Many teams' hopes for a national title vanished last weekend after another crazy weekend in college football. For the third straight week, two teams in the top five lost and shook up the polls significantly. First, the No. 1 LSU Tigers lost to Kentucky in triple overtime, and then the No. 2 Cal Golden Bears were upset at home by Oregon State. For the first time in college football history, the top two teams in the country lost in the same weekend. Overall, the weekend was a disappointment for many colleges around the country.
#1 Disappointment: LSU Tigers
There is no other campus in the country right now more disappointed than LSU. After a nail biting three-overtime loss at Kentucky, LSU has now most likely lost its chance at a national title. The Tigers did manage to remain in the top five in the AP Poll this weekend after their loss, but unless someone is able to stop the Ohio State Buckeyes, the South Florida Bulls or Boston College Eagles, it looks like the LSU Tigers will only be able to look forward to a Sugar Bowl appearance.
#2 Disappointment:
California Golden Bears
Up until this past weekend, many people considered this the year the Golden Bears would take a trip back to the national title game. The Bears came up with a huge win at Oregon in one of the best games of the year. Their biggest threat, USC, lost to a horrible Stanford team, which set up not only a conference lead, but also threw them into the No. 2 spot in the AP Poll. Hours before their game last weekend, No. 1 rated LSU lost to Kentucky. All was set up to crown Cal with its first No. 1 ranking since 1951, but unfortunately the Golden Bears didn't get the memo and were upset by a mediocre Oregon State team. It hurts to be a Cal fan after last weekend.
#3 Disappointment:
Wisconsin Badgers
There is no possible way anyone can consider this season positive for the Badgers. Coming into the year, anything less than a trip to the Rose Bowl was considered a failure. Unless a dramatic change of events happens from now until the end of the season, the Rose Bowl dream is over for the Badgers. Not only did the Badgers lose their chance at a Rose Bowl berth, they have also plummeted out of the AP Top 25 Poll for the first time since October 1, 2006.
One other fun note to consider: Had Wisconsin actually won its past two games, the Badgers would probably be sitting comfortably at the No. 2 position in the AP Poll.
#4 Disappointment:
USC Trojans
This season, the Trojans were considered to be more than formidable, as they kept the majority of their Rose Bowl winning team from last year, but USC is no longer thought of as the powerhouse it once was. For the second straight year, the Trojans stumbled against a non-ranked opponent and have most likely lost their chance to return to the national championship game. This all began with a 24-23 loss to a sub-par Stanford team, which dropped the Trojans down to No. 10 in the AP Poll. Most fans would expect the Trojans to bounce back after a heavily criticized loss, but instead they squeaked by a mediocre Arizona team 20-13. National title hopes are not completely lost for USC fans, but they need to hope for a sequence of favorable events to even consider a national championship appearance.
#5 Disappointment:
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are known as one of the most talented teams in the country, so when they lose two games in a row, you know people are bound to be disappointed. People are still optimistic in Gainesville on Florida's Sugar Bowl chances, since the past two losses were close and to superb teams. But their schedule does not get any easier, as three of Florida's next four opponents are ranked in the AP top 25 poll. It is not absurd to believe that four weeks from now the Gators could have a 5-5 record.
