AP Top 25 Reality Check: Big Ten back in poll, not on field

There was no way this was going to turn out anything but odd, and it’s not going to get easier going forward.

The college football season will not have all 10 FBS conferences playing until the first week of November.

In the Associated Press college football poll, however, all Division I teams that plan to play in the fall are now eligible to be included — no matter when they play or how many games.

That led to one strange poll Sunday as six teams, including No. 6 Ohio State and No. 10 Penn State, moved into the rankings without playing and with no games scheduled until late October. Clemson is still No. 1 and Alabama No. 2. Florida moved up to No. 3.

Eleven voters took a wait- and- see approach with the Big Ten, Pac- 12 and others.

“I went back and forth in what to do with those teams but ultimately decided to leave them out until they begin play,” said Ryan Aber from The Oklahoman. “With games being canceled each week and the no- wiggle- room schedules in those conferences, I want to see them play before I put them in the poll. Would’ve made things much easier to rank in the next few weeks in a lot of ways since those teams can’t lose, but felt this was the best way to handle it.”

Other felt it was only fair since Southeastern Conference teams were permitted to stay in the rankings for the two Top 25s released before the league kicked off Saturday.

“I felt it was important to be consistent,” said Davis Potter of the Casper Star- Tribune. “Simply put, I voted for what I believe are the nation’s 25 best teams as of today whether they’ve played a game or not.”

Usually, Reality Check critiques the voters’ final product each week, suggesting where they might have been a little off. Because that’s what polls are for!

That hasn’t been the case this early season. Reality Check is cutting the voters some slack this season. At least for now. We’re still keeping a keen eye on where teams are ranked and will call out the voters — politely — when necessary.

For example, Reality Check was disappointed to see voters bail on Louisiana- Lafayette in favor of Michigan at the bottom of the rankings. No. 1 Clemson ( 2- 0) Next: vs. Virginia, Oct. 3. Reality check: There is an upper- tier developing in the ACC ( Miami, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Pitt) that could provide Clemson several tests before the playoff. The gap between the Tigers and the rest of the conference won’t be nearly as wide as it was last season — when it was enormous. No. 2 Alabama ( 1- 0) Next: vs. No. 13 Texas A& M. Reality check: The Tide had two receivers taken in the first round of the last NFL draft and still have the best duo in the country in Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith No. 3 Florida ( 1- 0) Next: vs. South Carolina Reality check: No Florida team has ever had more yards of offense in an SEC game than the 624 the Gators had against Ole Miss. They did allow 613, though. No. Next: 4 Georgia vs. No. 7 ( 1- Auburn. 0) Reality check: Quarterback issues aside, the

Bulldogs lost almost a whole offensive line to the

NFL after last season. The replacements are mostly big- time recruits, but they might need a little time to get it together. No. 5 Notre Dame ( 2- 0) Next: vs. Florida State, Oct. 10. Reality check: The Irish will have two weeks off because of COVID- 19 issues. Getting the Seminoles at home should help them knock off the rust

— because that’s how bad things are for FSU. No. 6 Ohio State

Next: vs. Nebraska, Oct. 24. Reality check: An argument can be made with just about every team not playing for a few weeks that a voter should want to see them in a game before committing. The Buckeyes are the exception. A voter can comfortably put them in the top- five.

No. 7 Auburn ( 1- 0)

Next: at No. 4 Georgia.

Reality check: Tigers couldn’t get the running game going Kentucky and good luck finding it against UGA.

But they’ll need to get better soon to have any chance to contend in the SEC West.

No. 8 Miami ( 3- 0)

Next: at Clemson, Oct.

10.

Reality check: Want to temper the enthusiasm for the Hurricanes’ newfound offensive prowess? Try this: Miami is “only” 14th in the nation in yards per play at 6.68, mostly because of an OK 7.6 yards per pass. If there is a looming problem, it’s probably downfield passing. No. 9 Texas ( 2- 0) Next: vs. TCU, Oct. 3. Reality check: Whether that comeback at Texas Tech is the great escape that launches Texas to a Big 12 title or a sign of another up- and- down season is TBD. Recent history suggests it is more likely to be the former. No. 10 Penn State Next: at Indiana, Oct. 24. Reality check: DAILY Seems NEWS unlikely the Nittany Lions will get star LB Micah Parson back from an opt out. It’s a huge loss, but Penn State still seems like the team most likely to push Ohio State in the Big Ten.