College Football AP Top 25, Week 3: Winners and losers

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 09: Chanse Sylvie #28 celebrates with Steven Parker #10 and Parnell Motley #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 09: Brandon Wimbush #7 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish throws a pass against the Georgia Bulldogs in the first quarter of a game at Notre Dame Stadium on September 9, 2017, in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Loser: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (No. 24 to unranked)

After sneaking back into the AP Top 25 for the first time since the beginning of the 2016 season. In fact, it was a tough start to the 2016 campaign for the Fighting Irish as they dropped out of the poll by the end of September and eventually put together a 4-8 campaign that nearly cost Brian Kelly his job as head coach.

The Irish had already started the 2017 season much better with a victory over Temple in convincing fashion. Notre Dame put up 49 points on a defense that finished third in total yards allowed in 2016 — although there were many key departures this offseason.

First-year starting quarterback Brandon Wimbush saw success against Temple in the opening week, but not so much against Georgia. He passed for 211 yards on just 19-of-39 completions. He also had 16 official carries but only for one yard.

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The Fighting Irish run game was surprisingly ineffective against the Bulldogs, finishing with just 55 yards on 37 carries. The Notre Dame defense allowed 326 yards — not too shabby, though. Can the Irish get back into the rankings next week?

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