Saturday’s chaos is going to tear the AP Top 25 apart.
Five teams ranked inside the top seven went down on Oct. 18, and the ripple effect figures to hit every corner of the poll. No.
1 Georgia, No. 2 Notre Dame, No.
5 Indiana, No. 6 Alabama and No.
7 Texas all lost, turning one day into a full-scale reset for college football’s ranking picture.
Notre Dame’s loss carries the most intrigue. The Fighting Irish were meeting their first ranked opponent of the season in No.
8 BYU on the road, and the finish came with controversy attached. One second was still on the clock after what looked like the final play, with Notre Dame still in position to make a last push.
Marcus Freeman and his team remain legitimate contenders, but the source of concern is whether they have enough experience to be fully “battle tested” before a game like this.
BYU’s win should push the Cougars up sharply, though exactly how far won’t be known until the rankings come out Sunday. That movement at the top will create a chain reaction, with a new No. 1 expected and a reshuffled top five.
Georgia and Indiana may not slide much despite losing, and Indiana’s spot is especially interesting after it came close to Ohio State. The Cougars’ rise will also affect the rest of the top 10.
Texas and Alabama may end up in the middle of the poll rather than tumbling all the way out of the top 15. The SEC’s depth could keep both teams closer to the top than a pair of losses might normally suggest. Tennessee, meanwhile, is positioned to move into the top 10, and Florida is set to come back into the rankings.
A projected poll had Ohio State at No. 1, followed by Miami, Georgia, Indiana and Ole Miss, with BYU at No. 6 and Tennessee at No. 7.
Notre Dame checked in at No. 8, Texas Tech at No. 9 and Utah at No.
- The rest of that projected top 25 listed UCLA, Alabama, Texas, Kentucky, Iowa, Houston, USC, LSU, Wake Forest, Missouri, Boise State, Oklahoma State, SMU, Northwestern and Florida.
Oregon also remains on the outside looking in for now. The Ducks received the 27th-most votes in the week 6 AP Poll, leaving them two spots short of the rankings.
A win over Nebraska should be enough to get Dan Lanning’s team back into the top 25, but the climb may not be dramatic even with all the upheaval around them. Oregon started the season at No. 2, so two early losses have already knocked it down considerably.
The Ducks’ résumé includes four ranked opponents so far, with two wins and two losses. One of those losses came when then-No.
18 Oklahoma State fell to then-No. 20 Houston, though Oklahoma State is still expected to stay ranked.
Oregon still has more chances ahead to strengthen its case, including games against No. 25 Northwestern and Ohio State.
The AP Top 25 Poll is set to be released at approximately 11 a.m. PT.
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Just Changed Oregons Biggest Nebraska Game Storyline
After a strong showing against USC, Dylan Raiola had a chance to settle in as Oregons quarterback of the moment, but the rhythm did not carry over into the next game against UCLA. The Ducks have now made a change under center, with Dan Lanning opting to go with Brock Thomas for the upcoming matchup against Nebraska. It is a significant turn for an offense that had been trying to build momentum heading into one of the more interesting games on the schedule.
Lanning pointed to Raiolas recent performance and the adjustments Oregon has made on offense as the reasons for the switch, putting the focus on stability rather than sentiment. For Raiola, the timing is especially notable because the Nebraska game had the feel of a personal one, given his connection to the Cornhuskers. Instead, Oregon heads into it with a different quarterback plan and a storyline that looks very different from what it did just a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Commit Brayton Feister Is Back On The Field Amid Dispute
Brayton Feister is back on the field at Massillon Washington High School after a ruling from the Fifth District Court of Appeals cleared the Oregon commit and his brother Brydon to continue playing their senior season. The decision overturned an earlier Ohio High School Athletic Association ruling that had declared both brothers ineligible, and it gives them the chance to keep contributing while the legal process plays out.
The Feisters had been sidelined after the OHSAA cited transfer and disciplinary issues, turning their season into as much a courtroom matter as a football one. The appeals court granted a preliminary permanent injunction, and while the association could still pursue further legal action, the immediate effect is straightforward for Oregon: one of its commits is back on the field, and the situation remains unresolved beyond that. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Trip To Ohio State Suddenly Looks Very Different
Ohio States quarterback picture changed quickly this week when coach Ryan Day said Julian Sayin is expected to be out for several weeks after suffering an injury. The Buckeyes are now likely to turn to freshman Luke Fahey for the upcoming stretch, including the game against Oregon, which adds a new wrinkle to a matchup that already had plenty of intrigue.
Oregons own quarterback situation remains unsettled, with Dante Moore, Brock Thomas or Dylan Raiola all possibilities depending on how things shake out. So instead of a familiar heavyweight showdown between established starters, the Ducks could find themselves preparing for a far less predictable test on both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]