The latest AP College Football Poll for Week 5 has shaken up the rankings in a big way. Indiana and Illinois are heading in totally different directions.
Indiana’s huge win over Illinois pushed them closer to the Top 10. Illinois, meanwhile, tumbled down the list. The top five also got a shakeup, with Miami jumping to No. 2. Let’s get into what all this means for the teams involved.
Indiana’s Meteoric Rise
Indiana shot up from 19th to 11th in the AP Poll, which is honestly pretty wild. Their 63-10 win over Illinois was a statement—on both sides of the ball.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza was nearly flawless, hitting 21 of 23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns. The running game was humming too, with Khobie Martin and Kaelon Black racking up 196 yards and averaging almost nine yards per carry between them.
Key Players and Strategies
The Hoosiers are clicking thanks to a few standouts and some smart calls:
- Fernando Mendoza: Just a lights-out passing performance.
- Khobie Martin and Kaelon Black: Their combined rushing made the offense tough to stop.
- D’Angelo Ponds: His work in the secondary helped keep things in control.
Head coach Curt Cignetti kept the offense aggressive even with a big lead, and it worked. Indiana piled on 28 unanswered points after halftime.
Illinois’ Steep Decline
On the flip side, Illinois crashed down to No. 23 after hanging out in the Top 10 for a couple of weeks. The loss to Indiana really exposed some issues.
They started the season looking solid, but now there’s a lot of doubt about whether they can hang onto a ranking at all.
Areas of Concern
Illinois has some glaring problems to fix if they want to bounce back:
- Defensive Weaknesses: Letting up 63 points is, well, not great.
- Offensive Inconsistencies: Only putting up 10 points? That’s not going to cut it.
- Mental Toughness: The team seemed to check out once they fell behind.
Head coach Bret Bielema’s got his work cut out for him if he’s going to turn things around.
Top Five Shakeup
The top five teams in the AP Poll look a bit different now. Miami leapfrogged LSU and Penn State to land at No. 2, just behind Ohio State.
Miami’s been steady and strong all season, and this jump reflects that.
Miami’s Ascent
Miami’s move up is all about their balance:
- Strong Offense: They’re putting up big numbers, week after week.
- Solid Defense: Opponents just can’t get much going.
- Coaching Excellence: The staff keeps making the right calls.
LSU and Penn State
LSU and Penn State slipped a bit but are still in the top five. Both have shown they can play at a high level, but they’ll need to keep it up if they want to stay in the mix.
Other Notable Movements
The shakeups weren’t just at the top. Texas Tech, for example, climbed up after a solid win over Utah.
Texas Tech’s Performance
That win over Utah stood out for a few reasons:
- Overcoming Adversity: They pulled off the win even without their starting QB at full strength.
- Will Hammond’s Impact: Hammond came in for an injured Behren Morton and led four straight scoring drives.
- Strong Defense: Utah was held to just 263 yards. That’s impressive.
This victory really cements Texas Tech as a serious Big 12 contender.
Looking Ahead
Week 5 looks promising, with some big games coming up. Oregon heading to Happy Valley to face Penn State is probably the one everyone’s circling.
Oregon vs. Penn State
This matchup is loaded with intrigue:
- Top-10 Battle: Both squads are in the top 10, so there’s a lot on the line.
- James Franklin’s Record: Franklin’s history in big games is always a storyline.
- National Title Contenders: Either team could make a real run, depending on how this one goes.
Whoever comes out on top will get a real boost in the rankings—and maybe even in their own confidence.
SEC Showdowns
Alabama’s got a big one coming up against Georgia. It’s not just another game—there’s a lot riding on this for head coach Kalen DeBoer.
Lately, DeBoer has been under fire after that loss to Florida State. A win now could really take some heat off him, at least for a while.
If you want the latest AP College Football Poll and a closer look at how teams are stacking up, the original article on Bleacher Report has you covered.
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