Alabama nabs No. 1 in college football Power Rankings after Week 5

Alabama grabs the top spot while UCLA makes a big jump in the post-Week 5 edition of college football Power Rankings.

Author:
Martin Rickman
Publish date:
Sep 30, 2014

Texas senior wide receiver John Harris hurled an ill-advised barb Monday straight at Art Briles and the Baylor Bears. “They’re still Baylor,” Harris said. “Just because they started playing better, that’s good for them. We’re still Texas.” Yes, this is bulletin board material, tried and true. At the heart of it, though, this says a lot about our own impressions toward name-brand teams, particularly those that struggle.

They’re still Baylor, the same Bears that won 29 games the past three seasons and started this year 4-0. Texas is still Texas, a team that hasn’t had a 10-win season since 2009. And out in Ann Arbor, Michigan is still Michigan. The Wolverines have won one of their last 10 meetings against Ohio State and appear headed towards their third head coach since Lloyd Carr coached his final game on New Year’s Day 2008.

• ROSENBERG: Hoke is struggling, but don't indict his integrity

Coaches always say to play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back. But the name on the front can be deceiving. Definitions and reputations are fluid. Just because a word, a team or a name meant one thing in a certain era does not guarantee it will hold true in the next. Things can change in a year or a week -- or a game.

The power rankings this week have tried to address that. Teams that aren’t playing like top 25 teams don’t belong there based on their preseason rankings alone. That’s why there’s a new No. 1 once again and why so many teams have shuffled. As SI.com’s Andy Staples wrote in his Punt, Pass & Pork this week, “We may still have the wrong idea, but five weeks of data have provided a few hints.” I’ve tried to take those hints into consideration.

• INSIDE READ: Ethical questions surround the world of sign-stealing

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

PREVIOUS: 3

RECORD: 4-0

Next game: Saturday at Ole Miss

2. Oklahoma Sooners

PREVIOUS: 4

RECORD: 4-0

Last game: Beat West Virginia, 45-33 Next game: Saturday at TCU

3. Oregon Ducks

PREVIOUS: 2

RECORD: 4-0

Last game: Beat Washington State, 38-31 Next game: Thursday vs. Arizona

Last game: Beat Cincinnati, 50-28 Next game: Saturday at Maryland

22. Kansas State Wildcats

PREVIOUS: 23

RECORD: 3-1

Last game: Beat UTEP, 58-28 Next game: Saturday vs. Texas Tech

23. Oklahoma State Cowboys

RECORD: 3-1

Last game: Beat Texas Tech, 45-35 Next game: Saturday vs. Iowa State

24. TCU Horned Frogs

RECORD: 3-0

Last game: Beat SMU, 56-0 Next game: Saturday vs. Oklahoma

25. Marshall Thundering Herd

RECORD: 4-0

Last game: Beat Akron, 48-17 Next game: Saturday at Old Dominion

Next five: Missouri, Arizona, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Arizona State

Alabama nabs No. 1 in college football Power Rankings after Week 5

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

2. Oklahoma Sooners

3. Oregon Ducks

4. Florida State Seminoles

5. Auburn Tigers

6. Texas A&M Aggies

7. UCLA Bruins

8. Michigan State Spartans

9. Baylor Bears

10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

11. Stanford Cardinal

12. Mississippi State Bulldogs

13. BYU Cougars

14. Ole Miss Rebels

15. Georgia Bulldogs

16. Nebraska Cornhuskers

17. East Carolina Pirates

18. LSU Tigers

19. Wisconsin Badgers

20. USC Trojans

21. Ohio State Buckeyes

22. Kansas State Wildcats

23. Oklahoma State Cowboys

24. TCU Horned Frogs

25. Marshall Thundering Herd

Latest NCAAF News

Coach Prime and Colorado remain "work-in-progress" ahead of Spring Ball

Former Utah star Zack Moss signs with the Cincinnati Bengals

3 Weeks Until Spring Ball, Husky OL Still Remains Big Mystery

WATCH: Carson Beck Talks Lambo Truck and Spring Practice for Georgia

Arkansas Begins To Identify Key 2025 Prospects