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Week 4 in college football featured one of the first slates with conference play scattered across the landscape, and the arrival of that portion of the season brings the first real challenges for voters in the AP Top 25 poll. For the early weeks of the season there are but a few true ranked-on-ranked matchups that can lead to difficult decisions up and down a ballot. But now that we’re in conference play, voters will be challenged to consider the strength of teams beyond their loss count.
Michigan was docked significantly for its loss to Texas in Week 2, falling all the way outside the top 15 after failing to be competitive in what was widely viewed as a matchup of two College Football Playoff contenders. But after a quarterback change and a statement win against USC in Week 4, the Wolverines have shown that maybe it was too early to sell their stock because their smash-mouth brand of football is still good enough to compete with some of the top teams in the Big Ten.
Voters will also start to consider how long preseason biases can hold up the ranking of teams that have yet to face tougher tests and log ranked wins. Tennessee toppled NC State when the Wolfpack were ranked, but it will be Saturday’s road win against Oklahoma that carries a slightly more significant impact as the Vols will see their season-long climb up the rankings continue with momentum that could push them into the top five.
It will also be difficult to decide where USC and Oklahoma fit into the top 25 picture after losses; each clearly showed a form in defeat that is worthy of remaining in the rankings but now will be compared with teams that have yet to take a loss. Every voter has a different method when it comes to splitting hairs and breaking down a team’s performance,…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/tomorrows-top-25-today-tennessee-into-top-five-michigan-makes-big-jump-in-college-football-rankings/
Author : Chip Patterson
Publish date : 2024-09-22 05:51:56
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