For the second week in a row, Alabama is No. 1 in Pool’s Power Rankings. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan University secured the bottom spot after a loss to last week’s No. 120 Ball State.
EMU will try to get its first win against Arkansas, which plays in the Southeastern Conference. EMU has never defeated a team from the SEC.
“You’re going to play some games where you look overmatched, and you just have to go out and play and be competitive,” EMU coach Ron English said at his weekly teleconference.
The Eagles won’t be playing in the worst game this week. That dubious honor goes to No. 119 Western Kentucky and No. 111 North Texas from the Sun Belt Conference.
There are two good games that may catch your eye, and they both start at 8 p.m. Saturday. First is No. 5 Texas against Big 12 rival No. 15 Oklahoma State. Meanwhile, No. 13 Oregon, which has won six straight, will face No. 12 Southern California in a Pac 10 matchup.
With that here’s the top of the mountain and bottom of the valley for week nine:
Top 10
1.) Alabama (8-0, 51.8 Average win percentage, 0 average loss percentage) survived thanks to a last-second blocked field goal against Tennessee last week to ensure a No. 1 spot on this all-important list. Next opponent: Bye
2.) Iowa (8-0, 52.1, 0) also needed last-second heroics from Ohio’s own Ricky Stanzi to beat Michigan State, 15-13, last week. Next opponent: Indiana (76)
3.) Florida (7-0, 64, 0) was close to losing as well but managed to hold off Mississippi State, 29-19, last week and made sure the top three stayed the same. Next opponent: Georgia (47)
4.) Texas Christian (7-0, 67.9, 0) had a statement game for the BCS last week and that was a 38-7 win over Brigham Young. It gave TCU an inside track to win the Mountain West. Next opponent: UNLV (93)
5.) Texas (7-0, 69.7, 0) continued its domination tour of the Big 12 when it defeated Missouri, 41-7, last week. Next opponent: Oklahoma State (15)
6.) Cincinnati (7-0, 72, 0) gave Zach Collaros a chance to get comfortable in the offense after the injury to quarterback Tony Pike with a 41-10 win over Louisville last week. Next opponent: Syracuse (87)
7.) Boise State (7-0, 75.3, 0) had a nice weekend in Hawaii, not to mention winning a football game while it was there. Next week: San Jose State (109)
8.) Pittsburgh (7-1, 55, 72) handed South Florida its second consecutive loss, 41-10, last week. Pittsburgh is on a collision course with Cincinnati for the rights to the Big East. Next opponent: Bye
9.) Georgia Tech (7-1, 57.1, 1) continued its success with the triple-option offense and rolled over Virginia, 34-9, last week. Next opponent: Vanderbilt (108)
10.) Penn State (7-1, 84.9, 12) went to the Big House last week and won there for the first time since 1996. Next opponent: Northwestern (46)
Bottom 10
111.) North Texas (1-6, 91, 64.3) ran into the top team in the Sun Belt Conference, Troy, and lost, 56-20, last week. Next opponent: Western Kentucky (119)
112.) Florida International (1-6, 117, 68.5) handed Arkansas State its second win of the season, 27-10, last week. Surely, FIU was devastated to see Florida Atlantic move to 2-4. Next opponent: Louisiana Lafayette (65)
113.) Akron (1-6, 121, 57) lost last week to Syracuse and is counting the days until EMU comes to town on Nov. 27. Next opponent: Northern Illinois (61)
114.) Illinois (1-6, 121, 64.3) dropped its fifth straight, all Big Ten games, after losing to Purdue, 24-14, last week. Next opponent: Michigan (37)
115.) Ball State (1-7, 119, 80.9) won its first game last week! Only five winless teams remain. Next opponent: Ohio (44)
116.) Miami (Ohio) (0-8, 0, 56.3) made things interesting but dropped a 27-22 game against Northern Illinois last week. Next opponent: Toledo (75)
117.) Rice (0-8, 0, 70.1) scored seven last week against Central Florida and gave up 49 to remain winless. I think Rice needs to give the other Kevin Pool a chance to carry the ball, maybe then it’ll get a victory. Next opponent: Bye
118.) New Mexico (0-7, 0, 77.3) didn’t lose last week, and that’s a first this season. Too bad that was because of a bye. Next opponent: San Diego State (88)
119.) Western Kentucky (0-7, 0, 77.7) continued to not play defense in a 62-24 loss to Middle Tennessee State last week. Next opponent: North Texas (111)
120.) EMU (0-7, 0, 85.4) blew a lead and a chance at its first win against Ball State and now has to go to SEC country in search of victory. Next opponent: Arkansas (77)
Mid-American Conference
11.) Central Michigan (7-1, 92.3, 65)
34.) Temple (5-2, 92.2, 77.5)
44.) Ohio (5-3, 91.4, 79.3)
61.) Northern Illinois (4-3, 96, 64)
73.) Western Michigan (4-4, 94, 51.3)
74.) Kent State (4-4, 96, 77.8)
75.) Toledo (4-4, 99.5, 67.8)
94.) Bowling Green (3-5, 92.3, 39)
95.) Buffalo (3-5, 103.7, 78.4)
113.) Akron (1-6, 121, 57)
115.) Ball State (1-7, 119, 80.9)
116.) Miami (0-8, 0, 56.3)
120.) EMU (0-7, 0, 85.4)
Previous rankings
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6