Tide makes a statement; Buckeyes get Urban bump

Breaking down the AP college football poll after Week 1 of the regular season.

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MAKING A STATEMENT

After a close preseason vote left Southern California No. 1, just ahead of Alabama and LSU, the Crimson Tide separated itself from the pack by taking apart Michigan 41-14 on Saturday in Texas.

USC fans are no doubt wondering just how badly the Trojans needed to beat Hawaii to keep the top ranking. USC won 49-10 at home as heavy favorites. But hold the outrage. No. 1 winning and falling is fairly common. It’s happened 86 times in the 76-year history of the poll, and every year since 2007 _ including in 2008 when USC jumped preseason No. 1 Georgia after the first week of the season.

So for those ready to scream SEC bias, relax.

The Tide plays Western Kentucky this week, so it seems safe to say that Nick Saban’s crew will go to No. 8 Arkansas on Sept. 15 undefeated _ if not the No. 1 team in the country.

The last time Alabama was No. 1 during the regular season was October 2010. Last year, Alabama didn’t reach No. 1 until it mattered most. At the end.

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MOVING UP:

Sure it was only Miami, Ohio, but Ohio State’s 56-10 victory in Urban Meyer’s first game as coach was enough to boost the Buckeyes four spots in the poll to No. 18.

Buckeyes fans have been plotting Big Ten domination since Meyer took the job in December, assuming that it will begin next season when Ohio State gets sprung from the NCAA penalty box.

Why wait? Quarterback Braxton Miller (161 yards rushing, 207 passing) looks as if he was born to run Meyer’s spread offense. Surely, there are already Buckeyes fans wondering if their team can finish the season unbeaten and No. 1 in the AP poll, whose panel can vote for teams on probation.

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MOVING DOWN

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