College Football Rankings 2021: Projected AP Top 25 for Week 2
By Zach Bigalke
Texas Longhorns (1-0). 15. player. 851. . won 38-18 v. No. 23 Louisiana. Longhorns
After Louisiana toppled Iowa State in last year’s season opener for both schools, there was some concern that Texas might endure the same fate against the defending Sun Belt co-champions. But the Ragin’ Cajuns couldn’t pull out an upset this time, as the Longhorns rolled to a 20-point victory in their first game under new head coach Steve Sarkisian. Bijan Robinson was an all-purpose threat out of the backfield, finishing 176 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. Texas will climb into the top 15 this week as they prepare for their Week 2 trip to Arkansas.
806. . won 16-10 at No. 12 Wisconsin. Nittany Lions . Penn State Nittany Lions (1-0). 14. player
A year after collapsing in an 0-5 start, Penn State came out in Week 1 and knocked off Wisconsin 16-10 in a Big Ten showdown of top-20 programs. The Nittany Lions torched the Badgers through the air, testing the secondary as Jahan Dotson finished with 102 yards and a long touchdown on five catches. The Lions defense forced two late Graham Mertz interceptions to end the Badgers’ comeback bid. Now James Franklin’s team turns to Ball State before hosting Auburn in Week 3.
. won 34-6 v. No. 17 Indiana. Hawkeyes . Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0). 13. player. 878
Iowa built upon last year’s streak of six straight wins by an average of 22 points per game as they dominated Indiana at home in Week 1. The Hawkeyes crushed Indiana 34-6 to take a seat atop the Big Ten West standings. Kirk Ferentz’s team looked like they could be the team to beat in the division this year after they won in all phases of the game, forcing three Michael Penix Jr. interceptions and returning two for scores. Now Iowa prepares for Iowa State in the annual rivalry game.
Trojans . USC Trojans (1-0). 12. player. 808. . won 30-7 v. San Jose State
In the season opener against defending Mountain West champion San Jose State, USC showed why they came into 2021 as the favorite to take the Pac-12 South this year. Kedon Slovis threw for 256 yards and a pair of scores, while Keaontay Ingram and Vavae Malepeai combined for 151 yards on the ground. The Trojans defense picked off Nick Starkel twice as they held the Spartans to a single touchdown. Now USC turns their attention to Stanford as they open Pac-12 play.
won 35-14 v. Florida Atlantic. Gators . Florida Gators (1-0). 11. player. 840.
Until the garbage time of the fourth quarter, Florida was pitching a shutout against Florida Atlantic in the season opener at the Swamp. The Gators came out and dominated on the ground, running for 400 yards as a team as both Anthony Richardson and Malik Davis topped triple digits. Emory Jones threw two interceptions in the start, but Florida’s defense held the Owls to only 353 total yards. Florida will hover on the cusp of the top 10 in this week’s AP Top 25 with a visit to Tampa to face USF on the horizon in Week 2.