Week 1 of the college football season is in the books following Monday Night's clash between Top 25 ranked SMU and Florida State. The end of the first week of the season means that every team in the country has now played at least one game, and everyone has gotten to see the new look rosters in action.
The Oregon Ducks entered the season as the 2nd ranked team in the AP and Coaches Poll, trailing only Ohio State. Given that the Ducks struggled to pull away from Boise State, many wondered if the AP would recognize that Boise State isn't the same level of cupcake opponent that other teams played or if Oregon would be punished for playing a tougher game.
Oregon slides in AP Poll over close call against Boise State
On Tuesday, the Associated Press unveiled the latest AP Top 25 Poll with the Ducks moving from No. 2 down to No. 6.
BREAKING: College Football AP Poll🚨https://t.co/89dk3PyWTC pic.twitter.com/aOYdirpRkM
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The Ducks were jumped by Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas, and Indiana, who all moved up one place in the AP Poll. Among the teams to move ahead of Oregon, the only one that played a respectable opponent was Notre Dame who faced Wisconsin, while the others were rewarded for facing cupcake opponents.
The biggest reason for Oregon's tumble in the rankings was the fact that the Ducks had 14 1st place votes to start the season, and that number fell to just 3 votes.
Considering that Oregon played a Boise State team that's one of the favorites to earn the Group of 5 bids into the College Football Playoff, a close call in a tough game is far more valuable than if the Ducks had beaten up on a far inferior opponent who couldn't push them. Dan Lanning got to see early what his team was made of, and who steps up in big moments, and it'll make the team better for it when Big Ten play rolls around.
Boise State isn't nearly the same as some of the cupcake opponents that the teams that passed Oregon faced in Week 1. The Broncos made the College Football Playoff two seasons ago and are coming off a 9-5 season with a 24-9 record under Spencer Danielson. The committee itself showed Boise State respect by making them the first team out, but somehow Oregon fell 6 places.
Dan Lanning chose to schedule a Boise State team that's historically given Oregon fits instead of giving the fans and voters a 70-0 win to be bored with. The Ducks needed a walk-off field goal to beat Boise State two seasons ago, and they still went on to have an undefeated regular season, and win the Big Ten.
The good news for the Ducks is that there should be plenty of movement around them in the Top 25 if they first handle business against Oklahoma State. Michigan hosts Oklahoma in a big game, and Ohio State and Texas will meet in a Top 4 showdown that will at least hand one team expected to contend for the National Championship a loss.
Oregon's schedule for the rest of the season remains a tough path, with Ohio State, USC, and Washington all remaining in the Top 25. The Ducks, however, lose a Top 25 opponent as Michigan fell out of the rankings with their controversial win over Western Michigan.
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