On the rise

As I left Tiger Stadium on Saturday night after broadcasting No. 2 LSU's 48-7 rout of No. 9 Virginia Tech for Westwood One Radio, I couldn't help but think back to my first two years as the head coach at Auburn. During the 1993-94 seasons, we won our first 20 games, and as people have reminded me ever since, there was only one way to go from there.

Well, it's only the second week of September, but LSU just played the game of a lifetime, beating the Hokies every way you can possibly beat a football team.

All I can think now is, "Where do they go from here?"

With the brunt of the season left to play, I just don't know if they can play any better than they did Saturday night. Then again, if they just keep playing like they did, they might not need to change a thing.

Not only did the Tigers hold Virginia Tech to 149 yards of total offense but they also racked up 598 yards themselves against the No.1 defense in college football over the past two years. The loss was Frank Beamer's worst in 21 years as the head man in Blacksburg. After two games, LSU has given up one touchdown and has yet to turn the ball over, scoring 45 and 48 points respectively. They are currently ranked third in total and scoring defense which is exactly where they were ranked the past two years.

Heck, even senior punter Patrick Fisher is doing his part by ensuring great field position; averaging 44.8 yards. As for the offense, getting almost 600 total yards with no turnovers might be the most impressive feat, especially against a consistently good Virginia Tech defense. The Tigers have progressed from being one of the most talented teams in the country to being one of the best coached as well.

I know Southern California was off this past week, and has done nothing to warrant a drop in the rankings. But if the voting is going to be done each week and it is going to be based on the body of work to date … no one has looked as good against good opposition as LSU did Saturday night. That's why I moved LSU up to No. 1 on my list.

As far as other teams that might have championship-type moxie, Oklahoma made the second biggest impression. I said before the season, if the Sooners could overcome the offseason distractions and find a quarterback who could deliver the football, they would be a contender.

After watching Sam Bradford throw five TD passes against Miami and dismantle the foundation of Randy Shannon's team, the dominating defense, the Sooners are looking like they are in an elite class of four teams – LSU, USC, Oklahoma and Florida.

SQUEAKING BY

Perhaps the bigger story of the weekend was all the teams that just hung on. Can you imagine what the top 25 would look like if a football game lasted 65 minutes instead of 60?

• No. 5 Wisconsin (20-13 over UNLV)

• No. 10 California (34-28 over Colorado State)

• No. 16 Nebraska (20-17 over Wake Forest)

• No. 20 Hawaii (45-44 in OT over Louisiana Tech)

• No. 23 Texas A&M (47-45 in 3 OT over Fresno State)

All these guys had to hang on for victories and their rankings against opposition that was not expected to give them much trouble. The more he wins, Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema will find two things. One, regardless of what kind of motivator you are, it is hard to get your kids up for every ballgame and you have to find a way to win when you don't play very well. And two, everybody will be shooting for you, so those easy ones on your schedule will become even tougher.

FALLING SHORT

At least those teams posted “W's” unlike the next group that will have to work its way back up to their previous status.

• No. 9 Virginia Tech (48-7 loss to LSU)

• No. 11 Georgia (16-12 loss to South Carolina)

• No. 17 Auburn (26-23 OT loss to USF)

• No. 22 Boise State (24-10 loss to Washington)

Each of these teams can still go after conference titles. But national championship hopes are gone and Boise will not make a return trip to a BCS bowl game.

South Carolina, on the other hand, is a big winner here as the Gamecocks jumped into the thick of things in the SEC East division race. South Florida might increase the Big East total to four teams deserving of the top 25.

D-FICIENT?

Speaking of the Big East, the big three (Louisville, West Virginia and Rutgers) all came away with victories and tons of points, but also with doubts as to their ability to stop anybody. All three gave up 23 or more points against lesser opponents. We all know that you can't play for a national championship without a little something called defense.

FADING FAST

Two of the biggest stories of the year are becoming less interesting as Notre Dame and Michigan, teams that previously fell out of the top 25, continue to fall hard and fast. Both must make miraculous recoveries if they don't want their seasons to spiral out of control. Unfortunately, it might get worse before it gets any better.