Projecting the new AP Poll Top 25 Rankings after Week 2: Texas surges into the Top 5, Colorado moves up and Miami enters the field

Whew. That was once a doozy. 

Week 2 delivered on its promise as a unique weekend of school soccer, as fanatics of the Miami Hurricanes and Texas Longhorns can argue over which has extra endurance: ‘The Return of the U’ or ‘Texas is Back.’

Alabama is going down. The SEC continues to fight as an entire in non-conference video games, and Deion Sanders and Colorado delivered extra fireworks and amusing by means of doubling their 2022 win overall in the first two weeks of the season. 

After having to attend till Tuesday for the newest AP Top 25 ballot to be launched, we’re again to our commonplace time table with a contemporary ballot on Sunday morning. 

With 4 ranked groups dropping this week, there was once a lot of shakeup in the Top 25, together with the Longhorns’ surge into the Top 5.  Here’s how I feel the new AP Top 25 will glance come Sunday:

1. Georgia (Last week: 1)

For the moment directly week, Georgia slept thru the first quarter best to head on to deal with an inferior opponent. The Bulldogs’ protection (two INTs) and particular groups (69-yard punt go back from Mekhi Mews) sparked a 31-zip moment quarter towards Ball State en path to a 45-3 win. 

Carson Beck completed the day with 283 yards and two ratings, finishing passes to 11 other receivers. The Bulldogs nonetheless weren’t environment friendly operating the ball even though, completing with simply over 100 yards on 28 carries. 

2. Michigan (Last week: 2)

It took a few sequence for the Wolverines’ gears to get going, however Michigan sooner or later overmatched UNLV for a 35-7 win. 

In the moment directly sport with out suspended head trainer Jim Harbaugh, J.J. McCarthy was once a crisp 22-of-25 for 278 yards and two ratings, whilst senior tailback Blake Corum added 3 touchdowns on the floor. Michigan’s protection pressured six punts and had 8 other gamers file a sack or TFL. 

Per week after the maximum spectacular win of the Mike Norvell technology, the Seminoles scored the maximum issues they’ve ever had beneath their fourth-year head trainer, splattering Southern Miss 66-13.  Trey Benson was once most commonly quiet in Week 1, however FSU’s tailback scored 3 touchdowns on 9 carries (8.9 yards in step with rush), whilst celebrity switch wideout Keon Coleman had every other highlight-reel landing. 

Jordan Travis wasn’t overly sharp (15 of 29) however the ‘Noles rushed for over 300 yards and held the Golden Eagles to not up to 4.0 yards in step with play prior to rubbish time. 

4. Texas (Last week: 11)

Chris Fowler wouldn’t say it, however I can: Texas is again and has the glance of a College Football Playoff workforce in 2023. The Longhorns bodily and skillfully ruled Alabama in Tuscaloosa, handing over an emphatic observation with a 34-24 win. 

Steve Sarkisian was once competitive the complete sport, and the workforce spoke back to each punch from the Tide with a haymaker of their very own. Quinn Ewers completed what he began towards Alabama in 2022, throwing for 343 yards and 3 touchdowns. Texas scored 21 issues in the fourth quarter, with its OL and DLs dominating Alabama up entrance. 

Behind large video games from Kyle McCord and Marvin Harrison Jr. (seven catches for 160 yards and two ratings), the Buckeyes cruised previous Youngstown State 35-7. 

McCord took the majority of reps with the 1s prior to the sport become a laugher, finishing any attainable QB struggle discussions with Devin Brown. TreVeyon Henderson appeared like the TreVeyon Henderson of 2021, averaging 11.2 yards in step with raise with robust landing runs. 

6. USC (Last week: 6)

Caleb Williams and the Trojans boat-raced rival Stanford of their final matchup for the foreseeable long term, leaping out to a 49-3 lead on the method to a 49-10 win. Williams carved up the Cardinal for 281 passing yards (on 19 of twenty-two!!!) for 281 yards and 3 ratings. He additionally scooted for a 21-yard landing run, proceeding to cement his run for a second-straight Heisman Trophy.

USC’s much-maligned protection was once ready to stymie Stanford’s pace, preserving the Trees to simply 3 issues prior to a overdue rating in the fourth. Alex Grinch’s unit has put in combination back-to-back robust performances, completing Saturday with a pair sacks, 10 stops on third/4th down (4 of 14) and encouraging indicators heading into an uptick in festival.

The Nittany Lions became Saturday’s showdown with FCS Delaware into a laugher in an instant, scoring touchdowns on 3 in their first 4 possessions in a 63-7 win. 

Drew Allar was once an effective 22 of 26 for 204 yards. After a quiet Week 1, Penn State tailbacks Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton mixed for 150 yards and 4 touchdowns. Penn State’s protection stays as marketed with 4 sacks, seven TFLs and a pick-six. 

For the second-straight week, Michael Penix Jr. endured his Heisman Trophy marketing campaign with every other 400-yard, three-touchdown efficiency in a blowout over a G5 workforce. 

In a 43-10 win over Tulsa, Washington had a trio of receivers cross over 100 yards from scrimmage — Jalen McMillan with 8 catches for 120 yards and a rating; Rome Odunze with seven catches for 107 yards and two overall touchdowns; Ja’Lynn Polk with 108 overall yards and two ratings.

After a just about two-hour climate prolong, Notre Dame ran clear of NC State to transport to 3-0 with a 45-24 win. A few fourth-quarter interceptions became a seesaw affair into a rout, however the Irish have been in regulate for many of the afternoon due to a balanced offensive assault. 

Sam Hartman tossed 4 touchdowns on 286 yards, and the Irish had 170 yards on the floor — 80 coming from an Audric Estime landing dash proper out of the lightning prolong. Notre Dame’s protection held NC State to simply 84 yards and picked off Brennan Armstrong thrice. 

10. Tennessee (Last week: 9)

Perhaps eying a large street travel to Florida subsequent weekend, the Vols sleepwalked their well past Austin Peay 30-13. Josh Heupel’s Tennessee was once sloppy (10 consequences for 88 yards), terrible on 3rd down (3 of 12) and needed to accept a trio of field objectives. Joe Milton was once plagued by means of a couple of drops, however he averaged simply 6.9 yards in step with try and had his same old accuracy problems every now and then. 

The Vols’ protection was once challenged every now and then by means of the Peay’s aggressiveness (a trio of 4th down conversions) and distinctive gameplan (a lot of loopy formations, pre-snap movement), however they completed with two takeaways, 14 TFLs and 4 sacks.

The remainder of the projected AP Top 25:

11. Alabama (Last week: 4)

The Tide misplaced their first regular-season non-conference sport since Nick Saban’s first season in Tuscaloosa in 2007. They have been completely outplayed by means of Texas, with Jalen Milroe throwing a couple of back-breaking interceptions and their secondary not able to gradual Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns’ prolific passing assault.  Alabama’s offensive line couldn’t block Texas, speeding simply 3.1 yards in step with raise with Milroe getting stressed all evening (5 sacks, 5 hurries). 

12. Utah (Last week: 12)

Still with out celebrity quarterback Cam Rising and tight finish Brent Kuthie, the Utes rallied to win at Baylor with a couple of touchdowns in the ultimate two mins. Kyle Whittingham became to Nate Johnson, Utah’s fourth-stringer, in the fourth quarter, who capped a 15-play, 88-yard force with a seven-yard run to tie the sport. Standout protection Cole Bishop then picked off Sawyer Robinson to set up the game-winning rating. The Utes are the best workforce in the Top 25 with a couple of wins over Power 5 techniques. 

 13. Oregon (Last week: 13)

The Ducks did simply sufficient to flee Lubbock with a win, preserving on to overcome Texas Tech with a field objective inside of the ultimate two mins and a pick-six to seal the deal. Bo Nix had over 400 overall yards and two ratings, nevertheless it was once Oregon’s protection that helped the Ducks rally from a nine-point deficit in the moment part. In some Duck-on former-Duck crime, ex-Oregon QB Tyler Shough was once intercepted thrice and additionally had a fumble. 

14. LSU (Last week: 14)

The Tigers exorcised their Week 1 frustration romp at the hand of Florida State by means of housing Grambling 72-10. Jayden Daniels threw for 5 touchdowns. Former Notre Dame switch Logan Diggs made his debut at LSU with 115 yards speeding and a rating, and Maason Smith returned to motion for the first time since the opener towards the Seminoles in 2022 to file a TFL. Notably, Harold Perkins Jr. had only one take on and one QB hurry. 

The Wildcats roughed up a forged Troy workforce in a 42-13 win, finishing the Trojans’ 12-game profitable streak — the second-longest in FBS. Kansas State remains to be a high-havoc protection, with every other four-sack, 10-TFL and five-PBU efficiency. Quarterback Will Howard wasn’t overly correct (21 of 32 , however he completed the win with 5 overall touchdowns. A difficult sport at Missouri subsequent week is on deck. 

DJ Uiagalelei and the Beavers breezed previous FSC UC Davis 55-7, as Jonathan Smith was once ready to drain the bench early in Corvallis along with his 2s and 3s. Uiagalelei tossed two touchdowns prior to ceding method to intriguing freshman Aidan Chiles, who had his first-career TD in the blowout win. The Beavers ran for 269 at 7.3 in step with clip and they held UC Davis to not up to 170 overall yards. 

After impressively dominating South Carolina in Week 1, the Tar Heels survived to overcome Appalachian State 40-34 in double-overtime. Drake Maye didn’t mild up the scoreboard along with his arm, however the sophomore quarterback scampered for a 13-yard keeper for the game-winning rating. UNC then pressured a crowning glory on 4th-and-5 on the resulting ownership to win. The Tar Heels rode Maye’s brilliance in final season’s 63-61 mystery over the Mountaineers nevertheless it was once sophomore tailback Omarion Hampton who stole the display with 234 yards and 3 ratings.

18. Oklahoma (Last week: 18)

The Sooners discovered themselves in a dogfight with eventual ACC newcomer SMU, grinding out a 28-11 win over the Mustangs at the back of 4 Dillion Gabriel touchdowns. Five-star freshman Peyton Bowen blocked a punt to set up an early rating, however the Sooners’ high-powered couldn’t get cranking towards a feisty SMU protection. Oklahoma trusted walk-on tailback Tawee Walker (117 yards) to transport the chains, and do-everything linebacker Danny Stutsman (17 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 sack) spearheaded every other encouraging defensive efficiency.

19. Colorado (Last week: 22)

Deion Sanders remains to be the communicate of school soccer as ‘We coming,’ is now ‘We’re right here’ for Colorado with the Buffs taking part in their B- sport and nonetheless breezing previous Nebraska 36-14. Shedeur Sanders was once shaky early best to complete with 393 yards and 3 ratings. Colorado’s protection gave up some yards on the floor (222) however had 4 takeaways and held Nebraska to simply 4 of 13 on 3rd down.(Last week: 19)

20. Ole Miss(Last week: 20)

The Rebels pulled clear of a Michael Pratt-less Tulane with a 20-3 run in the fourth quarter, cementing a 37-20 win with a sack-fumble landing go back. Lane Kiffin was once rewarded for a couple of gutsy 4th down choices — opting to stay the ball in quarterback Jaxson Dart’s palms that ended in a 21-yard TD strike and trusting kicker Caden Davis to nail a 56-yard field objective. Quinshon Judkins had little room to run towards the Green Wave, averaging simply 2.8 yards in step with raise on 18 makes an attempt. 

21. Duke (Last week: 21)

The Blue Devils dispatched Lafayette 42-7, as quarterback Riley Leonard went 12 of 12 for 136 yards and a rating prior to giving method to the backups. Duke had over 500 yards of offense and pressured a couple of turnovers, appearing no letdown after a brief week and a ancient win over Clemson final Monday. 

22. Miami (Last week: Unranked)

The Hurricanes overcame some self-inflicted adversity (muffed punt, blocked punt) to make a observation in an emphatic 48-33 disappointed win over No. 23 Texas A&M. Tyler Van Dyke threw a career-high 5 touchdowns, torching the Aggies’ secondary for seven performs over 20 yards (together with ratings than went for 52 and 64). The Hurricanes additionally had a 98-yard KO go back landing. Mario Cristobal spent the offseason retooling Miami’s workforce (nice sport plan from new OC Shannon Dawson) and OL (whilst run blocking off was once suspect) — and each confirmed smartly to spur the disappointed. 

The Cougars disappointed Wisconsin for the second-straight season, handing over head trainer Jake Dickert his largest win in Pullman. Wazzu jumped out to a 24-6 lead prior to handing to overcome the Badgers 31-22. Quarterback Cam Ward was once inconsistently entertaining (300 overall yards, two touchdowns), whilst WSU’s protection stressed Tanner Mordecai and pressured 3 fumbles — person who went for a scoop-and-score and every other that set up a brief landing. 

24. Clemson (Last week: 25)

The Tigers trailed Charleston Southern 14-7 after a Cade Klubnik pick-six in the first quarter, however Clemson rallied to rout the Bucs 66-17 with a 42-0 blitz in the moment part. 

After the offense’s dismal appearing in the Week 1 loss to Duke, Clemson had 680 yards of offense, together with 405 thru the air. Klubnik threw 4 touchdowns and averaged 8.5 yards in step with try. 

25. Iowa(Last week: Unranked)

The Hawkeyes reclaimed the CyHawk Trophy to offer Kirk Ferentz his two hundredth win as a D-1 trainer with a 20-13 victory over rival Iowa State. Still, Iowa may just do subsequent to not anything offensively, failing to crack 300 yards or 25 issues for the moment directly sport. Quarterback Cade McNamara didn’t glance wholesome. It were given seven issues off a pick-six, and but Brian Ferentz’s Drive for 325 is on early existence toughen in the 2023 season. 

Projected to drop out: 19. Wisconsin, No. 22 Texas A&M, 24. Tulane