We had some more Top 25 upsets. One result of those? My Fighting Illini reach the Top Ten for the first time in over 20 years!
Top 25 [Last week's position]
1. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (8-0) [1]
2. Georgia Bulldogs (8-0) [2]
3. Michigan Wolverines (8-0) [3]
4. Tennessee Volunteers (8-0) [4]
5. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1) [5]
6. USC Trojans (7-1) [6]
7. Clemson Tigers (8-0) [7]
8. TCU Horned Frogs (9-0) [8]
9. Illinois Fighting Illini (7-1) [11]
10. Ole Miss Revels (8-1) [13]
11. UCLA Bruins (7-1) [15]
12. Oregon Ducks (8-1) [16]
13. Penn State Nittany Lions (6-2) [9] : They started off fine against the Buckeyes, but got worn down in the fourth quarter
14. Utah Utes (6-2) [14]
15. Kansas State Wildcats (6-2) [NR] : They engineered one of the biggest shutout blowouts in Big XII history!
16. Syracuse Orange (6-2) [10] : They were rolled by a revitalized Irish team
17. Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-3) [21] : They got back on treack with a strong win
18. Texas Longhorns (5-3) [18]
19. Cincinnati Bearcats (6-2) [19]
20. LSU Tigers (6-2) [20]
21. North Carolina Tar Heels (7-1) [28]
22. Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-3) [22]
23. Washington Huskies (6-2) [23]
24. UCF Golden Knights (6-2) [NR]
25. Tulane Green Wave (7-1) [25]
On the Cusp: Maryland Terrapins (6-2), Liberty Flames (7-1), Boise State Broncos (6-2), Duke BLue Devils (5-3), Florida State Seminoles (5-3), Oklahoma Sooners (5-3), Baylor Bears (5-3), San Jose State Spartans (5-2)
Dropped off: Oklahoma State Cowboys [#12], Wake Forest Demon Deacons [#17], Kentucky Wildcats [#24]
Upsets and Surprises
The biggest upset was also the biggest blowout of the week -- Kansas State's demolition of Oklahoma State. Louisville also manhandled Wake Forest to drop them from the rankings. UCF squeaked past Cincinnati to return to the Tip 25.
The Top 25 2wasn't the only source of upsets. Charlotte, who had struggled all season, upended Rice. Georgia State, who has languished near the bottom of the Sun Belt Conference, blew away Old Dominion,.
Big Ten Report
Ohio State and Michigan continued their winning ways, and have basically made it a two-way battle for the East title. With four conference games still to play, it is still MATHEMATICALLY possible for either Penn State or Maryland to capture the title, I think we all realize that it isn't happening.
On the other end of the division, both Indiana and Michigan State are struggling to be bowl eligible. They both have to face Penn State and another ranked team (Ohio State for Indiana, Illinois for Michigan State), so it doesn't look likely.
Illinois has taken a strong lead in the West division, and beating Purdue will probably seal the deal. It looks like Michigan is their only likely loss coming up, giving them a 10-2 record going into the Big Ten Championship Game. Everyone has a MATHEMATICAL chance of competing for the title, only Purude has a serious chance, and they need to upset Illinois in two weeks to do it.
Northwestern, with only one win this season, will not be bowl eligible.
MAC Attack
Buffalo holds a one-game lead in the East, and a win over Ohio this week gives them tiebreaker credit over both of the other contenders. Akron has lost bowl eligibility, and that fate seems destined for Kent State and Miami Ohio as well.
Toledo leads the West division, but it's a bit less comfortable than Buffalo's situation. They still have to play all three of the other contenders, so they need to run the gamut to really seal the deal. The Rockets don't have it easy. Neither do Central Michigan and Northern Illinois, both of whom face bowl elimination this week.
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