AP voters made a few things clear in the Week 2 rankings: LSU’s opening statement carried real weight, Oregon took a hit for surviving a scare, Virginia crashed the poll after a big early win, and Michigan paid the price for a shaky showing.
LSU moved from No. 11 to No. 8 after Lane Kiffin’s first impression turned into a rout. The Tigers put up more than 600 total yards and blasted Clemson 51-10, a result that pushed LSU right back into SEC championship and College Football Playoff conversation.
Oregon slid from No. 2 to No. 6 after what was supposed to be a comfortable opener turned into a far tighter night than expected. The Ducks entered as 25-point favorites against unranked Boise State, but they only managed to escape with a narrow touchdown win.
Virginia made one of the bigger jumps of the week, going from unranked to No. 25. A strong performance from transfer quarterback Beau Pribula helped the Cavaliers earn a statement win over NC State, and the result left Virginia 2-0 and in the mix for one of college football’s tougher conference championship races.
Michigan, meanwhile, dropped out of the rankings entirely after sitting at No. 16 last week. AP voters were clearly unimpressed with the Wolverines, even with the extra second attached to the win. Bryce Underwood and the Michigan offense scored just 7 points for all but one second of the game against Western Michigan, and the timing is not ideal with Oklahoma and its very skilled defense coming up this weekend.
The AP top 25 also had some movement around the edges of the poll, with Boise State, Florida, Arizona, Memphis, South Carolina, Western Michigan, Pittsburgh, Navy, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Illinois, James Madison, Minnesota, Colorado, Auburn, Arizona State and Vanderbilt all receiving votes in the prediction breakdown.
In Other News...
Oklahomas Backfield Picture Changed Faster Than Sooners Fans Expected
Oklahomas backfield has already taken on a different shape after the season opener against UTEP, with transfer Lloyd Avant quickly moving into the lead role. The Colorado State import gave the Sooners a steadier presence than many expected heading into the year, while Xavier Robinson and freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. were used sparingly as the staff sorted through options behind him.
Brent Venables also said Tory Blaylock could be back soon after sitting out Week 1 with a hamstring issue, which adds another layer to a rotation that still looks unsettled. For Oklahoma, the early takeaway is not just who carried the load in the opener, but how quickly that depth chart could keep shifting once the rest of the backs are fully available. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Gets O-Line Boost But One Worry Looms At Michigan
Oklahoma is trending toward getting some needed help up front just in time for a marquee trip to Michigan, with injured starters Jake Maikkula and Ryan Fodje both taking full reps in practice. For a team still trying to settle in along the offensive line, that kind of reinforcement matters, especially with a nonconference test that will demand cleaner protection and more stability than the Sooners have had at times early.
The one concern hanging over the group is left tackle Michael Fasusi, whose shoulder injury left his status uncertain after he did not practice fully. Oklahoma is even weighing the possibility of holding him out not just for this game, but for the next one as well, a sign the staff is thinking beyond one matchup and toward the conference stretch that follows. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Nagys Latest OU Adds Could Matter More Than Fans Realize
Jim Nagys latest work for Oklahoma has been a little different from the usual transfer-hunt hustle. The Sooners landed four additions in Danny Saili, Braxton Fely, DYoni Hill and Jaydon Southard after each gained eligibility through temporary restraining orders against the NCAA, and the common thread in all four cases is that they were part of legal efforts seeking a fifth year on the field. For Oklahoma, the move was less about chasing headlines than identifying players who could fit what the program needs while adding depth in spots the staff had already kept open.
Nagy said the evaluation went beyond talent, with cultural fit part of the equation and the roster construction done with intent rather than impulse. The bigger question now is how quickly, or even whether, those newcomers will be pushed into action once they settle in with the Sooners. For a team that has been willing to be patient with its approach, the next step is seeing which of these late additions becomes more than just a name on the summer board. [Read more 🡒]