The Sweet 16: College Football Power Rankings (Week 9)

This late in the season, it's actually shocking in the college football world that there are still six undefeated teams hanging around. It didn't hurt that three of those teams didn't play this week, but there was no shortage of excitement. Stanford barely escaped a vicious USC attack, Wisconsin lost on another last-minute bomb, two undefeated teams lost, and the Houston QB set the single-game touchdown passing record. Oh, and like usual, an idle Boise State got hurdled in the BCS standings. First though, we start with a club that doesn't even qualify for the BCS...

16. North Dakota State

Last Week's Rank: Not Ranked
BCS Rank: Not Ranked
Record: 8 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Northern Iowa, 27-19
Up Next: @ Indiana State
Trending: Up

That's right! The Bison are back in our rankings for the first time since our first week after beating the only other team possibly worth mentioning in the Missouri Valley Conference. Along with Sam Houston State, the Bison are one of two remaining undefeated team in Division I-AA (a.k.a the FCS), and considering the remaining teams they have to face are a combined 12-12, there's no reason they shouldn't finish the season the same way. QB Brock Jensen completed 88 percent of his passes, and the team's defense held a Northern Iowa squad that averaged 202 yards on the ground to only 53. —Tony Markovich

15. Houston

Last Week's Rank: 16
BCS Rank: 13
Record: 8 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Rice, 73-34
Up Next: @ UAB
Trending: Up

We don't know if you've heard, but Houston's offense is sorta, kinda, a little bit AMAZING. Already on a blistering pace this season, Case Keenum rocked the nation Thursday night with an unheard of nine touchdowns! We'll wait while that sinks in...Keenum set the FBS touchdown record and threw for 534 yards in the process. The Cougars dropped 73 points on Rice, increasing their point total for the fourth straight week. Finally, after all that, this team is getting some national respect in the BCS. Just don't forget who has been paying attention the entire season. (Hint: It was us.) —Tony Markovich

14. Michigan State

Last Week's Rank: 8
BCS Rank: 17
Record: 6 - 2
This Week's Game: L @ Nebraska 3-24
Up Next: vs. Minnesota
Trending: Down

Michigan State finally fell in the last leg of its fiery four-game path of challengers. The Spartans were held to just three points against Nebraska after putting up a total of 65 on Wisconsin and Michigan in the previous two weeks. Of the four remaining opponents on their schedule, only Iowa has a winning record; if the Spartans can win out and Nebraska loses in the Big 10 again, Michigan State could still find itself in the inaugural conference championship game. —Tony Markovich

13. Michigan

Last Week's Rank: Not Ranked
BCS Rank: 15
Record: 7 - 1
This Week's Game: W vs. Purdue, 36-14
Up Next: @ Iowa
Trending: Up

In a crazy week full of upsets in the Big 10, Michigan actually stayed in the driver's seat and took care of business. After falling behind to start the game, the Wolverines' running attack absolutely exploded, accounting for all four touchdowns. As a team, Michigan averaged 6.4 yards over 53 carries (for the math-challenged, that's 339 yards total). Coming into the game with only 253 yards, sophomore Fitzgerald Toussaint was the standout back with 170 yards and two scores. We're not really convinced this team has what it takes to win a BCS game, but they can still sneak into the Rose Bowl with a little help. —Tony Markovich

12. South Carolina

Last Week's Rank: Not Ranked
BCS Rank: 9
Record: 7 - 1
This Week's Game: W @ Tennessee, 14-3
Up Next: @ Arkansas
Trending: Up

We dropped the Gamecocks out of the rankings last week, based solely on the players who aren't playing for them any more (namely QB Stephen Garcia who was kicked off the team, and RB Marcus Lattimore who suffered a season-ending knee injury). But until they actually start losing games, we've got to keep them on the list. Playing at Arkansas is obviously a real test, but as far as disgraced former NFL head coaches go, we're always going to root for Steve Spurrier over Bobby Petrino. —Jack Erwin

11. Virginia Tech

Last Week's Rank: 14
BCS Rank: 12
Record: 8 - 1
This Week's Game: W @ Duke, 14-10
Up Next: @ Georgia Tech
Trending: Neutral

A four-point win over Duke doesn't exactly scream, "We're a BCS-worthy team!" But, hey: A win is a win. Unfortunately, a win won't come quite as easily next Saturday when VT takes a trip to Atlanta to play the Yellow Jackets. You saw what happened to Clemson this weekend when they took that same trip, right? A word to the wise: GT ain't Duke, Hokies. So come ready to play.—Chris Yuscavage

10. Clemson

Last Week's Rank: 4
BCS Rank: 11
Record: 8 - 1
This Week's Game: L vs. Georgia Tech, 31-17
Up Next: vs. Wake Forest
Trending: Down

Well, so much for that! Last week, we were really starting to think of Clemson as a serious contender for the BCS National Championship. But they looked absolutely awful against the Yellow Jackets, turning the ball over four times and giving up 176 rushing yards to GT's talented QB Tevin Washington. All isn't lost for the Tigers—they're still more than likely to end up in the ACC championship game if they can knock off a couple of beatable opponents. The road starts on Saturday. We almost feel bad for the Demon Deacons.—Chris Yuscavage

9. Arkansas

Last Week's Rank: 12
BCS Rank: 7
Record: 7 - 1
This Week's Game: W @ Vanderbilt 31-28
Up Next: vs. South Carolina
Trending: Neutral

For the second week in a row, the Razorbacks had to come from behind to beat an inferior opponent on the road. They're home for the next three weeks, with only South Carolina this weekend representing a real threat. They should have a chance to prove their worth on the Friday after Thanksgiving with a matchup in Baton Rouge against LSU—the only problem for Arkansas? They could very easily remain a top 10 BCS team and not make a BCS bowl if Alabama and LSU both remain ranked ahead of them. —Jack Erwin

8. Oklahoma

Last Week's Rank: 10
BCS Rank: 6
Record: 7 - 1
This Week's Game: W @ Kansas State, 58-17
Up Next: vs. Texas A&M
Trending: Up

The #SoonerScratchBack is on and poppin'. The Sooners lived up to Barry Switzer's infamous words and "hung half a hundred on 'em" defeating the BCS No. 8 on the road this past weekend. Oklahoma also got some help with a Clemson loss. In reality, all the Sooners need to do is win out and get a Stanford loss somewhere down the lines and they should be able to leap frog Boise State and get back into the BCS Championship. Idaho would then secede from the United States, but why should that be Oklahoma's problem?!? —Richard Boadu

7. Nebraska

Last Week's Rank: 15
BCS Rank: 10
Record: 7 - 1
This Week's Game: W vs Michigan State, 24-3
Up Next: vs. Northwestern
Trending: Up

Apparently Nebraska has been studying tape of its new conference opponents, because they continued the trend of Big 10 teams continually screwing each other over. Any time one of the conference's powers makes its way up the rankings, another team comes out and takes 'em down, making us wonder if any Big 10 team is actually good enough to hang with the big boys. The Cornhuskers held Michigan State to only three points, but the Nebraska offense didn't impress either. RB Rex Burkhead still pounded out 137 big yards, but it was on 35 carries, and QB Taylor Martinez only had 80 yards. Still, the 'Huskers lone loss was a relatively early road drubbing at Wisconsin, so they're above Oklahoma in our eyes. —Tony Markovich

6. Oregon

Last Week's Rank: 7
BCS Rank: 8
Record: 7 - 1
This Week's Game: W vs. Washington State, 43-28
Up Next: @ Washington
Trending: Neutral

Whether it's your favorite sports squad or your personal life, having a few different options on your team can be beneficial. But it can and likely will bring some drama, too. Despite a solid win over Washington State, starting quarterback (for now) Darron Thomas sounded a little defensive in postgame interviews. In his first game back from injury, Thomas threw two interceptions and was pulled for redshirt freshman Bryan Bennett, who would go on to lead the Ducks to three touchdown drives. Thomas later said this of his 153-yard, one touchdown, and two interception performance: "You look at the stats, I don't think it was that bad." Head coach Chip Kelly said he thought Bennett was the better second half option with a slim five-point lead while offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said the team has all their faith in Thomas and that there's nothing more to it. With a huge match-up against Stanford less than two weeks away, we're wondering if Dr. Phil may be needed to sort things out. —Ralph Warner

5. Boise State

Last Week's Rank: 6
BCS Rank: 5
Record: 7 - 0
This Week's Game: Idle
Up Next: @ UNLV
Trending: Neutral

Uh-oh. You read our note on Oklahoma? Boise State knew that it would have to finish as one of only two (or fewer) undefeated teams to have a chance at the BCS Championship, so getting jumped by Stanford in the latest BCS standings was expected. But now the Broncos can see the Sooners in their rearview mirror too. Get that righteous indignation going folks... —Jack Erwin

4. Stanford

Last Week's Rank: 4
BCS Rank: 4
Record: 8 - 0
This Week's Game: W @ USC, 56-48
Up Next: @ Oregon State Beavers
Trending: Up

The key to Stanford still having a shot at the national title? Luck. Most of this season that's meant relying on their quarterback, but this past weekend it most definitely referred to some good fortune. Before Saturday's triple-overtime thriller, most had expected a good game between the undefeated Cardinal and 6-1 Trojans, but not many predicted SC pushing Andrew Luck & Co. to within 51 seconds of their first loss in over a year. Stanford's star QB had another solid performance with 330 yards, three touchdowns, and one fourth quarter interception that he bounced back from with a scoring drive at the end of regulation and three more in each overtime to lead the Cardinal to victory. The fact that Arizona State beat Southern California by 21 points only weeks prior either means that Stanford had gotten used to blowing teams out and underestimated the Trojans, or that they truly have some flaws that may be exposed in their game against Oregon on Nov. 12. For now, it's best to be lucky and good. —Ralph Warner

3. Oklahoma State

Last Week's Rank: 3
BCS Rank: 3
Record: 8 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Baylor, 59-24
Up Next: vs. Kansas State
Trending: Up

Oklahoma State is known for their offense but this past weekend their defense shut down the most exciting quarterback in the country, Mr. Robert Griffin III of Baylor. The offense rolled as usual. The Boys should beat Kansas State, which means that after the pre-national championship is played in Tuscaloosa this weekend, OSU will be No. 2 in the BCS. —Richard Boadu

2. LSU

Last Week's Rank: 1
BCS Rank: 1
Record: 8 - 0
This Week's Game: Idle
Up Next: @ Alabama
Trending: Up

Let's play the comparison game, shall we? Both LSU and Alabama have powerful offenses, we know that, but it's the way each team fuels the offense that is different. If you combine LSU's top two runners, Spencer Ware and Michael Ford, you arrive at a grand total of 953, 36 yards LESS than 'Bama's top running back by himself. That's without even mentioning Alabama's other running back Eddie Lacy, who has contributed another 465 yards. Despite the disparity, the Crimson Tide have only scored one more point than LSU. —Tony Markovich

1. Alabama

Last Week's Rank: 2
BCS Rank: 2
Record: 8 - 0
This Week's Game: Idle
Up Next: vs. LSU
Trending: Up

Alabama and LSU have had two common opponents thus far: Tennessee and Florida; sucks for them, right? Looking at just the score, the Volunteers and Gators both took almost identical beatings. Against LSU, Florida never stood a chance, falling behind 24-3 in the first half. Nobody on LSU had individually outstanding games, yet the offense still piled up a balanced 453 yards to offset nine sloppy penalties. Facing Alabama, Florida actually went into the second quarter tied at 10 before the Tide brought down the steel curtain. In both matchups Florida turned the ball over twice. In the first halves of the Tennessee games, the Volunteers actually looked like they could hang with the best. Then the second halves rolled around, and the world was put back on track. Again, LSU had eight penalties, something that can easily swing the advantage for Saturday's game to 'Bama. These two teams are so insanely close that it's almost impossible. Statistically, Alabama's offense is slightly better, the defense is No. 1 in the country, and the game is in Tuscaloosa. If we had to pick, we'd say the Tide will take it. —Tony Markovich