As you'd expect in a week that saw so many top teams falling for the first time this year, the Fornelli 50 sees plenty of changes at the top this week. In fact, if you compare the two, this week's rankings tend to look a lot like the AP Top 25, except my math has a lot more respect for Group of Five schools than AP voters will ever have.
So I guess I'm just a champion of the little guy.
I can already see the movie about the writer who loved both college football and math, so he decided to put the two of them together to change the way the world saw teams from the American. We'll laugh, we'll cry, and we'll all learn a little something about ourselves along the way.
While I go prepare my Oscar speech -- I'm starring in the film, as well as writing, directing and producing -- you can catch up on how these rankings work (full explanation here).
- My opinion has absolutely nothing to do with the rankings
- There is true equality to start as math doesn't play favorites
- Wins and losses mean more than anything
- The formula is in no way predictive, it's a meritocracy
- I won't share the formula, but it works
The Fornelli 50
| Team | Rank | Record | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Alabama | 7-0 | Texas A&M scored 19 points against Alabama two weeks ago. The other three SEC teams the Tide have played have combined for 12. (Last week: 2) |
 | 2. Penn State | 6-0 | The Nittany Lions had the week off and got to move up a spot anyway. (3) |
 | 3. Georgia | 7-0 | The math is biased for the SEC! (6) |
 | 4. UCF | 5-0 | The Knights continue to slay the unimpressive dragons of the AAC. (5) |
 | 5. TCU | 6-0 | The Horned Frogs escaped Kansas State, but now must play a Kansas team that tends to give them problems. (7) |
 | 6. Wisconsin | 6-0 | The Badgers will probably clinch the West Division before November. (8) |
 | 7. Clemson | 6-1 | You knew the Tigers would fall, but they're still the highest ranked one-loss team. That's a good omen. (1) |
 | 8. Ohio State | 6-1 | I know Nebraska isn't great this year, but it is still discombobulating to see the Cornhuskers get demolished so thoroughly at home. (10) |
 | 9. South Florida | 6-0 | I just don't see a loss on USF's schedule before it gets UCF to end the season. (11) |
 | 10. Miami | 5-0 | There are three teams from Florida in our top 10, and Florida State and Florida are a combined 5-6. (12) |
 | 11. Oklahoma State | 5-1 | Mike Gundy took his shirt off this week, and now I can't help but feel like he's in too good of shape to have that mullet. That mullet needs a beer belly. (19) |
 | 12. Oklahoma | 5-1 | The Sooners beat Texas, but now hit the road for an early game against Kansas State. Feels a little trap-ish, no? (15) |
 | 13. Notre Dame | 5-1 | Notre Dame has wins against Temple, Boston College, Michigan State, Miami (OH), and North Carolina. It still has to play USC, NC State, Miami, Navy, and Stanford. I'm just saying. (13) |
 | 14. Washington | 6-1 | I've learned to stop being surprised by any loss, but the way Washington fell to Arizona State was quite shocking. (4) |
 | 15. USC | 6-1 | The Trojans squeaked past Utah and now hit the road to take on Notre Dame in a "Pretender of Contender" match. (16) |
 | 16. NC State | 6-1 | NC State will still be in sole possession of first place in the ACC Atlantic on Nov. 1. Just like we all predicted. (21) |
 | 17. Washington State | 6-1 | I knew Wazzu was going to lose at some point, but 37-3 against Cal was not how I saw it happening. Maybe 37-36, but not 37-3. (9) |
 | 18. Michigan | 5-1 | I'm less impressed by Michigan after watching its win over Indiana than I was after its loss to Michigan State. (22) |
 | 19. Virginia Tech | 5-1 | The Hokies had the week off. (20) |
 | 20. Michigan State | 5-1 | The Spartans are 3-0 in the Big Ten, winning those three games by a total of 14 points. I'm not ready to call it a division contender. (23) |
 | 21. Stanford | 5-2 | Stanford's suddenly gone from a team I'm concerned about to possibly the safest team in the Pac-12 North. This sport changes every day. (28) |
 | 22. San Diego State | 6-1 | The Aztecs have one less loss than Stanford and beat Stanford, so I'm sure they're fine with being ranked below it. Don't blame me! (14) |
 | 23. Auburn | 5-2 | The "Gus Malzahn Is A Genius/Albatross" rollercoaster is a wild, wacky ride. (17) |
 | 24. Marshall | 5-1 | Marshall is 2-0 in Conference USA and has not allowed a touchdown yet. (30) |
 | 25. Kentucky | 5-1 | Kentucky is not pretty, but it's getting the job done. (27) |
 | 26. Virginia | 5-1 | So it's just about time we start taking this team seriously, isn't it? (32) |
 | 27. Memphis | 5-1 | Memphis picked up a big win against Navy, but now it has to play Houston on a short week. (33) |
 | 28. Navy | 5-1 | The Mids suffered their first loss of the season against Memphis and now draw UCF. (18) |
 | 29. Iowa State | 4-2 | I thought the Cyclones might suffer some kind of letdown against Kansas. Nope. (49) |
 | 30. Toledo | 5-1 | Calling my shot: Toledo is finally going to win the MAC this year. (36) |
 | 31. West Virginia | 4-2 | I don't know how good West Virginia is, but its games are all pretty fun. (44) |
 | 32. South Carolina | 5-2 | I honestly have no idea what to make of this team. I don't know if it's kind of good, or if it's just taking advantage of its surroundings. (41) |
 | 33. LSU | 5-2 | I see this LSU team as one that will probably lose to Alabama by 40, but could still beat everybody else on its schedule. (51) |
 | 34. Mississippi State | 4-2 | Earlier this year, I roasted AP voters who had LSU ahead of Mississippi State on their ballots after the Bulldogs crushed the Tigers. I hope they don't read this week's Fornelli 50. (46) |
 | 35. Iowa | 4-2 | The Hawkeyes had the week off, but I think it just solidified their spot as the second-best team in their division. (34) |
 | 36. Arizona | 4-2 | Remember how RichRod's offenses worked with Pat White at West Virginia? Well, I think Khalil Tate is the new Pat White, you guys. Or maybe he's more of a Denard Robinson. Whoever he is, watch him. He's fun. (52) |
 | 37. Utah | 4-2 | I respect the hell out of Kyle Whittingham going for two to try and beat USC rather than trying to go to overtime. (29) |
 | 38. Texas A&M | 5-2 | How different do we look at A&M right now if it hadn't blown that massive lead against UCLA? (48) |
 | 39. Colorado State | 5-2 | Mike Bobo's just coaching his way back to the SEC, isn't he? (45) |
 | 40. Wake Forest | 4-2 | The Deacons had the week off. (43) |
 | 41. Texas Tech | 4-2 | Texas Tech went from "Guns Up" in the first half against West Virginia to "Oops, We Left The Safety On" in the second half. (24) |
 | 42. Georgia Tech | 3-2 | Bees have never done well in the rain. (25) |
 | 43. Boise State | 4-2 | Just when you wrote Boise State off, it goes and beats San Diego State. (60) |
 | 44. Ohio | 5-2 | I swear Ohio has spent the entire season yo-yoing between 40 and 60 in these rankings. (56) |
 | 45. Army | 5-2 | Army is only one win away from bowl eligibility for the second straight season. (55) |
 | 46. Fresno State | 4-2 | Jeff Tedford has won four of his first six games at Fresno. The Bulldogs won four games total the last two seasons. (62) |
 | 47. SMU | 4-2 | Courtland Sutton is getting hot, which can only be good for SMU. (50) |
 | 48. Houston | 4-2 | Houston fans can't be mad at me for Houston being behind SMU when Houston just lost to Tulsa by 28. You earned this. (26) |
 | 49. Northern Illinois | 4-2 | I'm glad we're back to Northern Illinois being the best team in Illinois. (59) |
 | 50. Syracuse | 4-3 | Anything interesting happen with Syracuse this week? (72) |
No longer ranked: UTSA (31), Troy (35), Oregon (37), Duke (38), Louisville (39), Purdue (40), Texas (42), Florida (47)
