ZN's CFB Top 25 :: Week 4 2009

USC chokes away another Pac-10 opener. The U is back, big time. BYU is a fraud (this week, at least). And some pretty ho-hum performances from the top-five. All that and more in this week's ZN's CFB Top 25 rankings.

Top 25 below the fold.

Rank. Team (LW), [Record, LW Result].

1. Florida (1), [3-0, W 23 - 13 Tennessee]
2. Texas (2), [3-0, W 34 - 24 Texas Tech]
3. Alabama (3), [3-0, W 53 - 7 North Texas]
4. Penn State (5), [3-0, W 31 - 6 Temple]
5. California (6), [3-0, W 35 - 21 Minnesota]
6. Miami(FL) (15), [2-0, W 33 - 17 Georgia Tech]
7. Boise State (9), [3-0, W 51 - 34 Fresno State]
8. Louisiana State (10), [3-0, W 31 - 3 La.-Lafayette]
9. Ohio State (14), [2-1, W 38 - 0 Toledo]
10. Michigan (11), [3-0, W 45 - 17 Eastern Michigan]
11. Cincinnati (18), [3-0, W 28 - 18 Oregon State]
12. Texas Christian (12), [2-0, W 56 - 21 Texas St-SM (FCS)]
13. Mississippi (13), [2-0, W 52 - 6 SE Louisiana (FCS)]
14. UCLA (16), [3-0, W 23 - 9 Kansas St]
15. Oklahoma (17), [2-1, W 45 - 0 Tulsa]
16. Iowa (NR), [3-0, W 27 - 17 Arizona]
17. Southern Cal (4), [2-1, L 16 - 13 Washington]
18. Pittsburgh (19), [3-0, W 27 - 14 Navy]
19. Houston (20), [2-0, DNP]
20. Florida State (NR), [2-1, W 54 - 28 Brigham Young]
21. Auburn (NR), [3-0, W 41 - 30 West Virginia]
22. Brigham Young U. (7), [2-1, L 54 - 28 Florida State]
23. Georgia (23), [2-1, W 52 - 41 Arkansas]
24. Notre Dame (21), [2-1, W 33 - 30 Michigan State]
25. Georgia Tech (8), [1-1, L 33 - 17 Miami, FL]

Dropped Out:
Oklahoma State (25), [2-1, W 41 - 24 Rice]
Virginia Tech (24), [2-1,W 16 - 15 Nebraska]
Nebraska (22), [2-1, L 16 - 15 Virginia Tech]

On the Cusp:
Washington (NR), [2-1, W 16 - 13 Southern California]
Oregon (NR), [2-1, W 31 - 24 Utah]
Wisconsin (NR), [3-0, W 44 - 14 Wofford (FCS)]
Virginia Tech (24), [2-1,W 16 - 15 Nebraska]
Missouri (NR), [3-0, W 52 - 12 Furman (FCS)]
Nebraska (22), [2-1, L 16 - 15 Virginia Tech]
North Carolina (NR), [3-0, W 31 - 17 East Carolina]
Kansas (NR), [3-0, W 44 - 16 Duke]
Minnesota (NR), [2-1, L 35 - 21 California]

Notes: No. 17 USC is actually higher than I believe their actual on-field performances have warranted. The Trojans were one bad Terrelle Pryor decision away from a loss in Columbus, and I don't care how good Washington played Saturday, it's still a team coming off an 0-12 season. With that, I'm not yet ready to proclaim UW a top-25 caliber team. Despite winning, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State both fell out this week, primarily because other teams pushed them out. A loss here or there by other teams will propel them right back into the rankings, provided they win themselves. I'm not quite sure why No. 13 Mississippi is getting such love from the national polls. The Rebels have done squat so far. At least No. 4 Penn State's opponents have all been from the FBS. As for No. 6 Miami, FL, I'm really buying into whatever it is Randy Shannon is selling in south Florida. The Canes look tough, really fast, and really pissed off that they're getting no respect. Of course, I could be proven dead wrong, as Miami faces No. 15 Oklahoma and Virginia Tech. Newcomers this week are No. 16 Iowa and No. 21 Auburn. Both teams had very good wins over BCS conference schools, which few very far under the national radar this week.

Past weeks:
WEEK ONE/PRESEASON
WEEK TWO
WEEK THREE