Things are starting to make a little more sense now and teams are indeed standing up or falling down to make this a little easier.

Let’s begin at the top, where Cincinnati is again the unquestioned leader.

1. Cincinnati (2-0, Last week No. 1): As I was looking into last week’s games, I wrote this down about UC v. Southeast Missouri State: “Do they get 70?” It wasn’t as if I doubted they could. I just wondered if they would, as if to prove some sort of point. Point(s) made. And when do we begin to hear these words in the same sentence: Mardy Gilyard, 20 touchdowns, Heisman Trophy. Sooner rather than later, right? Up next: 9/19 at Oregon State.

2. Pitt (2-0, LW No. 2): The 54-27 win at Buffalo a year after having significant trouble with the Bulls at home is probably the surprise of the weekend. The Panthers have some weapons on offense and if Bill Stull can throw it to the right guys — namely the ones on his team — this is a very formidable opponent. Up next: 9/19 vs. Navy.

3. WVU (2-0, LW No. 4): Maybe this year’s ECU game does for the Mountaineers what last year’s ECU game did. There was a lot of confidence and “Well, maybe we are pretty good” in the locker room Saturday night. Also, is ECU good or was that a bad game? I’m not sure. For today, credit a genuinely feisty Mountaineers defense. Up next: 9/19 at Auburn.

4. USF (2-0, LW No. 3): Another yawning win, this time at Western Kentucky. Matt Grothe is now YOUR Big East career leader in total offense. Other than that, the game produced few highlights and a lot of concern. That’s two games in a row now for a team that’s been called out in the past for its ho hum approach. The Bulls play Charleston Southern next, the same team that was a 10-touchdown underdog against Florida and got pummeled over the weekend by a Wofford team USF crushed.

5. Rutgers (1-1, LW No. 6): Yikes, No. 5? Well, the Scarlet Knights did beat Howard and, most important, gifted freshman Tom Savage made his first career start. The future is now and Savage did just fine: 8-for-13, 223 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions. One wonders if that should have been his second start. Savage can get familiar with Uncle Mo — vs. Florida International, at Maryland (1-1, blowout loss at Cal, OT win against FCS James Madison), vs. Texas Southern.

6. UConn (1-1, LW No. 5): When teams find ways to lose, that’s generally a bad sign. UConn found a way to lose at home against ranked UNC. The running game disappeared and starting quarterback Zach Frazer is out at least two games with an ~undisclosed~ knee injury. Up next: 9/19 at Baylor.

7. Syracuse (0-2, LW No. 8): Lost just 28-7 at Penn State and JoePa and the nattily clad Nittany Lions were lively in their praise of the Orange afterward. Keep an eye on this, though: QB by committee. Greg Paulus started and was 14-for-20, but redshirt freshman Ryan Nassib was 4-for-5 in the Syracuse version of the Wildcat. Hmmm. Up next: 9/19 vs. Northwestern.

8. Louisville (1-0, LW No. 7): Bye. It was still a nail-biter, though. Up next: 9/19 at Kentucky.