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SALT LAKE CITY — It was supposed to be a sort of rebuilding year for Georgia.
Maybe not a wholesale rebuild, but one where other teams could catch the Bulldogs and keep them out of the playoff discussion. But their performance on Saturday, mixed with a Week 1 blowout win against Oregon, has shown Georgia is still the team to beat.
Georgia had no problem putting Tennessee away at home and making one of the more fun offenses to watch this season look vanilla and average. Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker struggled to get things going on offense and the Vols had no chance.
It began what was a crazy weekend of football that shook up the top 10 and saw nine teams from last week's Associated Press Top 25 rankings lose. But the season moves on, so let's jump right in ...
Here's the ballot I submitted to the Associated Press that will be counted toward the official consensus poll released later today.
1. Georgia
Stetson Bennett doesn't get the same love as the top quarterbacks in the country — most notably his opponent on Saturday — but he effectively and efficiently diced up Tennessee's offense early and sent a demoralizing blow to the visiting team. Mix that with a defense that is, once again, nearly impossible to penetrate and you've got a team playing like the No. 1 team in the country ... again.
2. Ohio State
Look, this could easily be another team in this spot — Michigan even — but I'm giving Ohio State the benefit of the doubt this week. Maybe the grass in Evanston really was that much of a distraction, or the winds and elements caused a problem. Either way, Ohio State looked beatable and vulnerable. Northwestern is not the team to threaten the Buckeyes, but maybe it serves as a wake-up call that Ohio State still has a bit to go.
3. Michigan
For a moment, Rutgers kept the game close against Michigan. Nobody expected the close result to stay, but crazier things have happened. The Wolverines, though, remain one of the best teams in the country and are quietly putting another playoff run together. Obviously, a date with Ohio State remains in the future, but Michigan remains on the right path.
4. TCU
You can knock TCU all you want about their imperfect play at times — it's merited — but they continue to win against quality competition. The Horned Frogs are never truly out of a game and fight to the bitter end — and it's led to an undefeated season. A No. 4 spot in my ballot still feels a little shaky, but I like what Sonny Dykes has with this team.
5. Tennessee
Tennessee is seemingly better than what they showed — or didn't — on Saturday. Georgia had a great game plan, and the Vols couldn't capitalize. Still, Tennessee remains one of the best teams in the country in my book. Hooker remains one of the best quarterbacks in the country, but his stock certainly took a bit of a hit. But don't sleep on Tennessee now that they've suffered a loss.
6. Oregon
To open up its game against Colorado, Oregon had a touchdown to an offensive tackle, a receiving touchdown by quarterback Bo Nix, and a touchdown from linebacker Noah Sewell. The Ducks are having a lot of fun right now and are the team to beat from the Pac-12. Outside of a Week 1 letdown, Oregon is well-rounded and playing great football.
7. USC
USC has one of the most explosive offenses in the country and can put points on the scoreboard quickly, but its defense is a major liability. The Trojans remain one of the top teams in the Pac-12, but they are certainly vulnerable against a good team that can exploit the team's defense. Still, USC continues to win and put points on the board. Their schedule is relatively thin, too.
8. UCLA
Like their LA counterpart, UCLA has an exciting offense that can quickly put points on the board. And while UCLA's defense has been much improved, it hasn't been perfect — like allowing Arizona State to creep back into the game Saturday. Something feels off with the Bruins but I can't quite put my finger on it; still, they remain in my top 10 — mostly for their offense.
9. LSU
Admittedly, I didn't have LSU that high on my ballot and didn't see them as a top-10 team — and maybe they're not — but Brian Kelly's team continues to find ways to win. The Tigers have two Top-25 wins, including a gutsy 2-point successful conversion against rival Alabama to steal a win in overtime. I'm not convinced LSU stays inside the top 10, but it's fun while it lasts, right family?
10. Alabama
It's rare for Alabama to be in this spot, but the game is changing. The Crimson Tide still have a dynamic quarterback that keeps the team in contention in any game he plays in, but this isn't the same Nick Saban disciplined team we've seen for years. Alabama remains a solid team and has one of the hardest schedules in the country, but the Tide looks more human this year.
Checking in: Texas, UCF, Notre Dame, Liberty
Dropping out: Wake Forest, Oklahoma State, Syracuse, Oregon State
In consideration: Cincinnati, Washington, Coastal Carolina, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Baylor, Kansas
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.
