Here’s what I noticed from week two’s games:

Four Teams Drop Out of AP Poll: Perhaps the highlight game of the weekend saw the University of Louisiana-Monroe winning on the road in Fayetteville against then-AP-number-8 Arkansas 34-31 in overtime.  Razorbacks quarterback Tyler Wilson did suffer an injury in this game and his status moving forward remains in question.  However, this was a game Arkansas was supposed to win with or without Wilson, so this result was shocking and dropped Arkansas from 8^th to unranked in the new AP poll.  In Corvallis we saw another upset this weekend as 13^th-ranked Wisconsin fell to Oregon State.  This one wasn’t quite as surprising, as Wisconsin did not look good in their ugly opening day win against Northern Iowa, but nevertheless the fact that they lost 10-7 is a cause for concern.  I was really high on Wisconsin in the beginning of the season, gave them the benefit of the doubt after a shaky win against Northern Iowa, and now feel that they may not even win the Big 10 with Michigan State off to a nice start.  Nebraska was the third team to drop out, losing 36-30 on the road against UCLA. I wasn’t really all that big on Nebraska to begin with and never viewed them as a Big 10 contender, so this one was probably the least surprising of the four teams to exit the AP poll this week.  Lastly was Oklahoma State, who destroyed Savannah State 84-0 in their opener but could not get a road win against Arizona.  Arizona is also ranked, and I’m beginning to think the Pac 12 has more depth than I thought it did in the preseason.  Between USC, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA and Arizona in the AP Top 25 and Oregon State getting close after their win against Wisconsin, Arizona’s victory over Oklahoma State does come as a surprise to me given how high-powered the Cowboys offense is, but Arizona is a decent team.

Another week of smooth-sailing for dogs: Despite being upset with the media for “disrespecting Western Kentucky,” Alabama put a 35-0 beat down on the Hilltoppers behind AJ McCarron’s four touchdown passes and have now outscored their opponents this year 76-14, which doesn’t bode well for Arkansas next week. USC traveled across the country and saw their game with Syracuse delayed in the third quarter due to some severe weather that saw thunder and lightning roll through Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford.  However, that didn’t stop Matt Barkley from throwing six touchdown passes en route to a 42-29 win.  When I mentioned the growing depth of the Pac 12, I didn’t mention Washington but that’s because LSU dispatched of them rather easily, winning 41-3.  Number-four Oregon posted a double-digit win over Fresno State behind Kenjon Barner’s 201 rushing yards and three touchdowns.  Barner may be the biggest problem for De’Anthony Thomas in his quest for the Heisman.  Lastly was Oklahoma who cruised over Florida A&M.

Independents win to stay in Top 25: New to the poll after destroying Navy, Notre Dame won again over Purdue in a closely-contested 20-17 football game.  Brigham Young, another team new to the AP poll last week, followed with a win against Weber State.  It’s hard to see either one of these teams making noise when it comes to BCS busting, but Notre Dame could open some eyes if they could beat Michigan State this week.

Welcome to the SEC: Both Missouri and Texas A&M lost their SEC openers against Georiga and Florida respectively.  Both teams were in the games and had chances to win but it wasn’t to be as the experienced SEC schools won out.  All I can say is…..get used to it, Missouri and Texas A&M, things are tough in the SEC.

Updated Top 10

1. USC: Another nice win and they’ll now begin Pac 12 play with Stanford next.
2. Alabama: They’ve been cruising right along and before Arkansas self-destructed this past weekend I thought this early game for Alabama against Arkansas coming up would be a tough one.  It might not be so bad after all.
3. LSU: They’ve scored 41 in both of their games so far and could score 41 a third time against Idaho.  One more cupcake for the rigorous SEC schedule begins.
4. Oregon: Like LSU they’ve rolled so far scoring a lot and have one more layup against Tennessee Tech before they get into their Pac 12 schedule.
5. Oklahoma: Got tested week one against UTEP, weren’t tested at all by Florida A&M, definitely going to be tested by Kansas State this week.  Look out here Kansas State’s in with a chance in this game though it is in Norman.  For now, Oklahoma stays at five.
6. Georgia: I said it was a trap game against Missouri on the road and it looked like it might be but they pulled away late in the game and are now rewarded with an easy one this week  against Florida Atlantic before beginning a heavy dose of SEC games.
7. Florida State: Still no change as the top seven stay true to last week and Florida State gets ready for what should be a win against Wake Forest on Saturday.
8. South Carolina: I think they have a chance to compete all season with Alabama, LSU, and Georiga.  But I said the same thing about Arkansas and look how that turned out…..UAB is next.
9. Michigan State: It’s hard to tell with the Big 10 because I was huge on Wisconsin and they’ve started with two bad games, I like Michigan State right now as the conference’s best, but next week, though I’m not impressed so far with Michigan, the Wolverines might be lucky enough to wiggle into the top 10. As of now I’m sticking with Sparty as they head into a big non-conference game against Notre Dame in East Lansing.
10. West Virginia: Bye week this week keeps them in my top ten and they should stay in the top ten next week.

*South Carolina replaces the SEC debacle that is the Arkansas Razorbacks, and Michigan State takes Wisconsin’s spot in this week’s top 10.

Trending up

Kansas State: They moved ahead of Oklahoma State this week in my opinion when it comes to the third best team in the Big 12 behind West Virginia and Oklahoma.  I mentioned I think Oklahoma may have their hands full with this K-State team who just shredded Miami this past weekend.  Win or lose against Oklahoma I think K-State will hang around in the top 25 for most of the season, and a win against Oklahoma could get them in BCS talks come November.

Trending Down

Wisconsin: I thought about Arkansas but I’ve buried them a little too much and my expectations for Arkansas weren’t as high as they were for Wisconsin who I picked to win the Big 10.  Having already lost a game before conference play began, I now have some doubts about the Badgers.