Three SEC Teams Knocked out of AP Top 25, Michigan State cuts into OSU Stronghold
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The AP voters took an opportunity to do a big over-correct with the Top 25 rankings on Sunday kicking three SEC teams out of the polls while slicing off a little bit of Ohio State’s stronghold on the No. 1 spot.
No two ways around it, in Week 2 the SEC got beat up a little bit and slightly exposed. How teams from the Southeastern Conference end up by season’s end is a wait and see affair but for now the record breaking 10 teams from the SEC in the Week 2 poll has been dramatically reduced to seven with former No. 6 Auburn plunging to No. 18.
Auburn survived, yes survived FCS Jacksonville State, a school from the state of Alabama, 27-20, in overtime. Jeremy Johnson did not look strong under center and the rushing game was not sharp. Arkansas, by and large, looked good in the pocket, but with plenty of drops, but did not have a rushing attack in a 16-12 loss to Toledo. The Hogs also had two touchdowns called back due to penalties but the SEC haters really do not care.
No. 23 Tennessee lost a heart breaker in double-overtime to No. 19 Oklahoma, 31-24, and No. 25 Mississippi State lost a close one to No. 14 LSU, 21-19. Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Tennessee are each out of the Week 3 rankings. Might be a while before the Razorbacks regain the voters’ trust.
Missouri also slipped a spot getting pushed on the road by Arkansas State. The Red Wolves kept it close before falling 27-20 helping the Tigers drop to No. 22 in this week’s rankings.
Proving that the voters are finicky and at least one team has to fill all of the spots, Clemson was bumped up from No. 12 to No. 11 despite playing opening games against Wofford and Appalachian State. The Tigers were slotted at No. 9 in the Coaches’ Poll. Fellow ACC member Florida State also got a raise in the rankings going from No. 11 to No. 9 after beating South Florida 34-14.
The Pac-12 made some gains and lost some ground. After Oregon lost on the road 31-28 to Michigan State, the Ducks fell from No. 7 to No. 12. UCLA jumped into the Top 10 after previously being No. 13 and USC went up two spots to No. 6. Utah also made a slight jump from No. 24 to No. 21 after beating Utah State 24-14.
Four teams were kicked out (Arkansas, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Boise State) meaning four teams were promoted into the polls. This week’s newcomers are BYU at No. 19 after beating BSU in Week 2, Northwestern checked in at No. 23 after wins over Stanford (16-6) and Eastern Illinois (41-0), Wisconsin at No. 24 after beating Miami (OH) 58-0, and Oklahoma State at No. 25 after beating FCS program Central Arkansas 32-8.
Michigan State’s win over Oregon took two first place votes away from No. 1 ranked Ohio State. Not a big deal but could prove to be fodder for conversation in late November if all things hold up.
Top Games in Week 3
No. 11 Clemson at Louisville – Thursday
No. 23 Northwestern at Duke
No. 18 Auburn at No. 13 LSU
No. 14 Georgia Tech at No. 8 Notre Dame
South Carolina at No. 7 Georgia
Stanford at No. 6 USC
No. 15 Ole Miss at No. 2 Alabama
No. 19 BYU at No. 10 UCLA
AP Top 25 Rankings Week 3
- Ohio State (59)
- Alabama
- TCU
- Michigan State (2)
- Baylor
- USC
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Florida State
- UCLA
- Clemson
- Oregon
- LSU
- Georgia Tech
- Ole Miss
- Oklahoma
- Texas A&M
- Auburn
- BYU
- Arizona
- Utah
- Missouri
- Northwestern
- Wisconsin
- Oklahoma State
Photo credit: Rogelio V. Solis; Dak Prescott against LSU.