College Football: SEC Takes Hit in Week 3 AP Poll
The latest AP College Football poll is out, and the SEC’s dramatic fall is noted multiple times. The most notable fall was Auburn’s following a close overtime win against Jacksonville State. The Tigers fell out of the top ten by 12 spots, down to a dismal 18th. Alabama was the only SEC team representative within the top five, holding onto their number two ranking yet another week following a 27 point victory over Middle Tennessee. Despite loosing multiple teams in the poll this week, the SEC still holds the most teams in the poll with seven, while the PAC-12 follows with five.
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Holding their own at the number one spot remains Ohio State. Michigan State (4) is the second Big 10 team within the top five, while the Big 12 is represented by TCU (3rd) and Baylor at five. Baylor and Michigan State flip-flopped their rankings after the Spartans received two first place votes after knocking off Oregon at home. As for the Ducks, the loss knocked them out of the top ten into 12th place.
The SEC had entered week two of the college football season with a record for most teams in the college football rankings, but they failed to impress the voters this week. Along with number two Alabama, Georgia and Florida State rounded out the top ten for the SEC. Auburn’s dramatic 12 point fall helped give six teams a boost within the top ten. UCLA and Florida State have entered the top ten, despite changes at quarterback entering the season. Everett Golson (FL St) and freshman Josh Rosen (UCLA) have both done an excellent job thus far to lead their respective programs into the rankings.
Two more risers in the poll were Oklahoma and Utah, who each received a three spot bump this week. Oklahoma knocked off 23rd ranked Tennessee while Utah handled business with Utah State.
A couple of teams are now missing from the AP’s top 25 after making an appearance last week. Tennessee, Boise State, Mississippi State, and Arkansas all vacated their spots for newcomers Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, Northwestern, and BYU took their seats in the top 25.