BOULDER, Colo. – It was the game of the week and BYU delivered.
Few gave the Cougars a chance outside of those who filled LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday night, but BYU was ready for the top 10 battle. And it’s not like BYU got lucky, either.
It’s hard to argue that any other result this weekend was more impactful than the Cougars’.
The following is the ballot I submitted to the Associated Press, which will be considered in the consensus rankings to be released Sunday afternoon.
1. BYU
An argument could be made for Miami to be the No. 1 team this week, but that would be a poor call. From the jump, BYU looked like a team ready to fight – and forced a good Notre Dame to play from behind. But even when the Fighting Irish took the lead, the Cougars stayed calm and got the job done.
It seems like no one is safe at first place, but BYU is as good as any right now to hold the top spot.
2.Miami
Facing a bitter rival, Miami needed more time to get the job done. Personally, I don’t discredit a team that has to fight for victory against a rival, even if it’s against Florida State. During a weekend of unrest across the country, the Hurricanes remain at No. 2 in my poll.
3. Ohio State
It could also be argued that Ohio State would be the No. 1 team after a win against Indiana. But Saturday’s game was anything but smooth and the Buckeyes lost their starting QB indefinitely. Ohio State remains committed to Jeremiah Smith – a great option – but more is needed.
4. Georgia
I honestly believed that Georgia was back to being a dominant power in college football (even though it never really fell off), but Saturday was a step back. The Bulldogs lose a game to their rival – so not too much of a loss – but there is certainly room for improvement. I still think Georgia remains one of the best in the country.
5. Notre Dame
What’s going on with the referees and one second on the clock this season? Yeah ! Would the play have made a difference against BYU if Notre Dame had another play to play? We’ll never know, but it’s clear the Fighting Irish have a talented team on their hands, and a fall to No. 5 seemed like an appropriate landing spot after a close loss.
6.UCLA
Indiana meets UCLA. “UCLA meets Indiana”. If ever there was a team that should follow Indiana’s model, it’s this Bob Chesney-led UCLA team. The Bruins are good, y’all, and it’s time for you to believe in them (which means they’ll lose this week because I said so. Who would have thought UCLA would be the last undefeated team in the Big Ten?
7. Old Miss
Ole Miss was a complete team Saturday in a win over Missouri. The Rebels never really gave the Tigers a chance this weekend and looked like a team we all expected at the start of the season – welcome back? The loss to Florida remains an interesting note of the season, but Texas is wondering the same thing after this week.
8. Texas Technology
Certainly, this was the first week where Texas Tech looked like a formidable team. Maybe Arizona State really is that bad, but Texas Tech showed off well in a blowout victory. I’ve held Texas Tech behind BYU and Utah for a long time this season, but Saturday was the first game where I felt like the Red Raiders might be legit.
9. Indiana
Indiana is not the same team as last season, that’s clear. But they’re not that far away either. And a loss to Ohio State is nothing to write home about, even if the loss came on a mistake in the end zone. The missed tip and two missed field goals were enough to doom a team that traditionally doesn’t make mistakes under Curt Cignetti.
10. Utah
What is there to say about Saturday’s game other than sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the opponent. Utah was far from perfect, but it still had enough in the tank to pull out a road victory. The Utes are certainly capable of more, but they are still undefeated and have a solid roster. I lost a spot to Utah this week, but the real test begins Saturday at home against Houston.
Considered (in alphabetical order): Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Oregon State
If you don’t see my full ballot below, click here.
Do you think you can do better? Create your own Top 25 poll with the KSL Sports Fan Top 25 Poll here.
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