Saturday Blitz
Fansided

College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 3

By Zach Bigalke

Sep 17, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) sacks Florida State Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois (12) during the second half at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Louisville defeated Florida State 63-20. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) sacks Florida State Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois (12) during the second half at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Louisville defeated Florida State 63-20. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
25 of 26
Next
Sep 17, 2016; DeKalb, IL, USA; San Diego State Aztecs tight end Kahale Warring (87) makes a touchdown catch against the Northern Illinois Huskies during the second quarter at Huskie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; DeKalb, IL, USA; San Diego State Aztecs tight end Kahale Warring (87) makes a touchdown catch against the Northern Illinois Huskies during the second quarter at Huskie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

Any number of teams could ostensibly show up in this final spot of the Top 25, but given the number of votes San Diego State received last week in the AP Poll it seems reasonable to slot the Aztecs in here. The defending Mountain West champions traveled to DeKalb to face longtime MAC West hegemon Northern Illinois, and SDSU had little trouble dispensing with every challenge offered by the Huskies. Donnel Pumphrey, fresh off passing Marshall Faulk in the school rushing record books, added another 220 yards and three scores against an overmatched NIU defense.

San Diego State already has a statement win over California to its name, and the Aztecs have one more non-conference showdown at South Alabama next week before the dive into defending their MWC crown. With no Air Force or Boise State on their schedule in the regular season, the one thing that could work against the Aztecs moving forward is a weak strength of schedule as they try to climb up the Top 25 and contend against Houston and other Group of Five teams for the Access Bowl bid.

Home/College Football News