As we near the halfway point of the season – Saturday, by the way -- we know this …

  • We, the media, are all just rat poison -- even when we're being positive.
  • The Big 12 was dealt a near death blow. Iowa State's upset of Oklahoma virtually leaves it up to TCU to assure the league of a playoff spot. To do that, the Horned Frogs would have to run the table.
  • The coach of the (half) year is Mike Leach. The best team in the Pac-12 just might be Washington State. The Cougs walked into Autzen Stadium and made things look very Helfrich.
  • #MACtion is real.
  • Stanford's Bryce Love is your Heisman Trophy frontrunner. (Right?)

Lots more to come. Here's my Power Rankings after Week 6.

Biggest Movers
10 Miami (FL)
9 Michigan
Rk
Teams
  
Chg
Rcrd
1 Clemson The Tigers sleep walked through Wake Forest, but at least they didn't fall asleep. (Ahem, Oklahoma.) They are 6-0 for third straight season. That gasp you heard was from Tiger Nation after Kelly Bryant sprained his ankle in the third quarter. -- 9-4
2 Alabama Don't eat the cheese. Nick Saban proves once again that he is most quotable after wins because he wants to send a message to his team. The Tide had the audacity to let Texas A&M play close. -- 12-2
3 Georgia The SEC is down? The Dawgs are now in a position to go 12-0, lose the SEC title game and still remain in the top four. One remaining question after a rout of Vandy: Can this team beat Alabama? 3 13-1
4 Penn State Northwestern made it a point to shut down Saquon Barkley. It did for a while, but this is a complete team. The Nittany Lions overwhelmed the Wildcats 31-7 with Barkley running for 75 yards and two scores. 1 10-3
5 TCU The Big 12's best playoff hope outlasted a plucky West Virginia, 31-24. The Frogs control their own playoff destiny. There's a long way to go. TCU still has to play Kansas State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. -- 5-7
6 Washington State Luke Falk threw for three more touchdowns and the Cougars (6-0) became bowl eligible, but that's not the thing. "It's a starting point," Mike Leach said after a 33-10 win over the Ducks. 1 5-7
7 Washington The Huskies have allowed only 27 points in the last 13 quarters. The latest victim was Cal, 38-7. Still waiting for U-Dub to play a currently ranked team. The next opportunity seems to be at Stanford on Nov. 11. 1 14-1
8 Wisconsin The Badgers choked off Nebraska rushing for its most yards (353) in five years. Freshman Jonathan Taylor is the real deal after 249 yards on the ground. 2 7-6
9 Ohio State Following the Oklahoma loss, the Buckeyes have gone 4-0 and outscored their opposition 210-42. In those games, J.T. Barrett has thrown for 1,026 yards and 13 touchdowns (no picks). 2 11-2
10 USC Oregon State is the Pac-12's get well team. Sam Darnold (316 yards, three touchdowns) and the Trojans got back on track with a four-touchdown win. 2 8-5
11 Auburn Tigers looking better because of their lone loss-- only 14-6 to the defending national champion. Auburn continued to grow offensively as Kerryon Johnson ran for 204 yards and three touchdowns against slumping Ole Miss. Jarrett Stidham is the SEC's most efficient (166.24 rating) and accurate (71.2 percent) passer. 4 6-7
12 Oklahoma "I'm sure I'll get questions about Iowa State being my daddy." Yes, Baker Mayfield, those questions among others in a confounding loss to Iowa State. OU lost for the seventh straight year in game it was favored by at least double digits. 8 10-3
13 Oklahoma State Bye. If the Pokes only loss is to TCU and they beat Oklahoma twice, is that enough for a playoff berth? Hmm. -- 10-4
14 San Diego State Rashad Penny ran over UNLV for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Best news is that Stanford beat Oregon, strengthening the Aztecs' New Year's Six chances. 2 4-8
15 NC State This is the vision Dave Doeren laid out five years ago. The Pack have an NFL force on the defensive line (Bradley Chubb) and a win over Louisville in their hip pocket. At Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and home against Clemson in next three. 2 9-4
16 Miami (FL) Is Miami back? Before we answer that question, let's just say Miami is satisfied. A comeback win at six seconds left at FSU makes a lot of things possible -- ACC Coastal at least. NR 7-6
17 Michigan State "Just remember, pride comes before the fall." That was one of Coach D's best quotes a few years ago. Mark Dantonio was once again at his steeliest against Michigan in one of his biggest wins. In the rain, in the Big House, Sparty is victorious to go 8-2 vs. the Wolverines in the last decade. NR 4-8
18 Michigan It could be worse, but I don't know how. Jim Harbaugh needs some offensive improvement -- pronto. It doesn't look like it's coming soon. Quarterback Wilton Speight is reportedly out for the season. 9 15-0
19 South Florida Bye. The team that was supposed to coast to a New Year's Six berth suddenly has a lot of competition -- San Diego State, UCF, Navy. 1 7-6
20 Virginia Tech It's fair to expect a letdown after the Clemson game. Hokies slogged through Boston College 23-10. Just get me to the Miami game on Nov. 4. 1 7-6
21 UCF Can't we have more games like this? Weather mercy-ruled Cincinnati, 51-23. That's the way it ended after three quarters in the midst of a driving rainstorm. 1 6-7
22 Notre Dame Talk about backloaded. After a 5-1 start, the Irish finish with USC, NC State, Wake Forest, Miami, Navy and Stanford. Current combined record, 27-6. 1 10-3
23 Stanford The Cardinal have found their footing after a convincing win at Utah. They also have found their feet. They belong to Heisman contender Bryce Love. NR 3-9
24 Kentucky The Wildcats are off to a 5-1 start after positing season highs in yards (486) and points (40) against Missouri. Cats living on the edge -- 3-1 in games decided by seven points or less. -- 7-6
25 Navy This makes four Group of Five teams in the Power Rankings. The Middies are off to their best start since 2004 after beating Air Force. And this was supposed to be a down year? Navy is 5-0 with a win for the ages over the Falcons. Blew a 28-10 lead before winning 48-45. NR 5-7