College Football Rankings: 10 Teams That Could Make Big Poll Moves in Week 5
You see it nearly every week.
An unranked underdog upsets an NCAA powerhouse that is favored by 20 points, or two conference rivals go down to the wire in an instant classic.
It’s what makes the sport so great. It’s why I have three TVs set up in my living room from September through January.
It’s also what causes major shakeups in the polls.
We saw a huge change this past week when Texas disappointed its fans with a dismal showing against UCLA.
And if history tells us anything, it will happen again in Week 5 of the college football season.
Some teams will break into the top 25 rankings for the first time, while others will fall, and a few will rapidly climb up the polls.
Let’s take a look at the ones who will make that ever so treacherous move upward: the Week 5 risers of college football.
10. Florida State (Unranked in both polls)
1 of 10
The Opponent: Florida State plays Virginia. The Cavaliers are 2-1, but those wins came against Richmond and Virginia Military Institute.
Prediction: The Seminoles were destroyed by Oklahoma, but have rebounded nicely, allowing just 10 points in two victories over BYU and Wake Forest. This is a statement game for Florida State, and a must win.
Christian Ponder will prove why he was a preseason Heisman contender, and the Seminoles will send a message with a double-digit victory.
Florida State 34
Virginia 14
How a Win Helps Poll Cred: As I said, this is a statement game for Florida. A close victory doesn’t help, but a blowout could wipe out some of the negativity surrounding the Seminoles after the Oklahoma loss.
How High They Could Rise: With a convincing victory, the Seminoles will make their way back into the top 25 somewhere in the 22-23 range.
9. USC (No. 18 in AP, Unranked in USA Today)
2 of 10
The Opponent: Washington was a hot preseason pick to make some noise in the Pac-10, but Jake Locker has been extremely disappointing, and the Huskies sit at 1-2.
Prediction: USC has no shot of going to a bowl game or winning a national championship, but the Trojans still want to win. The defense isn’t nearly as good as it has been in years past, but the offense has put up decent numbers so far.
Matt Barkley will have this team focused before next week’s showdown with Stanford.
USC 38
Washington 17
How a Win Could Help Poll Cred: A close win does nothing for the Trojans, and probably keeps them at No. 18. But a thumping of the Huskies could worry USC’s next few opponents.
How High They Could Rise: A blowout victory pushes the Trojans into the top 15 in the AP poll, and into the top 25 of the USA Today rankings.
8. Texas A&M (Unranked In Both Polls)
3 of 10
The Opponent: This game is equally important for the Aggies and their opponent, the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Oklahoma State offense is putting up monster numbers, with 391.7 yards and 57 points per game.
Prediction: This one will not be a defensive struggle. That’s for sure. Oklahoma State allowed 38 points to Troy while Texas A&M has yet to play a quality opponent.
Look for both teams to air it out in a game that could go either way.
Oklahoma State 45
Texas A&M 38
How a Win Could Help Poll Cred: One of these teams will be undefeated after this game, and will have handed the other team its only loss on the season. That’s enough for a big rise in the polls.
How High They Could Rise: They’re both unranked, but an impressive showing from either team will move them into the top 25. A blowout either way could put one of these teams in the late teens.
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7. Texas (No. 25 in AP, No 16. in USA Today)
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The Opponent: Texas will battle Oklahoma in a game that is one of college football’s biggest rivalries. Texas is looking to rebound from an embarrassing 22-point loss to UCLA, while Oklahoma is coming off a closer-than-expected win over Cincinnati.
Prediction: The transition from Colt McCoy to Garrett Gilbert hasn’t been as smooth as expected, and Oklahoma is trying to figure out whether it is the team that dismantled Florida State or the one that beat Utah State, Air Force, and Cincinnati by a combined 12 points.
I’d expect both teams to look much stronger after coming off of poor showings in which they played down to their opponents’ levels. The game will be close, but the Sooners have the edge in talent this year, and a more experienced team with quarterback Landry Jones and running back DeMarco Murray.
Oklahoma 34
Texas 24
How a Win Helps Poll Cred: A win for Oklahoma doesn’t look as good after Week 4, but a victory for Texas over a team many analysts expect to be a national title contender could be huge for the Longhorns. They could instantly reestablish themselves as the Big 12 favorite.
How High Can They Rise: If Texas does pull an upset, the Longhorns will make it to the top 15 at least, and possibly reenter the top 10 rankings.
6. North Carolina State (No. 23 in AP, Unranked in USA Today)
5 of 10
The Opponent: The Wolfpack has started off 4-0, and is the surprise team in the ACC. NC State’s opponent is Virginia Tech, a program that was on the wrong end of this year’s biggest upset against James Madison, and is a disappointing 2-2.
Prediction: The Hokies have rebounded with two straight wins following an 0-2 start, while the Wolfpack offense has excelled under Russell Wilson. The dual-sport quarterback has thrown for 289 yards per game, and NC State is ranked 19th in the nation in scoring offense.
The Virginia Tech defense isn’t as good as usual, but the offense has three terrific playmakers in Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Williams, and Darren Evans. This one could be a shootout.
NC State 31
Virginia Tech 35
How a Win Helps Poll Cred: The Hokies may not be the team most analysts predicted, but a 5-0 start with victories over Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech could make NC State the ACC favorite.
How High They Could Rise: A Wolfpack win could push NC State into the top 20. The win itself might not be huge, but losses by teams ranked ahead of NC State could move the team up
5. Michigan State (No. 24 in AP, No. 21 in USA Today)
6 of 10
The Opponent: The Spartans will play the 11th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers, who may pose the biggest threat to Ohio State in the Big 10 after early losses by Penn State and Iowa.
Prediction: Although Michigan State is 4-0, the Spartans have played a lackluster schedule this season. This will be the team’s first real test of the season, and the Spartans will have to deal with defending Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year John Clay.
Michigan State is a run-heavy team as well, averaging 231.5 yards per game on the ground. Expect this to be a classic Big 12 matchup that is low-scoring.
Michigan State 17
Wisconsin 13
How a Win Helps Poll Cred: With all due respect to Notre Dame, this is Michigan State’s toughest game of the young season. A win over the No. 11 team in the country will signify that the Spartans are for real.
How High They Could Rise: A lot depends on what the teams in front of them do, but Michigan State could enter the top 15 with a convincing win.
4. Penn State (No. 22 in AP, No. 20 in USA Today)
7 of 10
The Opponent: In one of the most critical Big 10 matchups of the season, the Nittany Lions will battle 17th-ranked Iowa. The Hawkeyes are a disappointing 3-1, but did have an impressive 45-0 victory over Ball State last week.
Prediction: Another classic Big 10 matchup awaits football fans. Penn State allows only 12.8 points per game, just a hair behind Iowa at 12 per game.
This game will be close, but the Nittany Lions are starting a true freshmen quarterback while the Hawkeyes are starting a senior who is a third-year starter. The edge goes to Iowa.
Iowa 21
Penn State 14
How a Win Helps Poll Cred: Any big conference win is sure to help either of these teams. Both have early losses, but Penn State’s came against Alabama. A win would reassert Penn State’s position as a Big 10 contender.
How High They Could Rise: Penn State is ranked just behind Iowa in the polls. A win by the Nittany Lions likely means a flip flop in the rankings.
3. Clemson (Unranked in both polls)
8 of 10
The Opponent: Clemson will play conference rival Miami. The Hurricanes are fresh off a 31-3 thumping of Pittsburgh, and had a long week to recuperate. Miami’s only blemish is a loss to Ohio State at the Horseshoe.
Prediction: Clemson’s only loss on the season came against Auburn, but the Tigers should have won that game. Meanwhile, Miami looks like they’ve rebounded from the thumping against the Buckeyes after laying a thumping of their own last week.
How well the Tigers deal with Jacory Harris will go a long way in determining the outcome of this game.
Clemson 21
Miami 31
How a Win Helps Poll Cred: Despite the loss, Miami is the cream of the crop in the ACC. A Clemson win would put everyone in the conference on notice.
How High They Could Rise: If Clemson can prove me wrong and topple the Hurricanes, the Tigers will crack the top 25. A double-digit win moves them into the top 20.
2. Stanford (No. 9 in AP, No. 13 in USA Today)
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The Opponent: USC is not the same USC of old, so the Cardinal and the Ducks are the class of this year’s Pac-10. Oregon is first in the country in points scored, and third in points allowed.
Prediction: Two great offenses, and two great defenses—Something has to give. Neither defense has faced an offense like they’ll face in this game. Despite the stellar defense performances so far, this game will come down to whoever has the ball last.
Stanford 41
Oregon 34
How a Win Helps Poll Cred: A win over a top five opponent and the only other real threat in the conference makes Stanford a legitimate national title contender.
How High They Could Rise: Would a win over No. 4 Oregon push the Cardinal past Boise State and TCU? If the win is impressive, you have to think so.
1. Florida (No. 7 in Both Polls)
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The Opponent: The Gators will face the No. 1 team in the land, Alabama. The Crimson Tide is fresh off a comeback victory at Arkansas, and Mark Ingram is back in full form after knee surgery.
Prediction: The Florida offense was pretty stagnant up until last week’s victory against Kentucky, but the Gators will have to travel to Tuscaloosa to face the best team in college football.
Quarterback Trey Burton was revealed as the new weapon for the Gators last week. He’ll play a big role, but Alabama will just be too much at home.
Florida 17
Alabama 27
How a Win Could Help Poll Cred: Obviously a win over the top-ranked Crimson Tide would be huge for the Gators, who have had a sluggish start to the season.
How High They Could Rise: Much like Stanford, it remains to be seen whether a big victory would catapult the Gators ahead of Boise State and TCU. I think it does, and the Gators would be the new No. 1 team.
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