The Utah Utes (2-0) are stuck at No. 26 for the second-straight week in the AP Poll, despite the No. 24 South Carolina Gamecocks and and No. 25 Florida Gators both losing. The Utes are No. 27 in the Amway Coaches Poll (a.k.a. the grad assistant poll). While Utah’s 17-6 win over the Northern Illinois Huskies was less than impressive, they likely should have slid in. Instead, the Arizona State Sun Devils (deserving) and the Oklahoma State Cowboys moved into the top 25, and the Michigan State Spartans did not fall out, despite looking bad in a week one win over the Utah Sate Aggies and losing to ASU. The Alabama Crimson Tide are still atop the poll.
With ASU moving into the top 25, the Pac-12 now has five teams ranked in each poll. The Stanford Cardinal leads the way in both at No. 9. The Washington Huskies, Oregon Ducks, USC Trojans, and Arizona State Sun Devils are all ranked in both polls as well. The Coaches Poll has undefeated Arizona State one spot behind the Michigan State team they just beat. I do not put much of any stock in that poll and favor the AP Poll until the College Football Playoff Poll comes out.
Early season polls are dumb, but they really do influence the season because a win over an overrated team early in the season can jump a team up, and they are not knocked for it typically when the team they beat falls out of the rankings. Utah’s first real test of the season comes next Saturday when they host No. 10 Washington. A win in that game would absolutely vault Utah into the rankings, likely into the top 20. The poll will sort itself out as the season progresses, but do not kid yourself, these early rankings will have an influence for far too long this season.
AP Poll
1. Alabama (54)
2. Clemson (6)
3. Georgia
4. Ohio State
5. Oklahoma
6. Wisconsin (1)
7. Auburn
8. Notre Dame
9. Stanford
10. Washington
11. Penn State
12. LSU
13. Virginia Tech
14. West Virginia
15. TCU
16. Mississippi State
17. Boise State
18. UCF
19. Michigan
20. Oregon
21. Miami (FL)
22. USC
23. Arizona State
24. Oklahoma State
25. Michigan State
Amway Coaches Poll
1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Georgia
4. Ohio State
5. Oklahoma
6. Wisconsin
7. Auburn
8. Notre Dame
9. Stanford
10. Penn State
11. Virginia Tech
12. Washington
13. Louisiana State
14. Texas Christian
15. West Virginia
16. Mississippi State
17. Boise State
18. Central Florida
19. Oklahoma State
20. Miami
21. Southern California
22. Michigan
23. Oregon
24. Michigan State
25. Arizona State