My AP top 25 ballot: Houston, Wake Forest make big jumps while Iowa continues to fall
This week, I decided to highlight a pair of teams that could play the role of spoiler at the end of this college football season.
Let’s start with Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons climbed into my top 10 after thumping Duke 45-7 on Saturday. That victory moved them to 8-0 on the year. It’s impossible to ignore them, even though their schedule has been softer than a marshmallow sitting on top of a pillow.
It will be interesting to see what the playoff committee does with them. They are clearly the class of the ACC, and undefeated teams from a power conference usually finish in the top four. But the ACC is abysmal this season. Clemson is down, and none of the other decent teams in the league can sustain a winning streak. It seems like every time North Carolina State or Pittsburgh or Virginia tries to make a move up the polls they lose immediately.
Wake Forest’s best victory is probably against Army or Virginia. Its final four games are against North Carolina, NC State, Clemson and Boston College. It’s possible the Demon Deacons won’t face a ranked opponent all season. But an undefeated record is an undefeated record. Wake Forest could spoil a few dreams for teams with one loss.
Still, it’s hard for me to see Wake Forest finishing with a better resume than most 11-1 teams from other power leagues. For now, it belongs in the top 10. But I am keeping it behind teams with one defeat like Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State and Notre Dame.
I also want to spend a few paragraphs on Houston. The Cougars beat previously undefeated SMU to improve to 7-1 and now appear to be on a collision course with Cincinnati in the AAC championship game.
They are up to No. 16 on my ballot.
It’s too bad Dana Holgorsen’s team opened the season with a loss to Texas Tech, because Houston has put together a nice run otherwise. Much like Wake Forest, the schedule doesn’t provide many opportunities to climb in the polls moving forward. But Houston could spoil Cincinnati’s dream at a playoff run.
Look out below
Iowa was the biggest loser in my poll this week.
The Hawkeyes have fallen from No. 2 all the way down to No. 21 following losses to Purdue and Wisconsin. I feel like I am being kind by keeping Iowa in the top 25 at all, as none of its early victories carry the luster they once did.
Beating Iowa State in Ames was impressive, but that’s about it. Problem is, all the teams I would have ranked ahead of Iowa this week like Pittsburgh, Penn State, Iowa State, San Diego State, Virginia, SMU and Arizona State all lost. So the Hawkeyes remain ranked on my ballot for at least a little longer.
Welcome to the party
Fresno State, Houston, Mississippi State and Coastal Carolina all joined my top 25 following victories this week. They beat out Liberty, Iowa State, Nevada and Pittsburgh for the final few spots on my ballot.
MY AP TOP 25 BALLOT
*Last week’s ranking in parentheses
1. Georgia (1)
2. Cincinnati (2)
3. Oklahoma (4)
4. Michigan State (5)
5. Alabama (6)
6. Oregon (7)
7. Ohio State (8)
8. Notre Dame (12)
9. Wake Forest (13)
10. Oklahoma State (14)
11. Baylor (15)
12. Michigan (3)
13. Texas A&M (18)
14. Auburn (19)
15. BYU (20)
16. Houston (NR)
17. Ole Miss (11)
18. Kentucky (10)
19. UTSA (21)
20. Louisiana (24)
21. Iowa (9)
22. SMU (16)
23. Fresno State (NR)
24. Coastal Carolina (NR)
25. Mississippi State (NR)
Dropped Out: Penn State, San Diego State, Pittsburgh, Iowa State.
This story was originally published October 31, 2021 at 7:04 AM with the headline "My AP top 25 ballot: Houston, Wake Forest make big jumps while Iowa continues to fall."