Hlas' AP ballot for Week 7- I've got Iowa No. 5

Does Iowa have the fifth-best team in the nation? It's hard for me to think so. The Hawkeyes either have to come from behind to win, or get a lead on a team and then hang on to win.

Then I sat down late Saturday night after getting home from the Hawkeyes' 20-10 win at Wisconsin, after asking myself all the way home who I could say deserved to be ranked ahead of Iowa.

Florida, Alabama, Texas. Then who?

I put USC No. 4. On performance, I don't think winning at Ohio State and Notre Dame eclipses winning at Penn State and Wisconsin, especially when the Trojans lost at Washington.

But the narrow Washington loss in Seattle was the week after the trip to Ohio State, so I cut the Trojans slack. Plus, they pass the eyeball test of being a typically fine USC ballclub.

Then I put Iowa No. 5.

Cincinnati may be a better team. I don't know. It sure looked good Thursday night at South Florida. But it hasn't played anyone that is currently ranked. I put the Bearcats 6th.

I have Miami at No. 7. The wins over Georgia Tech and Oklahoma at home still look very good, but the 31-7 loss at Virginia Tech put the Hurricanes  below Iowa in my mind. The Hawkeyes have no loss, let alone a one-sided one, and Virginia Tech came up mortal for the second time this season when it lost at Georgia Tech Saturday.

Boise State is my No. 8 team. I'm not penalizing it for "only" winning at Tulsa by seven points last Wednesday. Not when Iowa beat Arkansas State at home by 3 and beat Northern Iowa at home by 1. But after opening the year by beating Oregon at home, the Broncos have no wins of note.

Unbeaten TCU is my No. 9, and may be the nation's sleeper. The Horned Frogs have wins at Virginia, Clemson and Air Force. None are ranked, but winning three road games like that is impressive all the same.

No one else warrants Top Five discussion.

Call me a homer if you wish. Tell me what Cincinnai, Miami, Boise State or TCU have done to rival winning at both Penn State and Wisconsin. Then note that Iowa also has wins over 4-2 Arizona, 4-3 Iowa State and 5-2 Michigan.

I'll stand by the pick. As for the rest of the rankings:

1. Florida. Don't feel good about this, but I still think the Gators should be No. 1 until they're knocked off.

2. Alabama. Same as last week.

3. Texas. Likewise.

4 through 9 have been listed.

10. Oregon. Having a bye week is a certain way to move up the rankings.

11. Penn State. After losing to Iowa, Lions have demolished three straight weak foes.

12. LSU. Its 3-point showing against Florida looks even lamer in light of the way Arkansas battled the Gators in Gainesville.

13. Georgia Tech. I had the Yellow Jackets 18th last week, and they justified the ranking by beating Virginia Tech in Atlanta.

14. Oklahoma State. Solid home win over Missouri Saturday night. Just one loss, to a good Houston team.

15. Virginia Tech. Best two-loss team. Unofficially out of the BCS championship sweepstakes.

16. Utah. Quietly ascending. Just one loss, by a TD at Oregon.

17. Houston. The walloping it took at UTEP a couple weeks ago looks like an aberration after big wins at Oklahoma State and at home against Texas Tech. Back on track.

18. Texas Tech. The Red Raiders drilled Nebraska in Lincoln. The Big 12 South is again just a bit stronger than the North. Like Brock Lesnar is just a bit stronger than Justin Timberlake.

19. BYU. I kid you not. After the top 18, I'm grasping for straws.

20. Pittsburgh. One loss, by a touchdown at N.C. State. The Panthers' win at Rutgers Friday night was a nice one.

21. Oklahoma. The best 3-3 team in the history of college football, though I can't say I researched it.

22. West Virginia. One loss, no distinguished wins. That's all it takes to be No. 22.

23. Central Michigan. One loss (season-opener, at Arizona), a win at Michigan State.

24. Ohio State. This may be too high given the dismal way the OSU offense has played the last two weeks. Losing at Purdue is one thing. Getting soundly outplayed by the Boilermakers is quite another.

25. Kansas. This is charity. The Jayhawks' unbeaten season ended with a 34-30 loss at Colorado Saturday. I considered Wisconsin, South Carolina, even Southern Illinois.

 For this week's AP poll, click here.