TIMES’ RANKINGS

Stanford is back on Rankman’s big board, at No. 16, thanks to the tireless efforts of new campus recruiting coordinator Condoleezza Rice, who has moved seamlessly from secretary of State to selling The Farm to prospective athlete-students -- she’s already closed on one high school player from Georgia (true!). Notre Dame is back in poll play, though not as high as Charlie Weis would like. After all, the 4-1 Irish could easily be 5-0 or 1-4. Houston performed this week’s Acapulco cliff dive, falling from No. 7 to out of sight and latching on to No. 20 California on its way into the water.

Rk.; TEAM;

Comment (Last week’s ranking)

1

TEXAS

4-0

Corny Dogs and Colorado served on a stick this week at Texas State Fair. (1)

2

FLORIDA

4-0

Meyer is right: Playing at LSU seems loud only when players are good. (2)

3

BOISE STATE

5-0

UC what happens in the other polls when you play UC Davis? (3)

4

LOUISIANA

STATE 5-0

Def. Georgia fair and square, except for highway robbery celebration call. (4)

5

CINCINNATI

5-0

City prepares a Jerry Springer float in case team makes BCS title game. (5)

6

TEXAS CHRISTIAN 4-0

Known in BCS bowl-talk circles as 800- pound frog in the room. (6)

7

OREGON

4-1

UCLA to match Ducks’ “spread” with salami and brie pregame tailgate. (8)

8

ALABAMA

5-0

Freak snowstorm delays team’s ascent to top of Rankman Mountain. (9)

9

USC

4-1

Doc says Carroll’s Barkley comments due to high blood-sugar levels. (11)

10

VIRGINIA

TECH 4-1

When Boston College is in town it’s, well, an event that costs money. (10)

11

OHIO STATE

4-1

Pryor one spot behind Diondre Borel of Utah State in passing. (12)

12

MIAMI

3-1

The “U” is back at Miami because the players got rid of the “Me.” (17)

13

BRIGHAM YOUNG 4-1

Things to do around house in October: Wreck TCU’s dream season. (14)

14

OKLAHOMA STATE 3-1

Pickens’ money can’t buy this kind of season. Wait, yes it did. (15)

15

IOWA

5-0

Celebration over Arkansas State win carried into early Saturday night. (16)

16

STANFORD

4-1

School says it will cover cost to fix brick wall Toby Gerhart ran through. (NR)

17

PENN STATE

4-1

Last week: Illinois. Sat.: Eastern Illinois. Next: Illinois Central (Railroad). (18)

18

MISSISSIPPI

3-1

Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying” removed in advance of Alabama’s arrival. (19)

19

AUBURN

5-0

Names of fans who ripped Chizik hiring to be read Friday in town square. (NR)

20

GEORGIA

3-2

SEC referee almost flagged Uga for “excessive chew toy celebration.” (21)

21

OKLAHOMA

2-2

Senior QB Bradford says he’s definitely declaring for NFL draft this year. (13)

22

KANSAS

4-0

Saturday is homecoming, so that can only mean Iowa State. (24)

23

NOTRE DAME

4-1

High-wire game finishes inspire new mural on campus: Tightrope Jesus (NR)

24

SOUTH FLORIDA 5-0

NYSE proposes annual game between Bulls and Baylor. (NR)

25

NEBRASKA

3-1

Team got a fair rate and free cable at Sleep Easy MiZzzzzu Motel. (25)

--

Dropped out: Houston (7), California (20), Michigan (22), UCLA (23).

Moved in: Stanford, Auburn, Notre Dame, South Florida