College Football Top 25: Week 2 Just Blew Up the Rankings
Week 2 dramatically altered the college football scene. Just a week after teams started establishing their credentials, several contenders either made significant impacts or saw their seasons take an unforeseen direction. Texas rallied against Ohio State, Oklahoma was defeated by Michigan, and Oklahoma State surprised Oregon in Stillwater.
With significant victories, tough losses, and numerous teams asserting their positions, here is the current Too Reckless Top 25 as we move into Week 3, along with teams that narrowly missed the cut.
Teams Just Missing The Cut
Boise State
The Broncos are still firmly in the conversation after a strong start, but they just missed the Top 25. Boise State has the talent to climb into the rankings quickly if it keeps stacking wins.
Oklahoma State:
The Cowboys were one of the biggest winners of the week after shocking No. 6 Oregon. A 39-31 upset and 554 yards of offense make Oklahoma State impossible to ignore, but the loss to Tulsa the previous week is simply too big to ignore. One massive win isn't quite enough to erase a disappointing loss, keeping the Cowboys just outside the Top 25 for now.
Duke:
Duke continues to fly under the radar. The Blue Devils have shown enough early in the season to warrant consideration, playing solid football on both sides of the ball. They have looked like a team capable of making some noise in the ACC, but they'll need a bigger win against a ranked opponent or a strong conference team to force their way into the Top 25. For now, Duke remains one of the more intriguing teams just outside the rankings.
Florida:
Florida remains one of the most intriguing teams just outside the Top 25. After dominating Florida Atlantic in Week 1, the Gators followed it up with another convincing win over Campbell. Florida's offense has shown plenty of explosiveness early in the season, and the Gators have looked much more comfortable under Jon Sumrall. The biggest question is still what this team can do once SEC play begins. The Gators have the talent to make a run up the rankings, but until they get a quality win against a conference opponent, they remain just outside the Top 25 once again.
Mississippi State:
Mississippi State is another team knocking on the door. The Bulldogs have looked competitive early, but their résumé isn't quite strong enough yet to make the cut. Still, Kamario Taylor continues to make me a believer in this Mississippi State team. His play has given the Bulldogs a spark and made them a team worth keeping an eye on as the season moves forward. A statement win could change that quickly and push Mississippi State into the Top 25.
Top 25 Too Recklss List
No. 25 Pitt — NEW
Pitt enters the Top 25 for the first time after starting 2-0 and handing UCF its first loss of the season, 12-7. The Panthers were just outside my Week 1 rankings, but this win gives them the kind of Power Four victory I wanted to see before putting them in. It wasn't an offensive masterpiece, but Pitt's defense came through when it mattered. At 2-0, the Panthers have earned their spot, even if there is still plenty to prove.
No. 24 Virginia — NEW
Virginia enters the Top 25 after starting 2-0 with a pair of convincing wins. The Cavaliers opened the season by beating a solid NC State team before destroying Norfolk State 59-3. Virginia was one of my teams just outside the rankings in Week 1, but the NC State win gives this résumé more credibility than I initially expected. The Cavaliers have earned their way into the rankings and could climb quickly with more ACC wins.
No. 23 Oregon — DOWN 16 SPOTS
Oregon takes one of the biggest falls of the week, dropping 16 spots from No. 7 to No. 23 after a shocking 39-31 loss to Oklahoma State. I already had concerns about the Ducks after they barely escaped Boise State in Week 1, and those concerns only became louder this week. Oregon gave up 554 yards of offense and couldn't close out a game against a team that had just lost to Tulsa. The Ducks still have plenty of talent, but this loss is impossible to ignore.
No. 22 Oklahoma — DOWN 11 SPOTS
Oklahoma falls 11 spots from No. 11 to No. 22 after losing 17-10 to Michigan. The Sooners dominated UTEP in Week 1, but I specifically noted that they needed to prove themselves against stronger competition. They got that opportunity and couldn't get the job done. Oklahoma's defense kept the game close, but the offense struggled to make enough plays. The Sooners still have the talent to climb back up, but this was a major hit to their résumé.
No. 21 Louisville — UP 4 SPOTS
Louisville jumps four spots from No. 25 to No. 21 after responding to its heartbreaking Week 1 loss to Ole Miss with a 59-13 blowout of Villanova. I said after Week 1 that the Cardinals were a team I expected to climb because of how competitive they were against a top-10 Ole Miss team. They backed that up immediately. Lincoln Kienholz accounted for four total touchdowns, and Louisville looked much more like the team I expected coming into the season.
No. 20 Houston — STAYS AT No. 20
Houston stays at No. 20 after crushing Southern 77-6. The Cougars already had one of the better wins among the teams in this section after beating a solid Oregon State team in Week 1, so there was no reason to make a drastic move after another expected win. Houston continues to score at an impressive rate and has taken care of business in both games. The Cougars' résumé will get much more interesting once Big 12 play begins.
No. 19 Iowa — UP 2 SPOTS
Iowa moves up two spots from No. 21 to No. 19 after finally winning the Cy-Hawk rivalry, beating Iowa State 16-13 on a last-second 42-yard field goal. It wasn't pretty, but that's exactly the type of game Iowa is built to win. The Hawkeyes' defense kept them in the game, and they made the biggest play when it mattered most. Winning a heated rivalry against a quality Iowa State team gives Iowa's résumé a significant boost, and that's enough for me to move them up two spots.
No. 18 Missouri — UP 5 SPOTS
Missouri makes one of the biggest jumps of the week, climbing five spots from No. 23 to No. 18 after comfortably beating Kansas 38-21 in a heated rivalry game. The Tigers didn't just win — they controlled the game against a Kansas team that came in with plenty of confidence. Austin Simmons threw three touchdown passes, and Missouri's offense consistently found ways to move the ball. A convincing rivalry win like this deserves a major jump.
No. 17 Michigan — UP 7 SPOTS
Michigan rockets up seven spots from No. 24 to No. 17 after beating No. 11 Oklahoma 17-10. Coming off a shaky Week 1 win over Western Michigan, I had plenty of questions about the Wolverines, especially after Bryce Underwood's rough performance. Michigan answered those questions against Oklahoma. The defense was outstanding, holding the Sooners to just 10 points, while the offense made enough plays to win. Beating a team that started the week at No. 11 is a major résumé boost.
No. 16 USC — DOWN 4 SPOTS
USC drops four spots from No. 12 to No. 16 after a much more difficult performance against Louisiana than expected. The Trojans struggled to find their rhythm in the first quarter, looking out of sync offensively and allowing Louisiana to hang around early. USC eventually settled down and found its rhythm in the second quarter, carrying that momentum into the rest of the game. While the Trojans showed they could adjust and finish strong, the slow start was concerning for a team with playoff aspirations. USC still has plenty of talent and remains undefeated, but this performance is enough to knock them down four spots.
No. 15 Texas Tech — STAYS AT No. 15
Texas Tech stays at No. 15 after beating Oregon State 35-24. The Red Raiders held this exact spot in my Week 1 rankings, and this week did enough to justify keeping them there. After an underwhelming 33-10 win over Abilene Christian in Week 1, Texas Tech needed to show it could beat a respectable opponent. The Red Raiders did exactly that against Oregon State. There's no reason to move them up or down yet.
No. 14 Utah — UP 5 SPOTS
Utah makes a huge jump from No. 19 to No. 14 after a strong start to the season. The Utes are also making a major 5 spot jump in the Too Recklss poll, showing just how much attention this team is getting nationally. As this was being written, Utah was beating Arkansas comfortably and continuing to look impressive against a quality opponent. After dominating Idaho in Week 1, the Utes are showing they can handle stronger competition as well. Utah has looked physical, balanced and disciplined on both sides of the ball, making them one of the biggest risers of the week.
No. 13 Penn State — UP 5 SPOTS
Penn State moves up five spots from No. 18 to No. 13 after beating Temple 27-9. The Nittany Lions weren't flashy, but they controlled the game and got another strong performance from Rocco Becht, who threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Week 1's 45-0 win over Marshall already gave Penn State a strong defensive foundation, and another comfortable victory keeps that momentum going. The Nittany Lions haven't done enough to crack the top 10 yet, but they're trending in the right direction.
No. 12 SMU — UP 10 SPOTS
SMU makes one of the biggest jumps in the rankings, moving from No. 22 to No. 12. After beating Florida State on the road in Week 1 despite committing four turnovers, I wanted to see if the Mustangs could clean things up. They answered that question by destroying UC Davis 56-10. Kevin Jennings threw for 337 yards and five touchdowns without an interception, showing a completely different level of efficiency. SMU has now put together two impressive wins, and its résumé is becoming impossible to ignore.
No. 11 BYU — UP 3 SPOTS
BYU moves up three spots from No. 14 to No. 11 after beating Arizona 28-17. The Cougars dominated Utah Tech in Week 1, but that win wasn't enough to justify a major jump. This week was different. BYU picked up a legitimate Big 12 win against an Arizona team that had plenty of expectations coming into the season. Bear Bachmeier threw three touchdown passes, and BYU showed it can win a more competitive game. The Cougars are quickly becoming a legitimate Big 12 contender.
No. 10 Tennessee — UP 7 SPOTS
Tennessee makes a major jump from No. 17 to No. 10 after beating Georgia Tech 45-24. I liked what I saw from the Vols in Week 1, but the Furman game didn't tell us much. This win did. Tennessee's offense continued to produce, while the Vols showed they could handle a tougher opponent away from home. The combination of quarterback play, explosiveness and defensive pressure has me buying into Tennessee much more than I was a week ago.
No. 9 Alabama — UP 4 SPOTS
Alabama climbs four spots from No. 13 to No. 9 after beating Kentucky 45-17. The Crimson Tide weren't perfect and had some early mistakes, but they eventually took control and pulled away. Week 1's win over East Carolina was solid but didn't give Alabama enough to move, while this performance showed a little more against stronger competition. The Tide still have plenty to clean up, but the talent is undeniable.
No. 8 LSU — STAYS AT No. 8
LSU stays at No. 8 after beating Louisiana Tech 45-14. The Tigers were already No. 8 after one of the best Week 1 performances in the country, destroying Clemson 51-10. There was no reason to move LSU after another comfortable win. Ole Miss moves ahead of them this week because of the Rebels' overall résumé, but LSU remains one of the most talented teams in the SEC and has done nothing to deserve a significant drop.
No. 7 Ole Miss — UP 2 SPOTS
Ole Miss moves up two spots from No. 9 to No. 7 after beating Charlotte 41-9. The Rebels' Week 1 win over Louisville was one of the best games of the opening weekend, but giving up 38 points raised serious questions about the defence. This week, Ole Miss cleaned that up and dominated Charlotte from start to finish. The offence remains one of the most dangerous in the country, and the improved defensive performance gives me more confidence in the Rebels.
No. 6 Indiana — STAYS AT No. 6
Indiana stays at No. 6 after shutting out Howard 55-0. The Hoosiers were already No. 6 in my Week 1 rankings after dominating North Texas, and they haven't given me a reason to move them. Indiana continues to control games on both sides of the ball and has been one of the most consistent teams in the country through two weeks. Until the Hoosiers face tougher Big Ten competition, No. 6 feels right.
No. 5 Ohio State — DOWN 4 SPOTS
Ohio State takes the biggest fall near the top, dropping four spots from No. 1 to No. 5 after blowing a 20-point lead against Texas. The Buckeyes looked like the No. 1 team for three quarters, but Texas completely flipped the game in the fourth and escaped with a 24-23 win. Ohio State is still loaded with talent and was dominant against Ball State in Week 1, so I'm not dropping them out of the top five. But blowing a 23-3 lead against another championship contender is impossible to overlook.
No. 4 Miami — DOWN 1 SPOT
Miami drops one spot from No. 3 to No. 4 despite crushing Florida A&M 77-7. The Hurricanes were dominant, but the win didn't tell us much after Miami had already looked impressive against Stanford in Week 1. Texas' comeback against Ohio State gives the Longhorns a much stronger résumé, so Miami slides one spot despite another blowout. The Hurricanes remain firmly in the national championship conversation.
No. 3 Notre Dame — UP 1 SPOT
Notre Dame moves up one spot from No. 4 to No. 3 after shutting out Rice 52-0. The Irish already had a quality Week 1 win over Wisconsin, and they followed it up by completely overwhelming Rice. Notre Dame has now looked strong against two different opponents and continues to play impressive football on both sides of the ball. With Texas moving to No. 1 and Ohio State falling, Notre Dame is the natural choice at No. 3.
No. 2 Georgia — STAYS AT No. 2
Georgia stays at No. 2 after destroying Western Kentucky 70-20. The Bulldogs were already No. 2 after a 63-3 Week 1 win over Tennessee State, and they continued to look like one of the most complete teams in the country. Gunner Stockton threw five touchdown passes, and Georgia had no problem moving the ball all afternoon. Texas has the stronger résumé after beating Ohio State, but Georgia remains right behind the Longhorns.
No. 1 Texas — UP 4 SPOTS
Texas makes the biggest move possible, jumping four spots from No. 5 to No. 1 after one of the biggest wins of the season. The Longhorns erased a 20-point deficit against Ohio State and came back to win 24-23, with Arch Manning leading the comeback. Week 1's 59-7 win over Texas State showed what Texas could do, but this win completely changes the résumé. Beating the No. 1 team after trailing 23-3 is exactly the kind of performance that earns the top spot. Texas is officially No. 1 in the Too Recklss Top 25.
Texas' comeback officially closes out another wild week of college football and a lot of movement in the Too Recklss Top 25. With teams rising, falling and making their cases to be ranked, there is bound to be some disagreement. Do you agree with the list, or are there teams you think are ranked too high or too low? Let us know which rankings you love, which ones you hate and who you think we got completely wrong. There's still a long way to go this season, and these rankings are only going to get more interesting.
