How the AP Top 25 should’ve looked after Week 5
Poll voters poked a bear and got bit.
Placing Alabama outside the Top 10 was a bad idea. The Crimson Tide took it personal on Saturday and used Georgia’s pre-game temper tantrum as ammunition to obliterate what was left of the Bulldogs’ early-season momentum.
This was supposed to be Mark Richt’s moment against Nick Saban, the statement win that snuffed out any remnants of Alabama’s ‘elite’ title and placed Georgia as the SEC’s Playoff favorite.
Yeah, about that.
We instead witnessed an old-fashioned tail kickin’ that put Alabama back in the SEC championship picture and tossed the Bulldogs behind five other SEC teams in the national rankings.
Ranking the Top 25 based on what we saw on the field Saturday with Week 5 rankings in mind, here’s how the AP Top 25 should’ve looked heading into the sixth weekend of games:
How the AP Top 25 Should’ve Looked
1. Ohio State (4-0) — The buckeyes have not looked like the best team in the country after five weeks of the regular season.
2. Baylor (4-0) — It’s time we start referencing quarterback Seth Russell as one of the Heisman front-runners. Six more touchdowns in Saturday’s win over Texas Tech gives him 22 total on the season — one more than TCU’s Trevone Boykin.
3. TCU (5-0) — The Horned Frogs’ offense, much like Baylor’s tempo-driven dominance, is unstoppable at the moment. Over his past two starts, senior wideout Josh Doctson has caught 25 passes for 396 yards and five touchdowns.
4. Clemson (4-0) — Dabo Swinney has another victory over a Top 10 team, one that could propel the Tigers to a special season if they can stay healthy. Notre Dame was one of two primary road blocks before the College Football Playoff and so far, so good for a team that’s extremely talented on offense.
5. LSU (4-0) — If there’s one negative here, I’m not sure if the Tigers have the ability to deliver a knockout blow offensively. There are still some issues in the passing game and Leonard Fournette can’t do it all himself. Ok, maybe he can.
6. Utah (4-0) — The Utes are fun to watch. With three games left against ranked teams and a win under Michigan already under their belts, Utah certainly has the resume to reach the final four. Seven voters have given the Utes their No. 1 vote this week.
7. Texas A&M (5-0) — Kevin Sumlin finally got over the hump with a win over Mississippi State, his first over a ranked team at home since his arrival in College Station. The Aggies played well on both sides of the ball to remain unbeaten.
8. Alabama (4-1) — With a chip on their shoulder, the Crimson Tide are tough to beat. Alabama’s clinic in Athens was fun to watch if you’re into smashmouth football with the occasional long ball from Jake Coker. It was one of Saban’s best wins and impressive enough to push Alabama back into the Top 10.
9. Michigan State (5-0) — If there’s one team ranked inside the top 5 of the AP Poll that’s smoke and mirrors, it’s the Spartans. They haven’t covered in any game this season and barely beat a bad Purdue squad in Week 5. The road game at Michigan in two weeks could be loss No. 1.
10. Florida (5-0) — I wouldn’t consider the Gators one of the elites just yet, but they’ve certainly earned the right to be inside the Top 10 after an unbeaten start. Florida’s defensive line has been the SEC East’s most impressive position group and has thoroughly owned each of its last three league opponents at the point of attack.
11. Oklahoma (4-0) — We can stop talking about the win over Tennessee now, right? The Vols are a disappointment. This weekend’s Red River Rivalry matchup against Texas could be a bloodbath and possibly Charlie Strong’s last hurrah.
12. Florida State (4-0) — Decimated by injuries in the backfield, it’s a good thing Florida State’s schedule is favorable before a season-defining trip to Clemson on Nov. 7.
13. Ole Miss (4-1) — If it’s possible, the Rebels need to flush Saturday’s disappointing — and non-competitive — loss in The Swamp and start over. SEC Championship and College Football Playoff aspirations are still out there, but the margin of error is slim. Most importantly, the offensive line must improve.
14. Notre Dame (4-1) — The Irish were a made two-point conversion away from forcing overtime at Clemson and still appear to be a very good football team. I’ve got Notre Dame ahead of Northwestern by the slimmest of margins.
15. Northwestern (5-0) — The next four games will be an incredible challenge for the Wildcats, but this team is feisty and being carried by one of the nation’s top defenses on third down.
16. Georgia (4-1) — They may not have looked good against Alabama, but the Bulldogs will have a say in the SEC title picture by the end of November. Greyson Lambert had a rain-soaked afternoon to forget and Georgia wilted at the line of scrimmage against a stronger, more powerful football team.
17. Michigan (4-1) — This defense has given up just 14 points over its last four games with back-to-back shutout wins over BYU and Maryland. Michigan’s next two games come against Northwestern and Michigan State, so we’ll know just how talented the Wolverines are by Halloween.
18. Stanford (4-1) — This team’s lone loss continues to look better and better and Stanford appears to have established a rhythm offensively.
19. USC (3-1) — Last week’s win at Arizona State was a statement game for the Trojans who could not afford dropping to 0-2 in league play.
20. UCLA (4-1) — The moment I try to understand the Pac 12, something else happens. UCLA’s surprising home loss to Arizona State forced the Bruins out of the Top 10.
21. Oklahoma State (5-0) — One of four remaining unbeatens in the Big 12, the Cowboys will be tested later in the season.
22. Iowa (5-0) — The Hawkeyes have one of the nation’s best defenses and Saturday’s hard-fought win over 19th-ranked Wisconsin The only ranked team remaining on Iowa’s schedule is Northwestern on Oct. 17.
23. California (5-0) — Will luck soon run out for the Bears? Cali’s won three straight by six points or less and travels to Utah on Saturday.
24. Toledo (4-0) — The Rockets are back in the national rankings for the first time since 2012.
25. Boise State (4-1) — Three straight blowout victories since a loss to BYU, the Broncos are red-hot offensively.