AP and Coaches Poll: 8 Teams Who Could Make the Biggest Leaps After Week 3

The AP and Coaches Poll showcase the top 25 college football teams in the country each week. With every win and loss, the polls change as teams strive for the top spot. Week three of the college football schedule offers a chance for several teams to leap up in the polls.

Here is a look at the teams who could make that leap in week three.

Michigan State

The Spartans travel to South Bend to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. With an impressive victory on the road, the Spartans would leap to the top of the Big Ten with a 3-0 record.

More importantly, the teams above the Spartans in the standings do not face a tough schedule, so their victories would have less of an impact with voters.

Stanford Cardinal

Stanford has a late nightcap against the Arizona Wildcats. Although they rank No. 6 in the polls they still have room to improve. The big game featuring Florida State and Oklahoma could make room for the Cardinal to go even higher in the polls.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes were left for dead when the season first started after all of the offseason turmoil. They have managed to still keep winning on the football field. In week three they have a big road game against the Miami Hurricanes.

A road victory of that magnitude would surely propel the Buckeyes up the rankings.

Auburn Tigers

After a tough come-from-behind victory in week one against Utah State, skeptics of the Tigers predicted a free fall. The Tigers have responded with a victory against Mississippi State and if they notch an impressive win against Clemson in Death Valley, they have nowhere to go but up.

Oregon Ducks

Chip Kelly rallied his team to a very big win over Nevada after losing the first week of the season. Now the team’s goal is to slowly crawl up the rankings and get back into the National Championship spotlight.

With a win in week three and some losses by other teams above them, the Ducks will be on the move.

Tennessee Volunteers

The Volunteers are not in the current college football rankings this week, but if they have an impressive game in week three they will join the Top 25. Tyler Bray and the Volunteers travel to the swamp to take on the Gators.

The Volunteers are clicking on offense and ready to win a statement game. If they pull off the upset, they could have the biggest jump of the week.

Arizona State

The Sun Devils are off to a 2-0 start, but it has gone unnoticed. This week they travel to Illinois to take on a member of the Big Ten. While Illinois is not the cream of the crop in the conference, a win by the Sun Devils may make voters take notice.

Brigham Young

The BYU Cougars engage in the Holy War this weekend as they face off against the rival Utah Utes. This is the biggest game on the football schedule every year for both of these teams and there is plenty on the line. With a victory, the Cougars should enter the Top 25.

This week should provide some interesting movement in the polls.

James Brown is a B/R Featured Columnist. Feel free to contact James at [e-mail]