Week 5 has come and gone across college football. With several important teams on byes this week, such as Texas, Ole Miss, Utah, and Oregon, do not expect there to be a ton of movement ahead of next week's upcoming AP Poll. Clemson getting shellacked by No. 4 Miami could potentially send the Hurricanes into the top three, but No. 2 Georgia and No. 3 Notre Dame also won their Week 5 games.
Here is what the next AP Top 25 Poll could look like heading into the sixth week of the regular season.
- Texas Longhorns (1)
- Georgia Bulldogs (2)
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3)
- Miami Hurricanes (4)
- Ohio State Buckeyes (5)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (7)
- Indiana Hoosiers (6)
- Ole Miss Rebels (9)
- LSU Tigers (11)
- BYU Cougars (10)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (12)
- Utah Utes (13)
- Oregon Ducks (15)
- Florida Gators (8)
- Tennessee Volunteers (17)
- Oklahoma State Cowboys (19)
- Houston Cougars (20)
- Mississippi State Bulldogs (16)
- Missouri Tigers (25)
- Boise State Broncos (22)
- Iowa Hawkeyes (14)
- USC Trojans (18)
- UCLA Bruins (23)
- Kentucky Wildcats (24)
- SMU Mustangs (21)
Not much changes near the top of the rankings, only Florida dropping down a handful of spots after getting smoked by Missouri in Columbia. Iowa hung tough at home versus Ohio State but was no match for the Buckeyes in Kinnick. Mississippi State drops a few spots after getting rattled at home by Alabama. USC and SMU did not look the part in their narrow victories through the Week 6 slate.
As for what this all means for 3-2 (2-1) Clemson, it is about who could be the second best ACC team.
Clemson is not the second best team in the ACC, but SMU is not either
Even though SMU does stick in the top 25 in these AP Poll projections, it would not be the least bit shocking to see unranked Duke, Wake Forest, or even Pittsburgh claim their spot out of the ACC. Duke was on a bye this week, but the Blue Devils have been great so far this season. Wake Forest only has one loss, but that was to Miami. The Demon Deacons are menacing. Pitt is 5-0, but is uncertain.
Miami is still clearly the team to beat in the ACC by a considerable margin. However, the race for second place in the conference could not be more up for grabs. SMU has largely occupied this spot by default, but the Mustangs are quickly losing grip of it. Frankly, Duke or Wake Forest are far more deserving. Even Pitt without Mason Heintschel the rest of the way may have a better case than SMU.
What is important to understand is Clemson is not going to get a single top 25 vote. Neither will Louisville who now has three losses on the year. Virginia Tech should not get any votes, but the Associated Press sure does love to give James Franklin way more flowers than he ever deserves. Virginia has also hit the skids after getting its skull caved in by Florida State after giving up 38 unanswered points.
Clemson is not the second best team in the ACC. SMU may not be it either, so Duke or Wake Forest?
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