Rankings stagnant with few big upsets to shake-up the poll
The AP Top 25 has stagnated.
Seven ranked teams lost Saturday, including six that were unbeaten. Seems like a perfect time for a major shakeup in the rankings, but it didn’t play out that way.
No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Michigan held their spots — again. The Bulldogs and Wolverines have held steady since the preseason. No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Florida State each moved up a spot and Oklahoma climbed to No. 5.
No. 14 Louisville made a big jump by beating Notre Dame, which plummeted to No. 21.
Only two teams fell out of the rankings: Missouri and Fresno State. The two moving in were No. 18 UCLA and No. 23 Kansas, both previously ranked, each with a loss to another ranked team.
It was a historic poll for basketball blue bloods.
Through six weeks an unranked team has beaten a ranked team 10 times, but only one of those games involved a top-10 team. In Week 1, Duke beat No. 9 Clemson. The Blue Devils have been ranked since and Clemson eventually fell out.
College football has had few big upsets this season.
The current Top 25 has 16 total losses. Fourteen of those losses have come against other teams that are currently ranked. That leads to voters shuffling the Top 25 instead of cycling in new teams.
Now, that doesn’t excuse the patience some voters showed this week with No. 25 Miami, which managed to stay ranked after an all-time blown game against Georgia Tech.
But Reality Check understands sticking with teams that lose to other ranked, even if it makes the Top 25 a little boring.
No. 1 Georgia (6-0)
Next: at Vanderbilt, Saturday.
Reality check: With a new quarterback there was some thought Georgia might revert back to a more run-heavy style. Nope. The Bulldogs are pass-first with QB Carson Beck, who has three straight 300-yard passing games.
Rankings: Just right, again.
No. 2 Michigan (6-0) Next: vs. Indiana, Saturday.
Reality check: Is there a downside to all these blowouts? Do the Wolverines need to be tested? Guess we’ll find out in about a month.
Rankings: Just right.
No. 3 Ohio State (5-0) at Purdue,
Next: Saturday.
Reality check: Can a defense that doesn’t create many negative plays be an elite defense? The Buckeyes are trying to find out. They rank near the bottom of the country in tackles for loss at 4.8 per game and have only seven sacks, but are also allowing only 4.07 yards per play, fourth in FBS.
Rankings: Too high.
No. 4 Florida State (5-0)
Next: vs. Syracuse, Saturday.
Reality check: Last week, Reality Check gave a heads up on the Seminoles getting their running game cranked up over the next few week against lesser opponents. FSU went for 282 on the ground against Virginia Tech, including 200 on 11 carries for Trey Benson. Told you so.
Rankings: Little low.
No. 5 Oklahoma (6-0)
Next: vs. UCF, Oct. 21. Reality check: The Sooners are back in the top five, deservedly so, and could be here for a while. OU has only one ranked team left on the schedule in No 23 Kansas.
Rankings: Little low.
No. 11 Alabama (5-1)
Next: vs. Arkansas, Saturday.
Reality check: The evolution of the Jalen Milroe offense continues: Unable to run against Texas A&M, the Tide turned to its quarterback and he delivered, throwing 33 passes for 321 yards yards and three TDs.
Rankings: Too low.
No. 19 (tie) Washington State (4-1)
Next: vs. Arizona, Saturday.
Reality check: Life’s tougher away from Pullman for the Cougs and that’s where games against Oregon and Washington will be later in the year.
Rankings: About right.
No. 19 (tie) Tennessee (4-1)
Next: vs. Texas A&M, Saturday.
Reality check: Return of C Cooper Mays from injury gave the Vols a boost up front that they’ll really need against the Aggies and Alabama the next two weeks.
Rankings: About right.