The first full week of college football didn’t give the AP Top 25 much reason to go wild, and that’s good news for Oregon.
After surviving an early scare against Boise State for the second time in three seasons, the No. 2 Ducks are projected to hold their place near the top of the poll when the first in-season rankings come out. Oregon may slip a little, but a drop outside the top five looks unlikely after Week 1.
Boise State made the Ducks work despite entering the matchup as 24.5-point underdogs, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The Broncos also entered the season with the third-most votes among teams outside the preseason top 25, so they were not exactly a throwaway opponent. Even so, they are still unlikely to crack the rankings as an 0-1 team, though they could be in the AP Poll conversation later in the season.
The bigger picture still favors Oregon. There just weren’t enough ranked matchups in Week 1 for another team to build a stronger case to jump the Ducks. For now, the No. 2 spot appears safe.
The timing of the poll adds another wrinkle. With college football using the full Labor Day Weekend and the NFL season not yet underway, a pair of Sunday games could still influence the first AP release.
No. 4 Notre Dame is set to play Wisconsin at 4:30 p.m.
PT, while No. 9 Ole Miss and No.
24 Louisville are scheduled to meet at the same time.
That means the Week 1 AP Top 25 Poll will not arrive at its usual Sunday slot. Instead, it is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 11 a.m. PT.
There was movement worth watching elsewhere, though maybe not enough to shake the top of the board. No.
16 Michigan edged Western Michigan in controversial fashion, with a replay review adding one second to the clock and prompting the Big Ten to issue a statement on the officiating decision. The Wolverines began the season at No. 16 in the preseason AP Poll, and voters could choose to punish them for barely escaping the upset.
LSU also made a strong opening statement. The No. 11 Tigers rolled past Clemson, and that kind of performance could push them ahead of several teams when the updated rankings are released.
Ole Miss and Louisville could provide the most immediate movement, depending on how their ranked matchup plays out. But even with those games still ahead, the early read on the AP Poll is clear: Oregon should stay high, and the real shakeups may have to wait until bigger games arrive in Week 2 - like No.
1 Ohio State vs. No.
5 Texas and Michigan vs. No.
10 Oklahoma - or until conference play begins.
The preseason AP Top 25 listed Ohio State at No. 1, Oregon at No. 2 and Georgia at No. 3, followed by Notre Dame, Texas, Indiana, Miami, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Alabama, USC, BYU, Washington, Penn State, SMU, Michigan, Tennessee, Utah, Iowa, Houston, Missouri and Florida.
A later projection had Ohio State first, Oregon second and Georgia third, with Notre Dame fourth, Texas fifth, Indiana sixth, Miami seventh, Texas A&M eighth, Ole Miss ninth, Oklahoma 10th, LSU 11th, Texas Tech 12th, Alabama 13th, BYU and USC tied at 14th, Michigan 16th, Washington 17th, Penn State 18th, SMU 19th, Tennessee 20th, Utah 21st, Iowa 22nd, Houston 23rd, Louisville 24th and Missouri 25th.
In Other News...
Boise States Brutal Travel Day Raises A Bigger Concern Before Kickoff
Boise States trip to Eugene turned into a long day of delays before the Broncos even got to think about kickoff, with weather and runway conditions at Eugene Airport forcing the charter to abort its landing attempts. The flight was diverted to Portland instead, and the team had to regroup there before continuing on by bus to Eugene, a detour that pushed arrival back nearly seven hours from what had been planned.
The travel hiccup added an unwelcome layer to a game week that already carried enough moving parts on its own. Between the aborted landing, the bus ride and the extra time spent huddled in meetings at the Portland airport, Boise State lost more than just hours on the clock, and the bigger concern now is how much a disrupted arrival can affect everything that follows once the Broncos finally settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Hijacked Oregons Tradition And Ducks Players Clearly Felt It
During Boise States game against Oregon, the Broncos added an extra layer of edge to a matchup already full of emotion by making a point of dancing to the Ducks longtime fourth-quarter song, Shout. Oregon has used the tune as a tradition since 2010, so seeing a visiting team turn it into its own sideline celebration was bound to get attention, especially in a game where the atmosphere already had a little bite.
Oregon players reacted in different ways, with some clearly taking it as disrespect and others viewing it as the kind of move a team uses to spark itself late in a game. Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said the idea had been planned during fall camp as a way to keep the group joyful and focused in the fourth quarter, which only adds another layer to a moment that clearly landed with both teams. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Helped Spark A New Oregon Secondary Debate
Davon Benjamins college debut came with a little more spotlight than most freshmen get. The Oregon cornerback got his first taste of game action against Boise State in the Ducks season opener and, even without a gaudy stat line, managed to make his presence felt on defense while playing a limited role.
Afterward, Dan Lanning pointed to Benjamins instincts, versatility and work ethic, all the kinds of traits that can quickly turn a young defensive back from promising newcomer into a real part of the conversation. A four-star recruit who drew attention during fall camp, Benjamin has already put enough on tape to make Oregons secondary look like a spot worth monitoring closely in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]