Hey, miss you guys. Just wanted to say hello, how’s it going, how’s everything, how’s your team doing, how’s your coach, how’s your quarterback, etc. It’s been a wild year so far, right? Alabama is what we thought it’d be. Not so much with L.S.U., however. But count me among those folks who think that the Tigers will be fine; from my vantage point, I think that L.S.U. is keeping a ton under wraps, and that come November, you’re going to see a few wrinkles appear with a national title berth on the line. Florida should scare Les Miles and pals, on the other hand – the Gators can play a little defense, it seems.

Over in Big Ten country, I’m fascinated by the growth of Nebraska’s offense. Bo Pelini has had Urban Meyer’s number in the past; unfortunately, Pelini doesn’t have Glenn Dorsey chewing up blockers on his front in Lincoln.

Is Taylor Martinez good enough to remain poised against Ohio State’s ferocious defensive line? If the Cornhuskers can block Johnathan Hankins and John Simon, look for the offense to be extremely successful over the middle of the field. If not, it’ll be a long day for Nebraska.

Under the radar… Air Force and Navy begin the first leg of the hunt for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow. Neither team has impressed me, though the Falcons did hang tight with Michigan back in September.

Georgia Tech needs a bounce-back game against Clemson – most of all, Al Groh’s defense need a bounce-back afternoon against one of the nation’s most explosive offenses. Groh is in very real danger of losing his job if this Tech defense doesn’t turn things around.

The winner of Georgia and South Carolina enters the driver’s seat in the SEC East, unless Florida pulls off the upset against the Tigers. Saying that the Gators lose, the winner in Columbia moves to 4-0 in SEC play, with a tiebreaker over the loser. And you know what? The winner should be considered a very realistic title contender – if the Bulldogs and Gamecocks aren’t in that conversation already.

Can Texas slow down West Virginia’s offense? I was bullish on the Longhorns’ defense in August, but it’s safe to say that Jackson Jeffcoat, Kenny Vaccaro and the rest of Texas’ group have been a disappointment. Now’s the time: Texas needs to step up, ramp up a pass rush, harass the Mountaineers’ receivers.

The Tech Trolley – trademarked, by the way (not really) – continues against lowly U.N.L.V., which travels to Ruston for a 7 p.m. start. The Bulldogs are for real, folks. Next week, they’ll make up the weather-postponed date with Texas A&M. It’s time to start thinking B.C.S., I think.

Anyway, I miss you guys. I’m sorry I don’t have any more details about Pre-Snap Read coverage on USA Today. But the re-ranking has moved over: Alabama first, Tulane last, the rest of the F.B.S. in the middle. I do have a new Twitter account, so please follow that for news over the next few weeks. Keep in touch – email me at any time and we’ll talk college football.

With the weekend in the books, here’s a look at how the country ranks — using the original rankings as the starting point, with the season’s results as rationale for any movement. The top 25 teams land a one-sentence breakdown. The rest? Not so much. Part of the perks of being one of the best. Think your team is too low? Feel another team deserves more credit, less credit? Let’s hear it below. It’s a delicate ranking process, even if we’re now four weeks into the year. As promised, everything will become clearer by the end of the month.

The top 25

1. Alabama (4-0, 1-0)
Florida Atlantic scored – ergo, I have nothing nice to say.
2. Oregon (4-0, 1-0)
I told you over the summer: the Ducks can play a little defense.
3. Florida State (4-0, 2-0)
The ‘Noles aren’t back, per se; they’re pretty darn close, however.
4. L.S.U. (4-0, 1-0)
Sloppy miscues on offense allowed Auburn to stay close.
5. Georgia (4-0, 2-0)
Few paid attention, but the Bulldogs dismantled Vanderbilt.
6. West Virginia (3-0, 0-0)
Not a strong performance against a very average Maryland squad.
7. Kansas State (4-0, 1-0)
Just put another feather in Snyder’s cap, with all the others.
8. Notre Dame (4-0, 0-0)
This defensive front is really turning into something special.
9. Texas (3-0, 0-0)
After a break, U.T. heads over to Stillwater for a big one.
10. Stanford (3-0, 1-0)
The Cardinal have had extra time to prepare for Washington.
11. South Carolina (4-0, 2-0)
Connor Shaw was nearly perfect, so he’s healthy, I guess.
12. Clemson (3-1, 0-1)
The blueprint on offense was strong, but the defense crumbled.
13. U.S.C. (3-1, 1-1)
To me, it seemed as if the Trojans had post-Stanford hangover.
14. Florida (4-0, 3-0)
Florida’s pretty good; Kentucky is absolutely abysmal.
15. Mississippi State (4-0, 1-0)
Mullen’s guys continue to take care of the weak opponents.
16. Oregon State (2-0, 1-0)
Two games, two Heisman campaigns totally derailed.
17. Oklahoma (2-1, 0-1)
A loss that raises significant questions in Norman.
18. Ohio State (4-0, 0-0)
The Buckeyes head into Big Ten unblemished.
19. Michigan State (3-1, 0-0)
You can tell that this team and staff are getting frustrated.
20. Ohio (4-0, 0-0)
No Tettelton, no problem – the Bobcats’ offense still rolled.
21. T.C.U. (3-0, 1-0)
The offense continues to be underwhelming, prone to turnovers.
22. Nebraska (3-1, 0-0)
Lincoln has had this Wisconsin game circled for a calendar year.
23. Louisville (4-0, 0-0)
Remember that F.I.U. shocked the Cardinals a season ago.
24. Rutgers (4-0, 1-0)
The Scarlet Knights’ defense had issues, but a big win for program.
25. Boise State (2-1, 0-0)
What has happened to Chris Petersen’s offense?

The Rest

26. Louisiana Tech (3-0, 0-0)
27. Arizona State (3-1, 1-0)
28. U.C.L.A. (3-1, 0-1)
29. Baylor (3-0, 0-0)
30. Northwestern (4-0, 0-0)
31. Wisconsin (3-1, 0-0)
32. Utah State (3-1, 0-0)
33. Virginia Tech (3-1, 1-0)
34. Arizona (3-1, 0-1)
35. Tulsa (3-1, 1-0)
36. Tennessee (3-1, 0-1)
37. Iowa State (3-0, 0-0)
38. Nevada (3-1, 1-0)
39. Michigan (2-2, 0-0)
40. Oklahoma State (2-1, 0-0)
41. Northern Illinois (3-1, 0-0)
42. Utah (2-2, 0-1)
43. Cincinnati (2-0, 1-0)
44. B.Y.U. (2-2, 0-0)
45. N.C. State (3-1, 0-0)
46. Texas A&M (2-1, 0-1)
47. Texas Tech (3-0, 0-0)
48. U.C.F. (2-1, 0-0)
49. Miami (Fla.) (3-1, 2-0)
50. Western Kentucky (3-1, 0-0)
51. Purdue (2-1, 0-0)
52. North Carolina (2-2, 0-1)
53. Toledo (3-1, 1-0)
54. San Jose State (3-1, 0-0)
55. Missouri (2-2, 0-2)
56. Georgia Tech (2-2, 1-2)
57. Penn State (2-2, 0-0)
58. Minnesota (4-0, 0-0)
59. Ball State (3-1, 1-0)
60. Washington (2-1, 0-0)
61. Virginia (2-2, 0-1)
62. Pittsburgh (2-2, 0-1)
63. Wake Forest (3-1, 1-1)
64. Auburn (1-3, 0-2)
65. Western Michigan (2-2, 0-0)
66. Louisiana-Monroe (1-2, 0-0)
67. South Florida (2-2, 0-1)
68. Fresno State (2-2, 0-0)
69. Duke (3-1, 0-0)
70. Louisiana-Lafayette (2-1, 1-0)
71. East Carolina (2-2, 1-0)
72. California (1-3, 0-1)
73. Connecticut (2-2, 0-0)
74. Iowa (2-2, 0-0)
75. Illinois (2-2, 0-0)
76. S.M.U. (1-2, 0-0)
77. Arkansas State (2-2, 0-0)
78. Marshall (2-2, 1-0)
79. Miami (Ohio) (2-2, 1-0)
80. Maryland (2-2, 0-0)
81. Air Force (1-2, 0-1)
82. Arkansas (1-3, 0-1)
83. Navy (1-2, 0-0)
84. Troy (2-2, 1-1)
85. Mississippi (3-1, 0-0)
86. San Diego State (2-2, 0-0)
87. Vanderbilt (1-3, 0-1)
88. Syracuse (1-3, 0-0)
89. Central Michigan (2-1, 0-0)
90. Temple (1-2, 0-0)
91. Army (0-3, 0-0)
92. Bowling Green (1-3, 0-1)
93. Florida International (1-3, 0-0)
94. Kent State (2-1, 1-0)
95. UTEP (1-3, 0-0)
96. Washington State (2-2, 0-1)
97. U.N.L.V. (1-3, 1-0)
98. Southern Mississippi (0-3, 0-1)
99. New Mexico (2-2, 0-0)
100. Colorado (1-3, 1-0)
101. Boston College (1-2, 0-1)
102. Kansas (1-3, 0-1)
103. Hawaii (1-2, 0-1)
104. Indiana (2-1, 0-0)
105. Rice (1-3, 0-1)
106. Texas State (2-1, 0-0)
107. Kentucky (1-3, 0-1)
108. Houston (0-3, 0-0)
109. Wyoming (1-3, 0-0)
110. Texas-San Antonio (4-0, 0-0)
111. North Texas (1-3, 0-1)
112. Buffalo (1-2, 0-1)
113. Colorado State (1-3, 0-0)
114. Akron (1-3, 0-0)
115. New Mexico State (1-3, 0-0)
116. Middle Tennessee (2-1, 1-0)
117. Eastern Michigan (0-4, 0-1)
118. U.A.B. (0-3, 0-0)
119. Tulane (0-3, 0-1)
120. Florida Atlantic (1-3, 0-1)
121. South Alabama (1-3, 0-0)
122. Memphis (0-4, 0-0)
123. Idaho (0-4, 0-0)
124. Massachusetts (0-4, 0-1)

Dropped out of top 25

U.C.L.A. No. 17 (No. 28)
Arizona No. 21 (No. 34)
Utah No. 25 (No. 42)

New in top 25

Oregon State No. 16 (No. 27)
Nebraska No. 22 (No. 26)
Rutgers No. 24 (No. 30)

Three noteworthy jumps

Miami (Fla.) 32 spots (No. 81 to No. 49)
Colorado 23 spots (No. 123 to No. 100)
U.N.L.V. 20 spots (No. 117 to No. 97)

Three noteworthy tumbles

Air Force 28 spots (No. 53 to No. 81)
South Florida 22 spots (No. 45 to No. 67)
Vanderbilt 18 spots (No. 69 to No. 87)

Previous rankings

Week 4 rankings Alabama, No. 1
Week 3 rankings Alabama, No. 1
Week 2 rankings Alabama, No. 1
The preseason list is on the right sidebar.

So my career of acronyms continues, from the N.Y.T. to P.S.R. to U.S.A.T., even if I’m not sure if folks use the final acronym to describe USA Today. To say I’m excited about this move would be an understatement.

The move means a few things. One, it means that I’m done at The Times, obviously. My final day will be tomorrow, when I’ll lead the paper’s online college football coverage through one final Saturday. I promise that my final words for The Times will be “college football,” which will be fitting.

Two, it means that you’ll need to bookmark USA Today’s site on your browser. Please do so now. Let me know when you’re done. I can’t give you the direct link until I know for sure how USA Today’s retooled Web site will work, but keep close tabs on USAToday.com – it’ll pop up very soon.

Three, it does mean an end of sorts for Pre-Snap Read. I can’t tell you how much this site has meant for me over the last two years – nor can I begin to describe just how much I enjoyed writing for you guys, the loyal readers who showed up early in the process and stayed throughout.

And I want every one of you to know: we did this together. I always felt an atmosphere of togetherness – not to get weird – when writing for P.S.R.; we were in this deal together, in this labor of love, and knowing that you were on the other end, as a reader, pushed me through those periods when I wondered if the site was worth the blood, sweat and tears – well, there wasn’t much blood, to be honest.

I can’t tell you quite yet how Pre-Snap Read will continue to exist. Obviously, I now work for USA Today. All I can say today – and I’ll have more information later – is that the site will remain up, with all the archives intact.

Again, I’ll give you more information as it comes in. I start at USA Today on Oct. 1 and will want to take a break next week in advance of the move. So what will next week look like?

I’ll do the 1-124 re-ranking and 1-12 conference rankings on either Sunday or Monday. For the rest of the week, I’m going to re-run my favorite posts from Pre-Snap Read’s history. This won’t include any Countdown posts, since those are all listed along the sidebar. They’ll be the normal, everyday posts that I’ve loved since christening the site in 2010.

So… thanks, guys. Really: thank you. I’m not going to name any names, but you know who you are – there’s a lot of you hang-around, daily-read folks out there, and we’re friends for life. Stick around for the re-ranking on Monday and a look back at P.S.R. history through the end of the month. I’ll give you more details next week, I promise.

Important Locksley news: John L. Smith is not – I repeat, not – eligible for the 2012 award. Why? Let’s consider the first reason: Smith is an interim head coach. I can’t blame you for not being fully aware with the Locksley’s laws and bylaws, seeing that said laws and bylaws have never been put into print. But one crucial factor is that a candidate must be a real, bona fide head coach – not an interim head coach, as is Smith. A second reason is that Smith would be such a lock for the Locksley that taking him out of the running evens the playing field among a slew of other highly qualified candidates. Now, is there a chance that Smith could one day be recognized for his wonderfully inept work with the Razorbacks in 2012? I can see it now: The John L. Locksley. That’s an option. But there will be no trophy on Smith’s mantle once his tenure in Fayetteville runs its course. As recompense, Smith gets the quote of the week:

“Let’s go. You guys look like it’s — pick it up a little bit, okay? Get your chin up. Smile! Smile! Okay? Dang, you guys alright? If not, I’m not talking.”

1. Jon Embree, Colorado (Last week: No. 9)

2012 record 0-3
Overall (since 2011) 3-13

Just a few snippets from Colorado’s 69-14 loss to Fresno State: the 35 first-half points, 322 first-quarter yards, 516 first-half yards and 300 first-half passing yards were the most in program history, and the 94-yard touchdown run was the longest the Buffaloes had allowed in program history. Could it possibly get any worse? It gets worse the closer you look – because if you looked close enough, you’d see a staff that seemed completely unprepared to lead a team onto the field against a non-B.C.S. conference opponent. This has become embarrassing. Sadly – and you might find this hard to believe – it will only get worse. If Colorado lose to Colorado State, Sacramento State and Fresno State, what chance does it have of beating any team during Pac-12 play? Heck, how bad will it get against Oregon, U.S.C. and Stanford? This has been the darkest three weeks in program history. Embree has been a disaster. Very rarely does a head coach prove himself to be this unqualified for the task.

2. Frank Spaziani, B.C. (Last week: No. 1)

2012 record 1-2
Overall (since 2009) 21-21

It took Embree’s level of horridness to knock Spaziani out of the top spot. However, it should be said that Boston College lost by only nine points to Northwestern on Saturday, though that comes with an asterisk: Northwestern thoroughly dominated the Eagles – gaining 34 first downs, for instance – yet was stymied by an inability to seal the deal in the red zone. In this case, it was not necessarily a 22-13 loss to feel good about. But then there’s Embree, who led Colorado to a historic defeat, and all of a sudden, another year of Spaziani doesn’t look that bad. It could be worse, after all.

3. Joker Phillips, Kentucky (Last week: No. 7)

2012 record 1-2
Overall (since 2010) 12-16

Phillips’ fate wasn’t sealed once Western Kentucky converted a two-point try to beat Kentucky, 32-31, on Saturday night. Phillips can continue serving as the Wildcats’ head coach in 2013 and beyond should he lead U.K. to five or six wins during the regular season. Phillips controls his own fate; let’s just say that the odds are against him leading this specific team to the cusp of bowl eligibility. In hindsight, after the program opts to move in another direction, we can point to Saturday’s loss as the moment everything started collecting speed on its path downhill – because the program has been headed downhill since Phillips took over, but it took an ugly loss to Louisville and an uglier loss to the Hilltoppers to illustrate the level of deterioration that has occurred under his watch.

4. Bobby Hauck, U.N.L.V. (Last week: No. 2)

2012 record 0-3
Overall (since 2010) 4-24

On one hand, U.N.L.V. has taken two B.C.S. conference opponents down to the wire – Minnesota in the opener, Washington State a week ago. On the other, U.N.L.V. also lost to Northern Arizona, giving Hauck four wins in total since taking over in 2010 to go with a pair of losses against F.C.S. competition. You know when the idea of moral victories becomes laughable? When you’ve lost 24 games in 28 tries – at this point, Hauck needs to forget about moral victories and land some clear, unadulterated, pure victories. U.N.L.V.’s quest resumes with a ridiculously imposing five-game slate: Air Force, at Utah State, at Louisiana Tech, Nevada, at Boise State. Will Hauck survive an 0-8 start?

5. Dan Enos, Central Mich. (Last week: No. 4)

2012 record 1-1
Overall (since 2010) 7-19

When on a long losing streak, baseball teams look at a rainout as a sign of good luck – it might not be a win, but a rainout ensures that at the very least, this team won’t suffer another loss. In this vein, a bye week is manna from heaven for Central Michigan, which seems just as inept in 2012 as it was under Enos in both 2010 and 2011. The Chippewas can’t win during a bye week; nor can they lose, however, and any weekend from September through November that doesn’t include a defeat is reason for celebration in Mount Pleasant. As mentioned, the good times will end on Saturday: Central Michigan’s next five opponents are Iowa, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Navy and Ball State. The next time C.M.U. looks for a head coach it should look outside the Big Ten.

6. Robb Akey, Idaho (Last week: No. 3)

2012 record 0-3
Overall (since 2007) 19-46

How bad has Idaho been through three weeks? The Vandals, 0-3, rank 120th nationally in total offense, 121st in scoring and 123rd in rushing. On defense, Idaho ranks 108th in yards allowed per play, 104th in scoring and tied for 114th in rushing touchdowns allowed. There’s been a loss to L.S.U., yes; there’s also been a loss to Eastern Washington, a 20-3 shoving that was never, ever in doubt. The picture this start paints isn’t pretty: Idaho looks worse than it was a season ago, when the Vandals went 2-10, and as bad as it has ever been since Akey took over in 2007. That’s not a pretty picture.

7. Tony Levine, Houston (Last week: N/A)

2012 record 0-3
Overall (since 2011) 1-3

I’ve touched on Houston over the last few weeks. There’s been no more disappointing team in college football, in my mind – though Arkansas, Wisconsin and others can make a strong case. The struggles can be tied back to the offense, which has been rendered impotent by Levine’s mishandling of his most important hire: offensive coordinator. Whether the Cougars can turn the corner hinges entirely on Levine’s ability, along with Travis Bush, to turn around a once-proud offense in time for conference play. The good news is that Houston has so much talent that it might only take some subtle tweaks to get this offense back on track; once this offense gets back on track, U.H. can make another run to the conference championship. The bad news? The program will have no one other than Levine to blame if this season continues its run off the rails.

8. Mike Price, UTEP (Last week: No. 6)

2012 record 1-2
Overall (since 2004) 46-54

UTEP’s a hard team to read, no? This team ran with Oklahoma in the opener; a week later, the Miners were run ragged by Mississippi’s offense. Last week, UTEP had its way with New Mexico State despite several mental errors – 12 penalties for 129 yards, for example. A team that can keep pace with O.U. and trounce the Aggies should do well in a very down Conference USA, in my mind. But before getting on board, it would be nice to see Price’s squad beat a team like S.M.U. in early October. If the Miners can bottle the Oklahoma and N.M.S.U. games and carry it into conference play, this team could – could – make some noise in the West division. That I’m not confident in this coming to pass has much to do with the program’s run of mediocrity under Price’s direction.

9. Jeff Quinn, Buffalo (Last week: N/A)

2012 record 1-2
Overall (since 2010) 6-21

There’s something to be said of the progress Quinn has made off the field, rebuilding the Bulls into a MAC contender after a very unsteady start. There’s also something to be said for winning games, especially at home, and especially when on national television. Wednesday’s game against Kent State, which came on the heels of a solid start – remember that Buffalo made life miserable for Georgia over the first half in the opener – was an absolute must-win for the Bulls; up next are road games against Connecticut, Ohio and Northern Illinois, so this team will be staring 1-5 in the face before meeting Pittsburgh and Toledo at home to cap October. The question: How many games must Quinn win to keep his job? Four would be nice. But it’s hard to say what the program will do if Buffalo wins only two or three games.

10. Rick Stockstill, M.T.S.U. (Last week: No. 5)

2012 record 2-1
Overall (since 2006) 37-41

Stockstill’s fate will be decided in November, after he leads his team against surefire losses to Georgia Tech and Mississippi State and two tough Sun Belt games against Louisiana-Monroe and Florida International. If the Blue Raiders can win two of five, heading into November at 4-4, there’s a pretty good chance that Middle Tennessee State can reach bowl eligibility – taking Stockstill off of the hot seat. Keep that in mind on Saturday, when the Blue Raiders are sure to be on the sour end of a beating at the hands of the Yellow Jackets. Another thing to keep in mind: Middle Tennessee has as many wins through three games as it had all of last season.

Dropped off

Jeff Tedford, California (Last week: No. 8)
Randy Edsall, Maryland (Last week: No. 10)

Previous lists

Week 3 list Frank Spaziani, No. 1
Week 2 list Frank Spaziani, No. 1

It’s not unprecedented for the eventual Heisman winner to lose at least one game during the regular season – in fact, recent history shows that it’s just as common for the winner to lose at least once than it is for him to run the table. Of the last 10 Heisman winners, not counting Reggie Bush, five have lost at least one game during the regular season: Eric Crouch lost once, Carson Palmer lost twice, Tim Tebow lost three times, Sam Bradford lost once and Robert Griffin III lost three times. So the door to the Heisman is far from closed to Matt Barkley, who was unable to lead U.S.C. past Stanford on Saturday night. But one difference between Barkley and the five quarterbacks listed above is that Barkley entered the season as the undisputed favorite; that might help, in a way, but it might also open up a path for one of his prime challengers – De’Anthony Thomas or Geno Smith, for example – to put a stranglehold on the top spot. One thing is clear: Barkley can’t lose again. Before tackling the list, another installment of This Date in Heisman History:

Sept. 20, 1997 Charles Woodson didn’t intercept a pass in Michigan’s 38-3 win over Baylor, though he likely would have, had the Bears actually thrown in his direction. Woodson simply made five tackles on defense while adding 2 grabs for 45 yards on offense, with another catch, a 34-yard would-be touchdown, negated by a false start.

1. RB De’Anthony Thomas, Ore. (Last week: No. 2)

Week 3 W 63-14 vs. Tennessee Tech (3 carries for 62 yards, 1 TD; 3 receptions for 73 yards, 1 TD; 4 punt returns for 87 yards, 21.8 per return)
Year to date 13 carries for 228 yards, 4 TD; 11 receptions 154 yards, 3 TD; 7 punt returns for 93 yards, 13.3 per return)

He’s the fastest man in football, according to Sports Illustrated. The proof is in the pudding: Thomas goes from zero to 60 faster than your Corolla; changes direction with less warning than a truck driver on I-95; breaks ankles with a Kathy Bates-like ferocity; embarrasses defenders like a mother on prom night. Through three weeks, he’s reached every expectation placed upon his plate back in August – with no one task bigger than making sure every touch counts, something Thomas did wonderfully during non-conference play. Anything else? Yeah, Thomas showed his game-breaking ability on punt returns. He’s the total package; he’s also the Heisman leader heading into conference play.

Next vs. Arizona, Saturday

2. QB Geno Smith, West Virginia (Last week: No. 4)

Week 3 W 42-12 vs. James Madison (34 of 39 for 411 yards, 5 TD; 2 carries for 18 yards)
Year to date 66 of 75 for 734 yards, 9 TD; 10 carries for 83 yards, 1 TD

Blame Robert Griffin III for the proliferation of this factoid: Through two games, Smith has as many touchdown passes, nine, as incomplete passes. Through the first five weeks of 2011, Griffin had 20 incomplete passes against 18 touchdowns. Smith’s season is going down along familiar lines, with incredible numbers heaped upon incredible numbers, but his Heisman campaign differs from Griffin’s in one key regard: West Virginia is really, really good – like win-the-national-title good. But at the same time, Smith can’t rely on simple statistics to forward his cause. He needs to lead his team right into top two or three teams in the Big 12 to hang around the top group.

Next vs. Maryland, Saturday

3. RB Johnathan Franklin, U.C.L.A. (Last week: No. 3)

Week 3 W 37-6 vs. Houston (25 carries for 110 yards; 4 receptions for 58 yards)
Year to date 66 carries for 541 yards, 3 TD; 8 receptions for 121 yards, 1 TD)

Franklin still leads the F.B.S. in rushing, even if his totals came back down to Earth in Saturday’s win against Houston. Nevertheless, I find nothing nitpick-worthy from Franklin’s torrid start, unless I quibble over his inability to get into the end zone as a ball-carrier over the last two weeks. But consider two factors that stands firmly in Franklin’s corner: one, he’s been the engine behind U.C.L.A.’s unexpectedly hot start; and two, he’s made a huge move up the ladder while former frontrunners like Montee Ball, Marcus Lattimore and Le’Veon Ball have dropped out of the picture.

Next vs. Oregon State, Saturday

4. QB E.J. Manuel, Florida State (Last week: No. 5)

Week 3 W 52-0 vs. Wake Forest (15 of 24 for 176 yards, 2 TD; 8 carries for 48 yards, 1 TD)
Year to date 42 of 59 for 525 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT; 13 carries for 86 yards, 1 TD

Manuel wasn’t perfect against Wake Forest, though neither was he needed: Florida State’s running game pounded the Demon Deacons to smithereens in a 52-0 win – and it should be said that Manuel did a very nice job moving the chains with his legs. As I’ve mentioned over the last few weeks, Manuel’s campaign isn’t built on jaw-dropping totals but by good-enough play that leads the Seminoles to an undefeated regular season. He controls his own fate, but Manuel’s candidacy does rest on his team’s ability to beat a team like Clemson, which visits Tallahassee on Saturday night.

Next vs. Clemson, Saturday

5. QB Collin Klein, Kansas State (Last week: No. 6)

Week 3 W 35-21 vs. North Texas (15 of 20 for 230 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 11 carries for 85 yards, 1 TD)
Year to date 43 of 59 for 609 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT; 46 carries for 210 yards, 4 TD

Heading into Saturday, Klein is completing 10.4 percent more of his attempts than Landry Jones and is averaging 2.9 more yards per attempt than Oklahoma’s senior quarterback. Hey, and the two meet on Saturday! As with Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez, Klein’s improved production as a passer has lifted his play to a higher plane – and that’s saying something, seeing that Klein’s prowess as a runner already made him one of the most dangerous skill players in college football. If his strides hold true the rest of the way, it’s safe to say that Klein is going to be a Heisman finalist; you could also say that Kansas State is a B.C.S. bowl threat.

Next at Oklahoma, Saturday

6. QB Matt Barkley, U.S.C. (Last week: No. 1)

Week 3 L 21-14 at Stanford (20 of 41 for 259 yards, 2 INT)
Year to date 66 of 109 for 818 yards, 10 TD, 3 INT

What has a better chance of occurring in 2012: Barkley winning the Heisman or U.S.C. reaching the B.C.S. title game? I’d say the former, since all Barkley really needs to do is erase the memory of Saturday’s loss – something he’ll have plenty of opportunities to do over the next two months. U.S.C., on the other hand, doesn’t control its own fate; the Trojans need help in the A.C.C., Big 12 and elsewhere to earn a date against Alabama or L.S.U. in January. Impossible? No, just not probable. But Barkley’s hiccup won’t doom him to irrelevancy in the Heisman race, especially if the Trojans’ offensive line gels during conference play.

Next vs. California, Saturday

7. QB Aaron Murray, Georgia (Last week: No. 8)

Week 3 W 56-20 vs. Florida Atlantic (14 of 19 for 342 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 3 carries for 20 yards, 2 TD)
Year to date 51 of 80 for 842 yards, 8 TD, 2 INT

It’s only been three games, with one only game, Missouri, coming against a team with a pulse. Yet there’s something to be made of this item. In 2011, 28.6 percent of Murray’s completions traveled 15 or more yards; 12.7 percent traveled 30 or more yards. Through the first three games of 2012, 43.1 percent of Murray’s completions have traveled 15 or more yards while 23.5 percent have gone 30 or more yards. Part of this improvement is due to games against Buffalo and Florida Atlantic – and you’ll see these percentages tick down once the Bulldogs enter the heart of SEC play. But another part of Murray’s increased production is certainly due to his growth as a third-year starter, as it’s in a quarterback’s third year that every light in the building turns on. Murray is poised for a banner season.

Next vs. Vanderbilt, Saturday

8. RB Stepfan Taylor, Stanford (Last week: N/A)

Week 3 W 21-14 vs. U.S.C. (27 carries for 153 yards, 12 TD; 5 receptions for 60 yards, 1 TD)
Year to date 67 carries for 338 yards, 3 TD; 10 receptions for 89 yards, 1 TD

Another year, another Stanford skill player in the Heisman mix. Unlike Andrew Luck, who entered his junior season atop the heap, Taylor didn’t earn national acclaim until last Saturday, when he carried the Cardinal to that touchdown win over the Trojans. What that victory did was point out Stanford’s true colors on offense – no longer quarterback-driven, the Cardinal are now smash and smash, with Taylor the standard-bearer behind the Cardinal’s offensive identity. It’s very likely that he ends the year with more than 1,500 yards and 15-plus touchdowns, totals that, in conjunction with a run towards a B.C.S. bowl, might be enough to earn Taylor an invite to Manhattan.

Next at Washington, Sept. 27

9. QB Teddy Bridgewater, L’ville (Last week: N/A)

Week 3 W 39-34 vs. North Carolina (23 of 28 for 279 yards, 3 TD)
Year to date 72 of 88 for 855 yards, 5 TD

Louisville is 5-0 when Bridgewater completes at least 70.0 percent of his attempts. If that continues to be the case, the Cardinals won’t lose a game all year. The progression has run far ahead of schedule: Bridgewater was an up-and-comer heading into his sophomore season – undisputedly the best quarterback in the Big East – but was he really going to be this good, this soon? It’s hard not to be impressed by his pitch-perfect play against Kentucky and Louisville, wins that sandwich a laugher over Southwest Missouri State. And it’s hard not to be excited about his potential over the next two years, due not only to Bridgewater’s own mammoth abilities but also the amount of youthful talent that Charlie Strong has accumulated on the offensive side of the ball.

Next at Florida International, Saturday

10. QB Braxton Miller, Ohio State (Last week: N/A)

Week 3 W 35-28 vs. California (16 of 30 for 249 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT; 12 carries for 75 yards, 1 TD)
Year to date 48 of 78 for 611 yards, 7 TD, 2 INT; 56 carries for 377 yards, 5 TD

Miller has to offset a few negatives: he’s a sophomore; he’s still developing a well-rounded game, even if he’s done a far better job throwing the football than most expected he would; he’s due to have at least one awful game, befitting his lack of experience; and most of all, he’s starring at quarterback for a team currently serving under a one-year postseason ban. Try as I might, I can’t imagine a scenario where a team not eligible for the postseason puts forth a Heisman winner. To me, Miller’s ceiling is an invite to Manhattan – that’s certainly in range, however. Where Miller truly shines is in his ability to make at least one highlight-reel play every Saturday; he’s like Denard Robinson in this way, though Miller has already flashed an ability to throw the football with more consistency than his double in Ann Arbor.

Next vs. U.A.B., Saturday

Dropped out

RB Le’Veon Bell, Michigan State (Last Week: No. 7)
RB Montee Ball, Wisconsin (Last Week: No. 9)
LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia (Last week: No. 10)

Previous Weeks

Week 3 list Matt Barkley, No. 1
Week 2 list Matt Barkley, No. 1
Preseason list Matt Barkley, No. 1

This is the bottom, I think – and Houston hopes. The most damning factoid that could be used to define a team is that it forced five turnovers yet lost the turnover battle, as the Cougars did on Saturday night. U.C.L.A. had five turnovers; Houston had six. What the heck is going on here? Through three weeks, there has be no more disappointing team in college football. No team has suffered a more inexplicable loss, with all due to respect to Pittsburgh, Arkansas and Wyoming, among others. Of the 27 teams that notched double-digit wins last fall, how many seem assured of not reaching that mark in 2012? I’ll say three: Arkansas State, Arkansas… and Houston.

So what has gone wrong? What the heck is going on here? How have the Cougars gone from 13 wins, a program record, to the bottom of the F.B.S. barrel? What can the Cougars do to dig themselves out of this hole? Is the year unsalvageable? One question at a time, please.

Here’s what’s gone wrong: everything. The offense has been the ultimate paper tiger; while U.H. ranks 39th nationally in total offense, this group has been anything but competent through three weeks. The Cougars gained 326 yards in the 30-13 loss to Texas State. They gained another 388 yards in Saturday’s loss to Bruins.

Don’t even get me started on this defense, which can’t get stops on third down, can’t stop the run, can’t stop the pass, can’t get consistent pressure on the quarterback and can’t keep teams out of the end zone. This defense is horrific – though not as bad as this offense.

All that’s propping U.H. up offensively is a 693-yard performance in a loss to Louisiana Tech. That total is unbelievably misleading. One: Houston racked up yards in bunches after the Bulldogs took a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter. U.H. gained 150 yards over its last two drives, giving a 56-35 game its 56-49 final score.

Two: U.H. gained its 693 yards on 115 plays – an average of 6.03 yards per play. Is that noteworthy? Alone, that average would rank the Cougars 48th in the F.B.S., a very slight tick ahead of Texas-San Antonio and Wyoming. Last fall, under a different coaching staff, the Cougars finished second nationally in averaging 7.61 yards per play.

What’s 1.6 yards between friends? Just 1,600 yards, if U.H. ends up running 1,000 plays on the season – or 1,670 yards, if the Cougars end up running 1,044 plays, which this offense is currently on pace to do over the course of the regular season. Houston’s once-proud offense is a shell of itself.

David Piland is averaging 5.7 yards per attempt, which doesn’t even rank among the top 100 quarterbacks nationally. Likewise with his completion percentage, 54.1, which also ranks ninth among eligible Conference USA quarterbacks. Where have you gone, Houston’s identity?

Okay, so it’s time for tough questions – or a little bit of devil’s advocate, at least. On one hand, there’s the idea that Tony Levine and his staff, highlighted by new offensive coordinator Travis Bush, need time to implement their vision for Houston football. It’s a valid, logical statement that should be considered when weighing the Cougars’ foul start.

On the other hand, you have to at least posit a different scenario: Levine is in over his head. He wouldn’t be the first unqualified, feel-good hire to come up short in the top spot – heck, Jon Embree, another favorite son handed the keys, has been an utter disaster over at Colorado.

Didn’t Levine hit the ground running during bowl play, when he led U.H. to a one-sided win over Penn State? Yes, but he did so with Case Keenum, a wonderful receiver corps and then-offensive coordinator Jason Phillips, though Kliff Kingsbury had left to join Kevin Sumlin at Texas A&M. Is it possible – or even probable – that Keenum and company had more to do with the Cougars’ bowl win than Levine?

Levine’s mishandling of his key hire, offensive coordinator, set a new bar for first-time-coach buffoonery. Say what you will about Mike Nesbitt, that he was not ready for the step up in competition, that he was inflexible, that his offense did mesh with Houston’s returning talent. It all comes down to this: Levine made the hire. If Nesbitt wasn’t ready, shouldn’t Levine have known this during the interview process?

The only way Houston can dig itself out of this hole is by making grassroots changes on offense: Bush needs to pop in last year’s tape, take notes and bring U.H. back into its comfort zone. If the Cougars’ offense can retake shape, the upcoming schedule is kind enough to reach bowl eligibility.

But even that comes with one large, unavoidable disclaimer: With Houston’s talent and Conference USA’s lack of elite teams, anything less than six wins over the year’s last nine games would be a Texas-sized disappointment. At this crucial juncture, Houston can’t afford more of what we’ve seen over its first three games.

U.S.C. has issues – but each is rectifiable but one: the team’s overall lack of depth on both lines. You knew that the defensive line was a potential sticking-point over the summer; the Trojans entered the opener with a senior, two sophomores and a redshirt freshman in the starting lineup.

Bodies are at a premium. What would happen if Wes Horton suffers a major injury, as did Devon Kennard – torn pectoral muscle – over the summer? What if one of the big bodies inside, like sophomore George Oku, missed an extensive amount of time during conference play?

In comparison, optimism surrounded the Trojans’ offensive front. But we saw on Saturday night how one injury dealt a potentially fatal blow to U.S.C.’s title hopes. Will Cyrus Hobbi eventually be the answer in the middle? I have little doubt – Hobbi will eventually look back at Saturday night as the turning point in his career. Unfortunately, the redshirt freshman wasn’t ready for prime time.

The result was Barkley’s worst performance since a season-ending win over U.C.L.A. in 2010. The Cardinal sacked Barkley four times; they didn’t notch a single sack in last year’s 56-48 win. Barkley completed 20 of 41 attempts – completing less than 50 percent of his attempts the third time in his career – for 259 yards and a pair of interceptions.

He was held without a touchdown for the first time since a loss to Oregon State on Nov. 20, 2010 – and he missed a good portion of that game with an ankle injury. Did Stanford reveal Barkley’s true colors? Not quite. Stanford simply revealed Barkley to be like every other quarterback in football.

Subjected to every-down pressure from every angle, Barkley’s strengths – his ability to deliver in the pocket, his pro-style background – became his largest weakness. He couldn’t get outside the pocket and make the Cardinal pay for bringing pressure between the guards.

You take the good with the bad; you take Barkley’s ability to pick teams clean from inside a steady pocket, knowing that his value declines exponentially if a front seven crumbles that pocket from the inside out. All a future opponent needs to do is replicate Stanford’s blueprint – and good luck, because few teams in the country match what the Cardinal bring to the table along the front seven.

Stanford wasn’t the first team limit U.S.C.’s ability to convert on third down. The Trojans hit on 4 of 14 against Hawaii. A little better against Syracuse: 6 of 12. The Cardinal simply did it better than the Warriors and Orange, limiting the Trojans to 1 of 12 on third down – with that one conversion coming in the fourth quarter.

U.S.C.’s third-down offense is a concern that looms above the rest. Why? Because Barkley’s not an issue. Because the offensive line isn’t as large of an issue if Holmes and the rest of the starting five remain healthy – that’s a big if, but it’s worth mentioning. The defensive line is a concern, but nothing has changed: this was an issue in August, albeit one that most chose to overlook behind U.S.C.’s offensive flash.

The team’s impotence on third down might end up being a fatal flaw. Look ahead to Oregon, Arizona, Notre Dame and others: U.S.C. will lose games in the fourth quarter if it can’t convert – either because the offense won’t make up a touchdown deficit or it won’t be able to maintain possession when holding a lead. But this issue can be fixed on the practice field; the lines, however, remain an Achilles heel.

U.S.C. will survive, but it’s time to reimagine the Trojans’ standard for success. Can the Trojans still play for a national title? Yes, with some help: U.S.C. would need to beat Oregon twice while Florida State and the Big 12 leader loses a game – and even then, it’ll be a dogfight. U.S.C.’s title hopes aren’t dead, but they’re certainly on life support.

Here’s the truth: U.S.C. was always flawed. No team can win a national title with an offensive and defensive line teetering on a tightrope; the Trojans’ starting 22 could have run with anyone, but as we saw on Saturday, one injury brought a lingering weakness into the spotlight.

U.S.C. is still a great team, however – just not an elite team, and elite teams win national championships. By year’s end, the Trojans will have double-digit wins, a Pac-12 South title and a quarterback in Manhattan. The only difference is that contrary to expectations, the Trojans won’t end the year in Sun Life Stadium.

1. Big 12 (32.6, 6, 5)
2. Pac-12 (40.2, 3, 6)
3. SEC (41.1, 1, 6)
4. Big Ten (47.3, 15, 2)
5. A.C.C. (54.6, 4, 2)
6. Independent (55.3, 10, 1)
7. Big East (56.3, 24, 1)
8. Mountain West (79.6, 23, 1)
9. WAC (80.3, 29, 0)
10. MAC (86.3, 20, 1)
11. Conference USA (89.5, 48, 0)
12. Sun Belt (91.9, 58, 0)

Thoughts? And before continuing, a reminder: I’m using this morning’s re-rankings, not The Associated Press or USA Today polls. It’s a simplistic way to break down the conferences for a number of reason, with no one reason bigger than the fact that it ignores the idea – with the SEC, for instance – that a conference is defined by its elite, not the sum of all its parts.

Hence the SEC’s slide from second to third, behind not just the Big 12 but also the Pac-12. But look at the Pac-12: six teams in the top 25 and 11 teams inside the top 86. If you remove No. 123 Colorado from the equation, the Pac-12’s top 11 teams average a 32.8 rating.

And that still wouldn’t be enough to unseat the Big 12, which remains the best league in the country – from top to bottom. Is the SEC better among its top six or seven teams? Of course. But the SEC has been dinged by Arkansas’ slide into the abyss, giving it three teams among the bottom 48 spots.

The issue for the Big 12 is that come the start of league play, it will begin eating itself apart – teams like Texas Tech and Iowa State will drop out of the top 50 if, or when, they lose to teams like Texas, West Virginia and Oklahoma. Likewise with the Pac-12. At some point in October, the SEC will return to the top spot.

I’m interested in two neck-and-neck battles: Mountain West vs. WAC and Conference USA vs. Sun Belt. The WAC is being propped up by two teams, Utah State and San Jose State, that will soon join the Mountain West. The Sun Belt and Conference USA are the two worst leagues in the F.B.S., slightly behind the MAC.

The MAC’s going to make a run at the WAC and M.W.C. during conference play. Non-conference play is always cruel to the MAC, due to the willingness of its members to schedule up against B.C.S. conference competition; come December, the MAC should have five to seven teams at bowl eligibility.

Previous rankings

Week 3 ranking Big 12, No. 1
Week 2 ranking Big 12, No. 1

With the weekend in the books, here’s a look at how the country ranks — using the original rankings as the starting point, with the season’s results as rationale for any movement. The top 25 teams land a one-sentence breakdown. The rest? Not so much. Part of the perks of being one of the best. Think your team is too low? Feel another team deserves more credit, less credit? Let’s hear it below. It’s a delicate ranking process, particularly with only two weeks in the books, so you may see one team ranked below a team it just beat — see Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech, for example. Don’t be alarmed. Everything will become clearer by the end of the month.

The top 25

1. Alabama (3-0, 1-0)
I won’t say anything nice until Saban does – it could be a while.
2. L.S.U. (3-0, 0-0)
The Tide have stolen the Tigers’ thunder.
3. Oregon (3-0, 0-0)
Gone unnoticed has been the Ducks’ defense on third down.
4. Florida State (3-0, 1-0)
There was a time, I recall, when Wake gave the Seminoles fits.
5. Georgia (3-0, 1-0)
Bulldogs came out a bit flat before stepping on the gas.
6. West Virginia (2-0, 0-0)
Geno Smith and Co. continue to rack up the yardage.
7. Stanford (3-0, 1-0)
The best win under David Shaw – one of Stanford’s best ever.
8. Texas (3-0, 0-0)
Folks, I know it’s early, but this offense could be good.
9. Oklahoma (2-0, 0-0)
Sooners with a huge date with Kansas State on Saturday.
10. Notre Dame (3-0, 0-0)
A tenure-defining win for Kelly, though N.D. can’t rest.
11. Clemson (3-0, 0-0)
Are the Tigers ready to play Atlantic spoilers once again?
12. South Carolina (3-0, 1-0)
Did every quarterback on the roster play against U.A.B.?
13. U.S.C. (2-1, 0-1)
Not as big an upset, but loss hurts worse than 2007 version.
14. Florida (3-0, 2-0)
This team’s mental toughness can’t be overestimated.
15. Ohio State (3-0, 0-0)
All’s well that ends well, even if Buckeyes almost blew it.
16. Michigan State (2-1, 0-0)
A painful loss, but it has no impact on Rose Bowl hopes.
17. U.C.L.A. (3-0, 0-0)
Mora’s guys were far too sloppy, even in a 31-point win.
18. Mississippi State (3-0, 1-0)
A good reminder: Bulldogs can’t take any team lightly.
19. Kansas State (3-0, 0-0)
See above: Wildcats take on the Sooners on Saturday.
20. Ohio (3-0, 0-0)
Thanks to late stand, the B.C.S. dream remains alive.
21. Arizona (3-0, 0-0)
Offense can score, but can defense slow down the Ducks?
22. T.C.U. (2-0, 1-0)
Only 20 points, but Frogs left at least 14 points on the field.
23. Boise State (1-1, 0-0)
One win down, another 10 to go for the Broncos.
24. Louisville (3-0, 0-0)
Not overly surprising to see a young team relax with big lead.
25. Utah (2-1, 0-0)
Once, twice, three times… eventually, the Utes survived.

The Rest

26. Nebraska (2-1, 0-0)
27. Oregon State (1-0, 0-0)
28. Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0)
29. Utah State (2-1, 0-0)
30. Rutgers (3-0, 1-0)
31. Michigan (2-1, 0-0)
32. B.Y.U. (2-1, 0-0)
33. Virginia Tech (2-1, 1-0)
34. Georgia Tech (2-1, 1-1)
35. Louisiana Tech (2-0, 0-0)
36. Missouri (2-1, 0-1)
37. Tennessee (2-1, 0-1)
38. Iowa State (3-0, 0-0)
39. Baylor (2-0, 0-0)
40. Northwestern (3-0, 0-0)
41. Nevada (2-1, 0-0)
42. Oklahoma State (2-1, 0-0)
43. Arizona State (2-1, 0-0)
44. Cincinnati (2-0, 1-0)
45. South Florida (2-1, 0-1)
46. N.C. State (2-1, 0-0)
47. Texas Tech (3-0, 0-0)
48. U.C.F. (2-1, 0-0)
49. Iowa (2-1, 0-0)
50. Northern Illinois (2-1, 0-0)
51. Virginia (2-1, 0-1)
52. Texas A&M (1-1, 0-1)
53. Air Force (1-1, 0-0)
54. Tulsa (2-1, 1-0)
55. Purdue (2-1, 0-0)
56. California (1-2, 0-0)
57. Auburn (1-2, 0-1)
58. Louisiana-Monroe (1-1, 0-0)
59. North Carolina (1-2, 0-1)
60. Toledo (2-1, 1-0)
61. Washington (2-1, 0-0)
62. Fresno State (2-1, 0-0)
63. San Jose State (2-1, 0-0)
64. Western Kentucky (2-1, 0-0)
65. Pittsburgh (1-2, 0-1)
66. Penn State (1-2, 0-0)
67. Wake Forest (2-1, 1-1)
68. Minnesota (3-0, 0-0)
69. Vanderbilt (1-2, 0-1)
70. Illinois (2-1, 0-0)
71. East Carolina (2-1, 1-0)
72. Connecticut (2-1, 0-0)
73. Louisiana-Lafayette (2-1, 1-0)
74. San Diego State (2-1, 0-0)
75. Ball State (2-1, 1-0)
76. Arkansas (1-2, 0-1)
77. Western Michigan (1-2, 0-0)
78. Duke (2-1, 0-0)
79. Syracuse (1-2, 0-0)
80. S.M.U. (1-2, 0-0)
81. Miami (Fla.) (2-1, 0-0)
82. Bowling Green (1-2, 0-1)
83. Southern Mississippi (0-2, 0-1)
84. Arkansas State (1-2, 0-0)
85. Marshall (1-2, 0-0)
86. Washington State (2-1, 0-0)
87. Navy (0-2, 0-0)
88. Miami (Ohio) (1-2, 0-0)
89. Troy (1-2, 0-1)
90. Maryland (2-1, 0-0)
91. Temple (1-1, 0-0)
92. Army (0-2, 0-0)
93. Mississippi (2-1, 0-0)
94. Hawaii (1-1, 0-0)
95. Florida International (1-2, 0-0)
96. Kansas (1-2, 0-0)
97. UTEP (1-2, 0-0)
98. New Mexico State (1-2, 0-0)
99. North Texas (1-2, 0-0)
100. Rice (1-2, 0-0)
101. Boston College (1-2, 0-0)
102. Buffalo (1-1, 0-0)
103. Kentucky (1-2, 0-0)
104. Indiana (2-1, 0-0)
105. Kent State (1-1, 0-0)
106. Central Michigan (1-1, 0-0)
107. Colorado State (1-2, 0-0)
108. Texas State (1-1, 0-0)
109. Houston (0-3, 0-0)
110. Texas-San Antonio (3-0, 0-0)
111. Tulane (0-2, 0-1)
112. New Mexico (1-2, 0-0)
113. Wyoming (0-3, 0-0)
114. U.A.B. (0-2, 0-0)
115. Akron (1-2, 0-0)
116. Middle Tennessee (2-1, 1-0)
117. U.N.L.V. (0-3, 0-0)
118. Eastern Michigan (0-3, 0-1)
119. Idaho (0-3, 0-0)
120. Florida Atlantic (1-2, 0-1)
121. South Alabama (1-2, 0-0)
122. Memphis (0-3, 0-0)
123. Colorado (0-3, 0-0)
124. Massachusetts (0-3, 0-0)

Dropped out of top 25

Virginia Tech No. 14 (No. 33)
B.Y.U. No. 17 (No. 32)
Tennessee No. 20 (No. 37)

New in top 25

Arizona No. 23 (No. 30)
Louisville No. 24 (No. 27)
Utah No. 25 (No. 36)

Three noteworthy jumps

Fresno State 23 spots (No. 86 to No. 63)
Notre Dame 14 spots (No. 24 to No. 10)
Florida 11 spots (No. 25 to No. 14)

Three noteworthy tumbles

Wyoming 31 spots (No. 81 to No. 113)
Arkansas 29 spots (No. 47 to No. 76)
Virginia Tech 19 spots (No. 14 to No. 33)

Previous rankings

Week 3 rankings Alabama, No. 1
Week 2 rankings Alabama, No. 1
The preseason list is on the right sidebar.

Dominating: not too strong a word. Notre Dame was dominating, completely dominating, and nowhere more so than along the defensive front seven. The offensive line won the battle against Michigan State’s vaunted stable of linemen and linebackers – but Notre Dame’s linemen and linebackers were absolutely outstanding.

The Irish beat the Spartans at their own game. A team that can roll in the mud with Michigan State and come out clean on the other side can do the same with anyone, even if the Irish must still handle Michigan, Oklahoma, B.Y.U., U.S.C. and Stanford, among others.

It’s about the mentality we saw last night. That’s not something to gloss over, lost behind Everett Golson’s maneuverability, Cierre Wood’s patient-quick-burst running style, John Goodman’s one-handed stab and the steady play of receivers Robby Toma and T.J. Jones.

Let the numbers tell the story. Michigan State gained 50 yards on 25 carries, thanks in part to four Notre Dame sacks. Le’Veon Bell’s Heisman campaign hit the skids thanks to his 19-carry, 77-yard performance – Bell would have had more, but as in last year’s loss to Nebraska, Mark Dantonio and his staff did not pay enough attention to the running game.

M.S.U. converted 5 of 17 third downs, missed on both fourth-down conversions. Andrew Maxwell completed 23 of 45 attempts for only 187 yards, though he did avoid any turnovers. Notre Dame kept the Spartans out of their rhythm. They beat M.S.U. at its own game.

Not that the Irish were perfect. Golson was sloppy throughout. But his maneuverability: Golson extends plays, makes defenders miss in the pocket and can give the Irish some juice on the ground – and he did all three of those things on a six-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

The offensive line, combined with Golson’s elusiveness, prevented Michigan State’s line and second level from finding a home in Notre Dame’s backfield. In the beginning, you could see the steam rising out of the Spartans’ ears – it was that frustrating to come so close yet miss. Later, all you saw from Pat Narduzzi’s defense was resignation.

But the line needs to do a better job in the traditional running game. At the same time, Brian Kelly needs to make sure that he remains committed to the running game throughout the span of 60 minutes, not just once his team builds a lead late in games.

A better running game will take pressure off of Golson, though the redshirt freshman has handled every potential sticking-point thrown his way with senior-like aplomb.

So what does this win say about Notre Dame? It tells one major story: Notre Dame is tougher both mentally and physically than at any point in years. Not just during Kelly’s tenure, though that’s true; I’m talking about years, prior to Charlie Weis, before Ty Willingham, perhaps before Bob Davie.

This was the most impressive win of the Kelly era. It was also an era-defining win, one that the Irish can carry into Saturday’s date with Michigan and beyond. What can you say? A team was born last night in East Lansing. A team found its identity in the play of the front seven, in the legs of a freshman quarterback who found a way to move the football despite struggling with his consistently through the air.

These Irish are different. There is leadership, not just in the veterans on both sides of the ball – Manti Te’o was an inspiration last night – but along the sidelines, where Kelly’s image has trickled down throughout this entire roster.

It’s time to take this team seriously. Pushed by a physical team, a seasoned coaching staff and a tough road environment, Notre Dame responded in greater measure with its own level of physicality. The Irish pushed back.