The Oklahoma Sooners started the season 1-2 before running the conference table. Steadily climbing the polls throughout the year, Baker Mayfield and the rest of the gang earned a bid to play in the Sugar Bowl. Facing the Auburn Tigers, many expected a tight battle. However, OU ran away with the game after refusing to give up touchdowns in the second and third quarter. Securing another win over an SEC opponent, Bob Stoops witnessed the Sooners move up to No. 5 in the Final AP Poll.
As far as Oklahoma State is concerned, I wasn’t willing to give them a win on paper over the Colorado Buffaloes. However, the Cowboys proved they deserved behind a stellar performance from Mason Rudolph. Racking up 314 yards and three touchdowns through the air, OSU scored 38 poins while the defense held Colorado to a mere eight. The win moved the Cowboys up two spot in the final poll to No. 11 in the nation.
AP Top 25
|
RK |
TEAM |
REC |
PTS |
TREND |
|
1 |
Clemson(60) |
14-1 |
1500 |
— |
|
2 |
Alabama |
14-1 |
1440 |
— |
|
3 |
USC |
10-3 |
1292 |
— |
|
4 |
Washington |
12-2 |
1277 |
— |
|
5 |
Oklahoma |
11-2 |
1252 |
— |
|
6 |
Ohio State |
11-2 |
1240 |
— |
|
7 |
Penn State |
11-3 |
1130 |
— |
|
8 |
Florida State |
10-3 |
1105 |
— |
|
9 |
Wisconsin |
11-3 |
1032 |
— |
|
10 |
Michigan |
10-3 |
1001 |
— |
|
11 |
Oklahoma State |
10-3 |
920 |
— |
|
12 |
Stanford |
10-3 |
730 |
— |
|
13 |
LSU |
8-4 |
651 |
— |
|
14 |
Florida |
9-4 |
640 |
— |
|
15 |
Western Michigan |
13-1 |
619 |
— |
|
16 |
Virginia Tech |
10-4 |
610 |
— |
|
17 |
Colorado |
10-4 |
585 |
— |
|
18 |
West Virginia |
10-3 |
368 |
— |
|
19 |
South Florida |
11-2 |
358 |
— |
|
20 |
Miami |
9-4 |
338 |
NR |
|
21 |
Louisville |
9-4 |
277 |
— |
|
22 |
Tennessee |
9-4 |
253 |
NR |
|
23 |
Utah |
9-4 |
222 |
NR |
|
24 |
Auburn |
8-5 |
206 |
— |
|
25 |
San Diego State |
11-3 |
113 |
NR |
Making the most surprising jump in the final poll is the USC Trojans. A 6.5 point favorite to win the Rose Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions, the Trojans managed to win the game but failed to cover the spread. Why reward a three loss team playing in their own backyard with a spot inside top three? It remains a mystery to all of the people I have talked with…