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It’s not often that a highly anticipated game lives up to the hype, but college football fans have been treated to two consecutive weeks of thrilling matchups that have shaken up the rankings. Last week, Oklahoma secured a last-second victory over Texas, and this week, Washington emerged victorious over Oregon with a late fourth-down stop and a touchdown, sealing the win as time expired. Prior to this game, Washington had been dominating its opponents, but critics were quick to point out that they hadn’t faced any noteworthy teams. However, in this crucial game, Washington, led by quarterback Michael Penix Jr., proved their worth and claimed the top spot in this week’s Athletic 133 rankings.
Penix’s outstanding performance in the game also propelled him to the forefront of the Heisman Trophy race, supported by a talented group of wide receivers. Despite facing some challenges, including injuries to their offensive line, Washington developed a solid game plan and their defense came through with crucial stops, holding Oregon scoreless on all three fourth-down attempts.
This victory over Oregon is one of the top three wins of the season, alongside Texas’ win over Alabama and Oklahoma’s win over Texas. Furthermore, Washington’s strong performances throughout the season, including a recent win against Arizona, solidify their position at the top for now. However, there are still many exciting top-10 matchups to come this year.
In addition to Washington’s rise to the top spot, there have been a few other changes in this week’s Athletic 133 rankings. Michigan has jumped ahead of Penn State to claim the seventh spot, as their dominant performances outweigh Penn State’s questionable wins. North Carolina also enters the top 10 after defeating Miami. The comparison between Washington and Georgia led to the Bulldogs securing the fourth spot due to their blowout win against Kentucky. Additionally, the upcoming matchup between Ohio State and Penn State will have significant implications for both teams.
Notable moves outside of the top 10 include Oregon dropping to the 11th spot after their close loss to Washington, and Oregon State rising to the 12th spot following their victory over UCLA. Louisville remains at the 13th spot despite losing to Pitt, as their previous win against Notre Dame still holds weight. The rankings for the remaining teams reflect their performances and the outcomes of their recent games.