Ad Disclosure
Ranking the Top 25 based on what we saw on the field Saturday with Week 7 rankings in mind, here’s how the AP Top 25 should’ve looked heading into the eighth weekend of games:
How the AP Top 25 Should’ve Looked
1. Ohio State (7-0) — Finally, the Buckeyes ran away from a decent opponent, beating Penn State by four touchdowns on Saturday night in all-black uniforms.
2. Baylor (6-0) — Quarterback Seth Russell is throwing a touchdown pass every four completions this season. The Heisman buzz is real.
3. Utah (6-0) — The Utes have 16 first-place votes in the latest AP Top 25, second-most in the country behind Ohio State (28) and more than Baylor (12).
4. TCU (7-0) — Trevone Boykin and the Horned Frogs scored 31 unanswered points at Iowa State after trailing by a touchdown heading into the second quarter.
5. LSU (6-0) — The SEC’s last remaining unbeaten just posted its most impressive win, knocking off No. 8 Florida in a physical showdown in Baton Rouge.
6. Alabama (6-1) — What do you think of new-look Alabama? Another statement in the form of Saturday’s win at Texas A&M has put the rest of the division on high alert down the stretch. If Ole Miss loses another SEC games, the Crimson Tide are in control of their own destiny.
7. Clemson (6-0)
8. Michigan State (7-0)
9. Florida State (6-0)
10. Florida (6-1) — Jim McElwain had to be pleased with his team’s effort level during a narrow loss to LSU. The Gators showed fight against an elite opponent and further made a case that they’re the favorites in the East.
11. Notre Dame (6-1)
12. Stanford (5-1)
13. Oklahoma State (6-0)
14. Iowa (7-0)
15. Memphis (6-0)
16. Texas A&M (5-1) — What happened to Kyle Allen? The sophomore quarterback stumbled against Alabama, throwing three interceptions that were each returned for touchdowns. Once again against elite competition, the Aggies floundered.
17. Oklahoma (5-1)
18. Michigan (5-2)
19. Toledo (6-0) — Suddenly, the Razorbacks’ loss to the Rockets doesn’t look so bad.
20. Houston (6-0)
21. Ole Miss (5-2) — Hugh Freeze hopes the Rebels can avoid a second-half collapse
22. California (5-1)
23. Duke (5-1)
24. Mississippi State (5-2) — Between the two two-loss SEC teams vying for this spot, I think the bulldogs would beat Georgia — right now — head to head.
25. Western Kentucky (6-1) — If you haven’t seen QB Brandon Doughty in action, tune in to Saturday’s game at LSU.
