The Athletic 133: Why Washington has earned the No. 1 rating at midseason

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It’s uncommon {that a} monster sport lives as much as the hype. We’ve now had it occur two weeks in a row in faculty soccer, shaking up the rankings.

Last week, Oklahoma beat Texas with a landing within the last seconds. This week, Washington beat Oregon with a late fourth-down cease, a landing and a missed Ducks subject purpose as time expired. We knew Washington regarded like world-beaters up thus far. The Huskies simply hadn’t performed anybody notable. Placed in one of many largest video games of the yr, Washington and Michael Penix Jr. delivered. As a results of the 36-33 win, Washington takes the highest spot on this week’s Athletic 133.

Penix took management of the Heisman Trophy race along with his efficiency and a seemingly unending provide of fine extensive receivers. The Huskies aren’t good, however they game-planned nicely with a banged-up offensive line, and the protection acquired the stops after they wanted them, preserving Oregon to 0-for-3 on fourth downs.

It’s a top-three win for any staff this season, additionally up there with Texas beating Alabama on the street and Oklahoma beating Texas on a impartial website. That Oregon win, coupled with the robust play in any other case (together with a win at Arizona that appears so much higher lately), strikes Washington to No. 1 for now. But we’ve acquired much more top-10 matchups coming this yr.

Here is that this week’s Athletic 133.

1-10

Other than Washington’s transfer as much as No. 1, the one different adjustments in right here embody Michigan hopping previous Penn State to No. 7 and North Carolina sliding into No. 10 after taking good care of Miami. On the Michigan level, the Wolverines leap the Nittany Lions as a result of their Rutgers win is now basically equal to Penn State’s West Virginia win (although neither could be very notable), and Michigan has been so dominant in any other case. As I say each week, Michigan appears to be like extraordinarily good. The Wolverines simply don’t play anybody notable till Penn State on Nov. 11. If they win that sport, they’ll rocket up close to the very high, identical to Washington did. As for the comparability to Georgia, the Bulldogs have a blowout top-30 win towards Kentucky. Meanwhile, Ohio State and Penn State meet this coming weekend.

GO DEEPER

Auerbach’s Top 10: Washington takes No. 1, UNC enters the combination

11-25

Oregon slips simply out of the highest 10 to No. 11. While the Ducks performed nicely and almost beat Washington on the street, they don’t have a notable win to justify a top-10 spot for the time being, in contrast to Texas. Oregon State sits simply behind at No. 12 after a 36-24 win towards UCLA. Louisville was essentially the most troublesome staff to put this week. The Cardinals misplaced to Pitt 38-21 however stay at No. 13 as a result of their lopsided win towards Notre Dame final week appears to be like a lot better after the Fighting Irish beat USC. I can’t but justify placing a two-loss Notre Dame forward of Louisville after what we simply noticed final week, so they continue to be in place for now. It’s at all times pure to maneuver groups every week after a win or loss, however earlier video games matter, too.

After a bunch of losses from the underside of this group, a handful of Group of 5 groups slide into the highest 25, together with Air Force (No. 21), Tulane (No. 23) and James Madison (No. 24). The Falcons and Dukes are undefeated, whereas Tulane beat Memphis on the street. Iowa additionally jumps as much as No. 22 after beating Wisconsin on the street to maneuver to 6-1. Whatever you consider the offense and the accidents, the Hawkeyes maintain successful.

GO DEEPER

Ubben: Iowa to the College Football Playoff? Avert your eyes — but it surely’s potential

26-50

Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee had been additionally very troublesome to put, simply exterior the highest 25. They all have related information, however Kentucky walloped Florida, which beat Tennessee. I wished to place Florida and Tennessee within the high 25 after Kentucky misplaced to Missouri, however I can’t do it fairly but due to that Kentucky-Florida consequence.

Arizona makes one other huge leap as much as No. 30 after lastly getting a breakthrough win, destroying Washington State 44-6 one week after taking USC to additional time and shedding to Washington by simply seven earlier than that. Quarterback Noah Fifita (342 passing yards) has modified the trajectory for the Wildcats. Oklahoma State equally makes a giant leap to No. 36 because of a quarterback resolution (Alan Bowman) that has fastened issues, with consecutive wins towards Kansas State final week and Kansas this week. The Jayhawks don’t fall behind the Cowboys, although, as a result of beginning quarterback Jalon Daniels didn’t play in Stillwater.

Miami (No. 39) and Texas A&M (No. 40) proceed to tumble after losses. Iowa State has gained three of its final 4 video games since a loss to Ohio, which stunningly misplaced to Northern Illinois this weekend. And Liberty lastly performed a considerably notable opponent, dealing with 5-1 Jacksonville State to maneuver as much as No. 38. Troy can also be again on monitor with a 19-0 shutout of Army, its fourth consecutive win.

GO DEEPER

What we realized in CFB’s first half: Pac-12 peaking, UGA cruising, and who’s ‘again’?

51-75

Georgia State strikes as much as No. 51 after a 41-24 win towards Marshall to get to 5-1 on the season. Plenty of groups dropped out of the highest 50 after losses, together with Memphis (No. 54), NC State (No. 54), South Carolina (No. 55), Auburn (No. 56) and Texas Tech (No. 63). There had been extra drops from the likes of Arkansas (No. 62), Syracuse (No. 64) and Cal (No. 65) with losses. Texas State, in the meantime, escaped ULM to maneuver to 5-2 total and as much as No. 68, whereas UNLV beat Nevada to get to 5-1 and transfer to No. 69.

UTSA appears to have rounded into kind with Frank Harris enjoying once more, beating UAB convincingly to maneuver to No. 71, and Virginia Tech has gained two of its final three after beating Wake Forest 30-13 to maneuver as much as No. 72.

76-100

Houston (No. 78) beat West Virginia on a Hail Mary and Colorado State (No. 84) beat Boise State on a Hail Mary, however different earlier outcomes maintain each groups from transferring larger for now. Michigan State blew a 24-6 fourth-quarter lead towards Rutgers and continues to disintegrate, now right down to No. 88 with Michigan coming to city subsequent week.

USF is a really troublesome staff to put. Since enjoying Alabama shut and successful the subsequent two video games, the Bulls have misplaced to UAB and FAU convincingly within the final two weeks and have tumbled to No. 93. Army continues to battle, getting shut out by Troy and dropping to No. 95. Central Michigan (No. 94) is a tricky staff to play, beating South Alabama however shedding to Buffalo and holding on to beat Akron 17-10 this week.

101-133

No. 101 Northern Illinois has wins towards Boston College and now Ohio to go along with losses towards FCS Southern Illinois and Tulsa. But over the past three weeks, the Huskies appear to have turned issues round. Keep an eye fixed on them. Sam Houston, nonetheless on the lookout for its first win as an FBS program, fell behind shortly to New Mexico State and tumbles right down to No. 132. But Nevada, with its sixteenth consecutive loss, this one to rival UNLV, stays No. 133.

The Athletic 133 Rankings collection is a part of a partnership with AllState.

The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners haven’t any management over or enter into the reporting or modifying course of and don’t evaluation tales earlier than publication.

(Photo: Jesse Beals / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Images)