Tulsa Golden Hurricane News

Top-25 Week 12

Top-25 Week 11

Each week, Sporting News' Matt Hayes ranks the Division I-A conferences—and the teams within each league. 7. Mountain West 1. TCU 2. Utah 3. BYU 4. Air Force 5. Wyoming 6. San Diego State 7. UNLV 8. Colorado State 9. New Mexico Rising TCU: The defense has been spectacular, but here's something way overlooked: The offense is fourth in the nation in scoring, and dual threat QB Andy Dalton is having a Heisman-type season. Falling San Diego State: Just when it looked like Aztecs... were ready to make a move, a disappointing home loss to Wyoming likely keeps them from bowl eligibility. Each week, Sporting News' Matt Hayes ranks the Division I-A conferences—and the teams within each league. 8. Conference USA 1. East Carolina 2. Southern Miss 3. SMU 4. Houston 5. UCF 6. Marshall 7. UAB 8. Tulsa 9. UTEP 10. Memphis 11. Rice 12. Tulane Rising SMU: Miracle worker June Jones: Mustangs win the West Division with victories at Marshall and against Tulane—a year after winning just one game (against I-AA Texas State) in Jones' first season. Falling Tulsa: The loss of offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has had an impact, but the five straight losses can be pinned to Tulsa's uncharacteristic poor play on defense. Each week, Sporting News' Matt Hayes ranks the Division I-A conferences—and the teams within each league. 9. WAC 1. Boise State 2. Nevada 3. Fresno State 4. Idaho 5. Hawaii 6. Utah State 7. Louisiana Tech 8. New Mexico State 9. San Jose State Rising Nevada: Seven straight wins for high-scoring Wolf Pack. More impressive: Defense gets better every week, limiting Fresno State to 14 points in Saturday's rout. Falling Idaho: The feel-good Vandals have lost three of four, and all three in ugly fashion by a combined 164-91. Win over Utah State should secure bowl bid. Each week, Sporting News' Matt Hayes ranks the Division I-A conferences—and the teams within each league. 10. MAC 1. Central Michigan 2. Temple 3. Ohio 4. Northern Illinois 5. Bowling Green 6. Kent State 7. Western Michigan 8. Toledo 9. Buffalo 10. Akron 11. Miami 12. Ball State 13. Eastern Michigan Rising Ohio: Bobcats have won five of six and quietly are stringing together a terrific season. A win over Northern Illinois this week sets up East Division winner-take-all with Temple on Nov. 27. Falling Toledo: Rockets have lost four of five—including Miami's only victory this season—and can't stop anyone on defense. The offensive fireworks last only so long. Each week, Sporting News' Matt Hayes ranks the Division I-A conferences—and the teams within each league. 11. Sun Belt 1. Troy 2. Middle Tennessee State 3. Louisiana-Monroe 4. Florida Atlantic 5. Louisiana-Lafayette 6. Florida International 7. Arkansas State 8. North Texas 9. Western Kentucky Rising Middle Tennessee State: Raiders have won four in a row but need help to win the league championship. Victories over Arkansas State and UL-Monroe would give MTSU its most wins in a Division I season. Falling Arkansas State: Brutal nonconference schedule and close league losses have left the league's most talented team with a disastrous season. Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

Top-25 Week 10

OKLAHOMA CITY-When Conference USA reshuffled its membership and divisional lineups a few years ago, a new rivalry was born - and predicting what's going to happen when Tulsa and Houston get together can be an exercise in futility.