College Football AP Top 25 For Week 2, New Rule & Ohio State Vs Texas Set For A Top Five Showdown
College Football Week 2 AP Top 25
College Football Week 2 has arrived, and the latest AP Top 25 already has movement throughout the national picture. While some teams remain steady, several programs made jumps, while one nationally followed team took a major step backwards.
Ohio State remains No. 1, followed by an unbeaten Georgia at No. 2 and Note Dame at No. 3. Texas and Indiana round out the top five, giving the SEC and Big 10 a powerful presence near the top of the poll.
One of the biggest stories is the controversial win by Michigan over Western Michigan which caused them even in a win to drop out of the top 25 after being ranked #16 in Week 1.
Rank | Team | Record | Movement |
1 | Ohio State | 1-0 | — |
2 | Georgia | 1-0 | ↑ 1 |
3 | Notre Dame | 1-0 | ↑ 1 |
4 | Texas | 1-0 | ↑ 1 |
5 | Indiana | 1-0 | ↑ 1 |
6 | Oregon | 1-0 | ↓ 4 |
7 | Miami | 2-0* including week 2 Thursday game | — |
8 | LSU | 1-0 | ↑ 3 |
9 | Ole Miss | 1-0 | — |
10 | Texas A&M | 1-0 | ↓ 2 |
11 | Oklahoma | 1-0 | ↓ 1 |
12 | Alabama | 1-0 | ↑ 1 |
13 | Texas Tech | 1-0 | ↓ 1 |
14 | USC | 2-0 | — |
15 | BYU | 1-0 | ↓ 1 |
16 | Penn State | 1-0 | ↑ 2 |
17 | SMU | 1-0 | ↑ 2 |
18 | Tennessee | 1-0 | ↑ 2 |
19 | Washington | 1-0 | ↓ 2 |
20 | Utah | 1-0 | ↑ 1 |
21 | Iowa | 1-0 | ↑ 1 |
22 | Houston | 1-0 | ↑ 1 |
23 | Missouri | 1-0 | ↑ 2 |
24 | Louisville | 0-1 | — |
25 | Virginia | 1-0 | NR |
The biggest takeaway is just how fast a team can tumble with a disappointing performance.
The Western Michigan Rule: A Controversial Ending Leads to Change
Few moments from the opening week generated more controversy than Michigan's 13-12 escape against Western Michigan.
Western Michigan appeared to have pulled off a stunning upset when Michigan's initial Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete as the clock reached zero. However, after a replay review, officials restored one second to the clock, giving Michigan another opportunity.
The Wolverines took advantage. Quarterback Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan on a 47-yard touchdown pass on the second attempt, turning what appeared to be a Western Michigan victory into a heartbreaking 13-12 Michigan win.
The controversy centered on which clock should have been used during the replay review.
The MAC argued that officials failed to follow the established replay protocol and instead relied on a clock feed that was not synchronized with the program feed. Had the proper timing protocol been followed, the MAC argued, the extra second would not have been restored and Western Michigan would have won 12-7.
The NCAA has now responded with a standardized replay timing protocol.
Going forward, when a replay review requires time to be restored or adjusted, officials are instructed to base the decision on whatever's shown on the in stadium game clock. If that clock is unavailable, the replay official is to use the game clock graphic shown on the broadcast.
The new procedure is designed to eliminate the type of clock discrepancy that became the center of the Western Michigan-Michigan controversy.
The result of the game, however, will stand.
For Western Michigan, this may be little consolation. For college football as a whole, however, the controversy has produced an important change that could prevent a similar situation from deciding another game.
Game of the Week: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Texas
If there is one game that commands everyone's attention this week, it is No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Texas.
A matchup between two top-five teams is rare enough, but the stakes make this one even more significant. Ohio State enters the game as the nation's No. 1 team, while Texas has positioned itself just outside the top three and has a chance to make a major statement against the team sitting above everyone else.
Ohio State looked dominant in week 1 and enters the matchup unbeaten. Texas, meanwhile, also look tough in it's opening week and has the opportunity to prove that its ranking belongs atop the nation's elite.
The Buckeyes will be looking to protect the No. 1 ranking, while Texas has an opportunity to dramatically reshape the early playoff conversation with a victory.
The matchup also carries recent history. Ohio State and Texas met early last season, with the Buckeyes winning the contest. Texas now gets another opportunity, this time at home to change the narrative.
There is no shortage of storylines entering this one, but the simplest one says it all,
No. 1 vs. No. 4.
