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LOS ANGELES — There were six teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 this week that lost over the weekend, and half of them have now been removed from my ballot.
While the weekend went mostly as expected, it gave me an opportunity to re-evaluate some of the teams now that harder games have started to make their way into the schedules. As such, I shifted around my top 10 a bit and positioned teams where I currently see them — though their spots could certainly be challenged.
Here's the ballot I submitted to the Associated Press that will be counted toward the official consensus poll released later today.
1. Ohio State
I moved Ohio State into my No. 1 spot last week and there's nothing from the Buckeyes' blowout win over Michigan State to change my mind. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was phenomenal on Saturday and had more touchdown passes (six) than incompletions (five). Stroud did have an interception, but that hardly mattered in another great performance. Ohio State remains the team to beat.
2. Georgia
After a lackluster couple of weeks for Georgia, the Bulldogs wasted little time putting a good Auburn team to rest. It was good to see Georgia engaged and back to true form, though it took a quarter to get any points on the scoreboard. Georgia isn't perfect, but they're still one of the best teams in the country.
3. Alabama
Without its starting quarterback to take on a Texas A&M team that has struggled, to say the least, this season, Alabama remained a near 25-point favorite. Bryce Young's backup was fine — threw for 111 yards and three touchdowns — but it wasn't the same. And if not for a terrible last play-call by Texas A&M, there's a chance Alabama comes out of it with a loss. If feels like there's cracks in the armor, but Alabama remains at No. 3 — for now. A meeting with Tennessee next week will be the biggest test to date.
4. Clemson
For whatever reason, Clemson feels like a quiet top contender this season. Admittedly, I tried to move Tennessee above them but realized the Tigers are the only team in the country with two wins over current Top 25 teams. It didn't always look pretty at first for Clemson, but the team has settled into a groove and is performing at a high level. Quietly lurking or not, Clemson remains a viable threat.
5. Tennessee
I previously had the Volunteers at No. 7 in my ballot, but I've since decided to include them in my top five after their three wins over Top 25 teams at the time they played them — No. 17 Pitt (34-27), No. 20 Florida (38-33) and No. 25 LSU (40-13). Quarterback Hendon Hooker is taking the Vols places and I really like the vibe around this team. Outside of Ohio State, Tennessee is one of the other teams I tune into most because of their fun play.
6. USC
The Trojans are vulnerable but they keep delivering when it matters most. Against a sneaky good Washington State team, USC stayed engaged and pulled away at the end to secure bowl eligibility a year after a disastrous 4-8 season. Quarterback Caleb Williams has looked human the last few weeks, but he continues to make plays to keep his team winning.
7. Michigan
The early cupcake schedule made it difficult to judge who Michigan could be this season. And though Michigan remains one of the best teams in the country, I'm still waiting to get a good read on who the Wolverines are this year. Michigan was in a locked battle with Indiana going into the halftime break, but they also had to see running game coordinator Mike Hart collapse on the sidelines during the game — here's hoping for a speedy recovery.
8. Oklahoma State
It was a rougher-than-usual day for Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders who threw for 297 yards and one touchdown on 22-of-45 passing, but the Cowboys got the job done and moved past a pesky Texas Tech team. Oklahoma State may be one of the best teams that nobody's talking about, but they did need a late comeback to get the win and stay undefeated. They remain unchanged in my ballot this week.
9. UCLA
It's easy to overreact to a team securing a big win, but UCLA deserves the praise. The Bruins have always had a potent offense with fifth-year senior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center, but now they finally have a defense to match — or at least help — its offense. It's taken Chip Kelly some time, but he now has the Bruins undefeated and trending in a very positive direction with a potential Heisman-caliber QB. Sleep on the Bruins at your own peril.
10. Ole Miss
Quarterback Jaxson Dart continues to impress in his move to Ole Miss. The Rebels found themselves with a 10-point deficit just before the halftime break, and then Dart unleashed his potential on Vanderbilt to secure a dominant win. Dart finished with a career-high 448 yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-32 passing. The Rebels have a ton of potential but a difficult road awaits.
Checking in: Texas, Illinois, Purdue, Cincinnati
Dropping out: BYU, Washington, LSU, Baylor
In consideration: Baylor, James Madison, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Florida, Coastal Carolina, BYU, LSU, UCF, San Jose State, South Carolina
If you can't see my full ballot below, click here.
Want to create your own Top 25 ballot, go create one with the KSL.com College Football Top 25 Fan Poll.
