LAist-CS: Ducks Sit on Trojans' Face

Let me channel my inner Vic the Brick. "Trojan fans! One word: UY!"

In a Saturday where all of the excitement was contained to the margins (Southern Miss-Houston; Miami (FL)-Wake Forest; Cal-Arizona State; Rutgers-UConn), all eyes were on USC and Oregon. And in the spotlight, the Trojan defense withered.

They gave up 613 yards of offense and 47 points, the most points they have surrendered since they gave up 48 to UCLA in 1996. And their 27 point loss was their worst since being shut out by Washington 27-0 in 1997. Note that none of this happened during head coach Pete Carroll's predecessor Paul Hackett's tenure.

This 47-20 was the first time since Carroll's first year where USC was outplayed by a superior opponent. USC couldn't stop Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli all night. By air or by ground, Masoli ate up the Trojan defense. Hell he gained 164 rushing yards alone, more than the entire Trojan rushing staff.

Oregon came out of this game completely atoning for their goose egg at the beginning of the season at the smurf turf of Boise State and all the ugliness that ensued. And the reins of the Pac-10 were not handed to them by the Trojans. The Ducks raided the Trojans and forcibly extricated it.

With that here are the new rankings as voted on by the troika of me, Adam Rose and Andy Sternberg:

1. Florida (8-0, 6-0 SEC) - Fun fact: If you keep going with the Gators as your upset pick of the week, eventually you'll be right. But you may not be right until 2010. (Adam Rose)
2. Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) - They had a bye week, and they got jumped after Florida's strong performance against Georgia. Let's see how they respond against LSU.
3. Texas (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) - The Longhorns look like they are finally ready to play with the big boys.
4. Oregon (7-1, 5-0 Pac-10) - The Ducks didn't punch USC in the mouth, they jackhammered the Trojans' teeth in. Nobody has ever done that to Pete Carroll. Oregon is the best team in at least the second best conference in America. Yet another example of why fans want a playoff. (Adam Rose)
5. LSU (7-1, 4-1 SEC) - This Saturday's match up against the Crimson Tide should be a doozy. At least they got a good scrimmage against Tulane to warm up.
6. Iowa (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten) - They have to be the worst top 10 team in the country. They go down real big and make fourth quarter comebacks week after week. It's a good thing they play in the Big Ten or else they would already have three losses.
7. Boise State (8-0, 3-0 WAC) - That season opening win over Oregon keeps looking better and better -- though the Ducks would be a double-digit favorite in a rematch. (Adam Rose)
8. Cincinnati (8-0, 4-0 Big East) - Injured quarterback, no problem. Does that say more of Cincinnati's team or how horrible the Big East is?
9. TCU (8-0, 4-0 Mountain West) - What is the Horned Frogs fight song? Just wondering.
10. Georgia Tech (8-1, 5-1 ACC) - The best team you've never heard of this season. (Adam Rose)
11. USC (6-2, 3-2 Pac-10) - Will USC have to settle for the Holiday Bowl? How the mighty have fallen.
12. Penn State (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten) - The Nittany Lions trailed Northwestern 13-10 at halftime. Remember that.
13. Pittsburgh (7-1, 4-0 Big East) - Dave Wannstedt is doing a great job! I never thought I would ever say that.
14. Houston (7-1, 3-1 Conf. USA) - Wow, there are a lot of football teams in Texas.(Adam Rose)
15. Ohio State (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) - The Buckeyes beat New Mexico State 45-0, and the only the we learned is that New Mexico is still a state. The next two games (at Penn State, vs. Iowa) will say everything about this team. (Adam Rose)
16. Oklahoma State (6-2, 3-1 Big 12) - Despite their awful loss, they're not an awful team.
16. Utah (7-1, 4-0 Mountain West) - Their only loss is to Oregon, whom we hear is pretty good. (Adam Rose)

Also receiving votes: Miami (FL).

Florida, Alabama and Texas each received a first place vote.