This is an interesting week for the AP Top 25 voters, which are now held to higher standards for comparing college football teams with six weeks of regular-season action in the books. If you subscribe to the “win and move up, lose and move down” theory — and keep your ballot consistent from week-to-week — there weren’t too many results that will cause major shake-ups in the college football rankings.
But there was one big game this week matching a pair of top 10 undefeated SEC teams, and it will make a change in that range. No. 10 Florida beat No. 7 Auburn and will likely take its place near the top five. Though the Tigers have a pair of wins over ranked opponents this season, the Gators won handily in The Swamp on Saturday. There’s also a trio of teams outside the top-15 who suffered losses that will get them bounced with new arrivals taking their respective places.
But if voters started from scratch each week, you would think there might be some more volatility in the rankings. After all, Ohio State is continuing to pass every test and look more and more like a No. 1 candidate. Florida now has a more impressive win than Alabama or Clemson have on their resumes. Penn State is undefeated and outscoring opponents 235-37 on the season, yet the Nittany Lions are barely sniffing the top 10.
Preseason opinions lead to preseason rankings, and those rankings shape the early season movement in the top 25 polls. It’s time to give up on those opinions and consider what we’ve seen on the field when ranking the best college football teams in the country.
Here’s how we believe the new AP Top 25 will look on Sunday.
- Alabama (1): The Crimson Tide were off in Week 6.
- Clemson (2): The Tigers were also off in Week 6.
- Ohio State (4): When Ohio State’s running game needed a spark against Michigan State, Justin Fields was there in the first half to kick start a run that helped the Buckeyes take control of the contest. Fields’ dual-threat ability is sometimes limited in hopes of protecting his health and extra hits given the depth concerns at quarterback, but having him there as an option proved to be the difference-maker between Ohio State is a very good team and potential national champion.
- Georgia (3): The final count at Tennessee won’t be what gets the Bulldogs potentially jumped by the Buckeyes, it’ll be the status of both games going head-to-head in the primetime slate. Georgia’s 43-14 win in Rocky Top leaves plenty for its coaches to review.
- LSU (5): It didn’t take long for LSU’s offense to start putting together the statistical profile of a record-setting group in the program’s storied history. But while the Tigers offense is deservedly receiving the headlines, it’s the defense that showed up in a big way against Jordan Love and Utah State in a 42-6 win.
- Oklahoma (6): A slow start was quickly overcome, and the Sooners cruised to a 45-20 win at Kansas. Read More
