How I see the Top 25 in College Football

Here is how I voted after the third week of college football gridiron action.  To view the complete collection of votes from the Rant sports college football writers click here.

1. Alabama– The reigning champs win another conference opener and shutout Arkansas 52-0 and look to be well on their way to another championship run with AJ McCarron running the show.

2. LSU– The two best in the SEC west are also the two best in the country as LSU continues to roll with a strong run game and punishing defense as per usual.

3. Oregon– Running back DeAnthony Thomas is averaging more than 17 yards per carry this season and gives the Ducks 1-2 punch with Kenjon Barner in the backfield.

4. Georgia– Aaron Murray and the Bulldogs racked up record 713 yards of offense vs. Florida Atlantic and the defense is coming together as players return from suspension.

5. Florida State– Seminoles offense is a juggernaut with quarterback EJ Manuel healthy and running back Chris Thompson who rolled up 197 yards on the ground vs. Wake Forest

6. West Virginia– Geno Smith is a model of efficiency running Dana Holgerson’s offense throwing for more 411 yards and five more touchdowns

7. South Carolina– it was not pretty for long stretches but the Gamecocks outlasted UAB with four second half touchdowns.

8. Oklahoma– Idle

9. Clemson– Sammy Watkins played his first game after serving a suspension and scored on a 58-yard end around and had four catches for 52 yards.

10. Ohio State– Braxton Miller did the damage with his arm this week throwing for four touchdowns in a win over Cal

11. Texas– Longhorns offense scored eight touchdowns as the offense graded out high in the rout over Ole Miss.

12. Stanford– Biggest win over the weekend as they beat USC for the fourth year in a row as Stephan Taylor ran roughshod over the Trojans/

13. USC– Could not run the ball vs. Stanford front or protect Matt Barkley in shocking loss as Trojans fell from #2 spot, and out of the national championship picture…for now.

14. Kansas State– labored through the first three quarters vs. North Texas before Collin Klein took over and led team to 21 unanswered points.

15. Florida– Outscored Tennessee 27-6 in second half to pick up a big road win for the second week in a row after last week’s win over Texas A&M.

16. Notre Dame– improves to 3-0 for first time since 2002 as Manti Teo and company held Michigan State to three points, their lowest offensive output since 1991.

17. Michigan– Denard Robinson almost gets 400 yards of total offense and accounts for four touchdowns in romp over UMASS.

18. Mississippi State– Bulldogs are 3-0 for the first time since 1999 with big performances from Chad Bumphis (6-180-3) and LaDarius Perkins’ 179 yards and a score in win over Troy.

19. TCU– An ugly game for the Horned Frogs who turned the ball over four times before finally turning it on vs. Kansas and escaping with 20-6 win.

20. Michigan State– Spartans defense allowed first touchdown of the year and the offense failed to get in the end zone in home loss to Notre Dame.

21. Louisville– Teddy Bridgewater and Jeremy Wright paced Cardinals to 36-7 lead at half before hanging on for 39-34 win over North Carolina.

22. UCLA– Jonathan Franklin continues to ground out yards and Brett Hundley has been a revelation at quarterback for head coach Jim Mora as he has brought the Bruins storming back to the college football landscape.

23. Arizona– Matt Scott looks comfortable running Rich Rodriguez’ offense as he led the Wildcats to nearly 700 yards of total offense in 56-0 rout over South Carolina State.

24- Boise State– The Broncos are back in the rankings after a convincing win over Miami (OH) that saw DJ Harper rush for 162 yards and three touchdowns in 39-12 triumph.

25. Northwestern– The Wildcats kicked down the door as they crack my top 25 after five field goals and a late touchdown vs. Boston College giving Pat Fitzgerald’s team a 3-0 record.  Northwestern has a win over an ACC, SEC, and Big East opponent.

Follow me on Twitter @PatrickASchmidt

Patrick is a diehard Chicago sports and avid college football fan, and the host of “The Wake-up Call,” a weekly sports show on Sportstownchicago.com Wednesday mornings from 8-10.  View his show’s website here.