NCAA Football 2018 Week 2 results and Top 25

To start off with, would you like to know how dumb ESPN Staff Writer Dan Murphy is?  He wrote this: "The four ranked Big Tens that finished their games before midnight won by an average margin of 43 points today. It was not a particularly competitive slate for the league this week save for Michigan State-Arizona State."
My response to that would be: "A whole lot more competitive than the SEC, where eight teams played FCS opponents." ESPN continues to expose their corporate-ordered bias against the Big Ten. Remember, the Big Ten did something last year that NO conference in the history of the bowl games (who has sent for than three teams) has ever done - finished with a bowl record higher than 85% (the Big Ten went 7-1, or 87.5%). The SEC has NEVER done that -- EVER!

You want a Top 25 that ACTUALLY measures competitiveness? That's mine. You'll notice Clemson missing. Why not? Well, what have they actually accomplished, against REAL competition (not FCS patsies like the teams the SEC played this weekend)? They beat Texas A&M, a team predicted to finish in the bottom half of the SEC, by only two points. The Aggies were higher in nearly ALL statistical categories (unfortunately, that included turnovers). Thus, Clemson is conspicuously absent, because they have not demonstrated enough competitiveness.

My Top 25 does not depend upon the arrogance of a staff who picks their favorite teams and perennial winners, and then moves them around like chess pieces BASED UPON THAT PRESEASON ASSUMPTION! To be in my Top 25 ranking, you EARN it -- by your play on the field!

So, screw you, Dan Murphy. You wouldn't know REAL competition if you saw it played out in front of you. Gee, weren't you one of the people touting Texas before the season began? Let's measure their competitiveness. They lost to Maryland (hello, Big Ten) and beat Tulsa, a team typically near the bottom of their conference, by only seven points. Hmm, maybe someone is insulting the Big Ten to steer attention away from his complete incompetence as a prognosticator.

Okay, I've wasted enough time on this imbecile. Let's look at that ranking...

Top 25 [Last week's position]
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0) [1]
2. Wisconsin Badgers (2-0) [2]
3. Oklahoma Sooners (2-0) [3]
4. Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0) [4]
5. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-0) [5]
6. Stanford Cardinal (2-0) [6]
7. LSU Tigers (2-0) [7]
8. Boise State Broncos (2-0) [10]
9. UCF Golden Knights (2-0) [9]
10. Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0) [NR]
11. Washington State Cougars (2-0) [13]
12. Colorado Buffaloes (2-0) [11]
13. Oregon Ducks (2-0) [12]
14. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0) [14]
15. TCU Horned Frogs (2-0) [NR]
16. Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0) [16]
17. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-0) [15]
18. Houston Cougars (2-0) [20]
19. Duke Blue Devils (2-0) [18]
20. Cincinnati Bearcats (2-0) [19]
21. Georgia Bulldogs (2-0) [NR]
22. Maryland Terrapins (2-0) [21]
23. Mississippi State Bulldogs (2-0) [NR]
24. Auburn Tigers (2-0) [17]
25. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0) [25]

Dropped off: USC Trojans [#8], Ole Miss Rebels [#22], Northwestern Wildcats [#23], Fresno State Bulldogs [#24]
On the Edge: Boston College Eagles (2-0), Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-0), Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-0), Michigan Wolverines (2-0), Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (2-0), Texas A&M Aggies (1-1)

Big Ten Report
Minnesota did better than I expected, Northwestern did worse. Everyone else was fairly expected. Ohio State's offense continues to shine, Wisconsin's defense still needs a bit of work. Penn State's defense finally woke up in the second half of the Pitt game -- they just needed a six-quarter nap! Michigan's offense sparked, although Western Michigan's defense isn't too great. Still, 49 points is an accomplishment.

One thing we learned clearly -- the Northwestern-Purdue game last week was NOT close due to Purdue's improvement. Although they lost to Eastern Michigan on a last minute field goal, the game would not have been that close if Purdue were really competitive. As the Duke game proved, Northwestern just isn't that good so far this season. Michigan State also lost on a last minute field goal. At least the Spartans defense showed up for the game against Arizona State; it would have been nice if the offense had, as well. Michigan State is too inconsistent to count on them to compete in the conference this season.

Minnesota and Maryland are looking good, but they often do during non-conference play. The question remains -- how well can they compete against the stronger teams of the conference? I definitely think these two will place well in their divisions, and likely secure bowl bids.

Based on schedule and the performances turned in so far, I think Ohio State and Wisconsin might each enter the Big Ten Championship Game unbeaten. Ohio State's biggest challenge appears to be Penn State (they should roll over TCU next week), while Iowa and Minnesota each need to improve if they want to push Wisconsin. 

Pac-12 Report
Washington played an FCS team, so they haven't yet redeemed themselves after losing to Auburn.  UCLA and USC both got squashed this week.  Washington State and Oregon both look good, but it's still a bit early to tell how consistent they will be.  Colorado definitely looks good.  Arizona State won again, but given the struggles shown by Michigan State, it should not have taken them until the end of the game to win that.  Herm Edwards has a bit more work to do with his team to make them truly competitive in this conference.

Stanford is clearly the front-runner, with division challenges from Washington State and Oregon.  Colorado seems the dominant team in the South, with potential from both Arizona State and Utah.

SEC Report
Not much to report here, as too many of the teams played FCS teams this week.  Georgia and Kentucky both excelled in conference play.  Vandy was dominant against Nevada, which was a surprise.  Missouri and Mississippi State looked good, too.  The Aggies offense showed life (gaining nearly 600 yards against the supposed "best defense in the land"), but they made some costly mistakes, too.  Conference opponents will take advantage of them if that continues.

ACC Report
Virginia Tech remains the most impressive team in the conference, followed by Boston College.  Duke is also showing that they are ready to compete for a spot in the conference championship.  Syracuse has looked impressive against weaker opponents, but I think conference play will hurt them.  Wake Forest shows some promise.

Can Clemson still claim to have the best defense in the country?  After allowing Texas A&M nearly 600 yards?  I don't think so.  And Florida State should be almost too embarrassed to field a team, after nearly losing to perennial FCS doormat Samford.  Unless Virginia Tech (the likely conference champ at this point) goes unbeaten, I don't see an ACC team in the playoffs.

Big 12 Report
Kansas and Oklahoma State were impressive this week.  For Kansas, it was their first road win in 47 tries.  Oklahoma and TCU continued to look good, although the wheels may come off TCU next week when they host Ohio State.  Texas already looks tired, as they struggled against Tulsa, and Kansas State just looked pathetic.

Other interesting results:  Florida Atlantic grounded the Air Force and FCS Maine hammered Western Kentucky.  Nice job, guys!