Florida State is sitting on top of the college football world. Photo by Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan State took the drama out of it by beating Ohio State on Saturday night, leaving undefeated Florida State and the SEC champion to battle it out in the final BCS title game.
The Buckeyes, who suffered their first loss since the 2011 season, dropped to seventh on my final AP ballot of the regular season.
I moved Pac-12 Stanford, a two-loss team, above one-loss Baylor and Ohio State to No. 5 based on the Cardinal’s collection of more impressive victories — Oregon, UCLA, Notre Dame, Washington, Arizona State (comfortably twice).
The 38-14 win at ASU on Saturday night nicely rounds out the resume with a quality road win and makes it easier for the rest of the resume to offset the still-puzzling loss at Utah.
Here is my complete ballot:
1. Florida State
2. Auburn
3. Alabama
4. Michigan State
5. Stanford
6. Baylor
7. Ohio State
8. Missouri
9. South Carolina
10. Clemson
11. Oregon
12. Oklahoma
13. Oklahoma State
14. LSU
15. Arizona State
16. UCF
17. Louisville
18. UCLA
19. Texas A&M
20. Wisconsin
21. Georgia
22. Duke
23. Notre Dame
24. Fresno State
25. Miami