Folks, this week we need to address what has become a debacle behind the AP voting system. There are several problems with how these people are voting, and it is starting to gain a lot of traction on the internet. I do feel bad for the young lady who got slammed on the internet last week, but in all honesty, her answer of “it doesn’t really matter” was just inexcusable as a justification for something with real ramifications that people care about.
This week, it’s a voter who had South Carolina ranked
TENTH after losing at home to Vanderbilt by 24 points, and did not even rank the Commodores, who remain undefeated following the win. They moved the Gamecocks UP in their vote this week despite the decisive result in Columbia on Saturday. Now, I’m not picking on U of SC because of who they are, but this kind of voting is asinine, to say the least. Thankfully, it wasn’t enough to keep South Carolina in the poll (and they did the right thing by booting Clemson out as well).
Notre Dame has yet to win a football game in 2025, yet the Irish remain ranked in this week’s AP poll. Let me remind you that the AP poll is based on merit; it is not a power rating of any sort that predicts a neutral field favorite or projected strength of a team. One-fourth of the season is done, and the fact that we still have a winless team in our coveted poll highly diminishes the validity of such a poll. I do not care that Notre Dame lost two close games to ranked teams; they L-O-S-T the games. We are screwed as a collective body if we reward losing more than winning because a team played a “ranked opponent tough.”
Now, let’s take a look at the full length of this week’s rankings.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0)(LW: 1)
The Buckeyes took care of in-state foe Ohio on Saturday, a game no one outside of the state probably watched. I do not believe the Ohio mascot tackled Brutus this time. Ohio State received 55 first-place votes and is off this weekend.
2. Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0)(LW: 2)
Penn State finally looked like a top-five team as it routed Villanova, but the cupcake season is now over. I still think the voters are clinging to their preseason ranking, having Penn State this high for doing virtually nothing so far. Rest easy, Nittany Lion fans, you’ll get your shot soon when Oregon comes to town. Penn State received five first-place votes and is off this weekend.
3. LSU Tigers (3-0)(LW: 3)
After watching LSU the last two weeks, Clemson fans should be extremely upset that their offense couldn’t get to 20 points to beat these guys. LSU looks vulnerable on offense, struggling to establish the run and converting on third down (at least according to the beat writer Brian Kelly shredded). I have LSU a few spots lower, but they received two first-place votes and will host Southeastern Louisiana this weekend.
4. Miami Hurricanes (3-0)(LW: 5)
Miami brought the USF Cinderella run to a screeching halt on Saturday, handling the Bulls with ease. Miami looks the part of a team that should be No. 1 or No. 2, but the voters still must value Penn State and LSU’s wins over Miami’s (and they are egregiously wrong about that). The Hurricanes received three first-place votes and will host Florida (dead) this weekend.
5. Georgia Bulldogs (3-0)(LW: 6)
Folks, we might be screwed if Kirby Smart’s team is going to give up 41 points on the road and still win ballgames. The Dawgs and Vols played the early candidate for game of the year. Georgia is another team that should be ahead of Penn State. Somehow, the Dawgs didn’t get a single first-place vote (a shame). Georgia is off this weekend.
6. Oregon Ducks (3-0)(LW: 4)
Oregon was the unfortunate beneficiary of impressive wins for Miami and Georgia as the voters dropped the Ducks two spots despite comfortably handling Northwestern. There is still one voter who has Oregon at number one (shoutout to Robert Cessna). Ducks will host rival Oregon State this weekend.
7. Florida State Seminoles (2-0)(LW: 10)
The ‘Noles probably spent the weekend in PCB enjoying their off week, and they’ll come back having moved up in the polls without doing anything. They will host Kent State this weekend.
8. Texas Longhorns (2-1)(LW: 7)
Another example of AP voters refusing to let go of their preseason views. Texas is clearly not a top-10 team right now; they’re not even the best team in the SEC or the best one-loss team! The Longhorns deserve to be in the 20-25 range for now. Remember, polls are not projections of future expectations— they are reflections of what teams have accomplished so far. Texas has little to show after three weeks. The Longhorns will host Sam Houston this weekend.
9. Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0)(LW: 9)
Illinois quietly handled business against Western Michigan, 38-0. The Illini get their next road test this weekend as they head to No. 19 Indiana. HUGE game for both teams.
10. Texas A&M Aggies (3-0)(LW: 16)
One of the biggest wins in recent memory for the Aggies as they knock off Notre Dame on the road (ignore the holding on their last score, of course) – it seems Mike Elko has a team in College Station. Seeing the production from two transfer portal receivers hurts my soul a little bit. Texas A&M suddenly looks like a real contender in the SEC race, and they don’t have to play Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, or Tennessee in order to get to Atlanta. The Aggies have the week off.
11. Oklahoma Sooners (3-0)(LW: 13)
Oklahoma went on the road and completely dismantled Temple, 42-3. Still such an odd trip for Brent Venables and Co. The Sooners have another big home game on deck, hosting No. 22 Auburn, led by former OU quarterback Jackson Arnold. I am excited for this one.
12. Iowa State Cyclones (4-0)(LW: 14)
The Cyclones move up a couple of spots following a funky 24-16 win over Arkansas State on the road. We’ll chalk it up to some CyHawk victory hangover. They’ll get a full weekend off this weekend to recover (remember, this team played in Ireland three weeks ago!).
13. Ole Miss Rebels (3-0)(LW: 17)
I was actually impressed with Ole Miss knocking off Arkansas with their QB2. Lane Kiffin’s system is designed to factor in an injury like Austin Simmons, and you couldn’t tell Trinidad Chambliss was the backup if you didn’t know. The Rebels will host Tulane this weekend.
14. Alabama Crimson Tide (2-1)(LW: 5)
It didn’t take the voters long to fall back in love with the Tide. Alabama is getting the Tennessee treatment this week: getting bumped up before playing Georgia. I guess the voters thought quite highly of Wisconsin. The Tide is off this weekend.
15. Tennessee Volunteers (2-1)(LW: 15)
Oh man, what a heartbreaker on Rocky Top. Tennessee should have won that game. Despite losing, I have more confidence in the Vols than I did before the year. I understand why the voters didn’t dock them this week. They’ll regroup this weekend as they host UAB.
16. Utah Utes (3-0)(LW: 20)
The voters are starting to warm up to the Utes. Utah has flown through its first three games, recently beating Wyoming, 31-6. The Utes get their first big test this weekend when they host No. 17 Texas Tech.
17. Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-0)(LW: 21)
Speaking of those Red Raiders, Texas Tech ran through Oregon State to get to their first 3-0 start since 2021. Much like Utah, the Red Raiders will get their first test this weekend when they go into Salt Lake City to face the 16th-ranked Utes. Fun game alert!
18. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-0)(LW: NR)
Major props to Brent Key. He just slays the ranked ACC giants whenever he gets them. Haynes King singlehandedly drove his team to the win over Clemson. The Jackets continue to be the dark horse in the ACC. Tech will HOST the Temple Owls this weekend (their negotiating skills must be better than Oklahoma’s).
19. Indiana Hoosiers (3-0)(LW: 22)
None of you has watched an Indiana football game this season, and for good measure – they’ve done nothing to earn the attention of your eyeballs. That’s about to change as Big Ten play starts. Up first, a flagship rivalry game with No. 9 Illinois. We’ll learn a lot about both teams this weekend in Bloomington.
20. Vanderbilt Commodores (3-0)(LW: NR)
The second newcomer to the polls is Vanderbilt! The ‘Dores pounded South Carolina in Columbia for their first victory over the Gamecocks in 16 tries. Diego Pavia is legit, and Vandy’s defense has played extremely well this season. My only gripe with the voters is how they had South Carolina ranked 11th last week, but yet Vandy beats them soundly, AND the other P5 team the Gamecocks beat, and the Commodores are nine spots lower than where the Gamecocks were. Illogical. Vandy gets a revenge game this weekend against Georgia State.
21. Michigan Wolverines (2-1)(LW: 23)
Michigan rebounded from a tough night in Norman, beating Central Michigan, 63-3. It’s another tough road test for the Wolverines as they head to Nebraska this weekend.
22. Auburn Tigers (3-0)(LW: 24)
Auburn played with its food just a little bit against South Alabama. It’s possible their minds were already on their trip to Norman this weekend to face Jackson Arnold’s former Sooners. It’s a huge game for both teams, and a chance for Arnold to exercise some of the demons from his tenure there. Auburn needs every win they can get, as they’re currently slated to see ranked competition in each of their next four games.
23. Missouri Tigers (3-0)(LW: 25)
Missouri eased to a 52-10 win over Louisiana. They’ll face South Carolina this weekend for the two teams’ annual claim on the city of Columbia (not intriguing to anyone who doesn’t live in either city).
24. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0-2)(yes, that is zero wins and two losses)(LW: 8)
Not much more can be said past what I mentioned in the intro. It’s just unfathomable to still have them ranked. It is unfortunate because Notre Dame is one of the most talented teams in the country and is still highly rated on the power ranking side. You just can’t reward losing. Notre Dame being ranked but not South Florida is explicit voter bias. No other way to twist it.
25. USC Trojans (3-0)(LW: NR)
Welcome to the poll, former voter lover, USC! The Trojans hit the AP for the first time this season after winning their Big Ten opener against Purdue. They’ll get a night game versus Michigan State this weekend that kicks off at 11:00 p.m. (!!!) EST.
Final thoughts
We’ll see if the AP can straighten itself out. I am glad these guys don’t decide the playoff, but their decisions do play a role in the committee’s decisions, regardless of what anyone on X tells you. Those ADs do not have time to sit down and dissect every team before they make their choices, so they do rely on the AP for backup. We’re just asking everyone involved to at least watch a few more games than they do. That’s all!
