TEC's College Football Top 10, Week 4

*** The Alabama/Arkansas match-up lived up to the hype, as their win over the Razorbacks in Fayetteville cemented the Tide's top-ranked status.
 

*** Ohio State surprised no one with a 53-point win over an Eastern Michigan team that hasn't won a game since the finale of the '08 season (EMU is currently 8-44 since 2006).
 

*** Boise State allowed nationally-ranked Oregon State [AP #25] to stay within striking distance, but the Beavers never really threatened.  Despite the quality win, the Broncos can only hope that either of the two higher ranked schools end up with an unexpected defeat by the end of November.  Otherwise the men from Boise will remain on the outside of a national championship game that many observers believe they deserve.
 

*** Texas Christian outlasted a much-improved Southern Methodist squad in a game that neither hurt nor helped the Frogs' chances to rise in the rankings.

*** Oregon racked up big numbers as usual, but couldn't put Arizona State away until the very end.  Like TCU, the Ducks neither hurt nor helped their long term chances with the win.  But that could change in five days when the new look Stanford Cardinal comes to town.
 

*** Nebraska were the antithesis of last week's big win over Washington, as the Huskers' paltry 14-point win over FCS doormat South Dakota State could have people in Lincoln feeling nervous with several big games still to come.

*** Florida are beginning to look like its old Gator self with a dominating win, from start to finish, over a promising Kentucky team.
 

*** Oklahoma almost coughed up the victory against a pesky Cincinnati team that made it close in the end.  Finding ways to win is not the dominating style of play we expect from the Sooners, but OU remain undefeated nevertheless.
 

*** Wisconsin finally put up big offensive numbers, but it was against FCS also-ran Austin Peay.  The Badgers rise a spot in the rankings anyway thanks to the Texas loss (see below).
 

*** The formerly sixth-ranked Longhorns dominated UCLA for one quarter before the Bruins pulled away for a surprising 22-point victory in Austin.  Stanford enters the top 10 as a result, but the Cardinal's season will be defined by how they perform in the next two weeks: at #5 Oregon and Southern California [AP #20].

Rankings as of September 27, 2010

#1  Alabama (4-0), 715 pts.
#2  Ohio State (4-0), 640 pts.
#3  Boise State (3-0), 605 pts.
#4  Texas Christian (4-0), 555 pts.
#5  Oregon (4-0), 540 pts.
#6  Florida (4-0), 470 pts.
#7  Nebraska (4-0), 455 pts.
#8  Oklahoma (4-0) 375 pts.
#9  Wisconsin (4-0), 340 pts.
#10  Stanford (4-0), 305 pts.

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Auburn fullback Philip Lutzenkirchen celebrates with teammates after pulling in the go-ahead touchdown against South Carolina last Saturday.  The Tigers' impressive play thus far could see them next in line to enter TEC's Top 10. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)