From Los Angeles to Tuscaloosa, the nation was shocked at what Week 3 had to offer to college football. Upsets flying and action rising played the central characters in this week’s episode of football frenzy. Stanford’s 41-31 shock of #6 USC in the Coliseum, followed soon after by #15 Ole Miss’s 43-37 nail biter of #2 Alabama in the gauntlet of Bryant-Denny Stadium stunned the college football world. It may seem weird that these types of events are happening in mid-September, but it is hard to predict anything in college football. Fans have to be ready for the ride, no matter what type of ride it is. This week’s rankings reflect that, with many changes to the order, including a new number one.

With that, here’s this week’s thoughts.

1. TCU Horned Frogs: Trevone Boykin’s six touchdowns led the Horned Frogs to a 57-36 win over the SMU Mustangs. While Ohio State eked out Northern Illinois, the Horned Frogs remained incredibly powerful in non-conference play. Boykin is on track to get that Heisman, and so far there is nobody to stop him. A move up in the ranks is well deserved, as they are truly right now the #1 team.

2. Michigan State Spartans: A 35-21 win over Air Force at Spartan Stadium cements the Spartans as a clear number two. Connor Cook’s 247 yards and four touchdowns, three of which went to wide receiver standout Aaron Burbridge, led the green and white to victory. Bring on one last week of non-conference play next week against Central Michigan.

The Ohio State Buckeyes take the field in Columbus prior to beating Northern Illinois by a score of 20-13.
The Ohio State Buckeyes take the field in Columbus prior to beating Northern Illinois by a score of 20-13.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes: 20-13 at home against Northern Illinois? I know the Huskies have had a good program over the past couple of years, but this is in Columbus against the #1 AP ranked team in the United States. This should have been a blowout. The fact that neither J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones could muster 100 passing yards is ridiculous. The Buckeye defense should spend September on the bench enjoying the Columbus air, not playing hard in the fourth quarter trying to secure a win. This makes it an easy decision to have to drop the Buckeyes a full two slots. When they play as a dominating #1 style unit, then the spot can be theirs again.

4. Baylor Bears: Baylor had this week off, but I have no doubt that when they take the field against Rice next week they will be as strong as ever. The duo of Seth Russell and Corey Coleman is one of my favorites to watch, and the Bears embody a team spirit and collaborative mentality that other teams should embrace. Keep it up, Baylor, and enjoy another week of a coveted top five slot.

5. Ole Miss Rebels: Anyone who beats Alabama deserves a significant jump, but to take them down for the second consecutive year, and in Bryant-Denny Stadium, is a cause for celebration. Chad Kelly’s 341 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown sound like numbers Aaron Rodgers would put up at Lambeau against the Jaguars, not a prime-time night’s work for a college quarterback. Ole Miss is definitely someone to fear, and the SEC West should be shaking. Vanderbilt, who is notoriously awful, is probably cringing at having to play them in Oxford next weekend.

Will Fuller of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs after making a reception last Saturday against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in South Bend, Indiana.
Will Fuller of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs after making a reception last Saturday against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in South Bend, Indiana.

6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: This week on USC’s weekly sports media show, Sports SCene, I discussed the loss of quarterback Malik Zaire and the significant impact it would have for the Fighting Irish. I guess the new plan for quarterback DeShone Kizer is to just hand the ball over to C.J. Prosise, who had three rushing touchdowns to catapult the Irish to a 30-22 win over a very difficult Georgia Tech team. I hope the Irish figure out a more diverse plan though next week against UMass, for the following week’s trip to Clemson would otherwise prove costly.

7. Georgia Bulldogs: A 50-22 win over South Carolina keeps the Bulldogs right on top where they should be. Greyson Lambert went 24/25 with 330 passing yards and three touchdowns, which are statistics that should be near impossible to make. Coupled with Nick Chubb’s 159 rushing yards, the Bulldogs steamrolled through a Steve Spurrier team that should be better than it is. Bring on an easy Southern University test next week before a big game against Alabama in the next contest.

Jordan Legett catches a touchdown pass in Clemson's 20-17 win over Louisville.
Jordan Legett catches a touchdown pass in Clemson’s 20-17 win over Louisville.

8. Clemson Tigers: While I will admit that I am higher on Clemson than most, I also agree that this Thursday night’s win over Louisville was a test. Clemson definitely learned about its resilience and perseverance in this Louisville game, but still managed to remain strong and hold out a win. As Top 10 teams traditionally do not have much competition in the opening month, the fact that Clemson is more battle-ready than most entering a showdowns with Notre Dame and Georgia Tech in the weeks to come is a smart sign.

9. UCLA Bruins: For the most significant time so far this season, freshman quarterback Josh Rosen was tested. While he almost gave it up and clearly showed signs of his youth, even throwing three interceptions in the first half, at the end of the day he pulled it together and led the Bruins to a key 24-23 win over a very good and ranked BYU team. Nate Starks and Paul Perkins helped him out as well by adding some key rushing yards and a late touchdown to seal the deal. The Bruins may have escaped this one, but if Rosen plays like he did this week at home when he faces the Arizona Wildcats on College GameDay in Tucson, down will go the Bruins.

Brandon Harris runs the ball downfield for the LSU Tigers during its 45-21 win over Auburn.
Brandon Harris runs the ball downfield for the LSU Tigers during its 45-21 win over Auburn.

10. LSU Tigers: LSU beat up an Auburn team that I thought could potentially make the College Football playoff by a score of 45-21. Leonard Fournette’s 228 rushing yards paved the way for a happy afternoon in Baton Rouge, including a 71 yard gain on the first play from scrimmage. Things are looking strong for the purple and yellow, and Les Miles should consider cracking a smile after this one.

11. Florida State Seminoles

12. Alabam Crimson Tide

Members of the Northwestern Wildcats football team are excited by a victory at Duke this past weekend. The Wildcats won 19-10.
Members of the Northwestern Wildcats football team are excited by a victory at Duke this past weekend. The Wildcats won 19-10.

13. Oregon Ducks

14. Oklahoma Sooners

15. Texas A&M Aggies

16. Arizona Wildcats

17. Northwestern Wildcats

18. USC Trojans

19. Wisconsin Badgers

In an image characteristic of the entire game, Stanford's Daniel Marx celebrates a touchdown while USC players are in shock. Stanford's 41-31 victory in Los Angeles over the Trojans was a major upset, and will cause a shakeup in Pac 12 play.
Stanford’s Daniel Marx celebrates a touchdown while USC players are in shock in Stanford’s 41-31 victory in Los Angeles.

20. Stanford Cardinal

21. Utah Utes

22. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

23. Mississippi State Bulldogs

24. Missouri Tigers

25. Oklahoma State Cowboys

 

Week 4 – Key Matchups

UCLA at Arizona

BYU at Michigan

Utah at Oregon

Oklahoma State at Texas

Sources

All images are courtesy of Getty Images.

ESPN

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