Dethroning No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry felt like enough to get the Oklahoma Sooners back into the Top 25. Clearly if OU can beat the team at the top of the rankings, then the Sooners can hang with anyone else.
Voters thought otherwise, though, as the Sooners were snubbed in the latest AP Top 25 Poll that was released on Sunday. The rankings at this point are mostly made up of teams with the prettiest record or who are still benefiting from a high preseason standing, other than their actual resumes through Week 6.
The Sooners sit at 3-2 and have no doubt played some ugly football, but they just endured the toughest start than anyone else in college football.
After a season-opening blowout over UTEP, the Sooners lost a close 17-10 road battle to Michigan, which is now 3-2. The Wolverines aren’t elite by any means, but they would still be the toughest matchup for a lot of teams ranked ahead of OU.
The Sooners also lost to Georgia on the road 41-13. The Bulldogs are now the new No. 1 team in the country after they beat Alabama, plus the help from OU taking down Texas.
OU accomplished more on Saturday inside the Cotton Bowl than most teams have all season. The Sooners weren’t scared to travel to Michigan on top of already having Georgia, Texas, and four more ranked opponents ahead on their schedule.
ESPN’s FPI actually takes into account resumes and what a team has done based on competition. It has OU comfortably inside the top 25 at No. 16.
The Sooners have plenty of opportunities to leave no doubt that they’re a ranked squad, starting with No. 15 Kentucky on Saturday in Norman. But it’s still worth pointing out the nonsense of three teams that OU is clearly more worthy than for the honor.
Good for a program like Wake Forest to have a number next to its name, but the Demon Deacons haven’t earned their way to be that high yet.
The Demon Deacons are 5-1 with one signature win against then-No. 16 Louisville, 30-27. That seemed like a solid victory at the time, but the Cardinals are now 3-3. With Louisville at .500, no one Wake Forest has beaten has a winning record.
Wake Forest’s loss was to Miami, 33-20.
The Broncos have had to face just one Power 4 opponent this season, and lost. Boise State let one slip away to Oregon, 34-27, on the road in its season opener.
The Ducks were ranked second in the country at the time with CFP expectations, but they’re in freefall at 3-2 and playing a third-string quarterback. So, Boise State lost to just a middle-of-the-road Power 4 team in what will be its toughest challenge of the season.
Last year’s CFP proved there are levels to college football, and if the Broncos can’t prove they can compete with the big boys, then they shouldn’t be ranked among them.
While the Sooners were left out of the top 25 after taking down No. 1 Texas, Northwestern finally got in after beating *checks notes* Ball State, a 1-5 team out of the MAC. Those accomplishments are clearly not of the same value.
The Wildcats have one less blemish than OU at 4-1, but that loss was actually their most impressive showing so far. Northwestern went toe-to-toe with No. 5 Indiana before losing 29-23. Nebraska also just gave the Hoosiers all they could handle.
Through Week 6, FCS South Dakota State is the only win Northwestern has over a team that currently has a winning record.
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