2021 College Football Rankings: Week 2

Wow, that was really an incredible week of college football. We saw so many thrilling games, with upsets all weekend. Now, as we look ahead to Week 3, it’s time to make our top 25 rankings. Here they are:

  1. Alabama (2-0) (PREV: 1)

Alabama is one of the only teams that look invulnerable. Bryce Young continues to be the Heisman favorite (19-27, 227 passing yards, three passing touchdowns)

  1. Georgia (2-0) (PREV: 2)

Georgia is the only other team that hasn’t shown any vulnerability. Even without JT Daniels, Stetson Bennett threw five touchdowns to blow out UAB. Two of the touchdowns went to Brock Bowers.

  1. Oklahoma (2-0) (PREV: 4)

Spencer Rattler looked a lot better in the blowout win against Western Carolina. However, they’re only number 3 because Ohio State lost at home.

  1. Oregon (2-0) (PREV: 16)

I definitely should not underestimate Mario Cristobal’s team. They took on their biggest challenge of the season, upsetting Ohio State in Columbus. Their game MVP was safety Verone McKinley III, who had an interception and two passes defended. Running back C.J. Verdell looked great, with 161 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. 

  1. Iowa (2-0) (PREV: 11)

I’m not going to lie, but Iowa has a shot at the Big Ten title. I know it’s early, but the Hawkeyes have made it clear that they have one of the best defenses in the nation. They upset Iowa State in Ames 27-17. They’re not messing around after two AP Top 25 wins.

  1. Clemson (1-1) (PREV: 6)

Clemson got back on track, destroying South Carolina State 49-3. I don’t know what’s up with D.J. Uiagalelei, but he hasn’t looked great throwing the ball yet this season. At least he made up for it by having a good game on the ground. I’m concerned about Clemson’s chances of making the College Football Playoff because the rest of their schedule looks extremely weak. They better hope one of their remaining opponents becomes ranked.

  1. Texas A&M (2-0) (PREV: 5)

Texas A&M moves down two spots because it took a last-second touchdown from Isaiah Spiller to beat Colorado 10-7. With Haynes King hurt, the Aggies’ offense becomes more concerning every week.

  1. Cincinnati (2-0) (PREV: 7)

Cincinnati didn’t do anything to be moved down, but the rankings have shaken up so much that that’s what it has come to. They look like a real threat for a College Football Playoff spot. Their first real test comes on Saturday as they take a trip to Bloomington to take on Indiana.

  1. Ohio State (1-1) (PREV: 3)

Seeing Ohio State ranked outside the top 5 is weird. However, they lost to a real good Oregon team, even if they were missing Kayvon Thibodeaux. I liked C.J. Stroud’s game this week, as he went 35-for-54, passing for 484 yards, three touchdowns, one interception. Jaxon Smith-Njigba looked terrific (7 receptions, 145 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns).

  1. Penn State (2-0) (PREV: 12)

Penn State cracks the top 10 after USC and Notre Dame fall out of the top 10. After a blowout win against Ball State, they take on Auburn in one of the biggest non-conference matchups of the year.

  1. Florida (2-0) (PREV: 13)

Emory Jones needs to not start for Florida. Anthony Richardson is the obvious choice: he’s impressed everyone each week, and he will try to do the same as the Gators take on #1 Alabama on Saturday. Wide receiver Jacob Copeland was terrific, with five receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns.

  1. Notre Dame (2-0) (PREV: 8)

Notre Dame looks extremely overhyped. Jack Coan has won the hearts of many fans in South Bend, especially after throwing the game-winning touchdown after he dislocated his finger. Florida State, who they beat in overtime in Week 1, just lost to Jacksonville State. To make it worse, they barely beat Toledo. Purdue could hand the Fighting Irish their first loss of the season.

  1. UCLA (2-0) (PREV: 18)

UCLA had the week off, but they move up five spots in my ranking due to how many top 15 teams lost/looked vulnerable. Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the Bruins take on Fresno State on Saturday, looking to continue where they left off during Labor Day Weekend.

  1. Iowa State (1-1) (PREV: 9)

Iowa State drops from 9 to 14 after falling to Iowa. The Cyclones did not look good at all, whether it was Brock Purdy’s three interceptions or Breece Hall’s lack of production. They better blow out UNLV on Saturday.

  1. Ole Miss (2-0) (PREV: 15)

Ole Miss is by far my favorite team to watch in the SEC. Matt Corral looks like a legit Heisman contender, and they get to play Alabama in two weeks. They take on Tulane this week, who kept up with Oklahoma.

  1. Virginia Tech (2-0) (PREV: 17)

Virginia Tech had a slow start against Middle Tennessee but found a way to a 35-14 victory against the Blue Raiders. Running back Raheem Blackshear was the biggest contributor, finding the end zone twice.

  1. North Carolina (1-1) (PREV: 20)

North Carolina blew out Georgia State, with Sam Howell having five total touchdowns. Wide receiver Antoine Green was Howell’s top target, with three receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. The Tar Heels take on undefeated Virginia this Saturday.

  1. Miami (1-1) (PREV: 19)

Miami bounced back after their loss to Alabama, edging Appalachian State 25-23. The Hurricanes’ offense was led by running back Camron Harris, who had 91 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. D’Eriq King looks like he’s regressed, however. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was their top defensive player, with three passes defended.

  1. Auburn (2-0) (PREV: 21)

Auburn blew out Alabama State 62-0, highlighted by a 94-yard touchdown by running back Jarquez Hunter. Tank Bigsby also rushed for over 100 yards. Bo Nix wasn’t excellent, however. Their biggest non-conference game takes place on Saturday as they travel to Happy Valley.

  1. Coastal Carolina (2-0) (PREV: 22)

The Chanticleers gave up 22 points to Kansas, but they found a way to blow them out. Grayson McCall is one of the best quarterbacks in the Group of Five, going 17-for-21, 245 passing yards, and three total touchdowns. Wide receiver Jaivon Heiligh reeled in six catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. Running back Reese White ran for 102 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries. The special teams were fun to watch, blocking a punt returned for a touchdown. They take on Buffalo on the road for Week 3.

  1. Wisconsin (1-1) (PREV: 25)

Even though Graham Mertz hasn’t shown much, the rest of the team has, as they blew out Eastern Michigan 34-7. Running back Chez Mellusi ran for 144 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, while Isaac Guerendo ran for an 82-yard touchdown. They have this week off, but they have to face Notre Dame in Chicago on September 25.

  1. Arizona State (2-0) (PREV: N/A)

Jayden Daniels was excellent against UNLV, besides the interception he threw. He went 20-for-29, passing for 175 yards, two touchdowns, and rushing for 125 yards on 13 attempts. Rachaad White found the end zone twice, as he rushed for 90 yards on 22 carries. On Saturday, the Sun Devils face BYU in their toughest game so far this season.

  1. UCF (2-0) (PREV: 23)

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel played terrific against Bethune-Cookman, going 23-for-36, passing for 312 yards and two touchdowns. He also found his way into the end zone on the ground. Isaiah Bowser was impressive, rushing for four touchdowns. They take on Louisville tomorrow night.

  1. Arkansas (2-0) (PREV: N/A)

Not only did Arkansas beat their old rival Texas, but they also blew them out. Hudson Card didn’t get the Longhorns anywhere, and Arkansas took advantage of that. The Razorbacks gave Texas quite the welcome to the SEC.

  1. BYU (2-0) (PREV: N/A)

I had picked Utah to beat BYU again, but BYU surprised me by upsetting their arch-rival in Provo. Quarterback Jaren Hall went 18-for-30, passing for 149 yards and three touchdowns. He’s also a threat on the ground, rushing for 92 yards. However, BYU gets another test as they host Arizona State on Saturday night.

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