Overview of Week 2 Rankings
As college football continues to unfold, the rankings for Week 2 have been released, sparking discussions and reactions across the board. Fans are invited to share their insights and predictions, particularly regarding high-stakes matchups like the Michigan-Oklahoma game, by reaching out at live@theathletic.com.
After an eventful opening week, it’s time for an evaluation. This ranking set is likely to shift significantly early in the season as more data becomes available. The current assessment attempts to balance team performance with their resumes. A team that secures a victory against a strong opponent will see a substantial rise, whereas a loss against a less formidable team will result in a sharp decline.
Importantly, victories over weaker Group of 5 or Football Championship Subdivision teams in the first week hold little weight in these rankings. A team may appear to drop in rankings despite winning simply due to being surpassed by teams that faced stronger competition. A few weeks will be needed for all teams to face significant rivals, so patience is advised regarding these early rankings.
Week 1 provided a wealth of insights into several teams, especially those at the top of the rankings.
Top Teams
Heading into this week, LSU claims the No. 1 position following a hard-fought 17-10 victory against Clemson. Initially, Ohio State was slated to hold this spot after their 14-7 win against Texas, but I switched the rankings after witnessing LSU’s dominant second half against a seasoned opponent on the road. Ohio State, by contrast, faced a younger team at home, and I had Clemson ranked higher than Texas to start the season.
While this does not definitively indicate that LSU is the best team in the nation, their significant win certainly stands out in the current landscape, which emphasizes rewarding accomplishments and close losses. Expect fluctuations in these rankings as the season progresses.
Notable Performances
Florida State’s 31-17 triumph over Alabama allows them to leap from No. 49 to No. 3. However, questions linger about Alabama’s overall strength this season—should their performance diminish, this win would hold less weight in evaluating the Seminoles. Meanwhile, Miami’s 27-24 win against Notre Dame elevates them to No. 4.
Texas, Clemson, and Notre Dame each slipped slightly, landing sequentially at No. 5 to No. 7, primarily due to their losses to other top-10 teams while presenting competitive performances, including opportunities to tie in the closing moments. The strength of their competition on the road is taken into account for these rankings, distinguishing their efforts from those facing weaker opponents.
In contrast, Penn State drops from No. 1 to No. 8 after competing against Nevada, while higher-ranked teams faced formidable challengers. The Nittany Lions have future matchups against FIU and Villanova before a significant contest against Oregon, indicating that they will remain in limbo until facing a notable opponent.
Other Teams on the Rise
Utah makes a notable jump from No. 18 to No. 11 following a commanding 43-10 win over UCLA, converting 14 of 16 third downs in a decisive performance. It remains unclear how strong UCLA truly is, but a comprehensive victory over a Big Ten opponent is impressive.
South Carolina won against Virginia Tech with a score of 24-11, though their victory was marked by numerous mistakes from Virginia Tech, leaving South Carolina steady at No. 12 but edging out Arizona State and Illinois in the rankings.
Auburn’s 38-24 win over Baylor propels them from No. 30 to No. 15, while Iowa State also enters the rankings following a successful start. South Florida emerges as the highest-ranked Group of 5 team at No. 20 after a dominant 34-7 performance against Boise State, with tougher matchups against Florida and Miami upcoming.
TCU re-enters the top 25 after a strong win against North Carolina, while Alabama tumbles to No. 23. Things are looking different for the Tide, who have lost to unranked teams four times as a heavily favored team under Coach Kalen DeBoer.
Mid to Low Rankings
The movement in the mid to lower tier rankings remains relatively stable due to a lack of significant matchups in Week 1. Georgia Tech narrowly secured a win over Colorado, and while their placement is affected by those who surpassed them, Tulane’s convincing 23-3 victory over Northwestern grants them a rise to No. 33, marking the American Conference’s prominence at this level.
Nebraska also improved slightly after edging out Cincinnati, while Kansas State fell to No. 39 post-Iowa State loss. Colorado and NC State maintained their rankings after closely contested matches.
Boise State’s downturn to No. 54 reflects a poor showing against South Florida. Conversely, UTSA rises to No. 56 following a commendable performance despite a loss at Texas A&M.
UNLV, while still undefeated, dropped from No. 48 to No. 59 after a narrow victory against FCS Idaho State. Virginia Tech rises modestly to No. 60, while California’s strong showing against Oregon State boosts them to No. 63, where freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is impressing fans.
Fresno State improves to No. 69 despite a poor opening game, while Rice’s substantial climb to No. 71 comes after a notable victory against a favored Sun Belt team.
Bottom Rankings
North Carolina’s plummet to No. 76 follows their attempt to recover against TCU, while Ohio rises to No. 81 with a narrow defeat against Rutgers. Meanwhile, Wake Forest and Stanford dwell at the bottom as their performances falter.
Central Michigan’s narrow victory over San Jose State elevates them to No. 91, with the Spartans falling significantly. Georgia Southern’s loss against Fresno State leads to their drop to No. 98.
Army faces a major decline to No. 105 following an overtime defeat against a strong FCS opponent, while Utah State rises to No. 109 after overcoming UTEP. UAB finds themselves at No. 128 after struggling to secure a win against FCS Alabama State, and Northern Illinois sees a similar fate after a lackluster performance against FCS Holy Cross.
In a positive turn, Kent State ends a lengthy 21-game losing streak with a 21-17 victory against FCS Merrimack, marking a significant milestone after their previous season’s struggles. Unfortunately, Middle Tennessee takes their place at the bottom following a 34-14 loss to FCS Austin Peay.
