Ohio State moved as much as No. 2 behind Oregon within the AP High 25 on Sunday, and the Massive Ten captured 4 of the highest 5 spots with Penn State shifting to No. 4 and Indiana to No. 5. In response to the AP, it’s the primary time the Massive Ten has had 4 of the highest 5.
It’s the primary time the Massive Ten has held the highest two spots within the rankings since 2015, and it’s Indiana’s highest rating since 1967. Room was created by a pair of top-five losses, as Georgia dropped from second to No. 11 after dropping to Ole Miss and Miami fell from fourth to No. 12 after dropping at Georgia Tech. It’s Georgia’s lowest spot within the ballot since 2020, ending a 60-week streak of top-10 appearances.
The highest-ranked Geese are a unanimous No. 1 for the second straight week, making them the primary crew to be unanimous No. 1 for a number of weeks of an everyday season since Georgia did it eight occasions in 2021.
The Massive Ten holds the highest two spots for the primary time since Ohio State and Michigan State have been atop the ballot on Sept. 27, 2015. That was the second of consecutive weeks with the Buckeyes and Spartans at Nos. 1 and a pair of.
AP High 25 after Week 11
| Rank | Crew | File | Prev. | Matt’s vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
10-0 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
2 |
8-1 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
3 |
8-1 |
5 |
4 |
|
|
4 |
8-1 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
5 |
10-0 |
8 |
3 |
|
|
6 |
8-1 |
7 |
5 |
|
|
7 |
9-0 |
9 |
7 |
|
|
8 |
8-1 |
10 |
12 |
|
|
9 |
7-2 |
11 |
8 |
|
|
10 |
8-2 |
16 |
9 |
|
|
11 |
7-2 |
2 |
10 |
|
|
12 |
9-1 |
4 |
13 |
|
|
13 |
8-1 |
12 |
14 |
|
|
14 |
8-1 |
13 |
11 |
|
|
15 |
7-2 |
15 |
15 |
|
|
16 |
9-0 |
18 |
16 |
|
|
17 |
7-2 |
19 |
22 |
|
|
18 |
7-2 |
21 |
18 |
|
|
19 |
8-1 |
20 |
20 |
|
|
20 |
7-2 |
22 |
17 |
|
|
21 |
6-3 |
14 |
19 |
|
|
22 |
6-3 |
25 |
21 |
|
|
23 |
6-3 |
NR |
23 |
|
|
24 |
7-2 |
NR |
24 |
|
|
25 |
8-2 |
NR |
NR |
Others receiving votes: Iowa State 92, Arizona State 35, Pittsburgh 18, Louisiana 14, UNLV 10
Georgia dropping offers Ohio State the longest streak of top-10 appearances at 55, although that might truly be thought of an 80-week streak. The Buckeyes weren’t eligible to be within the ballot early within the 2020 pandemic-altered season whereas the Massive Ten was not taking part in. Georgia dropped to as little as No. 13 in 2020 and spent many of the second half of that season exterior the highest 10 earlier than ending seventh. Georgia had not been ranked decrease than sixth in every of the previous three seasons and began 2024 as preseason No. 1 for the second consecutive 12 months.
The one non-Massive Ten crew within the prime 5 is No. 3 Texas. Tennessee is up a spot to No. 6, and No. 7 BYU and No. 8 Notre Dame every moved up two locations.
Alabama is No. 9 after blowing out LSU, and Ole Miss moved up six spots to No. 10.
Is Penn State correctly ranked?
No. 4 Penn State is changing into one of the crucial polarizing groups within the nation due to its rankings in each the AP and coaches ballot and by the Faculty Soccer Playoff choice committee, particularly for many who are stumping for unbeaten Indiana and BYU.
Is that truthful?
The argument goes that Penn State is getting a helmet bump as a big-brand college over much less conventional powers, particularly Massive Ten conference-mate Indiana. It’s a good take: Penn State has no victories towards groups within the rankings and a seven-point loss at dwelling to Ohio State.
Indiana has taken quite a lot of flak for its less-than-formidable schedule whereas romping by way of its opponents with nothing however double-digit victories till Saturday towards Michigan. The Hoosiers’ schedule power continues to be lagging behind the remainder of the extremely ranked groups.
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The higher case may be BYU, which stayed unbeaten in dramatic style towards Utah and has a few victories towards ranked groups in Massive 12 rival No. 20 Kansas State and No. 14 SMU, the first-place crew within the ACC.
You can also make a good case that both or each the Hoosiers and Cougars needs to be forward of Penn State — and possibly even Texas and/or Tennessee.
However enable me to play satan’s advocate: If the distinction between Penn State, Indiana and BYU is one among these groups performed Ohio State and the opposite two didn’t, is it actually that egregious to have the Nittany Lions ranked highest? Penn State shouldn’t be the one crew impacted by this, however there’s a tendency to place all groups into two buckets: ranked groups and dangerous groups, mainly lumping all people exterior the High 25 in the identical grouping. It’s a poor analysis. There are 134 FBS colleges and one other 129 extra in FCS and every has a worth.
It’s additionally not nearly who you performed, however the way you performed, and whereas Indiana has gotten quite a lot of consideration for operating roughshod over its opponents, Penn State has six victories of at the least 14 factors, too, after Saturday’s 35-6 thumping of Washington.
This isn’t a lot making a case for Penn State as it’s for a extra considerate strategy than all people stinks. — Ralph Russo, nationwide faculty soccer author
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Out and in
After a second consecutive loss, this time at dwelling to Virginia, Pitt is out of the rankings for the primary time in six weeks. The Panthers began the season 7-0 however didn’t fairly have the endurance of the turnarounds at Indiana and BYU. Iowa State confronted an identical destiny, going from unbeaten and ranked to out of the ballot after consecutive losses. The Cyclones misplaced to Kansas on Saturday.
Vanderbilt additionally slipped out of the High 25 once more after dropping to SEC rival South Carolina, which is making its season debut at No. 23. The Gamecocks (6-3) are ranked for the primary time since 2022 and have one of many nation’s most what-could-have-been seasons. Losses to Alabama and LSU by a mixed 5 factors, together with a blowout loss to Ole Miss, saved the Gamecocks out of SEC championship and playoff competition. The LSU recreation was particularly painful due to a blindside block penalty that worn out a decide six.
No. 24 Missouri (7-2) returned to the rankings after the Tigers stayed within the “Playoff hunt,” in accordance with coach Eli Drinkwitz. The SEC has 9 groups ranked this week, one in need of the document of 10 it set early within the 2015 season.
No. 25 Tulane (8-2) is ranked for the primary time this season, becoming a member of No. 13 Boise State and No. 16 Military as groups from Group of 5 conferences within the rankings within the pursuit of an computerized Playoff bid.
How Matt voted
• I’ve been decrease than most voters on Ole Miss all season, however instantly the Rebels’ resume seems quite a bit higher. The loss to Kentucky nonetheless hurts and LSU is getting worse, however the Rebels dominated Georgia 28-10 for his or her most lopsided win towards an AP top-10 crew since 1969. Throw within the elevated worth of their 24-point win towards South Carolina and the truth that they lead the FBS in yards per play margin, and the Rebels lastly really feel like they’ve earned their top-10 billing. I didn’t hesitate to leap them to No. 9 on my poll — truly a spot forward of the place they’re within the ballot.
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• Am I too excessive on Indiana? Probably, however who would have thought we’d be parsing a Hoosiers win over Michigan for being too unimpressive? No, the Hoosiers haven’t performed a ranked crew but, however they’re 10-0 they usually dominated every of their first 9 opponents. I’ve them at No. 3, forward of one-loss groups like Texas (no ranked wins), Tennessee (misplaced to Arkansas) and Penn State (no ranked wins), they usually’ve been extra spectacular from week to week than fellow shock unbeaten BYU. In the end, the margin feels very tight from No. 1 to No. 15 — maybe the tightest since I turned a voter in 2017 — and thus I’ve no downside rewarding the groups that simply preserve successful … and being swift to penalize a loss, like dropping Miami to thirteenth after it fell at Georgia Tech.
• Solely 30 groups acquired votes this week, and Tulane moved into the rankings at No. 25. The Inexperienced Wave have been my runner-up for the ultimate spot, as I opted for Arizona State, which is a shocking — and quiet — 7-2 however can have an opportunity to show itself the subsequent two weeks towards Kansas State and BYU. — Matt Brown, faculty sports activities managing editor and AP High 25 voter
How Week 12 will influence the rankings
There are two ranked matchups subsequent Saturday, each within the SEC:
• No. 6 Tennessee at No. 11 Georgia: The Vols have an opportunity to do the unthinkable and all however eradicate Georgia from the 12-team Playoff. However they haven’t stayed inside single digits or scored greater than 21 factors towards the Bulldogs since 2016.
• No. 24 Missouri at No. 23 South Carolina. 9 of 16 SEC groups are ranked, although the loser right here is prone to fall out.
The highest 4 will all by heavy favorites on the street — No. 1 Oregon at Wisconsin, No. 2 Ohio State at Northwestern, No. 3 Texas at Arkansas and No. 4 Penn State at Purdue — whereas No. 5 Indiana is off earlier than its showdown with the Buckeyes.
Required studying
(Picture: Justin Casterline / Getty Photographs)
