Associated Press Top 25 voters face a difficult question for the Week 3 rankings: How does LSU get properly rewarded while the top five teams continue to win?

The No. 6 Tigers notched the most impressive win of the young 2019 season, beating No. 9 Texas 45-38 in Austin. Meanwhile, Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma and Ohio State all notched either solid (Clemson) or lopsided (UA, UGA, OSU, OU) wins in Week 2.

It’s a new season, but we expect that LSU being able to do what Georgia could not in the Sugar Bowl (beat Texas), will be enough for voters putting the Tigers ahead of the Dawgs.

The Longhorns can slide down to Texas A&M’s old No. 12 spot after the Aggies lost at No. 1 Clemson. Call it the Lone Star State Shuffle. Texas A&M could fall further depending on what No. 14 Washington does against Cal in a game that is currently delayed.

How about Mike Locksley? Maryland is now 2-0 after blowing out No. 21 Syracuse 63-20. So long Orange, hello Terps to the Top 25.

Here’s how we project the AP Top 25 after Week 2:

  1. Clemson (2-0) def No. 12 Texas A&M, 24-10
  2. Alabama (2-0) def. New Mexico State, 62-10
  3. LSU (2-0) def. No. 9 Texas, 45-38
  4. Georgia (2-0) def. Murray State, 63-17
  5. Oklahoma (2-0) def. South Dakota, 70-14
  6. Ohio State (2-0) def. Cincinnati, 42-0
  7. Michigan (2-0) def. Army 24-21 (2OT)
  8. Notre Dame (1-0, off Week 2)
  9. Auburn (2-0) def. Tulane, 24-6
  10. Florida (2-0) def. UT Martin, 45-0
  11. Utah (2-0) def. Northern Illinois, 35-17
  12. Texas (1-1) lost to No. 6 LSU, 45-38
  13. Texas A&M (1-1) lost to No. 1 Clemson, 24-10
  14. Washington (1-0) vs. Cal (game delayed)
  15. Penn State (2-0) def. Buffalo, 45-13
  16. Oregon (1-1) def. Nevada, 77-6
  17. Wisconsin (2-0) def. Central Michigan, 61-0
  18. UCF (2-0) def. FAU, 48-14
  19. Michigan State (2-0) def. Western Michigan, 51-17
  20. Iowa (2-0) def. Rutgers, 30-0
  21. Washington State (2-0) def. Northern Colorado, 59-17
  22. Stanford (1-0) leading USC 17-3 2Q
  23. Boise State (2-0) def. Marshall, 14-7
  24. Maryland (2-0) def. No. 21 Syracuse, 63-20
  25. Iowa State (1-0, off Week 2)

Projected to fall out of the Top 25: No. 21 Syracuse (1-1) lost to Maryland 63-20; No. 25 Nebraska (1-1) lost to Colorado 34-31