College Football Rankings 2014: Final Overview of Week 2 Standings
Preseason college football rankings are always to be taken with a grain of salt, and that is never more apparent than the moment that Week 2 standings are released.
All it takes is one game for certain top-10 schools to prove that the hype might be unwarranted. Meanwhile, an upset victory for a team near the end of the Top 25 can propel them all the way near the front of the rankings.
I'm looking at you, South Carolina and Texas A&M.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Although the Top 25 in Week 2 looks significantly different from how things will stand at the end of the season, it's still a much more accurate measuring point after seeing—almost—all of college football's best teams play their opening 60 minutes.
But with top-10 matchups on the slate for the weekend, we're only a few days away from another big shakeup.
Here's a final look at the Top 25 as Week 2 gets ready to unfold.
| 1 | Florida State (46) | Florida State (57) |
| 2 | Alabama (1) | Alabama |
| 3 | Oregon (5) | Oklahoma (2) |
| 4 | Oklahoma (2) | Oregon (2) |
| 5 | Auburn | Auburn |
| 6 | Georgia (2) | Michigan State |
| 7 | Michigan State | Ohio State |
| 8 | Ohio State | Georgia (1) |
| 9 | Texas A&M (2) | Baylor |
| 10 | Baylor | Stanford |
| 11 | UCLA | UCLA |
| 12 | LSU (1) | LSU |
| 13 | Stanford | Texas A&M |
| 14 | USC | USC |
| 15 | Ole Miss | Notre Dame |
| 16 | Notre Dame | Arizona State |
| 17 | Arizona State | Ole Miss |
| 18 | Wisconsin | Nebraska |
| 19 | Nebraska | Wisconsin |
| 20 | Kansas State | Kansas State |
| 21 | South Carolina | South Carolina |
| 22 | North Carolina | Missouri |
| 23 | Clemson | North Carolina |
| 24 | Missouri | Clemson |
| 25 | Louisville | Texas |
Associated Press poll found at AP.org, USA Today coaches' poll found at USAToday.com.
Top 25 Overview
It didn't involve No. 1 falling, but Week 1 showed just how vulnerable the top dogs are in college football entering the season.
Few expected anything other than another Florida State blowout when Jameis Winston's crew took to the AT&T Stadium field to face an unranked Oklahoma State team. Instead, last year's Heisman Trophy winner got all he could handle as he threw more interceptions than touchdowns in a close 37-31 victory.
Not as noticeable as Winston's struggles but even more alarming were the defensive lapses. The Seminoles gave up 364 total yards, and they conceded more points than they did throughout a portion of last season as ESPN Stats and Information noted:
Florida State wasn't the only powerhouse to struggle to an opening win. Alabama faced an early deficit to West Virginia and struggled on defense, before pulling out a 33-23 win that was closer than expected.
Of course, neither of the close wins did anything to deter Florida State and Alabama's status as the top two teams in the rankings. But don't think for a second that the reset of college football didn't notice their vulnerability.
Elsewhere, many less proven teams made huge statements in Week 1. Most notably were two SEC heavyweights—Georgia and Texas A&M.
The Bulldogs started the season off with a marquee matchup against Clemson, and a tight affair at halftime was blown open thanks to Todd Gurley's massive day—15 carries, 198 yards and four total touchdowns, including a kickoff return to the house.
From a team lurking outside of the top 10 entering the season, that performance wasn't too shocking. The Aggies' domination of South Carolina, however, was just that as freshman Kenny Hill dazzled with more than 500 yards of offense.
Both were rewarded in Week 2 with huge boosts in the rankings, but with Georgia facing South Carolina this upcoming weekend, don't be surprised if things get shaken up again.
The movement was far and wide across the Top 25, including Louisville sneaking in after dominating Miami. CampusInsiders.com's Russ Mitchell added more schools to keep an eye on as potential sleepers:
Week 2 guarantees more movement across the board. ESPN's College GameDay will be at a game with College Football Playoff implications as No. 3 Oregon hosts No. 7 Michigan State, USC battles Stanford and Notre Dame hosts Michigan.
Most of the top schools can ease into the season with easy matchups on Week 1, but Week 2 begins the true season for those who start with a cupcake team.
There will be few strolls in the park for the nation's marquee teams from here on out.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
