A week that featured a little bit of everything with some upsets, conference wins, and a lot of the big teams just rolling along. Thus, making things a bit tougher on deciding who should go where on the poll. One thing’s for sure there are changes in many places as Georgia, Auburn, Oklahoma, and other Power 5 teams impressed. While Florida and Michigan State did not fare as well. Could upsets by Arizona State and Kentucky land them in the rankings? Well, it’s certainly the case for one team.

Week 2 of the 2018 College Football Top 25

The results were determined with five staffers voting, (two of the voters had to miss this week due to personal reasons.)

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide

Record: 2-0 (T-1st in SEC West)

Last Week: 1

The Crimson Tide’s quarterback competition looks to continue for another week. Both Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts had good days behind center and led Alabama to a 40 – 0 lead at halftime. Tagovailoa had a better day with over 200 yards and four TDs, but Alabama has two QBs that would be starting for almost any other school. Oh, and they still have one of the best defenses in the country. Granted they played against Arkansas State, but the Crimson Tide look to have reloaded their defense with new starters and will still give defensive fits to any opponent. – Daniel Anderson

Next Game: @ Ole Miss (2-0)

#2 Georgia Bulldogs

Record: 2-0 (1-0 T-1st in SEC East)

Last Week: 3

The Bulldogs faced an early test this week going against a top 25 South Carolina team who some people had selected as a team that could challenge for the SEC East. They looked like they would hang against Georgia by only being down by 10 at halftime. Especially after starting the game with an interception returned for a TD by Georgia’s defense to start the game. However, the second half was all Georgia with the Bulldogs putting up 21 unanswered points in the third quarter. – Daniel Anderson

Next Game: vs. Middle Tennessee State (1-1)

#3 Clemson Tigers

Record: 2-0 (T-1st in ACC Atlantic)

Last Week: 2

Same foe, different sideline. Texas A&M Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher is way too familiar with the Clemson Tigers and almost always has a plan to give them at least a scare. Well, he left the ACC, but he did it again. There’s a potential quarterback controversy brewing, as neither Kelly Bryant (205 yards, 2 total TDs) nor Trevor Lawrence (93 passing yards, TD) could really command the offense like in games past. On the other sideline, Kellen Mond broke out with a 430-yard, three-touchdown passing night.

However, the valiant comeback effort was defined by two plays: Quartney Davis’s fumble on a potential touchdown run that was ruled a fumble through the end zone with 2:22 left, and an interception on what was a game-tying two-point conversion attempt with just 52 seconds left in the game. The Tigers survived for now, but Fisher provides a blueprint for other ACC teams to potentially take them down. – Erik Watkins

Next Game: vs. Georgia Southern (2-0)

#4 Wisconsin Badgers

Record: 2-0 (T-2nd in Big Ten West)

Last Week: 4

Next Game: vs. BYU (1-1)

#5 Ohio State Buckeyes

Record: 2-0 (1-0 1st in Big Ten East)

Last Week: 5

Next Game: vs. TCU (2-0)

#6 Oklahoma Sooners

Record: 2-0 (T-1st in Big XII)

Last Week: 6

Kyler Murray did something against UCLA that even Baker Mayfield didn’t do as a Sooner, and something that’s only happened three times in 15 years: he threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more. Against a hapless Bruins squad, the offense was efficient enough to only need 485 yards in a 49-21 win, fueled by a 42-0 where Murray shined. They start conference play against Iowa State next week, and looking at the schedule, it’ll be hard to find anyone who can slow them down. – Erik Watkins

Next Game: @ Iowa State (0-1)

#7 Auburn Tigers

Record: 2-0 (T-1st in SEC West)

Last Week: 7

Auburn followed up a hard-fought victory over Washington last week with a blowout win over Alabama State. The Tigers destroyed Alabama State 63 – 9. Auburn was able to score at will against Alabama State and looked excellent against a lesser opponent. The Tiger’s rushing attack looks excellent this year and the Tigers hope to continue to run the ball well when they start conference play next week. – Daniel Anderson

Next Game: vs. LSU (2-0)

#8 Stanford Cardinal

Record: 2-0 (1-0 1st in Pac-12 North)

Last Week: 9

Bryce Love and the Stanford defense made things easy for coach David Shaw and quarterback K.J. Costello against USC. Love ran for 136 yards and a score. While the Stanford defense force three turnovers and only allowed 3 points on the night. Costello himself had a decent night throwing for a touchdown as well. – Sean Garmer

Next Game: vs. UC Davis (2-0)

#9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Record: (2-0, Independent)

Last Week: 8

On a day when Brandon Wimbush throws three interceptions, it was actually a pair of INT catches from Notre Dame defender Jalen Elliott that set up the offense twice for touchdowns. The defense as a whole held Ball State to 16 points. While the running game and special teams hold it down for the Fighting Irish to power the Golden domers to victory. – Sean Garmer

Next Game: vs. Vanderbilt (2-0)

#10 TCU Horned Frogs

Record: 2-0 (T-1st in Big XII)

Last Week: 10

Things started out slowly for the Horned Frogs against the SMU Mustangs on Friday night, going down 9-0 in the first quarter. However, as the offense improved slowly but surely throughout the night, the defense and special teams more than made up for it. KaVontae Turpin started the run with a 78-yard punt return, and a fumble recovery in the end zone gave TCU a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. A 28-0 second half meant a 42-12 final score, but it will be a completely different game next week, and TCU has to avoid a slow start against Ohio State next week. – Erik Watkins

Next Game: @ Ohio State (2-0)

#11 LSU Tigers

Record: 2-0 (T-1st in SEC West)

Last Week: 11

Next Game: @ Auburn (2-0)

#12 Penn State Nittany Lions

Record: 2-0 (T-2nd in Big Ten East)

Last Week: 12

Next Game: vs. Kent State (1-1)

#13 Washington Huskies

Record: 1-1 (T-2nd in Pac-12 North)

Last Week: 15

The offense puts up 632 yards, Jake Browning throws for two touchdowns and 313 of those yards. Miles Gaskin adds in a score and the defense only allows three points for the entire game. A totally sound and impressive performance coming after the loss to Auburn last week. – Sean Garmer

Next Game: @ Utah (2-0)

#14 Virginia Tech Hokies

Record: 2-0 (1-0, 1st in ACC Coastal)

Last Week: 16

While the William & Mary Tribe may be an up and coming CAA power, there was really no hope for them to beat the Virginia Tech Hokies. After a 24-0 second-quarter lead, it was pretty much game over. Josh Jackson and Steven Peoples both had two scores, and a 62-17 win opens up the softer part of Tech’s schedule before hosting East Carolina. – Erik Watkins

Next Game: vs. East Carolina (1-1)

#15 West Virginia Mountaineers

Record: 2-0 (T-1st in Big 12)

Last Week: 13

Will Grier joins the party of Big XII quarterbacks wanting to get their hands on the Heisman trophy, throwing for four touchdowns and only five incompletions against the Youngstown State Penguins. This helped a 625-yard offensive day in a 52-17 win, showing there are only some tweaks to be made against NC State. Morgantown continues to show that the road to the Big XII title game goes through them. – Erik Watkins

Next Game: @ North Carolina State (2-0)

#16 Mississippi State Bulldogs

Record: 2-0 (T-1st in SEC West)

Last Week: 17

A lot of people were wondering how Mississippi State would respond after a convincing victory last week. This week’s opponent of Kansas State was seen as a true test at just how well Mississippi State would measure up against a more quality opponent. They answered that question by coming out and beating Kansas State 31 – 10 in a contest that was never really close after the first quarter. This team could be a team that surprises a lot of people with their ranking by the end of the year. – Daniel Anderson

Next Game: Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (1-0)

#17 Boise State Broncos

Record: 2-0 (T-1st in Mountain West Mountain)

Last Week: 19

In a game that was over after the first quarter, quarterback Brett Rypien put up 362 yards and three touchdowns including two of them over 60 yards. However, this wasn’t just a passing display, as Alexander Mattison ran for 115 yards and two scores himself. Overall the offense put up a ridiculous 818 yards and the defense only allowed seven points that came deep into the third quarter. Broncos keep rolling along. – Sean Garmer

Next Game: @ Oklahoma State (2-0)

#18 Central Florida Knights

Record: 2-0 (1-0 1st in American East)

Last Week: 20

When you win 15 games in a row, your quarterback can’t always be on their game. This is one of those times, as McKenzie Milton threw a touchdown and three interceptions against South Carolina State. However, it proved no big deal as the running game and defense had his back. Adrian Killins Jr. ran for 89 yds and two scores, Greg McCrae ran in a 32 yd TD, and Otis Anderson put it in the end zone too. The defense shutout SC State and forced three turnovers as well. The Knights keep doing their thing. – Sean Garmer

Next Game: @ North Carolina (0-2)

#19 Oregon Ducks

Record: 2-0 (T-2nd in Pac-12 North)

Last Week: 22

Oregon rolled over Portland State by halftime with Justin Herbert throwing for four scores and 250 yards. Travis Brooks-James ran for 107 yards and a pair of 1 yard touchdowns. Plus, the defense only allowed 14 points. After two weeks of big performances, it’s looking like a tight race this year in the Pac-12 North. – Sean Garmer

Next Game: vs. San Jose State (0-2)

#20 USC Trojans

Record: 1-1 (0-1 6th in Pac 12 South)

Last Week: 14

JT Daniels didn’t have the best day as he threw two interceptions that really hurt the team. The rest of the offense put up an equal amount of yards to Stanford, but they couldn’t get much going, as Stanford’s defense stifled quite a few drives. Holding the Trojans to their lowest score total since 1997. – Sean Garmer

Next Game: @ Texas (1-1)

#21 Miami Hurricanes

Record: 1-1 (T-2nd in ACC Coastal)

Last Week: 23

Savannah State never really stood a chance, as the comeback road begins for the Miami Hurricanes. They had to win, and win big. Check and check. A night that saw the ‘Canes tie a record for most points in a game in school history and break the record for margin of victory helped Miami gain a fair bit of confidence. Both Malik Rosier and N’Kosi Perry accounted for multiple touchdowns, and the defense finally produced the Turnover Chain (four times, no less) while holding SSU to only 78 total yards of offense. – Erik Watkins

Next Game: @ Toledo (1-0)

#22 Michigan Wolverines

Record: 1-1 (T-1st in Big Ten East)

Last Week: 21

Next Game: vs. SMU (0-2)

#23 Michigan State Spartans

Record: 1-1 (T-2nd in Big Ten East)

Last Week: 18

Next Game: @ Indiana (2-0)

#24 Arizona State Sundevils

Record: 2-0 (T-1st in Pac-12 South)

Last Week: N/A

The Sun Devils scored 13 of their 16 points in the 4th quarter including the final three as time expired to give them a late win against Michigan State. Kicker Brandon Ruiz had 10 of those points, the defense never let the game get too far away and only gave up three points in the final frame too.To his credit, quarterback Manny Wilkins battled, threw a 27 yard passing TD to put Arizona State in position to be able to get the big win. Certainly, the Sun Devils have proven they should be taken seriously when they get into Pac-12 action. – Sean Garmer

Next Game: @ San Diego State (1-1)

#25 Maryland Terrapins

Record: 2-0 (T-2nd in Big Ten East)

Last Week: N/A

Next Game: vs. Temple (0-2)

Others Receiving Votes for this week’s Top 25: Kentucky (1), Oklahoma State (2), Hawaii (1), Utah (1), North Carolina State (1)

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