Highlights from the ballot …
TCU’s loss to Texas decreased the value of the Buckeyes’ win last week.
*** Oklahoma also dropped (three spots, to No. 8) after the close call against Army.
Georgia moved into the 5-hole after the win at Missouri, and is followed by Notre Dame and Stanford, which jumped four positions, to No. 7, after the victory at Oregon.
*** The Ducks held steady at No. 12, which is assuredly higher than they will be in the AP poll.
But whether they’re 12th or 20th — and you could make a case for them being anywhere outside the top 10 — there’s no reason to drop them after that performance.
*** The middle portion of last week’s ballot was hit hard by losses (Oklahoma State, TCU, Virginia Tech), resulting in multiple changes.
I added Kentucky (let that sink in) after the Wildcats improved to 4-0 by beating Mississippi State.
The Wildcats are slotted 16th — their first appearance on my ballot, ever — which is just behind Michigan and ahead of the Cal-BYU-Wisconsin triumvirate.
The Badgers’ victory at Iowa doesn’t carry enough weight to warrant moving Wisconsin ahead of BYU given that head-to-head result.
At the same time, Cal deserves to be slotted above the Cougars until results dictate otherwise.
Duke entered the ballot this week, as did South Carolina, Michigan State, South Florida and Texas.
The Longhorns followed up their dominating win over USC with an impressive victory over TCU. Yes, they have a Week One loss to Maryland, but that’s hardly an awful result and is offset by their recent wins.
1. Alabama2. LSU3. Clemson4. Ohio State5. Georgia6. Notre Dame7. Stanford8. Oklahoma9. Auburn10. Washington11. West Virginia12. Oregon13. UCF14. Penn State15. Michigan16. Kentucky17. Cal18. BYU19. Wisconsin20. Duke21. Miami22. South Carolina23. Texas24. Michigan State25. South Florida
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