College football rankings 2022: Projected Week 2 AP Top 25 after Ohio State outlasts Notre Dame, Georgia dismantles Oregon

Sep 3, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) carries the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Clarence Lewis (6) in the second quarter of the NCAA football game between Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Robertson-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 3, 2022; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) motions to the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

Projected AP Top 25 college football rankings after Week 1: No. 18-17

18. Arkansas Razorbacks

Particularly as Sam Pittman was tasked with replacing some key players from last year’s Arkansas offense, welcoming an also-rebuilding Cincinnati team was going to be a tough opening test. But Woo Pig Sooie, the Razorbacks were up to it in a great game that ended with the Hogs on top, 31-24.

KJ Jefferson looked like a bonafide star as he finished the game 18-of-26 for 223 yards and three scores along with 62 rushing yards and a score. The rushing attack was also potent with 45 carries for 224 yards overall. But the defense was the star as they forced two key turnovers and largely stonewalled the Bearcats throughout the afternoon.

Arkansas was a frisky foe in the SEC West last season and that certainly doesn’t look like it’s about to change after what we saw on Saturday.

17. Wisconsin Badgers

In the simplest terms, there was never a world in which Illinois State was going to be able to hang with Wisconsin in Madison on Saturday and that’s what we saw on the field. The Badgers defense looked the part as one of the best in the Big Ten as they pitched a dominant shutout that included multiple forced turnovers. Moreover, the little work that was required of the offense was highly efficient.

Graham Mertz had a ho-hum day overall, but went 14-of-16 for 219 yards and a score. Braelon Allen continued to be a star as a 96-yard touchdown run punctuated a day in which he ran for 148 yards and 14 carries with two total scores.

Wisconsin should be one of the best teams in the Big Ten West and nothing we saw on Saturday, albeit against vastly inferior competition, suggested anything otherwise.

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