US LBM Coaches Poll Projection: Top 10 Shakeup After Week 3 Upsets
Week 3 of college football saw significant upsets, leading to a projected shakeup in the US LBM Coaches Poll. Notre Dame and South Carolina both suffered losses, creating openings in the top 10. Florida State and Mississippi are poised to benefit, while Texas A&M hopes to capitalize on a major road win.
Projected Top Teams and Key Games
The Georgia Bulldogs narrowly escaped an upset against Tennessee, winning in overtime. This victory is expected to elevate them past Penn State in the rankings. Meanwhile, Miami's win against South Florida might not be enough to surpass Oregon, especially after Notre Dame's loss weakened the Hurricanes' resume.
Projected Top 10 Rankings
- Ohio State (3-0): The Buckeyes overcame a slow start against Ohio, with Jeremiah Smith's impressive performance (153 receiving yards, two touchdowns) securing the win. They have shown consistency and dominance.
- Georgia (3-0): The Bulldogs' overtime victory over Tennessee, fueled by clutch play from quarterback Gunner Stockton, should impress voters and solidify their high ranking.
- Penn State (3-0): Penn State's schedule has been weak, raising questions about their readiness for tougher opponents, especially Oregon later this month.
- LSU (3-0): Five interceptions against Florida, including a pick-six, highlighted LSU's victory. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier also showed improvement.
- Oregon (3-0): Despite a somewhat sloppy performance against Northwestern, Oregon continues to look like a top team.
- Miami (3-0): Miami dominated South Florida, securing a second win against a ranked opponent. This win could become more valuable if South Florida succeeds later in the season.
- Texas (2-1): Questions surround quarterback Arch Manning after a lackluster performance against Texas-El Paso.
- Illinois (3-0): The Illini are quietly dominating, capping a perfect non-conference run with a shutout victory over Western Michigan. A trip to Indiana awaits.
- Florida State (2-0): Coming off a bye week, Florida State will face Kent State and Virginia before a crucial ACC matchup with Miami.
- Mississippi (3-0): Mississippi is projected to leap three spots after narrowly defeating Arkansas for a second SEC win. Don't count out Texas A&M to climb from 17.
Michigan State's Ranking in the Colley Matrix
While the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll remain elusive for Michigan State football, the Colley Matrix, an NCAA-recognized National Championship selector, has ranked the Spartans at No. 22. This computer-generated rankings system appears to have some unusual top teams.
Colley Matrix Top Teams
The Colley Matrix ranking features LSU at No. 1, NC State at No. 2, and USF at No. 3. Ohio State and Texas are surprisingly absent from the top 25. Despite its quirks, the Colley Matrix has previously shown reasonable insight, ranking Michigan State basketball No. 7 last season.
Illinois Ranks High in Newest Coaches Poll
Illinois has achieved a significant milestone, securing a No. 9 ranking in the newest US LBM Coaches Poll, reflecting their strong performance and perfect record thus far.
