College football rankings: Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State a cut above

By RJ Younger
FOX Sports activities Faculty Soccer Author

It took Texas — a staff I’ve thought extremely of for 9 months — to take Nick Saban’s Alabama to the brink of their first loss because the nationwide title recreation to indicate us simply how giant the chasm between Georgia and the remainder of the game is.

After Week 2, although, there isn’t any doubt that UGA is the category of the game for the second week in a row. What nonetheless stays to be seen is simply how the groups following Bama and Ohio State shake out over the course of this season.

1. Georgia (2-0)

Defeated Samford, 33-0

Whereas Stetson Bennett’s 24-for-34-for-300-yards stat line deserves point out, you need to word the Dawgs allowed simply 19 rush yards, 128 whole yards and simply considered one of 13 third-down conversion makes an attempt towards their FCS opponent.

2. Alabama (2-0)

Defeated Texas, 20-19

Alabama trailed Texas with 1:29 left to play and wanted Bryce Younger to make a Houdini act to keep away from an embarrassing loss to the Longhorns.

3. Ohio State (2-0)

Defeated Arkansas State, 45-12

Final season, Ryan Day let Kyle McCord have a begin to let C.J. Stroud heal after a bodily recreation towards Minnesota. Day is the one coach I’ve seen do this, and it is sensible. There is not any have to play stars in these video games in the event that they’re banged up. So he sat Julian Fleming and Heisman candidate Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and nonetheless beat the Purple Wolves by greater than 5 TDs.

After Notre Dame was shocked by Marshall 26-21 in South Bend, the Buckeyes’ season-opening win has misplaced its luster. The Irish paid the Thundering Herd $1.25 million to get handed an L in our first version of Cash within the Bag this season on The Quantity One Faculty Soccer Present. 

Marvin Harrison Jr. snags second lengthy TD

Marvin Harrison Jr. caught seven passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns Saturday.

4. Kentucky (2-0)

Defeated Florida, 26-16

Mark Stoops moved forward of Paul “Bear” Bryant for essentially the most wins as head coach at UK at school historical past by doubling up Florida for the primary time since 1976 and 1977 in consecutive seasons. The Wildcats are actually the challenger to a dominant UGA for the SEC East title.

5. Michigan (2-0)

Defeated Hawaii, 56-10

It’s troublesome to guage how good Michigan is towards an opponent it was favored to beat by 52 and led 42-0 at halftime. However the Wolverines are a win away from going 3-0 of their non-conference schedule and appear to be a staff able to defending their Huge Ten title.

Even higher, it seems that Jim Harbaugh has settled on a quarterback — J.J. McCarthy. 

J.J. McCarthy finds Roman Wilson

The Michigan Wolverines took a 7-0 lead over Hawaii when J.J. McCarthy discovered Roman Wilson on a 42-yard TD cross.

6. Arkansas (2-0)

Defeated South Carolina, 44-30

Arkansas hammered the Gamecocks on the bottom for 295 rush yards with 5 speeding TDs.

The Razorbacks appear to be the staff more than likely to problem the Crimson Tide for the SEC West crown, and that’s no small feat. The Pit Boss, Sam Pittman, has Arkansas buzzing proper alongside and looking out like a staff able to competing for an SEC Championship.

7. Michigan State (2-0)

Defeated Akron, 52-0

The Spartans beat Akron by a margin they hadn’t overwhelmed an opponent by because the Eisenhower Administration.

Jalen Berger is changing into the form of tailback I believed he was able to when he first arrived at Wisconsin. In opposition to Akron, the switch carried the rock 17 instances 107 yards. He’s averaging 7.5 yards per carry by two video games for the Spartans and looking out like a worthy successor to former Spartan nice Kenneth Walker III.

8. Clemson (2-0)

Defeated Furman, 35-12

With wins towards Georgia Tech and Furman, it’s exhausting to know simply how good Dabo Swinney’s Tigers are, however being 2-0 is definitely going to assist their trigger. The Tigers’ first actual problem doesn’t come till they play North Carolina State on Oct. 1.

9. Oklahoma (2-0)

Defeated Kent State, 33-3

The Sooners have but to be examined and certain will not be till Sept 24 after they face a Kansas State staff that dismantled Missouri on Saturday. Nevertheless, the Sooners have allowed simply 16 factors by two video games and gave up at the least 16 factors in 10 of their 13 video games in 2021.

The Sooners gave up 35 in final yr’s season-opener alone — to Tulane.

10. USC (2-0)

Defeated Stanford, 41-28

USC dismantled their first Pac-12 opponent of the Lincoln Riley period. Now 2-0, the Trojans are proving they are going to be within the hunt for the league crown after profitable simply 4 video games final season.

Quarterback Caleb Williams accomplished 20 of 27 passes for 341 yards for 4 TDs in his first Pac-12 recreation. 

11. Brigham Younger (2-0)

Defeated Baylor, 26-20 in OT  

After slugging it out with a troublesome Baylor squad, the Cougars subsequent head to Eugene to tackle the Oregon Geese.

12. Baylor (1-1)

Misplaced to. BYU, 26-20 in OT

Baylor missed a area objective and an additional level, was outgained 366-282 and did not power any turnovers — and nonetheless virtually pulled out a troublesome highway win.

13. Oklahoma State (2-0)

Defeated Arizona State, 34-17

The Pokes put up 197 rush yards with Dominic Richardson gaining 130 of it on 27 carries. Quarterback Spencer Sanders threw for 268 yards, however accomplished simply 21 of 38 passes for 55 %. 

14. Tennessee (2-0)

Defeated Pittsburgh, 34-27

This was an ideal win on the highway for the Vols within the Johnny Main Basic. Quarterback Hendon Hooker and vast receiver Cedric Tillman are a formidable duo.

Huge win for Tennessee

The Tennessee Volunteers pulled off a giant time beyond regulation victory over the No. 17 Pittsburgh Panthers. RJ Younger discusses what this implies for each groups shifting ahead.

15. Minnesota (2-0)

Defeated Western Illinois, 62-10

Minnesota’s non-conference schedule feels as aggressive as a person on a bicycle racing towards a inventory automobile at Kansas Speedway. However the Gophers have an identification and appear to be the category of the Huge Tent West after each Wisconsin and Iowa suffered losses towards non-conference foes Saturday.

16. Florida (1-1)

Misplaced to Kentucky, 26-16

Anthony Richardson confirmed he nonetheless has room for progress, however the Gators didn’t look out of the sport till late within the fourth quarter. It was a formidable opponent they performed on Saturday evening. Florida is the one Energy 5 staff to open with two ranked opponents this season. How’s that for power of schedule?

17. Utah (1-1)

Defeated Southern Utah, 73-7

The Utes scored 38 within the second quarter towards their FCS opponent. There’s nonetheless a highway to the Faculty Soccer Playoff for them, however they’re going to need to be excellent the remainder of the best way and hope to play an undefeated opponent within the Pac-12 title recreation.

18. Mississippi (2-0)

Defeated Central Arkansas, 59-3

Ole Miss managed this lopsided win with out a 200-yard passer, only one 100-yard rusher, and created 4 turnovers. Whereas it performs its first Energy 5 opponent of the season subsequent week, it is Georgia Tech.

We can’t know a lot about Ole Miss till it performs Kentucky on Oct. 1.

19. North Carolina State (2-0)

Defeated Charleston Southern, 55-3

After being scared to loss of life by East Carolina, the Wolfpack appears to have discovered its footing towards an FCS opponent.

20. Miami (2-0)

Defeated Southern Miss, 30-7

Tyler Van Dyke is trying increasingly like the person many thought he’d be in 2022. He accomplished 21 of 30 passes for 263 cross yards and a TD within the win.

21. Texas (1-1)

Misplaced to Alabama, 20-19

Texas is a rattling good soccer staff. Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers was 9-for-12 for 134 yards earlier than being knocked out of the sport. It’s a critical query as as to whether Texas would’ve accomplished the upset had Ewers completed the sport wholesome.

Highlights: Alabama edges Texas

Take a look at the highlights from Alabama’s thrilling 20-19 victory over Texas.

22. Texas A&M (1-1)

Misplaced to Appalachian State, 17-14

For the second consecutive week, the Aggies did not run the ball successfully. They didn’t run a 3rd play in Appalachian State territory till properly into the fourth quarter and couldn’t throw the ball convincingly in any respect towards a staff that gave up greater than 60 to North Carolina final week. 

It is likely to be time to sound the alarm in Faculty Station.

23. Wake Forest (2-0)

Defeated Vanderbilt, 45-25 

Sure, it’s Vandy, however these Commodores had been solely a landing underdog on this recreation at kickoff.

With the triumphant return of Sam Hartman, the Demon Deacons appear to be a staff that may contend for the ACC title alongside North Carolina State, Miami and Clemson. Hartman accomplished 18 of 27 passes for 300 yards with 4 TDs.

24. Texas Tech (2-0)

Defeated Houston, 33-30 in OT

With starter Tyler Shough out, first-year head coach Joey McGuire handed the keys to quarterback Donovan Smith, and the person didn’t disappoint Purple Raider followers.

Smith accomplished 36 of 57 passes for 351 cross yards and a TD to steer the Purple Raiders to their first win towards a ranked opponent within the McGuire period. Look out for the Purple Raiders as a result of they, like Kansas(!), are going to be an issue within the Huge 12.

Tech followers rush the sector to rejoice upset

Donovan Smith’s speeding TD in OT sealed Texas Tech’s 33-30 victory towards No. 25 Houston.

25. North Carolina (3-0)

Defeated Georgia State, 35-28

The Tar Heels are 3-0, a kind of wins having come towards an Appalachian State staff that beat Texas A&M on Saturday 

RJ Younger is a nationwide faculty soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports activities and the host of the podcast “The Quantity One Faculty Soccer Present.” Observe him on Twitter at @RJ_Young and subscribe to “The RJ Younger Present” on YouTube.

Get extra from Faculty Soccer Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra.