Yahoo Top 10: How high did Ole Miss rise after an emotional win over Lane Kiffin's LSU?
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Mississippi State, Duke, Louisville and Ole Miss?
Yes, those are four inclusions in this week's Top 10. And why not? It's early enough in the college football season to have some fun.
The Bulldogs have one of the country's most electric quarterbacks, Duke has two power conference victories (that's not as common as you might think three weeks into the year!), Louisville bashed SMU and the Rebels beat Lane Kiffin.
But what else happened on this Saturday in the sport?
West Virginia whipped Virginia in Charlotte to move to 3-0 in RichRod's second season, three SEC programs found a way to win tough road games (Florida at Auburn, Mississippi State at South Carolina and Kentucky — yes, Kentucky! — at Texas A&M) and Northwestern pulverized Colorado.
We're still waiting for a few Big Ten and Big 12 teams to, uh, play summmmbody, as they often say. Clemson survived a scare from Bill Belichick (things just don't seem right with the Tigers), Vanderbilt won on the single most insane play in recent college football history (what a bungle by NC State!) and USC hung on against Rutgers in a surprisingly close affair.
Before getting to the Top 10, a reminder: This is a Judgement Free Zone. When ranking teams, we do NOT consider any preseason polls or any past-season results. What happened in the past is, firmly, in the past.
This system normally rewards teams with tougher early-season opponents, but it also makes for an unusual group in the first few weeks. By mid-season, our Top 10 may not be much different than many others.
1. Texas Longhorns
This week: beat UTSA 30-6
Next week: at Tennessee
The Longhorns still possess the season's best win so far, beating Ohio State. Sure, they needed a 20-point fourth-quarter comeback, but a win's a win and this was one very nice victory against the class of the Big Ten. Arch Manning did fine in the follow-up against UTSA, with 164 yards passing and 50 rushing with two scores. UT's offense didn't need much. The defense didn't give up a touchdown and allowed just one drive of more than 13 yards. Yes, you read that correctly. Brace yourselves for the big game next week in Knoxville.
2. Miami Hurricanes
This week: beat Wake Forest 33-20
Next week: vs. Central Michigan
If you wondered why the Hurricanes went through the laborious and expensive process of acquiring QB Darian Mensah, he's showing everyone just why. He completed his first 24 passes in the Friday night win at Wake Forest and 31 straight dating back to the previous game. The stretch broke the ACC record for consecutive completions — by 12. He finished 30 of 34 and now leads the nation in completion percentage at 89.9. Receiver Malachi Toney finished with over 95 yards receiving for a third straight game with a touchdown.
3. Ole Miss Rebels
This week: beat LSU 32-24
Next week: at Florida
Is there a better player in the country and Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss? He passed for 363 yards and accounted for three touchdowns. He seems to will his team to wins — at both the Division II level and now the SEC. Even without star running back Kewan Lacy in the second half, the Rebels managed to knock off Lane Kiffin's Tigers, jumping out to a 17-point lead and holding on for dear life in a rocking environment at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Chambliss delivered the game-winning knockout punch to his former coach's return — a 14-yard touchdown scamper that unfolded right in front of Kiffin himself.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
This week: beat Kent State 59-3
Next week: vs. Illinois
The Buckeyes still get props for looking like a world beater for three quarters in Austin. Sure, they collapsed in a fiery crash, embarrassingly blowing a 20-point fourth quarter lead. But, hey, the talent is clearly there as they showed again in a beatdown Saturday. Receiver Jeremiah Smith became Ohio State's all-time leading receiver, eclipsing a record held by Michael Jenkins. QB Julian Sayin missed on just four passes and the Ohio State defense got a feel-good moment a week after their tumble against Texas. The Buckeyes had more rushing yards (145) than the Flashes had total yards (134).
5. Alabama Crimson Tide
This week: beat Florida State
Next week: vs. South Carolina
For a second straight week now, the Crimson Tide has shown us just how quickly they can score. Down 21-6, the Tide scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions to take a 12-point lead. A week ago, they trailed at halftime at Kentucky before scoring 32 unanswered points in the second half. That victory looks even better now after the Wildcats won in Aggieland in one of the weekend's big surprises. Kalen DeBoer and Co. are about to start a hellish stretch: road games at a dangerous Mississippi State team and Tennessee and home games against Georgia and South Carolina.
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
This week: beat Michigan State 27-10
Next week: vs. Purdue
A 200-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher, a 150-yard receiver and a defense that allowed 167 yards. That's what Notre Dame did against Michigan State. Good luck this season picking a poison with the Irish. They've proven through the first three weeks — wins over Wisconsin, Michigan State and Rice — that they are as complete as a squad that we've seen under fifth-year coach Marcus Freeman.
7. Duke Blue Devils
This week: beat Stanford
Next week: vs. William & Mary
Don't look now but the Blue Devils are 3-0 and have beaten a Big Ten team on the road (Illinois) and a conference opponent at home (few teams right now have two power conference wins, especially one on the road). Duke is doing it on the ground, pushing around people in a way that mirrors a Big Ten or SEC juggernaut. RB Nate Sheppard eclipsed 140 yards for a third straight game. He's scored five touchdowns so far this season and Manny Diaz's defense has been quite nasty. Duke smothered the Cardinal. The best stat to explain the dominant: 268 yards rushing to 73.
8. Mississippi State Bulldogs
This week: beat South Carolina 41-34
Next week: vs. Missouri
Let me put on your radar what appears to be one of the country's most electric players: Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor, who's thrown 11 touchdowns to one interception and is averaging 277 yards passing a game. The Bulldogs have road wins over a Big Ten team and a conference foe through three games. They are dangerous, equipped with Taylor's playmaking skills and a defense operated by former head coach Zach Arnett. Some saw this coming. A five-win Mississippi State team last year collapsed in four fourth-quarter meltdowns.
9. Georgia Bulldogs
This week: beat Arkansas 45-17
Next week: vs. Oklahoma
Yes, the Bulldogs don't have any real great wins, but they burst into our top 10, for now, after drubbing Arkansas on the road. They get the Sooners next, which doesn't look as difficult as previously thought (OU lost at Michigan and barely survived, 14-6, against New Mexico on Saturday). QB Gunner Stockton needed just 13 completions in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks are not good, not good at all. They only scored touchdowns in mop-up time against Georgia's B Team.
10. Louisville Cardinals
This week: beat SMU 41-31
Next week: vs. Wake Forest
Don't sleep on the Cardinals. Their last-minute, season-opening loss in Nashville to Ole Miss looks a lot shiner now after the Rebels took down LSU. Jeff Brohm's team scores in bunches. On Saturday, they ran right over the Mustangs, using Keyjuan Brown and his 163 yards on 10 — count'em 10 — carries. He scored two touchdowns and the Louisville defense turned over SMU on its last three possession to seal the deal. Behind Miami, is Louisville the class of the ACC?
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