The SportsRatings Top 25 is our answer to the AP and coaches' polls. This subjective "poll" properly reflects head-to-head results and give additional consideration to teams who have victories over other top 25 teams.
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Last week's #1, USC, was upset by Stanford 21-14, opening the door for a re-shuffling at the top. Alabama was the clear choice for the top spot, not just for their opening week blitz of Michigan but also this weekend's 52-0 humiliation of Arkansas. #3 Oklahoma was idle and hasn't been very impressive, while LSU has at least lived up to expectations; the Tigers beat Idaho 63-14 and move up to #2. Florida State moves up to #4 after pummeling Wake Forest 52-0; the Seminoles have given up only 3 points this year.
Stanford was shaky in their opener but since then has excelled, and with their fourth win over USC in four years they jump to #5. #6 Texas (beat Ole Miss 66-31), #7 Oregon (beat Tennessee Tech 63-14), and #8 Georgia (beat Florida Atlantic 56-20) all took care of business and hold steady. South Carolina beat UAB 49-6 and moves up a spot to #9.
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SportsRatings Top 25 - week three 2012 (thru 9/15/2012)
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Losses/important wins
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| 2 | 1 | Alabama | 3-0 | w=Michigan 41-14 |
| 4 | 2 | LSU | 3-0 | |
| 3 | 3 | Oklahoma | 2-0 | |
| 5 | 4 | Florida State | 3-0 | |
| 9 | 5 | Stanford | 3-0 | wUSC 21-14 |
| 6 | 6 | Texas | 3-0 | |
| 7 | 7 | Oregon | 3-0 | |
| 8 | 8 | Georgia | 3-0 | |
| 10 | 9 | South Carolina | 3-0 | |
| 12 | 10 | Notre Dame | 3-0 | w@MichSt 20-3 |
| 11 | 11 | Ohio State | 3-0 | |
| 1 | 12 | USC | 2-1 | L@Stanford 21-14 |
| 13 | 13 | West Virginia | 2-0 | |
| 14 | 14 | Kansas State | 3-0 | |
| 15 | 15 | Florida | 3-0 | |
| 16 | 16 | Michigan | 2-1 | L=Alabama 41-14 |
| 18 | 17 | Arizona | 3-0 | wOKst 59-38 |
| 19 | 18 | Oregon State | 1-0 | wWisc 10-7 |
| 20 | 19 | UCLA | 3-0 | |
| 22 | 20 | Northwestern | 3-0 | |
| 17 | 21 | Michigan State | 2-1 | L NotreDame 20-3 |
| 23 | 22 | Oklahoma State | 2-1 | L@Arizona 59-38 |
| -- | 23 | Clemson | 3-0 | |
| 24 | 24 | Wisconsin | 2-1 | L@OreSt 10-7; wUtahSt 16-14 |
| 21 | 25 | Utah State | 2-1 | L@Wisc 16-14 |
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| 25 | - | LA-Monroe | 1-1 | L@Auburn 31-28ot |
Notre Dame was impressive on the road beating Michigan State 20-3, and the Irish move into the top ten while the Spartans fall from #17 to #21. Ohio State wasn't nearly as impressive in their 35-28 home win over Cal and holds at #11. They're followed by the Trojans at #12.
West Virginia, Kansas State, Florida, and Michigan all won and remain steady from #13 to #16. The Mountaineers beat James Madison 42-12; the Wildcats beat North Texas 35-21; the Gators handled Tennessee on the road 37-20; and the Wolverines topped UMass 63-13.
The Pac-12 followed up last week's success. #17 Arizona continued to shine as the Wildcats beat South Carolina State 56-0; Oregon State was idle and next week plays #19 UCLA who demolished Houston 37-6.
The Big Ten had mixed results again. #20 Northwestern edged Boston College 22-13 for their 3rd narrow victory. Michigan State falls only 4 spots since they lost to a better opponent than #22 Oklahoma State, who this weekend beat Louisiana Lafayette 65-24. Wisconsin looked as bad as they have all year, but technically they prevailed over a top 25 foe in Utah State 16-14 as the Aggies missed a last minute field goal. We've kept Utah State in at #25 since they barely lost to the #24 team on the road.
Only Lousiana-Monroe falls out of the rankings. The Warhawks almost made it two wins over SEC teams in two weeks but lost in overtime, 31-28, to Auburn. Replacing them is 3-0 Clemson, who beat Furman 41-7 this week and started at #26 in our pre-season Top 124.
Next week there are a number of big games:
- #3 Oklahoma hosts #14 Kansas State
- #4 Florida State hosts #23 Clemson
- #7 Oregon hosts #17 Arizona
- #10 Notre Dame hosts #16 Michigan
- #18 Oregon State travels to #19 UCLA
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