3 years ago
351
Highlights from the ballot …
— Alabama and Georgia remained connected apical aft dominating victories implicit ranked opponents (Mississippi and Arkansas, respectively), portion Iowa and Penn State flipped positions, with the Hawkeyes present the No. 3 team.
— Cincinnati was the large riser this week, jumping 9 spots, to No. 5, aft the triumph astatine Notre Dame.
The Bearcats are undefeated with a double-digit roadworthy triumph implicit what was, and inactive is, a top-10 squad (at slightest connected my ballot). That’s plentifulness bully capable for a top-five spot, up of the Oklahoma schools, Oregon and Ohio State.
(Yes, some Oklahoma schools: The Cowboys bushed Baylor and are worthy of a top-10 ranking.)
— Speaking of Oregon: The Ducks dropped lone 3 spots, to No. 8, aft the overtime nonaccomplishment to Stanford.
Their constricted descent was owed partially to developments elsewhere: Half the teams connected the ballot lost, including 4 of the apical 10.
What’s more, I judge the Ducks should beryllium ranked up of Ohio State, astatine slightest portion they person the aforesaid fig of losses. And the Buckeyes, who thumped Rutgers, warrant a spot successful the apical 10.
— Arizona State returned to the ballot, successful the No. 19 position, aft winning handily astatine UCLA.
The Sun Devils person 1 loss, to a ranked hostile (BYU), and tin present assertion a prime victory.
— We considered Oregon State for a spot astatine the bottommost of the ballot.
But adjacent though they’re 4-1 and atop the Pac-12 North, the Beavers person a nonaccomplishment to unranked Purdue (which conscionable mislaid to unranked Minnesota) and nary wins implicit ranked opponents.
Beating USC (3-2) and Washington (2-3) means thing these days erstwhile evaluating a team’s merits for the apical 25.
In fact, the Beavers aren’t scheduled to look a ranked hostile until the extremity of the season, erstwhile they play ASU and Oregon back-to-back.
If they keeping winning, we’ll reassess. But astatine the moment, their resume doesn’t rather wide our bar.
— Removed from the ballot this week: Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Fresno State, UCLA and LSU.
— New to the ballot this week: Kentucky, ASU, Clemson, Texas and Wake Forest.
1. Alabama
2. Georgia
3. Iowa
4. Penn State
5. Cincinnati
6. Oklahoma
7. Oklahoma State
8. Oregon
9. Ohio State
10. Notre Dame
11. Michigan State
12. Auburn
13. Michigan
14. Brigham Young
15. Arkansas
16. Kentucky
17. Coastal Carolina
18. Mississippi
19. Arizona State
20. Florida
21. Clemson
22. Baylor
23. Texas
24. Kansas State
25. Wake Forest
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