Ohio State remains undefeated, but is there a more deserving number one? A look at other contenders among college football.
Ohio State has jumped out to a 6-0 start and have remained the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 all season. Though the Buckeyes have jumped out to an undefeated start, other teams have started to receive first place votes in the AP Top 25. This poses the question: do the Buckeyes deserve to be the number one team in the country? Or is there another contender that could leap the Buckeyes in the poll?
The Baylor Bears can credit their electric offense to their 5-0 start, and their No. 2 ranking in the AP Top 25. Baylor has defeated teams such as Texas Tech, Kansas and SMU, but has done so in convincing fashion.
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The Bears have scored at least 56 points in each of their five games this season. Baylor is led by quarterback Seth Russell, who has already thrown for 22 touchdown passes this season with 1,527 passing yards. The true test for Baylor will come later in the season where it plays a stretch of teams including Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and TCU.
Following Baylor are the TCU Horned Frogs who are also in the Big 12 Conference. The Horned Frogs were recently surpassed by the Bears in the rankings and now sit at No. 3 in the rankings despite their 6-0 record. The TCU opened up the season with a 23-17 over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and have not looked back from there.
TCU is a similar team to Baylor offensively, with a run-and-gun approach to its attack. Despite their high-powered offense, TCU has managed to keep games close with its opponents. TCU defeated Texas Tech by a score of 55-52, and Kansas State, 52-45.
The Utah Utes have received 16 first place votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll, the most out of any team besides Ohio State’s 24 first place votes. The Utes have surprised many people this season, climbing to a No. 4 ranking with notable wins over Michigan, Oregon and California. Devontae Booker leads the rushing attack for the Utes totaling 222 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns over California. Utah will also play UCLA, Arizona State and Arizona over the course of the next six games.
The Southeastern Conference has certainly produced some dominant teams over the past couple of years, and LSU looks to be another one. The Tigers are the top team in the dangerous SEC West, and have reached a No. 6 ranking in the AP Top 25. LSU defeated Mississippi State, Auburn and South Carolina this season, as the Tigers are led by Heisman candidate Leonard Fournette. Fournette has totaled 1,022 rushing yards this season, along with 12 rushing touchdowns.
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