My AP Top 25 ballot for Week 2

I kept LSU ahead of Alabama even though LSU feasted on Northwestern State of the FCS while 'Bama won at Penn State.

LSU's win over Oregon on a (sort of) neutral field in Texas impresses me slightly more than what the Crimson Tide did. I moved Alabama up to No. 2 with that 27-11 win. I won't believe Penn State is anything better than ordinary until I see it. The Nittany Lions are at Temple this week. They haven't lost to the Owls since 1941. That covers 28 games. This could be the year. Temple is decent.

Anyway, here we go:

1. LSU (2-0).

2. Alabama (2-0).

3. Boise State (1-0). I know Georgia is 0-2, but the Broncos controlled the Dawgs in Atlanta, and I think that holds up as a very good win.

4. Oklahoma (1-0). Beat Tulsa at home. I will shoot the Sooners to No. 1 if they win at Florida State Saturday. If the Seminoles win, there's a good chance I'll put them at the top next Sunday.

Let me stop here to again list what Associated Press tells it voters:

Base your vote on performance, not reputation or preseason speculation.

5. South Florida (2-0). The win at Notre Dame was still as good a road win as any team has had in this early season. USF then routed Ball State, which had won against the Big Ten's Indiana the week before. But the Bulls play FCS Florida A&M Saturday, so they will drop a few spots if not several on my ballot next week.

6. South Carolina (2-0). A win over East Carolina on a neutral field, a win at Georgia. East Carolina gave Virginia Tech a good fight yesterday.

7. Oklahoma State (2-0). A homefield 37-14 clubbing of Arizona was impressive.

8. Baylor (1-0). The home win over TCU stands bigger as a good one on the heels of TCU's at a good Air Force team.

9. Wisconsin (2-0). Looks like a million dollars, but has beaten a horrible UNLV team and an Oregon State club that lost to Sacramento State, which lost Saturday to Southern Utah State.

10. Florida State (2-0). Beat Louisiana-Monroe and FCS Charleston Southern. Bring on the Sooners.

11. Stanford (2-0). Destroyed tomato cans San Jose State and Duke. Plays at Arizona Saturday.

12. Virginia Tech (2-0). Beat East Carolina on the road, 17-10.

13. Texas A&M (1-0). Was idle. But still probably more active than most of us.

14. TCU (1-1). This has been a superb team over its last five quarters.

15. Florida (2-0). Has outscored Florida Atlantic and UAB by a total of 80-3. Tennessee comes to the Swamp this week.

16. Oregon (1-1). A 69-20 desconstruction of Nevada restored some faith in the Ducks. If they avoid SEC teams from here on out, they'll be fine.

17. Auburn (2-0). Look who's back. A home win over Mississippi State can't be discounted.

18. Arkansas (2-0). Tomato Can City. Leveled hideous New Mexico.

19. Michigan (2-0). I missed the last two touchdowns of the Notre Dame-Michigan game. That was annoying.

20. Michigan State (2-0). MSU held Florida Atlantic to one first-down and 48 yards Saturday. Off to Notre Dame on Saturday.

21. Nebraska (2-0). Wins over Chattanooga and Fresno State haven't established the Cornhuskers as the new bullies of the Big Ten.

22. Maryland (1-0). Hosts West Virginia Saturday. That's a good one.

23. Northwestern (2-0). Name the Big Ten team to play two road games in the first three weeks. Answer: Wildcats. They won at Boston College last week, go to Army this week.

24. Ohio State (2-0). Buckeyes were lucky to beat Toledo Saturday. Toledo is better than most people know, but still ...

25. Central Florida (2-0). Drilled Boston College 30-3 Saturday in Orlando. Plays at Florida International Saturday in a battle of two of Florida's five 2-0 teams.