Young Wolverines Crack Top 25 After Notre Dame Upset

FanHouse Big East writer and Tampa Tribune staff writer Brett McMurphy will provide his Associated Press Top 25 ballot each week.

Ah, out of the mouths of babes. Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier was getting ready to get on the bus and head to the Big House for Saturday's big game with Notre Dame, when the true freshman suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, I forgot to brush my teeth!," Forcier told Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez.

"That's what he's thinking about when he's getting on the bus and getting ready to go to the Big House," Rodriguez said.

Michigan has one freshman quarterback who can't remember to brush his teeth and another, Denard Robinson, who doesn't tie his shoelaces. Still, the Wolverines' youth movement has made me a believer.

With its upset of Notre Dame, Michigan jumped into my Top 25 ballot this week at No. 22 (the Wolverines also hit the Top 25 in the official ballot as well). Another newcomer to my ballot this week is Houston, which rolled up 512 yards of offense in an upset at Oklahoma State. I've got Houston at No. 18. The Cougars upset the Cowboys in a Wild West shootout in Stillwater, a week after another gang of Cougars from BYU took down that other team from Oklahoma located in Norman.

Here is my ballot this week with my ranking last week in parenthesis.

1. Florida (1)
When hired, Tennessee's Lane Kiffin said he'd be "singing Rocky Top all night long after we beat Florida next year. It will be a blast." Gators ready to blast off vs. Vols Saturday.

2. Texas (2)
The Longhorns seek revenge Saturday against Texas Tech after last year's 39-33 loss to Red Raiders ultimately cost UT shot at Big 12 title game and BCS title game.

3. USC (3)
The Trojans are remarkable 14-2 in last 16 games against Top 10 ranked teams. Now if they can only avoid that one annual upset as prohibitive favorites (Oregon State, 2008; Stanford, 2007).

4. Alabama (4)
Quarterback Greg McElroy set a school record with 14 consecutive completions as Crimson Tide pulls away from Florida International.

5. Penn State (6)
Hide the women and children. Penn State hosts Temple Saturday, having defeated the Owls 123-3 in the past three seasons.

6. Ole Miss (5)
The Rebels get a warm-up contest with Southeastern Louisiana Saturday before visiting South Carolina a week from Thursday.

7. BYU (8)
So much for an Oklahoma hangover or Bourbon Street hangover as BYU blasts Tulane 54-3. Now, Florida State pays a visit to Cougar Town Saturday.

8. California (9)
The Golden Bears visit Minnesota Saturday hoping to avoid the fate of last two visits east of Rocky Mountains: 2008 loss at Maryland and 2006 loss at Tennessee.

9. LSU (12)
Saturday Night Fever: LSU's win against Vanderbilt was Tigers' 31st consecutive Saturday night home victory.

10. Ohio State (10)
The Buckeyes loss to USC was sixth straight against top-five ranked teams. Good news is they won't see another this year until possibly Nov. 7 against Penn State.

11. Oklahoma (11)
The Sooners get well by seal-clubbing Idaho State. Oklahoma goes for school record setting 26th consecutive home victory Saturday against Tulsa.

12. Nebraska (13)
Zac Lee's career-high 340 yards passing and four touchdowns lifted the Cornhuskers past Arkansas State, setting up Saturday's Top 25 battle with...

13. Virginia Tech (14)
The Hokies enter Nebraska showdown coming off a 605-yard offensive day, including 444 yards rushing, in rout of Marshall.

14. TCU (15)
After putting the shackles on Virginia's offense (actually who doesn't?), TCU hosts Texas State Saturday before facing another ACC club (Clemson) on Sept. 26.

15. Cincinnati (16)
The fastest cheetah in the world was clocked recently at the Cincinnati Zoo running 100 meters in six seconds. That also was about how long each of the Bearcats' TD drives was in 70-3 romp of Southeast Missouri.

16. Boise State (17)
The Broncos may get tested Friday at Fresno State, but look to be on cruise control until visiting Tulsa on Oct. 14.

17. Georgia Tech (18)
The Yellow Jackets again showcased in Thursday night national TV spotlight at Miami. Winner should be Virginia Tech's biggest challenge in ACC Coastal.

18. Houston (NR)
Quarterback Case Keenum and Cougars get a week off to enjoy upset of Okie State before tangling with another Big 12 school when they host Texas Tech on Sept. 26.

19. Pittsburgh (19)
Running back Dion Lewis' second consecutive 100-yard game (190 yards, two touchdowns vs. Buffalo) is bringing back memories of another spectacular Pitt freshman named Tony Dorsett.

20. Miami (20)
Thursday night begins a stretch of three consecutive games against ranked opponents: Georgia Tech, at Virginia Tech and Oklahoma.

21. Oklahoma State (7)
How 'bout them Cowboys? Ugh. Sports Illustrated cover jinx, matador defense dooms Pokes in wild loss to Houston

22. Michigan (NR)
Is Coach Rich Rodriguez repeating his patented second-year turnaround in Ann Arbor that he did as coach at West Virginia?

23. UCLA (23)
Off Tennessee win, Bruins host Kansas State and are looking for first 3-0 start since 2005 team went 10-2.

24. Georgia (22)
Bulldogs needed goal-line stand in final seconds against South Carolina to avoid their first 0-2 start since 1996.

25. North Carolina (24)
This week's winner of the Bill Gramatica "How Not To Celebrate Award" goes to UNC TE Zack Pianalto, who suffered a foot injury after landing on his foot awkwardly while celebrating a TD catch.

Teams that are close to making my Top 25 (in alphabetical order): Kansas, Missouri, Oregon State, Utah.

See you later (teams that fell out of my Top 25 this week): Notre Dame, Florida State