Hlas' AP Top 25 ballot for Week 5

I'll cut to the chase, Iowa fans. I dropped Iowa from 8th last week to 10th on this week's ballot and thought about putting it 11th and Cincinnati 10th instead of vice versa.

Was the narrow win over Arkansas State the reason? Not so much as elevating Miami and Ohio State. Miami got its third win over a ranked team by downing Oklahoma, and Ohio State has mauled its last three foes since its slim home loss vs. USC.

For the AP and USA Today coaches poll, click here.

As for my ballot:

1. Florida. It should be No. 1 until it loses.

2. Texas. Texas crushed UTEP, something Houston certainly couldn't do Saturday night in the west Texas town of El Paso.

3. Alabama. Lady Gaga thinks 'Bama should be No. 1, I'm told.

4. USC. I jumped the Trojans here from 7th because it plastered Cal, its win at Ohio State is looking better all the time, and its 3-point loss at Washington won't go down as the worst loss a high-ranked team endures this year.

5. Boise State. That opening-night dominance of Oregon is looking better all the time. It will have to, because the Broncos don't play many other titans.

6. Virginia Tech. Its 31-7 win over Miami looks pretty good. But it struggled at Duke Saturday. Everyone deserves to get some slack cut for one struggle-win, right, Iowa?

7. LSU. Unbeaten. Fresh off a win at Georgia. But I'm not feeling it, Cajuns. Beat Florida at home Saturday, and the nation will feel it.

8. Miami. Three wins over teams that were ranked at the time. It was said the Hurricanes couldn't handle Oklahoma's defense. That was incorrect.

9. Ohio State. The Buckeyes' defense has been forceful the last three weeks. It hosts Wisconsin Saturday.

10. Iowa. Five up, five down.

11. Cincinnati. Five up, five down.

12. TCU. Owns two road wins over ACC teams, goes to Air Force Saturday.

13. Oregon. Has won its two Pac-10 games by a total of 94-9.

14. Nebraska. At Missouri Thursday night. I'll watch it after "The Office" is over.

15. Penn State. No Iowa hangover at Illinois. The Illini, however, continue to play like they're drunk.

16. Kansas. Iowa State comes to Lawrence on Saturday.

17. Oklahoma. Best 2-2 team in America. In any sport.

18. Georgia Tech. Miami's win over Oklahoma makes the ACC's tide rise. Miami's the only team to top Tech.

19. Wisconsin. 5-0. Winning at Minnesota impressed me. A little. California did it, too, then became a Pac-10 punching bag.

20. Missouri. Its season starts Thursday against the Cornhuskers.

21. Oklahoma State. Had a great weekend. Didn't play a game, but watched the Sooners lose to Miami.

22. South Florida. Unbeaten. In this crazy season, that alone  gets you ranked.

23. Utah. Only scratch is a 31-24 loss at Oregon.

24. Stanford. I had to vote for someone 24th and 25th.

25. Auburn. 5-0. Winning at Tennessee doesn't mean what it once did, but add a home win over West Virginia, and ... well, it's better than any Auburn fan would have expected at this point.