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Remember last week when I said that the Big Ten didn't exactly have a banner showing? Well it only got worse for them after another disappointing Saturday in Week Three. Only Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska, and Penn State actually won, and it's not shocking that several teams dropped in this weeks' polls. Four other ranked teams lost this weekend (Georgia, USC, Virginia Tech, and Louisville), so there was certainly some shaking-up compared to Week Two's rankings. And though these polls are often subject to much debate and controversy, they're an interesting thing to keep track of throughout the college football season, especially now that we've got the College Football Playoff to look forward to. The human element will be felt more than ever this postseason, as a panel of "esteemed football experts" will be the ones choosing the final four teams, humans much like those that fill out these weekly Top 25 polls. Here's how they shook out after a dismal week three of the Big Ten college football season went final:
AP Top 25
|
Team |
Pts (Votes Received for #1) |
| 1. Florida State | 1,466 (37) |
| 2. Oregon | 1,424 (17) |
| 3. Alabama | 1,346 (1) |
| 4. Oklahoma | 1,325 (2) |
| 5. Auburn | 1,252 |
| 6. Texas A&M | 1,195 (3) |
| 7. Baylor | 1,134 |
| 8. LSU | 1,114 |
| 9. Notre Dame | 917 |
| 10. Ole Miss | 840 |
| 11. Michigan State | 832 |
| 12. UCLA | 807 |
| 13. Georgia | 729 |
| 14. South Carolina | 718 |
| 15. Arizona State | 680 |
| 16. Stanford | 560 |
| 17. USC | 459 |
| 18. Missouri | 446 |
| 19. Wisconsin | 414 |
| 20. Kansas State | 326 |
| 21. BYU | 246 |
| 22. Clemson | 209 |
| 23. Ohio State | 204 |
| 24. Nebraska | 172 |
| 25. Oklahoma State | 126 |
Others receiving votes: North Carolina (82), Duke (55), Mississippi State (55), Virginia Tech (54), Penn State (51)
Coaches Top 25
|
Team |
Pts (Votes Received for #1) |
| 1. Florida State | 1,502 (50) |
| 2. Alabama | 1,408 (1) |
| 3. Oregon | 1,399 (6) |
| 4. Oklahoma | 1,390 (4) |
| 5. Auburn | 1,297 |
| 6. Baylor | 1,179 |
| 7. Texas A&M | 1,159 |
| 8. LSU | 1,107 |
| 9. Notre Dame | 966 |
| 10. UCLA | 861 |
| 11. Michigan State | 776 |
| 12. Ole Miss | 769 |
| 13. Arizona State | 732 |
| 14. Georgia | 693 |
| 15. Stanford | 561 |
| 16. South Carolina | 529 |
| 17. Wisconsin | 436 |
| 18. Ohio State | 402 |
| 19. Missouri | 382 |
| 20. Kansas State | 381 |
| 21. USC | 338 |
| 22. Nebraska | 325 |
| 23. BYU | 222 |
| 24. Clemson | 207 |
| 25. North Carolina | 128 |
Others receiving votes: Duke (100), Mississippi State (92), Oklahoma State (83), Florida (72), TCU (50)
Quick Thoughts
Again, I don't like to get too wrapped up over these polls, but we're headed towards the conference season and a couple of things jump out at me:
- Michigan State moved up three spots and Wisconsin moved up one spot in the Coaches Poll despite not playing this weekend. Wisconsin dropped a spot in the AP Poll.
- Georgia is ranked ahead of South Carolina in both polls despite losing to them on the road.
- Ohio State dropped several spots in the AP Poll despite winning 66-0.
- Ole Miss is the #10 team in the country? Wow. Where did they come from?
- Though they are not ranked in either poll this week, Penn State is now eligible to be a Top 25 team because their sanctions have been lifted by the NCAA. They beat Rutgers in a thriller this week, 13-10.