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This week saw Alabama take down second-ranked Georgia in Tuscaloosa in the first statement win of the Deboer era. Let's take a look at the biggest risers and fallers of the past week of college football, and welcome some new faces to the TYB Top 25.
By Ryan Galloway | September 30, 2024
Photo by Vasha Hunt/Associated Press
Top 10
1. Texas Longhorns (5-0, Previous: 1st)
Arch Manning led the Horns to a 35-13 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-4) in Austin. Despite the slow start, featuring costly penalties and dropped passes that resulted in about 20 points being taken off the board for Texas, they logged the victory. This win was their first in the SEC and is hopefully a sign of things to come if you’re a Texas fan. Arch has looked good through 2 starts, and the future is bright. However, the Horns are eagerly awaiting Quinn Ewers return heading into the bye week with OU and Georgia on the horizon. Yes, Texas dropped to 2 in the AP Poll, but that’s dumb and this is my list. Texas is the best team in the nation until I’m proven otherwise.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0, Previous: 5th)
Oh, man. The Tide had their way with the Georgia Bulldogs (3-1). And then they didn’t. After jumping out to a 28-0 lead, the Dawgs finally woke up and remembered how to play football. Carson Beck was really a tale of two halves, with 3 touchdowns and interceptions, as well as 439 yards in the air. Georgia fought all the way back, taking the lead late before the 17-year-old WR Ryan Williams went ahead and made himself an Alabama legend with an incredible touchdown reception. He totaled 6 receptions for 177 yards in the big win. QB Jalen Milroe also had himself a day, totaling 4 touchdowns with 2 on the ground. Milroe also became the first player in FBS history to have 300 passing yards 100 rush yards and 2 rushing touchdowns against an AP Top 5 team, per ESPN’s deep-dive statistics. This is easily the best win of the season for any team, but the blown lead coupled with my predisposition to not punish teams for winning is why the Tide are ranked second.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0, Previous: 3rd)
Ohio State marched into East Lansing and dominated the Michigan State Spartans (3-2). QB Will Howard left the game in the second quarter with an injury after taking a big hit on a pass attempt before returning in the second half. The Spartans just couldn’t get anything going. QB Aidan Chiles did what he could, but they were clearly outmatched by the Buckeyes, who will host the Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1) at home this week.
4. Tennessee Volunteers (4-0, Previous: 6th)
Tennessee was idle this week, however losses from Georgia and Ole Miss result in the Vols being bumped up.
5. Georgia Bulldogs (3-1, Previous: 2nd)
Georgia played some miserable football to begin their matchup against Alabama, but eventually settled in and they gave us an early game of the year candidate. Carson Beck gave us a little bit of everything, both good and bad. I think the Dawgs are still a top team this year, but Alabama is obviously a strong squad and I think Kentucky (who they beat by 1 on the road) has been severely underrated. Georgia falls but not too far. Texas vs Georgia should be one hell of a game.
6. Oregon Ducks (4-0, Previous: 9th)
Oregon trounced UCLA on the road, led by a strong performance from QB Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel tossed 3 touchdowns and threw for 278 yards. This one wasn’t close. Propelled by a big 2nd quarter, the Ducks opened up a big lead and never looked back. This was a Big Ten game by the way. That’s fun. SportsCenter tells me that Gabriel is a Heisman contender. They’re clearly not familiar with Ashton Jeanty and Cam Ward.
Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez/The Oregonian
7. Miami Hurricanes (4-0, Previous: 7th)
Miami pulled of the heist of the century last Friday. All I’m saying is, in my unqualified opinion, Virginia Tech scored a game winning touchdown on the last play of regulation. QB Cam Ward had a dazzling game if you look at the box score, but he certainly had his share of struggles if you actually watched the game. I don’t think the Hokies are as bad as their 2-3 record, and Miami found a way to win. Did they have to pay off a couple referees along the way? I don’t know, I wasn’t there but I’ll leave that up to you. Also shoutout to VT running back Bhayshul Tuten, who had 141 yards rushing with 7.4 yards-per-carry on 19 attempts. I’ll always give flowers to a quality rushing performance.
8. Missouri Tigers (4-0, Previous: 8th)
Missouri was idle this week. They’ll take a trip to College Station this week to play the Texas A&M Aggies (4-1) in an intriguing matchup.
9. Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0, Previous: 10th)
Penn State took down Illinois at home on Saturday 21-7. QB Drew Allar was average, with 135 yards on 15/21 passes for the day. I like this Illinois team led by QB Luke Altmyer and head coach Bret Bielema. This is a good win for Penn State, and I still expect good things from the Fighting Illini moving forward.
10. Michigan Wolverines (4-1, Previous: 11th)
Michigan eked out a controversial win against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-3) at home. Up 3, they were bailed out by an offsides call on an onside kick recovered by Minnesota. They just do not have a quarterback. At all. Alex Orji looks like he’ll be the guy the rest of the way, which doesn’t say much. I would argue his performance in victory is a testament to how good this Michigan team is everywhere else. Orji totaled 86 yards passing, with a touchdown and interception. Kalel Mullings had a good day on the ground, with 111 yards rushing on another quiet game for RB Donovan Edwards. I might have to write separately about Edwards, who has just had a miserable 2024 campaign to this point. If you weren’t watching, he got benched. At home. Against Minnesota.
Photo by Eric Seals/Detroit Free Press
Remaining 11-25
11. USC Trojans (3-1, Previous: 13th)
12. Ole Miss Rebels (4-1, Previous: 4th) - yikes
13. LSU Tigers (4-1, Previous: 14th)
14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1, Previous: 15th)
15. BYU Cougars (5-0, Previous: 21st)
16. Clemson Tigers (3-1, Previous: 17th)
17. Iowa State Cyclones (4-0, Previous: 19th)
18. Utah Utes (3-1, Previous: 12th)
19. Oklahoma Sooners (3-1, Previous: 22nd)
20. Louisville Cardinals (3-1, Previous: 16th)
21. Boise State Broncos (3-1, Previous: NR)
22. Kansas State Wildcats (4-1, Previous: 23rd)
23. Boston College Eagles (4-1, Previous: 24th)
24. Illinois Fighting Illini (4-1, Previous: 18th)
25. Indiana Hoosiers (5-0, Previous: NR)