Pump The Brakes – College Football’s Top 25 Teams

Pump The Brakes
Jim Quist @ACCTheQ –

As the saying goes, ‘Any given Sunday’, or in this case Saturday. Alabama has fallen. Long live the new No. 1 in this week’s AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Perhaps from hereon out we should pump the brakes on speculation regarding a clear national title winner early on in the season. There’s plenty of change in the top 5 but how about in the ACC+1? Yes, no and maybe? What does it all mean? Well, you can argue about the quality of the ball that’s being played or you can just appreciate we’ve got more exciting games. I’ll stick with the latter because the past few weeks including this weekend have kept people glued to their seats.

There were a number of games in the Top 25 that further disrupt the projected playoff scenario and the New Year’s 6. Get a rundown on all the game on Sports News 8 – ACC Nation’s College Football Weekend Wrap. In the latest numbers from voters on the AP side and the coaches in the USA Today poll not everyone is in lock-step regarding the top 4 teams. In a few more weeks it won’t make any difference as the first College Football Playoff rankings will debut (Week 13). There’s an awful lot of things that can change between now and then.

Who are the latest top 5 college football teams?

College Football

RANKAPRANKUSA TODAY
1GEORGIA1GEORGIA
2IOWA2IOWA
3CINCINNATI3OKLAHOMA
4OKLAHOMA4CINCINNATI
5ALABAMA5ALABAMA

After a loss to Iowa, Penn State falls from the top 5. That opened the way for both Cincinnati and Oklahoma to lock in spots on both polls. Alabama falls from No. 1 after a loss to unranked Texas A&M. Unless things change dramatically we’re projecting Georgia as the favorite in their matchup with the Crimson Tide. What happens to Alabama should they have two losses? Good question but there is a distinct possibility they’ll miss the playoffs and a shot at the New Year’s 6 as well.

Which team do you think is the better pick at No. 3? Cincinnati or Oklahoma?

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ACC+1 Top 25 Teams

RANKAPRANKUSA TODAY
14NOTRE DAME13NOTRE DAME
16WAKE FOREST16WAKE FOREST
22NC STATE21NC STATE
RV25CLEMSON
27CLEMSONRV
34PITT29PITT
34BOSTON COLLEGE

Following a close win by Notre Dame over Virginia Tech the Irish hold at 14/13 again this week.

Wake Forest gets the love from both polls moving up 3 in the AP and 4 in the USA Today Top 25. The Deacs come in at No. 16.

NC State climbs a notch in both rankings. The Pack is 22/21 this week.

Clemson drops 4 spots in the Coaches’ Poll to No. 25 and are at No. 27 in the Receiving Votes category of the AP.

Pitt is going through a Rodney Dangerfield moment with voters as they seemingly can’t get any respect. We’ve heard from our Panthers followers on this topic and can only tell you that the team needs to earn it. So far, coming in at No. 34 in the AP and No. 29 in the USA Today is as close as anyone feels like respecting this team. How they perform against Virginia Tech next week, Clemson on October 23 and Miami to close out the month could be enough to bump this team up into the Top 25. Frankly, a loss to any of these three is a deal-breaker on that front. Until then, pump the brakes.

As for Boston College. The Eagles at No. 34 in the Coaches’ Poll is appropriate. With big challenges ahead this is their opportunity to get back in the thick of things.

Pump The Brakes