Alright! This is starting to look like a Top 25 that someone might create with their eyeballs too. There are still a few (explainable) outliers from what I think based on what the math is giving me, but that’s to be expected. Texas has ascended to the throne for now, but they continue to look vulnerable. Also, we need to be talking more about the conference Texas jilted not that long ago.

1. Texas (4-0) (Power: 4, Resume: 1, Last Week: 7)

They probably deserve to be at the top spot based on strength of resume to date, but this is not the best team or even one of the five best teams I’ve seen play this year. Arch still struggles to work through progressions. The offensive line was overwhelmed at times by Tennessee’s defensive front. And, this team still makes way too many boneheaded mistakes…looking at you Colin Simmons.

2. Pitt (4-0) (Power: 3, Resume: 3, Last Week: 1)

The Pitt Panthers continue to make some under-the-radar statements, even if those statements are against inferior competition, it doesn’t make them meaningless. Also, when do we get to start talking about Mason Heintschel doing Jaxson Dart cosplay every Saturday?

3. Notre Dame (4-0) (Power: 1, Resume: 6, Last Week: 4)

Notre Dame quietly taking care of business in the first month of the season is exactly what they were supposed to do. The big games are coming.

4. Alabama (4-0) (Power: 6, Resume: 4, Last Week: 5)

Here’s the ranking where you all raise your eyebrows and say, “Of course the Alabama fan’s model puts them in the top 5.” This team is better than last year’s though, and they have gotten better each week. That’s important.

5. LSU (3-1) (Power: 2, Resume: 10, Last Week: 12)

Sam Leavitt’s health is a concern moving forward. Death Valley at night is still the scariest venue in college athletics.

6. UCLA (4-0) (Power: 13, Resume: 2, Last Week: 10)

Disproved my “don’t trust teams crossing three time zones” theory last week. Bob Chesney looks like the latest former James Madison coach to take the Big Ten by storm.

7. Georgia (4-0) (Power: 5, Resume: 20, Last Week: NR)

Georgia and Miami are the two best teams I’ve watched play this year. Georgia’s resume will catch up to the power ranking in coming weeks.

8. Florida (4-0) (Power: 10, Resume: 7, Last Week: 14)

If a team can force them to pass the ball, then they are vulnerable. Can anyone do that though?

9. Miami (4-0) (Power: 7, Resume: 27, Last Week: 9)

Darian Mensah is my Heisman favorite currently. They are better than last year, but can they avoid a stereotypical Cristobal meltdown at the worst possible time?

10. UCF (3-1) (Power: 9, Resume: 14, Last Week: 8)

Don’t get it twisted. This is not the 2017 version of the Knights. However, they can be competitive in a wide-open Big XII.

11. Mississippi State (4-0) (Power: 19, Resume: 5, Last Week: 2)

Everyone is starting to realize that Kamario Taylor is awesome. The line situation is going to become a problem against the tougher teams on Clanga’s schedule though.

12. Oregon (3-1) (Power: 11, Resume: 16, Last Week: NR)

That Dante Moore hit was horrifying. I would expect him to miss multiple weeks. This team still looks lesser than the sum of its parts.

13. Indiana (4-0) (Power: 12, Resume: 19, Last Week: NR)

Curt Cignetti deserves tons of credit for teaching Josh Hoover how to protect the football. The floor is really high for this team, but the ceiling isn’t as high as last year’s.

14. Virginia Tech (4-0) (Power: 20, Resume: 12, Last Week: 3)

Penn State losing their first game before Virginia Tech has to feel cathartic for James Franklin. We’ll get a better idea of how good the Hokies are this weekend.

15. Utah (Power: 14, Resume: 22, Last Week: NR)

The Big XII race will be the most fun conference race in college football.

16. Oklahoma State (3-1) (Power: 15, Resume: 18, Last Week: 25)

They have clearly figured things out since that opening week stumble to Tulsa. Unfortunately, those are the kind of stumbles that can be playoff exclusion criteria.

17. Ohio State (3-1) (Power 8, Resume: 44, Last Week: 23)

Getting docked because they’ve “failed” their only real test of the season so far. The power ranking tells us this is still a top flight team.

18. James Madison (4-0) (Power: 18, Resume: 15, Last Week: 17)

Why can’t the Dukes repeat as a playoff team?

19. BYU (4-0) (Power: 22, Resume: 21, Last Week: 24)

The Coogs early schedule has them still flying under the radar. They are still my Big XII champ and playoff pick.

20. Cincinnati (4-0) (Power: 30, Resume: 9, Last Week: NR)

We might really be sleeping on the Big XII nationally.

21. Texas Tech (4-0) (Power: 36, Resume: 8, Last Week: NR)

Austin Romaine with the back-to-back pick sixes made this look a little more like last year’s Texas Tech defense.

22. Tennessee (3-1) (Power: 17, Resume: 39, Last Week: 18)

The Vols front seven is nasty. Faizon Brandon still has some maturing to do, but the tools are there.

23. Ole Miss (3-1) (Power: 35, Resume: 11, Last Week: 6)

They got punched in the mouth this week. I expect them to respond positively.

24. Virginia (3-1) (Power: 16, Resume 45, Last Week: NR)

They’ll beat the teams they can bully up front, but they seem like a one-trick pony.

25. Iowa (4-0) (Power: 32, Resume: 17)

Iowa walking off Michigan was the second-most karmically satisfying result of the weekend.

First Five Out: Duke, Houston, Auburn, Nebraska, West Virginia

The Dropouts: Tulsa, Maryland, West Virginia, Michigan, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Auburn, Penn State

Cover Photo Courtesy of Southern Living and Getty Images