AP College Football Poll: Badgers and Broncos beaten for first time, drop in rankings

Another week, and another top-10 unbeaten falls. This time it’s Wisconsin.

After losing to 30-point-underdog Illinois, 24-23, the Badgers dropped from No. 6 to 13th overall and from third to 12th on my ballot in the Associated Press College Football Poll.

Wisconsin lacked a knockout punch after never trailing and going ahead 20-7 early in the third quarter. If anything, it punched itself out.

On its last four possessions, the Badgers missed a field goal, settled for a field goal after first and goal on the Illini 5, lost a fumble and, finally, threw an interception. You’d think a team with a Heisman Trophy candidate at running back would be better at closing out.

This Saturday, Wisconsin plays Ohio State. The Buckeyes remained unbeaten — and unchallenged — with a 52-3 blowout of Northwestern on Friday.

Another upset in the Top 25 knocked another team from the unbeaten ranks. BYU, with freshman walk-on Baylor Romney making his first start at quarterback, held on to beat Boise State 28-25. The Broncos fell from No. 14 to 22, and the loss might have cost the Mountain West Conference a lucrative New Year’s Day bowl game.

Big games this week include No. 9 Auburn at No. 2 LSU (which was still No. 1 on my ballot this week), and No. 8 Notre Dame at No. 19 Michigan.

The absence of star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa due to a high ankle sprain probably won’t hurt the overall AP No. 1, Alabama, this Saturday. Backup Mac Jones and the Tide opened as 33.5-point favorites against Arkansas at Tuscaloosa.
Home and away usually means a lot when Hawaii plays. But this is odd: UH is favored by 11-1/2 on the road at New Mexico after losing by 30 at home to Air Force.

Here’s the entire AP poll (last week’s ranking in parentheses):
1. Alabama 1)
2. LSU (2)
3. Ohio State (4)
4. Clemson (3)
5. Oklahoma (5)
6. Penn State (7)
7. Florida (9)
8. Notre Dame (8)
9. Auburn (11)
10. Georgia (10)
11. Oregon (12)
12. Utah (13)
13. Wisconsin (6)
14. Baylor (18)
15. Texas (15)
16. SMU (19)
17. Minnesota (20)
18. Cincinnati (21)
19. Michigan (16)
20. Iowa (23)
21. Appalachian State (24)
22. Boise State (14)
23. Iowa State (NR)
24. Arizona State (17)
25. Wake Forest (NR)
Others receiving votes: Memphis 87, Virginia 29, San Diego State 17, Pittsburgh 17, Washington 15, Navy 9, Texas A&M 6, Missouri 4, UCF 3, USC 3, Louisiana Tech 2, Tulane 1

Here’s the ballot I submitted:
1. LSU (1)
2. Alabama (2)
3. Oklahoma (4)
4. Clemson (5)
5. Ohio State (6)
6. Florida (7)
7. Penn State (9)
8. Georgia (10)
9. Notre Dame (8)
10. Auburn (11)
11. Oregon (13)
12. Wisconsin (3)
13. Utah (19)
14. Baylor (16)
15. Minnesota (18)
16. Michigan (12)
17. Texas (17)
18. SMU (20)
19. Appalachian State (21)
20. Cincinnati (23)
21. Arizona State (15)
22. Memphis (NR)
23. Boise State (14)
24. Navy (NR)
25. LaTech (25)
Dropped out: Tulane (22), Missouri (24)