The greatest weekend in the history of Sun Belt football was not enough to push any of the conference’s upstarts into The Associated Press poll.
Marshall and Appalachian State were left at the top of the others receiving votes list in Sunday’s AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank, the day after the Thundering Herd won at Notre Dame and the Mountaineers beat Texas A&M in College Station.
The Fighting Irish fell all the way out of the rankings with their 0-2 start. The Aggies managed to stick at No. 24, a curious development with App State unranked.
Oregon moved back in at No. 25 after getting blasted out of the rankings in Week 1 by Georgia.
With Georgia moving up to No. 1, and Oregon having no issues against Eastern Washington on Saturday, some voters seemed to be showing deference to the Bulldogs by sticking with the Ducks.
Reality Check would have preferred letting go of those preseason expectations and rewarding the Sun Belt surprises. And maybe North Carolina, too. The Tar Heels have opened the season with two road victories against the Sun Belt, including that wild one in Week 1 at Appalachian State.
Reality Check had a few other quibbles with the voters this week, but not the decision to make Georgia No. 1.
No. 1 Georgia (2-0)
Next: at South Carolina, Saturday.
Reality check: Do not resist. Embrace the Stetson Bennett Heisman Trophy campaign.
Ranked: Perfect.
No. 2 Alabama (2-0)
Next: vs. Louisiana-Monroe, Saturday.
Reality check: RB Jahmyr Gibbs leading the team in catches with 10 and not one player averaging more than 12 yards per catch is just not what the Tide has become accustomed to at receive. Need to get Louisville transfer Tyler Harrell and JoJo Earle back from injury.
Ranked: Fine.
