Week 14 AP Poll: Arizona State Stuns BYU for Big Winner Status
The latest AP Top 25 poll is out, and there’s one big surprise in the Big 12 conference for a team that many usually think less of. 9-2 Arizona State has ascended to the top of the Big 12 standings with just one regular season week left before conference champions are decided two weeks from now. The Sun Devils edged out the previously contending BYU last weekend with a 28-23 upset to remain a perfect 6-0 at home, and that is why they are the best in the Big 12 over BYU and Iowa State, who both have identical records.
And yet, Arizona State is only ranked 14th, up seven spots from 21st in the latest poll. With just one regular season game left, which they’ll need to win if they want a spot in the Big 12 title game in two weeks’ time and a CFP spot while they’re at it, Arizona State needs to keep those wins coming. And they’re not the only team who suffered big gains or losses in this week’s poll. Other big winners include Clemson and Big 12 championship rivals Iowa State, each gaining five spots, Clemson moving from 17th to 12th, and the Cyclones going from 22nd to 17th.
The big losers for this week involve BYU, which plummets yet again with another bad loss to the aforementioned Arizona State, 14th to 19th, and Colorado, plus once unbeaten Army. The Buffs lost embarrassingly to bowl-ineligible Kansas, while Army got shamrocked by now fifth-ranked Notre Dame. Another big loser this past week was sixth-ranked Alabama, who dropped to 14th after a stunning blowout loss to mediocre at best Oklahoma in Norman. Who would’ve thought, a team like Arizona State being ranked above a juggernaut like Alabama?
Here’s a breakdown of the Top Ten, somehow not including Arizona State for this week:
1. Oregon: 11-0, bye week
The Ducks remain atop the rankings with a bye after their escape from Madison against Wisconsin two weeks ago. They may be undefeated on paper, but they sometimes don’t play like you think an undefeated squad should.
2. Ohio State: 10-1, def. Indiana 38-15
Admit it, this was an expected result. As good of a game, as this could’ve been, it’s still Ohio State facing an on-paper unbeaten and still easily sweeping them aside. Now the Buckeyes face Michigan in the latest iteration of “The Game” to cap off what would’ve been an unbeaten year had Ryan Day not quacked against the above team back in Week 9.
3. Texas: 10-1, def. Kentucky 31-14
This was (kind of) looking like a repeat of the Longhorns’ Vanderbilt escape until the boys in burnt orange broke things open in the second half while previously maintaining a 24-7 halftime advantage. Now they head two hours east to face A&M in what will complete this year’s SEC championship game.
4. Penn State: 10-1, def. Minnesota 26-25
No, that scoreline isn’t a joke. The Nittany Lions could not put away a pesky Gophers team until the very end, only escaping Minneapolis with a gutsy late play call and some slight defense on top. Now they regroup and face Maryland back at home, which will be a far less close game.
5. Notre Dame: 10-1, def. Army 49-14
The Irish absolutely shell-shocked the previously unbeaten Black Knights, and West Point was probably that way since being in a mid-major, namely the AAC or American, doesn’t warrant as much tough competition. Notre Dame clearly didn’t see it that way, and it was a good win since one more loss would’ve killed any chance of a CFP appearance. Maybe. And they usually didn’t get in anyway after being an independent for the vast majority of their program’s years!
That clears the top five, and this week’s top ten is as follows:
6. Georgia, 9-2, def. UMass 59-21. Yes, they had a freebie game
7. Tennessee: 9-2, def. UTEP 56-0. Another SEC freebie
8. Miami: 10-1, def. Wake Forest 42-14
9. SMU: 10-1, def. Virginia 33-7
10. Indiana: 10-1, fell to Ohio State 38-17
Just one more week of regular season competition before those neutral site conference championships. Most are yet to be decided, and some could be officially locked in this weekend given the results. Does Arizona State lock themselves in after defeating in-state rival Arizona in the 98th edition of the so-called “Duel in the Desert” for the coveted Territorial Cup?
Related: Sun Devils Eyeing CFB Spot After BYU Upset
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