Top six in AP poll make history

Teams haven’t changed at top of the rankings

Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, LSU and Oklahoma. Call them the Super Six.

After six regular-season Associated Press college football polls the top six teams are the same teams that were ranked in the top six in the preseason. The order has changed, but at no point have the teams. Since the preseason poll started in 1950, the top six spots have never gone this long being held by the same group of teams.

Some historical background. The season starts earlier now than it did decades ago. In the 1980s, the sixth regular-season poll would typically come out around mid-October. Go back to the 1960s or farther and the sixth poll of the season would come out in late October or early November. But typically, throughout the years, six polls meant most teams had played from four to six games.

This season started with Clemson at No. 1, followed by Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio State and LSU. Now Alabama is No. 1 and Clemson is No. 2.

When the sixth regular-season AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank came out Sunday the big change was Ohio State moving into a tie with Georgia for No. 3. LSU is No. 5 and Oklahoma is sixth.

The lack of movement is at least in part due to chance and scheduling. Most of the toughest opponents for all of those teams are still ahead. Oklahoma gets No. 11 Texas this week, and LSU hosts No. 7 Florida.

But don’t underestimate just how dominant the Super Six have been. Their average margin of victory is 32 points per game, led by Ohio State at 40.5. Only one of the Buckeyes opponents is ranked this week (No. 25 Cincinnati), but they have combined for a 20-12 record. They have made some pretty good teams look helpless.

So if you have been thinking: Boy, it seems like we’re talking about the same teams every week this college football season; your perception is reality. No. 1 Alabama (5-0) Next: at No. 24 Texas A&M. Reality check: This trip to A&M is the only realistic shot the Tide has of being truly tested until November. ‘Bama’s other October opponents are Tennessee and Arkansas. No. 2 Clemson (5-0) Next: vs. Florida State. Reality check: After catching a scare from North Carolina, the Tigers got a week off to get ready for the Seminoles, which is likely bad news for the Seminoles. No. 3 Georgia (5-0) Next: vs. South Carolina. Reality check: One area the Bulldogs would probably like to get cranked up: Georgia ranks 78th in the country in pass plays of 20 yards or more with 16. No. 3 (tie) Ohio State (6-0) Next: at Northwestern, Friday, Oct. 18.

Reality check: The Buckeyes might have the best defense in the country, which makes them far less susceptible to the type of unexpected loss to an unranked team that kept them out of the playoff the last two seasons. No. 5 LSU (5-0) Next: vs. No. 7 Florida. Reality check: The best cornerback in the country just might be LSU freshman Derek Stingley. No. 6 Oklahoma (5-0) Next: vs. No. 11 Texas at Dallas. Reality check: The Sooners top two receivers, CeeDee Lamb and Charleston Rambo, are averaging 25.7 yards on their combined 32 catches. That’s a lot. No. 7 Florida (6-0) Next: at No. 5 LSU. Reality check: Can a team with an elite defense, but just a pretty good offense crack the Super Six? The Gators hope so. No. 8 Wisconsin (5-0) Next: vs. Michigan State. Reality check: The Badgers profile is similar to the Super Six — average margin of victory, 37.6 — but so much of the damage has come against three very bad teams. No. 9 Notre Dame (4-1) Next: vs. Southern California. Reality check: RB Tony Jones has done a nice job as the lead back for the Irish with 381 yards rushing and four touchdowns, but the return of Jafar Armstrong from injury is huge with the schedule about to get more challenging. Ranked: Little too high. No. 10 Penn State (5-0) Next: at No. 17 Iowa. Reality check: Time to find out what the Nittany Lions are really about. The next three weeks: at Iowa, Michigan and at Michigan State.