With the AP poll coming out, here’s what is next up for each team in the new rankings.
The AP Top 25 college football poll is out, and after a wild weekend of games, there’s some movement high in the rankings. Here’s what’s next for each ranked team: Previous ranking: 1 Week 7 result: 30-13 win vs. No.11 Kentucky What’s next: at Florida (Oct.30,3:30 p.m. ET) X factor: Yes, Georgia’s defense, anchored by defensive lineman Jordan Davis, has been incredibly dominant throughout this season, but how about the play of backup quarterback Stetson Bennett? Playing in place of JT Daniels, Bennet threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-13 win against previously unbeaten Kentucky. Bennett hasn’t thrown an interception in his last three games — all against ranked opponents. What you need to know: The Bulldogs have a bye week before a home showdown against Florida. A year ago, the Gators threw for 474 yards against the Georgia defense, but this year, the Bulldogs have allowed 144.9 passing yards per game, first in the FBS. — Matt Eisenberg Previous ranking: 3 Week 7 result: 56-21 win vs. UCF What’s next: at Navy (Oct.23, noon ET) X factor: Running back Jerome Ford. Cincinnati has a much more formidable offense when Ford gets going, as he did in Saturday’s win over UCF. After quiet performances against Indiana and Notre Dame, Ford has 338 rushing yards and six touchdowns over his past two games. His production takes pressure off quarterback Desmond Ridder and the downfield passing game, and it allows Cincinnati to control the pace and rest its signature defense. What you need to know: The Bearcats’ playoff profile won’t get much help from the AAC this year, so Luke Fickell’s team needs to keep dominating. Two games with more than 50 points scored is an excellent start. Cincinnati’s defense remains its engine, but a balanced and efficient offense will make it harder to poke holes in the Bearcats’ CFP candidacy. They now travel to Navy, which is 1-5 and is lost on offense but also is always capable of creating headaches for its opponents. — Adam Rittenberg Previous ranking: 4 Week 7 result: 52-31 win vs. TCU What’s next: at Kansas (Oct.23) X factor: QB Caleb Williams. It’s an obvious choice, but after dazzling in the second half against Texas and dominating TCU in his first start (18-of-23,295 yards and four TDs passing,66 yards and another TD rushing), what kind of damage will he be allowed to do against Kansas? What you need to know: Williams became the first Oklahoma true freshman to start at quarterback since current OU assistant coach Cale Gundy in 1990. Gundy has been on the Oklahoma staff since 1999 and is currently the Sooners’ co-offensive coordinator and inside receivers coach. — Dave Wilson Previous ranking: 5 Week 7 result: 49-9 win vs. Mississippi State What’s next: vs. Tennessee (Oct.23,7 p.m. ET) X factor: OLB Will Anderson Jr. called his teammates out to some extent in a Monday media session — he said some variation of «football has to be the most important thing» on multiple occasions — and then backed it up, sacking Mississippi State’s Will Rogers four times and leading a dominant 49-9 win in Starkville. What you need to know: The Tide still very much control their own destiny in both the SEC and national title races. They could be favored by double digits in every game until the SEC championship, and if they beat mighty Georgia, they’re clearly in. Next up: a visit from up-tempo Tennessee. — Bill Connelly Previous ranking: 6 Week 7 result: No game What’s next: at Indiana (Oct.23,7:30 p.m. ET) X factor: Quarterback C.J. Stroud has been gaining confidence on the field and has said he is feeling fully recovered from his shoulder injury. If he continues to progress, Ohio State is going to be difficult to beat. Not many teams can match the Buckeyes point for point when they’re clicking. What you need to know: As well as the offense is playing, the defense also has started to show signs of progress. This group has gone through a coordinator change midseason and looks as though it is still working through some of its issues. Some younger players are starting to step up, namely freshman cornerback Denzel Burke, who has an interception and 16 tackles on the season. If the group improves each week, Ohio State will be a different team than the one that allowed 408 yards in Week 1. — Tom VanHaaren Previous ranking: 8 Week 7 result: No game What’s next: vs. Northwestern (Oct.23) X factor: Running backs Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins make this Michigan offense go. The Wolverines are tied for ninth in rushing touchdowns for running backs this season with eight apiece. No other running back tandems in the country have combined for more rushing touchdowns than them. What you need to know: The players at Michigan are talking about having a confidence and an aspect of player leadership they’ve never had. After coming back to beat Nebraska on the road, quarterback Cade McNamara said other Michigan teams would’ve lost that game, but not this team. The players have taken on more accountability this season and are pushing themselves and their coaches to this excellent start. — Tom VanHaaren Previous ranking: 7 Week 7 result: No game What’s next: vs. Illinois (Oct.23, noon ET) X factor: Quarterback Sean Clifford was injured in the second half against Iowa, and Penn State’s offense wasn’t the same without him. Clifford’s injury status is still up in the air, and coach James Franklin hasn’t updated a potential timeline. Without him, the offense is going to have to be creative and get backup Ta’Quan Roberson some needed reps. What you need to know: Penn State lost to Iowa by only three points despite not having Clifford as its quarterback. At one point in the game, backup Roberson had seen 30 plays and the offense had only 56 yards with no touchdowns; compare that to the 33 plays Clifford ran before his injury, with the offense registering 193 yards and two touchdowns. If Penn State is going to continue to compete the rest of the season, the offense will need Clifford back on the field. — Tom VanHaaren Previous week: 12 Week 7 result: 32-24 win vs. No.25 Texas What’s next: at Iowa State (Oct.23) X factor: LB Malcolm Rodriguez. The super senior battering ram/linebacker will be on Breece Hall duty against Iowa State, one of the country’s best linebackers, who already has 59 tackles with three games in double digits, facing off against one of the country’s best running backs, who had 197 yards against Kansas State on Saturday. What you need to know: Texas entered the game against OSU averaging 44.
