FanHouse Fab 40: Boise State Tops the Chart in Week 1

FanHouse national college football writer Brett McMurphy shares his weekly Associated Press Top 25 ballot along with his next 15 best teams for FanHouse's Fab 40.

LANDOVER, Md. -- Minutes after Boise State's thrilling 33-30 victory against Virginia Tech Monday night, Kellen Moore would not answer my question.

"If you had a vote in the AP or coaches poll, where would you rank Boise?" I asked him.

"I'm not going to answer that," Moore said.

That's fine, Kellen, I'll tell you where I would rank Boise State: No. 1 with a bullet. The Broncos are ranked No. 1 on my Associated Press ballot this week.

Why Boise State?

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The Broncos defeated the highest-ranked team (No. 10 Virginia Tech) on college football's opening weekend. They made some mistakes and benefited from some Hokie miscues, but when it counted they did what they needed to do to win.

This was not a fluke. They rolled up 383 yards on a Bud Foster defense.

And the 33 points scored by Boise State marked only the third time in the last 42 games that Virginia Tech had allowed more than 30 points. The other two teams that did it -- Alabama (31 points) in 2009 and LSU (48) in 2007 -- won the national title that season.

Will Boise State win it all this year? It's too early to tell, but the Broncos have earned my No. 1 vote. For this week, anyway.

1. Boise State
On game-winning drive in final two minutes against Virginia Tech, Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore was 4-for-5 for 43 yards, capped by 13-yard touchdown pass to Austin Pettis in Broncos' 33-30 victory. Moore finished 23-of-38 for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Love 'em or hate 'em, the BCS-busting Broncos (1-0) just keep winning. They've now won 27 consecutive regular season games. Up next: at Wyoming, Sept. 18
2. Alabama
No Mark Ingram? No Marcell Dareus? No problem. The Tide (1-0) still rolled past San Jose State 48-3 for their 15th consecutive victory, the nation's longest current winning streak. Third-string running back Eddie Lacy led Alabama with 111 yards rushing. Next: vs. Penn State, Saturday
3. Ohio State
Hey, this Terrelle Pryor kid might just work out at quarterback after all for the Buckeyes (1-0). In his past two games against Oregon and Marshall, he's thrown for 513 yards (40 of 62) with five touchdowns and only one interception. Next: vs. Miami, Saturday
4. Oregon
I'm not sure, but I think Oregon just scored again against New Mexico. The Ducks (1-0) rolled up a school record 720 yards against the Lobos in the 72-0 seal-clubbing. Tennessee gets an opportunity to slow down the Quack Attack, marking the fifth consecutive season the Vols have faced a Pac-10 opponent. Next: at Tennessee, Saturday
5. TCU
Senior Andy Dalton passed Sammy Baugh as the winningest quarterback in TCU history after Saturday's 30-21 victory against Oregon State. Dalton won his 30th game as a starter and the Horned Frogs (1-0) held the Beavers to 255 yards. Next: vs. Tennessee Tech, Saturday
6. Iowa
After easily disposing of Eastern Illinois, Iowa (1-0) turns its attention to Iowa State. The Hawkeyes have held the Cyclones without a touchdown for 14 consecutive quarters, since the 2006 meeting. If that's not enough motivation for the Cyclones, there's also the quote over the summer from Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn, who said: "I mean we're the only team in the state, as far as I know." Next: vs. Iowa State, Saturday
7. Nebraska
In his first start, Tyler "T-Magic" Martinez was magical for Nebraska (1-0). He rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 136 yards in the Cornhuskers' 49-10 win against Western Kentucky. Martinez became the first freshman to start at quarterback in NU history, getting the nod over last year's starter Zac Lee and top backup Cody Green. Next: vs. Idaho, Saturday
8. Texas
Sophomore running back Tre' Newton scored a career-high three touchdowns as the Longhorns (1-0) pulled away from Rice in a tougher than expected 34-17 victory. Texas played Rice in Houston's Reliant Stadium, one of 10 Longhorns games played in the state of Texas. In fact, Texas doesn't leave the state until Game 6 at Nebraska on Oct. 16. Next: vs. Wyoming
9. Virginia Tech
The Hokies (0-1) overcame early mistakes and fought back from 17-0 first-quarter deficit, only to fall to Boise State 33-30. Don't blame quarterback Tyrod Taylor – he accounted for 259 of Virginia Tech's 314 yards. Running back Ryan Williams was limited to 44 yards on 21 carries as Virginia Tech fell to 0-22 against Top-5 ranked teams away from Blacksburg, Va. Up next: vs. James Madison, Saturday
10. Wisconsin
The Badgers badgered UNLV 41-21 in the desert, rolling up 475 yards on offense, including 278 yards rushing. Junior running back John Clay had 123 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. The Badgers (1-0) have won 25 consecutive non-conference games and look like they'll have no trouble with their next three: San Jose State, Arizona State and Austin Peay. Next: vs. San Jose State, Saturday
11. Utah
The Utes (1-0) defeated the preseason Big East favorite Pittsburgh Panthers 27-24 in overtime, but it wasn't that close. Utah outgained Pittsburgh 405-266 and held Panthers sophomore running back Dion Lewis to a career-low 75 yards rushing on 25 carries. Wide receiver DeVonte Christopher earned MWC offensive player of the week honors after having 155 yards on eight receptions. Next: vs. UNLV, Saturday
12. Miami
The only downside of the Hurricanes' 45-0 blanking of Florida A&M was Miami (1-0) has no idea how punter Matt Bosher will react under pressure. The Hurricanes never punted against FAMU. I've got a feeling Bosher will get a few opportunities this week in the Horseshoe. Next: at Ohio State, Saturday
13. South Carolina
South Carolina sophomore Alshon Jeffrey had 106 yards receiving and quarterback Stephen Garcia threw for 193 yards and rushed for two touchdowns as the Gamecocks downed Southern Miss 41-13. USC coach Steve Spurrier won his 18th consecutive season opener and now finds his Gamecocks (1-0) favored against Georgia for the first time since 2001. Next: vs. Georgia, Saturday
14. Oklahoma
DeMarco Murray had a career-high 207 yards rushing as the Sooners (1-0) held off Utah State 31-24. Oklahoma became only the seventh program in NCAA history with 800 victories – and the Sooners almost allowed as many yards to the Aggies. OU quarterback Landry Jones completed 17 of 36, throwing for 217 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Next: vs. Florida State, Saturday
15. Florida
Last week, Urban Meyer said he was "hitting the panic button" about the Gators (1-0). And that was before Florida's anemic offensive display (212 yards, 72 coming on one Jeffery Demps run) and 13 mishandled center snaps in the Gators' underwhelming 34-12 victory against Miami, Ohio. Next: vs. South Florida, Saturday
16. Michigan
Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors after rushing for 197 yards and passing for 186 in the Wolverines' 30-10 victory over UConn. Robinson became only the sixth FBS player with at least 185 yards rushing and passing in the same game since 2005. Next: at Notre Dame, Saturday
17. West Virginia
In Saturday's 31-0 victory against Coastal Carolina, the Mountaineers (1-0) pitched their first shutout – or as defensive lineman Scooter Berry called it "doughnut" – since 2005. Running back Noel Devine rushed for 111 yards, while quarterback Geno Smith threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns. Next: at Marshall, Friday
18. Stanford
In the first half against Sacramento State, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck completed 14 of 18 for 301 yards. He finished with 316 yards and a career-high four touchdown passes as the Cardinal (1-0) routed the Hornets, 52-17. Stanford amassed 529 yards of offense, even though Luck left in the third quarter. Next: at UCLA, Saturday
19. Florida State
Quarterback Christian Ponder helped make Jimbo Fisher's Florida State debut an easy one. Ponder threw for four touchdowns in the Seminoles' 59-6 victory over Samford. Greg Reid, who led the nation in punt returns last season as a freshman, picked up where he left off for FSU (1-0) with a 74-yard punt return for a touchdown. Next: at Oklahoma, Saturday
20. Georgia Tech
Last season, it took Georgia Tech quarterback Joshua Nesbitt six games to rush for more than 100 yards. This year, Nesbitt didn't need quite as long. The senior cracked the century mark in the season opener with 130 yards and three touchdowns in the Yellow Jackets' 41-10 victory over South Carolina State. Next: at Kansas, Saturday
21. Penn State
Rob Bolden, the first true freshman quarterback to start in a season opener for coach Joe Paterno, threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns as the Nittany Lions pulled away from the pesky Penguins of Youngstown State 44-14. Bolden's second start should prove much more difficult, since Penn State (1-0) has lost nine of its past 12 games against Top 10 ranked opponents. Next: at Alabama, Saturday
22. BYU
For the second consecutive season, the Cougars (1-0) opened with an impressive win against an automatic qualifying BCS team and, in the process, derailed a quarterback's Heisman hopes. Last year, BYU leveled Oklahoma and Sam Bradford. Last week, BYU toppled Washington and Jake Locker in the Cougars' 23-17 victory. Next: at Air Force, Saturday.
23. Houston
Quarterback Case Keenum's Heisman campaign got off to a solid – and predictable – start against overmatched Texas State. Playing only the first half, Keenum threw for 274 yards and five touchdowns in the 68-28 victory. The game was played in front of a Robertson Stadium record crowd of 32,119. Next: vs. UTEP, Friday
24. Arkansas
Quarterback Ryan Mallett's Heisman campaign got off to a solid – and predictable – start against overmatched Tennessee Tech. Mallett threw for 301 yards, completing 21 of 24, and three touchdowns in the Razorbacks' 44-3 victory. Junior wide receiver Joe Adams had 138 yards on six receptions for the Hogs (1-0). Next: vs. Louisiana Monroe at Little Rock, Ark., Saturday
25. Auburn
Quarterback Cam Newton's first start at Auburn (1-0)? How about 171 yards rushing and two touchdowns, 186 yards passing and three touchdowns in the Tigers' 52-26 win against Arkansas State. For his efforts, Newton was named the SEC's Offensive Player of the Week. Up next: at Mississippi State, Thursday

26. Georgia. Next: at South Carolina, Saturday
27. USC. Next: vs. Virginia, Saturday
28. LSU. Next: at Vanderbilt, Saturday
29. Arizona. Next: vs. The Citadel, Saturday
30. Oregon State. Next: vs. Louisville, Sept. 18
31. Pittsburgh. Next vs. New Hampshire, Saturday
32. Boston College. Next: vs. Kent State
33. Michigan State. Next: vs. Florida Atlantic in Detroit, Saturday
34. Notre Dame. Next: vs. Michigan, Saturday
35. Fresno State. Next at Utah State, Sept. 18
36. Oklahoma State. Next vs. Troy, Saturday
37. Missouri. Next: vs. McNeese State, Saturday
38. California. Next: vs. Colorado, Saturday
39. East Carolina. Next: vs. Memphis, Saturday
40. North Carolina. Next: vs. Georgia Tech, Sept. 18

Brett McMurphy is a national college football writer for FanHouse. Contact him at brettmcmurphy@gmail.com or please follow at Twitter.com/BrettmcmurphY