College Football Power Rankings (Post-Week Ten Edition)

1. Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-0) -- It was not very pretty, but the Bulldogs and Dak Prescott managed to escape a scare from Arkansas (who has now lost 17 straight SEC games), 17-10. The defense stepped up in a big way in the second half and Prescott's big throws down the stretch secured the W.
2. Florida State Seminoles (8-0) -- Once more, Florida State needed a furious late rally to stay undefeated. And once more, they got one, as Jameis Winston made some big plays down the stretch to keep the 'Noles at a perfect 8-0 with a Thursday night win over Louisville. With the Cardinals out of the way, FSU has a pretty easy ride to the ACC Championship game.

Marcus Mariota

3. Auburn Tigers (7-1) -- The Tigers kept their SEC West and Playoff aspirations very much alive with an exciting, last second victory over Bo Wallace and Ole Miss. The ground game is only getting better, while Nick Marshall might have well played his most complete game of the season.
4. Oregon Ducks (8-1) -- After being dominated by Stanford the first two times in his career, Marcus Mariota came out on fire against the Cardinal. The junior ended up throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for two more as the Ducks ran past Stanford. The victory puts them firmly in the driver's seat in the Pac-12 North and keeps them very much in the Playoff mix.
5. TCU Horned Frogs (7-1) -- Although Trevone Boykin was far from perfect, TCU used their ground game to escape with a huge victory over West Virginia on the road. The Horned Frogs now have wins over Oklahoma, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Minnesota and their lone loss, a road game against a strong Baylor team.
6. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1) -- After having very little troubles with Tennessee, Alabama was off this week, before a huge SEC West battle with LSU, in Baton Rouge. That LSU game is before meetings with Mississippi State and then Auburn in the Iron Bowl, which will obviously either push the Tide into the Playoff or eliminate them.
7. Kansas State Wildcats (7-1) -- Much like their conference rivals, TCU, K-State kept themselves very much in the Playoff hunt with a strong performance against Ok. State. The Wildcats' defense continues to play at a very high level, holding opponents to just 18.6 points per game, 12th in the entire nation.
8. Michigan State Spartans (7-1) -- The Spartans were gifted with a bye, one week before their biggest conference meeting of the year: a home battle with Ohio State. The Spartans' D must shut down the scorching hot J.T. Barrett, while Connor Cook will hope for a big day against an inconsistent Buckeyes' defense. The winner holds soul possession of the Big Ten East and gets a big resume booster.
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-1) -- After a slow start to their game against Navy, Notre Dame absolutely rolled through the fourth quarter, thanks to another great day from QB Everett Golson, who is trying to reassert himself into the Heisman conversation.
10. Baylor Bears (7-1) -- To really nobody's surprise, Baylor won big against the joke of the Big 12, Kansas, putting up 60 points in the process. While their Playoff hopes took a beating against West Virginia, a Baylor team with a healthy Bryce Petty is a dangerous one, and they have ample opportunities down the stretch to get some big wins.
11. Ole Miss Rebels (7-2) -- For the second straight week, Ole Miss was so close. But, once more they couldn't get the job done as a late fumble by superb receiver Laquon Treadwell cost the Rebels the game. Not only did their second loss likely eliminate them from Playoff contention, Treadwell, their leading receiver, is almost certainly out for the year following a sickening leg injury.
12. Arizona State Sun Devils (7-1) -- It was really a great week for Arizona State, who distanced themselves from the rest of the Pac-12 South with a huge win over Utah. Not only did they manage that game, their archrival Arizona, was upset by UCLA, greatly hurting their Pac-12 South hopes.
13. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-1) -- The Buckeyes used a primetime ABC showing to absolutely thrash Illinois, 55-14. The offense continues to look explosive, while the defense, led by end Joey Bosa, has really looked good in Big Ten play. Although a road game in East Lansing will obviously be difficult, the Buckeyes have the chance to get a huge win.
14. Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-1) -- While the OSU-MSU matchup will likely decide the Big Ten East, the West is basically decided. The 8-1 'Huskers continue to play at a high level, even with Ameer Abdullah pretty beat up, and he has a chance to get to 100 percent before Nebraska's big meeting with Wisconsin.
15. LSU Tigers (7-2) -- While the SEC has been all about the up-and-comers in Ole Miss and Mississippi State, we shouldn't forget about the traditional powers. Both LSU and Alabama are going to be tough to beat down the stretch, and they meet this weekend in a game that is great every year. If the Tigers' defense can play the way it did against Ole Miss and shut down Amari Cooper, LSU almost certainly has the chance to pull another upset.
16. Georgia Bulldogs (6-2) -- Georgia was in pretty good position to sneak into the Playoff prior to yesterday. They had a quality win over Clemson and they had the favorable SEC East schedule to run the table. But, the Bulldogs' defense looked lost against the pretty terrible Florida offense and Georgia's offense clearly missed Todd Gurley, culminating in a loss for Georgia, costing them a Playoff spot.
17. Oklahoma Sooners (6-2) -- It was a great way to rebound from their second loss of the season for Oklahoma. The Sooners had a bye week before a meeting with the terrible Iowa State Cyclones, who they dispatched with no issues. Now, the Sooners have a chance for a huge victory against Baylor, who could struggle to stop Trevor Knight.
18. Duke Blue Devils (7-1) -- Duke has not been playing particularly very pretty at all this year. They have enjoyed a soft schedule to the tone of 7-1 and barely managed to escape past Pitt this past week. But, they are 7-1 and in prime position to win the ACC Coastal for the second straight year, thanks to another big year from wide receiver Jamison Crowder.
19. Clemson Tigers (6-2) -- While Clemson will almost certainly miss the injured Deshaun Watson, they have been gifted with a very soft schedule the rest of the way that sets them up perfectly in the ACC Atlantic, if FSU were to falter. Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Georgia State and the struggling South Carolina Gamecocks? The Tigers should run the table.
20. UCLA Bruins (7-2) -- It really has been a pretty disappointing year in Westwood. Brett Hundley hasn't gotten the help he needs to fulfill preseason expectations, and the team as a whole was expected to be better than 7-2 at this point. But, a pretty strong performance against Arizona keeps them in the Pac-12 South hunt and they still own a nice victory against ASU as well.
21. Marshall Thundering Herd (8-0) --The Herd got a bye this week, and that might have been their toughest opponent all year. Marshall has played absolutely nobody, the reason they are all the way down at 21 despite being 8-0. Still the offense has been downright impressive, and the running game has helped keep the pressure off of Rakeem Cato.
22. Utah Utes (6-2) --Utah didn't play bad at all against Arizona State, as they were able to tame a pretty dangerous Sun Devils' offense. Unfortunately the loss really hurts and gives them no momentum entering a huge test against Oregon. Unless Devontae Booker has a huge game, there is really no way Utah keeps up with the Ducks' offense.
23. Arizona Wildcats (6-2) -- The Wildcats' weaknesses continue to be exposed, as they have been unable to build on that Oregon win. The offense has lost it's swagger, and other than do-it-all linebacker Scooby Wright, the defense has looked very, very spotty.
24. Wisconsin Badgers (6-2) -- You have to give Wisconsin a ton of credit. After they lost their second game of the year to Northwestern, the Badgers have played angry, putting up 37 or more in their last three contests. Their 37-0 beatdown of Rutgers this past week further proved that the Badgers and Melvin Gordon still have some serious fight left in them.
25. Colorado State Rams (8-1) -- Quietly, Jim McElwain has built a winner out of Colorado State, who won this weekend to improve to 8-1. Former Alabama running back Dee Hart continues to dominate, while sophomore Rashard Higgins has turned into one of the nation's top receivers. While CSU's schedule isn't exactly loaded with tough opponents, wins against Boston College and Utah State are nice.

Others Receiving Votes
West Virginia Mountaineers
Missouri Tigers
USC Trojans
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
North Dakota State Bison
Louisville Cardinals
Minnesota Gophers
Texas A&M Aggies
East Carolina Pirates
Boise State Broncos

College Football Power Rankings (Post-Week Eight Edition)

1. Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-0) -- Even on a bye week, Dak Prescott and the Bulldogs stay at No. 1 in the polls and my power rankings. Why? Three wins over top eight teams (at the time they played) with impressive victories against all three. The good news keeps coming, Mississippi State has a soft schedule upcoming, including meetings with Kentucky, Arkansas and UT-Martin.

Rashad Greene

2. Florida State Seminoles (7-0) -- Although it took all they could take to escape past Notre Dame yesterday, FSU did play their most complete game of the year in the victory. Their offense looked crisp, their defense made plays and they didn't turn the ball over much.
3. Ole Miss Rebels (7-0) -- The Rebels had very little troubles with the struggling Tennessee Volunteers, handling them 34-3. While the defense has certainly gotten a lot of credit for Ole Miss' success through the season's first half, Bo Wallace has been scorching lately and the Rebels' offense has been rolling.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1) -- Many people were appalled at Alabama's lack of explosiveness and offense in their 14-13 squeaker of a victory over Arkansas last week. So naturally, the Tide come and manhandle Texas A&M 59-0, holding Aggies' head coach Kevin Sumlin to the first shutout of his coaching career.
5. Oregon Ducks (6-1) -- A team that looked almost dead in the water following a loss to unranked Arizona, the Ducks have responded extremely well, playing great in back-to-back victories over strong Pac-12 teams, Washington and UCLA. The emergence of freshman Royce Freeman and the ground game has been great, while the stability on the offensive line has propelled Oregon back into the Playoff hunt.
6. Auburn Tigers (5-1) -- Following their first loss of the year to Mississippi State, Auburn was one a bye, before things start to get real tough. The Tigers will have an absolutely brutal late October and early November slate, one that starts this next weekend against the inconsistent but still dangerous South Carolina Gamecocks.
7. Michigan State Spartans (6-1) -- Michigan State ran past Indiana yesterday, posting 56 points on the scoreboard and holding a lethal Indiana offense to just 17 (granted, they are without starting QB Nate Sudfeld). Though, now they will endure their toughest stretch of the season with games against a still sneaky Michigan team and then their huge meeting with Ohio State, which will essentially decide the Big Ten.
8. Georgia Bulldogs (6-1) -- Finally the 'Dawgs did what no other team in the entire nation has done to any SEC West team: beat them. Against outside competition, the SEC West is now 28-1, thanks to another great day from Georgia's sudden star running back Nick Chubb, helping the Bulldog's resume out a little bit.
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-1) -- The Irish's playoff chances took a hit when Corey Robinson's game-winning touchdown was called back for pass interference, but they are still alive. Everett Golson played great in the losing effort, and the Irish have a schedule the rest of the way that could help them run the table.
10. TCU Horned Frogs (5-1) -- Also coming off their first loss of the season, a heartbreaker on the road to Baylor, TCU firmly pushed themselves back into not just the Big 12 race, but also the Playoff hunt, dominating Oklahoma State by nearly five scores. Quarterback Trevone Boykin continues to impress, while the defense recovered just fine from a bad outing against the Bears, holding the explosive Cowboys to just nine points.
11. Kansas State Wildcats (5-1) -- Norman, Oklahoma is one scary place to play for opponents of the Sooners. But, apparently not for coach Bill Snyder and K-State, who pulled off their second straight victory against Oklahoma on the road. Jake Waters played masterfully and the defense tamed the surging Sooners.
12. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1) -- The Buckeyes and redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett continued their hot streak, having no problems with Big Ten newcomer Rutgers, winning by nearly six touchdowns. Barrett now has 24 total scores on the year, while sophomore back Ezekiel Elliott has emerged as a star.
13. Baylor Bears (6-1) -- Following a huge emotional high after coming back and stunning TCU, the Bears looked overmatched against Clint Trickett and West Virginia, who handed Baylor their first loss of the year. The good news is that the Bears get a bye and then a game against Kansas, which should help provide them with momentum before a brutal Big 12 stretch.
14. Arizona State Sun Devils (5-1) -- Things have changed quite quickly for the Sun Devils, who went from a five-touchdown loss at the hands of UCLA to wins over USC and then a dominating victory over Stanford. The defense has seemingly found some rhythm and wide receiver Jaelen Strong is having another monster year.
15. Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-1) --  Behind the insane production of running back Ameer Abdullah, the 'Huskers had little problems with Northwestern. Abdullah, who ran for four scores, has been putting up crazy numbers all year and has helped young QB Tommy Armstrong to adjust to his new role.
16. Arizona Wildcats (5-1) -- The 'Cats were off this week, following a rough loss to USC. They will have to meet a sneaky Washington State and the huge arm of QB Connor Halliday before a huge meeting with UCLA the November 1st, one that could greatly effect the Pac-12 South race.
17. East Carolina Pirates (5-1) -- The Pirates were also one a bye this week prior to their Thursday night contest with UConn, who is trying to spoil ECU's AAC Championship hopes. With their explosive offense and improving defense, the Pirates shouldn't have much problems with the Huskies.
18. Utah Utes (5-1) -- The Utes needed some extra time to tame Sean Mannion and Oregon State, but they did, keeping them with just one loss on the year and very much in the hunt for a Pac-12 title. Junior Devontae Booker has put together one great year, with 742 yards and seven touchdowns. He will have to show up in full force against the explosive Trojans of USC.
19. Oklahoma Sooners (5-2) -- Any Playoff hopes for the Sooners unraveled yesterday when Kansas State stormed into Norman and came out with a victory. While the year has been a disappointment, Bob Stoops will still have this time firing two weeks from now on the road against Iowa State.
20. West Virginia Mountaineers (5-2) -- After narrow losses to both Alabama and Oklahoma, the Mountaineers finally got their first signature win of the year. QB Clint Trickett continues to put up huge numbers, while wide receiver Kevin White is among the nation's most underrated players. A test this next weekend against Oklahoma State could essentially be an elimination game for the Big 12 title.
21. USC Trojans (5-2) -- Behind Cody Kessler's seven passing touchdowns, USC dominated Colorado. When Kessler, Buck Allen and Nelson Agholor are playing well the Trojans have one of the nation's top offenses, something that could help them break from the pack in the crowded Pac-12 South.
22. Marshall Thundering Herd (7-0) -- The Herd join the two Mississippi schools and FSU as the only teams to be undefeated in the entire FBS. With record-setting quarterback Rakeem Cato, who now has a touchdown pass in 39 consecutive games, it is easy to see why.
23. Clemson Tigers (5-2) -- It certainly wasn't pretty, but the Tigers did manage to come away with a quality road victory against the sneaky Boston College Eagles. With no more Deshaun Watson at QB (who is out recovering from a finger injury) the defense has to be great, which it was yesterday, holding a solid Eagles' offense to just 13 points.
24. Duke Blue Devils (6-1) -- One year after winning the ACC Coastal, the Blue Devils appear primed to reach similar heights, beating Virginia to improve to 6-1 on the year. Outside of a possible tough one on November 15th against Virginia Tech, the Blue Devils' schedule the rest of the way is really devoid of any sort of test.
25. Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-1) --Quietly, Jerry Kill has developed a winner at Minnesota, who is now 6-1 and in perfect position to make a run at the Big Ten West crown. Their lone loss on the season? A loss on the road to the flaming hot TCU Horned Frogs, which doesn't look very bad at all.

Others Receiving Votes
Oklahoma State
LSU
UCLA
Colorado State
Missouri
Stanford
Wisconsin
Louisville
North Dakota State
Texas A&M

College Football Power Rankings (Post-Week Seven Edition)

1. Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-0) -- It is truly historical how quick the Bulldogs have risen. They became the fastest team in the history of college football to rise from unranked to No. 1 in the polls in a matter of just five weeks. Dak Prescott might well be the Heisman frontrunner and the speed and big-play potential of the offense is extremely impressive.


Jaylen Walton

2. Ole Miss Rebels (6-0) -- One of the hardest things to in any sport at any level is to follow up a huge win. After stunning Alabama, Ole Miss appeared poised for a letdown against Kenny Hill and Texas A&M. Though, led by Bo Wallace and a stifling defense, the Rebels had no issues with Texas A&M, keeping pace with their Magnolia State rivals.
3. Florida State Seminoles (6-0) -- While Mississippi and the SEC West is going crazy, Florida State has been perfectly fine rolling through their soft ACC schedule, having little problems with Syracuse this week. A meeting at Notre Dame this next week gives them their first test in weeks, they will need Jameis Winston ready to go once more.
4. Baylor Bears (6-0) -- What Baylor did in the fourth quarter against a great TCU team yesterday was pretty unbelievable. Against that vaunted Horned Frogs' defense, Bryce Petty and the Bears put up 24 unanswered to stay undefeated. With Oklahoma, TCU and Oklahoma State all with one loss, Baylor has clearly emerged as the team to beat in the Big 12.
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-0) -- The Irish managed to stay undefeated this past week, despite a  good fight put on from a disappointing UNC team. QB Everett Golson, wide receiver Will Fuller and a strong Notre Dame defense will hope to push themselves further up the polls by taking down a fragile FSU team this week.
6. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1) -- The Tide were far from overly impressive this past week against a decent Arkansas squad, narrowly avoiding an upset at the hands of Brandon Allen and the Razorbacks. Their daunting SEC West schedule only continues, with a date with a motivated Texas A&M squad who desperately needs a win to retain any Playoff hopes.
7. Michigan State Spartans (5-1) -- While they didn't exactly blow out lowly Purdue this weekend, Michigan State has clearly emerged as the class of the Big Ten. With the Pac-12 in chaos and the SEC West likely beating its self up, the Spartans have a shot to sneak into the Playoff if they can win out.
8. Auburn Tigers (5-1) -- After falling behind early, the Tigers were never able to figure things out again against Prescott and Mississippi State. While their offense managed to play decent, their defense looked completely overmatched against a strong Bulldogs' offense. Though, don't count out Gus Malzahn and the Tigers yet; they may still have magic left in them.
9. Georgia Bulldogs (5-1) -- No Todd Gurley, no problem for the Bulldogs, who dominated a ranked Missouri team on the road. Without Gurley, true freshman Nick Chubb stepped up big time and he is poised to be Georgia's next great back. Don't let his last name fool you; Chubb is lightning quick with superb athleticism and is ready to take the Bulldogs to the top of the SEC East, depending on how long Gurley is out.
10. Oregon Ducks (5-1) -- The Ducks clearly outplayed No. 18 UCLA this past Saturday, but they still leave me with some questions. Can Marcus Mariota really perform behind this banged-up offensive line? Can the secondary stop some of the Pac-12's premier offenses? The good news is, the rest of the conference is losing, pushing Oregon back to the top.
11. Oklahoma Sooners (5-1) -- It was kind of sad seeing Oklahoma play Texas with such little excitement surrounding it. But, either way, the Sooners did improve to 5-1 and add another Big 12 victory to their resume. Led by Trevor Knight, Samaje Perine and more, the offense continues to perform at a high level and the defense stepped up when the game mattered.
12. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-1) -- The Buckeyes had a bye one week before a battle with Rutgers that weirdly has pretty serious Big Ten East title implications. The Scarlet Knights will play hard, but the Buckeyes' offense has figured things out and should be able to help OSU pull out a victory against one of the conference's newcomers.
13. TCU Horned Frogs (4-1) -- Once more, the Horned Frogs got off to an early lead, but they were unable to stop Baylor's second half rally. The loss hurts, but TCU's schedule is favorable enough (only two major tests, Oklahoma State and Kansas State, both at home) to push them back into the Playoff mix.
14. Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-1) -- Ever since their opening loss to Jameis Winston and the 'Noles, the Cowboys have been absolutely rolling through an extremely soft schedule with the help of QB Daxx Garman. Though, this next week they get their first significant test inside the Big 12 against TCU, where they need to start off strong early, something nobody has done well against the Horned Frogs.
15. Kansas State Wildcats (4-1) -- The Wildcats have also been quietly rolling after their lone loss of the season to Auburn, beating UTEP and Texas Tech before getting a bye this week. They will get an opportunity to get very much in the Big 12 title race with a huge meeting against Oklahoma on the road this week.
16. East Carolina Pirates (5-1) -- Sure, the Pirates really weren't great against South Florida yesterday. But, they did manage to sneak out a victory improving to 5-1 on the year. With their explosive offense and improving defense, the Pirates should be able to run the table before a big AAC date with Cincinnati in mid-November.
17. Arizona Wildcats (5-1) -- How does Rich Rodriguez and the 'Cats follow up one of their biggest wins in school history? With a loss, to a USC team still recovering from a heartbreaking loss to ASU. QB Anu Solomon must find his rhythm once more, while the defense must play with the fire it did against Oregon if the Wildcats are to stick in the Pac-12 South race.
18. Utah Utes (4-1) --  With everybody losing inside the Pac-12, the Utes are quietly emerging as a possible dark horse inside the wacky South division. While their quarterback situation is in question, defensive end Nate Orchard, among the nation's leaders in sacks, keeps the Utes' defense rolling.
19. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1) -- After their tough loss to Michigan State, Nebraska had a bye this weekend. Now, they get a meeting with a sneaky Northwestern team, a game they must win on the road to stay in the hunt for a Big Ten title.
20. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1) -- Following their crazy, wacky win over USC, the Sun Devils had a bye. They, like many with a bye this past week, have a huge meeting upcoming, this one against Kevin Hogan and Stanford. They will need QB Mike Bercovici to perform the way he did against the Trojans to pull out a win; 510 yards and five touchdowns.
21. Clemson Tigers (4-2) -- Louisville is not a bad football team by any means, which is why it was huge for Clemson to get victory against them and help their ACC schedule. The Tigers' defense is starting to pull extremely well, while Deshaun Watson leads the quick, efficient offense.
22. Texas A&M Aggies (5-2) -- How quickly things have changed for Kenny Hill and the Aggies. Just a couple weeks ago, Kenny "Trill" was a legit Heisman candidate while the Aggies were being talked about for a Playoff berth. Then, both Mississippi schools put a whooping on the Aggies, leaving them with little momentum heading on the road to meet Alabama.
23. Marshall Thundering Herd (6-0) -- The Herd have been absolutely rolling this year, led by gun slinging QB Rakeem Cato. Marshall is averaging 47.8 points per game (2nd in the nation) and their schedule is soft enough that 12-0 is a very real possibility if they stay healthy.
24. Stanford Cardinal (4-2) -- The Cardinal managed to tame Washington State and big-armed Connor Halliday, giving them a nice conference victory, something hard to come by in the Pac-12 this year. Now, Kevin Hogan, Ty Montgomery and their stingy defense must come out and play superb against an inconsistent but dangerous Sun Devils' team.
25. USC Trojans (4-2) -- Like so many teams in the Pac-12 this year, it is so hard to know how good the Trojans are. They've managed some good victories, like Arizona yesterday night. But, they looked terrible against Boston College and didn't play particularly well against ASU either. Either way, Steve Sarkisian has found a star in RB Javarious Allen, who is nearly the 800 yard mark just halfway through the year.

Others Receiving Votes
Duke
UCLA
LSU
Minnesota
Kentucky
Georgia Tech
Washington
West Virginia
Louisville
Wisconsin

College Football Power Rankings (Post-Week Six Edition)

1. Florida State Seminoles (5-0) -- The Seminoles haven't looked like the best team in the nation this year but the fact of the matter is, they are the only team consistently winning. Outside of a major meeting with Notre Dame, the 'Noles really don't have a game left on their schedule that could keep them away from the Playoff.

K.D. Cannon

2. Auburn Tigers (5-0) -- How brutal is life in the SEC West? One week after a tough meeting with LSU, Auburn will get the flaming hot Mississippi State Bulldogs (and then a stretch that includes South Carolina, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and then Georgia). The way the Tigers' defense played this past week, they should have some serious confidence going up against Dak Prescott and the Bulldogs.
3. Baylor Bears (5-0) -- Thanks to a pretty soft schedule, the Bears have rolled through the first of their schedule. Though, this next week, they get their first significant test against the defensive-minded and suddenly dangerous TCU Horned Frogs.
4. Ole Miss Rebels (5-0) -- The Rebels were dominating early this season, but they were good enough to take down Amari Cooper and Alabama? Led by the suddenly smart and poised Bo Wallace, the Rebels got perhaps their biggest victory in school history. The tough part? Coming out next week and doing the same thing.
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-0) -- While all of the nation's eyes were on the SEC West and the state of Mississippi, Notre Dame absolutely shut down the inconsistent Stanford offense. The way Everett Golson is playing and the way the defense is playing, this team looks a lot like the magical 2012 team.
6. Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-0) -- After dominating LSU a couple weeks prior, Mississippi State came out and got a huge victory at home against Kenny Hill and Texas A&M. We knew Prescott was a legit Heisman candidate but the amount of offensive weapons Miss. State has at their disposal is extremely impressive.
7. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1) -- The Tide had a real opportunity to emerge as not just the frontrunner in the SEC, but in the entire nation. Unfortunately, they couldn't get the job down against the Ole Miss Rebels. They will need their defense to continue making big plays and shut down a sneaky Arkansas team next week.
8. Michigan State Spartans (4-1) -- Unlike the final score indicated, the Spartans dominated the previously undefeated Nebraska Cornhuskers in every part of their matchup. Still, another weak fourth quarter is worrying, considering MSU lost to Oregon in the fourth. If they can't figure out how to finish games, Michigan State is not going to win the Big Ten and make the Playoff.
9. Oklahoma Sooners (4-1) -- Two weeks after putting up huge numbers against West Virginia, the Sooners couldn't get anything going against TCU. The good news is that Trevor Knight will only improve and the defense is just scratching the surface of what it could be. This loss hurts, but a win against Baylor down the stretch this year will put them right back into the mix.
10. Oregon Ducks (4-1) -- For the second straight year, the Ducks were really dominated by the Arizona Wildcats, possibly costing them their national title hopes. Their offensive line has been an absolute joke lately and Marcus Mariota just didn't appear to be comfortable at all against the Wildcats. If they don't figure some things out on defense, the Ducks could have some serious issues.
11. TCU Horned Frogs (4-0) -- Gary Patterson has always been a defensive-minded head coach, and while the defense is playing great, the offensive explosiveness has been the reason for the Frogs' breakout season. Led by do-it-all Trevone Boykin, TCU is emerging as a legit candidate to overtake Baylor in the Big 12.
12. Georgia Bulldogs (4-1) -- While all the SEC West top teams are beating each other up, Georgia is cruising through the East division, led by Todd Gurley. With Mariota losing and just not playing well, Gurley might have overtaken him as the Heisman frontrunner after his superb performance against lowly Vanderbilt.
13. Texas A&M Aggies (5-1) -- While the loss to Mississippi State obviously hurts, the Aggies are still very much alive. With weapons like Kenny Hill, Ed Pope, Speedy Noil and much, much more the offense will keep them in every game, and one loss in the SEC won't keep them out of the Playoff.
14. Arizona Wildcats (5-0) -- The Wildcats were able to pounce on a banged-up Oregon team and get a huge resume booster. With al the craziness happening inside the Pac-12, the Wildcats and huge-armed QB Anu Solomon have emerged as the favorites.
15. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1) -- It was a great overall week for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Not only did their archrival, Oklahoma lose, they had no issues with the struggling Iowa State Cyclones, with a lot of help from versatile running back/receiver Tyreek Hill.
16. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-1) -- It isn't time to count out the Buckeyes just yet. Since their loss to Virginia Tech, they have won three straight, putting up 50 points or more every single time. J.T Barrett has figured things out, and the offensive line has really stepped up around him.
17. UCLA Bruins (4-1) -- The Bruins' luck finally caught up to them this week, as the Bruins couldn't come up with any late in the game against the upset-minded Utah Utes. While Brett Hundley has done everything he can, he just can't succeed with his offensive line playing so bad and no consistent weapons around him.
18. Kansas State Wildcats (4-1) -- The Wildcats have recovered nicely after their first loss of the season, a big Thursday night battle with Auburn. Jake Waters continues to do everything offensively for K-State and the defense has been solid. The Wildcats will get a much needed bye before a huge game against Oklahoma, the loser likely getting knocked out of the Big 12 Championship race.
19. East Carolina Pirates (4-1) -- The Pirates just continue to put up huge numbers offensively, posting 45 points this week against winless SMU. QB Shane Carden has emerged as a dark horse Heisman threat, and wide receiver Justin Hardy continues to play very well, recording three touchdowns against the Mustangs.
20. Missouri Tigers (4-1) -- With South Carolina and Florida both struggling, it is clear that the Tigers have emerged as the only real threat to Georgia inside the SEC East. Those two teams play a huge game at Faurot Field (Missouri), one that could come down to the final seconds.
21. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1) -- Despite the fact they lost, it wasn't a terrible week for Nebraska. They were able to fight down to the wire against Michigan State and with Wisconsin losing, they stick as the favorite out in the weak Big Ten West.
22. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1) -- Few teams in the nation are as confusing as the Sun Devils. One week after getting absolutely demolished by UCLA, the Sun Devils beat USC on a fabulous hail mary, pushing them back into contention in the wide open Pac-12 South.
23. Utah Utes (4-1) -- Kyle Whittingham has done a great job with this year's Utah squad. They are now 4-1 (their lone loss was a one-point heartbreaker at the hands of Washington State) and have a huge resume boosting victory over UCLA. Equipped with dangerous receiver Dres Anderson and a stable of backs, the Utes have all the makings of a serious dark horse.
24. BYU Cougars (4-1) -- This past Friday night, any playoff hopes for the Cougars were extinguished, as they were pretty much shut down by Utah State. To make matters worse, Taysom Hill will miss some time with a fractured leg. The good news is that the ground game still has some serious bite, and the defense is playing pretty well.
25. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-0) -- Quietly, Paul Johnson and the Yellow Jackets are having a big year. Sure, their schedule hasn't been full of tough opponents, but the way Justin Thomas is playing, and the way the offense is moving, the Yellow Jackets are a dangerous dark horse.

Others Receiving Votes
Stanford
Clemson
LSU
USC
Wisconsin
Marshall
Minnesota
Louisville
West Virginia
Kentucky

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 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

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 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