College Football Rankings Week 3: 5 Teams That the Pollsters Snubbed

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Week 2 of college football did not disappoint. Rivalry games, final second comebacks and dazzling plays all contributed to one heck of a week, and the voters certainly took notice.

Or did they?

The Associated Press Top 25 Poll had a lot of the normal suspects at the top of the list, with Oklahoma, Alabama and LSU in the top three, and teams like Florida and South Carolina slowly creeping up the rankings.

But there were some serious snubs by the voters in the latest top 25 rankings. Teams like Mississippi State and TCU somehow managed to stay in the top 25—but for how much longer?

Here are five college football teams that the pollsters snubbed in the Week 3 rankings.

1. Michigan Wolverines (2-0)

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The Michigan Wolverines received 104 votes in the Associated Press top 25 poll, but they did not crack the top 25. Michigan improved to 2-0 on the season with an improbable (impossible?) 35-31 come from behind victory over the rival Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The Wolverines scored 28 points in the fourth quarter alone and showed the heart and tenacity that has been lacking from Big Blue for quite some time. They were being dominated for much of the game, and Brian Kelly's team could do pretty much whatever they wanted.

Michigan had no answer for Michael Floyd on the outside (13 rec. 159 yds.) and Cierre Wood up the middle (25 carries, 134 yds., 1 TD). Meanwhile, Denard Robinson and Co. only managed seven points through the first three quarters.

Never count old "Shoelace" out.

Denard Robinson quieted his critics and showed the country that as long as he is on the field, the game is never over. The Heisman Candidate (favorite) accounted for 446 total yards (338 passing) and five total touchdowns.

Simply amazing.

Roy Roundtree's 16-yard TD catch from Robinson with only two seconds left capped one of the greatest comebacks in collegiate history and certainly one of the best in this rivalry game. 

Michigan deserves to be ranked in the Top 25 because they are undefeated and they have the most electrifying player in collegiate football. There was no bigger snub in the top 25 poll than the Michigan Wolverines.

2. USC Trojans (2-0)

Harry How/Getty Images

The USC Trojans improved to 2-0 on Saturday after beating a very good Utah Utes team, and they still are not ranked. Voters certainly have taken notice, however, as they received 68 votes.

The Trojans have played two pretty good teams in their first two weeks (Minnesota Golden Gophers in Week 1), and they have escaped with victories. Obviously, they did not have the style points that some of the other teams in the rankings did, but they beat two quality teams and that should count for something.

They have a future first-round pick in Matt Barkley, who has completed over 70 percent of his passes in the early-going with a QB rating of 146.1. They have three running backs who have averaged at least 4.5 yards per carry and a defense that is loaded with five-star recruits.

Do the USC Trojans need to win the Pac-12 before they can crack the top 25? Enough already.

3. Maryland Terrapins (1-0)

Rob Carr/Getty Images

The Maryland Terrapins had an exhilarating 32-24 victory in Week 1 against the Miami Hurricanes, but that was not enough to earn them a spot in the top 25. They have a showdown this week when they oppose No. 18 West Virginia, and a victory would certainly catapult them into the top 25.

The problem is that they have received more attention regarding their uniforms than their impressive victory.

Maryland did receive 32 votes, but that wasn't nearly enough to earn a spot in the top 25. Their QB, Danny O'Brien, looks to be the real deal, as he went 31-44 for 348 yards and a TD against a fast Miami defense.

Davin Megget is now the featured back for the Terrapins, and the bruiser will be a handful all season long for the opposition. The 'Terps were snubbed, but don't expect them to be out of the top 25 for much longer.

A win against the Mountaineers would assure that.

4. Houston Cougars (2-0)

Bob Levey/Getty Images

College football voters still haven't taken notice of how good Case Keenum really is. He will break many of the all-time records in CFB, and he has a lot of talent surrounding him in 2011.

The Houston Cougars upset the UCLA Bruins 38-34 in Week 1, and they followed that up with a 48-23 shellacking of the University of North Texas. The Cougars are ranked first in the FBS in passing yards per game with an average of 436.5, and they can score on anyone.

Keenum will keep the Cougars rolling, and they will continue to receive more attention from the voters.

5. UCF Knights (2-0)

The UCF Knights may be the only team ever to have outscored their opponents 92-3 in two games and not crack the top 25. OK, so a 62-0 victory against Charleston-Southern (who?) might not mean much to voters, but a 30-3 whooping of the Boston College Golden Eagles certainly should.

They have been dominant in all three phases of the game and they look unstoppable to this point. Obviously, though, not in the eyes of the voters.