If you had your druthers, maybe the family gathering for Thanksgiving wouldn’t include that aunt or uncle that brings the off-colored, cardboard-tasting pound cake to the dinner table that you could never stand. Or your in-law whose political views are diametrically different than yours yet decides to engage you on why you support the platform(s) that you do. Or the niece or nephew that you’re convinced is the spawn of Satan and runs around screaming and everything else that makes a holy terror so “adorable.” In terms of a college football fan, that’s music to one’s ears – especially if they can get the last laugh on those family members before taking the first flight out of Dodge back home.
Yes, the true Rivalry Week in college football was last week (the week when Harvard-Yale and Legigh-Lafayette square off), but this weekend, along with being Thanksgiving weekend, brings together rivals on the gridiron, pits brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor and boyfriend against girlfriend – well, unless you’re AJ McCarron and Katherine Webb.
Speaking of the aforementioned couple, McCarron’s Alabama Crimson Tide go to Jordan-Hare Stadium to take on Webb’s alma mater, the Auburn Tigers, in a match-up that will decide the winner of the SEC West and either cement or alter the national championship picture. With the Tide at 11-0 and War Eagle at 10-1, here’s guessing Alabama won’t equal the 49-0 rout that it put on the Tigers last season in Tuscaloosa. Auburn still has an outside chance at a BCS National Championship Game appearance with a victory, hoping that a win against the BCS No. 1 and an SEC Championship Game win would vault them over Ohio State and into the second spot in the rankings. Nothing too much is at stake for Alabama other than another rivalry win, bragging rights in the Heart of Dixie for another year and standing two steps away from college football immortality. Nothing to see here, people.
The Iron Bowl isn’t the only rivalry where a spot in a conference championship game is at stake. In the ACC, Duke – yes, Duke – is one win away from a 10-win season and a spot in the ACC Championship Game, but will have to go through Chapel Hill and defeat the Tar Heels to achieve those benchmarks. Ohio State, hoping for an Auburn win to move into the top two of the BCS, goes to Ann Arbor to take on a Michigan team that is sputtering but has the explosive offense that can put points up against a suspect Buckeye defense. In Gainesville, Florida State is hoping to not only make am impression against the hated Gators but possibly give Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley a lot to think about in terms of whether to retain Will Muschamp as head coach if FSU lays an vicious beating on Florida. And speaking of coaching jobs, USC interim coach Ed Orgeron has gone 6-1 since his appointment after the firing of Lane Kiffin, including a win two weeks ago against No. 8 Stanford. Whether he keeps the job full-time could depend on another positive result against crosstown adversary UCLA. No matter which side you’re on in these match-ups, putting one over against your neighborhood rival, either on the gridiron or in the household, would be the ultimate satisfaction.
The pollsters for the A Lot Of Sports Talk College Football Top 25 poll know about rivalries but are united as one when put together for a common cause. As always, our esteemed panel of seven includes: Lisa Horne (CFB/NASCAR writer and on-air personality), James Bates (former All-SEC linebacker, captain on the 1996 Florida Gators national championship team, on-air television host and color commentator for Fox Sports 1), T.J. Basalla (super fan, marketing professional, WJPZ Alumni Association President), Basil Mitchell (former TCU standout running back and Green Bay Packer), Matty J. (ThrowTheFlagBlog.com, gifsection.com), Adesina Koiki (ESPN The Magazine/A Lot Of Sports Talk reporter/writer) and an anonymous staff member at a Division I-FBS school.
1. 
Alabama (173 points, 5 first-place votes)
Can a one-dimensional offense actually inflict serious damage against Alabama? Going into this weekend, Auburn ranks first in the SEC in rushing offense (320.3). But what will Tigers QB Nick Marshall be able to do through the air if the Tide’s league-best run defense holds to form? (Adesina Koiki)
2. 
Florida State (170, 2 first-place votes)
FSU is able to score pretty much however many points they want to on teams. Expect a blood bath in The Swamp this weekend as they take on their hated rivals. (Matty J.)
3. 
Ohio State (160)
The biggest Auburn fans in America reside in the state of Ohio this week. (T.J. Basalla)
4. 
Auburn (149)
Who belongs here? Mizzou or Auburn? I say Auburn because its signature wins include Texas A&M and Georgia. Mizzou’s big win was at Georgia but it plays Texas A&M on Saturday. If Mizzou wins that game, it gets Auburn or Alabama as its prize in the SEC Championship. Oh, goody. (Lisa Horne)
5. 
Missouri (142)
The theme to Mizzou’s game on Saturday against Texas A&M might be Meat Loaf’s “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.” The Tigers are ranked 13th nationally against the run, a great sign when going up against the Aggies. Mizzou is fourth in the nation in sacks (35), an even better sign when going up against the Aggies. Alas, Missouri’s 114th-ranked pass defense might lead to Johnny Manziel and Mike Evans having a field day and possibly spoiling Mizzou’s chance at an SEC East title. (Adesina)
6. 
Clemson (141)
Tajh Boyd has done a lot in his time in Death Valley. One thing he’s never done? Beat the hated Gamecocks. He has one more chance to amend that fact. (T.J.)
7. 
Oklahoma State (134)
It takes a special team to make Baylor look ordinary. Well done, Pokes…well done. (Lisa)
In all of the mysteries of the 2013 season, how Oklahoma State lost to West Virginia will be at or near the top for me. (T.J.)
8. 
Stanford (115)
This year’s Stanford team, in my opinion, is the type of team that would be the ultimate conundrum for the selection committee when the four-team playoff comes in next year. They’re ranked eighth, but if they won out by beating Notre Dame and Arizona State as well as knowing at least a couple of teams above them will lose in the next couple of weeks, would the Cardinal be one of the top four teams afterwards? (Adesina)
9. 
Baylor (114)
Eddie Briles, the brother of Baylor head coach Art Briles, died on Wednesday at the age of 59 after falling in the bathroom of his home the day prior. Our sincere condolences go out to Art Briles and the Briles family.
10. 
South Carolina (112)
The Gamecocks probably would like that game with Tennessee back. If they had won that contest, they would be playing in the SEC Championship. They still can play in it but need help from Texas A&M. (Lisa)
11. 
Michigan State (107)
Remember when we marveled at the Spartans’ defense but questioned their offense? They have scored at least 29 points in their last four games – yet still allowed six points or fewer in three of those contests. (Lisa)
12. 
Arizona State (88)
I predicted in the preseason that the Sun Devils would win the South. Thank you, Todd Graham, for making me look brilliant. (Lisa)
Sometimes it’s the little things you see in a game that get you excited. Last week, UCLA had the ball late with a chance to drive and win the game against ASU. Instead of falling into a prevent defense, Todd Graham’s defense blitzed Brett Hundley on almost every down, causing several sacks and holding penalties. It was an aggressiveness that we don’t see a lot late in games, so bravo and congrats to the Sun Devils. That decision helped seal them the Pac-12 South Title. (T.J.)
13. 
Fresno State (85*)
It’s not just the big boys in the AQ conferences that are hoping for teams to lose to improve their own standing. After being passed by Northern Illinois in the latest BCS Standings, Fresno State’s chances of making the BCS took a severe blow. It’s a shame they may not ever play in a BCS game before its dissolution especially since they were so close to doing so under previous head coach Pat Hill while other non-AQ schools at the time (Utah, Boise State, Hawai’i, Northern Illinois) capitalized on their perfect seasons and played in those prestigious bowls. (Adesina)
14. 
Oregon (85)
Let this be a lesson: NEVER disrespect the Granddaddy of Them All. Some Ducks said they were tired of playing in the Rose Bowl game and karma took care of that via the Arizona Wildcats. (Lisa)
Oregon let Arizona hang 42 on them last week. I think they might regret those “We Want Bama” shirts they made a couple of weeks ago. (Matty J.)
15. 
Northern Illinois (74)
The talk about whether quarterback Jordan Lynch should be in New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation should be over and done with. (Yes!) But if Lynch puts up another rushing performance in the MAC Championship game like he did this past Tuesday against Western Michigan (321 yards) and becomes the first player in FBS history with 2,000 yards both passing AND rushing, the question now becomes can Lynch actually win the Heisman? (Adesina)
16. 
LSU (73)
There are times when LSU looks like an SEC powerhouse. Against Texas A&M, the Tigers made Johnny Manziel look average. There are also times when LSU confuses the senses—like its 27-24 loss to Ole Miss. That’s so Les Miles, isn’t it? (Lisa)
17. 
UCF (69)
The Knights would have to lose their final two games against South Florida and SMU for Louisville—assuming it beats Cincinnati—to secure an automatic BCS bowl berth. That’s not happening. (Lisa)
18. 
Wisconsin (68)
All signs are pointing to a BCS appearance for the Badgers as long as they take care of business on Saturday against Penn State. (Adesina)
19. 
Texas A&M (53)
Johnny Football has not been part of a losing streak since becoming the signal-caller for the Aggies. For that trend to continue, he’ll have to shake off probably his worst game as a collegian at LSU and ruin Missouri’s hopes of making it to the SEC Championship Game. (Adesina)
20. 
Oklahoma (45)
It may not have been intentional, but the Big 12, despite no longer having a championship game, will have as much drama on Championship Saturday than any conference next week. Oklahoma will play its part, trying to knock off Oklahoma State in Stillwater and prevent the Cowboys from winning the Big 12. If the Sooners are successful, then the Texas/Baylor game later on that day would be winner-take-all – assuming Baylor defeats TCU this weekend. (Adesina)
21. 
Louisville (38)
Next year might be a harsh reality check for this team with Clemson and Florida State on the schedule – and probably no Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback. (T.J.)
22. 
UCLA (26)
UCLA’s season could go either one of two ways starting this Saturday: Defeat rival USC, win its bowl game and have a 10-win season that would improve on Jim Mora’s first season in Los Angeles or lose another game to a high-ranking Pac-12 opponent (USC) and go into the offseason with a little bit of a sour taste in their mouths. (Adesina)
23. 
Southern California (25)
It was not a pretty win in Boulder but on the road playing in snow is not something USC is accustomed to doing. USC and UCLA will be playing for an upper-tiered bowl, Ed Orgeron’s job and a number of highly-touted recruits on hand to watch the game on Saturday. (Lisa)
24. 
Duke (16)
One of the reasons the Blue Devils are on the verge of playing for the ACC championship is that they take advantage of scoring chances and turn them not just into points, but into touchdowns. Duke is only one of two teams in the FBS – along with Georgia Tech – to convert 100 percent of its goal-to-go opportunities into touchdowns (22-for-22). (Adesina)
25. 
North Dakota State (5)
The quest for the three-peat is officially on, as North Dakota State is the No. 1 seed in the FCS playoffs that start this weekend. NDSU got a bye and is off this weekend, but will play the winner of Furman and South Carolina State in the Round of 16. (Adesina)
Others receiving votes:
Notre Dame (4 points), Georgia (2), Arizona (1), Cincinnati (1)
* – To break ties, we used a three-step criteria; 1) higher number of first-place votes, 2) higher number of ballots (out of six) the teams appeared in, 3) highest single ranking by an individual pollster (e.g. if Team A and Team B are tied cumulatively and appeared in all six polls, but Team A’s highest ranking by an individual pollster was No. 7 and Team B’s highest ranking by an individual pollster was No. 9, Team A wins tiebreaker)
