Oklahoma football: Sooners move back up to No. 5 in AP Poll
By Chip Rouse
It took four weeks, but the Oklahoma football win over Texas in the Red River Showdown was enough for the media representative who make up voting panel for the Associated Press Poll to move the Sooners back into the No. 5 slot in the Top-25 rankings.
Actually, OU’s impressive win over the No. 11 Longhorns probably had nothing to do with the Sooners moving up one spot from No. 6. What made it possible was the upset of No. 3 Georgia by South Carolina.
Oklahoma remained No. 5 in the Coaches Poll this week. View the new rankings in both polls here.
Alabama remains No. 1 in both major polls this week. LSU was a big mover, jumping up three positions after beating No. 7 Florida, to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 and No. 3 in the Coaches Poll. Clemson dropped to No. 3, behind LSU, in this week’s AP Poll. Ohio State, which was idle over the weekend, held on to the No. 4 position in both polls.
The Texas loss cost the Longhorns five spots, down to No. 16, in both the AP and Coaches Poll.
Baylor, which stands a surprising 6-0 at the season’s midpoint, is the only other Big 12 team in the Top 25. The Bears, who will host Oklahoma on Nov. 16, are No. 18 in both polls this week.
Sooner fans may be disappointed with OU’s No. 5 ranking, especially when the team began the season as the No. 4 team in both polls and has won all six of its games rather convincingly. Until this weekend, though, there is no denying that the Oklahoma schedule has not been as strong as the teams ranked ahead of the Sooners.
There is also no denying, however, that the Sooners have now played and beaten a ranked, quality team in Texas.
All Oklahoma needs to worry about is controlling its own destiny. The Sooners should be favored in all six of their remaining regular-season games. Win those and follow that up with a victory in the Big 12 Championship game, and things should work out in OU’s favor when it comes time to nail down the four teams that will make the College Football Playoff.
It will be extremely difficult to leave an undefeated Big 12 champion out of the Playoff despite what happens to Alabama. LSU or Ohio State from, here on out this season.
For one thing, Alabama and LSU will play each other on Nov. 9 in Tuscaloosa. One of those teams is going to come out of that game with a loss. The winner will likely play either Georgia or Florida in the SEC championship game. Alabama also must go to Auburn for the Iron Bowl on Nov. 30.
Clemson won’t be tested the remainder of the season, but still will need to win the ACC Championship.
Ohio State, Penn State or Wisconsin are the only other teams that could impact an undefeated OU team making college football’s final four this season, and the Buckeyes play both teams, at home, in the coming weeks, and then must play probably Wisconsin again for the Big Ten crown.
So, all things considered, Oklahoma is sitting in the ideal spot to move up when, not if, one of more of the teams currently ahead of them falter in the weeks ahead.
The first College Football Playoff rankings for 2019 will be revealed on Nov. 5.