Head-to-head head scratcher
Does OU deserve to be ranked lower than Texas? It’s a tough call to make
At this time of the season, those head-to-head results can become challenging for voters in The Associated Press college football poll.
There was no movement among the top five in the rankings Sunday, with Georgia strengthening its grip on No. 1.
Oklahoma slipped four spots to No. 10 after losing to Kansas, which jumped into the rankings at No. 22.
That put Oklahoma behind Texas, which landed at No. 7. Just a few weeks ago, the Sooners knocked off the Longhorns in a Red River Rivalry thriller. That’s Texas’ only loss of the season.
Reasonable? Maybe. The Sooners didn’t play a Power Five team in the nonconference, though SMU has been one of the better teams out of the Group of Five. Texas won at Alabama out of conference.
Within the Big 12 so far, Texas at home routed the same Kansas team that OU lost to on the road.
Still, head-to-head? Reality Check believes the AP poll voters did OK with the head-to-head results this week, but had a few complaints.
NO. 1 GEORGIA (8-0)
Next: vs. No. 14 Missouri, Saturday.
Reality check: With TE
Brock Bowers out, WR Ladd Mcconkey, now healthy after missing the first four games, broke out against Florida with six catches for 135 yards and a score.
Ranked: Just right.
NO. 2 MICHIGAN (8-0) Next: vs. Purdue, Saturday.
Reality check: Sign of success: Michigan’s defense hasn’t faced a goal-to-go situation this season.
Ranked: Straight resume, you could bump the Wolverines down a spot.
NO. 3 OHIO STATE (8-0) Next: at Rutgers, Saturday.
Reality check: RB Treveyon Henderson has missed most of the season with injuries, but he’s an important piece of the Buckeyes offense.
Ranked: Good chance to be the CFP No. 1.
NO. 4 FLORIDA STATE
(8-0)
Next: at Pittsburgh, Saturday.
Reality check: RB Trey Benson is the only player in the country with a run and a reception of at least 80 yards.
Ranked: Just right.
NO. 5 WASHINGTON (8-0) Next: at No. 24 Southern California, Saturday.
Reality check: Huskies’ issues on offense the last few weeks have been fairly simple to diagnose: six turnovers.
Ranked: Honor the head-tohead, but do so with some skepticism.
NO. 6 OREGON (7-1)
Next: vs. California, Saturday.
Reality check: QB Bo Nix has completed at least 72% of his passes in every game and has been above 84% three times.
Ranked: Just right.
NO. 7 TEXAS (7-1)
Next: vs. No. 25 Kansas State, Saturday.
Reality check: QB Maalik Murphy’s first start was solid against an overmatched opponent, but 6.8 yards per attempt is going to be a difficult way to beat teams the Longhorns defense can’t smother.
Ranked: Could make a case for No. 5.
NO. 8 ALABAMA (7-1)
Next: vs. No. 13 LSU, Saturday.
Reality check: Time to find out how far the Crimson Tide have come in their work-inprogress season.
Ranked: Just right.
NO. 9 PENN STATE (7-1) Next: at Maryland, Saturday.
Reality check: The running game hasn’t averaged more than 4.2 yards per carry against Power Five opponents.
Ranked: Too high.
NO. 10 OKLAHOMA (7-1) Next: at Oklahoma State, Saturday.
Reality check: Four straight games in which the Sooners have allowed at least 5.5 yards per play.
Ranked: Little low.
NO. 11 MISSISSIPPI (7-1) Next: vs. Texas A&M, Saturday.
Reality check: Rebels have held three straight SEC opponents below 300 yards of offense.
Ranked: Little low.
NO. 12 NOTRE DAME (7-2) Next: at Clemson, Saturday.
Reality check: Fighting Irish pass defense has been nasty.
Ranked: Too high.
NO. 13 LSU (6-2)
Next: at No. 8 Alabama, Saturday.
Reality check: Beating Alabama and Georgia is the road to becoming the first two-loss team to make the CFP.
Ranked: Little low.
NO. 14 MISSOURI (7-1) Next: at No. 1 Georgia, Saturday.
Reality check: Welcome to Mizzou’s potential November to remember.
Ranked: About right.
NO. 15 LOUISVILLE (7-1) Next: vs Virginia Tech, Saturday.
Reality check: Under-theradar great job by the Cardinals defense, which has held four straight opponents under 300 yards and 5.0 yards per play. Edge rusher Ashton
Gillotte leads the charge with 8 sacks.
Ranked: Probably should still be ahead of Notre Dame.
NO. 16 OREGON STATE (6-2)
Next: at Colorado, Saturday.
Reality check: Even with last week’s loss to Arizona, the Beavers still have a chance to reach the Pac-12 title game.
Ranked: About right.
NO. 17 AIR FORCE (8-0) Next: vs. Army, Saturday.
Reality check: Falcons lead the nation in time of possession at 34 minutes per game. Not surprising, but impressive nonetheless.
Ranked: Just right.
NO. 18 UTAH (6-2)
Next: vs. Arizona State, Saturday.
Reality check: Time to recalibrate expectations after a serious reality check against Oregon.
Ranked: Too high.
NO. 19 TENNESSEE (6-2) Next: vs. Uconn, Saturday.
Reality check: Vols have six 200-yard rushing games his season, just one fewer than they had in 13 games last season.
Ranked: About right.
NO. 20 UCLA (6-2)
Next: at Arizona, Saturday.
Reality check: Bruins’ pass rush made life miserable for Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders.
Ranked: Little high.
NO. 21 TULANE (7-1)
Next: at East Carolina, Saturday.
Reality check: Pass defense is the Green Wave’s potential undoing.
Ranked: Too high.
NO. 22 KANSAS (6-2)
Next: at Iowa State, Saturday.
Reality check: Will we see QB Jalon Daniels play for Kansas again? As well as Jason Bean has played, Jayhawks could run the table with Daniels.
Ranked: Little high.
NO. 23 JAMES MADISON (8-0)
Next: at Georgia State, Saturday.
Reality check: Dukes have won five one-possession games.
Ranked: Little high.
NO. 24 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (7-2)
Next: vs. No. 5 Washington, Saturday.
Reality check: Trojans have a strange relationship with the running game.
Ranked: Too high.
NO. 25 KANSAS STATE (6-2)
Next: at No. 7 Texas, Saturday.
Reality check: Wildcats defense has allowed three points and 508 yards combined in its last two games.
Ranked: Too low.