Miami leapfrogged LSU and Penn State into the No. 2 spot behind Ohio State in the fifth week of AP Top 25 rankings. It’s the Hurricanes’ highest ranking since 2017, off the heels of a 26-7 win against unranked rival Florida and two defeats against ranked opponents before that.
No. 3 Penn State — No. 2 since the preseason — and No. 4 LSU both slipped one spot, while No. 5 Georgia and No. 6 Oregon held onto their positions.
Big climbs came from No. 7 Oklahoma, which made its top 10 debut for the first time in two years, as well as No. 11 Indiana and No. 12 Texas Tech, thanks to their lopsided wins over ranked opponents.
Florida State, Texas A&M and Texas round out the top 10.
The big game coming up this week is No. 6 Oregon at No. 3 Penn State on Saturday. It’s a matchup Oregon and Penn State fans have had circled on their calendars for months.
The Nittany Lions had an extra week to prepare for the Ducks’ visit to Happy Valley and hope to avoid a similar outcome as the last time the two teams met in the Big Ten Championship game.
You also have No. 17 Alabama at No. 5 Georgia, which comes after both teams were given bye weeks ahead of this SEC showdown.
Alabama has climbed back from a disastrous start with back-to-back wins. A win against Georgia would put the Tide right back in the playoff conversation. For the Bulldogs, it’s their hardest test of the season yet and an opportunity to prove they belong at the top of the SEC standings.
LSU looks to defend its status as the SEC’s top-ranked team on Saturday afternoon against what could be its toughest challenge yet, No. 13 Ole Miss.
The SEC clash is sure to have AP Top 25 and playoff implications.
Meanwhile, No. 21 USC will be at No. 23 Illinois. It will be a tough test on the road against an Illinois team hungry for redemption after its loss.
The Trojans moved from No. 25 to 21 this week after a 45-31 win against Michigan State. Illinois hopes to move forward and begin a slow climb back up the rankings.
New mock bracket
The Red River Rivalry would be played a second time this season with Texas visiting Oklahoma in the first round of the College Football Playoff if the bracket were based on the new Associated Press Top 25 poll.
The teams earning top-four seeds and first-round byes would remain the same as last week but in a different order. Ohio State would continue to be No. 1 followed by No. 2 Miami, No. 3 Penn State and No. 4 LSU. Oklahoma and Texas Tech are on the bracket for the first time this season and Illinois and Iowa State are off.
The five highest-ranked conference champions automatically qualify for the CFP, but no longer do the four highest-ranked champions receive a first-round bye. The 12-team bracket is now seeded directly based on the CFP’s final rankings in early December.
Irish get first
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Jadarian Price scored four touchdowns, including a 100-yard kickoff return, and No. 24 Notre Dame beat Purdue 56-30 on Saturday for its first win of the season.
The Irish beat the Boilermakers for the 10th straight time, including last season’s 66-7 blowout. Notre Dame leads the series 61-26-2.
Coming off losses against No. 4 Miami and No. 10 Texas A&M to start the season, Notre Dame (1-2) took command with three touchdowns in the third quarter to break away from a 35-23 halftime lead.
Freeman said that he challenged his team as individuals after the rough start to the season.
“It was a realistic understanding: Stop making yourself feel better by saying we’re four points away from being 2-0, or, we’re close,” Freeman said of his message to the Fighting Irish before the game. “We’re 0-2. You have to say that to them so they don’t embrace it and understand the work they have to put in. That’s what we needed at this moment. To be challenged and understand our backs are against the wall at this moment.”
Price scored three touchdowns rushing (21, 9 and 1 yards). He carried the ball nine times for 74 yards and finished with 216 all-purpose yards. His 100-yard kickoff return happened with 1:13 remaining in the second quarter after Purdue closed to 28-16.
Jeremiyah Love finished with 157 yards rushing on 19 carries, including scoring runs of 46 yards and 1 yard.
WVU roughed up
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Jalon Daniels threw three touchdown passes, Emmanuel Henderson returned a kickoff 94 yards for a TD, and Kansas beat West Virginia 41-10 on Saturday night in the Big 12 opener for both teams.
Daniels was 12-of-24 passing for 138 yards with no interceptions for the Jayhawks (3-1) and was not sacked by a West Virginia defense that went in with 13 sacks (No. 4 in the FBS).
Nicco Marchiol was 15-of-27 passing for 126 yards with an interception for West Virginia (2-2).
Eagles clipped
WESTMINSTER, Md — After an historic 2-0 start, the Juniata College football team dropped their first match of the season on the road Saturday to McDaniel University, 24-7.
The Eagles,who led 7-3 at halftime on a 3-yard touchdown run by Ivan Foreman in the second quarter, were outscored 13-0 in the third quarter en route to the loss. Foreman finished with 72 yards on 22 carries.
Juniata will play at New Jersey College this Saturday at 3 p.m.
