For the first time this season, the team that was No. 1 in last week's Fornelli 50 rankings remains at No. 1, though if not for a 27-point fourth quarter that covered a lot of blemishes, that wouldn't be the case.
Clemson's grip on that top spot over Alabama is pretty thin at the moment, but while those two teams sit on top, I can't help but looking everywhere else.
I had this distinct notion while watching Saturday's games and it's one that I've had before. I suppose that one could look at what's happened so far this season and think we've got another 2007 on our hands. A year where nothing makes sense and chaos reigns supreme.
And that may, in fact, be what's happening, but it's not happening with all 130 teams. No, when I look at college football in 2017, I see 128 teams with plenty of flaws, and two teams that seem destined to meet in the title game for the third season in a row.
Anyway, before we get to this week's rankings, a quick reminder about how all of this works (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
And now, the Fornelli 50.
The Fornelli 50
| Team | Name | Status | News |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Clemson | 4-0 (Last week: 1) | Clemson had to play Boston College between games against Louisville and Virginia Tech, and it showed. |
 | 2. Alabama | 4-0 (4) | I know Vanderbilt doesn't feel the same way, but I sure do enjoy when Alabama just goes full Alabama against somebody. |
 | 3. Oklahoma | 4-0 (2) | A part of me believes that Oklahoma's scare against Baylor could prove to be the best thing that happens to it all season. |
 | 4. Penn State | 4-0 (3) | When I grow up, I want to be Saquon Barkley. |
 | 5. UCF | 2-0 (6) | The sample size is still limited, and it's still helping UCF's case, but so is UCF's performance through two games. |
 | 6. TCU | 4-0 (17) | In 2013, TCU finished with a losing record and came back in 2014 to go 12-1 and win the Big 12. Might we see an encore in 2017? |
 | 7. USC | 4-0 (8) | Sam Darnold has thrown seven interceptions in four games. That needs to be cleaned up, or it's going to cost the Trojans a game at some point. |
 | 8. Wisconsin | 3-0 (9) | The Badgers took the week off. |
 | 9. Michigan | 4-0 (11) | Michigan had three red zone possessions against Purdue, and it scored a touchdown in all three. Problem solved. |
 | 10. Minnesota | 3-0 (10) | Goldy Gopher spent his bye week beating up kids. |
 | 11. Washington | 4-0 (15) | All right, Washington is starting to look like last year's version again. |
 | 12. Duke | 4-0 (12) | Duke plays Miami on Friday night, and if you remember what happened the last time Miami visited Durham, you'll want to tune in this week. |
 | 13. Virginia Tech | 4-0 (18) | A huge test awaits for Justin Fuente and the Hokies with Clemson this weekend. |
 | 14. Georgia | 4-0 (28) | Georgia looks like the SEC's only hope to topple the mighty Tide to this point. |
 | 15. Wake Forest | 4-0 (14) | Wake Forest has four more wins than the Florida State team it plays this week. Let that sink in. |
 | 16. Washington State | 4-0 (27) | I'm not entirely sure what to make of the Cougs to this point, but a date with USC will likely clear some things up. |
 | 17. USF | 4-0 (29) | After a sluggish start, the Bulls are finding their groove. |
 | 18. UTSA | 3-0 (31) | I now wonder what would have happened had UTSA's opener with Houston not been canceled. |
 | 19. SDSU | 4-0 (25) | The Aztecs played Air Force in a monsoon Saturday night, and I guess planes don't do well in water. |
 | 20. Utah | 4-0 (34) | With a two-game winning streak against them, I think the Utes finally have that Arizona monkey off their back. |
 | 21. Texas Tech | 3-0 (26) | Beating Houston on the road was a nice win for the Raiders, but now they get an angry Oklahoma State. |
 | 22. Navy | 3-0 (30) | Navy's already 2-0 in conference play after beating Cincinnati. |
 | 23. Notre Dame | 3-1 (37) | Notre Dame might be good because that loss to Georgia sure doesn't look like one anybody should be ashamed of. |
 | 24. Miami | 2-0 (40) | Welcome back to the land of the playing, Miami. |
 | 25. Memphis | 3-0 (21) | Struggling with Southern Illinois isn't a good look, Tigers, but I suppose a letdown after UCLA should have been expected. |
 | 26. Oklahoma State | 3-1 (5) | The good news for Oklahoma State is its Big 12 hopes -- and playoff chances -- aren't dead, but the perception of this team took a hit on Saturday. |
 | 27. Mississippi State | 3-1 (7) | Speaking of teams that took a hit to their perception, going from a 30-point win over LSU to a 28-point loss against Georgia is quite the roller coaster ride. |
 | 28. Ohio State | 3-1 (39) | I think Ohio State could have scored 100 against UNLV on Saturday if it had wanted to. |
 | 29. West Virginia | 3-1 (43) | The Mountaineers have this week off giving them extra time to prepare for TCU. |
 | 30. Louisville | 3-1 (42) | I'd like to see this squirrel get some reps at QB next time Louisville's blowing someone out. |
 | 31. Iowa | 3-1 (22) | I don't even know what to say. That was a heartbreaker. |
 | 32. Auburn | 3-1 (NR) | Nothing like a little Missouri to cure what ails you. |
 | 33. Oregon | 3-1 (16) | Of course Oregon loses to Arizona State the moment I start buying into it. |
 | 34. NC State | 3-1 (NR) | Florida State should probably petition the ACC to get out of having to play NC State. |
 | 35. South Carolina | 3-1 (41) | The Gamecocks nearly followed up a loss to Kentucky with a loss to Louisiana Tech. The shine is wearing off. |
 | 36. SMU | 3-1 (49) | The Mustangs just might prove to be the surprise team of the AAC this season. |
 | 37. Indiana | 2-1 (NR) | The Hoosiers crushed a bad Georgia Southern team 52-17. |
 | 38. Vanderbilt | 3-1 (19) | Vandy got the Commo-doors blown off it by Alabama. |
 | 39. Florida | 2-1 (NR) | Hey, it's bad, but at least it's exciting! |
 | 40. Cal | 3-1 (32) | In a way, I find myself buying into this Cal team more after the USC loss. |
 | 41. Houston | 2-1 (13) | Did Tom Herman take all the offense with him to Texas? The Cougars scored only 43 points against Arizona and Texas Tech. Those aren't exactly defensive stalwarts. |
 | 42. Eastern Michigan | 2-1 (23) | The Eagles may have lost to Ohio, but I still love to say the name Brogan Roback, so it's all good. |
 | 43. Kentucky | 3-1 (36) | The last time Kentucky beat Florida in a football game, gas cost 89 cents per gallon. |
 | 44. Ohio | 3-1 (NR) | Outside of the Purdue loss, this Ohio team has looked like I expected it to: like a possible MAC champion. |
 | 45. Tennessee | 3-1 (NR) | I'm sure Tennessee fans are thrilled with the team's win over UMass and have nothing to be upset about. |
 | 46. Colorado | 3-1 (33) | I thought Colorado would take a step back this season, and it certainly did against Washington on Saturday night. |
 | 47. LSU | 3-1 (NR) | So am I supposed to be more confident or less confident in LSU after a nine-point win against Syracuse? |
 | 48. Texas A&M | 3-1 (NR) | I wish Texas A&M and Arkansas could play at JerryWorld every weekend. |
 | 49. Georgia Tech | 2-1 (NR) | The Bees stung Pitt pretty good. |
 | 50. Kansas State | 2-1 (47) | The Wildcats had the week off after losing to Vanderbilt 10 days ago. |
