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College Football Rankings 2016: Week 2 AP Poll winners and losers

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers players celebrate defeating the LSU Tigers by doing the Lambeau Leap following the game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers players celebrate defeating the LSU Tigers by doing the Lambeau Leap following the game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars cornerback Howard Wilson (6) celebrates with teammates after the Cougars defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 33-23 at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars cornerback Howard Wilson (6) celebrates with teammates after the Cougars defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 33-23 at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner 2: Houston Cougars (No. 15 to No. 6)

There were big jumps galore in this week’s rankings, especially for the Houston Cougars, who just defeated the aforementioned Oklahoma Sooners.

NRG Stadium probably felt like more of a home game for Houston, but they took advantage of it and defeated the No. 3 team in the country to go from 15th in the preseason AP Poll to No. 3 in the Week 2 edition.

Not only are the Cougars just outside of the top four playoff talk; the team is 1-0 with its toughest game out of the way. The Cougars play just one more ranked team this season: in November against No. 13 Louisville at home. Imagine the Cougars don’t lose again until that game, starting 10-0. At that point, here’s every chance they could be No. 1 or No. 2  in the playoff polls.

Beating Louisville at that point in the season (depending on the Cardinals’ ranking) could seal the deal for a playoff berth. After all, it’d be tough to pass up a 13-0 team after a conference title game victory for a playoff spot.

The Cougars just got the boost they needed to play into a playoff spot for the rest of the year. They’re now favored in every game, and if Greg Ward Jr. plays the way he does from here on out, the Cougars will only continue to rise.

Next: Tennessee Volunteers

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