SectionsMidseason NCAA football power rankings
Stephen Bubalo
Issue date: 10/13/06 Section: Sports
The college football regular season is halfway done, and it's been as fun to watch as always.
The season has already had its share of surprising upsets (Michigan thumping Notre Dame, Arkansas whoopin' Auburn), controversial finishes (Oregon and Oklahoma), and the ever-interesting top 25 rankings and Heisman Watch.
You also can't leave out the suspense of what team the BCS Rankings will leave ranting and raving that there needs to be a playoff system in college football. That's inevitable.
No. 10 - California
If it weren't for their gag-job in the first game of the year against Tennessee, Cal could be a top five team. But as it happened, Cal got trounced by the Volunteers, and has been on a tear ever since to climb back high into the rankings, putting up 40+ points in their last five wins. Not bad.
No. 9 - Auburn
Although they got beat up pretty badly by Arkansas last week, I still feel they're a top 10 team. Their defense is awesome and they've got a great running back in Kenny Irons. Unfortunately, their shot at a national championship is all but gone, but they can still ruin the party for Florida.
No. 8 - Louisville
It's tough to put the Cardinals up here without quarterback Brian Brohm or running back Michael Bush, both out with injuries, but this is still a good team. And if they can get Brohm back by the time they face West Virginia, they've got a strong chance to finish undefeated. Whether or not the BCS will reward them if that happens remains to be seen.
No. 7 - West Virginia
Sorry Mountaineer fans, I'm not drinking the WVU kool-aid. You do have one of the best running backs in the country in Steve Slaton, but I need to see some quality wins. Please. Just one will do. No? Didn't think so. West Virginia's first five wins came against teams with a combined record of 8-19. Ouch. If there are three teams undefeated at the end of the year and WVU is one of them, they're getting left out of the national championship game, and deservedly so.
The season has already had its share of surprising upsets (Michigan thumping Notre Dame, Arkansas whoopin' Auburn), controversial finishes (Oregon and Oklahoma), and the ever-interesting top 25 rankings and Heisman Watch.
You also can't leave out the suspense of what team the BCS Rankings will leave ranting and raving that there needs to be a playoff system in college football. That's inevitable.
No. 10 - California
If it weren't for their gag-job in the first game of the year against Tennessee, Cal could be a top five team. But as it happened, Cal got trounced by the Volunteers, and has been on a tear ever since to climb back high into the rankings, putting up 40+ points in their last five wins. Not bad.
No. 9 - Auburn
Although they got beat up pretty badly by Arkansas last week, I still feel they're a top 10 team. Their defense is awesome and they've got a great running back in Kenny Irons. Unfortunately, their shot at a national championship is all but gone, but they can still ruin the party for Florida.
No. 8 - Louisville
It's tough to put the Cardinals up here without quarterback Brian Brohm or running back Michael Bush, both out with injuries, but this is still a good team. And if they can get Brohm back by the time they face West Virginia, they've got a strong chance to finish undefeated. Whether or not the BCS will reward them if that happens remains to be seen.
No. 7 - West Virginia
Sorry Mountaineer fans, I'm not drinking the WVU kool-aid. You do have one of the best running backs in the country in Steve Slaton, but I need to see some quality wins. Please. Just one will do. No? Didn't think so. West Virginia's first five wins came against teams with a combined record of 8-19. Ouch. If there are three teams undefeated at the end of the year and WVU is one of them, they're getting left out of the national championship game, and deservedly so.
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