Foul Balls Top 25: Week 9

Well, thanks to Oregon State, the poll here at Foul Balls looks just like every single other poll in the country when it comes to #1 and #2.

Make no mistake about it, there's a bias here at Foul Balls, especially when it comes to the USC Trojans. We were delighted to see them lose on Saturday to the Beavers. It made us giddy.

Of course, it also presented us with the problem of replacing the Trojans in our Top 5.

Normally we would just bump up #6, in this case Louisville. But we don't much respect the Big East Conference when it comes to football. Basketball yes, football no. So, if we bump the Cardinals up to #5, that would give us two Big East teams in our Top 5, something we aren't too comfortable with.

Our option, #7 Auburn. No stranger to our Top 5, Auburn spent the first five weeks of the season as our #2. The problem with the Tigers is they just didn't look like a Top 5 team against Ole Miss this weekend. Sure, they won but had to struggle to do it.

After Auburn, there was #8 Notre Dame. Now trust us, there's nothing we'd love to do more than put our Irish back in the Top 5. I mean they beat the crap out of Navy, 38-14. Of course, the problem there is that it's Navy. Not exactly elite competition.

How about Tennessee? Pretty impressive to go into Columbia and beat the Gamecocks 24-17 on Saturday night. Still, it's hard to justify letting the Vols jump four spots over three other teams that didn't lose.

With Florida it's the same problem, jumping five spots over four teams.

So who did we decide? Read on.

TOP 5

1. Ohio State 9-0 (1) W 44-0 vs. Minnesota - Ohio State has reached the JV portion of their schedule but unlike almost every other team this season, they aren't having a problem with it. There haven't been any close calls or near upsets. Ohio State has been in charge of every game the minute they step on the field. We're just counting down the weeks until the Michigan game. (Next game: @Illinois)

2. Michigan 9-0 (3) W 17-3 vs. Northwestern - It was a pretty miserable day on Saturday, so I guess we can forgive the Wolverines for only beating Northwestern by 14. Michigan benefits from USC's loss, and takes over the #2 spot. We're just counting down the weeks until the Ohio State game. (Next game: vs. Ball State)

3. West Virginia 7-0 (4) BYE - The Mountaineers got a week off, and get to move up a spot in the rankings. I hope they chose to spend their time off wisely cuz on Saturday they have a pretty important game to play in Kentucky. (Next game: @Louisville)

4. Texas 8-1 (5) W 35-31 @ Texas Tech - What is it with Texas/Texas Tech games? Is there a rule that states no defense shall be played? Tech QB Graham Harrell had 365 yards passing at halftime. The Longhorns hadn't given up that many yards passing in a game this season. Oh, and the Longhorns also trailed 31-21 at that point. They played defense in the second half, shutting out the Red Raiders, and completing the comeback. (Next game: vs. Oklahoma State)

5. Louisville 7-0 (6) BYE-Okay, okay, we did it. We now have two Big East teams in the Top 5. Still, there's only one reason we made this choice. Deciding between the other candidates was too difficult, and since Louisville plays West Virginia this weekend, one of them has to lose and, therefore, won't be here next week. (Next game: vs. West Virginia)

THE REST

6. Florida (11) W 21-14 vs. Georgia
7. Auburn 8-1 (7) W 23-17 @Mississippi
8. Tennessee 7-1 (9) W 31-24 @South Carolina
9. Notre Dame 7-1 (8) W 38-14 @Navy
10. Cal 7-1 (10) BYE
11. USC (2) L 33-31 @Oregon State
12. Arkansas 7-1 (14) W 44-10 vs. Louisiana Monroe
13. LSU 6-2 (13) BYE
14. Boston College 7-1 (15) W 41-0 vs. Buffalo
15. Rutgers 8-0 (16) W 24-13 vs. UConn
16. Wisconsin 8-1 (17) W 30-24 vs. Illinois
17. Oklahoma 6-2 (19) W 26-10 @ Missouri
18. Boise State 8-0 (18) BYE
19. Georgia Tech 6-2 (23) W 30-23 vs. Miami
20. Oregon 6-2 (22) W 55-12 vs. Portland State
21. Virginia Tech 6-2 (25) W 24-7 vs. Clemson
22. Clemson 7-2 (12) L 24-7 @ Virginia Tech
23. Texas A&M 8-1 (UR) W 31-21 vs. Baylor
24. Wake Forest 7-1 (24) W 24-17 vs. North Carolina
25. Tulsa 7-1 (UR) W 30-20 vs. UTEP

Dropped from rankings: Missouri, Nebraska.