Another week of college football has finished, and once again Alabama hasn’t lost and Ball State hasn’t won, which has earned them their respective top and bottom spots in Pool’s Power Rankings for week eight.
This week features a great matchup west of the Mississippi River between two of the FBS’s best non-BCS schools: No. 7 Texas Christian at No. 10 Brigham Young at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
TCU is led by a stingy defense and will have to try to slow down quarterback Max Hall, who’s thrown for 2,069 yards and 16 touchdowns.
On the other end of the spectrum, one doesn’t have to look hard to see this week’s matchup of the worst. No. 119 Eastern Michigan is to host No. 120 Ball State at 1 p.m. Saturday in a someone-has-to-win-this-one game.
Both teams are winless and dealing with quarterback issues. While EMU tries to gain rhythm with the limbo of Kyle McMahon and Alex Gillett, BSU would just like to know if starter Kelly Paige will be able to throw after injuring the thumb on his throwing hand.
And, now, the rest of the best and the hurts of the worst:
Top 10
1. Alabama (7-0, 49 Average Win Percentage, 0 Average Loss Percentage) performed the best out of the top teams with a 20-6 win over South Carolina last week. Next opponent: Tennessee (71)
2. Iowa (7-0, 52.1, 0) continues to win no matter which team is in the way, handing Wisconsin its second straight loss last week. Next opponent: Michigan State (52)
3. Florida (6-0, 60.7, 0) survived last week against Arkansas and extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 16. Next opponent: Mississippi State (84)
4. Cincinnati (6-0, 67.8, 0) had an impressive 34-17 win at South Florida last week and is putting itself in position to win the Big East – but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Next opponent: Louisville (97)
5. Boise State (6-0, 71.2, 0) wasn’t pretty last week in its 28-21 win over Tulsa. If Tulsa could’ve converted on fourth down, things may have been different. Next opponent: Hawaii (100)
6. Texas (6-0, 75, 0) won 16-13 in its big game last week against Oklahoma – minus Sam Bradford – and now UT can focus on a shot at the national title. Next opponent: Missouri (38)
7. TCU (6-0, 77.5, 0) was up 10-6 on Colorado State last week before putting the pedal to the metal and cruising to a 44-6 victory. Next opponent: BYU (10)
8. Georgia Tech (6-1, 55.2, 1) made a good Virginia Tech offense look bad last week in a win that ruined Va. Tech’s hopes at a national title. Next opponent: Virginia (69)
9. Pittsburgh (6-1, 60.3, 72) had to rally against Rutgers last week to come away with a 24-17 victory and its first appearance on this list. Next opponent: South Florida (23)
10. BYU (6-1, 66, 86) was at its best against Oklahoma, its worst against Florida State and somewhere in between in a 38-28 win against San Diego State last week. Perhaps it was looking ahead. Next opponent: TCU (7)
Bottom 10
111. San Jose State (1-5, 121, 44) was dropped by Fresno State last week. The good news is it has an upcoming bye week, but the bad news is it has to play Boise State when it returns. Next opponent: Bye
112. Akron (1-5, 121, 49.2) started its three-game road trip with a 21-13 loss to Buffalo last week. It’ll return to New York in search of a second win. Next opponent: Syracuse (96)
113. Illinois (1-5, 121, 57) has gone from Big Ten contender to Big Ten underachiever, especially after losing to Indiana last week. Next opponent: Purdue (101)
114. Utah State (1-5, 121, 66.4) had Nevada against the ropes last week, but the Wolf Pack countered with a knockout punch and defeated Utah State, 35-32. Next opponent: Louisiana Tech (77)
115. Miami (Ohio) (0-7, 0, 53.1) has scored seven points or fewer in four games this year, including a 28-7 loss to Ohio last week. Next opponent: Northern Illinois (78)
116. Rice (0-7, 0, 68.7) averaged 38 points last year and scored fewer than 20 once, but last week’s 49-13 loss to East Carolina means RU has been outscored 315-112 this season. Next opponent: Central Florida (80)
117. New Mexico (0-6, 0, 73.2) took its bye week to reflect on how it can leave the basement of the Mountain West Conference. We’ll see how it does with two weeks to prepare. Next opponent: UNLV (102)
118. Western Kentucky (0-6, 0, 78.3) is finding life in the Sun Belt Conference harder than it thought. WKU has lost its past 14 and 19 straight to FBS opponents. Its last win came against Middle Tennessee State in 2007, but look what team is up next. Next opponent: Middle Tennessee State (74)
119. Eastern Michigan (0-6, 0, 79.7) lost 28-6 to Kent State last week, but its first victory could be on the horizon. Next opponent: Ball State (120)
120. Ball State (0-7, 0, 80.9) looked bad against Bowling Green in a 31-17 loss last week. BSU hasn’t lost to EMU since 2004 and hasn’t lost in Ypsilanti since 2003. Next opponent: Eastern Michigan (119)
Mid-American Conference
12. Central Michigan (6-1, 93.3, 65)
33. Ohio (5-2, 91.4, 73.5)
45. Temple (4-2, 100.3, 77.5)
60. Toledo (4-3, 99.5, 75.3)
78. Northern Illinois (3-3, 89.7, 64)
86. Bowling Green (3-4, 92.3, 45.8)
87. Western Michigan (3-4, 96, 51.3)
88. Buffalo (3-4, 103.7, 76.3)
91. Kent State (3-4, 117, 77.8)
112. Akron (1-5, 121, 49.2)
115. Miami (0-7, 0, 53.1)
119. Eastern Michigan (0-6, 0, 79.7)
120. Ball State (0-7, 0, 80.9)
