No rat poison here, Miami fans, so continue to bathe in all the glory that goes along with retaining the No. 1 spot in our little weekly endeavor.
All the same, though, don't show this to Mario Cristobal. By this time in an undefeated season, coaches are seeing enemies behind every tree, hearing bumps in the night and looking both ways — twice — before crossing Biscayne Boulevard.
You can't blame the Hurricanes' head coach, who warned about the proverbial rat poison earlier this week.
Cristobal knows his 'Canes were lucky to get out of that one last Saturday night with their spotless record intact. When you look at what happened up and down the national Top 10, they were extremely fortunate, and for good measure, may have gotten a little help from the striped-shirt gang.
Afterward, Miami didn't so much grab the top spot in the national ranking, but inherited it. Here on the Pigskinned Peninsula, they started the year No. 1, let the Gators drive it around for a week, then took it back over.
But will it stick? We've talked before about the Pitt Panthers and their uncanny knack for winning a couple they should lose, losing a couple they should win, and always ending up in a lower to mid-level bowl. Well, after winning their first five, the Panthers have lost two straight and visit Miami this week.
With Bill Belichick and the ghost of Knute Rockne on deck, it'd be easy to look ahead, beyond Pitt. It'd also be dangerous. In fact, it looks like the whole state of Florida needs to be on alert ...
Tuesday - Penguins vs Panthers
— Pittsburgh Clothing Co. (@PGHClothingCo) October 21, 2019
Wednesday - Penguins vs Lightning
Saturday - PITT vs Miami
Monday - Steelers vs Dolphins #FloridaHateWeekpic.twitter.com/qS9VuVG9ro
1. Miami Hurricanes (6-0)
Last week: (Ranked 1) Beat FSU in OT, 43-35. This week: Pitt at home. FYI: As predicted, Pitt finally slipped into dual-personality mode. The Panthers are two weeks into this latest bout after starting 5-0, and you never know when the reverse snap-back will come. Head Hurricane Mario Cristobal, after that escape last week, was right to start warning of rat poison this week.
The pick: ’Canes 26, Panthers 24.
2. Florida Gators (5-2)
Last week: (4) Beat Texas, 27-24. This week: Off. FYI: Who saw a potential QB controversy coming this year? Yeah, yeah, but how many expected one due to positive performances?
Next week: Versus Georgia in Atlanta.
Don’t let Ohio State vs. Indiana distract you from the fact that Texas blew a 10-0 lead at home against Florida (with its backup QB) and now trail the Gators 20-17 in the fourth quarter.
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) October 17, 2026
Texas hasn’t scored an offensive TD since its opening drive. pic.twitter.com/sNKgx1nfpC
3. USF Bulls (5-2)
Last week: (3) Beat Kent State, 29-2. This week: Off. FYI: Don’t let the score fool you; that wasn’t a quality win for the Bulls over Kent. Head Bull Brian Hartline dubbed it “difficult to watch,” particularly USF’s inability to run the ball against a previously porous defense.
Next week: UAB at home.
4. FAU Owls (4-2)
Last week: (2) Lost to Army, 56-24. This week: Rice at home. FYI: How to re-energize the Del Boca Vistans? First, schedule the Rice Owls, who are worse than usual at 1-6. And team up with alumni-run Islamorada Brewery for a $3-2-1 beer night. Drafts are $3 pregame through the first quarter, $2 through halftime, $1 through the third quarter and last call. What could go wrong?
The pick: Keggers 34, Owls 18.
5. FSU Seminoles (3-4)
Last week: (6) Lost at Miami, 43-35. This week: Off. FYI: One and maybe two bad calls hurt FSU’s chances of pulling off a stunner last week, and Mike Norvell was rightfully upset. His willingness to express his irritation so vividly (“an absolute joke” … “a shame”) suggests someone’s give-a-damn has already been bought out.
Next week: Clemson at home.
"An absolute joke... That was bad. I haven't heard a response from them (Head of Officials) but if it's anything less than what I've said, then that tells me everything that I need to know."
— Warchant.com (@Warchant) October 19, 2026
Mike Norvell did not mix words when speaking about the holding call on Xavier Chaplin. pic.twitter.com/kwOm0X6mT8
6. UCF Knights (3-3)
Last week: (5) Lost at Oklahoma State, 42-28. This week: BYU at home. FYI: Were you paying attention to the overall landscape last weekend? Do you really think all that mayhem was just a one-off? Also, always respect the letdown, especially for a team that just beat Notre Dame at home. And no, I haven't started tailgating early with the FAU crowd.
The pick: Knights 27, Cougars 23.
7. FIU Panthers (3-4)
Last week: (7) Lost to Jax State, 27-24. This week: Lost Tuesday night to Middle Tennessee, 26-23. FYI: This might be worse. A week after surrendering an 82-yard drive and losing in the final minute, the Panthers got within a field goal with 6-plus minutes remaining Tuesday night, then saw Middlin’ Tennessee keep the ball for 11 plays and run out the clock.
Next week: At Liberty.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida college football rankings, and look at that UCF Knights pick!