2009 CFN Rankings
Week 5, Oct. 4
- 2009 CFN Preseason Rankings
- 2009 Coaches' Poll
- Scoreboard & Game Recaps
- CFN Rankings Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
1. Alabama 5-0
Last Week: W, at Kentucky 38-20
This Week: at Ole Miss
Why the ranking is too high: The punting game isn't that big a deal. There have to be some warts, right? Going through the motions a bit, the Tide was outplayed for a long stretch by Kentucky. It was still an easy 38-20 win as all the parts continue to hum.
2. Florida 4-0
Last Week: Didn't Play This Week
This Week: at LSU
Why the ranking is too high: It this really the No. 2 team in America it Tim Tebow is hurt/out? The Tennessee game is still a little fresh, the Gators didn't look that great, and there might be a question mark about whether or not the offense, that isn't getting much out of the receivers, can produce against a great D if it's Tebow left, Tebow right, Tebow up the middle.
Why the ranking is too low:Yeah, if Florida isn't No. 1, it's No. 1A. Tebow's melon is supposedly fine, LSU isn't all that great, and the Gators, for any problems you might want to come up with, has outscored everyone by an average score of 45.5 to 7.25. The offense is third in the nation and the defense is first.
3. Texas 4-0
Last Week: Didn't Play This Week
This Week: Colorado
Why the ranking is too high: Colt McCoy has been fine, but he hasn't been the Colt McCoy of last year quite yet. The offense is working more with the running backs, but it still has to prove it can produce against a real defense. That win over Texas Tech doesn't seem like any big deal, and it seems even more mediocre since it was such a struggle and with the problems Houston had this week against UTEP. Of course ...
Why the ranking is too low: ... that the UTEP team that hung up 58 points on Houston gained a total of 53 yards on Texas. The Longhorns appear to be all tuned up and ready to take on the big boys coming up soon. With a week off to prepare for Colorado, this might not be pretty unless the Longhorns are licking their chops after watching OU's loss to Miami.
4. Virginia Tech 4-1
Last Week: W, at Duke 34-26
This Week: Boston College
Why the ranking is too high: Yeeeeeeeesh. You don't struggle that much against Duke. Yeah, the Hokies had the game in hand throughout, for the most part, but a top four team doesn't beat Duke by eight. The offensive line has been good, but inconsistent.
Why the ranking is too low: Everyone seemed to take last week off except for Tyrod Taylor. The Hokie QB proved once again that he can throw a little bit, and while he might not be a bomber, he's becoming tremendously efficient.
5. Auburn 5-0
Last Week: W, at Tennessee 26-22
This Week: at Arkansas
Why the ranking is too high: The run defense has been a tad soft, and the pass defense is the only one in FBS or FCS that couldn't come up with a pick of Tennessee QB Jonathan Crompton. The pass rush isn't at an elite level and there aren't enough big plays being made behind the line.
Why the ranking is too low: The offense is almost perfectly balanced averaging 254 rushing yards and 259 passing yards per game. With wins over Mississippi State, West Virginia, and now Tennessee, the Tigers are building a decent résumé, and if they play up to their talent level over the next two weeks, they'll by 7-0 before going to LSU. Welcome to the party, other polls. 6. Miami 3-1
Last Week: W, Oklahoma 21-20
This Week: Florida A&M
Why the ranking is too high: If Oklahoma two points better if Sam Bradford is under center? The Virginia Tech blasting is still a little too fresh, and while the Canes looked athletic, fast, and extremely talented against Oklahoma, this still could be a flaky enough team to go into the tank like it did in Blacksburg.
Why the ranking is too low: It's almost as if the team went from thinking it had swagger and confidence to actually getting both. Give credit to Jacory Harris for overcoming the adversity of a rough start to settle down and get the win over the Sooners. There's no one on the schedule, with the possible exception of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, who can touch the Canes before the trip to South Florida.
7. USC 4-1
Last Week: W, at California 30-0
This Week: at Notre Dame (Oct. 17)
Why the ranking is too high: Fine, so blasting California isn't necessarily a reason to put USC in Pasadena already, but that was a dominant defensive performance against a talented offense. At some point, Matt Barkley is going to have to start putting it up deep. USC has to prove it can produce in a shootout (like it might have against Notre Dame next week).
Why the ranking is too low: Forgetting the loss to Washington for a moment, the defense really has been good. The Trojans have allowed just nine points in the last two weeks. In five games, USC has given up just two meaningful touchdowns. The run defense is giving up just 65 yards per game ... that's not a good sign for Oregon on Halloween.
8. Ohio State 4-1
Last Week: W, at Indiana 33-14
This Week: Wisconsin
Why the ranking is too high: The Buckeyes could lose to Wisconsin. The Badgers are a bad matchup for the Buckeyes and might pull off the upset if the OSU passing game doesn't get rolling. Yeah, the team has looked great over the last three games winning by a combined total of 101 to 14, but that was against Toledo, Illinois, and Indiana. Whoopee.
Why the ranking is too low: The defense really is good. You probably can't name any of Buckeye defenders, but outside of a big pass play by Navy and a late Matt Barkley drive, the defense hasn't given up anything meaningful.
9. Nebraska 3-1
Last Week: Didn't Play This Week
This Week: at Missouri
Why the ranking is too high: The Huskers will probably lose at Missouri on Thursday night. The offense hasn't produced enough points against anyone with a pulse and it will have to prove it can keep up in a firefight, which it might be in Columbia.
Why the ranking is too low: It took a miraculous last second pass for Virginia Tech to beat the Huskers, and if the D could've held firm, the ranking might be in the top five. Nebraska had an easy time against an Arkansas State team that gave Iowa a big push.
10. Wisconsin 5-0
Last Week: W, at Minnesota 31-28
This Week: at Ohio State
Why the ranking is too high: The team can't close. The Badgers were in complete control late against Northern Illinois, Fresno State, Michigan State, and Minnesota, and they found ways to make all four games far too interesting. The secondary has to be much, much tighter.
Why the ranking is too low: It's almost like the team is a few tweaks away from being truly special. The offensive line is starting to heal up and come together, the run defense has been solid, and there's perfect offensive balance averaging 217 rushing yards per game and 216 through the air.
11. LSU 5-0
Last Week: W, at Georgia, 20-13
This Week: Florida
Why the ranking is too high: LSU came up with its best performance of the year on the lines against Georgia, but it was still a horrible, horrible unsportsmanlike penalty call away from probably losing. One rumbling touchdown run from Charles Scott aside, the offense was mediocre yet again.
Why the ranking is too low: The talent is there. The Tigers might not be looking like world beaters, but they're winning. 3-0 in the SEC is 3-0, and now there are chances to prove they're for real with Florida and Auburn at home over the next two weeks and and Alabama coming up in early November.
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