College Football Rankings: Big Irish win barely nudges them in the polls

Featured, Featured Article, Headlines, Irish Game Day
U.S. Map, adapted from image at usda.gov

After throttling Purdue 56-30 on Saturday, the Fighting Irish merely hold steady at #21 in the Coaches Poll and jump only two spots to #22 in the AP.

Nevertheless, the Irish (1-2) are the only team with a losing record ranked at all.

Indeed, they are ranked ahead of multiple 4-0 or 3-0 undefeated teams, as well as a team that is 3-1.  Multiple additional undefeated teams also linger below them in the “also receiving votes” category.

As expected, strength of schedule already is ebbing and flowing as the season progresses. Three Irish opponents are now ranked.  Another two are “knocking on the door” in the “also receiving votes” category of one of the polls.

Both the Irish and their opponents are in boldface below.

– AP –

1 Ohio State 3-0
2 Miami (Fla.) 4-0
3 Penn State 3-0
4 LSU 4-0
5 Georgia 3-0
6 Oregon 4-0
7 Oklahoma 4-0
8 Florida State 3-0
9 Texas A&M 3-0*
10 Texas 3-1
11 Indiana 4-0
12 Texas Tech 4-0
13 Ole Miss 4-0
14 Iowa State 4-0
15 Tennessee 3-1
16 Georgia Tech 4-0
17 Alabama 2-1
18 Vanderbilt 3-1
19 Michigan 3-1
20 Missouri 4-0
21 Southern Cal 4-0
22 Notre Dame 1-2
23 Illinois 3-1
24 TCU 3-0
25 BYU 3-0

Also receiving votes:Auburn 122, Mississippi State 102, South Florida 77, Utah 45, Arizona State 30, Memphis 23, Louisville 23, Maryland 6, UNLV 3, UCF 3, North Texas 2

 – AFCA Coaches Poll –

1 Ohio State 3-0
2 Penn State 3-0
3 Georgia 3-0
4 LSU 4-0
5 Oregon 4-0
6 Miami (Fla.) 4-0
7 Texas 3-1
8 Florida State 3-0
9 Texas A&M 3-0
10 Oklahoma 3-0
11 Ole Miss 4-0
12 Indiana 4-0
13 Iowa State 4-0
14 Texas Tech 4-0
15 Tennessee 3-1
16 Alabama 2-1
17 Georgia Tech 4-0
18 Michigan 3-1
19 Missouri 4-0
20 Vanderbilt 4-0
21 Notre Dame 1-2
22 Southern Cal 4-0
23 Illinois 3-1
24 BYU 3-0
25 TCU 3-0

Also receiving votes:  Arizona State 104, Utah 99, Louisville 67, Mississippi State 57, Memphis 55, Auburn 48, South Florida 32, Washington 19, Navy 17, Maryland 10, Kansas 6, Houston 4, Syracuse 4, Tulane 3, UNLV 3, Nebraska 3, North Texas 2, Iowa 1

(* Texas A&M wins include one where the winning touchdown in the final seconds was essentially the result of cheating, when, on the Aggies’ last offensive play of the game, an Aggie offensive lineman tackled a pass rusher from behind as he was barreling towards the quarterback; but an SEC officiating crew ignored the penalty and did not throw a flag; without the cheating and/or the non-call, the Aggies likely would be 2-1)