AP College Football Poll: 3 Teams Who Should Be out This Week

It's a cruel world in the college football rankings poll.  You can be elevated to the polls one week and dropped the next.

With so many matchups against unfamiliar opponents, some strange results occur that alter the rankings on a week-to-week basis—particularly, this early in the season when the non-conference schedule is featured.

For these three teams who came up with poor performances this week, their hold on an AP rankings has most likely reached its end.

1. Southern California

USC won three straight games to open the season and earned itself the No. 23 overall ranking in the AP poll.

They were impressive, beating three BCS opponents: Minnesota, Utah and Syracuse, rolling up a 3-0 record and 1-0 record in conference play.

However, this week, they travelled to the desert to play Arizona State in conference play.

ASU scored first and never looked back as they destroyed the Trojans 43-22.  The loss will knock Lane Kiffin's team from the rankings this week. 

2. Illinois

Although Illinois won and ran its record to 4-0, the newly-ranked Illini struggled big time with Western Michigan.

With the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets nipping at their heels and their impressive win against a good North Carolina team, the No.24 Illini will most certainly be passed by the No. 25 Jackets.

How far the Illini will be passed remains to be seen.

With teams like Auburn, ASU and Michigan State, who are on the cusp of the top 25 and winning impressively, it will be interesting to see if the Illini get passed in votes.

Ron Zook's team should be knocked out when the polls come out and have something like the No. 27 or 28 overall ranking. 

3. West Virginia

It would be somewhat unfair considering it had to play the No. 2 team (and possibly No. 1 when the poll comes out) in the nation, but WVU was at home and did struggle with the LSU Tigers this weekend.

The Tigers rolled past West Virginia 41-27 and outclassed the Mountaineers this weekend.

Although it doesn't seem fair to penalize a team for losing to the No. 2 team in the nation, there are a lot of things working against WVU.

First, the Mountaineers played the game at home.  Home losses look bad to AP voters. 

Second, the game was a featured national television prime time game, which means a lot of people saw it.

Finally, the Mountaineers play in the Big East.  The conference is already under fire with realignment on the horizon, and nationally, it receives very little respect with regards to its football play.

When the polls come out, don't be surprised to see Dana Holgorsen's WVU team on the outside looking in.