Staff writer J.P. Giglio is one of 60 voters in The Associated Press' Top-25 college football poll.
Why is that Louisiana State only makes the Bowl Championship Series title game when it's played in New Orleans?
I probably should have factored that in my preseason vote, when I thought Oregon would beat LSU and run the table. Bad call by me.
Instead, with LSU's 9-6 overtime win at No. 2 Alabama, the Tigers are four wins from a third trip to the BCS title game in the Big Easy in eight years.
The Crimson Tide's fate will be debated from now until Dec. 4, when the BCS pairings are announced. Does the Tide deserve a rematch with the Tigers on Jan. 9? I don't see it.
If either Oklahoma State or Stanford get to the finish line unbeaten, it definitely won't happen. If it's either Alabama or Boise State, it could happen. You can bet an unbeaten, but relatively untested, Boise State team, which beat SEC East-leading Georgia on Sept. 3, is pulling for the Dawgs to derail LSU's Cajun coronation.
J.P. Giglio's Top 25
(last week's vote in parentheses.)
1. LSU (1)
2. Oklahoma State (3)
3. Stanford (5)
4. Alabama (2)
5. Boise State (4)
6. Oregon (6)
7. Arkansas (8)
8. Oklahoma (7)
9. Clemson (10)
10. Georgia (12)
11. Michigan State (14)
12. Virginia Tech (17)
13. South Carolina (11)
14. Wisconsin (18)
15. Kansas State (15)
16. USC (21)
17. Houston (16)
18. Penn State (19)
19. Texas (NR)
20. Nebraska (9)
21. Michigan (13)
22. Georgia Tech (22)
23. Auburn (23)
24. Florida State (24)
25. Notre Dame (NR)
Out: Arizona State (20), Texas A&M (25)
The AP Top 25
W-L | Pts | Pv | |
1. LSU (59) | 9-0 | 1,499 | 1 |
2. Oklahoma St. | 9-0 | 1,398 | 3 |
3. Stanford | 9-0 | 1,369 | 4 |
4. Alabama | 8-1 | 1,334 | 2 |
5. Boise St. (1) | 8-0 | 1,288 | 5 |
6. Oregon | 8-1 | 1,184 | 6 |
7. Oklahoma | 8-1 | 1,138 | 7 |
8. Arkansas | 8-1 | 1,107 | 8 |
9. Clemson | 8-1 | 979 | 11 |
10. Virginia Tech | 8-1 | 885 | 12 |
11. Houston | 9-0 | 804 | 14 |
12. Penn St. | 8-1 | 725 | 16 |
13. Michigan St. | 7-2 | 718 | 15 |
14. Georgia | 7-2 | 657 | 18 |
15. South Carolina | 7-2 | 654 | 10 |
16. Wisconsin | 7-2 | 602 | 19 |
17. Kansas St. | 7-2 | 546 | 17 |
18. Southern Cal | 7-2 | 502 | 21 |
19. Nebraska | 7-2 | 491 | 9 |
20. Georgia Tech | 7-2 | 340 | 22 |
21. Texas | 6-2 | 313 | NR |
22. Michigan | 7-2 | 264 | 13 |
23. Cincinnati | 7-1 | 206 | 23 |
24. Auburn | 6-3 | 181 | 25 |
25. Southern Miss. | 8-1 | 161 | NR |
Others receiving votes: TCU 56, Ohio St. 50, Arizona St. 15, Florida St. 12, Washington 8, Iowa 4, Notre Dame 4, Baylor 3, Tulsa 1, Virginia 1, West Virginia 1.
USA Today Top 25
Rec. | Pts. | Pvs | |
1. LSU (59) | 9-0 | 1,475 | 1 |
2. Stanford | 9-0 | 1,378 | 3 |
3. Oklahoma State | 9-0 | 1,359 | 4 |
4. Alabama | 8-1 | 1,286 | 2 |
5. Boise State | 8-0 | 1,242 | 5 |
6. Oregon | 8-1 | 1,180 | 6 |
7. Oklahoma | 8-1 | 1,141 | 7 |
8. Arkansas | 8-1 | 1,075 | 8 |
9. Virginia Tech | 8-1 | 955 | 11 |
10. Clemson | 8-1 | 946 | 12 |
11. Houston | 9-0 | 828 | 14 |
12. Penn State | 8-1 | 799 | 15 |
13. Michigan State | 7-2 | 696 | 16 |
14. Wisconsin | 7-2 | 654 | 17 |
15. South Carolina | 7-2 | 618 | 10 |
16. Georgia | 7-2 | 572 | 20 |
17. Nebraska | 7-2 | 530 | 9 |
18. Cincinnati | 7-1 | 386 | 22 |
19. Georgia Tech | 7-2 | 354 | 23 |
20. Texas | 6-2 | 339 | 25 |
21. Michigan | 7-2 | 334 | 13 |
22. Kansas State | 7-2 | 328 | 19 |
23. So. Mississippi | 8-1 | 301 | 24 |
24. TCU | 7-2 | 115 | NR |
25. Auburn | 6-3 | 109 | NR |
Others: Arizona State 49; Florida State 44; Notre Dame 22; Ohio State 22; Washington 10; Iowa 8; Texas A&M 6; West Virginia 6; Baylor 3; Rutgers 2; Arkansas State 1; Miami 1; Virginia 1.
Giglio: twitter.com/jpgiglio or 919-829-8938
