Clemson up, Ohio St. down in college football Power Rankings after Week 5
As the number of remaining undefeated teams decreased in Week 5, it became increasingly apparent that the season simply lacks a dominant team. There doesn’t appear to be a 2013 Florida State-type squad who pummels everyone in its path.
Rankings are, by their nature, a relative thing. How does Team A compare to Team B and Team C and every other team in the country? So other than making it a little harder to determine a team’s relative strengths, it doesn’t really matter how historically good the best teams are. What’s important is they’re the best teams this year. And for 2015, that doesn’t mean that they’re flawless, just that they seem to have the smallest or most manageable flaws.
• NADKARNI: Three thoughts on AP Poll after Week 5 | Complete AP Top 25
1. Utah Utes
PREVIOUS: 1
RECORD: 4-0
Next week: Saturday vs. Cal
2. Clemson Tigers
PREVIOUS: 12
RECORD: 4-0
Last week: Beat Notre Dame 24–22 Next week: Saturday vs. Georgia Tech
3. Baylor Bears
PREVIOUS: 6
RECORD: 4-0
Last week: Beat Texas Tech 63–35 Next week: Saturday at Kansas
4. Oklahoma Sooners
PREVIOUS: 10
RECORD: 4-0
Last week: Beat West Virginia 44–24 Next week: Saturday vs. Texas (in Dallas)
5. LSU Tigers
PREVIOUS: 12
RECORD: 4-0
Last week: Beat Eastern Michigan 44–24 Next week: Saturday at South Carolina • BECHT: Biggest takeaways from Week 5
6. Alabama Crimson Tide
PREVIOUS: 14
RECORD: 4-1
Last week: Beat Georgia 38–10 Next week: Saturday vs. Arkansas
7. Texas A&M Aggies
PREVIOUS: 15
RECORD: 5-0
Last week: Beat Mississippi State 30-17 Next week: Bye week
8. Florida Gators
PREVIOUS: 20
RECORD: 5-0
Last week: Beat Ole Miss 38-10 Next week: Saturday at Missouri
9. Northwestern Wildcats
PREVIOUS: 17
RECORD: 5-0
Last week: Beat Minnesota 27-0 Next week: Saturday at Michigan
10. TCU Horned Frogs
PREVIOUS: 11
RECORD: 5-0
Last week: Beat Texas 50-7 Next week: Saturday at Kansas State • Johnson: Strong era hits new low with TCU loss
11. Ohio State Buckeyes
PREVIOUS: 3
RECORD: 5-0
Last week: Beat Indiana 34-27 Next week: Saturday vs. Maryland
12. Michigan State Spartans
PREVIOUS: 4
RECORD: 5-0
Last week: Beat Purdue 24-21 Next week: Saturday at Rutgers
13. Ole Miss Rebels
PREVIOUS: 5
RECORD: 4-1
Last week: Lost to Florida 38-10 Next week: Saturday vs. New Mexico State
14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
PREVIOUS: 7
RECORD: 4-1
Last week: Lost to Clemson 24-22 Next week: Saturday vs. Navy
15. Iowa Hawkeyes
RECORD: 5-0
Last week: Beat Wisconsin 10-6 Next week: Saturday vs. Illinois • Iowa checks in at No. 22 in new AP Poll
16. California Golden Bears
PREVIOUS: 25
RECORD: 5-0
Last week: Beat Washington State 34-28 Next week: Saturday at Utah
17. Florida State Seminoles
PREVIOUS: 9
RECORD: 4-0
Last week: Beat Wake Forest 24-16 Next week: Saturday vs. Miami
18. Stanford Cardinal
PREVIOUS: 18
RECORD: 4-1
Last week: Beat Arizona 55-17 Next week: Bye week
19. Michigan Wolverines
PREVIOUS: 23
RECORD: 4-1
Last week: Beat Maryland 28-0 Next week: Saturday vs. Northwestern
20. Georgia Bulldogs
PREVIOUS: 8
RECORD: 4-1
Last week: Lost to Alabama 38-10 Next week: Saturday at Tennessee • ELLIS: Bama puts SEC on notice, routs Georgia
21. USC Trojans
PREVIOUS: 19
RECORD: 3-1
Last week: Bye week Next week: Thursday vs. Washington
22. UCLA Bruins
PREVIOUS: 2
RECORD: 4-1
Last week: Lost to Arizona State 38-23 Next week: Bye week
23. Oklahoma State Cowboys
PREVIOUS: 22
RECORD: 5-0
Last week: Beat Kansas State 36-34 Next week: Saturday at West Virginia
24. Houston Cougars
RECORD: 4-0
Last week: Beat Tulsa 38-24 Next week: Thursday vs. SMU
25. Boise State Broncos
RECORD: 4-1
Last week: Beat Hawaii 55-0 Next week: Saturday at Colorado State
Dropped out: Wisconsin, West Virginia, Mississippi State
Next five:<> West Virginia, Toledo, Duke, Oregon, Wisconsin
