College Football Power Rankings (Post Week-Five Edition)

1. Oregon Ducks (4-0)  -- The Ducks and their Heisman candidate, Marcus Mariota, were off this week before what will be a very interesting matchup against high-scoring and undefeated Arizona on Thursday night. It will be the Ducks first significant test since their major victory against Michigan State at home.

Christion Jones

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0) -- The Tide were also gifted with a bye a week before a pivotal matchup for them, a SEC West battle with the dangerous Ole Miss Rebels. While the Rebels will bring their explosive offense to the table, the way Alabama has been passing the ball, this could be a shootout.
3. Florida State Seminoles (4-0) -- Somehow the Seminoles are still undefeated. After a scary opener scare against Oklahoma State, escaping at home against Clemson and playing bad against NC State, the 'Noles are still 4-0 and top the AP Poll. The offense has hits its stride but defensive questions still loom, and FSU could easily be 2-2 right now.
4. Oklahoma Sooners (4-0) -- Tennessee losing to Georgia this weekend didn't help the Sooners at all, who were also off. A win by the Vols (who did play very well) would have given Oklahoma a legit win on their schedule to compare with other Playoff contenders, something they somewhat lack.
5. Texas A&M Aggies (5-0) -- Arkansas is a much different team this year than last year's 3-9 bunch, and its not even close. The Razorbacks and running back Alex Collins gave the Aggies al they could handle, but the clutch ability and poise of Kenny Hill shown through. Was that the Heisman moment for the redshirt sophomore?
6. Auburn Tigers (4-0) -- Like the bulk of the Top 10, Auburn had a bye this week. And, also like much of the Top 10, they have a huge conference battle upcoming. Can the Tigers rejuvenate their rushing attack against Les Miles and LSU? This game is just one of many others with huge SEC West implications.
7. Baylor Bears (4-0) -- To nobody's surprise, Baylor and Bryce Petty had no issues with the Iowa State defense, winning by three scores. While the Bears have dominated their competition, their lack of a big win at this point is worrisome and could hold them back.
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0) -- The Irish completely outplayed a decent Syracuse team, winning 31-15 this past week. Everett Golson continues to look more and more like a real Heisman threat, while the defense has been stout.
9. Michigan State Spartans (3-1) -- Its kind of a weird time in East Lansing. Not only are the Spartans rolling, they are rolling big time. But, it isn't just the defense doing the work, it is the offense which has put up 73 and 56 in their last two games. Granted, Eastern Michigan and Wyoming aren't exactly elite teams, but it is a great sign for Mark Dantonio and MSU.
10. UCLA Bruins (4-0) -- The Bruins finally looked them the team that many picked to win the Pac-12, manhandling a ranked Arizona State team. Though, the win was with a banged up ASU team, and we really don't know how good the Sun Devils are. The win was impressive, but UCLA still has to prove themselves to rise much higher.
11. Ole Miss Rebels (4-0) -- While they didn't exactly run up the score, Ole Miss was able to get a nice victory over Memphis, improving to 4-0. It was important, as they weren't caught looking ahead to their huge battle with Alabama this week.
12. Georgia Bulldogs (3-1) -- The SEC East has been crazy weird already this season, so Georgia has emerged as my favorite. Tennessee is a nice conference win, and Todd Gurley and the Bulldogs were inches away from taking down South Carolina at home.
13. Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-0) -- It has been a long time since we saw a Mississippi State team thrash LSU like they did last week. Now, Dak Prescott and the Bulldogs need to carry that momentum on against Texas A&M, who brings a much scarier offense to the table than the Tigers of LSU.
14. Stanford Cardinal (3-1) -- Since their loss to USC, Stanford has really played well, beating Army 35-0 and then absolutely shutting down Washington this weekend. We don't have any clue how good Chris Peterson's Huskies are, but a Pac-12 North win helps the Cardinal no matter what.
15. USC Trojans (3-1) -- The Trojans have also recovered from their lone loss of the season very well, pummeling Oregon State yesterday. Cody Kessler continues to impress through the air, while USC has found their running game once more, after it disappeared in that loss to Boston College.
16. Wisconsin Badgers (3-1) -- Another team with one early loss, the Badgers are re-emerging as Playoff contenders behind superstar Melvin Gordon. After a rough first half, Gordon ran all over South Florida and right back into the Heisman chase after a slow start to the year.
17. LSU Tigers (4-1) -- It appears LSU has found an offensive spark, after they put up 63 points this past Saturday. While it was against New Mexico State, a strong performance like that can give the Tigers hope as they enter the meat of their SEC schedule.
18. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-0) -- Quietly, the 'Huskers have easily been the Big Ten's most impressive team, improving to 5-0 this weekend. Though, their soft schedule has stopped them from rising too far up the polls. A huge meeting with Michigan State this weekend could be a Big Ten Championship game preview.
19. Ohio State Buckeyes (3-1) -- Cincinnati is not a bad football team by any means, so to see Ohio State outplay them the way they did was impressive. Redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett is really starting to figure things out, now surpassing 1,000 yards and racking up 13 touchdowns.
20. BYU Cougars (4-0) -- It is hard to know what to think of the Cougars. They have played extremely well to this point and sit at 4-0, but their schedule has been average at best. They need Texas, Virginia and some other teams on their schedule to play well to end the year to help out their Playoff resume.
21. East Carolina Pirates (3-1) -- With Cincinnati losing to Ohio State, the Pirates have emerged as the front runners in the American Athletic. Their offense is just too dangerous, led by QB Shane Carden and electric wide receiver Justin Hardy.
22. Missouri Tigers (4-1) -- What a wild ride it has been for Mizzou. One week they fall out of Playoff contention with a loss to a wacky Indiana team. Then, a week later, they beat what we think is a good South Carolina team, a team that has wins over East Carolina and Georgia. Anyways, the play of workhorse back Russell Hansbrough has been the perfect complement to QB Maty Mauk.
23. Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-1) -- The Cowboys have won three straight since their season-opening loss to FSU under a new quarterback in Daxx Garman, who has been great since taking over for J.W. Walsh, leading Oklahoma State to a nice Big 12 victory over Texas Tech.
24. TCU Horned Frogs (3-0) -- Also pretty quietly, the Horned Frogs have been absolutely superb. It is hard to know how good they are considering, outside of Minnesota, they have beat lowly SMU and Samford. Still, Trevone Boykin is having a huge year, passing and throwing the ball.
25. South Carolina Gamecocks (3-2) -- On one hand, South Carolina has looked pretty good. Wins against East Carolina and Georgia are impressive, and they probably outplayed Missouri. Still, an uninspired performance against Vandy was worrying, and the defense still looks worrying. Two losses this early in the conference season really hurts.

Others Receiving Votes
Arizona
Arizona State
Kansas State
Clemson
Marshall
Boston College
Minnesota
Georgia Tech
Arkansas
NC State

College Football Week Five Picks

D.J. Foster

11 UCLA Bruins vs. 15 Arizona State Sun Devils
The Pac-12 South race will take an interesting turn as two undefeated teams square off at Sun Devil Stadium. The 11th ranked Bruins will hope to get a huge resume booster after relatively average performances against Memphis, Virginia and Texas. Earlier today, we learned their star quarterback Brett Hundley will indeed play tonight, as many believed he would. While Hundley has done a great job this season, his offensive line has not helped him one bit. Despite a lot of experience, nearly everybody who has played UCLA has been able to capitalize on their O-Line's inconsistent play. Will the Sun Devils though? This ASU defense is one that lost All-American defensive tackle Will Sutton and a lot else from a unit that was decent a year ago. With those questions on defense, the Sun Devils will clearly rely on their offensive firepower, like they have done since Todd Graham took over as head coach. Unfortunately, the offense will miss senior Taylor Kelly, an experienced game-changer who has led the Sun Devils to some big wins in the past. That means that Mike Bercovici, who Kelly beat out for the quarterback job entering the 2012 season, will make his first start. He will have to rely on his plethora of weapons surrounding him offensively, including electric wide receiver Jaelen Strong and motivated running back D.J. Foster. Foster is putting up insane numbers early in the season, having rushed for 510 yards in three games and also averaging 9.4 yards per rush. But, he has yet to see a Pac-12 that is at the level UCLA's is, and it will be interesting to see how he does against it. The UCLA defense has been inconsistent as well this season; it must perform tonight. It was a major reason why the team escaped with wins over Virginia and Texas, but it also looked terrible against Memphis. Can Erik Kendricks, Myles Jack and the rest of the talented Bruins' front seven shut down Foster and the Sun Devils? Even at home, with the inexperienced Bercovici at QB, ASU will have their hands full moving the ball, if the Bruins' talented D plays to it's high potential. If Hundley stays healthy and takes over, UCLA shouldn't have too many issues.
UCLA, 37 Arizona State, 27

6 Texas A&M vs. Arkansas
Texas A&M and their new sensation, Kenny Hill, will hope to prove themselves in their first significant test since routing South Carolina on the road. Hill (1,359 yards, 13 touchdowns) will lead a potent Aggies' offense, one that will give Arkansas some real problems. Not just can the Aggies and Hill gun the ball to their abundance of offensive weapons, they have a running game to back it up, along with perhaps the SEC's top offensive line. Defensive end Trey Flowers is by far and away the Razorbacks' top defender and he has to show up in a big way to have success against that Texas A&M offensive line. The bigger question for the Razorbacks' defense will be covering the Aggies' receivers, players who will stretch a defense thin. Malcome Kennedy, Josh Reynolds and rapidly improving Edward Pope are just of the playmakers that could give Arkansas fits. As usual, Texas A&M will most likely light up the scoreboard. The question, as it usually is in College Station is, can they stop opponents from doing the same? With hard-nosed runners Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams are an absolute load to stop. While Collins is a little bit quicker and more deceptive, Williams is more powerful and a blunt force. The Aggies' defense has certainly looked improved this season, but can they stop this dangerous of a rushing attack? They will need to force Arkansas and QB Brandon Allen to throw, something they aren't very comfortable doing. Texas A&M true freshman end Myles Garrett has been an absolute beast this year and the Aggies will likely be relying on him to pressure Allen and make him uncomfortable. After going 3-9 in Bielema's first season in town, the Razorbacks appear to be vastly improved and no game in the SEC West is a cakewalk. Expect this one to be very competitive, but the Aggies should be able to come out pretty comfortably.
Texas A&M, 44 Arkansas, 28

22 Ohio State vs. Cincinnati
Former Notre Dame quarterback Gunner Kiel has been waiting a long time for his time to shine, and this battle on Saturday night could be his coming out party in a Cincinnati uniform. The former five-star recruit has put up huge numbers in his first two games with the Bearcats, adding up to throw for 689 yards and 10 touchdowns. He will hope to put similar numbers against an Ohio State defense that has been wildly inconsistent. Without end Noah Spence, the team hasn't been able to have the dominant pass rush they expected, and the secondary has had some real issues. With his arm, and two major deep threats in Shaq Washington and Mekale McKay, expect Kiel to expose the OSU secondary early and often. Offensively, the Buckeyes have also been wildly inconsistent. J.T. Barrett recovered from a terrible outing against Virginia Tech with a huge day against Kent State. He has shown Braxton Miller and Terrelle Pryor-like genes but he is still very prone to mistakes and just plain bad decisions. He will lean on backs Curtis Samuel and Ezekiel Elliott to take some pressure off and Michael Thomas, Dontre Wilson and Devin Smith to make plays through the air against a not elite, but solid Cincy defense. This is an awfully big test for Ohio State, Cincinnati is far from a pushover, they have legit talent. If the Buckeyes can limit turnovers and hold onto the football and pressure Kiel they should be able to pull out a victory. But, Kiel has a chance for a huge night and this has all the makings of a trap game for the Buckeyes.
Cincinnati, 31 Ohio State, 28

Other Picks
7 Baylor, 42 Iowa State, 17
13 South Carolina, 34 Missouri, 30
1 Florida State, 35 NC State, 13
9 Michigan State, 38 Wyoming, 16
12 Georgia, 27 Tennessee, 20
Current Picks Record: 23-9

College Football Playoff Projections after Week Four

So far, the 2014 college football season has been filled with some exciting matchups, offensive fireworks, breakout stars (Texas A&M's Kenny "Trill" Hill) and a lot of major kicking woes. But, what has not appeared yet is four clear College Football Playoff contenders. Sure, there are going to many things that change between now and when the committee sits down and tries to break things down, but here are is my Playoff if the season ended today:

The Four

1 Oregon Ducks

Devon Allen

The fact of the matter is, no team has any wins close to the pedigree of Michigan State. But, it isn't just that victory that earns Oregon my team spot. They have blown out the teams they should and they look much more balanced and more physical than they have been in years past. Now, the Ducks aren't devoid of problems. Due to injuries at both tackle spots, Marcus Mariota was thrown down a ton against a Washington State pass rush that isn't particularly lethal. Plus, All-American cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu was embarrassed on multiple occasions against the Cougars, leading to some long-term questions. But, as of right now, Oregon gets the nod because quite frankly, they've played the best.

2 Oklahoma Sooners
I had my reservations about Oklahoma when the season began. Every time big things have been expected under Bob Stoops in Norman things seem to fall apart. And, were we looking too much into Oklahoma's dominant Sugar Bowl win over Alabama? Up to this point, it has looked like a different Oklahoma team. They aren't one dimensional like they have been under Stoops in the past, their defense is more athletic and smarter than it has been in a long time, and they are going to perform when expectations get high. While Tennessee and West Virginia aren't huge wins they will add two strong wins to the Sooners' resume, and outside of Baylor, there isn't a clear team in the Big 12 ready to step up and challenge Oklahoma.

3 Alabama Crimson Tide
So much questions hit me after Alabama's slim victory over West Virginia on opening weekend: is Blake Sims really the guy to lead the Tide? Has the kicking game improved? Is the secondary a real issue? Will Lane Kiffin and Nick Saban ever be able to work things out and coach together? Well, after that game, they have answered many of those questions. Kiffin is leading a dynamic offense, one that has Sims at the helm, throwing to Heisman candidate Amari Cooper. The defense appears to have fixed its issues and so far, the kicking game doesn't appear to be a significant weakness. The SEC West is one heck of a division, but Alabama is the most talented team in it. If they don't choke a long way (and even if they do, one less with their schedule won't push them out of the Playoff) they are in.

4 Texas A&M Aggies
While some other major playoff contenders like Auburn and Florida State struggled, the Aggies once more rolled, this time to a great victory over SMU. Sure, Kansas State and Clemson are certainly tougher teams than SMU, Texas A&M hasn't shown any real weaknesses. They absolutely demolished South Carolina in their one meaningful game to this point and have then proceeded to blow out anybody else in their path. They have the nation's hottest quarterback under center, a skilled O-Line, a plethora of receivers and a vastly improved defense. While a huge meeting with Arkansas will tell us a lot, the Aggies have shown no sign of slowing down. While the committee might be hesitant to put two teams from the same division into the four-team playoff, Texas A&M deserves it if they go 11-1 or undefeated with their schedule.

Just Missed the Cut
Florida State Seminoles: There has to be a point where people stop automatically putting FSU in just because of how dominant they were last season. This team has no running game to speak of, the O-Line has been a major disappointment and the defense lacks leadership. The good news is, outside of Notre Dame, there isn't any team that can knock them off down the stretch before a likely appearance in the ACC Championship game.
Auburn Tigers: It is a pretty worrying sign when your main strength struggles the way it Auburn's run game struggled last week. Nick Marshall, Cameron Artis-Payne nor Corey Grant could get anything going for the Tigers against KSU. The Tigers needed three missed field goals by KSU's Jack Cantele to sneak out a win, and there schedule is just daunting.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish: It is really hard to know how good the Irish are at this point. They have looked terrific so far, but Michigan, Rice and Purdue aren't exactly tough opponents. Though, the Irish just can't lose with Everett Golson, they are now 14-0 with the formerly suspended QB in the regular season.
Georgia Bulldogs: Just a few weeks ago, Georgia topped a lot of people's power rankings and Todd Gurley was the Heisman frontrunner. While Gurley is still very much in the race for the Heisman, many have dropped the Bulldogs out of contention, following their slim loss to South Carolina. But, Georgia outplayed the Gamecocks in that meeting and if they can get through the SEC East unscathed and win the conference, they are for sure in.

Others Still in the Mix
Baylor Bears
South Carolina Gamecocks
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Wisconsin Badgers
Michigan State Spartans
UCLA Bruins
USC Trojans
BYU Cougars
East Carolina Pirates
Ole Miss Rebels
Oklahoma State Cowboys

College Football Week Four Picks

Nick Marshall

5 Auburn vs. 20 Kansas State
Auburn gets their first significant test on their quest back to the national championship game with a tough road matchup against Jake Waters and the Wildcats. Waters, who has proven to be quite the dual threat this season, will lead an explosive K-State offense. That offense also includes dangerous wide receiver Tyler Lockett (145 yards in first two games) and a veteran offensive line that will hope to tame a wild Auburn pass rush. That Auburn pass rush includes massive defensive tackle Gabe Wright along with rapidly improving end Carl Lawson. The question for the Tigers' defense will be their pass defense and their tackling. Kansas State has a ton of deep threats that could expose the Auburn secondary, while defenses must be disciplined in open space. On the other side of the equation, the Auburn offense will be all about their dangerous rushing attack. Quarterback Nick Marshall, Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant form a rushing trio that is constantly making huge plays. Marshall, who is obviously very effective with the read option, has improved as a passer, posting pretty strong numbers in his first start. Artis-Payne has had a superb start to 2014, rushing for 289 yards, four touchdowns and averaging nearly seven yards per carry. Newcomer D'haquille Williams has not disappointed, making some big plays in just two games. For Kansas State, it all begins defensively with defensive end Ryan Mueller. The great athlete has an extremely high motor and he will play a major role in getting in Marshall's face and making him uncomfortable. If Marshall is uncomfortable and constantly moving around, he will be prone to mistakes, like most quarterbacks under duress. He will also have to help in run support, K-State's rush defense has been spotty at times. This is a perfectly designed trap game, courtesy of K-State head coach Bill Snyder. On the road, and still very young, Auburn could be exposed and their playoff hopes could take a serious hit. But, with their ground game and an experienced quarterback, the Tigers should be able to escape Manhattan with a victory.
Auburn, 27 Kansas State, 21

1 Florida State vs. 22 Clemson
The Seminoles will also get a major test on their road back to the championship game with a battle against Clemson, perhaps their biggest threat in the ACC. Well the 'Noles absolutely blew out the Tigers a year ago, they will be without one of their greatest contributors at least for a half. Jameis Winston, who had a huge game in the matchup in 2013, will not play the first half of this game, as he was suspended for vulgar comments he made on campus. While the loss of Winston obviously hurts, the Seminoles will definitely not be without talent. They are gifted with running back Karlos Williams, receiver Rashad Greene and one of the nation's best offensive lines. On defense, they are young but still great as well. End Mario Edwards, tackle Eddie Goldman and cornerback P.J. Williams are all playmakers and will constantly be making plays. With Boyd, Watkins and Martavis Bryant all gone, the Tigers are still trying to find their offensive stars. QB Cole Stoudt played very well against South Carolina State and should take the bulk of the snaps at the position. He will lean on senior receiver Adam Humphries, along with receiver Mike Williams and running back Adam Choice. When the season began, many believed that defense would carry Clemson to ACC contention, instead of their usual, high-scoring offense. Though, their performance against Todd Gurley and Georgia didn't inspire much confidence in anyone. They will need a great game from versatile defensive end Vic Beasley, linebacker Stephone Anthony and nose guard Grady Jarrett, all important pieces to the rush defense. Beasley, who will match up against All-American tackle Cam Erving, has to step up and get some sacks if they hope to have success. Sean Maguire will start in Winston's place, meaning the FSU offense will probably be a lot different, possibly to Clemson's preference. Expect more runs, screens and check down throws to make Maguire more comfortable in front of the home folks. If Clemson can capitalize on Maguire's mistakes before Winston comes back in, they have a shot at a huge win. Stoudt can't turn the ball over, and the defense must play a near perfect second half. That is hard to do, and on the road, Florida State is the smarter pick.
Florida State, 38 Clemson, 23

3 Alabama vs. Florida
A week after escaping with a slim victory against Kentucky, Florida will hope to pull off a pretty big upset against Amari Cooper and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Cooper has been an absolute stud for the Tide in their first three games of the season, picking up 33 receptions, 454 yards and two touchdowns. Cooper will give the Florida defense fits, but he isn't the only weapon at offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin's disposal. Powerful runner Derrick Henry and the crazy athletic T.J. Yeldon lead the way on the ground, while Blake Sims continues to grow in confidence with his arm. Sims has proven he has the ability to improvise and make crazy plays with his legs, which he might have to. Florida defensive end Dante Fowler is a fantastic pass rusher, and the Gators will likely attempt to bring the heat against Sims and Alabama. Sims will also have one of the nation's top cornerbacks to deal with in sophomore Vernon Hargreaves. Hargreaves will likely be set up against Cooper and Florida will need a great game from him to contain the Alabama offense. After putting up 65 points (even if it was against lowly Eastern Michigan), Florida's offense looked just average against Kentucky. Quarterback Jeff Driskel has looked inconsistent but improved in his return from a broken leg suffered against Tennessee last season. His arm strength is improved and he has made better decisions. Though, he hasn't seen an elite defense like Alabama in a long time and it will be interesting to see how he reacts to it. He will need help from his offensive line and running backs, in Kelvin Taylor and Matt Jones. This matchup has all the makings of a run-oriented, smash mouth, SEC brawl that could go down to the wire. Though, Alabama is deeper and more athletic than Florida and that will likely decide what will happen in this game.
Alabama, 20 Florida, 13

Other Picks
4 Oklahoma, 35 West Virginia, 27
24 Nebraska, 24 Miami, 21
21 BYU, 44 Virginia, 28
18 Missouri, 31 Indiana, 18
2 Oregon, 59 Washington, 38

Current Picks Record: 16-8

College Football Power Rankings (Post-Week Three Edition)

1. Florida State Seminoles -- Luckily for the 'Noles, they were gifted with a bye, one week before their huge meeting with Clemson, which will essentially decide the ACC Atlantic race.

2. Oregon Ducks -- Led by Heisman frontunner Marcus Mariota, the Ducks had no issues with the sneaky Wyoming Cowboys. While the offense continues to put up crazy numbers, the defensive improvement has been key for Oregon in taking the next step. 

Trevor Knight

3. Oklahoma Sooners -- Tennessee isn't exactly a huge win but is a victory over a pretty good Power Five school, giving the Sooners a huge resume booster, after they were beating up on Tulsa and Louisiana Tech. While Trevor Knight and the offense continues it's assault on opposing defenses, the electric play of linebacker Eric Striker and the defense has been fun to watch.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide -- The Tide has no issues with lowly Southern Mississippi, as Amari Cooper and the offense ran all over the Golden Eagles. Though, the Tide have their biggest test of the year to this point upcoming in the Florida Gators, eager to prove themselves after escaping with a victory against Kentucky yesterday.
5. Auburn Tigers -- The Tigers were also helped out with a bye week, one week before a huge game on a Thursday night against the Kansas State Wildcats. Nick Marshall and the Auburn ground game will have to be on full force to come away with a victory over the 'Cats, who are always ready for an upset.
6. Texas A&M Aggies -- Once more, Kenny Hill and the Aggies had no issues, blowing past Rice without any problems. The redshirt sophomore now has over 1,000 yards through the air and has proven that the Aggies will put up a serious fight in the SEC West, along with Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Ole Miss.
7. Baylor Bears -- Even with Bryce Petty not 100 percent, the Bears blew out a decent Buffalo team, winning 63-21. Now, Petty appears to be healthy (backup Seth Russell did one heck of a job in his absence) and the Bears' explosive offense could get even more lethal, with a bye week before their Big 12 opener against Iowa State.
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- Although the Irish didn't completely dominate Purdue, they played well enough to win comfortably, improving to 3-0 on the year. Everett Golson is becoming a popular Heisman dark horse, while the defense continues to be stout, allowing just over 10 points a game.
9. LSU Tigers -- To nobody's surprise, LSU's defense is playing fantastic, as it shut out Lousiana-Monroe this past week. While the offense certainly has some room for improvement, true freshman Leonard Fournette is slowly improving, while big play threat receiver Travin Dural stretches defenses.
10. Michigan State Spartans -- The Spartans were yet another team with a bye this week, after their tough loss to Oregon last week. Upcoming meetings with Eastern Michigan and Wyoming should give the Spartans some momentum again before their first conference showdown with Nebraska on October 4th.
11. UCLA Bruins -- Even with Brett Hundley missing a huge chunk of the game, UCLA found a way to hold off Texas and get a nice resume boosting victory. Unfortunately, Hundley could miss some serious time and the offensive line is still a major concern.
12. Ole Miss Rebels -- The Rebels' high-flying offense continues to put up big numbers, especially through the air, where they are averaging 365 yards per game. The Rebels get one more cupcake game (against Memphis) before a huge game against Alabama, which has serious SEC West implications.
13. Georgia Bulldogs -- The Bulldogs were a few centimeters away from beating South Carolina and improving to 2-0 with two big victories on their resume. Unfortunately, the loss to the Gamecocks hurts, and puts pressure on Georgia to come back and absolutely dominate Troy this next weekend.
14. Arizona State Sun Devils -- In their conference opener, the Sun Devils rolled over the struggling Colorado Buffaloes, but it wasn't devoid of bad news. Stud QB Taylor Kelly took some major hits and he might miss some time. Luckily, ASU has so many offensive weapons (RB D.J. Foster, WR Jaelen Strong) they can make up for Kelly, if he does miss any time. The good news is that ASU gets some extra time before a huge Thursday night, September 25th battle with UCLA.
15. Stanford Cardinal -- One week removed from a devastating loss to USC, the Cardinal responded by blowing out a terrible Army team, 35-0. Quarterback Kevin Hogan, who struggled against the Trojans, responded in a big way, tossing four touchdowns against the Black Knights' porous defense.
16. South Carolina Gamecocks -- The Gamecocks have really had a daunting early season-schedule (Texas A&M, East Carolina and Georgia all are Top 25 teams), so to come out of it 2-1 is really impressive. The pass defense, which was abused by the Aggies' Kenny Hill and ECU's Shane Carden, held Hutston Mason to under 200 yards, a big reason why South Carolina managed to sneak away with a win.
17. USC Trojans -- While beating Stanford was huge for the Trojans, it clearly took a out of them. The defense looked tired and worn and the offense couldn't get anything going on the ground, all contributing to a stunning loss to Boston College. Hopefully with some more rest and a bye week, Steve Sarkisian's club will come out firing against the Oregon State Beavers.
18. Wisconsin Badgers -- One week after getting their first victory of the year over Western Illinois, Wisconsin had a bye week. Now, they get a home meeting with a sneaky Bowling Green team, who used their explosive offense to take down Indiana this past week. Even at home, the Badgers have to be on upset alert.
19. Missouri Tigers -- Maty Mauk continues to put up huge numbers for the Tigers in his first full season as starter, tossing four touchdowns against a decent UCF team, making it 12 touchdowns on the year. While Mauk leads the offense, the defense is causing turnovers and playing very well, holding the Knights to just 10 points.
20. Ohio State Buckeyes -- The Buckeyes responded with a vengeance against the struggling Kent State Golden Flashes, taking them down 66-0, one week after losing to Virginia Tech. With questions starting to emerge about his job security, QB J.T. Barrett played great. Though, the possible loss of defensive end Noah Spence for a long time hurts the defense.
21. Kansas State Wildcats -- Much like their opponent, Auburn, the Wildcats got a bye one week before their Thursday night showdown. For K-State, QB Jake Waters must continue to make big plays with his arms as well as with his legs, while defensive end Ryan Mueller must lead the rush defense.
22. Nebraska Cornhuskers -- The 'Huskers are absolutely feasting on their soft non-conference slate, blowing out 0-3 Fresno State this week. One main reason: tailback Ameer Abdullah is running all over opponents and putting up Heisman numbers. With the Big Ten in shambles, Nebraska could realistically emerge as the West Division favorite.
23. Clemson Tigers -- It was also a bye week for Clemson, who was coming off a great performance against South Carolina State, winning 73-7. The offense still has its questions even after those 73 points, but the defense could keep them in the game against FSU.
24. BYU Cougars -- While BYU clearly outplayed Houston, the Cougars only escaped with a slim victory over John O'Korn and Houston. That type of play against a Group of Five school may hurt BYU's playoff chances, but a win is a win. One thing is clear: Taysom Hill is a legit Heisman candidate, if he can stay healthy.
25. East Carolina Pirates -- The Pirates have emerged as the best team in the American Athletic, after stunning Virginia Tech this past week, led by veteran quarterback Shane Carden. They remind me a lot of Central Florida in 2013, a team with a great, dual threat quarterback and big-play wide receivers, whose lone loss on the year was a close one to South Carolina (the Pirates' only loss at this point: South Carolina).

Others Receiving Votes
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Florida
Oklahoma State
Louisville
TCU
Duke
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
Marshall

SMU Alum Dickerson: "Kill the Program"

Former SMU QB Garrett Gilbert

On February 25th, 1987, the NCAA Infractions Committee handed down a penalty to Southern
Methodist University that would change the college football landscape: the death penalty. The death penalty would cost SMU their 1987 season (they decided not to play at all in 1988) and would cast a long shadow over the program for a long time. Though, in 2009, things appeared to be taking a major turn. After years of being a bottom dweller in the now-defunct Southwest Conference and the Conference USA, the Mustangs dominated a good Nevada team in the Hawaii Bowl, winning 45-10 under rising head coach June Jones. While the program appears to be improving, the story of SMU football took another turn when former SMU running back Eric Dickerson took a shot at the university stating "I talked to four former players yesterday, and we all said if they don't want to do anything, just kill the program", following the resignation of Jones.

Since 1989, here are some of SMU's football records: 91-193-3 overall, while also managing just two victories over Top 25 teams in over two decades. And while the program certainly took some major steps under Jones, it was far, far away from returning to anything remotely similar to the "Pony Express" days of the early 1980s. 2014 has been a pure nightmare for SMU and we are still in early September. The Mustangs first two games of the year: starting the season off with a 45-0 loss to Baylor and then an embarrassing 37-point struggle against North Texas (things don't look much brighter on the horizon, Texas A&M and TCU will get up a lot of points as well). Then, the resignation of Jones, a pretty well-known coach who turned around Hawaii. And then, to add insult to injury, the Mustangs learned their starting quarterback, Neal Burcham would miss the rest of the season. This year is clearly not the year that SMU makes a serious breakthrough and it doesn't appear the near future will see one either. What does SMU need to do to turn around the program that has been just plain terrible for well over two decades? Should Dickerson's comments be taken into serious consideration?

First things first, the Mustangs need a coach. Since Forest Gregg in the 90s and Jones just recently, SMU really hasn't had any memorable head coach who has done anything to improve the program. This hiring could be one of the most important in school history, and they need to make it count. Some of the big names involved with the vacant position include former Arkansas and Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt along with Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris. Louisiana-Lafayette head coach Mark Hudspeth along with Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables are two of the other big name possibilities for the job. One thing is clear: frustration for alumni is as strong as ever (which makes sense after 25 years of losing and seeing your team lose to North Texas by 37) and some new life needs to be poured into the program. Despite the fact the program has been a complete joke for years and years it is a relatively attractive job, at least for some. It is right smack dab in the heart of Dallas, a thriving city and it also has access to the rich recruiting basin that Texas is. Also, while the American Athletic Conference is essentially a C-USA 2.0, it would be a step up for Hudspeth and other coaches for Non-Power Five conferences. No matter who takes over they have to do some important things. First and foremost, inject some life into the fan base, the team and the program. 25 years of perennially losing isn't going to get any fan base excited and the program has gone back into its hibernating state, following some jolts of life under Jones. They will need to recruit with the best of Texas (most of the coaches SMU is considering have strong Texas ties) and above all else they have to win. The American Athletic is not exactly very tough to have success in and while this team has struggled so much this year it has some pieces. If a new coach can attract some great Southwest prospects, the Mustangs will be on their way. Though, the most important thing a new coach must have is patience, and the fans and alums must have it as well. And, it isn't easy to have patience when you've seen a team stink for just so long. But, taking this program back to their glory days won't happen overnight, considering it hasn't shown any signs of returning to that state in three decades.

Obviously, Dickerson is frustrated. It doesn't take a genius, a college football expert or anyone else special to tell you that. After being a key member of the dominant "Pony Express", Dickerson certainly hasn't had much fun watching SMU football since then. Not only has he been frustrated with the play on the field, he has been frustrated with some of the athletics departments coaching moves. But, like I said, patience will be key for the former college football star. And, like I said, that certainly won't be easy. One thing is painfully clear for SMU and it has been painfully clear for some time: they need to win, and win now. The infamous death penalty was 25 years ago and it is time to stop using that as an excuse. Some moves need to made and quick, or else we will continue to hear more and more stories of alums frustrated, much like Dickerson.

College Football Week Three Picks

Chris Conley

6 Georgia vs. 24 South Carolina
While Florida, Missouri and even Tennessee have all looked good, this matchup is widely considered as the game that will decide the SEC East. The Gamecocks, whose Playoff hopes took a serious hit after losing to Texas A&M (and then barely escaping East Carolina) will need a healthy Mike Davis, who has had issues with ribs prior. The versatile runner can hurt defenses in so many ways and will keep the Georgia defense guessing. While Steve Spurrier will also be leaning on a big day from inconsistent senior Dylan Thompson, the biggest concern for the South Carolina is their pass defense, which has been embarrassed by the Aggies' Kenny Hill and East Carolina's Shane Carden. The secondary has been so prone to big plays but they need some help from the pass rush. The pass rush has been so weak, quarterbacks are having enough time to make those big plays happen. Even if the Gamecocks can contain Hutson Mason and the vast amount of weapons the Bulldogs pose in the air attack, they will have their hands full dealing with Todd Gurley. The junior made a serious Heisman statement back in Week One, running for nearly 200 yards and recording 4 total touchdowns against a strong Clemson defense. Add to that true freshman Nick Chubb, who also looked really good against Clemson, and South Carolina's defense will have all sorts of troubles. Although it struggled in the first half against Clemson, Georgia's defense figured it out and looked shutdown against the Tigers in the second half. Dangerous linebacker Leonard Floyd will be very disruptive off the edge while the Bulldogs will rely on senior leader Ramik Wilson in run support. Even if Davis has a huge game for South Carolina, the Gamecocks will have quite the challenge, even at home. Until their defense proves it can stop someone consistently, I'm going to pick Georgia in this one all day long.
Georgia, 37 South Carolina, 24

12 UCLA vs. Texas
These two teams enter this meeting with one thing on their mind; getting a big win that could turn their seasons around. While UCLA hasn't lost, they have been far from impressive in close victories over both Memphis and Virginia. Meanwhile, the Longhorns were absolutely embarrassed by Taysom Hill and the BYU Cougars, and there is certainly a lot of room for improvement, especially on defense. To nobody's surprise, David Ash is once more injured for Texas, out indefinitely. That means Charlie Strong will count on raw sophomore Tyrone Swoopes once more, after a decent outing in his first ever collegiate start against BYU. While Swoopes leaves something to be desired as a passer, the sophomore is a proven dual threat, who will give the UCLA defense some problems. Along with Johnathan Gray and Malcolm Brown, Swoopes will form a pretty dangerous ground attack. Unfortunately, that will leave the offense one-dimensional and UCLA does have a defense that is stout against the run. Jim Mora and the Bruins will rely on senior tackling machine Erik Kendricks and sophomore Myles Jack to stop the Longhorns' ground attack. Offensively, UCLA has been inconsistent and downright weak. The offensive line has been a major issue; Brett Hundley has down a good job dealing with the pressure but the O-Line has to step up. Texas defensive end Cedric Reed will be ready to go and if nobody on the Bruins' O-Line can stop him, he could take over. Another thing that the Bruins need to improve is their running game, which has been average at best. Paul Perkins has been the feature back for UCLA but he hasn't necessarily locked down the job. Hundley is a great runner and he will continue to pick up the slack though; it is possible Jack could see snaps at tailback after seeing a decent amount last year, if the offense struggles. Obviously Texas isn't the powerhouse they once more, but a win here could really give UCLA some momentum before they dive into Pac-12 play. Unless the offensive line falls apart and the defense can make any stops, UCLA should win, relatively comfortably.
UCLA, 27 Texas, 17

4 Oklahoma vs. Tennessee
Perhaps one of the biggest things that could hold Oklahoma back from a Playoff appearance this year could be a weak non-conference slate. Although they were dominant, wins over Louisiana Tech and Tulsa won't exactly make voters too happy. That is why getting an impressive win over Tennessee would be great here. While Tennessee still has a long way to go, there is no denying the amount of talent on this roster, and how much it has grown since Butch Jones took over. Tennessee has gotten two quality wins over two pretty strong teams in Utah State and Arkansas State but neither present the offensive firepower the Sooners do. Led by improving Trevor Knight, Oklahoma will certainly put up some big offensive numbers. Running back Keith Ford is a powerful runner who is so tough to bring down, while receiver Sterling Shepard is among the best in the Big 12, a receiver's league. Knight has been very good this season, making plays with his arm along as with his improving feet but he will still make mistakes, like any young quarterback. Tennessee needs to capitalize on those mistakes because if they don't Oklahoma will get ahead early and never look back. Linebacker A.J. Johnson is Tennessee's star and he will be counted on to stop the Oklahoma offense. Johnson is a superb tackler who is also gifted with incredible instincts. If he makes some big plays and someone in the secondary steps up big time, the Vols have a chance to tame the Sooners. On offense, Tennessee will lean of Justin Worley at quarterback, another player who is still growing. Worley is not a game-changing QB but he is an efficient one who won't turn the ball over too much. The ground attack features speedy athlete Jalen Hurd along with a more punishing runner in Marlin Lane. Mix that in with two big play threats in Marquez North and Von Pearson and the Vols can score in bunches, although the line does still have some weak patches. It will be interesting to see what this game turns out to be; it could turn into a shootout, or each team's defensive speed could spell serious issues for the other's offenses. Either way, Oklahoma could be on upset alert, even at home, though they should be able to survive.
Oklahoma, 30 Tennessee, 21

Other Picks
17 Virginia Tech, 27 East Carolina, 13
2 Oregon, 59 Wyoming, 20
Iowa, 34 Iowa State, 17
11 Notre Dame, 42 Purdue, 18
15 Stanford, 35 Army, 21
Current Picks Record: 11-5

College Football Power Rankings (Post-Week Two Edition)

1. Florida State Seminoles (2-0) - The Seminoles had absolutely no issues with FCS doormat The Citadel but were they good enough to keep the top spot with Oregon beating MSU?
2. Oregon Ducks (2-0) - After a rollercoaster of a first half, Marcus Mariota settled down and led the Ducks' offense past the Spartans at home. The most promising thing for Oregon though was not offensively; it is on defense, where the Ducks shut down MSU through the air.

Blake Sims

3. Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0) - Florida State transfer Jake Coker saw his first action, splitting snaps with senior Blake Sims in the Tide's impressive victory over the Owls. Both were pretty impressive but Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin have to figure out their starter before a pivotal SEC matchup with Florida in the upcoming weeks.
4. Oklahoma Sooners (2-0) - For the second straight week, the Sooners blew past a Non-Power Five school, routing American Athletic Conference bottom feeder Tulsa. While seeing the team put up a lot of points is impressive, Oklahoma has to win some big games before they start ascending in my power rankings.
5. Auburn Tigers (2-0) - Nick Marshall made his season debut against San Jose State and looked solid, passing for 101 yards and rushing for 103 more, while back Cameron Artis-Payne ran for 112 and three scores. If the offense continues to run the ball like they have been doing so well under Malzahn, nobody is going to get an easy win over the Tigers, that is obvious.
6. Georgia Bulldogs (1-0) - The Bulldogs got a much needed rest before a pivotal SEC East battle against South Carolina. Todd Gurley will be rearing and ready to go, while the defense hopes to replicate the success they had against Clemson.
7. Baylor Bears (2-0) - Most teams are sure to struggle without their Heisman candidate starter, even against a FCS team like Northwestern State. But, it is Baylor, and that means the offense won't skip a beat without Bryce Petty. Backup Seth Russell threw for 438 yards and five touchdowns, throwing three of those to speedy receiver K.D. Cannon.
8. Texas A&M Aggies (2-0) - Kenny Hill followed up a magical performance against South Carolina with a great outing against lowly Lamar, chucking the ball all over the place as the Aggies had no issues. It certainly appears "Kenny Trill" and the Aggies will continue to give defenses headaches.
9. USC Trojans (2-0) - Steve Sarkisian has opened his USC head coaching career with a bang, first manhandling Fresno State and then getting a huge Pac-12 victory over Stanford. While the offense wasn't great, the defense stepped up and the pass rush was ferocious, led by NFL draft prospect Leonard Williams.
10. LSU Tigers (2-0) - The Tigers had really no issues with the Bearkats of Sam Houston State, putting up 56 points on the scoreboard and shutting down a pretty explosive offense. While the passing game still has some questions, we got to see Leonard Fournette put together a pretty great game, something that will get fans very excited in Baton Rouge.
11. UCLA Bruins (2-0) - Is there any reason to place them any higher? A week after struggling with Virginia, UCLA escaped with a seven-point victory over Memphis. While Brett Hundley had a great game the defense looked very bad, allowing 496 yards to a Memphis offense that isn't considered to be very good at all. Those two performances raise questions about how well UCLA will perform against their first real test, Texas.
12. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-0) - It is hard to know just how good Michigan really is, but beating them by 31 points deserves some credit no matter what. Everett Golson continues to make big plays and the defense has been a pleasant surprise, it is the first time ND has ever shut out the Wolverines in this infamous rivalry.
13. Ole Miss Rebels (2-0) - Bo Wallace and the Rebels kicked off their SEC schedule with a blowout victory over Vanderbilt, who clearly appears to be in serious trouble (lost 37-7 to Temple in their opener). The offense continues to produce big numbers, while the defense's athleticism and speed give Ole Miss a very dangerous team.
14. Michigan State Spartans (1-1) - The Spartans made it clear they could hang with Oregon for 45 minutes, sticking in the game until the fourth quarter, when the Ducks absolutely turned on the jets. The defense played well until that fourth quarter, where they made some uncharacteristic mistakes, something that definitely worries Mark Dantonio and fans.
15. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0) - Once more, the Sun Devils' offense had no problems producing, as they put up 621 total yards (216 of those from back D.J. Foster) against New Mexico in a rout of the Lobos. While the schedule only gets tougher, if ASU continues to put up those numbers the Pac-12 better be on watch.
16. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-1) - After escaping with a victory over Navy, the Buckeyes just couldn't get past Virginia Tech, where Bud Foster's quick, athletic defense shut them down. After another pretty poor week, the question becomes: it is time to move on already from J.T. Barrett at QB?
17. Wisconsin Badgers (1-1) - While the rest of the Big Ten was losing, the Badgers won without very many issues, although granted it is Western Illinois. After struggling against LSU, QB Tanner McEvoy showed real promise, throwing for 283 yards while running for 55 more and producing four total touchdowns.
18. Nebraska Huskers (2-0) - A week after putting up crazy offensive numbers against FAU, the Huskers offense slowed down a bit, but they still found a way to beat McNesee State. While Ameer Abdullah wasn't as dominant as he was in the opener, he made some big plays to secure an important Nebraska win.
19. Stanford Cardinal (1-1) - The Cardinal really didn't play bad at all against USC, and might have even outplayed the Trojans. Unfortunately, that won't show up on their record, where Stanford is now 1-1, their chances of a Playoff taking a major hit. Their meeting with Oregon is now so much bigger down the line, it could catapult them back into contention. They have to get there unfazed though, not an easy thing to do in the Pac-12.
20. Kansas State Wildcats (2-0) - K-State really wasn't very impressive against Iowa State this week, escaping with a four-point victory over the Cyclones, who had been dominated a week earlier by NDSU. Still, a Power Five team who is still undefeated, the Wildcats are going to be in the mix for a Playoff if they can keep it up.
21. South Carolina Gamecocks (1-1) - Even with RB Mike Davis making big plays again, South Carolina wasn't great in a close victory over East Carolina. While East Carolina is a good team, the performance raises questions as the Gamecocks meet up with Georgia, who was gifted with a bye week this past week.
22. Missouri Tigers (2-0) - Toledo is not completely terrible, so seeing Maty Mauk throw six touchdowns against the Rockets was certainly exciting four Mizzou, who is definitely relying on the sophomore QB. Defensively, the unit has made up well for the loss of Michael Sam with two speedy ends, Markus Golden and Shane Ray.
23. UNC Tar Heels (2-0) - The Tar Heels weren't great against SDSU a week after a relatively pedestrian performance against Liberty. The offense is putting up great numbers, but the defense needs to step up, especially against the run.
24. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-0) - Going into the horseshoe to steal a victory from Ohio State is never an easy feat, even if the Buckeyes were very young offensively. The defense was constantly in the OSU backfield, while the offense showed some potential led by Texas Tech transfer Michael Brewer. The Hokies made a clear statement with this victory, and they should be a favorite now in the ACC Coastal.
25. Clemson Tigers (1-1) - The Tigers blew out South Carolina State, but there are still some question marks. Who is the clear guy at QB? Is the running game going to be a strength? How good is the pass defense? The Tigers will have to figure some of those questions out before their huge date with FSU, who embarrassed them a year ago.

Others Receiving Votes
Washington
Florida
BYU
Penn State
Mississippi State
Duke
Louisville
Marshall
Oklahoma State
TCU

College Football Week Two Picks

Jeremy Langford

3 Oregon vs. 7 Michigan State
One of the most anticipated games of the year kicks off in Eugene this Saturday, a battle that will help clear the Playoff picture a little bit. Both of these teams were extremely impressive in Week One, Oregon running all over FCS opponent South Dakota, while Michigan State also shut down an FCS school in Jacksonville State. These two teams are basically polar opposites; the Ducks rely on their speed and offensive explosiveness, while MSU relies on their power and defensive strength. Oregon will bring Marcus Mariota, Byron Marshall, Thomas Tyner and a veteran offensive line to square off against a Pat Narduzzi-led defense that is extremely physical and disciplined. The key to stopping Oregon is to pressure Mariota; although he is a great quarterback, he will crack when defenders are constantly disrupting his rhythm. Also important is to make tackles in open space, something the Spartans excel at. Defensive end Shilique Calhoun is among the best pass rushers in the nation and he should constantly be pressuring Mariota. Combine him with linebacker Taiwan Jones and rangy safety Kurtis Drummond and the Ducks won't get any easy points. Meanwhile, Michigan State will hope their offense can get the job done. Connor Cook looked really good against Jacksonville State and he is very efficient; if he can make the tough throws, anything is possible, especially with dangerous Tony Lippett to throw to. Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu will hope to shut down Lippett, who had a great opener, but the Ducks do not have a proven run stuffer who can stop running back Jeremy Langford. Oregon has struggled to handle the sheer power of Stanford the past two seasons and Michigan State plays very similar to the Cardinal. This time, things are different though. Mariota is smarter, stronger and motivated, plus the Ducks get home field advantage. As long as Oregon doesn't turn the ball over, they could manage a huge victory.
Oregon, 31 Michigan State, 21

13 Stanford vs. 14 USC
USC was absolutely superb in Steve Sarkisian's first game as head coach with the team, as the Trojans dominated Fresno State, 42-13. Now, Sarkisian and the Trojans are hoping to prove they are legit and that they can play that well against a national title contender, in Stanford. The Cardinal blew out UC Davis but questions still loom defensively and on the offensive line, the strengths of the team for years. Cody Kessler threw for nearly 400 yards against Fresno for USC and he could put up huge numbers in Sarkisian's offense. Speedy Nelson Agholor is a legitimate deep threat, while JuJu Smith broke out in his first game in collegiate football. Add to that versatile runner Javarious Allen and USC's offense will be incredibly tough to stop. Though, if there is a defense that can stop an offense like that inside the Pac-12, it is Stanford's defense. The Cardinal will bring physical defensive end Henry Anderson to the table, along with two great veterans, in A.J. Tarpley and Jordan Richards, both great tacklers. While so much personnel is gone on defense, David Shaw has built a deep, athletic defense that has the speed to hang with the Trojans. The X-factor for Stanford will be their offense, which tends to struggle in big games. Junior QB Kevin Hogan has struggled with turnovers at times but looked great in the team's opener. With deep threats such as Devon Cajuste and Ty Mongtomery, he will have the opportunity to have some big plays. The O-Line must be on its A game, USC brings a dominant pass rusher in Leonard Williams to the equation. The linemen is gifted with great versatility and strength and should put together a big day. Barry Sanders Jr. looked good in the team's opener as well, but it is not yet known whether he will be the every-down, reliable back the Cardinal need. This is a tough pick, but the Trojans made many believers with their performance (including me) and Stanford's offense probably won't be able to keep up with them.
USC, 35 Stanford, 23

16 Notre Dame vs. Michigan
This is the last meeting between these two rivals for the foreseeable future and this game is sure to be exciting. The Wolverines were great in their opener against Appalachian State, while Notre Dame had no troubles with Rice, beating them by over four scores. The Fighting Irish will lean on quarterback Everett Golson, who didn't look very rusty against the Owls. Golson will always be tough to stop because not only is he a dual threat, he just makes plays. His rushing ability will keep the Michigan defense on its toes, a defense that is susceptible to big plays. Along with Golson, Notre Dame's ground attack has backup QB Malik Zaire, explosive Greg Bryant, powerful Cam McDaniel and reliable Tarean Folston. Michigan's rush defense is not terrible but it certainly isn't great and the Wolverines will most likely be leaning heavily on the play of experienced linebacker Jake Ryan. While the offense will almost certainly put up points, the defense has some major question marks, especially in the front seven. That rush defense could be a real issue against Michigan, a team that also has a variety of weapons in their backfield. Ru1nning back Derrick Green ran all over App State to the tune of 170 yards on 15 carries, an average of over 11 yards per carry, while De'Veon Smith ran for 115 more, while adding two touchdowns. Combine that with Devin Gardner, also a dual threat, and Michigan will also run the ball, early and often. Gardner is the X-factor in this battle; the senior had a great game against Notre Dame a year ago but has been inconsistent and has struggled with turnovers since. With reliable tight end/wide receiver Devin Funchess (7 catches, 95 yards in opener) he won't have to do too much, and the Irish pass rush isn't very dominant. With questions on defense for both teams, this one could well come out too be a shootout, especially if Gardner can find his touch. While Golson has yet to lose in the regular season, he just doesn't have the weapons surrounding him that he had in 2012 and the Irish could suffer an early setback. Michigan's offense shows some explosiveness and beats Notre Dame in a nail-biter, something all too common in this rivalry.
Michigan, 40 Notre Dame, 37

Other Picks
BYU, 45 Texas, 27
8 Ohio State, 24 Virginia Tech, 14
11 UCLA, 41 Memphis, 17
15 Ole Miss, 35 Vanderbilt, 13
2 Alabama, 31 Florida Atlantic, 6

Previous Picks Record: 5-3

College Football Power Rankings (Post-Week One Edition)

Jameis Winston

1. Florida State (1-0) - The defending champs were far from convincing in their season opener against Oklahoma State, but they did managed to sneak away with a win. The most worrying part? The ground game, which struggled mightily to do anything against the Oklahoma State front seven.
2. Oregon (1-0) - Led by Marcus Mariota, the Ducks had no issues with South Dakota but now comes the real test? A date with Michigan State, who presents a dominant defense and an improving offense. A victory puts them in real Playoff talks, while a loss really hurts, even earlier in the year.
3. Oklahoma (1-0) - The Sooners got off to an early lead against Louisiana Tech and never looked back, winning by nearly five touchdowns. The offense looked strong, especially Trevor Knight, who made some big throws.
4. Alabama (1-0) - There is definitely worry in Tuscaloosca following the Tide's narrow victory over West Virginia. The defense, a strength for years under Nick Saban, looked overmatched (especially the secondary) while Blake Sims was inconsistent. A game against Florida Atlantic gives them an opportunity to smooth over those issues.
5. Auburn (1-0) - Even without Heisman candidate Nick Marshall, the Tigers had no troubles with Arkansas, who was looking to get a huge SEC victory. RB Cameron Artis-Payne  had a great game and Auburn fans will soon forget the name of Tre Mason.
6. Michigan State (1-0) - Jacksonville State isn't exactly great competition but the Spartans looked great in their opener. The defense was it's usual stingy self, while the offense showed some signs of explosiveness, especially wide receiver Tony Lippett.
7. Georgia (1-0) - Other than perhaps Texas A&M no team made a bigger statement in Week One than the Bulldogs. After a slow start, Georgia pounded the youthful Clemson Tigers, 45-21. Todd Gurley firmly entrenched himself in the Heisman chase, rushing for nearly 200 yards along with four total touchdowns.
8. Ohio State (1-0) - The Buckeyes needed a great second half to beat Navy, who ran all over OSU's defense. Redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett was decent in his first ever start, but the defense is a real cause for concern. If Virginia Tech can run the ball and not turn it over, they have a shot at taking down Ohio State.
9. UCLA (1-0) - If not for three defensive scores, the Bruins would have lost a stunner to Virginia in Charlottesville. The real issue was offensively, where Heisman candidate Brett Hundley could get nothing going. He isn't going to have much success this year unless the O-Line improves and a reliable back steps up to take the spotlight off of him.
10. Baylor (1-0) - To nobody's surprise, Baylor absolutely ran all over SMU, coming away with a 45-0 victory. Bryce Petty looked awfully impressive, even with a back injury holding him back. The only concerning part of the win was kicking, where Baylor's Chris Callahan went 1 for 4, missing two from ranges of 30 to 39.
11. Stanford (1-0) - Its hard to take too much away from Stanford's opener, considering they played lowly UC Davis. Even so, posting a shutout is something to feel good about, and quarterback Kevin Hogan looked improved, completing 75 percent of his throws and picking up three touchdowns.
12. LSU (1-0) - The Tigers needed a second half surge to escape past Wisconsin, a nice win to add to their resume. The offense struggled through much of the game, as sophomore QB Anthony Jennings struggled to find his groove. Seeing senior Kenny Hilliard carry the load was fun to watch, and Leonard Fournette will only improve.
13. USC (1-0) -  After a weird week full of Josh Shaw rumors and racist accusations, Steve Sarkisian was happy to be back on the field coaching again. His Trojans looked awfully good against Fresno, especially quickly improving QB Cody Kessler (394 yards) and freshman receiver JuJu Smith (123 yards).
14. Texas A&M (1-0) - Johnny Manziel who? Sophomore Kenny Hill unleashed a 511 yard, four touchdown performance on the road against South Carolina, leading to very early Heisman talk. Not only was he great, the defense looked improved and the offensive line was great.
15. Notre Dame (1-0) - In his first game back since suspension, Everett Golson looked great, leading the Fighting Irish to a blowout win over Rice. The quarterback threw for two scores and ran for another, and looked very poised and calm. The defense made some mistakes, but looked solid overall.
16. Ole Miss (1-0) - The Rebels struggled early against Boise State but turned on the jets in the second half to come away with a big victory over the Broncos. While Bo Wallace made some dumb mistakes he also had some great throws, while the athleticism and speed of the defense was so impressive; Boise couldn't do anything against it.
17. Kansas State (1-0) - Jake Waters did it all for the Wildcats in their opener, passing for 223 yards and two scores and also rushing for 55 yards and two more scores. And, while the defense wasn't great, it looked decent in the blowout victory over Stephen F. Austin.
18. Arizona State (1-0) - It wasn't very surprising to see the Sun Devils come away with a blowout victory either, considering they were playing FCS foe Weber State. Taylor Kelly continues to lead one of the nation's most explosive offenses, while the inexperienced defense showed signs of being pretty strong.
19. South Carolina (0-1) - The Gamecocks just didn't play well against Texas A&M, but there is a silver lining. The loss is early in the year, giving them time to rebuild their resume, plus they get a bye week before a huge battle with Georgia. Running back Mike Davis didn't see much action against the Aggies because of his ribs, they need him healthy and fresh if they want to win the SEC East.
20. Nebraska (1-0) - It might have been against Florida Atlantic, but setting a Big Ten record for yardage in a game was still awfully exciting for the Huskers. Ameer Abdullah threw himself into the Heisman discussion with a 232-yard performance, while quarterback Tommy Armstrong looked improved.
21. Wisconsin (0-1) - Head coach Gary Andersen made a bold move, choosing to go with unproven but talented Tanner McEvoy at QB over incumbent starter Joel Stave. It proved to be a wrong move, as McEvoy was 8 for 24 and threw for just 50 yards, greatly limiting the Badger offense. While the defense looked good for much of the game, it definitely has room for improvement.
22. Missouri (1-0) - The inexperienced Tiger defense faced a sneaky challenge against Zach Zenner and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits but they played very well and held them in check. Workhorse back Russell Hansbrough lead the offense to a great day, posting 38 points and not making many mistakes.
23. Clemson (0-1) - Clemson's offense looked pretty good in the first half of their meeting with Georgia, before it completely unraveled in the second half. The ground game couldn't generate big plays and neither Cole Stoudt nor Deshaun Watson could take advantage of the porous Georgia secondary.
24. UNC (1-0) -  Although they got off to a slow start, the Tar Heels didn't have much trouble taking care of business and beating Liberty. Quarterback Marquise Williams was fantastic, while Ryan Switzer showed that he has more than just a special teams demon, he caught eight passes. If the Heels can find a running game (true freshman Elijan Hood?) they are very dangerous.
25. Penn State (1-0) - This offense has the chance to be extremely high-scoring and explosive, something you don't associate Penn State with. Sophomore quarterback Christian Hackenberg threw for 454 yards against an experienced UCF defense, while Geno Lewis and DaeSean Hamilton provided a scary 1-2 punch at receiver. The defense is still searching for difference makers but it did play well against the young Knights' offense.

Others Receiving Votes
Washington
Florida
Iowa
Texas
Arizona
Mississippi State
Duke
UCF
Miami
BYU