Last week’s ranking in parenthesis.
1. Alabama 5-0:
Nick Saban speaks to fast food convention during off week: “Is this what we want French fries to be?” (1)
2. Oregon 6-0:
That UW the Ducks squished? It looked like a VW (bug). (2)
3. South Carolina 6-0:
Kin of Chicken Curse creator urges Clemson to lay down farm utensils. (9)
4. West Virginia 5-0:
Texas cowhand screamed at Bevo: “Grab your kids and drive fast to Abilene! ” (4)
5. Kansas State 5-0:
Bill Snyder leads Frank Solich and Steve Spurrier in early bird AARP Coach of Year voting. (5)
6. Notre Dame 5-0:
Vatican allows Church of ESPN GameDay to set up near mural of “Touchdown Jesus.” (10)
7. Florida 5-0:
Said being third team in less than year to hold LSU to without a touchdown was “really no big deal.” (13)
8. USC 4-1:
Three Trojans earn “Star (Lotulelei) of the Week” stickers for finally blocking Utah’s nose tackle. (13)
9. Oregon State 4-0:
Coach tells Beavers to keep their heads and tails up after injury to QB Sean Mannion. (12)
10. LSU 5-1:
“Swamp things” arrive back in Baton Rouge after bogging down in Florida. (6)
11. Ohio State 6-0:
“Dear AP voter: Urban Meyer wishes you and your family a very happy Columbus Day.” (14)
12. Texas 4-1:
Holding West Virginia to 48 points earned DE Alex Okafor Big 12 Defensive Player of Week — really. (7)
13. Oklahoma 3-1:
Bob Stoops says he never has tried the deep-fried Mack Brownies at Texas State Fair. (15)
14. Florida State 5-1:
Movie trailer for “Jimbo!”: “Just when you thought it was safe to go back into a sports book.” (3)
15. Georgia 5-1:
Dawgs now have worse record than another team from Athens … Ohio. (8)
16. Clemson 5-1:
Seeing South Carolina Gamecocks at No. 3 prompts team to flame-broil 20 pounds of chicken. (16)
17. Stanford 4-1:
Colts’ QB Andrew Luck phones old team: “You wouldn’t believe the comeback we had last weekend.” (19)
18. Rutgers 5-0:
Marketing plan now is to attract disenfranchised fans of the Jets. (21)
19. Louisville 6-0:
Road-weary Gas House Gang washes out gray flannels in sink before Pitt game near old Forbes Field. (22)
20. Louisiana Tech 5-0:
First time in USA Today rankings but have been top-25 in Ruston Pennysaver since 1982. (25)
21. Boise State 4-1:
Time spent away from poll allowed team to do some “soul searching.” (NR)
22. Texas A&M; 4-1:
Clincher for many Aggies recruits was chance to play Louisiana Tech this week in Shreveport. (NR)
23. Cincinnati 4-0:
Seven-game winning streak believed to be longest for football school nicknamed the “Bearcats.” (NR)
24. Mississippi State 5-0:
Granted sponsor’s exemption to become third school nicknamed “Bulldogs” in this week’s poll. (NR)
25. Arizona State 4-1
: Mud on rankings lower fairway necessitates weekly winter rules of “lift, clean and replace.” (NR)
