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AP Poll Week 5 Top 25 winners and losers: Wisconsin cracks Top 10, Michigan was overrated

By Sean Watterson

MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 21: Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor (23) heads for the end zone during a Big Ten college football game between the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the University Michigan Wolverines on September 21, 2019 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI. (Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 21: Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor (23) heads for the end zone during a Big Ten college football game between the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the University Michigan Wolverines on September 21, 2019 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI. (Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Week 5 AP Poll sees Wisconsin crack the top 10 after beating Michigan who clings to a spot in the latest Top 25.

After gaining the attention and praise of several high-profile media members, UCF failed to put away an underwhelming Pittsburgh. The loss was the first in the regular season for the Knights since 2016. They were far from the only ranked team to suffer a loss and see their place in the new AP Poll radically different from the previous week.

Notre Dame, Utah, Michigan, Texas A&M, Washington State and Arizona State all suffered losses with some of those teams falling out entirely from the Week 5 AP Poll Top 25.

There was some question about how far Michigan would fall after a listless effort vs. Wisconsin, but the Wolverines are clinging to a top-20 ranking. Meanwhile, their rival, Notre Dame wasn’t penalized as much after their six-point loss at Georgia. Although the Fighting Irish didn’t look all that imposing either, they remain in the top-10.

Georgia’s win over Notre Dame kept them behind Clemson and Alabama and Wisconsin moved into the top-10 with their win over Michigan.

Week 5 AP Poll

  1. Clemson
  2. Alabama
  3. Georgia
  4. LSU
  5. Ohio State
  6. Oklahoma
  7. Auburn
  8. Wisconsin
  9. Florida
  10. Notre Dame
  11. Texas
  12. Penn State
  13. Oregon
  14. Iowa
  15. California
  16. Boise State
  17. Washington
  18. Virginia
  19. Utah
  20. Michigan
  21. USC
  22. UCF
  23. Texas A&M
  24. Kansas State
  25. Michigan State

Winners

No. 16 Boise State (previously No. 20) — The world is yours, Boise State. With UCF falling to Pittsburgh, the Broncos are leaders of the Group of Five teams in the AP Poll. If (IF!) they run the table, they can find themselves in a New Years bowl game. Unfortunately, they started too far down in the polls to really have a chance at the playoffs. Expectations coming into the season matter, right Florida?

No. 21 USC (previously unranked) — Evidently we are doing this again. The Trojans beat Pac 12 favorite-by-default Utah. After losing to BYU. That the Trojans have managed to start 3-1 while playing three different quarterbacks due to injury is incredible. This week’s quarterback thrust into action was Matt Fink, whose name fits perfectly into a Misfits song. Matt Fink put up 350 yards on a defense that should have been able to stop him. Great win for USC.

Tie-No. 23 Kansas State (previously unranked) — The Wildcats looked impressive against the BYE this week. Total domination. It was over before it started. When there are enough upsets in the lower half of the Top 25, there are inevitably going to be teams that sneak in. We can’t change the Top 25 to the Top 20 or Top 30 from week to week just because we don’t have a solid class of (clearly) good programs.

No. 25 Michigan State (previously unranked) — After one week taking a break from Michigan State, the AP voters just can’t quit the Spartans. After beating a Northwestern team that is nothing short of a mess, Michigan State showed that it has the offensive power to beat up on weak Big Ten schools. Go ahead and pencil them in for a few more L’s this year.

Losers

No. 10 Notre Dame (previously No. 7) — Notre Dame is still trying to tackle D’Andre Swift. In the first half, the Irish defense looked incredible. The offense was okay. While creative, the offense mostly sputtered, outside of the occasional leak play to the tight end. In the second half, Kirby Smart’s defense had it figured out.

While we’re here, this needs to be said. “Shipping up to Boston” is a great song by Irish punk band, Dropkick Murphys. It was used in the classic film The Departed. Neither of those things makes it relevant to Notre Dame nor football nor the Irish people. It isn’t even Dropkick Murphys’ most “Irish” song. “(F)lannigan’s Ball,” for instance, is far more “Irish.” But if you really want to go hard on the whole Notre Dame are the fighting Irish, let’s go with an intense, Irish sounding song: the Sinead O’Connor and The Chieftains version of “Foggy Dew.” Just saying, CBS and all other media outlets that insist on using “Shipping up to Boston.”

No. 19 Utah (previously No. 10) — Did you even want to win the Pac 12? Did you want a chance at a playoff berth? Didya? USC just lost to BYU! They had to turn to a junior quarterback who had never seen meaningful playing time. He almost transferred to Illinois. C’mon. You have the bodies, just show up and handle yourselves like the No. 10 team in the country. At least you can hang your hat on beating BYU.

No. 20 Michigan (previously No. 11) — Before piling on, it’s important to remember that the Brady Hoke era was a nightmare. He took over for Rich Rodriguez who was a mess. Lloyd Carr was essentially fired for losing to Appalachian State and not being able to beat Ohio State. Jim Harbaugh might climb trees and wear pleated khakis and otherwise act like an all-around maniac, but he isn’t a failure. He’s a return to normalcy for Michigan. It’s time for the Wolverines fans to stop chasing ghosts and recognize that this is what they are. Granted, losing the Weasel Bowl (TM) in a blowout is a bad look, but still.

No. 22 UCF (previously No. 15) — To paraphrase the second-best Godfather movie, I know it was you, UCF. You broke my heart. Losing on a trick play (can it be called a trick play if it has been run by every team since Philly did it?) is tough. That takes nothing away from what the Knights have accomplished in the last three years. They can absolutely keep this up. Winning on the road is a lot to ask for a freshman quarterback. Hopefully, they are ready to go for their conference slate.

Washington State (previously No. 19) — This game was absolutely bananas. As late as 2:19 left in the third, Washington State had a win probability of 99 percent. Then they gave Chip Kelly’s squad a signature win, and maybe some momentum for the rest of the year. For now, the Cougars left an all-time performance from Anthony Gordon on the table.

Arizona State (previously No. 23) — Is Colorado sneaky good? Expectations weren’t high for the Buffs coming into the season, or maybe we were too high on Arizona State. The previously stout defense gave up a ton of yards to Colorado, whose offense has looked surprisingly competent this year. The Sun Devils may end up back in the polls, but it looks like Colorado will get their first.

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