Every Thursday during the college football season, I will reveal my new power rankings prior to the next week getting started. I know it’s Friday morning but as the saying goes,’better late than never’. Keep in mind that this is not a Top 25 poll but a list of power rankings based on the previous week’s games. Here is the first set of Southern Football Report Power Rankings:
1. Oregon Ducks – The Ducks top the power rankings yet again after their 48-14 
drubbing of the Wyoming Cowboys. Wyoming had a 7 point lead at the end of the 1st quarter but five seconds into the 2nd quarter, Heisman hopeful Duck quarterback Marcus Mariota scored on a 15-yard touchdown run starting a 27 point quarter. Wyoming was able to move the ball and had a 100-plus yard rusher but Oregon forced three Cowboy turnovers.
2. Ole Miss Rebels – The Ragin’ Cajuns probably had the mentality that they could shock the world in Oxford last Saturday. When UL-Lafayette caught their breath it was already 28-0 in favor of the folks who call ‘The Grove’ theirs. Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns and the Ole Miss defense forced four turnovers. By the time everyone returned to The Grove, Ole Miss had racked up 554 yards of offense: although the most interesting stat of the game does go to the Ragin’ Cajuns: zero penalties. Kudos.
3. East Carolina Pirates – Ahoy! Tis National Pirate Day and the Pirates of East Carolina
set sail for Blacksburg, Virginia, a Saturday ago and found the treasure they seeked. Arr! The lead scurvy dog Cap’n Shane Carden tossed for 427 yards and 3 touchdowns and his mateys on defense held the scallywag Hokies to 91 yards rushing on 33 attemps and forced two turnovers. The grog was flowing free of charge in the hornpipes in the Port o’ Greenville after the 28-21 victory. Arrr!!
4. Baylor Bears – Poor ole Buffalo wore their new black uniforms with the blue trim for their Friday night home game against Baylor. By the time halftime rolled around the Bulls were black and blue everywhere as the Bears were up 35-0 and well in control of the game. Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty returned from injury to throw for 416 yards for four touchdowns and zero picks. Three different Baylor receivers eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark in the 63-21 win.
5. Ohio State Buckeyes – One week removed from their upset loss to Virginia Tech at 
home, Ohio State took out their frustrations on poor little ole Kent State. The alma mater of Lou Holtz, Nick Saban and Gary Pinkel could have used all of those coaches on the sideline Saturday as the Buckeyes pummeled the Golden Flashes 66-0. Ohio State put over 600 yards of offense on the board while holding Kent State to under 150 total yards and forced three turnovers.
6. Alabama Crimson Tide – The quarterback battle continues in Tuscaloosa as Blake Sims & Jacob Coker battled it out in live competition (well sort of) against Southern Miss where Sims tossed two touchdowns and ran for one. The Tide rushed for over 300 yards for the first time since the Arkansas game last season while holding the Golden Eagles to only 56 yards of offense and only allowed Southern Miss to convert three 3rd downs.
7. Oklahoma Sooners – The first half of the ball game was all Sooners as Oklahoma took 
at 20-7 lead into halftime against the Volunteers behind the arm of Trevor Knight who ended up with over 300 yards passing with a passing and rushing touchdown. The Vols scored in the 2nd quarter to narrow the lead to one score but Oklahoma responded with a 9-play, 81 yard touchdown drive to take that two score lead. One positive for Tennessee was that they held the Sooners to only three third down conversions.
8. LSU Tigers – In today’s world of high octane passing attacks anytime someone is shut out and kept off of the scoreboard, it should be noted. LSU has pitched two shutouts in a row. Not only did the Tigers keep the Warhawks out of the scoring column, they also kept them from using that third digit on the total offense column as well (93 total yards of offense). LSU rushed for over 200 yards and forced a fumble on their way to 31-0 win.
9. Boston College Eagles – Saturday night was magical in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, 
as the Eagles of Boston College rushed for over 450 yards in their first win over a top ten team since 2003. On an emotional night, the Eagles played with energy, efficiency and purpose on their way to a 37-31 win over USC. Transfer quarterback Tyler Murphy rushed for 191 yards in the win and the defense held the Trojans to 20 yards rushing. Yes, twenty.
10. Stanford Cardinal – After losing to USC in the final minutes as the Cardinal did last Saturday, I think we all expected a lopsided score against the Black Knights of Army from West Point. Stanford completed 60% of their 3rd down situations and held Army to only 2016 yards of total offense. Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan tossed four touchdowns in the win.
Tune in to the Southern Football Report this and every Saturday morning from 10 am to Noon on Live 101.9, Rockin 106.3 & Q 92.3 to hear high school scores from Friday night as well as college football discussion, debate and previews of the games to come!
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