The CrackStaff Top10: Sept. 7, 2009

Welcome to our first CrackStaff college football Top10. It's a ranking of our own making, completely subjective and subject to our own weaknesses, biases and outright stupidity. But it's our ranking, and we like it. If you want polls that are slaves to preseason rankings and a hopeless attempt to maintain continuity, please go directly to the AP and ESPN versions. We hope you are very happy together.

We try to base our Top10 on games, not expectations. You will notice, for example, that Florida is not at the top of our list. That's because Florida has played one team, a team slightly better than a very good high school squad, and played them in Gainesville. Florida beat them soundly, but that tells us only that Florida is a reasonably good FBC team. Florida hasn't done anything on the field to deserve a No. 1 ranking from anybody. And so they don't get one from us. You'll play real teams later in the season, Gators; get back to us then.

It's possible we left your team out because their brilliance has somehow evaded our laserlike focus on the game of college football. It's possible we left them out because they've been beating up on crappy teams (we base our rankings on what teams have done on the field, not on what we think they're capable of).

And it's possible we've left them out because they suck. You get to decide which reason is applicable.

And so, the Top10.

1. The Mormon-Pacific Islander Coalition Known as BYU
Yeah, Sam Bradford went all spectator for the 2nd half, but OU wasn't lighting up the scoreboard when he was in. Downgrade at O line and receiver may hold Sooners back a little this year, put they're still no pushover, and Arlington, Texas, was as neutral as Tabasco sauce. TMPICKABYU earned it this week.

2. T. Boone Pickens State
The Cowboys spent last year beating up the sicklier members of the Big 12 and getting rocked by the big boys. On Saturday they showed they might be up for something better this season. We don't think Georgia is quite as good as their preseason national ranking, but for now we'll buy into the SEC superiority thing and figure this was a pretty good win in a remodeled stadium that yet again proves money doesn't buy taste.

3. Alabama
These guys are a terror in the Closed on Sunday Preseason Shootout thing. First Clemson last year and now Virginia Tech, which played hard and probably shouldn't have stayed this close. Bama still has some questions to answer, but a win over a high-quality opponent on a (semi-) neutral field does a lot in the first week.

4. Baylor
Notice the list dropping off here? Don't blame us -- talk to the ADs who make the schedules. Baylor wins on the road against a well-coached Wake team that's been a bowl regular lately -- that's enough for us. Baylor QB is the kind that makes defensive coordinators reconsider that job in sales.

5. Missouri
We thought the Tigers were going to be pretty rough this year after their offense skill players left campus en masse, but new QB looked good, or at least good enough to eviscerate the Illini on a (semi-) neutral field. Zook may want to start working on those broadcast audition tapes.

6. Boise State
An ugly game against Oregon, and it would have been ugly regardless of what color the turf was or what Oregon was wearing. Still, when you not only shut down the stud RB but get him suspended for the season, you've had a pretty good night. Some of Boise's most, shall we say, enthusiastic fans look just as stupid, cruel and dangerous as any you'll see cheering for the big boys -- welcome to the big time, Broncos!

7. LSU
We'll be honest -- we didn't stay up to watch this one. But in Week One, when a team that generally relies on a big home-field advantage travels multiple time zones and beats a team we've heard of, it's good enough.

8. Winner of the Miami-Florida State game
Tied late in the second quarter, but, hey, we're not picky. Who wants No. 8? Beg for it, ACC dogs!
UPDATE: Welcome, Miami! Don't take anything while you're here.

9. Notre Dame
Was Nevada really supposed to be any good? Is Notre Dame really any good? It's great when a home victory over a WAC team is taken to mean that the Notre Dame glory days are back. Knute Rockne would retch.

10. South Carolina
This we pray: If you are indeed a merciful God, please, oh, please, do not make us watch the South Carolina offense again all year (or the North Carolina State offense either, but that goes without saying).


Others receiving consideration before we sobered up: Ole Miss, Cincinnati, Tulsa, Southern Cal, Iowa, Michigan, Richmond, William & Mary