Week 7 top 25

A lot of movement in the rankings near the top this week, including a brand-new No. 1. Hook 'em.

1. Texas (5) - You beat the No. 1 team, you deserve to be No. 1, plain and simple. The Longhorns have a long way to go, but thus far they deserve this ranking.

2. Alabama (2) - It was extremely tempting to put the Tide in the top spot, but a bye this week and a shaky week against Kentucky has them still at 2. Not a bad place to be though.

3. Penn State (6) - I don't care if Wisconsin is struggling or despondent or what, any time you can whip the Badgers by 41 in Camp Randall, you are good. Beating Michigan this week for the first time since 1996 seems to be a formality at this point.

4. Texas Tech (7) - Kind of a shaky No. 4, as the Red Raiders had to overcome a lot of mistakes to take out a scrappy Nebraska team in overtime. However, a win is a win, and Tech got it done.

5. Oklahoma (1) - I'm not going to punish the Sooners severely by losing to Texas. Quite frankly, the game was closer than the 45-35 score represents. OU isn't dead by any means.

6. USC (8) - Must be nice to turn over the ball 5 times and still win by 28 points. It wasn't pretty for the Trojans, but they have to be encouraged by the defense.

7. Florida (12) - Tim Tebow finally played like a Heisman winner this week, leading a beating of a trash-talking LSU squad. Note to future Gator opponents - don't make Tebow mad.

8. BYU (11) - As far as wins go, the Cougars' victory over New Mexico won't be particularly memorable. But BYU now has won 16 games in a row, tops in the nation, and is in great BCS position.

9. Georgia (9) - Typically a win over Tennessee holds a little more juice. But the Vols are bad and the Bulldogs' win pales in comparison of what Florida did to LSU.

10. Ohio State (10) - Another ugly win for Ohio State keeps the Buckeyes stagnant. They have a tough game coming up at Michigan State next Saturday.

11. Oklahoma State (17) - The Cowboys take a huge jump forward, and rightfully so, as they went into Columbia and held Chase Daniel and the Tigers down. No one is laughing at Mike Gundy now.

12. Missouri (4) - After last weekend's destruction of Nebraska, I don't think the Tigers expected to be ambushed by Okie State. But they were, throwing a monkey wrench into the Big 12 hierarchy.

13. Utah (13) - The Utes stay undefeated, but stay still in the rankings this week. Beating Wyoming just doesn't really do much for anyone at this point.

14. LSU (3) - Someone had to take a dive this week, and LSU was nice enough to volunteer. I realize Florida is darn good (hence their ranking), but you can't lose by 30 to anyone and expect not to suffer for it.

15. Kansas (15) - The Jayhawks got a nice win against Colorado this week and have been keeping relatively quiet lately. Not that being quiet is always bad.

16. Boise State (16) - Southern Miss isn't what it used to be, so Boise isn't going to get myany style points for its victory over the Golden Eagles. But its right where it needs to be right now.

17. Virginia Tech (18) - Didn't play, so I don't have much to say. Best team in the ACC by default really.

18. California (19) - The Golden Bears also move up without playing, which is pretty cool for them. The better Michigan State does, the better Cal looks.

19. Michigan State (23) - The Spartans handed previously-ranked Northwestern its first loss. Now it hosts Ohio State in a unlikely Big Ten first-place showdown.

20. South Florida (20) - I refuse to move up the Bulls during a bye week. Considering their last game was a loss, they are stuck for the time being.

21. Wake Forest (21) - It was ugly, but Wake got an important win against a Clemson team that typically gives it problems. However, the win wasn't impressive enough to prevent a Sparty leapfrog.

22. Ball State (25) - The Cardinals are 7-0 and looking pretty good. Now is the time they should start climbing.

23. North Carolina (NR) - Yeah, the Tar Heels are ranked. No, its not basketball season. Butch Davis seems to have things rolling in his second year in Chapel Hill.

24. Vanderbilt (14) - The Commodores dealt with something that is extremely rare - a letdown thing against an opponent hyped to play them. Vandy didn't handle it too well against Mississippi State.

25. Oregon (NR) - The Ducks move back in the rankings barely by outlasting UCLA. Ranked here more on the quality of their losses than their wins.

Under consideration: Tulsa, Florida State, Pittsburgh.

Dropped out: No. 22 Northwestern (lost to Michigan State), No. 24 Auburn (lost to Arkansas).