Rockets rising, but no love for OSU, UM: Breaking down Briggs' AP vote

Iowa fans celebrate on the field after Saturday's win over Ohio State. David Briggs ranks Iowa 15th and Ohio State 16th in his most recent AP vote.

Couple quick thoughts on my latest vote in the new Associated Press Top 25 college football poll ...

• Yes, I ranked three-loss Iowa higher than two-loss Ohio State. 

An overreaction? Maybe. But it doesn’t feel like it after the Hawkeyes’ stunning pillar-to-post demolition of OSU. Factor in that Iowa also has a win over No. 24 Iowa State while its losses were by a touchdown or less to three solid teams — Michigan State (7-2), Penn State (7-2), and Northwestern (6-3) — and we’ll go with the Hawkeyes over a Buckeyes team that has twice been throttled this season.

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I rated Iowa No. 15, Ohio State 16th. The poll had OSU 11th, Iowa 25th.

• I also had Michigan lower than most, as in I didn’t rank the No. 21 Wolverines at all. Until they beat someone with a pulse — all seven of their wins are against teams with losing records — there continue to be more deserving teams.

• One of those is Toledo. They remained 28th overall, but slowly but surely, the Rockets continue to gain points. Fourteen of the 64 voters — including myself — included UT on their ballot. The biggest believer? Garland Gillen, a TV sports anchor in New Orleans, voted the Rockets 21st. Toledo (8-1, 5-0) will get its next crack at leaping into the polls with a win Wednesday at MAC East co-leader Ohio (7-2, 4-1). 

• Last and least, my full vote: 1. Alabama, 2. Georgia, 3. Notre Dame, 4. Clemson, 5. Oklahoma, 6. Miami, 7. Wisconsin, 8. Washington, 9. TCU, 10. Auburn, 11. UCF, 12. Michigan State, 13. Southern California, 14. Oklahoma State, 15. Iowa, 16. Ohio State, 17. Penn State, 18. Washington State, 19. Virginia Tech, 20. Iowa State, 21. Memphis, 22. Mississippi State, 23. Toledo, 24. NC State, 25. West Virginia.