-24
Up Next: @ Michigan State
Trending: Up

Denard Robinson looks more and more like one of those guys that's going to have a pretty successful college career and then disappear when he gets to the NFL. After allowing 10 points total in the previous three games, Michigan gave up 24 to Northwestern, in part because Robinson threw three horrible interceptions. His inaccuracy at times is worrying, but he made up for it in the second half by leading the Wolverines to 42 points with his four total TDs. Fact of the day: Since 1975, every time Michigan has started 6-0, they have played in the Rose Bowl. —Tony Markovich

11. Boise State

Last Week's Rank: 11
Record: 5 - 0
This Week's Game: W @ Fresno State, 57-7
Up Next: @ Colorado State
Trending: Up

Damn, it's gotta be hard to be a Boise State fan. You get one marquee game at the beginning of the year, then you have to watch the Broncos take a bunch of teams to the woodshed in the first quarter (or sweat bullets when they don't) while their strength of schedule slowly cripples their BCS standing. Receiver Geraldo Bodewijn returned from an NCAA suspension last week to help BSU destroy Fresno State, and he and QB Kellen Moore will have a month to refine their game before the Broncos host TCU in what will be their biggest game of the year. The good news for Boise State? They're No. 5 in the current AP poll (with a voter who seems determined to give them a first place vote each week). The bad news? There are no fewer than three teams from BCS conferences behind them poised to leapfrog the Broncos should they continue to win. —Jack Erwin

10. South Carolina

Last Week's Rank: Not ranked
Record: 5 - 1
This Week's Game: W vs. Kentucky, 54-3
Up Next: @ Mississippi State
Trending: Up

Yes, South Carolina just beat up the Kentucky school for the blind, but off the field distractions may be what eventually destroys the Gamecocks. Stephen Garcia was recently booted from the team after his 20th team violation. It will be interesting to see how South Carolina responds to the commotion. And oh yeah, Marcus Lattimore is still running all over his opponents. —Nick Restivo

9. Oregon

Last Week's Rank: Not ranked
Record: 4 - 1
This Week's Game: W vs. Cal, 43-15
Up Next: vs. Arizona State
Trending: Up

An impressive rout of the Cal Bears was looking pretty good for the Ducks until all of Oregon held its collective breath when LaMichael James went down in the fourth quarter. Lucky for them, the dislocated elbow looked a lot more gruesome than it was, as the running back is questionable for their upcoming game against Arizona State. James' average of over 200 yards over the last three games will certainly be needed against the Sun Devils, who've put up an average of 35 points per game this season. Between these two Pac-12 powerhouses and their ridiculously hot cheerleaders, it's makes for must-watch TV this Saturday. —Ralph Warner

8. Stanford

Last Week's Rank: 8
Record: 5 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Colorado, 48-7
Up Next: @ Washington State
Trending: Neutral

OK, so whooping on the now 1-5 Colorado Buffaloes isn't really the biggest accomplishment, but Andrew Luck putting up 370 yards and three touchdowns deserves some props. The Heisman favorite and 2011 No. 1 NFL Draft Pick led the Cardinal to their 13th consecutive win (the longest winning streak in the nation). The only potential speed bump on schedule is a battle with Oregon on Nov. 12. So, while the nation keeps sleeping on the Pac-12, Luck & Co. will continue to stunt. See y'all in January. —Ralph Warner

7. Arkansas

Last Week's Rank: Not ranked
Record: 5 - 1
This Week's Game: W vs. Auburn 38-14
Up Next: @ Ole Miss (Oct. 22)
Trending: Up

Arkansas proved that they have the offensive fire power to play with anyone, and when their defense is healthy they can compete with the best. The Razorbacks are idle this weekend, but then they head down to Ole Miss for an expected beat down. With LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas all playing great, the SEC West may be the toughest division in college football; by the end of the year Arkansas might be third in their division—and third in the country. —Nick Restivo

6. Clemson

Last Week's Rank: 2
Record: 6 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Boston College, 36-14
Up Next: @ Maryland
Trending: Up

Can anyone stop this team? No, really: Can anyone do it? We know BC isn't exactly the best squad in the nation (in fact, they're one of the worst), but Clemson made them look like a fucking Pee Wee football team last Saturday. Don't look now, but if the Tigers can follow a couple of old sports cliches ("play one game at a time," "give 110 percent on the field," and, our personal favorite, "take care of the football") there's absolutely no reason they shouldn't be undefeated at the end of the season. Their remaining schedule includes a bunch of ACC lackies and a South Carolina team that just booted their starting QB from the team. Everything but the stamp is on your BCS invitation, fellas. Don't fuck this up! —Chris Yuscavage

5. Oklahoma State

Last Week's Rank: 6
Record: 5 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Kansas, 70-28
Up Next: @ Texas
Trending: Up

After dropping 70 on the Jayhawks last weekend, the Oregon Ducks of the South are balling like Jim Jones in 2006. They never wear the same jersey twice but they always get the same result and that's a W. It's pretty much smooth sailing for Pistol Pete's goons until December 3rd when they face the Sooners. —Richard Boadu

4. Wisconsin

Last Week's Rank: 3
Record: 5 - 0
This Week's Game: Bye
Up Next: vs. Indiana
Trending: Up

On paper, there isn't a game on Wisconsin's schedule that looks even remotely threatening. But this is the Big 10, the conference where year after year a surprise upset screws the best team over. With Michigan breathing down their neck, the Badgers can't afford to make mistakes.Wisconsin is third in the country in scoring at 48.4 and third in defense at 10.2 points allowed, so we don't see that happening any time soon. —Tony Markovich

3. Alabama

Last Week's Rank: 1
Record: 6 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Vanderbilt, 34-0
Up Next: @ Ole Miss
Trending: Up

Alabama seems to get stronger as the weeks go by. They recently shut out a Vanderbilt team that isn't as weak as previous years, and the Crimson Tide can put up points now which is a scary complement to the 3-4 Nick Saban defense. 'Bama will cruise this weekend against an Ole Miss team that desperately wants this nightmare season to end. —Nick Restivo

2. LSU

Last Week's Rank: 4
Record: 6 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Florida, 41-11
Up Next: @ Tennessee
Trending: Up

Even though LSU played Florida last weekend it wasn't a true test since the Gators were without their starting quarterback Jeff Brantley. This week the Tigers head to Neyland Stadium to play the Volunteers and it will be more of the same since the Vols' starting quarterback Tyler Bray is out for six weeks with a thumb injury. LSU will continue to cruise until they meet the Crimson Tide in this year's edition of the Game of the Century on November 5th. —Nick Restivo

1. Oklahoma

Last Week's Rank: 5
Record: 5 - 0
This Week's Game: W @ Texas, 55-17
Up Next: @ Kansas
Trending: Up

Sure LSU should be No. 1 right now, but the meat of the Sooners schedule is coming up for them to prove themselves. They just aced their first test last week grilling the Texas Shorthorns. If the Sooners stay undefeated they'll probably face someone from the SEC for the chip, in one of those "Is the SEC head and shoulders better than everybody else?" games. Let's see if Big Game Bob can get his name back. —Richard Boadu