College football’s Week 2 reshaped the AP Top 25 in a hurry, and the biggest change was at the top. Texas jumped to No. 1 after its upset of Ohio State, while Oregon and Oklahoma both slid out of the top 20 after losses to unranked Oklahoma State and Michigan. Michigan, meanwhile, landed at No. 19 and is back in the voters’ good graces after last week’s controversial win over Western Michigan.
With Top 25 teams going 22-3 this week, the poll had room for only so much movement. Washington was the team squeezed out after an unconvincing win over Utah State, and that made the Huskies the first name on the list of teams trying to work their way back in.
For Washington, the path is simple enough: the offense has to look alive. Through two weeks, it has been rough going for a unit that was supposed to be one of the country’s most experienced.
The Huskies have dealt with third-down problems, red zone issues, dropped passes and penalties that keep killing drives. The defense has done enough to keep them afloat, though, especially against the run and in creating turnovers.
If the offense shows even a pulse, Washington should be back in the rankings quickly. Eastern Washington, which just gave up 517 yards and 41 points to South Dakota, may be the right matchup to get that done.
Florida has a different problem. The Gators have put points on the board behind quarterback Aaron Philo and wide receiver Vernell Brown III, but the defense has not been nearly as clean.
Florida Atlantic hung 396 yards and 21 points on them, and Campbell opened Week 2 by marching 63 yards in seven plays for a field goal. Florida settled in after that, forcing two turnovers and two sacks while tightening up on third downs.
Still, to convince voters it belongs in the Top 25, Florida will need to slow down a Byrum Brown-led Auburn offense that found its rhythm in Week 2 and piled up 343 rushing yards.
Boise State is in a slightly different spot after its own strong response. The Broncos pushed Oregon in Week 1, then handled fellow Group of 6 power Memphis, 38-20, while averaging 7.6 yards per rush.
That gave them both a near-miss against a Power 4 team and a solid bounce-back against a respected opponent. Now the task is to leave no doubt against South Dakota.
The Coyotes are dangerous offensively, so Boise State will need to clean up the penalties and avoid the slow start it had against Memphis if it wants to make a real impression on the voters.
Oklahoma State’s situation is the most interesting of the bunch. The Cowboys’ win over Oregon was enough to get them 36 votes, even with the memory of a shaky Week 1 loss to Tulsa still hanging around.
Drew Mestemaker showed the kind of mental toughness that mattered most in the biggest moments, but the voters were careful not to go all the way yet. The message was clear: nice win, now do it again.
A convincing showing against Murray State, which is 1-2, could be enough for Oklahoma State to sneak back into next week’s Top 25.
In Other News...
Boise States AP Snub Says A Lot About How Voters See Them
Boise State did what it was supposed to do against Memphis, winning 38-20 and giving itself a clean late-season resume point. Even so, the Broncos were left on the outside of the Associated Press Top 25 this week, a reminder that at this stage of the season style points only go so far when voters are sorting through a crowded middle tier.
The Broncos remain the highest-ranked Group of Six team just outside the poll and also narrowly missed the USA Today Coaches Poll, but the path back in is still narrow. Other results around the country, along with how Memphis is being viewed, continue to shape Boise States standing, which leaves the Broncos needing both more wins and a little help if they want the voters to finally move them up. [Read more 🡒]
Boise States Latest Poll Snub Says Plenty About This Team
Boise State did enough in its Week 2 win over Memphis to look like a team deserving more attention, yet the Broncos were still stuck on the outside of the Coaches Poll after a 38-20 home victory. The performance itself made the case: Boise State controlled the game on the ground and showed the kind of physical edge that usually gets noticed this time of year.
The Broncos piled up 357 rushing yards, with junior tailback Dylan Riley breaking out for a career-high 206. Memphis coach Charles Huff even praised Boise State after the game, which only sharpens the question around how this team is being viewed nationally and how long it can keep making that kind of statement without breaking into the rankings. [Read more 🡒]
Spencer Danielson Sends Clear Message As Boise State Loses Composure
Spencer Danielson made his frustration clear in the first half of Boise States non-conference game against Memphis, and it came after a stretch in which the Broncos felt they were fighting more than one opponent. Multiple pass interference calls went against Boise State as Memphis quarterback Marcus Stokes pushed the ball downfield, while tight end Hunter Tipton added a touchdown for the Tigers. Even with the officiating drawing Danielsons attention, Boise States offense answered with two quick touchdowns before halftime and kept the game tight.
Still, the Broncos could not quite steady themselves before the break. Memphis slipped in a last-second field goal to take a 20-17 lead into halftime, leaving Boise State with both a narrow deficit and a growing sense of irritation over how the first half had been called. For Danielson, the larger concern was not just the score, but the way his teams composure seemed to fray as the game moved toward halftime. [Read more 🡒]