AP Top 25 Reality Check: How to rank Pac-12 contenders?
Oregon beat UCLA, which beat Washington, which beat Oregon.
UCLA beat Utah, which beat USC. Rank ‘em.
The Pac-12 is better than it has been in recent years, but it also is eating its own and undercutting its best teams’ chances to earn a College Football Playoff berth.
The Pac-12’s consolation prize for its exciting games and parity, which included two top-10 teams losing at home Saturday night, is more teams ranked in the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank this week than any other league with six.
The last time the Pac-12 was the conference with the most ranked teams (no ties) was Sept. 5, 1995, when the then-Pac-10 had five and the Southeastern Conference and Big Eight each had four.
Of less importance to the Pac-12 — but quite important to Reality Check — is how are the voters in The Associated Press college football poll supposed to rank these teams?
Conceding that any attempt to use head-tohead results will tie voters in knots, Reality Check would like to make some suggestions.
No. 1 Georgia (10-0)
Next: at Kentucky, Saturday.
Reality check: When the Bulldogs use tight ends Brock Bowers (39 catches for 615 yards) and Darnell Washington (24 for 392) together, it seems unfair.
Ranked: Perfect.
No. 2 Ohio State (10-0)
Next: at Maryland, Saturday.
Reality check: Buckeyes have had few games with both RBs Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson healthy. At this point, getting one of them 100% by the Michigan game would be huge.
Ranked: Just right.
No. 3 Michigan (10-0)
Next: vs. Illinois, Saturday.
Reality check: Probably not enough credit given to how well Michigan rebuilt its defense, with only four of last year’s top 12 tacklers back. The Wolverines are allowing 4.33 yards per play after 4.76 in 2021.
Ranked: This works.
No. 4 TCU (10-0)
Next: at Baylor, Saturday. Reality check: Horned Frogs won a grinder against Texas with undoubtedly their best defensive performance of the season. They allowed 2.42 yards per carry to Bijan Robinson. Where did that come from?
Ranked: Just right. No. 5 Tennessee (9-1) Next: at South Carolina, Saturday.
Reality check: If you thought Georgia put forth a blueprint to slowing down QB Hendon Hooker and the Vols’ explosive offense, forget it. Without Georgia’s players, there is no blueprint.
Ranked: Just right.
No. 6 LSU (8-2)
Next: vs. UAB, Saturday. Reality check: Everybody now knows how good freshman OLB Harold Perkins is. Just as important for the Tigers has been how well two freshmen offensive tackles — Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr. — have held up.
Ranked: Feels high, but fair.
No. 7 Southern California (9-1)
Next: at No. 16 UCLA, Saturday.
Reality check: The loss of RB Travis Dye to a leg injury was heartbreaking. The Trojans have other good backs, but his combination of toughness, versatility and leadership will be missed.
Ranked: Too high.
No. 8 Alabama (8-2)
Next: vs. Austin Peay, Saturday.
Reality check: Maybe we should have seen this season coming for Alabama. The Tide have played four games decided by a touchdown or less so far. Last year, ‘Bama played in five such games in the regular season.
Ranked: A touch low. Look at the competition.
No. 9 Clemson (9-1)
Next: vs. Miami, Saturday. Reality check: The passing game seems to have regressed, failing to break 200 yards in any of the last three games with two touchdowns and four interceptions.
Ranked: About right.
No. 10 Utah (8-2)
Next: at No. 12 Oregon, Saturday.
Reality check: Letting that opener in the Swamp get away is keeping the Utes out of the playoff conversation. Still has to sting.
Ranked: Little high.
No. 11 Penn State (8-2)
Next: at Rutgers, Saturday.
Reality check: Nittany Lions have 13 sacks in their last two games, including three by Chop Robinson.
Ranked: Little low.
No. 12 Oregon (8-2)
Next: vs. No. 10 Utah, Saturday.
Reality check: The offense finally couldn’t overcome a defense that despite some talented individual players — LB Noah Sewell, Edge DJ Johnson — has no answers to get stops.
Ranked: Seems high.