College Football Rankings: Arizona State and Cincinnati Rise, USC and Oklahoma Fall

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
14/10/2024 19h16

**Significant Movement in CBS Sports 134 Rankings: Arizona State and Cincinnati Surge, USC and Oklahoma Slide**

In the latest update to the CBS Sports 134 college football rankings, several teams experienced notable shifts, with Arizona State and Cincinnati making significant climbs while USC and Oklahoma saw considerable drops.

Arizona State, now ranked No. 27, saw a substantial boost following their Friday night victory over Utah. This win propelled Kenny Dillingham's squad to a 5-1 overall record, exceeding preseason expectations set by oddsmakers (4.5 wins). The Sun Devils' only blemish is a close eight-point loss on the road to a strong Texas Tech team, which also stands at 5-1. This impressive start positions Arizona State firmly in the Big 12 title chase.

Cincinnati, positioned at No. 54, also made a substantial leap after returning from an off-week to secure a hard-fought road win against UCF. The Bearcats, now 4-2 at the midpoint of the season, showcased a solid defensive performance, holding the Knights' offense in check. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby has proven to be a significant upgrade, helping Cincinnati bounce back from a 3-9 record in their Big 12 debut last season and setting them on a potential path to a bowl game.

Wisconsin climbed 14 spots to No. 46 after back-to-back dominant performances, including a convincing win over Rutgers. The Badgers have outscored their last two conference opponents 96-13, signaling a significant improvement as they prepare to face Northwestern in Week 8.

Vanderbilt, moving up 10 places to No. 28, continues to impress with consecutive victories over Alabama and Kentucky. The Commodores showcased versatility, securing a lower-scoring win against the Wildcats last Saturday. This marked some of the best football seen during the Clark Lea era.

Conversely, USC fell 11 spots to No. 39 as the weight of their season-opening win against LSU diminishes with each subsequent loss. Despite a strong performance against Penn State, the Trojans couldn't secure the victory, leaving them with a 3-3 overall record and just one conference win.

Oklahoma's offensive struggles against tougher defenses have resulted in a 12-spot drop to No. 36. The Sooners, now facing a challenging remaining schedule with four AP Top 20 teams, urgently need to regain momentum starting with their Week 8 game against South Carolina.

Rutgers experienced the most dramatic decline, plummeting 16 places to No. 51 following a blowout loss at home to Wisconsin. This defeat was a setback for a team looking to make significant strides this season, effectively dampening the positive momentum from earlier wins against Virginia Tech and Washington.

Lastly, Utah dropped 18 spots to No. 38 after a disappointing performance by quarterback Cam Rising, who threw three interceptions in his return. The Utes, now 4-2, face an uphill battle to remain in contention for the Big 12 title as envisioned during the preseason.

These shifts in the CBS Sports 134 rankings reflect the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of college football as teams navigate the highs and lows of their seasons.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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