For now, the award goes to Cincinnati, which is ahead of The Ohio State University in the latest AP poll for the first time in 58 years. Makes you wonder, right? The Cincinnati Enquirer has a poll asking who the best team in the state is and out of 7,219 polled (thus far) 2,749 said it was The UC by a slim margin while 2,382 believe it’s “no question” the Bearcats.

Who knows, we might get a chance to see that this season in a BCS game. The Buckeyes, who haven’t lost to an Ohio team since Oberlin College won the 1921 tryst, 7-6, remain a favorite to win the Big Ten. The Bearcats are again atop our Big East ranking.

1) Cincinnati (5-0, LW No. 1): The computer loves Cincinnati which is bizarre because it ranks the schedule No. 109. It’ll get better in Big East play and as long as the Bearcats win they have a shot to be legitimized in the BCS ranking. As for the team, stop me if this sounds familiar: The offense moved the ball and the defense made a play when needed. Up next: 10/15 at South Florida.

2) South Florida (5-0, LW No. 2): The Bulls look a little scary now. The defense can fly, the offense has weapons, B.J. Daniels did not look, act or play like a freshman and there’s a whole lot of swagger to everything they do. They clearly bothered Syracuse and Greg Paulus. Very impressive, so much that USF finally took a place in the poll at No. 23. Up next: 10/15 vs. Cincinnati.

3) Pitt (4-1, LW No. 3): The Panthers looked tame and beatable in the first half against Louisville, but played about as well as they could and probably should have in the second half. The running game remains effective, but if Bill Stull plays like this, Pitt is very capable of winning the Big East title the media predicted. Up next: 10/10 vs. UConn.

4) West Virginia (3-1, LW No. 4): One reason the Mountaineers again survived a turnover avalanche? Scott Kozlowski. He never allowed Colorado to get great field position. His biggest moment came in the third quarter. It was 21-17 and Jarrett Brown was sacked twice to force a fourth-and-38. Kozlowski moved the ball from WVU’s 19-yard line to Colorado’s 36. The Buffaloes went three-and-out and punted 22 yards. The Mountaineers then had their signature 14-play, 69-yard run-the-darn-ball drive. Up next: 10/10 at Syracuse.

5) UConn: (3-1, LW No. 5): The bye didn’t exactly treat the Huskies well. Up next: 10/10 at Pitt.

6) Rutgers: (3-1, LW No. 6): I can’t get over the opening-game performance or the so-so schedule that’s followed, but would we be terribly surprised if Rutgers got hot? Seriously, 9-3 wouldn’t shock me. It’s the wildcard team in this league. Up next: 10/10 vs. Texas Southern.

7) Syracuse: (2-3, LW No. 7): As well as USF played, Syracuse was just as bad … and still had a chance to win. Bad teams find a way to remember they’re bad teams. The Orange did a bunch of things well to at least put themselves in position to win, but committed seven turnovers. Seven! Said Jim Leavitt: “We needed all of them for us to win that game.” Up next 10/10 vs. West Virginia.

8) Louisville: (1-3, LW No. 8): For a half, the Cardinals looked pretty competitive and with a new quarterback, no less. As was the story against Kentucky and even Utah, Louisville couldn’t finish and is now pointing to that as either an excuse or a rally cry. Up next: 10/10 vs. Southern Miss.