On Saturday, the showcase event of the annual State Fair of Texas will take center stage, with the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas squaring off in a “friendly” football game known as the Red River Rivalry in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. For Texas head coach Mack Brown, the game might as well be played at The Alamo.
It is only fair to point out to begin what Mack Brown has done for the Longhorn program since his arrival in 1998: 12 straight nine-win seasons to begin his tenure, nine consecutive 10-win seasons from 2001-2009, two BCS title game appearances and a national championship in 2005. Needless to say be brought prestige back to football in Austin – and more importantly, a whole lot of cash! The bar was raised. Considerably.
But the last few years have been lean – a 25-18 overall record (13-15 in conference play) since 2010 – and highlighting that gridiron malaise has been the last three meetings with their bitter rivals, the Sooners. The Longhorns are 0-3, with the average score in those games being an eyesore to “The Eyes of Texas” looking upon them: Oklahoma 49, Texas 19. Last season saw Oklahoma tie for the second-most points they have ever scored in the 112-year rivalry in a 63-21 thrashing that was not even THAT close. This was the year it was going to change for Brown. It has not so far, as a 3-2 record that is remembered mostly by BYU running over the defense to the tune of 550 yards rushing – and the subsequent dismissal of defensive coordinator Manny Diaz – and capitulating in the second half the next week at home to Ole Miss. Another blowout on loss on Saturday could see him get the Lane Kiffin treatment much sooner than later. This might be Brown’s last stand.
It is not our last stand in terms of our rankings, however, as we roll out our latest edition of the A Lot Of Sports Talk College Football Top 25. As a reminder, here are our six esteemed pollsters: Lisa Horne (CFB/NASCAR writer and on-air personality), Basil Mitchell (former TCU and Green Bay Packers running back), T.J. Basalla (super fan, marketing professional, WJPZ Alumni Association President), Matty J. (ThrowTheFlagBlog.com, gifsection.com), Adesina Koiki (A Lot Of Sports Talk reporter/writer) and an anonymous staff member at a Division I-FBS school.
1. 
Oregon (145 points, 2 first-place votes)
The Ducks beat the Buffaloes 57-16. Sure, it’s only Colorado, but let’s also remember that the Ducks beat Tennessee 59-14 at home while Georgia went into OT to beat the Vols 34-31, albeit in Knoxville. THIS is why Oregon deserves the top spot. (Lisa Horne)
2. 
Alabama (143, 3 first-place votes)
After giving up 628 yards of total offense at Texas A&M, ‘Bama has allowed 659 yards of total offense combined in the last three games. It might take Kentucky, Alabama’s next opponent, three games against the Tide to accumulate 600 yards of total offense combined against them. Oregon, Stanford and Clemson are impressive, but Alabama is still my numero uno for now. (Adesina Koiki)
3. 
Clemson (136, 1 first-place vote)
I really feel like I could have a depth-chart style “OR” listed between my top three. All of them have experienced quarterbacks and athletic defenses. I’m going with Clemson because its win over Georgia is more impressive than any wins Oregon or Alabama have. (Anonymous D-1 FBS staffer)
4. 
Stanford (131)
Although this might be a (slight) stretch to say, wide receiver Ty Montgomery might be the most dynamic, explosive, game-changing player the Cardinal have had on The Farm since Glyn Milburn. The University of Washington experienced that firsthand last week to the tune of 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns from Montgomery, including taking the opening kickoff 99 yards to the house. (Adesina)
I also really like their big receiver, Devon Cajuste. His catch radius really impresses me. (Anonymous D-1 FBS staffer)
5. 
Florida State (118)
I don’t know if we will have two consecutive freshmen taking home the Heisman Trophy, but Jameis Winston is a legit Heisman candidate. (Basil Mitchell)
Jack Nicklaus’ grandson, Nick O’Leary, caught two touchdown passes in the 63-0 demolition of Maryland, which is the second most impressive thing he has done in the last six months. Walking away unscathed after crashing his motorcycle this past May is No. 1. (Anonymous D-1 FBS staffer)
6. 
Ohio State (117)
If Carolos Hyde doesn’t play (and some questions remain whether he should still be playing after his offseason trouble), Ohio State doesn’t beat Northwestern. Period. (T.J.)
7. 
Georgia (111)
I really like this Georgia team and really like Aaron Murray. I am worried that the injuries they sustained in the Tennessee game are really going to hurt them down the line. (Anonymous D-1 FBS staffer)
If anything, Aaron Murray and Georgia deserve more credit for getting out of Knoxville with a win against a much improved Tennessee team given that Murray had almost all second-stringers at the skill positions to work with for most of the game. (Adesina)
8. 
Baylor (103)
Does anyone want to play Baylor? Anyone? (Lisa)
9. 
Louisville (101)
The Cardinals have the stage all to themselves tonight against Rutgers, hoping to put on a show in front of a national audience. But it may prove to be a no-win: Beating the Scarlet Knights down to a pulp is the expectation, but to struggle against a really good Rutgers team will only make the number of skeptics of Louisville this season grow even more. No pressure, Cardinals! (Adesina)
10. 
LSU (96)
LSU-Florida games are always great. Think back to 2007, when the Tigers converted five fourth-downs against Tebow’s Gators, including two on Jacob Hester runs in the fourth quarter on the game-winning drive. Zach Metterberger may be ready for the challenge of playing a stout Florida defense, and it might trace back to the Alabama game last year. In the eight games before it, he averaged 177 yards per game. In 11 games since, including that magical night in Death Valley against the Tide, he has averaged 266 yards per game. (Anonymous FBS D-1 staffer)
11. 
Texas A&M (93)
A&M is so dynamic on offense but I just don’t know if they have the talent and experience up front to stop a team like LSU from running the ball down their throats. The upside is that they will only see a team like LSU once more…that would be LSU, in Baton Rouge on Nov. 23. (Anonymous D-1 FBS staffer)
12. 
UCLA (88)
Excellent job by the Bruins of taking Utah’s punches and surviving a tricky Thursday night game in Salt Lake City. (T.J.)
13. 
Miami, Fla. (84)
The Hurricanes look good. Quarterback Stephen Morris still has growing to do when it comes to making good decisions but so far, Miami is making the ACC a lot more interesting. (Lisa)
14. 
Oklahoma (74)
The Sooners face a David Ash-less Texas Longhorn team in the Red River Rivalry on Saturday. This could get real ugly for Longhorn head coach Mack Brown. (Lisa)
15. 
South Carolina (64)
The Gamecocks were able to beat Kentucky but when you struggle with the Wildcats, that usually says something about the direction of your program. (Matty J.)
16. 
Washington (54)
After the bowl games are over, we need a Pac-12 North/SEC West Challenge: Alabama-Oregon, LSU-Stanford, Texas A&M-Washington. Keith Price put up an incredibly gutsy performance in their close loss to Stanford. I’m excited to see what Husky defensive coordinator (and former Oregon Duck player) Justin Wilcox comes up with to try and slow down the Ducks this week. (Anonymous D-1 FBS staffer)
17. 
Florida (53)
Even after losing star defensive lineman Dominique Easley, the Gators are proving their defense is something not to be trifled with. Tyler Murphy is filling in well for Jeff Driskel, and he may have found a dependable wide receiver in Solomon Patton. (Matty J.)
18. 
Michigan (51)
A turnover-free game from Devin Gardner is huge for this team. Looked like the bye week had done them some good. Next up: White Out night in Happy Valley. (T.J.)
19. 
Fresno State (42)
Head coach Tim DeRuyter is building a very nice résumé that USC athletic director Pat Haden can no longer ignore. (Lisa)
20. 
Northwestern (41)
Once again, the Wildcats are who we thought they were: A very good team who’s not yet ready to be a part of the elite in the Big Ten. Cue (former Northwestern head coach) Dennis Green! (T.J.)
21. 
Texas Tech (38)
Texas Tech looked to be in a real fight with Kansas until Charlie Weis (and/or his punter) called for one of the worst fake punts in the history of college football. After that, it was all Red Raiders. (Matty J.)
22. 
Oklahoma State (19)
For as good as the pass game has been in Stillwater during the Mike Gundy era, the Cowboys have always had running backs that carried the mail (Dantrell Savage, Kendall Hunter, Joseph Randle to name a few). After five games this season, quarterback J.W. Walsh is the team’s leading rusher (only 265 yards) and the leading rusher among running backs, Jeremy Smith, only averages 3.7 yards per carry. TCU’s tough defense awaits in just over a week. (Adesina)
23. 
Missouri (15)
The Tigers have already equaled last year’s (5-7) total in wins. Head coach Gary Pinkel has to be feeling pretty good but that good feeling will soon be gone. The Tigers’ next three opponents: at Georgia, vs. Florida and vs. South Carolina. (Lisa)
There is a reason I told you in the summer that Mizzou was my national sleeper this year, Lisa. With Georgia’s myriad of injuries, each of those next three games are winnable. Call me crazy, but I think the Tigers take two of them. (Adesina)
24. 
Auburn (11)
I like this Auburn team a lot. The Tigers could be the most underrated team in the SEC. (Lisa)
25. 
Northern Illinois (9*)
Jordan Lynch to New York for the Heisman ceremonies? Maybe. The defense is still struggling but the Huskies’ offense looks good to go. The team’s “BCS buster” status is rising. (Lisa)
At this point last season — one which ended in an Orange Bowl appearance, mind you — the Huskies not only were not ranked, they did not even receive any votes in either the AP or USA Today polls. (Adesina)
Others receiving votes:
Virginia Tech (9 points), Michigan State (2), Notre Dame (2)
* – 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)
