ESNY’s College Football Week 2 Top 25: Irish, Tigers, Hokies rise in rankings

Big wins propelled Notre Dame, LSU and Virginia Tech in ESNY’s Week 2 Top 25 college football rankings, but their victims paid the consequences.

This Week’s Voters: Geoff Magliocchetti, Louis Sklenarik, Justin Weiss

#1. Alabama (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Louisville 51-14 (@ Orlando, FL)
• Top Performer: QB Tua Tagovailoa (12-16, 227 yards, 5 carries, 26 yards, 3 total TDs)
• This Week: Saturday vs. Arkansas State (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

Nick Saban’s bizarre quarterback rant aside, it was hard to find any reason to knock the Crimson Tide from their unanimous top ranking, scoring the first 34 points and never looking back.

#2. Clemson (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Furman 48-7
• Top Performer: QB Kelly Bryant (11-17, 132 yards, 5 carries, 44 yards, 2 total TDs)
• This Week: Saturday @ #25 Texas A&M (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Also ranked unanimously in the runner-up spot, the Tigers have a quarterback controversy of their own brewing (touted true freshman Trevor Lawrence put in 137 yards and three touchdowns), but they should receive some clarity in an intriguing non-conference visit to College Station.

#3. Georgia (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Austin Peay 45-0
• Top Performer: QB Jake Fromm (12-16, 157 yards, 2 TDs)
• This Week: Saturday @ #22 South Carolina (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

Starting SEC play early, the Bulldogs will have to be careful not to fall into a conference-induced trap, much like they in 2014, when a sixth-ranked Bulldogs teams suffered a 38-35 loss in Columbia, wasting a 131-yard output from Todd Gurley.

#4. Wisconsin (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Western Kentucky 34-3
• Top Performer: RB Jonathan Taylor (18 carries, 145 yards, 2 TDs)
• This Week: Saturday vs. New Mexico (12:00 p.m. ET, BTN)

While Taylor lived up to the hype in the debut weekend, the team enjoyed a strong performance from QB Alex Hornibrook (257 yards, 2 TD’s), and they got two additions coming this week in the form of senior tight end Zander Neuville and sophomore defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk, both of whom are back from injury.

#5. Auburn (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. #11 Washington 21-16 (@ Atlanta)
• Top Performer: QB Jarrett Stidham (26-36, 273 yards, 1 TD)
• This Week: Saturday vs. Alabama State (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)

A neutral site win over the class of the PAC-12 is a great way for the Tigers to kick off the year, but they’d like to avoid another letdown against an FCS opponent, struggling to beat Mercer at Jordan-Hare last season.

#6. Ohio State (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Oregon State 77-31
• Top Performer: QB Dwayne Haskins (22-30, 313 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT)
• This Week: Saturday vs. Rutgers (3:30 p.m. ET, BTN)

No Urban Meyer, no problem for the Buckeyes, who will look to continue their dominance over the Scarlet Knights, whom they’ve outscored 219-24 over four Big Ten meetings since the latter’s arrival in 2014.

#7. Notre Dame (1-0)

• Last Week: W 24-17 vs. Michigan
• Top Performer: LB Te’von Coney (10 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 fumble recovery)
• This Week: Saturday vs. Ball State (3:30 p.m. ET, NBC)

The Fighting Irish dealt another blow to the Jim Harbaugh mystique, a strong defensive effort that limited Michigan to under two yards per rushing attempt and forced two turnovers.

#8. Oklahoma (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Florida Atlantic 63-14
• Top Performer: RB Rodney Anderson (5 carries, 100 yards, 2 TDs)
• This Week: Saturday vs. UCLA (1:00 p.m. ET, FOX)

A matchup with Lane Kiffin’s Owls, regarded by some as a potential mid-major sleeper, could’ve served as a trap game for the Sooners, but a Kiffin-esque offensive effort, picking up 650 yards and a 56-0 lead to eliminate any doubt.

#9. LSU (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Miami (FL) 33-17 (@ Arlington, TX)
• Top Performer: RB Nick Brossette (22 carries, 125 yards, 2 TDs)
• This Week: Saturday vs. Southeastern Louisiana (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

Justin Weiss ranked the Tigers third in his preseason poll, and the Bayou Bengals rewarded his faith with a domination of the Hurricanes on neutral ground that was never truly close.

#10. Stanford (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. San Diego State 31-10
• Top Performer: WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside (6 receptions, 226 yards, 3 TDs)
• This Week: Saturday vs. #10 USC (8:30 p.m. ET, FOX)

Bryce Love badly struggled against the Aztecs (18 carries, 29 yards), and he may be needed against the mighty Trojans, but the Cardinal were able to get by perhaps their finest passing performance since the Andrew Luck era, KJ Costello throwing for 332 yards and four touchdowns.

#11. Washington (0-1)

• Last Week: L vs. #5 Auburn 21-16 (@ Atlanta)
• Top Performer: WR Aaron Fuller (7 receptions, 135 yards)
• This Week: Saturday vs. North Dakota (5:00 p.m. ET, PAC-12 Networks)

A loss to the Tigers on neutral ground isn’t ideal, but nothing to be ashamed of, with positives from the defeat including a career-high in yardage from the junior Fuller and a pressure that can shut down high-octane defenses across the west coast.

#12. Virginia Tech (1-0)

• Last Week: W @ Florida State 24-3
• Top Performer: CB Caleb Farley (2 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INTs)
• This Week: Saturday vs. William & Mary (2:00 p.m. ET, ACC Network)

The Hokies’ Labor Day dominance of the Seminoles, forcing them into five turnovers and no touchdowns, combined with Miami’s no-show at JerryWorld, could put the ACC Coastal division back into their hands early on.

#13. Penn State (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Appalachian State 45-38 (OT)
• Top Performer: QB Trace McSorley (20-35, 229 yards, 12 carries, 53 yards, 3 total TDs)
• This Week: Saturday @ Pittsburgh (8:00 p.m. ET, ABC)

The Nitanny Lions get no style points for going to overtime with the Mountaineers, who came close to an upset on the anniversary of their Michigan victory, but may have found an adequate running back to lead them into the post-Saquon Barkley era, as junior Miles Sanders put up 111 total yards and two scores to help prevent disaster.

#14. TCU (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Southern 55-7
• Top Performer: QB Shawn Robinson (17-24, 185 yards, 2 carries, 45 yards, 5 total TDs)
• This Week: Friday @ SMU (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

With a stellar offensive showing against the FCS Tigers, one can only imagine what the Horned Frogs can do against Southern Methodist, which was torched for 529 yards and 34 first downs in a loss to North Texas.

#15. Michigan State (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Utah State 38-31
• Top Performer: LB Joe Bachie (11 tackles, 1 INT)
• This Week: Saturday @ Arizona State (10:45 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Another styleless win for a Big Ten contender, with the Spartans needing a last minute drive to hold off the pesky Aggies, but familiar faces, like senior running back LJ Scott (141 total yards), stopped a home letdown.

#16. UCF (1-0)

• Last Week: W @ Connecticut 56-17
• Top Performer: QB McKenzie Milton (24-32, 346 yards, 5 TDs, 7 carries, 50 yards)
• This Week: Saturday vs. South Carolina State (6:00 p.m. ET, ESPN3)

With plenty of mid-major attention dedicated to programs out on the west, Central Florida showed it was still a force to be reckoned with, torching UConn for 652 total yards, though the Shaquem Griffin-less defense has things to work on after allowing 486.

#17. Boise State (1-0)

• Last Week: W 56-20 @ Troy
• Top Performer: WR Sean Modster (7 receptions, 168 yards, 2 TDs)
• This Week: Saturday vs. Connecticut (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPNU)

The traditional mid-major favorites, the Broncos can be especially dangerous with senior QB Brett Rypien playing his best football, the senior throwing for 305 yards and four touchdowns on Saturday night.

#18. Oregon (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Bowling Green 58-24
• Top Performer: S Ugochukwu Amadi (5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT)
• This Week: Saturday vs. Portland State (2:00 p.m. ET, PAC-12 Networks)

Time will only tell if the Ducks and the offense we’ve come to know and love from them are truly back, but putting up 524 yards in their debut against one of the better teams in the MAC is a good way to kick things off.

#19. USC (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. UNLV 43-21
• Top Performer: QB JT Daniels (22-35, 282 yards, 1 TD)
• This Week: Saturday @ #10 Stanford (8:30 p.m. ET, FOX)

The first huge test of life after Sam Darnold comes in the annual matchup with the Cardinal, with early season meetings often setting the course for each’s respective season, such as last year’s Trojan sweep that concluded in the PAC-12 Championship Game.

#20. West Virginia (1-0)

• Last Week: W @ Tennessee 40-14
• Top Performer: QB Will Grier (25-34, 429 yards, 5 TDs)
• This Week: Saturday vs. Youngstown State (6:00 p.m. ET)

Grier made his Heisman case on the road, helping two receivers, David Sills (7 receptions, 140 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Gary Jennings Jr. (6 receptions, 113 yards, 1 touchdown) to 100-yard days, but they suffered a blow in losing sophomore sam linebacker Charlie Benton for the season with a knee injury.

#21. Mississippi State (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Stephen F. Austin 63-6
• Top Performer: QB Keytaon Thompson (13-31, 364 yards, 10 carries, 109 yards, 7 total TDs)
• This Week: Saturday @ Kansas State (12:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Sure his heroics came against the FCS Lumberjacks and a solid test awaits him on Saturday in Manhattan, but have the Bulldogs found another dual-threat quarterback in the sophomore Thompson?

#22. South Carolina (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Coastal Carolina 49-15
• Top Performer: RB Rico Dowdle (15 carries, 105 yards, 1 reception, 22 yards, 2 Total TDs)
• This Week: Saturday vs. #3 Georgia (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

A huge opportunity awaits the Gamecocks this weekend at home, as they’ve beaten a nationally recognized Bulldogs team before, 2014’s meeting against the then-sixth-ranked opponent ending in a 38-35 thriller.

#23. Florida (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs Charleston Southern 53-6
• Top Performer: QB Feleipe Franks (16-24, 219 yards, 5 TDs, 5 carries, 34 yards)
• This Week: Saturday vs. Kentucky (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)

A win over the FCS Buccaneers may not be much to write home about, even limiting them to 225 yards and forcing three turnovers, but for the struggling Gators, it’s the first step on their road to redemption.

#24. Oklahoma State (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs. Missouri State 58-17
• Top Performer: QB Taylor Cornelius (25-35, 300 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT)
• This Week: Saturday vs. South Alabama (8:00 p.m. ET)

The losses of Mason Rudolph and James Washington are a little easier to bear against FCS competition, and the Cowboys took full advantage, posting 732 yards, 232 alone coming on the ground from Justice Hill (122 yards) and LD Brown (110).

#25. Texas A&M (1-0)

• Last Week: W vs Northwestern State 59-7
• Top Performer: RB Trayveon Williams (20 carries, 240 yards, 3 TD’s)
• This Week: Saturday vs. #2 Clemson (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

With 40 first downs and 758 total yards from their tune-up game under their belt, the Aggies face their first big test of the Jimbo Fisher era against the Tigers, though a raucous home crowd will be there to support them.

• Also Received Votes: Miami (FL), Michigan, Boston College, Hawaii, Kansas State
• Highest Rise: LSU (+8)
• Biggest Fall: Miami (FL) (-16)
• New This Week: #18 Oregon, #19 USC, #23 Florida, #25 Texas A&M
• Dropped Out: #10 Miami (FL), #13 Michigan, #15 Florida State, #19 Texas

Follow Geoff Magliocchetti on TWITTER