The latest Associated Press Top 25 makes it fair to ask whether voters are weighing teams’ results consistently. It’s a familiar concern, and this season has offered more examples of rankings that seem shaped by reputation or conference loyalty as much as by what teams have done on the field.
This week’s poll, in particular, suggests that preseason expectations are still carrying a lot of weight—and that SEC teams may be getting more benefit of the doubt than others.
Take Texas, ranked No. 10. The Longhorns have a narrow escape against Ohio State and a win over Ole Miss, but they’ve also lost to Oklahoma and Florida. Texas Tech, meanwhile, has one defeat, at Cincinnati, and two wins over ranked opponents in a strong Big 12. The Red Raiders sit at No. 13.
SEC coaches, including Lane Kiffin, have spent much of the offseason and season complaining about the move to a nine-game conference schedule and arguing that their teams’ schedules deserve special consideration. Yet SEC teams already appear to be receiving plenty of it.
Missouri is ranked No. 19 despite a résumé that’s hard to get excited about. The Tigers lost 31-3 to Ole Miss and fell to Mississippi State, a team that looks fairly ordinary. Their win over Florida has also lost some shine as the Gators have struggled.
Florida’s ranking is harder to explain. The Gators have notable wins over Ole Miss and Texas, but they also have three lopsided losses: 45-17 to Missouri, 38-19 to South Carolina and, most recently, 27-8 to Georgia. Three losses, all by wide margins. It’s difficult to see why that should be enough for a place in the top 25.
If those defeats had been close, there might be a stronger argument for keeping Florida ranked. But this looks like a team with serious flaws, even if it can occasionally play well against a good opponent. It’s hard not to wonder whether the SEC label is helping its case.
Northwestern, by comparison, has two losses and isn’t ranked. Both were close: one to Indiana and another to an Oregon team that remains competitive.
South Carolina is ranked No. 23 despite also having three losses. The Gamecocks entered the top 25 after beating Oklahoma, but that win doesn’t look especially significant. They’ve also lost to Mississippi State and Kentucky, and Alabama routed them 49-18. A win over Tennessee is something, but three losses this early make their ranking a puzzling choice.
Notre Dame’s position raises questions, too. The Irish are 7-1 after facing a relatively soft schedule, with wins over Wisconsin, Rice, Michigan State, Purdue, North Carolina, Stanford and Navy. Their only loss came on the road against BYU, their toughest opponent so far. Still, they’re ranked fourth, ahead of undefeated UCLA and one-loss Indiana.
Indiana’s only defeat was a close game against Ohio State, with Julian Sayin at quarterback. UCLA, meanwhile, hasn’t lost at all—the only undefeated team in either the Big Ten or SEC. Its schedule hasn’t been especially demanding, but it has beaten Wisconsin at home and Oregon on the road. It’s not obvious why Notre Dame should be ranked ahead of the Bruins.
All of this points to a poll that still puts a lot of stock in familiar team and conference names. After weeks of complaints from Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian about the SEC schedule, the conference seems to be getting considerable deference, whether or not the teams have earned it.
The SEC and Big Ten also don’t look as dominant as they have in some recent seasons. The transfer portal and NIL have helped make college football more competitive, and reputation may mean less than it once did. Indiana’s national championship should be a reminder that voters don’t need to assume the usual powerhouses will always be the best teams.
Some of these rankings will become clearer as November unfolds. But the AP poll can influence the College Football Playoff selection committee’s rankings, which carry real consequences. That makes it worth asking whether voters are giving reputation too much weight.
