(BCSNN) -- Some things never change, and you can count the disrespect of AP voters for teams from The American, as one of those constants. The AP released its Top 25 College Football Poll for Week 3 on Sunday, and while the top five remained mostly unchanged — with No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 LSU, and No. 5 Miami all holding firm — the middle of the rankings saw notable movement. Oregon climbed two spots to No. 4 after a 69–3 throttling of Oklahoma State, while Michigan fell eight places to No. 23, after that surprise loss to Oklahoma.
Florida and Arizona State dropped out the poll entirely after upset losses, and Tennessee rose to No. 15 after setting a program scoring record in a 72–17 win over ETSU.
But amid the reshuffling, one team’s ranking feels conspicuously low: No. 18 South Florida. The Bulls are 2–0 with wins over two ranked opponents — No. 25 Boise State and No. 13 Florida — and possess arguably the most impressive resume of any team outside the top 10. Their 18–16 road win in Gainesville wasn’t just a gritty upset; it was a showcase of poise, physicality, and clutch execution in one of the SEC’s most hostile environments. Just ask Mississippi State, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and LSU - all SEC teams that lost in Gainesville last season.
South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown has shown he can manage the game, and handle the pressure when it's all on his shoulders, accounting for two key rushing touchdowns against Boise State. USF’s defense forced five fumbles in Week 1, recovering three of those, and held Florida to just 16 points despite multiple short field situations. Kicker Nico Gramatica drilled the game-winning field goal with seconds remaining, and head coach Alex Golesh’s aggressive play-calling — including a successful fake punt — helped to flip the momentum in both contests.
Let me do the math for you here, folks: Good Offense + Good Defense + Good Special Teams + Successful and Aggressive Coaching + Ranked Wins + Undefeated = Sure AF Better Than No. 18
The Bulls sit behind multiple one-loss "Power Four" teams, and just one spot ahead of No. 18 Alabama, which was blown out by Florida State in Week 1. Even more puzzling, South Florida trails teams like Notre Dame and Clemson, who have yet to notch a win over a ranked opponent. Somehow, 0-1 Notre Dame climbed a spot to No. 8 while sitting at home without a win or opponent this past weekend. If the AP poll is meant to reflect performance, not pedigree, then voters should try voting for teams that have proven it on the field with of all things, performance.
Other programs deserving some more upward movement include No. 20 Utah, which has outscored opponents 106-19, and No. 22 Indiana, whose offense has quietly averaged 41.5 points per game. Meanwhile, we've got a handful of teams that start every season in the Top 10, so to put it simply, there's no room for the teams that actually deserve spots.
South Florida has a chance to climb further with upcoming matchups against No. 5 Miami, and several contenders in The American Conference that are also vying for a coveted spot in the College Football Playoff. But if voters are waiting for a third ranked win to take the Bulls seriously, they’re missing the point. Through two weeks, no team has done more to earn national respect — and it’s time the rankings reflected that.
