The biggest news from the most recent Associated Press school football ballot is what hasn’t changed.
Clemson remained at No. 1 in the Top 25 on Sunday, well ahead of No. Alabama 2. The Tigers won 54 first-place votes against 8 for Crimson Tide.
Since the Tigers spent Saturday defeating Georgia Tech with a record 66 points, this would possibly not be so surprising, but Alabama’s entic victory over Georgia, at the time No. 3 and now No. 4, is the kind of great game functionality that can influence voters.
In seven of the last 8 cases in which Team No. 1 won but fell in the standings, Team No. 1 won an opposing win over an unranked team, while the new No. 1 had beaten the ranked team.
The only exception last season. Clemson won a one-point mystery in an unclassified North Carolina and the electorate responded by switching the Tigers to Alabama, which was Number 2 when he beat the unranked Mississippi in ’28.
This is just the beginning of a rare slip for Clemson. The Tigers fell to number four without losing. This kind of fall from the most sensitive place while still undefeated had not happened on the AP ballot since Notre Dame passed the No. 1 from preseason to No. 5 in 1971.
Clemson’s coach, Dabo Swinney, used it to motivate his team, of course, but this time he won’t get the message board.
In fact, just by comparing Clemson’s schedule to Alabama’s, the Tigers appear to be in good shape for the number one ranking as long as they continue to win. Clemson lately has two ranked groups (No. 3 from Notre Dame and No. 19 Virginia Tech) in its remaining schedule. None of Alabama’s remaining warring parties are ranked lately.
Reality verification has no challenge with Clemson getting that kind of respect. Trevor Lawrence and the Tigers deserved it.
No. 1 Clemson (5-0)
Next: vs Syracuse on Saturday.
Reality Test: Clemson’s epic eruptions and ability to move the ball in so many tactics are the biggest obstacles to Lawrence’s victory in the Heisman Trophy.
No. 2 Alabama (4-0)
Next: Tennessee, Saturday.
Reality Check: Tua whoArray . . ? Tagovailoa played in 3 400-yard pass games last season. Quarterback Mac Jones has played 3-4 games this season.
No Notre Dame (4-0)
Next: Pittsburgh, Saturday.
Fact: the Irish are good, but without an explosive aerial game, he should be considered as a valid contender for the national championship. The Irish have 8 passes of at least 20 yards, the 61st of 77 FBS groups playing.
4 Georgia (3-1)
Next: Kentucky, October 31.
Reality verification: The good news for the Bulldogs is different from Florida, no one else on their agenda can do in their defense what Alabama did.
Ohio State No. Five
Next: vs. Nebraska on Saturday.
Reality Verification: The Buckeyes were No. 2 in the preseason, only 16 Clemson editions and with 21 first-place votes. Will any of those electorates start returning to Ohio if the Buckeyes play as well as expected?
No. 6 State of Oklahoma (3-0)
Next: vs. Iowa State No. 17 on Saturday.
Reality Verification: Cowboys are overrated, but over the next 4 weeks (state of Iowa, Texas, Kansas State, and Oklahoma), they can produce incorrect reality verification.
No. 7 Texas A
Next: vs. Arkansas, October 31.
Proof of reality: Edge hunters DeMarvin Leal and Michael Clemons were like any SEC duo.
No. Penn State
Next: Indiana, Saturday.
Reality Verification: After a potentially complicated road trip, the Buckeyes are coming for the Nittany Lions in Big Ten week.
No. nine Cincinnati (3-0)
Next: at No. SMU, Saturday.
Reality Verification: The Bearcats had an unplanned week off due to COVID-19 issues. Let’s hope it doesn’t turn into two before the mustangs clash.
No. 10 Florida (2-1)
Next: vs. Missouri, October 31.
Reality verification: An outbreak of COVID-19 will cause Gators to distinguish the the most for two weeks.
No. 11 Miami (4-1)
Next: Virginia on Saturday.
Reality Check: After 3 massive racing games to start the season, hurricanes have slowed to the ground in more than two weeks (3. 0 yards consistent with the race). Good luck doing it against a Cavaliers defense that broke down in the race.
No. 12 BYU (5-0)
Next: vs. Texas State on Saturday.
Reality Verification: It’s hard to see beyond Quarterback Zach Wilson’s brilliingness, but on the other side of the ball, the Cougars’ pass race made a difference with 16 catches. One less than last season.
No. thirteen Oregon
Next: vs. Stanford, November 7.
Reality verification: When the Big Ten gets in a position to start, the Pac-12 with 3 weeks to pass is far away.
No. 14 (tied) North Carolina (3-1)
Next: Against North Carolina State No. 23 on Saturday.
Reality Check: The Tar Heels have allowed 501 yards on the court and 6. 0 yards consistent with a run in their last two games.
No. 14 (tied) Wisconsin
Next: vs. Illinois, Friday.
Reality verification: The Badgers lost to Illinois last year and would like a small refund.
No. SMU (5-0)
Next: vs. Cincinnati No. nine on Saturday.
Reality Check: With WR Reggie Roberson (knee) injured, the Mustangs received an escape game from WR Danny Gray with five receptions for 133 yards in front of Tulane.
No. 17 State of Iowa (3-1)
Next: in the state of Oklahoma, Saturday.
Reality Verification: The last time the Cyclones beat Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in the same season in 1961.
No. 18 Michigan
Next: at Minnesota No. 21 on Saturday.
Reality Verification: The Wolverines get a national at their opening to introduce new Quarterback Joe Milton.
No. 19 Virginia Tech (3-1)
Next: Wake Forest, Saturday.
Reality Check: The Hokies had two 100-yard pitchers, RB Khalil Herbert and QB Hendon Hooker, Boston College. Virginia Tech hadn’t done that since 2010.
No. 20 State of Kansas (3-1)
Next: vs Kansas on Saturday.
Reality Check: Freshman Will Howard is the Wildcats’ quarterback after Skylar Thompson (upper body) during the year due to injury.
No. 21 Minnesota
Next: Michigan’s No. 18 on Saturday.
Reality Verification: The Gophers attracted ESPN College GameDay for the first time last year and will now be in the spotlight for two consecutive seasons.
No. 22 Marshall (4-0)
Next: vs FAU, Saturday.
Reality Verification: The Thundering Herd dominates with an almost constant balance with a perfect one, with an average of 213 yards on the court and 224 yards in passes consistent with the game.
No. 23 State of North Carolina (4-1)
Next: At No. 14 in North Carolina on Saturday.
Reality verification: Enthusiasm for the perfect start of the Wolfpacks was affected by the serious leg injury of Quarterback Devin Leary, who is expected to be out for at least a month.
No. 24 Southern California
Next: vs. Arizona State, Nov. 7.
Reality check: So, given this season’s cases, is Coach Clay Helton still in the hot seat?
No. 25 Carolina Coast (4-0)
Next: vs. Georgia Southern on Saturday.
Proof of reality: the Chanticleers were selected to last in the Sun Belt East; instead, they are the third team in the convention to be ranked this year, first on the Sun Belt.
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Follow Ralph D. Russo on https://twitter. com/ralphDrussoAP and pay attention to http://www. westwoodonepodcasts. com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/
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More advanced school football: https://apnews. com/Collegefootball and https://twitter. com/AP_Top25