Let’s give some respect for the bottom of the AP Top 25 rankings. Respect on the names of Cincinnati, Baylor, Memphis, SMU, and lastly Wake Forest. Well done to Wake Forest for doing weirdly well. Cincinnati has be underrated all year. Baylor has the recognition it deserves in the Big 12. Finally, Memphis will put other teams on upset alert all year.
Cincinnati
Baring the one, devastating, loss to a far superior team, Cincinnati has been underrated all year. They have shown remarkable play all year and absolutely deserve a spot in the rankings. After beating UCF this past weekend, I think that its fair that Cincinnati is at number 25. With under 2,000 total yards of offense they have been able to create some great wins with good scorelines too. The thing I enjoy most about watching Cincinnati is that every player is involved in some way. There are no specific standout payers, but they are all contributing equal amount of offense and defense. I think there is something great brewing at Cincinnati and I think more people need to be made aware of it.
Wake Forest
A team that I was not expecting to be 5-0 are here at number 19. Now, I will say that Wake Forest’s opponents haven’t exactly been…. great, but credit where credit is due. All of there wins have been against un-ranked teams. Beating solid Boston College and UNC sides does give them some credibility, but I think that Wake Forest doesn’t necessarily deserve a a spot in the top 25. Fortunately for them I’m not the one making decisions. Wake Forest’s Defense has been all LB Justin Strnad, who has been involved in 53 total tackles (solo and assist), 2 sacks for a loss of 18 yards, and an interception. This man reminds me of Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers.
Baylor
Good to see Baylor back in the Top 25. They haven’t been ranked since 2016 at a very respectable 8th spot (at their highest). Baylor is also 5-0 against, well again, less than competitive teams. Beating each team quite handily, but just skating by an Iowa State team that has shown promise of their own. Baylor will be glad to have their QB Charlie Brewer ready for Texas Tech after leaving the Kansas State game as a “precautionary” measure. Brewer has been pretty successful this year throwing 11 TDs. Baylor will have a real challenge against CFP hopeful Oklahoma later in the season, but let’s see what they can do in the coming weeks.
Memphis
Memphis has put up some serious score line against their opponents, thus I believe, more deserving than others for a spot in the rankings. Coming in a number 23, I think Memphis is going to do very well for themselves in the American Athletic conference. They are currently positioned at number 2 in the West of the conference behind and equally surprised SMU. The Memphis run game has chalked-up just over 1,000 yards and 11 TDs (one of those coming from QB Brady White). Look for Memphis to put their foot on the gas and then clash with SMU for control over the West.
SMU
Yet another surprise of an undefeated streak, SMU is back in the spot light, just ahead of both Baylor and Memphis at number 21. Pulling off a fantastic comeback in Week 6 against Tulsa to score 21 points, but going into triple overtime. With tons of production coming out of WR James Proche (7 TDs), look for SMU to continue their dominance until that clash I mentioned above in Week 10.
Show Some Respect!
Do you agree that we should celebrate what these teams have done? Are there others that I missed? You tell me!
Also, if you want to keep up with all college football, all the time then go listen to The Blackout with Thomas Black. Recaps of the previous week as well as what’s in store are his specialty.
