NCAA Football Rankings 2017: Predicting Top Movers in Week 5 Post-Week 4 Results
The Associated Press' Top 25 Week 5 poll will reflect some changes after a couple of upsets on Saturday. Oklahoma State's loss to TCU doesn't just boost the Horned Frogs' profile but also helps Georgia, who beat a ranked opponent in Mississippi State.
Penn State narrowly escaped an upset with a game-winning touchdown on the road against Iowa:
"WALK OFF. TRACE MCSORLEY. ICE IN HIS VEINS. pic.twitter.com/JEC0y4QMIM
— Barstool Penn State (@PSUBarstool) September 24, 2017"
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
According to ESPN Stats & Info, Florida State has started the year 0-2 for the first time since 1989, which should result in the program's drop from No. 12 to unranked. Oregon's loss to Arizona State could open the pathway for another program to re-enter or debut in the AP's Top 25 poll.
Rank: AP Poll Week 4 / Week 5 Projection
1. Alabama / Alabama
2. Clemson / Clemson
3. Oklahoma / Oklahoma
4. Penn State / Penn State
5. USC / USC
6. Oklahoma State / Washington
7. Washington / Michigan
8. Michigan / TCU
9. Wisconsin / Georgia
10. Ohio State / Wisconsin
11. Georgia / Ohio State
12. Florida State / Virginia Tech
13. Virginia Tech / Miami
14. Miami / Auburn
15. Auburn / Oklahoma State
16. TCU / Washington State
17. Mississippi State / Louisville
18. Washington State / Florida
19. Louisville / South Florida
20. Florida / San Diego State
21. South Florida / Utah
22. San Diego State / Mississippi State
23. Utah / LSU
24. Oregon / Stanford
25. LSU / West Virginia
Rising Team: TCU
TCU traveled to Stillwater, Oklahoma, and left with a 44-31 victory over the No. 6 Cowboys on Saturday, which puts Gary Patterson's group in a position to crack the top 10 in the polls.
Oklahoma State took the field without two starting offensive linemen on the right side in Zachary Crabtree and Larry Williams, who will miss the entire season with a leg injury, per ESPN.com reporter Jake Trotter. TCU sacked quarterback Mason Rudolph three times. Nonetheless, wideouts James Washington and Marcell Ateman still reached 100-plus receiving yards
In uncharacteristic fashion, the Cowboys run defense became the weak link in Saturday's loss, per ESPN Stats & Info:
Running back Darius Anderson scored his sixth rushing touchdown through four contests as the Horned Frogs continued to flash as a legitimate contender in the Big 12.
Falling Team: Florida State
After losing quarterback Deondre Francois in the season opener, Florida State returned to action after a three-week intermission with freshman signal-caller James Blackman under center.
As expected, the Seminoles offense started slow, which allowed North Carolina State to jump out to a 10-0 lead. Blackman found his way early in the second quarter, but the Wolfpack never fell behind in a 27-21 victory.
Senior tight end Jaylen Samuels scored the first and the last touchdowns to bury Florida State in their fall to 0-2.
Once viewed as an early favorite to reach the College Football Playoff, the Seminoles should drop out of the Top 25. In an improved ACC with Clemson and Louisville on the schedule, head coach Jimbo Fisher's group may be looking at a lost season.
Falling Team: Oklahoma State
As mentioned above, Rudolph didn't have enough to keep pace with TCU. The senior quarterback and running back Justice Hill ran for consecutive scores in the fourth quarter, but Anderson shut the door on the Cowboys' comeback bid.
The Horned Frogs officially replace the Cowboys as the biggest threat to the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12.
In Week 4, Oklahoma State listed as No. 6 in the nation and lost to the No. 16-ranked team, which somewhat cushions the fall in the polls. Head coach Mike Gundy's group hasn't been knocked out of the College Football Playoff discussion.
The Cowboys will likely drop to somewhere in the teen rankings and hope to climb back into contention with quality wins against West Virginia and Oklahoma in a few weeks.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
