Thoughts on the AP Poll, Week 4

Three thoughts on this week's AP Top 25:

1) The Wolfpack is back.

Finally No. 16 Miami has some company in the polls—fellow ACC team North Carolina State entered the Top 25 at No. 23 after they annihilated Georgia Tech 45-28. Quarterback Russell Wilson has quickly become a dark-horse Heisman candidate, having thrown for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns in three of the Wolfpack's four games. But besides Miami and North Carolina State, the ACC was absent from the polls this week; what's more, only two ACC teams (Florida State and Clemson) were listed in the others receiving votes category.

2) The Top 10 is no longer SEC country.

It seems like the last few seasons the Top 10 has been filled with SEC teams, but this year the country's elite are a much more diverse group. Only three SEC teams—No. 1 Alabama, No. 7 Florida, and No. 10 Auburn—are in the Top 10. Joining them are No. 3 Boise State, No. 5 TCU, two Pac-10 schools, two Big-12 schools, and No. 2 Ohio State from the Big 10.

3) Rich Rodriguez's hot seat may be cooling off.

No. 19 Michigan may be on the way back to the top of the Big 10—for real, this time. Yes, the Wolverines' started last season 4-0 too, but now Denard Robinson looks like a legitimate Heisman candidate (assuming, as most reports state, that his knee injury last weekend was indeed minor), and in this week's blowout victory over Bowling Green Michigan finally found some secondary offensive threats in wide receiver Roy Roundtree and running back Michael Shaw. Plus, the Wolverines' schedule is much more favorable this season—assuming Michigan defeats lowly Indiana this weekend, they should be 5-0 entering a two game home stand against ranked opponents No. 24 Michigan State and No. 17 Iowa. While the Wolverine defense will prevent the team from being a true contender, there's no reason Michigan can't make it back to a New Year's Day Bowl—and save Rodriguez's job.