College football weekly Top 25 rankings

Eddie Hughes ranks college football’s Top 25

1. USC (4-0)
Previous rank (PR): 1
Next: Cal (Oct. 9)
Last: 31-28 over Stanford
A little too much trouble with smart kids.

2. OKLAHOMA (3-0)
PR: 2
Next: Texas Tech (3-1)
Last: idle
This looks like a one-way shootout—with the Sooners doing all the scoring.

3. MIAMI (3-0)
PR: 3
Next: at Georgia Tech (2-1)
Last: 38-13 over Houston
It might take awhile to get used to this being a conference matchup.

4. GEORGIA (3-0)
PR: 4
Next: LSU (3-1)
Last: idle
Home field could come in handy for Dawgs.

5. OHIO STATE (3-0)
PR: 5
Next: at Northwestern (1-3)
Last: idle
Buckeyes will roll in and out of Northwestern with little problem.

6. FLORIDA STATE (2-1)
PR: 6
Next: North Carolina (2-2)
Last: 41-22 over Clemson
Tarheels are in for a lonnnng day.

7. TENNESSEE (3-0)
PR: 7
Next: Auburn (4-0)
Last: 42-17 over Louisiana Tech
Vol win and Georgia loss puts Vols in the driver’s seat in SEC East.

8. TEXAS (3-0)
PR: 8
Next: Baylor (2-1)
Last: 35-13 over Rice
Don’t expect Baylor to win its second straight.

9. CALIFORNIA (2-0)
PR: 9
Next: at Oregon State (1-3)
Last: idle
Bears can’t look past Beavers to looming USC game.

10. AUBURN (4-0)
PR: 10
Next: at Tennessee (0-3)
Last: 33-3 over The Citadel
LSU should be cheering on the Vols.
11. PURDUE (3-0)
PR: 11
Next: at Notre Dame (3-1)
Last: 38-30 over Illinois
Here we go—finally a test for Purdue.

12. FRESNO STATE (3-0)
PR: 12
Next: at Louisiana Tech (2-2)
Last: idle
Undefeated Bulldogs better take a bite out of the other Bulldogs.

13. BOISE STATE (3-0)
PR: 13
Next: SMU (1-3)
Last: 28-27 over BYU
Luck was on the Broncos’ side with botched field goal.

14. UTAH (4-0)
PR: 14
Next: at New Mexico (2-2)
Last: 49-35 over Air Force
Utes trailed early against Air Force and may do the same this week.

15. LSU (3-1)
PR: 15
Next: at Georgia (3-0)
Last: 51-0 over Mississippi State
Call it a hunch, but this could be the end of Georgia’s unbeaten record.
16. FLORIDA (2-1)
PR: 16
Next: Arkansas (3-1)
Last: 20-3 over Kentucky
RB Ciatrick Fason was tough to bring down as Wildcats went down.

17. WEST VIRGINIA (4-0)
PR: 17
Next: at Virginia Tech (2-2)
Last: 45-10 over James Madison
This is West Virginia’s chance to prove itself.

18. LOUISVILLE (3-0)
PR: 21
Next: East Carolina (0-3)
Last: 34-0 over North Carolina
Shutout impressive enough to bump Louisville up a few spots.

19. MICHIGAN (3-1)
PR: 18
Next: at Indiana (2-2)
Last: 30-17 over Iowa
There’s the Michigan team that was expected.

20. WISCONSIN (4-0)
PR: 19
Next: Illinois (2-2)
Last: 16-3 over Penn State
Can Badgers top 20 points this week?

21. VIRGINIA (4-0)
PR: 20
Next: Clemson (Oct. 7)
Last: 31-10 over Syracuse
Clemson has become pretty good at losing lately.

22. ARIZONA STATE (4-0)
PR: 22
Next: at Oregon (1-2)
Last: 27-14 over Oregon State
It’s never easy to play at Autzen Stadium.

23. MINNESOTA (4-0)
PR: 23
Next: Penn State (2-2)
Last: 43-17 over Northwestern
Quarterback injuries could hamper Penn State’s chances.

24. KANSAS STATE (2-1)
PR: 24
Next: at Texas A&M (Oct. 2)
Last: idle
K-State conference title defense gets underway.

25. OKLAHOMA STATE (3-0)
PR: 25
Next: Iowa State (2-1)
Last: idle
Cyclone isn’t much to fear in this situation.

DROPPED OUT: None