Here is the Week 7 RPM:

1)   Alabama

2)   LSU

3)   Oklahoma St (6)

4)   Clemson (3)

5)   Boise St (9)

6)   Oklahoma (7)

7)   Kansas St (18)

8)   Michigan (5)

9)   Penn St (19)

10)                   Illinois (4)

11)                   Wisconsin (15)

12)                   Michigan St (NR)

13)                   South Carolina (12)

14)                   Virginia Tech (23)

15)                   Georgia Tech (11)

16)                   Rutgers (14)

17)                   Oregon (NR)

18)                   Nebraska (17)

19)                   Arkansas (16)

20)                   Stanford (10)

21)                   USC (NR)

22)                   West Virginia (24)

23)                   Houston (22)

24)                   Washington (NR)

25)                   SMU (NR)

-In: Michigan St, Oregon, USC, Washington, SMU

-Out: North Carolina, Baylor, USF, Arizona St, Texas

-I am going to call this week the “what the hell happened” week.  After the RPM had finally reached a certain level of predictability and stability, we get this week where every team besides #1 and #2 moved.  We had unranked teams jumping into the top 15 and top 10 teams dropping out completely.  I wish I had an explanation, but I really don’t.  The best I can do is say that this is what happens in conference play where teams play teams that know them well enough to knock them off.  We saw that with Georgia Tech and North Carolina.

- Another key point we are seeing is the development of team’s OOC schedules.  One example is Oklahoma.  Florida State was supposed to be the marquee game of their OOC schedule, and right now they are getting nothing from it.  Wisconsin is the same, as their OOC schedule is pitiful and it is the reason why they are behind three one-loss teams.

- Let’s talk about that B1G pileup from 8-12.  It is an odd aberration, and I don’t expect it to last.  These teams seem to have just enough big wins to separate away from what is, honestly, a piss poor middles section of resumes, but not enough to crack that top tier.

-Many people will point to the Michigan-Michigan St ranking and have an objection, but right now those two teams do not have the same record, technically.  Add that to the fact that outside the Michigan win, the Spartans don’t have a massive amount to go off of, and you get the ranking you see.

-At this point I would normally give you some pop quizzes and some teams to watch, but I’m not happy with this week and do not really want to make any sweeping conclusions from it.  But, I will point out a few teams and give my thoughts:

1) Stanford: This team’s resume is just god-awful.  Their best win is over 3-3 UCLA.  They had managed to stick around in the top 15 purely on the fact that they were undefeated, but by this point that is not enough.  They desperately need to start playing the top of the Pac12 to make a move back up.

2) SMU: After a pitiful performance in week 1 to Texas A&M, the Mustangs have gone on a rampage and beaten everyone in their path, including TCU and UCF.  Their matchup against Houston will probably decide the CUSA and should be a doozy.

3) Oregon:  They finally cracked into the ranking, zooming up to #17.  Their resume is still pretty lame though…

-Overall, there seems to be a general trend.  There are 6 teams (Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma St, Clemson, Boise St, Oklahoma) that have good resumes followed by a large chunk of resumes that are just plain mediocre.  This allows teams like Illinois and Michigan to hang out in the top 10 after a loss.  Hopefully this is a one week aberration and the RPM gets back on track next week.