The time for upsets has come and gone with little chaos in faculty soccer and never a lot motion within the AP Top 25 for a lot of the season.
For the primary time in additional than 14 years, the identical eight groups held the highest eight spots within the ballot for 5 straight weeks.
Behind No. 1 Georgia this week was Michigan returning to No. 2, adopted by Washington, Florida State and Oregon within the prime 5. Ohio State slipped to No. 6 after shedding to Michigan.
No. 7 Texas and No. 8 Alabama held their spots. Eight playoff contenders, 4 unbeaten and 4 11-1. All however Ohio State will play in a convention championship recreation subsequent week.
Throughout your entire Top 25 the information are gaudier than typical.
Last yr the Top 25 groups heading into championship weekend had misplaced 59 video games. In 2021, that quantity was 47.
This yr, the Top 25 has 40 mixed losses after the completion of the 12-recreation common season. Of these 40 losses, 24 have come towards different groups that at the moment are ranked.
Has that made life straightforward on AP ballot voters this yr? Maybe somewhat, however Reality Check will at all times discover locations to ponder the rankings.
Next: vs. No. 8 Alabama, SEC championship, Saturday.
Reality test: The Bulldogs allowed 10 dashing touchdowns mixed of their two championship seasons. This season: 12. Weird to see Georgia with a so-so run protection.
Ranked: Just proper.
Next: vs. No. 18 Iowa, Big Ten championship, Saturday.
Reality test: Loss of G Zak Zinter (left leg) will check the Wolverines’ depth up entrance in the event that they find yourself in a 3rd straight College Football Playoff.
Ranked: Just proper.
Next: vs. No. 5 Oregon, Pac-12 championship, Friday.
Reality test: Huskies don’t have a Hypnotoad however all these shut victories — now six straight by 10 factors or fewer — give them 2022 TCU vibes.
Ranked: Just proper.
Next: vs. No. 15 Louisville, ACC championship, Saturday.
Reality test: Seminoles discovered some offense within the second half after a tough begin with QB Tate Rodemaker towards Florida. That offense was RB Trey Benson, who scored three touchdowns.
(*25*)Ranked: Just proper.
Next: vs. No. 3 Washington, Pac-12 championship, Friday.
Reality test: Oregon is tied for twelfth within the nation in protection at 4.83 yards per play allowed with … sure, Georgia.
Ranked: Just proper.
Next: TBD.
Reality test: When you’ve gotten a perennial prime-5 program, particularly these day when rosters might be so fragile with the switch portal, you don’t make teaching adjustments until you completely should. Ohio State doesn’t.
Ranked: Little excessive.
Next: vs. No. 19 Oklahoma State, Big 12 championship, Saturday.
Reality test: RB Jaydon Blue had a breakout recreation (121 yards on 10 carries) towards Texas Tech because the Longhorns search for somebody to choose up a few of the slack for the lack of star Jonathon Brooks.
Ranked: Touch low.
Next: vs. No. 1 Georgia, SEC championship, Saturday.
Reality test: Tide allowed 244 yards dashing towards an Auburn group that might barely full a cross. Puzzling.
Ranked: Just proper.
Next: TBD
Reality test: Tigers have the SEC’s main rusher in RB Cody Schrader, a former D-II switch and stroll-on, and third-main receiver in Luther Burden III, a former 5-star recruit.
Ranked: This group of 4 groups is difficult. This one is ok.
Next: TBD.
Reality test: Incongruous stats: Nittany Lions rank 14th within the nation in scoring at 37 factors per recreation, however 81st in yards per play at 5.46.
Ranked: Little excessive.
Next: TBD.
Reality test: Rebels had by no means gained 10 common-season video games and now have carried out it twice in three seasons beneath coach Lane Kiffin. Complain about his failure to win extra “big games,” however Ole Miss all through its historical past usually loses a number of the not-so-huge video games.
Ranked: Little low.
Next: TBD.
Reality test: S Billy Bowman Jr. had an All-America season with six interceptions, three returned for touchdowns.
Ranked: Little low.
Next: TBD.
Reality test: OLB Harold Perkins Jr. didn’t have the dominant season many anticipated after flashing large potential as a freshman final yr. Still, on a protection that struggled usually, he confirmed enchancment all through.
Ranked: Just proper.
Next: TBD.
Reality test: After probably the greatest turnarounds of the season, now the aim for the Wildcats is to maintain coach Jedd Fisch in Tucson.
Ranked: Just proper.
Next: vs. No. 4 Florida State, ACC championship, Saturday.
Reality test: Despite the loss to Kentucky, Cardinals nonetheless seems to be good to earn a spot within the Orange Bowl so long as Florida State makes the CFP.
Ranked: This works.
Next: TBD.
Reality test: Been some complaints about Notre Dame’s offense, however it ranks ninth within the nation in yards per play (6.95). Last time the Irish completed a season with a prime-10 offense was 2015.
Ranked: Just proper.
Next: vs. No. 25 SMU, AAC championship, Saturday.
Reality test: Green Wave are 23-3 over the past two seasons, a outstanding achievement for a program that had three earlier double-digit win seasons, two coming within the Thirties.
Ranked: This is ok.
Next: vs. No. 2 Michigan, Big Ten championship, Saturday.
Reality test: Hawkeyes closed the season on a 4-recreation profitable streak, throughout which they averaged 15 factors per recreation. Amazing.
Ranked: Too excessive.
Next: vs. No. 7 Texas, Big 12 championship, Saturday.
Reality test: Ollie Gordon II saved the Cowboys’ season with 5 touchdowns towards BYU. If a operating again breaks into the Heisman prime 5 this season, it ought to be OGII.
Ranked: About proper.
Next: vs. New Mexico State, Friday.
Reality test: With a late-season surge that included 765 yards dashing over the past two video games, the Flames lead the nation in dashing at 295 per recreation.
Ranked: Little excessive.
Next: TBD.
Reality test: Under-the-radar high quality season by coach Dave Doeren and the Wolfpack, led by LB Payton Wilson, who’s an All-America lock and in competition for all of the defensive participant of the yr awards.
Ranked: Little low.
Next: TBD.
Reality test: The ultimate outcomes of D.J. Uiagalelei’s second probability after Clemson had been OK. The Beavers had been a great group and the quarterback was stable, however when groups pressured Oregon State to lean on him it didn’t go nice.
Ranked: Just proper.
Next: vs. Miami, Ohio, MAC championship, Saturday
Reality test: The MAC championship used to routinely produce drama with coaches who may be leaving for greater jobs. Rockets coach Jason Candle might be in that place this yr.
Ranked: Just proper.
Next: TBD.
Reality test: The Dukes will go bowling because of a scarcity of six-win groups. Now let’s see if we will get them a great opponent.
Ranked: Just proper.
Next: at No. 17 Tulane, AAC championship, Saturday.
Reality test: Mustangs’ first look within the AAC title recreation has been fueled by a prime-10 protection.
Ranked: Just proper.
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Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and pay attention at http://www.appodcasts.com. Get alerts on the newest AP Top 25 ballot all through the season. Sign up right here. AP faculty soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
