Week 1 is within the books after 5 straight days of faculty soccer, and shortly we could have new AP High 25 rankings for the primary time in almost a month. Everybody has had time to problem these preseason expectations with extra info from fall camp, however most significantly, we’ve first impressions from opening weekend. Some years, this results in massive shake-ups within the post-Week 1 replace of the AP High 25 ballot. However whereas there are some notable strikes each up and down throughout the high 25, the shortage of updates and variety of lopsided scores are usually not giving voters a ton of causes to alter up their ballots. 

The highest 9 groups within the AP ballot went 9-0 and had a mean margin of victory of +36.7 factors. These groups additionally allowed simply 5 touchdowns mixed — two of which got here in Oregon’s head-scratching 24-14 win towards FCS Idaho. For probably the most half, the most effective groups within the nation not solely gained, however dominated, as the highest 25 noticed only one group (Florida State) lose to an unranked opponent. 

However it’s in these ranked-on-ranked matchups that we get information factors that may transfer a number of the rankings round in an in any other case chalky week. Losses for Clemson and Texas A&M open up additional down within the ballot, and USC is ready to make a giant soar after knocking off LSU in Las Vegas. Even in a number of the wins towards unranked squads there are alternatives for groups to enhance their inventory, like a Miami squad that seemed each bit the a part of an ACC favourite in a radical dismantling of in-state rival Florida. 

Now that the voters’ preseason expectations have been put to the take a look at with precise outcomes, this is how we predict the brand new AP High 25 ballot will look on Tuesday. 

1. Georgia (Earlier week — 1): Search for the Bulldogs to solely strengthen their place at No. 1 after sporting down Clemson in a 31-point win. Georgia was the one group within the high 5 to play an influence convention opponent and was capable of flex its muscle groups on a giant stage within the early window on Saturday.   

2. Ohio State (2): I might not be shocked if one or two voters change their Ohio State first-place vote to Georgia as a response to the Buckeyes’ sluggish begin offensively, however a 52-6 ultimate rating will just do high-quality to maintain the consensus opinion sturdy. The very high tier of the rankings is known as a high two, and I feel this week’s voting factors will proceed to mirror that view.  

3. Texas (4): There have been simply 17 voting factors separating Texas from Oregon within the preseason rankings (1,403 to 1,386), and I feel that is a niche that may be closed given how completely different their outcomes will look on the scoreboard to high 25 voters. The Longhorns shut out Colorado State 52-0 and had the sport put away in time for Arch Manning to get some highlights, whereas the Geese had been nonetheless tight with Idaho late within the recreation in what was finally a 24-14 win.   

4. Oregon (3): Possibly the Geese will retain their single first-place vote from the preseason rankings (courtesy of the Motion Community’s Brett McMurphy), however we’re largely trying on the potential for some motion based mostly on the 37 voters who had Oregon locked in on the No. 3 spot. There’s nothing popping out of the Idaho win to recommend a transfer up, however falling a spot or two on a dozen ballots is unquestionably potential. That is all that is wanted for a 3-4 swap. 

5. Notre Dame (7): When you think about each the opponent and setting, Notre Dame had top-of-the-line wins of the complete week taking down Texas A&M in School Station. Greater than half of the AP voters truly had the Preventing Irish decrease than No. 7 on their preseason ballots — together with about 11% of voters rating them exterior the highest 10 — and I do not see the way you take a look at Saturday night time’s efficiency and make some changes. There is a ton of room for transferring up, however whereas different groups had blowout wins towards lesser competitors, Notre Dame confirmed it was worthy of knocking on the door of the highest 5. 

6. Alabama (5): No main change for Alabama after a 63-0 win towards Western Kentucky that highlighted the Kalen DeBoer impression with an offensive performances highlighted by all the things from 5 touchdowns for Jalen Milroe to a breakout recreation for true freshman large receiver Ryan Williams, who had a team-high 139 receiving yards and two scores. 

7. Ole Miss (6): Whereas some high groups are studying about themselves right here within the opening weeks of the season, Ole Miss appears to know what to do and the best way to do it, notably on offense. Jaxson Dart throwing six whole touchdowns in a single half after which happening to boast about how the offense has “monsters” all around the discipline shows the self-confidence that is surging from the Rebels’ star quarterback and all through this group. 

8. Penn State (8): The Nittany Lions are one other group that appeared to have a greater deal with on their id at this early stage within the season than most high groups. Penn State put West Virginia in a double-digit gap early, eliminating a number of the dwelling crowd edge in Morgantown after which constructed on that lead each earlier than and after a prolonged climate delay. For a group that’s breaking in yet one more new offensive coordinator, the Nittany Lions seemed remarkably comfy. If they will proceed to generate explosive performs, Penn State will probably be an element within the Massive Ten title race.   

9. Michigan (9): The Wolverines had one of many widest splits in rating amongst high groups, touchdown anyplace from No. 5 to No. 21 on the voters’ ballots. I doubt Saturday’s 30-10 win towards Fresno State will do a lot to alter the intense variance, as you’ll be able to actually make what you need out of a outcome that did showcase the Wolverines’ defensive dominance but in addition expose a work-in-progress on offense. 

10. Missouri (11): May Missouri soar Michigan? That is the important thing query for AP voters who, as we talked about earlier, have assorted beliefs when it comes to the place the reigning champs stand towards different high groups. As for Missouri, the Tigers had been already within the high 10 on 30 of the 62 ballots within the preseason voting, so a bump up into Florida State’s outdated spot looks like the naked minimal for motion after a sweat-free 51-0 win towards Murray State. 

11. Utah (12): The return of quarterback Cam Rising and a number of different key contributors who handled accidents final yr made a 49-0 trouncing of Southern Utah noteworthy. The Utes will not get a ton of ballot or rankings pop off the win, however for these invested in Utah’s big-picture targets (Massive 12 title, School Soccer Playoff), it was encouraging to see Kyle Whittingham’s group wholesome once more and working at a excessive stage. 

12. USC (23): The way in which the voting was tiered out within the preseason ballot, there was a giant soar from Utah right down to LSU at No. 13 and a good larger soar from the Tigers to Clemson at No. 14. That looks like a smart spot the place voters will pencil within the groups set to make massive jumps, and we’re projecting USC to make the largest soar due to the standard and rating of the opponent. That the Trojans answered questions from their greatest doubters (22 voters didn’t even have USC on their poll) and likewise logged a ranked win ought to catapult Lincoln Riley’s group up into the highest 15. 

13. Miami (19): The Hurricanes have the standard of a top-10 group, and even within the preseason ballot there have been a half-dozen voters who ranked them there, however truly cracking the highest 10 may not occur this week. There is a little bit of a visitors jam subject within the ballot, the place voters are usually not prone to begin transferring groups down with out losses and lots of high groups are enjoying inferior competitors. Nonetheless, you are going to see a surge of assist from these voters who had been low on Miami altering their tune after a dominant win towards Florida in The Swamp.   

14. Tennessee (15): No main modifications for the Vols after a 69-3 win towards Chattanooga. Followers had been happy to see one other terrific exhibiting from quarterback Nico Iamaleava and a defensive position that could possibly be an actual pressure in 2024, however voters aren’t going regulate their rating of Tennessee in a significant means till after Week 2’s showdown with NC State in Charlotte. 

15. Oklahoma (16): It is onerous to take an excessive amount of away from Oklahoma’s 51-3 thumping of Temple because the Owls turned the ball over 3 times within the first 20 minutes of the sport and the Sooners had been capable of race out to an early lead that by no means left the lead to doubt. Jackson Arnold threw for 4 touchdowns and was an element within the run recreation, and new large receiver Deion Burks was on the receiving finish of three of these scores. However voters will jsee the rating and maintain the Sooners in the identical normal place from final week. 

16. Oklahoma State (17): The Cowboys did not play your atypical FCS opponent; South Dakota State is the reigning nationwide champion and ranked No. 1 within the preseason FSC ballot. Beating the Jackrabbits by 24 ought to encourage confidence in Oklahoma State’s probabilities to hold with the most effective groups within the Massive 12, which is what this rating suggests.    

17. Kansas State (18): That is already a group that has a decrease rankings ceiling in the mean time — solely three of 62 voters had the Wildcats increased than No. 14 on their preseason poll — and a 41-6 win towards UT Martin isn’t going to be the outcome that begins to boost that ceiling. 

18. LSU (13): As Brian Kelly mentioned previous to his desk punch after the sport, LSU performed properly sufficient to win on Sunday night time towards USC, however penalties and red-zone woes price the Tigers a number of scores. There will probably be a rankings drop — as 0-1 seems to be unbecoming for a top-15 group within the eyes of voters — however there needs to be a excessive ground given the place LSU began. 

19. Arizona (21): Whereas the Wildcats are positively due for a slight bump up within the rankings after closing out Saturday night time with a 61-39 win towards New Mexico, not even a historic exhibiting from Tetairoa McMillan (10 catches, 304 yards, 4 touchdowns) will spark a soar forward of different 1-0 groups within the pecking order. 

20. Kansas (22): No main modifications for the Jayhawks after they broke of their non permanent residence in Kansas Metropolis with a 48-3 win towards FCS Lindenwood. It is one in all two video games Kansas will play on the dwelling of Sporting Kansas Metropolis from the MLS, then transferring to the Kansas Metropolis Chief’s Arrowhead Stadium for dwelling video games in convention play. 

21. Iowa (25): Fairly a debut for the new-look Iowa offense; the Hawkeyes had as many landing receptions by large receivers (three) of their 40-0 win towards Illinois State as they did the complete 2023 season. That is the form of information that may solidify Iowa’s place within the high 25 after 30 of the 62 voters didn’t even have the Hawkeyes on their poll within the preseason ballot. 

22. Louisville (NR): The preseason ballot had Louisville only a couple extra ballots away from having an actual shot at cracking the rankings, ending nearer in voting to factors to No. 25 Iowa than the Hawkeyes had been to No. 24 NC State. Shake up amongst groups within the 20s has opened the door for the Cardinals, who dealt with enterprise in a 62-0 win towards Austin Peay. 

23. NC State (24): The Wolfpack didn’t have consensus assist throughout the AP voters within the preseason balloting, failing to indicate up on 23 of the 62 ballots, and did not do a lot to sway these decrease opinions in a 38-21 win towards Western Carolina on Thursday. Dave Doeren’s squad closed sturdy with 21 unanswered factors to place the sport away, however now there’s extra stress on the Week 2 matchup towards Tennessee in terms of NC State’s notion within the eyes of the voters.  

24, Boise State (NR): Not solely did Boise State end twenty eighth in voting factors within the preseason ballot, however the Broncos discovered themselves getting a bit extra nationwide consideration in Week 1 due to star working again Ashton Jeanty. The 2023 Mountain West Offensive Participant of the Yr matched a convention report with six dashing touchdowns and set a brand new faculty report with 267 dashing yards in Boise State’s 56-45 win at Georgia Southern. 

25. Clemson (14): In 2022, Oregon began the yr at No. 12 after which fell all the way in which out of the highest 25 following a 49-3 loss to Georgia within the season opener. It is potential the Tigers face the same destiny following their 34-3 defeat on Saturday, however with out too many apparent choices to make a giant soar up in voting factors (Boise State or Iowa State are candidates based mostly on the preseason balloting, with Vanderbilt as a potential darkish horse) our projection is that within the consensus Clemson stays inside the highest 25. 

Projected to drop out: No. 10 Florida State, No. 20 Texas A&M