College football rankings: Big Ten struggles, Kansas shines

In the event you had been informed that Duke, Kentucky and Kansas had been all 3–0, you would possibly assume that it’s mid-November and basketballs are flying into hoops.

Oh, however no! The Blue Devils, Wildcats and Jayhawks are a mixed 9–0 within the sport of soccer. Indiana is 3–0, too, and so is Syracuse, Maryland, Tulane and Rutgers! It’s a smorgasbord of not-so-football faculties taking part in effectively in soccer, and it’s an ideal factor for the game. Actually, two of those groups meet subsequent week, when the Dukies journey to Lawrence, Kansas.

In the meantime, the tremendous convention that’s the Massive Ten took it on the chin in a couple of nonconference bouts. The Orange beat Purdue, Washington drubbed Michigan State, Oklahoma pounded Nebraska and FCS Southern Illinois shocked Northwestern, plus the Hoosiers wanted additional time to beat Western Kentucky. The Salukis turned the primary FCS group to get a win over the Energy 5 this 12 months, they usually walked away with a $550,000 assure examine, too.

Talking of underdogs, the Inexperienced Wave bought to three–0 by profitable at Kansas State, and the Pac-12 bought two wins over top-25 groups on the identical day for the primary time since… 2013! That’s a stat to rejoice and marvel at should you’re out West (it speaks to the convention’s decade-long disappointments within the sport).

Marcus Freeman lastly bought his first win as Notre Dame’s coach (on try No. 4), Hugh Freeze’s resolution to go for the win on a two-point conversion failed (Liberty dropped its first recreation) and Bryan Harsin’s tenure on the Plains took extra of a flip for the worst (Penn State rolled the Tigers).

However sufficient, let’s get to our High 10. Following colleague Pat Forde’s lead, we’re rewarding these groups which have by way of three weeks performed the most effective towards the most effective competitors. In case your group didn’t “play no one,” effectively then your group most likely isn’t making our High 10.

O.Ok., to the rankings we go!

1. Georgia (3–0)

Final recreation: Beat South Carolina 48–7
Subsequent recreation: Kent State (Saturday)

Georgia seems to be morphing into this system that resides in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Not solely do the Bulldogs have a juggernaut protection, however they now seem to have an equally as environment friendly and explosive offense. Of their two Energy 5 video games this 12 months, the Dawgs scored 49 and 48 factors. Towards South Carolina, they didn’t have a rusher end with greater than 40 yards, however they’d 4 rushers end with not less than 32 yards. And quarterback Stetson Bennett missed on simply seven passes, throwing for 2 TDs and 284 yards. UGA has outscored its first three opponents 130–10.

2. Ohio State (3–0)

Final recreation: Beat Toledo 77–21
Subsequent recreation: Wisconsin (Saturday)

There are higher résumés in school soccer, sure. However the Buckeyes did choose up a key victory over Notre Dame they usually’ve been dominant the final two weeks over Group of 5 foes. QB C.J. Stroud had the identical quantity of incompletions (5) on Saturday as he did landing passes. Three Ohio State receivers eclipsed the 100-yard mark, too.

3. USC (3–0)

Final recreation: Beat Fresno State 45–17
Subsequent recreation: at Oregon State (Saturday)

The Switch Portal Trojans haven’t missed many beats this season. And although they haven’t performed any actual high quality competitors, they’re steamrolling them: Rice, Stanford and Fresno. Behind QB Caleb Williams, the offense is buzzing. They’ve scored 66 factors, 41 factors and 45 factors. The brand new faces in L.A.—quarterback, coach, working again, receiver—seem like becoming in fairly properly.

4. Penn State (3–0)

Final recreation: Beat Auburn 41–12
Subsequent recreation: Central Michigan (Saturday)

By means of three weeks, the Nittany Lions have two Energy 5 highway victories, which is healthier than most. Penn State received at Purdue to open the season on a Thursday evening after which rolled over Auburn on the Plains. Sean Clifford is stable and coach James Franklin’s protection has been salty. Ten of Auburn’s 12 drives ended on downs, with a turnover or punt.

5. Alabama (3–0)

Final recreation: Beat UL-Monroe 63–7
Subsequent recreation: Vanderbilt (Saturday)

Nick Saban entered the locker room after final week’s win over Texas with a message for his group: follow laborious and the sport is straightforward. Whether or not follow was laborious or not, the sport positive was simple. The Tide walloped the identical program that beat Saban in his first season in Tuscaloosa in 2007. QB Bryce Younger threw two picks but in addition tossed three touchdowns.

6. Arkansas (3–0)

Final recreation: Beat Missouri State 38–27
Subsequent recreation: Texas A&M in Arlington (Saturday)

We all know, we all know. The Hogs struggled towards former coach Bobby Petrino and his Bears. Missouri State opened with a 17–0 lead after which led 27–17 earlier than Arkansas stormed again with a 21-point fourth quarter. Arkansas stays in our High 10 largely due to its stable win over Cincinnati. We’ll know rather more about Sam Pittman’s group after subsequent weekend’s recreation towards the Aggies.

7. Oklahoma (3–0)

Final recreation: Beat Nebraska 49–14
Subsequent recreation: Kansas State (Saturday)

The Sooners crack into our rankings after thumping the Huskers on the highway, their first recreation towards a Energy 5 opponent this season. Although Nebraska doesn’t qualify as a high quality victory, Oklahoma’s dominance is sufficient. QB Dillon Gabriel threw for 230 yards and ran for 55 and Brent Venables’s protection suffocated Nebraska within the first recreation because the firing of Scott Frost. OU compelled a turnover or a punt on 11 straight Nebraska possessions.

8. Kentucky (3–0)

Final recreation: Beat Youngstown State 31–0
Subsequent recreation: North Illinois (Saturday)

Mark Stoops and his soccer faculty pushed apart the FCS Penguins and bought a pleasant day from QB Will Levis (377 yards and two TDs). Youngstown had 9 first downs, was 0-for-10 on third down and didn’t crack the 200-yard mark. Are the ‘Cats for actual? We’ll discover out fairly quickly. They journey to Ole Miss on Oct. 1, a recreation that’s shaping as much as be a gathering of undefeated, top-15 squads.

9. Tennessee (3–0)

Final recreation: Beat Akron 63–6
Subsequent recreation: Florida (Saturday)

Are the Vols again? Perhaps. They’re actually taking part in higher than they’ve in years. Their highway win at Pitt is sufficient to get them into our High 10, however the actual exams come over the subsequent three weeks: Florida, at LSU and Alabama. Think about what a Bama-Tennessee conflict in Knoxville shall be like if the Vols can handle to beat LSU and the Gators? It’s been a protracted whereas since a Vols-Tide recreation has held some relevancy.

10. Kansas (3–0)

Final recreation: Beat Houston 48–30
Subsequent recreation: Duke (Saturday)

Gasp! The Jayhawks within the High 10? Have we had an excessive amount of to drink? Did we get up in 2007? Three weeks into the season, Kansas has received highway video games over a Energy 5 group (West Virginia) and a soon-to-be Energy 5 group (Houston). Coach Lance Leipold now has received the identical quantity of highway video games this season (two) because the final 5 KU head coaches mixed to win of their tenure on the faculty. 

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