The Bat Flip

College Football Rankings Check: Week 9

After each week of the college football season, a fresh set of rankings drop, highlighting the Top 25 teams in the nation. There are two major polls used in the college football, the AP Poll voted on by members of the media, and the Coaches Poll voted on by, well you can probably figure that one out. In October, the College Football Playoff rankings join the other two and take over as the base rankings for the rest of the season.

With fall setting in around the country, college football is kicking into high gear as teams kick off the second half of their seasons. We are still two weeks away from the first College Football Playoff rankings being released, but the AP Poll and Coaches Poll help paint of picture of what to expect when the rankings do release in the first week of November.

AP Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-22 at 6.32.19 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Memphis 87, Virginia 29, San Diego State 17, Pittsburgh 17, Washington 15, Navy 9, Texas A&M 6, Missouri 4, USC 3, UCF 3, Louisiana Tech 2, Tulane 1

Dropped from rankings: Missouri 22, Washington 25

Six undefeated teams make up the top six spots of this week’s AP Poll, with Alabama leading the way but Louisiana State closing on the top spot at a rapid pace. The Crimson tide and the Tigers will meet on November 9th in Tuscaloosa.

Despite thumping Louisville over the weekend, Clemson continues to fall in the AP Poll, sliding down to fourth behind Ohio State. This is no cause for concern for Clemson, if they continue to win and finish the season as ACC champions, the Tigers should have no problem qualifying for the playoffs once again.

Penn State continues its rise up the rankings, sliding in at No. 6 after defeating Michigan at home on Saturday night. They are followed by Florida at No. 7 who rebounded from its to jump two spots after defeating South Carolina.

A trio of teams took a loss on Saturday and paid for it dearly in the AP rankings. Wisconsin fell from the ranks of the unbeatens after a shock upset at the hands of Big Ten foe Illinois and fell seven spots, outside of the Top 10 with a trip to Columbus looming.

Boise State joined the Badgers in the loss column, seeing themselves upset by Brigham Young in Salt Lake City. As a result, the Broncos suffer this week’s biggest drop, falling eight spots and giving up the Group of 5 driver’s seat for the time being. Arizona State suffered its second loss of the season and dropped seven spots to the outskirts of the Top 25.

With the Boise State loss, Southern Methodist now takes over as the highest ranked Group of 5 side, sitting at No. 16 after pummeling Temple. This is the Mustangs highest AP Poll ranking since the mid 1980’s.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-22 at 6.32.43 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Iowa State 83, Virginia 61, San Diego State 45, Navy 24, Pittsburgh 18, Washington 16, Tulane 8, Texas A&M 8, Louisiana Tech 7, UCF 6, Temple 3, Virginia Tech 2, UAB 1, Indiana 1, Utah State 1

Dropped from rankings: Washington 23, Temple 25

Unlike the AP Poll, Clemson remains firmly entrenched at the No. 2 spot according to the Coaches. In fact, the entire Top 5 remained the same from the previous week, with the first change coming at the No. 6 spot with Wisconsin falling and Penn State jumping up to replace them.

With the Badgers dropping seven spots, a host of teams benefitted and moved up in the latest rankings. Oregon and Utah sit at No. 11 and No. 12 respectively, both representing the PAC 12 best hopes of making this year’s College Football Playoff.

Like the AP Poll, Boise State and Arizona State joined the Badgers as this week’s biggest losers, tumbling eight spots and seven spots respectively to the bottom third of the Coaches rankings. Southern Methodist leads all Group of 5 teams at No. 17.

Washington and Temple both took losses this week and fell from the rankings, replaced by Wake Forest and Memphis.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 9

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 9

Screen Shot 2019-10-22 at 7.51.36 PM.png — via NCAA

Three Top 25 matchups highlight this week’s schedule, with an SEC West showdown in Baton Rouge taking top billing. Before they can take on No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Louisiana State will first have to take care of business against No. 9 Auburn in Death Valley. Should they prevail, the Tigers will head to Tuscaloosa for a No. 1 v. No. 2 showdown.

In what should have been a heavyweight match before last week’s results, No. 3 Ohio State welcomes No. 13 Wisconsin to Columbus for what could very well be a Big Ten Championship preview. The Buckeyes are still playing like the best team in college football while the Badgers will be coming off their first loss of the season.

Longtime rivals Notre Dame and Michigan meet in Ann Arbor in a matchup loaded with potential playoff implications. Michigan has likely seen its slim playoff hopes die, but the FIghting Irish still have a shot if they can win out.

Glancing over the other games on the schedule, No. 6 Penn State heads to East Lansing for a rivalry showdown with Michigan State. Alabama, Clemson, and Oklahoma will all look to remain unbeaten against unranked sides. No. 16 Southern Methodist looks to remain in control of its own destiny in a Thursday night showdown with Houston.

Each and every week throughout the college football season we will be checking in with the latest rankings and Top 25 schedule so make sure you are checking back to keep up to date on the latest from the college football world.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 8

We have reached the midway point of the 2019 college football season with most teams hitting the six game mark last weekend. Now the rankings are starting to come more into focus, but there is still a long way to go before anything is decided. There is still three weeks left until the first College Football Playoff rankings are released, but we can already say which teams sit in the driver’s seat, and which still have some work to do.

AP Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-15 at 2.19.10 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Tulane 55, Iowa State 36, Temple 31, Wake Forest 25, California 20, Virginia 8, Memphis 6, USC 4, South Carolina 4, Texas A&M 3, UCF 3, San Diego State 2, Louisiana Tech 1

Dropped from rankings: Wake Forest 19, Virginia 20, Memphis 23, Texas A&M 24

Our first major upset of the season throws a wrench into the Top 10 of the AP rankings. Georgia falls seven spots following their loss to South Carolina and opens the door for Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Notre Dame all to climb.

For the first time, Alabama and Clemson do not occupy the top two spots in the poll, with Louisiana State jumping above Clemson after defeating Florida in Baton Rouge on Saturday night. The Tigers also snag first place votes for the first time this season.

Further down the rankings, Texas tumbles after losing the Red River Showdown to Oklahoma, and Iowa falls six spots following a second straight loss. Baylor and Southern Methodist needed overtime to stay undefeated and were beneficiaries of the Iowa drop, along with Cincinnati.

Leaving the rankings after losing this weekend were Wake Forest, Virginia, Memphis, and Texas A&M. Replacing those sides were Minnesota, Missouri, Appalachian State, and Washington.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-15 at 2.19.21 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Wake Forest 87, Tulane 76, Virginia 35, Memphis 30, California 21, Iowa State 19, San Diego State 18, Navy 17, Texas A&M 14, Louisiana Tech 6, Duke 5, UCF 4, Pittsburgh 3, South Carolina 3

Dropped from rankings: Wake Forest 17, Virginia 19, Memphis 20, Texas A&M 21

Unlike the AP Poll, Alabama and Clemson remain the top two sides while Louisiana State climbs into the No. 3 spot after defeating Florida. Ohio State and Oklahoma hold steady as Wisconsin, Penn State, and Notre Dame all climb two spot after victories of their own on Saturday.

Georgia pays for its inexplicable loss to South Carolina with a seven spot fall while fellow SEC East side Florida has the damage minimized, only falling two spots after losing to LSU. Texas also falls to No. 15 after dropping the Red River Showdown against No. 5 Oklahoma.

Big gainers in this week’s Coaches Poll are one loss Arizona State followed by undefeated sides Baylor, Southern Methodist, and Minnesota. Auburn, Oregon, Boise State, and Utah all climb slightly as others falls.

Joining the rankings this week are Cincinnati, Washington, Appalachian State, and Temple. Falling out were Wake Forest, Virginia, Memphis, and Texas A&M.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 8

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 8

Screen Shot 2019-10-15 at 3.00.19 PM.png — via NCAA

Twenty-four of the Top 25 sides are in action this week, with Notre Dame being the only team on bye. This many teams in action could mean a big shakeup in the standings come next week, but given the matchups, we will need some upsets to take place for that to happen.

Even with such a busy Top 25 slate, there are only three ranked matchups on the docket. Of these, the most notable will be the Saturday night showdown in Happy Valley between the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions and the No. 16 Michigan Wolverines. This contest could have serious playoff implications for both the winner and loser.

The PAC-12 is likely on the outside looking in at the playoff picture again this season, but the conference title will still be a season long battle. This week the conference has two ranked matchups that should bring the North and South division picture into better focus.

No. 12 Oregon travels to Seattle to take on No. 25 Washington in a North division showdown, while No. 13 Utah welcomes No. 17 Arizona State in a South division clash in Salt Lake City.

Looking at the unranked matchups quickly, it never hurts to keep an eye on top teams to see how they perform against a lesser opponent. With Georgia falling to South Carolina last week, the chaos of college football is finally upon us and there is no telling when another season altering upset could occur.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 7

Conference play is starting to heat up which means we will see more and more movement in the rankings as more Top 25 matchups appear on the schedule. In Week 6, both Alabama and Clemson were on byes keeping the top two sides in place for at least one more week. Further down the rankings though, teams shuffled around after Saturday’s results.

AP Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-08 at 11.49.51 AM.png — via ESPN

Dropped from rankings: Washington 15, UCF 18, Oklahoma State 21, Michigan State 25

Others receiving votes: Minnesota 80, Missouri 64, Appalachian State 61, Washington 54, Tulane 25, California 20, Michigan State 17, Arizona 11, UCF 9, USC 5, Iowa State 5, Pittsburgh 2

Ohio State defeated a ranked Michigan State team at home, helping them garner a few more first place votes and enough to send them into a tie with Georgia for the No. 3 spot. Florida jumped up to No. 7 with a big time victory over SEC rival Auburn, and Penn State slides into the Top 10 for the first time this season.

With the loss to Florida, Auburn tumbles out of the Top 10, down to No. 12 and faces an uphill battle should they hope to make the College Football Playoffs. Michigan and Iowa both saw three spots of movement after the Wolverines slugged their way to a 10-3 victory over the Hawkeyes in Ann Arbor.

Washington, Central Florida, Oklahoma State, and Michigan State all tumbled from the rankings while Baylor, Memphis, and Cincinnati all hopped into the Top 25.

Sitting at No. 14 and No. 21 respectively, Boise State and Southern Methodist are the highest ranked Group of Five teams, positioning themselves for a shot at a New Year’s Six bowl game.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-08 at 11.50.12 AM.png — via ESPN

Dropped from rankings: Washington 16, UCF 19, Michigan State 23, Oklahoma State 25

Others receiving votes: Cincinnati 74, Washington 72, Appalachian State 49, Michigan State 41, Tulane 36, California 17, Hawai’i 13, Arizona 13, UCF 11, Washington State 9, Navy 8, TCU 5, Mississippi State 3, San Diego State 2, Army 1, Temple 1

Ohio State accumulated enough points to jump over Oklahoma on the Coaches side, making the Top 4 the same in both the AP and Coaches polls. Florida, Wisconsin, and Penn State all improve their positioning with wins.

Like the AP Poll, Auburn sits at the No. 12 spot after a their setback against Florida on Saturday. Iowa joined Auburn in sliding down the standings after falling to Michigan, a result which saw the Wolverines continue their climb back up the rankings.

Like the AP Poll, Washington, Central Florida, Michigan State, and Oklahoma State all fell from the rankings following losses. Replacing them are South Methodist, Baylor, Arizona State, and Minnesota.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 7

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 7

Screen Shot 2019-10-08 at 11.55.29 AM.png — via NCAA

There are four ranked matchups on the docket for Week 7, and a few other games you should keep an eye on. Alabama will play its first game as the No. 1 ranked team this season when they take on No. 24 Texas A&M in College Station.

Coming off their big win over Auburn, No. 7 Florida travels to Death Valley to meet up with No. 5 Louisiana State in what could be a playoff elimination game. It will be interesting to see what the Gators have left in the tank to take on a proven Tigers team on the road.

It’s Red River Rivalry week where No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 11 Texas go head-to-head at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Oklahoma has looked unstoppable through five games and the Longhorns cannot afford another loss if they hope to make the College Football Playoff.

Penn State heads on the road for their first real test of the season against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Kinnick Stadium has not always been kind to the Nittany Lions, so expect a tough road test coming for the No. 10 side in primetime.

Some other non-ranked matchups to keep an eye on that could change the landscape of the college football season. A rivalry showdown between No. 9 Notre Dame and Southern California does not carry its usual luster, but the Trojans have upset two ranked sides already this season and will be playing for pride against the Irish.

In the Mountain West, current Group of Five leader Boise State looks to keep their New Year’s Six hopes on track when they host a talented Hawaii side on the famous blue turf in the Idaho capital.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 6

Due to North Carolina pushing No. 1 Clemson to the brink of an upset on Saturday, we have a change atop the polls for the first time this season. Alabama takes over the top spot from Clemson as four teams get first place votes from the media and the coaches.

AP Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-01 at 3.46.11 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: California 141, Memphis 71, Appalachian State 50, Army 44, Missouri 26, Baylor 19, Colorado 19, Minnesota 15, USC 7, Kansas State 1, Tulane 1

Dropped from rankings: California 15, USC 21, Kansas State 24

Alabama jumps to No. 1 for the first time this season while Clemson, Georgia, and Ohio State all receive first place votes. The Buckeyes hop over Louisiana State into the No. 4 spot after crushing Nebraska in Lincoln on Saturday night.

Most of the major movement in this week’s AP Poll came in the bottom half of the rankings where Washington, Utah, Central Florida, and Michigan all moved up with victories.

Virginia and Texas A&M both took a tumble but remained ranked, while California, Southern California, and Kansas State all rejoined the unranked party following losses over the weekend.

Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Wake Forest, and Southern Methodist all came away from Week 5 with big wins that were enough to help propel them into the Top 25 heading into another weekend slate of games.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-01 at 3.46.33 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: California 125, SMU 118, Arizona State 96, Army 47, Minnesota 34, Baylor 34, Appalachian State 28, Colorado 18, Duke 17, Tulane 16, Utah State 15, Kansas State 13, Hawai’i 10, USC 9, TCU 6, Mississippi State 3, Air Force 3, Washington State 3, Wyoming 2

Dropped from rankings: California 16, Kansas State 22, USC 25

Like the AP Poll, Alabama jumps Clemson to take over the No. 1 spot, but they do so with less first place votes. Georgia and Ohio State also snag first place votes but sit third and fifth respectively.

Again, like the AP poll, most of the notable movement takes place in the bottom half of the rankings. Central Florida and Wake Forest are the big movers while Washington, Utah, and Michigan climb marginally. Virginia is the biggest loser, tumbling for spots after its loss to Notre Dame.

California, Kansas State, and Southern California all drop out of the rankings to be replaced by Memphis, Michigan State, and Oklahoma State.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 6

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 6

Screen Shot 2019-10-01 at 4.15.40 PM.png — via NCAA

Three Top 25 matchups on the docket this week, all with potential long term playoff implications depending on how things shake out. No. 4 Ohio State has been perhaps the most impressive team in the country through five weeks, but they will be facing their first ranked matchup against Michigan State on Saturday.

No. 7 Auburn takes a trip to the swamp to face No. 10 Florida in what could serve as a playoff elimination game. Both sides are undefeated, but a win will propel one side up the standings while the other may see their playoff hopes shattered.

Kicking off this week’s slate of ranked matchups is No. 14 Iowa traveling to Ann Arbor for a Big Ten showdown with No. 19 Michigan. Michigan rebounded from their drubbing against Wisconsin with a win over Rutgers, but another loss likely ends any hope of a conference title let alone any future playoff hopes. Iowa needs to remain undefeated as long as possible and pick up wins against any ranked opponents along the way to keep their name in the playoff discussion.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 5

Following a week of relative calm among the college football rankings, Week 4 injected a little chaos into the mix and some teams paid a high price for their performances. Upsets in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh along with a curb stomping in Madison reshaped the polls and possibly the entire outlook of the college football season.

AP Poll

Screen Shot 2019-09-25 at 1.20.30 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Wake Forest 73, Oklahoma State 57, SMU 55, Army 46, Memphis 42, Iowa State 31, Appalachian State 24, Washington State 21, Mississippi State 14, Missouri 14, Pittsburgh 6, Minnesota 5, Arizona State 5, Colorado 5, Tulane 1

Dropped from rankings: Washington State 19, Arizona State 24, TCU 25

No change among the leading four teams besides Georgia snagging a single first place vote after its big victory over Notre Dame. Speaking of the Fighting Irish, they put up a good fight in Athens, but ultimately, the loss pushes them down to No. 10.

Wisconsin bursts into the Top 10 for the first time this season after a commanding and dominating performance over Michigan. In turn, the Wolverines, who were already on thin ice, take a major tumble to No. 20.

Utah matched the nine spot tumble of Michigan with a nine spot fall of their own to No. 19 after losing ugly to Southern California on Friday night. Central Florida dropped its first regular season game in nearly three years in a shock upset to Pitt at Heinz Field and paid the price. Washington State, Arizona State, and Texas Christian all lost and dropped out of the rankings.

With the victory over Utah, Southern Cal jumped back into the Top 25 after a week unranked. Joining the Trojans among the newly ranked are Kansas State and Michigan State.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

Screen Shot 2019-09-25 at 1.20.43 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Memphis 109, Washington State 83, Michigan State 82, SMU 63, Oklahoma State 51, Army 45, Mississippi State 34, Appalachian State 27, Colorado 12, Minnesota 9, Utah State 9, Tulane 8, Iowa State 7, Nebraska 7, Arizona State 6, TCU 5, Navy 4, Duke 3, Arizona 1, Hawai’i 1

Dropped from rankings: Washington State 19, Arizona State 24

A lot of similarities between the Coaches Poll and the AP Poll, especially in the Top 10. Georgia grabs a first place vote, but other than that the top six all remain the same from last week. Wisconsin is the big mover, jumping five spots and landing safely in the Top 10.

Notre Dame takes a minor hit after its loss to Georgia, while Utah, Michigan, and Central Florida were the big losers on the week. Those drops helped a handful of teams pick up a few spots, especially undefeated sides Virginia, California, Boise State, and Iowa, all of which now sit inside the Top 20.

Undefeated Wake Forest did not make the rankings on the AP side, but the coaches like what they have seen from the Demon Deacons through four games and rewarded them with a Top 25 spot. Southern Cal jumps back into the poll after upsetting Utah.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 5

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 5.

Screen Shot 2019-09-25 at 2.09.21 PM.png — via NCAA

Twenty of the AP Top 25 are in action this week as conference play starts to hit full stride. A pair of ranked matchups highlight the schedule, with No. 10 Notre Dame hosting No. 18 Virginia and No. 21 Southern Cal heading to Seattle to face No. 17 Washington.

Even with the lack of ranked matchups on the docket, there are a few ‘prove it’ games for ranked teams that will be facing their first real test of the season. Several teams are also facing a make or break game that could eliminate them from any playoff discussion should they lose.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 4

No ranked matchups and no major upsets means we saw very little movement in the polls this week, especially in the Top 10. There was some minor shuffling in the bottom half of the polls but nothing overly significant that should have any major impact on the playoff race. Here’s how everything stands as the college football season rolls into Week 4.

AP Poll

Screen Shot 2019-09-18 at 7.30.30 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Kansas State 91, Oklahoma State 51, Army 50, Michigan State 37, Memphis 26, Wake Forest 14, BYU 12, Temple 7, Iowa State 7, Mississippi State 4, Appalachian State 2, Minnesota 1

Dropped from rankings: Michigan State 18, Maryland 21, USC 24

It was a quiet week mostly for AP Top 10 teams with one minor standout. Utah’s win was enough to push them past idle Michigan and into the Top 10 for the first time this season. As it stands, it looks like the Utes will be the best bet for the PAC-12 to reach the College Football Playoff, something the conference has not done since Washington in 2016.

There was more shuffling in the bottom half of this week’s AP Poll, with Central Florida cracking the Top 15 after schlakcing Stanford at home. Boise State and Virginia continue to be rewarded for their strong starts.

Upsets dropped Michigan State, Maryland, and Southern California from the Top 25, to be replaced by California, Arizona State, and Texas Christian.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

Screen Shot 2019-09-18 at 7.30.42 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Oklahoma State 100, Memphis 68, TCU 55, Michigan State 40, Wake Forest 33, Army 31, BYU 28, Kentucky 14, Appalachian State 12, Temple 7, Mississippi State 6, Minnesota 5, Duke 4, Nebraska 4, Navy 4, Tulane 3, Iowa State 3, Arizona 1, Wyoming 1, SMU 1

Dropped from rankings: Michigan State 19, Mississippi State 23, USC 24, Maryland 25

The only major changes from last week to this week in the Coaches Poll was the teams moving out and who replaced them. Once again, it was Michigan State, Southern California, and Maryland all dropping out, with Mississippi State joining them. Jumping into the Coaches Top 25 is Virginia, California, Arizona State, and Kansas State.

In the top half of the new Coaches Poll, the Top 10 all remains steady, while Utah and Penn State simply flip places while both remaining undefeated through three games.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 4

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 4.

Screen Shot 2019-09-18 at 7.50.38 PM.png — via NCAA

After a week of no Top 25 matchups, we are rewarded with three this week, two of which could serve as College Football Playoff elimination games.

First we have No. 11 Michigan traveling to Madison to take on No. 13 Wisconsin. Michigan entered the season as the Big Ten favorite but looked anything other than convincing through their opening two games. One loss would not necessarily end playoff hopes for either side, but a win will go a long way towards helping.

Then at night, No. 7 Notre Dame heads between the hedges for a primetime showdown with No. 3 Georgia in Athens. General consensus is Notre Dame must run the table to qualify for the playoffs so any loss could sink their season. There is a very real chance Georgia could lose this game and still be in the running for the playoff, but their margin for error would be razor thin.

Our final ranked matchup of the week features No. 8 Auburn going on the road to face No. 17 Texas A&M. Auburn started the season with a win over Oregon, so another victory over a Top 25 side will do wonder for their playoff hopes.

Other than that, it’s a rather run of the mill week for the Top 25, with 22 ranked teams in action throughout the weekend.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 3

Two weeks of college football are in the books and for the first time this season, there was some significant movement in the polls after a busy slate of games. Let’s take a peak at how the teams stack up heading into Week 3.

AP Poll

Screen Shot 2019-09-11 at 8.13.58 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Iowa State 96, California 95, Mississippi State 73, TCU 66, North Carolina 48, Army 42, Colorado 21, Oklahoma State 20, Memphis 12, Arizona State 4, Appalachian State 2, Syracuse 2, Kentucky 2, Boston College 2, Minnesota 1

Dropped from rankings: Syracuse 21, Stanford 23, Iowa State 25, Nebraska 25

No change in the Top 3 as Clemson, Alabama, and Georgia all won decisively. Louisiana State is the big mover after their victory over Texas to vault all the way up to No. 4 and put three SEC teams in the Top 4.

Michigan scrapes by Army in overtime and falls three spots while Florida jumps into the Top 10. Texas put up a battle against LSU but the loss ultimately sends them down three spots. Same case for Texas A&M after falling to Clemson. Washington is the big loser on the week, dropping nine places after an ugly loss to California.

Maryland makes its Top 25 debut after thrashing previously ranked Syracuse by 43 points on Saturday. Southern California and Virginia join the Terrapins in climbing from the depths of the unranked.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

Screen Shot 2019-09-11 at 8.14.07 PM.png — via @ESPN

Others receiving votes: Virginia 64, Kentucky 62, California 51, Iowa State 48, Memphis 46, Oklahoma State 45, North Carolina 42, Army 31, Boston College 31, NC State 28, TCU 28, Colorado 16, Stanford 8, Hawai’i 7, Appalachian State 6, Minnesota 5, Wyoming 3, Troy 2, Arizona State 2, Wake Forest 2, Nebraska 1, Navy 1, Tulane 1

Dropped from rankings: Syracuse 22, Stanford 23, Nebraska 25

On the coaches side, the Top 4 remains steady as LSU only jumps a single spot to No. 5 in the poll. Michigan once again pays for its struggles with a three spot drop while rivals Texas and Texas A&M are both docked four places in the standings.

Mimicking the AP poll, Washington takes a nine spot tumble for their inexplicable loss to California at home. On the flip side, Auburn, Penn State, and Utah were the big winners in the voting, moving upwards multiple spots.

Mississippi State, Southern Cal, and Maryland are the three new sides joining the party with the Bulldogs being the one difference between the Coaches and the AP.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 3

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 3.

Screen Shot 2019-09-11 at 8.27.28 PM.png — via NCAA

That is a pretty grim schedule with no AP Top 25 sides facing-off in Week 3. We came close to the first ever ranked showdown between Iowa and Iowa State, but the Cyclones were on a bye and fell out of the Top 25.

There are still some attractive matchups to watch this weekend with Pitt and Penn State meeting for the 100th time in their history while 2017 National Champions Central Florida play host to former ranked squad Stanford in Orlando.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 1

With the college football season underway and the first week of game complete, a new set of national polls have been released, ranking the Top 25 teams in the country. Let’s see how the teams stack up after Week 1.

AP Poll

Screen Shot 2019-09-05 at 12.30.03 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Virginia 73, TCU 61, Mississippi State 50, Cincinnati 48, Army 31, Miami 10, Oklahoma State 8, Memphis 6, Appalachian State 4, Arizona State 4, Minnesota 2, North Carolina 1, USC 1, Boston College 1

Auburn and Oregon are the biggest movers after their thriller in Dallas on Saturday night. Auburn jumps into the Top 10 after their last second victory while the Ducks slide down to #16. Iowa State and Florida both fall even with victories. Boise State joins the rankings with their come from behind victory over Florida State. Clemson and Alabama hold onto the top two spots, picking up all 62 first place between themselves.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

Screen Shot 2019-09-05 at 12.30.40 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Mississippi State 92, Cincinnati 49, Iowa State 41, Kentucky 40, Memphis 34, Oklahoma State 32, Virginia 28, TCU 26, Army 24, NC State 18, Miami 11, Boston College 10, USC 10, Northwestern 7, Appalachian State 4, Arizona State 4, Tulane 4, Fresno State 3, Hawai’i 3, Minnesota 3, North Carolina 2, Troy 2, Wyoming 1, Navy 1

Less movement in the Coaches Poll compared to the AP with Auburn being the biggest gainer and Oregon the biggest slider. Boise State and Nebraska make their first appearance in the coaches poll with victories. Iowa State and Northwestern both fell out of the Top 25 after Week 1.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 2

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 2.

Screen Shot 2019-09-05 at 1.13.31 PM — via NCAA

Nearly all of the AP Top 25 teams are in action this weekend, with No. 25 Iowa State being the only outlier. There will be two games featuring Top 25 teams squaring off with No. 1 Clemson hosting No. 12 Texas A&M and No. 6 LSU heading to Austin to take on No. 9 Texas.

Stupid People Say Stupid Things

If you are even remotely tuned into the NFL, you have likely heard the news about Andrew Luck’s shock decision to retire from the NFL after six playing seasons. The news comes on the heels of yet another injury setback from this offseason that was shrouded in mystery and saw Luck going through another rigorous rehab campaign.

Since being draft No. 1 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 2012, Luck has been one of the premier quarterbacks in the NFL, but that success came with a very steep cost.

Physical toll on Andrew Luck through 6 NFL seasons:
» Torn cartilage in 2 ribs
» partially torn abdomen
» a lacerated kidney that left him peeing blood
» at least 1 concussion
» a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder
» and this mysterious calf/ankle issue that led to this

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) August 25, 2019

If you understand the NFL and the game of football as a whole, you know those were only the injuries divulged and there could have been many the general public does not even know about. The torn labrum required surgery that cost him the entire 2017 season, and most football fans are smart enough to know that concussion total is probably higher than the single one listed.

Every one of those injuries requires a lengthy recovery process full of rehab and therapy, all which took a toll on Luck’s mental state and washed away his love for the game of football. In the end, Luck decided it was no longer worth putting his body through the meat grinder that is the NFL, and made the smart decision to hang up his cleats for good.

When the news broke, the Colts were playing a preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium. According to Adam Schefter, who broke the news on Twitter, Luck was going to announce his retirement at a press conference on Sunday. Well once word started spreading about Luck decision plans changed and he held a press conference following the game. Leaving the Lucas Oil Stadium field for the final time on Saturday night, Colts fans in attendance rained boos down on their now former franchise quarterback.

You can really hear the booing by the #Colts fans during Andrew Luck’s last walkoff the field in this video. pic.twitter.com/un3RjnV4rQ

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 25, 2019

This was all very dumb but a very expected reaction from sports fans who carry a “what have you done for me lately?” type attitude at all times. Luck addressed the booing in his press conference after the game, and yeah, he heard them.

While the boo birds were stupid and short sighted from Colts fans, they will likely someday regret it when looking back on Luck’s career and what he meant to the Colts organization during his time in Indianapolis. The most idiotic statements surrounding Luck’s decision came from sports talking heads, on where else, Twitter.

First up was Fox Sports Radio host Doug Gottlieb, who brought the fire with a truly astounding Boomer-level take.

Retiring cause rehabbing is “too hard” is the most millennial thing ever #AndrewLuck

— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) August 25, 2019

Ah yes, Andrew Luck retiring to save his body further abuse in attempt to live a normal life past 40 is just a sign that millennials are ruining the world. Gottlieb, who had to leave Notre Dame because he stole a teammate’s credit card, was rightfully ratioed for his terrible take by other users. Many of the responses included jabs about his past transgressions, but to his credit, he has not deleted the tweet as of this writing.

While Gottlieb’s take falls under the ‘Peak Boomer’ category, he is only 43 years old, making him a member of Gen-X. For some truly boomer level takes, we need to check in on BASKETBALL analyst Dan Dakich. Dakich, an Indiana native and former University of Indiana standout, had some thoughts about Luck’s decision.

Remember, Dakich is a basketball guy.

I’ve told you all for YEARS about this guy!!!! https://t.co/fdSoBq3uyK

— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) August 25, 2019

Luck…..Hate to say I told you about Luck but as all the local and national guys were making excuses for him I told you this guy was not real

— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) August 25, 2019

Luck has a freaking ankle and a freaking shoulder…just tell us I made a ton of $$$$ and don’t love the sport.. Luck is full of ish and always has been

— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) August 25, 2019

Blah blah blah https://t.co/U10Sn2mK6q

— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) August 25, 2019

I have family working in steel mills..cops..teachers making far less and this guy is “tired”….. my backside https://t.co/2zx5kutkSL

— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) August 25, 2019

Perhaps the best and most ‘Boomer’ take of all.

Gil Brandt and most scouts questioned his commitment when he was drafted..I told you this for years https://t.co/BuGDYzUT8i

— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) August 25, 2019

Andrew Luck having passions outside of football were apparently huge red flags for scouts because they questioned his commitment to the game. Truly astounding.

Apparently the mob is after me today!!! Hahahahaha

— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) August 25, 2019

**insert Dril corn cob tweet**

The Mob is free to call in today and discuss Lucks retirement …today 2-4 ..don’t hide behind a twitter account let’s discuss 317-239-1070

— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) August 25, 2019

“go ahead. keep screaming “Shut The F*** Up ” at me. it only makes my opinions Worse”

Kinda amazing..people say “you don’t know what’s on Lucks heart and mind” yet those same people are certain Luck is leaving because he’s “saving himself “
They know what’s on his heart and mind and no other explanation exists

— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) August 25, 2019

This rage tweeting went on for well over 12 hours and you can only imagine the fire spilling for his radio spot on Sunday. Reading through Dakich’s entire timeline, you get the feel he is tweeting more as a Colts fans than any kind of sports analyst he’s being paid to be. Obviously emotions are high in Colts land right now, but unloading on a guy for ensuring he can live a somewhat normal life post football is a truly insane stance to take.

Thankfully, Gottlieb and Dakich were among a minority of people tearing Luck down during what he admitted what the hardest decision of his life. For the most part, people from all corners of the sports world were supportive of Luck and expressed well wishes for whatever he may do in the future.

Very few of us will ever have the chance to be as blessed as Andrew Luck was to play quarterback in the NFL and been genuinely one of the best of his era. It’s sad to see such a promising career cut short, but knowing Luck is at peace with his decision and will hopefully have a normal life moving forward should be enough for fans to support his choice to step away.

The Drunkest Offense in America – Week 0

When Robbie and I first conceptualized the idea of “The Drunkest Offense in America” in the infancy of The FlipCast, we did so very late in the 2017 season without much in the way of supporting our claims aside from being prisoners of the moment. It’s still the right way to do such a thing.

As the 2019 season kind of started on Saturday, there were four possible contenders to claim the resetting title. (Going FBS only, because it would be nearly impossible to track all collegiate levels; that isn’t to say that we wouldn’t appreciate a Division III team that hangs 70-plus on its opponents … It just might be days before we know that it happened given that Amanda, Robbie and I are super busy as it is)

Anyhow, this post is already spending too much time not sharing the glory of Week 0’s Drunkest Offense in America, so without much more in the way of delay …:

The runner-up: Arizona

The only way Saturday’s game could end, aside from a touchdown.

Should our Drunkest Offense in America not be able to fulfill its duties before Week 1 begins, Arizona would wear the crown. As it sits, the Wildcats were a yard away from forcing overtime when Khalil Tate was stopped at the 1 after scrambling for 30 yards on the game’s final play. While needing at least 540 yards on Saturday, Arizona’s 539 yards on the evening produced 361 passing yards and 178 yards on the ground, with Tate producing 108 of them on 13 carries. While not victorious, Arizona was a bit more efficient – and explosive – possessing the ball for just a little over 22 minutes while generating solid numbers and putting up 21 points in a wild second quarter.

Next week: Arizona has a bye. Slackers.

The Drunkest Offense in America: Hawai’i

In a text to Robbie, I had prematurely – and jokingly – crowned Florida as the country’s drunkest offense thanks to the fact that it sloshed its way to a 24-20 win over Miami in a game that exposed the fallacies of Week 0 showcase games. This was before Cole McDonald sauntered in and teamed up with Cedric Byrd II early, often and with extreme success. Byrd hauled in 14 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns.

This happened four times. Here’s one of those times.

Normally, Byrd’s day is enough to garner a lot of attention, albeit the morning-after kind since Honolulu insists on being five time zones behind those of us in the Eastern Time Zone. Seriously, Hawai’i … We gotta talk about that.

But fawning over Byrd takes vital verbiage away from McDonald, who engineered the Rainbow Warriors’ Run and Shoot attack while passing for 378 yards and four scores. He also tossed four interceptions because he’s a damn artist and his movement is making sure that only eight of his 41 attempts found the ground before someone’s hands.

In. My. Veins!

Hawai’i ran the ball a bit, too, but running the ball ain’t as fun as flinging the ball down the field. Plus, who would stay up and watch Hawai’i if the Rainbow Warriors weren’t running an offense predicated on scoring all the points as quickly as possible? We aren’t seeing an on-probation Houston in the late-80s hanging like 50 points on nearly everyone here, but as long as the heart of the Run and Shoot beats in Hawai’i, we’re quite here for it.

Next week: Hawai’i also has a bye, which feels wrong given that the season starts proper next weekend, plus it almost guarantees that the Rainbow Warriors will lose the title without a proper chance to defend it with powerhouses across the country lining up against all the cupcakes.