College Football Rankings: Did AP Poll or Coaches Poll Get Week 2 More Right?
After a single week, the AP and USA Today rankings are a bit silly. So much can and will change but nonetheless, there were some surprising movements. Let's take a look at some of them and who did a better job with the rankings, the AP or USA Today (The Coaches) and what we can expect from teams in the future weeks to come.
Alabama
1 of 20
AP: 1st, 47 first place votes.
USA Today/Coaches: 1st, 55 first place votes:
The Coaches get this one right. Of their 59 votes, all but 4 (93%) went to the Crimson Tide, where as in the AP 47 of the 60 went to 'Bama (78%). That's not an insignificant difference. The AP decided to reward Boise for playing a big program in week 1 where most others didn't, like OSU, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, etc. And although they only played lowly San Jose State, the Tide still throttled them and were once again dominant. It's hard to argue that just because Boise won--and did so narrowly--against a far superior opponent, that they deserve to take away Alabama's votes. The Tide are still the reigning champs and it's going to take a lot to knock them off. They'll start to win those votes back once SEC competition begins.
Expect 'Bama to earn more 1st place votes next week if they knock off Paterno's 18th ranked Nittany Lions.
Boise State
2 of 20
AP: 3rd, 8 first place votes.
USA Today/Coaches: 3rd, 0 first place votes:
The AP jumped the gun here. Yes, their win over Virginia Tech was a big deal. And although they squandered a big lead and had to come back in the fourth quarter to win, Boise certainly again proved they can hang with the BCS Conference teams. But the lone victory against Virginia Tech--who historically has struggled early in the season--should not have been enough to gain 7 more 1st place votes (in the preseason, the Broncos had just a single 1st place vote). It's going to take more than one victory to prove they are worthy of multiple first place votes....
.....and a win in their next game in 2 weeks against Wyoming won't help them advance any. If they don't shut out the Cowboys and score a lot of points doing it they may lose 1st place votes; but not their 3rd ranked status.
TCU
3 of 20
AP: 4th
USA Today/Coaches: 5th
The Horned Frogs victory over the Rodgers brothers and a very good Oregon State helped the Horned Frogs build on their national exposure from a season ago. And the AP was a bit more progressive in giving them the 4th spot, one place higher than the Coaches. Obviously, their is not much different between the 4 and 5 spot but the AP made a real statement in this early season poll: 2 of the top 4 teams are outside of the BCS conferences.
Still, TCU is going to need to put together a good show next week against Tennessee Tech to keep that 1 place ranking over Texas in the AP poll: anything less than a 40-point shut out of TTU will likely cost them a spot in the rankings.
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Texas
4 of 20
AP: 5th, 1 first place votes.
USA Today/Coaches: 4th, 0 first place votes:
The AP hedged its bet here: they gave Texas a single first place vote but dropped them a spot behind TCU. Texas should have done better than they did in Week 1, defeating Rice at Home 34-17 but Garrett Gilbert got the job done and a Texas victory was never in doubt. The Coaches made the right choice in picking Texas one spot ahead of TCU. In a head to head showdown Texas--despite losing Colt McCoy and others--still would be a heavy favorite over TCU.
Like TCU, the Longhorns are unlikely to impress voters with a win next week against Wyoming--a tough two week stretch for the Cowboys of Wyoming: at Texas then against Boise State--and will probably just stay put in both polls until their conference schedule begins later this month.
Nebraska
5 of 20
AP: 6th
USA Today/Coaches: 7th
Defeating Western Kentucky should never boost a team from 8th to 6th (especially if no one above them loses) but the Cornhuskers took care of business in Week 1 and the AP rewarded them for it. Again, not much difference between the AP and Coaches here but the Coaches weren't quite as impressed with Nebraska as the AP. The AP ranks the Cornhusker's higher than both Florida and Oregon where as the Coaches have Oregon virtually tied with Nebraska and Florida ahead of both. I think the Coaches have it right here: you'd be crazy--at least this early in the season--to take Nebraska over Florida, no matter how bad the Tebow-less Gators looked last week.
The Cornhuskers will only keep their 6th spot in the AP polls next week with a big win over Idaho. If not, expect them to fall behind Florida and Oregon and maybe even Iowa.
Oregon
6 of 20
AP: 7th
USA Today/Coaches: 8th
Anytime you defeat a team 10 touchdowns, you deserve some attention and the Ducks got some last week by beating New Mexico 72-0. Doing so against a respectable program like the Lobos only enhances what the Ducks did last week.
Oregon can build on their momentum in the polls next week should they be able to go to Rocky Top and beat the Vols: no matter the growing pains in Tennessee, a road win there is going to be impressive and expect the Ducks to vault above Nebraska and Florida should they win.
Florida
7 of 20
AP: 8th
USA Today/Coaches: 6th
The AP was clearly unwhelmed by the poor showing in the debut of the post-Tebow era but they thought are wrong to drop the Gators 4 spots in the polls. At least the Coaches only dropped them 3 spots and kept them at number 6. It would be a mistake for anyone to underestimate Florida based on just one showing so the Coaches slightly have the edge here, ranking the Gators at number six, rather than number 8.
Next week's game against South Florida will be an important one for the Gators: a win over the budding Bulls should boost their morale but it won't necessarily boost their ranking. Assuming Oregon, Florida and Nebraska all win next week: they should be ranked in that order.
Arkansas
8 of 20
AP: 14th
USA Today/Coaches: 15th
Once again, their isn't a tremendous difference between the Coaches and the AP on this one but there is a good chance the AP was enamored with the Heisman hopeful at quarterback and that is what gave the Razorbacks a slight boost int the standings. But then again, not surrendering a single touchdown in their week 1 game against Tennessee Tech is a sign that maybe UA is well rounded enough to compete in the SEC West.
Another less-than-stellar opponent (Louisiana Monroe) will probably keep the Razorbacks from advancing but once the SEC schedule starts, there will be ample opportunities to rise: they play Georgia and Alabama in consecutive weeks at the end of September.
Georgia Tech
9 of 20
AP: 15th
USA Today/Coaches: 17th
The Yellow Jackets are a sleeper this season, not just in the ACC but potentially in the National Championship hunt and although they weren't perfect last week in their win over FCS South Carolina State, they were dominant. As much hype as Joshua Nesbitt is going to get in the Heisman race, Georgia Tech proved in Week 1 that they are a strong all-around team, even without their workhorse back from a year ago, Jonathon Dwyer. The AP noticed, while the Coaches were a bit behind and probably fixated on the name of their opponent.
Expect a big win next week as the Jackets travel to Lawrence, KS but also expect the Coaches to bump them up a space or two on the rankings. Although the Jayhawks are not a good team, a win over a Big XII opponent will garner Georgia Tech some praise.
USC
10 of 20
AP: 16th
USA Today/Coaches: Nor Ranked
The two polls were virtually on the same page regarding the top 15 spots--a few minor disparities here and there. But the case of USC shows a tremendous gap. The AP seems to think that the sanctions and shakeup at head coach haven't bothered the Trojans.....and the 49 points they posted against Hawaii would seem to indicate that the status quo hasn't changed much in SoCal. The Coaches, however, were not impressed by USC's opening win....largely their surrendering 36 points. The Coaches did not rank the Trojans or even give them any consideration. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle: USC should be either on the cusp of being ranked or just inside the Top 15. But both polls would agree on this: if they have to rely on Matt Barkley throwing 5 TDs each week two things will happen. Barkley will become the Heisman favorite and USC will struggle to win 7 games.
There is nowhere to go but up with USC in terms of the Coaches, and nowhere to go but down in terms of the AP. The Trojans should defeat Virginia at home next week and stay put in the AP, and get some of the Coaches attention.
Penn State
11 of 20
AP: 18th
USA Today/Coaches: 14th
I'd have to agree with the AP on this one: Penn State's win over Youngstown did not showcase a team that is one of the 15 best in the nation. They are going to contend for that second place finish in the Big 10 but that doesn't mean they are one of the nation's elite. Perhaps the AP kept in mind their next week's opponent: they won't fall as far if they lose next week to.....
....Alabama who the Nittany Lions play in Tuscaloosa next week. Penn State won't be able to compete with the reigning national champions and should fall near the bottom or out of the Top 25 with a loss. Of course a miraculous win over Saban's bunch would mean a spot inside the Top 10.
LSU
12 of 20
AP: 19th
USA Today/Coaches: 16th
The Coaches have a bit more faith in their colleague, Les Miles, than the AP does. The Tigers squandered a 30-10 lead last week to UNC and had to hang on to the last play to win in the Georgia Dome. While they were impressive through 3 quarters they did not play a complete game and the AP likely took notice. The Tar Heels off-the-field problems also contributed: LSU should have thumped UNC in those circumstances.
The Tigers can move to 2-0 next week and will climb in the rankings if they can go to Vanderbilt and win but the new-look Commodores are capable of dropping LSU out of the rankings.
Georgia
13 of 20
AP: 22nd
USA Today/Coaches: 19th
The Coaches know Mark Richt and know he is poised to greatly improve the Bulldogs this season. They made the right choice by keeping them inside the Top 20. Although they played a weak opponent in Louisiana-Lafayette, Georgia and new quarterback Aaron Murray looked great, scoring 55 points. But it was the revamped defense that really encouraged Richt and the Dawg fans. If they can keep up that level of balance, the AP and the rest of the nation will take notice.
Next week's showdown at South Carolina is going to be one of the biggest games of September with the winner becoming the favorite to contend with Florida in the East. A win over Spurrier's Gamecocks will send the Bulldogs near the Top 15.
Arizona
14 of 20
AP: Unranked
USA Today/Coaches: 23rd
Not sure what the Coaches are thinking here: they must just love the Stoops family. Yes they destroyed Toledo last week, 41-2 but that shouldn't be enough to boost a team from outside the Top 25 to 23rd. While the Wildcats are a good program and have a great coach, the AP knows that a blowout in Week 1 of a MAC team does not signal an elite program.
If they want to keep that 23rd ranking, the Wildcats had better pummel the Citadel in their home opener next week. Only a 50-point shutout will likely catch the AP's attention.
BYU
15 of 20
AP: Unranked
USA Today/Coaches: 24th
Here is another case of the AP and Coaches being on totally separate pages. This time, I'd have to side with the Coaches, however. Although the game was a little too close for comfort, the Cougars beat a good team in Washington last week. Jake Locker is a star in the making and the Huskies are brushing away the memories of that 0-11 season. Steve Sarkisian's team not only upset the Trojans last year but they won their final two games in very convincing fashion. BYU struggled in the opener with their two-quarterback system but hung on to win. They deserve to be ranked and the coaches knew that.
A win over Air Force next week won't likely help the Cougars reach the AP's list but it will keep them solid at 24 in the Coaches poll. Two weeks from now, however, they can push past several teams with a win at Florida State.
Stanford
16 of 20
AP: 25th
USA Today/Coaches: Not Ranked
The 25 spot is perfect for the Cardinal. They have a big name quarterback, a big name head coach and play in a big conference: considering how great they were last year, that should be enough for a ranking this early in the season. It was for the AP, not for the Coaches. The Pac-10 will be a difficult conference to win but they got off to a solid start with their 52-17 home win against Sacramento State.
Even thought the Bears aren't ranked, a win next week at UCLA, a top-notch program on the rise, would put Jim Harbaugh's team on both lists. Expect the Cardinal to be hovering around the Top 20 heading into their Pac-10 schedule.
Michigan
17 of 20
Unranked in Both Polls:
The Wolverines were impressive last week, especially the running of their new quarterback, Denard Robinson. But their 30-10 win over UCONN, a team many expected to defeat Michigan at the Big House was not enough for either poll to rank them. That will certainly change with next week's showdown at Notre Dame. A win over the Irish on national television will certainly garner Rich Rodriguez a Top 25 spot.
Notre Dame
18 of 20
Unranked in Both Polls:
Like their opponent next week, the Irish were overlooked when the rankings came out this week. Victory over Purdue and their wonderful transfer at quarterback, Robert Marve, was enough to get the right number of votes. The fact that Charlie Weis and Ty Willingham both won their openers probably hurt Brian Kelly's hopes of reaching the Top 25 in a single one week. But a home win over their rival Wolverines will change that.
Clemson
19 of 20
Unranked in Both Polls
Without C.J. Spiller the Tigers managed to run the very well in their opener against North Texas. The 35-10 home win did not get Clemson a spot on the Top 25 and neither will a win next week against Presbyterian, but later this month they play Auburn and win over their fellow Tigers will have Clemson ranked. Once Conference play begins, Clemson could be a dark horse candidate to win the ACC's Atlantic.
Fresno State
20 of 20
Unranked in Both Polls
Because they are both West Coast AND not in a major conference, the Bulldogs will always struggle to get attention. But it's sad that their win over last year's BCS darling, Cincinnati, didn't yield more votes. Again, Pat Hill's team has a promising passing attack and the defense tossed a second half shutout. Although everyone talks about TCU and Boise State, Fresno could be one of the non-BCS teams to watch: a late September win at Oxford against Ole Miss would get people talking leading up to their showdown with Boise State in November.
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