College Football Rankings 2011: 3 Teams Headed in the Wrong Direction

There was a bit of moving and shaking in the college football top-25 polls following an action-packed Week 3. Some teams proved they were worthy of higher rankings while others proved they were not worthy of their ranking.

Like these three (rankings are based on the AP Top 25 Poll)...

No. 12 South Carolina

Previously Ranked: No. 10

The Gamecocks are 3-0 and in great shape for the rest of the season. However, a 24-21 win against Navy is not going to sit well with the voters. Too many teams behind them looked better.

South Carolina has now won two consecutive games by three points, and they had to come back from a first-half deficit to win their first game against an East Carolina squad they should have dominated.

Not Ranked: Michigan State

Previously Ranked No. 15

The Spartans lost 31-13 to a winless Notre Dame team. They actually outgained Notre Dame by over 100 yards and won the turnover battle yet still managed to get crushed. That is not an easy thing to do.

The Spartans just didn't come up big when they had to, and it cost them. They threw a key interception, gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown and their defense couldn't get off the field when it needed to.

All hope is certainly not lost for the Spartans. This is a solid football team that can recover by playing a cleaner game. They do have plenty of work to do, though, and they now must fight themselves back into the Top 25.

Not Ranked: Arizona State

Previously Ranked No. 22

Arizona State made their first appearance of the year in the Top 25 following its thrilling overtime victory against Missouri in Week 3. And it promptly came out and laid an egg.

ASU fell to Illinois, 17-14, and in the process the team kissed the Top 25 good-bye.

The Sun Devils now must regroup to face USC next week. A win there, and they could find themselves in the polls once again.