by David J. Chavez
Daily Lobo
College football is in full stride, and the usual suspects are on top of the rankings - except for two Florida teams that have fallen faster than Humpty Dumpty.
No. 1 Ohio State reigns as king of college football right now, but several teams are in position to knock it off its pedestal.
The Buckeyes have made it to the top with the help of Troy Smith, who may be overrated.
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Ohio State's system allows for any style of quarterback to fit well in the program. But, it all starts up front, and the Buckeyes have the best offensive line in the nation.
They also have a well-balanced attack and can stretch the field with wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., who could beat Speedy Gonzales down the field.
In the USA Today poll, USC is right behind Ohio State at No. 2. It's amazing that the Trojans have stayed at the top for so long, considering they lost two of the best players in the nation.
However, it's easy for them to reload because they have recruited the best players in Southern California for the past decade.
It's argued that an SEC team that plays against top-caliber conference competition every week should be in that No. 2 spot, but the Pac-10 and SEC are like the odd couple.
The Pac-10 emphasizes offensive firepower, while the SEC focuses on defense.
The Trojans are sitting at the top of the Pac-10, and they could easily go undefeated this year.
They have executed the plays needed to win so far this season, but they will be tested in the upcoming weeks against California and Notre Dame.
Florida State has gone from conference champions a year ago to the bottom of its conference this year. The Seminoles are out of the top 25 and struggling under offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden.
Bowden's new offense is only a part of the problem, along with FSU's lack of commitment to the running game, not recruiting enough offensive linemen and injuries.
In Miami, Larry Coker's team is better at mixed martial arts than at football. He has lost control of his players, and the image of the school is declining with the mounting losses and the fight with Florida International.
Something has to be done fast to bring back the image, or it won't be easy to recruit a top player to south Florida again.
