Al’s Top 25 is starting to look very similar to the mainstream rankings. Well, at least the top 10. Eight of the top ten on the AT25 are also in the AP Top 10. Iowa, which is number 10 in my poll is number 11 in the AP. Only Auburn, ranked #7, seems to be way off of the other polls.

The remaining poll seems to have a few anomalies. The most glaring is Fresno State, which has a record of 2-3 but is ranked #11. This is due primarily because the Bulldogs are expected to win all of their remaining games . As a result, they’ll not earn any more positive ranking points and any future losses will have them move down the poll quickly.

Speaking of predicted finishes, I started to wonder which teams have performed much better, or much worse, as compared to the preseason rankings. The worst, by far, is Ball State. The AT25 numbers predicted that they would finish the season undefeated. However, the loss of key players from last years weighed heavily on this year’s performance as the Cardinals have a record of 0-6. Florida Atlantic has a similar result as they were expected to finish 10-1-1 but thus far are 0-4. As for the teams that have performed better versus their expectations, Minnesota, Notre Dame and Miami (FL) have all won three games that they were expected to lose. Neither are in the top 25 yet, but if their winning ways continue, it won’t be long. However, the very best performer has been Idaho. Expected to finish the season winless, the Vandals have posted a 5-1 record with the only loss to Pac-10 surprise Washington.

Here is Al’s Top 25 after Week 6:

1. Florida (1)
2. Texas (2)
3. Alabama (4)
4. LSU (5)
5. Virginia Tech (6)
6. Cincinnati (7)
7. Auburn (3)
8. Ohio State (8)
9. Boise State (9)
10. Iowa (10)
11. Fresno State (NR)
12. BYU (12)
13. Georgia Tech (NR)
14. Utah (14)
15. Oregon (15)
16. USC (16)
17. Wisconsin (17)
18. Houston (18)
19. Boston College (19)
20. Arkansas (NR)
21. Nebraska (NR)
22. West Virginia (20)
23. Wake Forest (21)
24. TCU (22)
25. Central Michigan (23)

Fell Out:
- Missouri (11)
- Georgia (13)
- Oklahoma (24)
- Tulsa (25)

The games I’ll be watching in Week 7 are:

#20 Arkansas at #1 Florida
#2 Texas at (#26) Oklahoma
#5 Virginia Tech at #13 Georgia Tech
#6 Cincinnati at undefeated South Florida
Kentucky at #7 Auburn (a predicted “tie”)
#9 Boise State at 4-1 Tulsa
#10 Iowa and #17 Wisconsin
#16 USC at surprising Notre Dame

Whew…that’s a lot of good football! Enjoy!