We just finished Week 3 of college football, which has been drama galore so far! Texas Longhorns thrashed UTSA Roadrunners, and Alabama did the same to Wisconsin Badgers, and we almost had a big upset. But in the end, Georgia just got by Kentucky. As a result of these shifts, Joel Klatt has moved to align his new rankings to the fact that far from being a usual season, this one has been full of the unexpected.

The Texas Longhorns now occupy the number 1 position on Klatt’s list, which is a reasonable position considering their form this season. Although Quinn Ewers, their starting quarterback, was injured and Arch Manning had to take his place, the Longhorns have proved their strength in depth. An added brilliance of Manning has only bolstered Texas’s argument for occupying the premier position. On the other hand, Georgia has only managed to pip Kentucky 13-12 in a closely fought encounter, and this match has brought to the fore some vulnerable moments. The expected easy win nearly vanished, bringing into question the Dawgs’ preparedness to stand for their number one ranking.

In contrast, Alabama’s 42-10 win over Wisconsin seemed like a statement game on paper. Nevertheless, the Crimson Tide victory was not as dominating as traditional Nick Saban’s team performance tends to be. This result, combined with Georgia’s struggle, allowed Texas to leapfrog both teams. This shift is well captured in Klatt’s Week 3 rankings, where Texas sits pretty on top of the rankings table, with Ohio State trailing closely and a resurgent Alabama creeping up from behind. This is quite a change from last week’s ratings where Georgia, Texas, and Ohio State fought for the top three positions.

Here are the positions that changed from the previous rankings:

• Texas Football (@TexasFootball): Moved from 2nd to 1st
• Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball): Moved from 1st to 5th
• Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL): Moved from 6th to 7th
• Miami Football (@CanesFootball): Moved from 3rd to 4th
• Tennessee Volunteers Football (@Vol_Football): Moved from not listed to 4th

Joel Klatt’s new Top 10 list shows that the season is dynamic. Texas is in the first place consistently and they have some key players to be in the top. Ohio State stays put in the second position, extending their superiority in front of their rivals with stunning early season performance. Miami and Tennessee each also saw a gain in their rankings and both teams proved a lot with their wins in Week 3. However, teams such as Penn State and USC remain in the top ten, static though they have byes ahead, promising their good starts and more places to rise.

The Michigan factor: still in Ohio State’s shadow

You’d think that a 28-18 win against Arkansas State will finally bring some smile on Sherrone Moore’s face after starting 1-1. We don’t doubt that Moore was happy yesterday. Just don’t ask him about Michigan QB Davis Warren’s performance. Warren’s three interceptions in week 3 (six in total), and he has already surpassed what JJ McCarthy had (4) in the entirety of the last season. The win for the Wolverines will help, but it is not dramatically changing the equation in the Big Ten. Ohio State remains on top of the chart again, their early season results have placed the team in the first position; according to Klatt.

The Michigan and Ohio State rivalry dates back in history, making the current season’s competition between the two even more interesting. The Buckeyes have been able to post better results than their opponents. This success has ensured that they remain well ahead of the Wolverines, who, despite having star-studded players, still cannot escape Ohio State’s dominance. Their match-up is still far away (November 30). For Sherrone Moore, there is another test waiting in Week 4. They have to face the USC Trojans. For Moore to avoid Michigan fans missing their former Head Coach, his team must beat Lincoln Riley’s boys.