2014 Fierce 40: Week 5

Ranking

Team

W-L

Result

Previous

1

Oregon

4-0

Idle

1

Generous schedule with a Thursday game against Arizona after a bye then a few extra days to travel to UCLA.

2

Oklahoma

4-0

Idle

2

Traveling to TCU may not be as easy as once thought.

3

Florida State

4-0

W: North Carolina State 56-41

3

Still a tight game with NC State, and 4 turnovers didn't help matters.

4

Alabama

4-0

Idle

4

Last year they quieted the Ole Miss buzz. Can they do it for a second consecutive year?

5

Auburn

4-0

W: Louisiana Tech 45-17

5

Home game with LSU is nearly as intriguing as the Alabama – Ole Miss game.

6

Michigan State

3-1

W: Wyoming 56-14

6

Big test trying to stop Ameer Abdullah should give us the front runner for the Big Ten title.

7

Stanford

3-1

W: #26 Washington 20-13

8

The Cardinal has to find a way to get the rushing attack going.

8

Texas A&M

5-0

W: Arkansas 35-28 OT

7

Won the game against Arkansas but they seemed to lose the battle at the line of scrimmage where they were pushed around most of the day.

9

Baylor

4-0

W: Iowa State 49-28

9

Still the top scoring offense in the NCAA at 56.8 PPG.

10

UCLA

4-0

W: #21 Arizona State 62-27

13

Second half against Arizona State seemed to be the awakening of the offense we have been waiting for all season.

11

Ohio State

3-1

W: Cinicnnati 50-28

12

Didn’t think this game was going to be a J.T. Barrett vs. Gunner Kiel quarterback battle but that is what it turned into.

12

Georgia

3-1

W: Tennessee 35-32

12

We all know Todd Gurley is the best running back at the NCAA level but this defensive front is showing remarkable pursuit ability.

13

Nebraska

5-0

W: Illinois 45-14

15

If Ameer Abdullah can get through the Michigan State front line and win, he suddenly enters the conversation for possible Heisman front runner.

14

Ole Miss

4-0

W: Memphis 24-3

14

Fan base cannot see the Rebels lay an egg against Alabama like last season.

15

Mississippi State

4-0

W: #38 Miami 41-31

16

Dak Prescott for Heisman talk is deserved. Talk of him as a big time pro prospect...don't see that yet.

16

Notre Dame

4-0

W: Syracuse 31-15

17

The Fighting Irish have one of the more underrated defenses in the land.

17

LSU

4-1

W: New Mexico State 63-7

18

Have looked terrific against the cream puffs on their schedule.

18

Kansas State

3-1

W: UTEP 58-28

20

A brutal road schedule remains, but Kansas State is still a relevant team.

19

USC

3-1

W: #27 Oregon State 35-10

24

Just what the Trojans needed after the Boston College loss.

20

Missouri

4-1

W: #10 South Carolina 21-20

38

Still makes you wonder how they lost to Indiana.

21

South Carolina

3-2

L: #38 Missouri 20-21

10

Just when you think you have the Gamecocks figured out....

22

BYU

4-0

Idle

22

Still a bit inconsistent but they have avoided big mistakes and keep chugging along.

23

Wisconsin

3-1

W: South Florida 27-10

24

Melvin Gordon remains a 1 man show.

24

East Carolina

3-1

Idle

25

Made it through the rough part of the schedule with only 1 loss. This team is poised to shoot up the rankings...watch out.

25

Oklahoma State

3-1

W: Texas Tech 45-35

28

Only blemish is the opening tough loss to Florida State.

26

Washington

4-1

L: #8 Stanford 13-20

26

The Huskies played well but came up short.

27

Clemson

2-2

W: North Carolina 50-35

32

Wonder if quarterback Deshaun Watson is as good as advertised? How about a Clemson record 6 TD passes and 435 yards in his first career start.

28

Iowa

4-1

W: Purdue 24-10

29

Consecutive wins heading into the bye week.

29

Louisville

4-1

W: Wake Forest 20-10

30

Having to lean on their defense more than they had hoped thus far.

30

Georgia Tech

4-0

Idle

34

Miami and Duke back-to-back but both are home games.

31

Arizona State

3-1

L: #13 UCLA 27-62

40

Lack of pass rush was exposed against UCLA.

32

Duke

4-1

L: Miami 10-22

33

Anthony Boone has not stepped up like Duke had hoped.

33

Florida

2-1

Idle

35

Traveling to Tennessee in a game that promises to be very competitive.

34

Arizona

4-0

Idle

36

A week to catch their breath after the Hail Mary win against Cal.

35

Virginia Tech

3-2

W: Western Michigan 35-17

37

Snapped their losing streak after the Ohio State win.

36

Oregon State

3-1

L: #24 USC 10-35

27

Quarterback rating of 5.8 is not going to get it done for Sean Mannion or Oregon State.

37

TCU

3-0

W: SMU 56-0

NR

3-0 start but next three are Oklahoma, Baylor and Oklahoma State...yikes.

38

Marshall

4-0

Idle

40

Game with Old Dominion will pitt Rakeem Cato and Taylor Heinicke...two of the better quarterbacks from smaller schools in the nation.

39

Maryland

4-1

W: Indiana 37-15

NR

Congrats to Maryland, getting their first ever Big Ten win.

40

Minnesota

4-1

W: Michigan 30-14

NR

Add to the woes of Michigan.