Three and Out: Ohio State stays No. 1 in AP Top 25; Texas A&M up to No. 16
The Associated Press released its top 25 poll for Week 2 of the college football season Tuesday. The Ohio State Buckeyes remained No. 1 after their 42–24 defeat of Virginia Tech. The poll includes no teams with an opening week loss and one team—LSU—that has yet to play a game.
Here are three thoughts on the latest poll:
1. Aggies on the rise
The biggest jump in the poll goes to Texas A&M, which went from unranked all the way up to No. 16 after a 38–17 win over Arizona State. The win knocked the Sun Devils from No. 15 all the way out of the poll altogether. Can the Aggies stay in the top 25? They'll have winnable games against Ball State and Nevada the next two weeks before facing No. 18 Arkansas in late September.
Ohio State keeps No. 1 spot in college football Power Rankings after Week 1
2. Two more move into the rankings
Also joining the the land of the ranked this week are Utah and Mississippi State. The Utes enter after beating Michigan while the Bulldogs’ inclusion gives the SEC a record 10 teams in the AP poll.
Despite an off-season of questions about whether the Pac-12 has caught up, the depth of the SEC remains unmatched, at least according to the early-season polls. Alabama jumped TCU to take the No. 2 spot, and rival Auburn isn't far behind at No. 6.
3. Ohio State, Michigan State, then...
It could be a top-heavy year for the Big Ten, if this early poll is any indication. The Buckeyes and Spartans are the only ranked teams from the conference after Wisconsin dropped out of the top 25 following its loss to the Crimson Tide. Of course, not many people picked Ohio State as national champs after a loss to Virginia Tech in Week Two of last season, so the Big Ten has plenty of time to catch up.
Here is the complete top 25:
1. Ohio State
2. Alabama
3. TCU
4. Baylor
6. Auburn
7. Oregon
8. USC
9. Notre Dame
10. Georgia
11. Florida State
12. Clemson
13. UCLA
14. LSU
15. Georgia Tech
16. Texas A&M
17. Ole Miss
18. Arkansas
19. Oklahoma
20. Boise State
21. Missouri
22. Arizona
23. Tennessee
24. Utah