AP Top 25 Reality Check: No Overreactions This Early, Please

Jalen Hurts will win the Heisman Trophy. The Pac-12 has been eliminated from the College Football Playoff. Nebraska is way overrated. Tennessee will be lucky to win a game this season. In fact, Georgia State might be better than half of the Southeastern Conference.

The first week of the college football season can make people a little crazy as we all struggle to keep perspective on the smallest sample size. Worse than the overreactions are the under-reactions. Shout out to the 'But it's against Houston' fun police, unimpressed by Hurts' 508 total yards (332 passing, 176 rushing) and six touchdowns in his first start for No. 4 Oklahoma.

As difficult as it is to come away from Week 1 having gained deep insight on what is to come, this opening weekend was particularly unhelpful because so few ranked teams were tested at all.

The AP Top 25 went 23-0 against unranked teams. Only three of those victories were by 10 points or fewer. The only Top 25 team to lose was Oregon, which dropped a thriller to Auburn in Week 1's only game matching ranked teams in the preseason rankings presented by Regions Bank.

The last time the Top 25 went unbeaten against unranked teams was Oct. 15, 2017, when it went 15-0. The last time there was a full regular-season week of college football in which only one ranked team lost was the week of Sept. 21, 2013.

That's a lot of good news for the Top 25. Time for a reality check.

No. 1 Clemson (1-0)

Next: vs. No. 12 Texas A&M.

Reality check: The Tigers did nothing to make anyone question their status as they head into probably their toughest stretch with the Aggies at home, followed by a road trip to No. 21 Syracuse.

Ranked? Just right.

No. 2 Alabama (1-0)

Next: vs. New Mexico State.

Reality check: The loss of LB Dylan Moses (knee) last week could be a long-term issue, but having a top-100 recruit (freshman Shane Lee) to replace him is what makes Nick Saban's machine so difficult to stop.

Ranked: Just right.

No. 3 Georgia (1-0)

Next: vs. Murray State

Reality check: The SEC East's opening week was great for the Bulldogs.

Ranked? Just right.

No. 4 Oklahoma (1-0)

Next: vs. South Dakota.

Reality check: There were some encouraging signs on defense and the Sooners still allowed 5.91 yards. Last year it was 6.13, though.

Ranked? Just right.

No. 5 Ohio State (1-0)

Next: vs. Cincinnati.

Reality check: A step up in competition should give us a better read on QB Justin Fields.

Ranked: Just right.

No. 6 LSU (1-0)

Next: at No. 9 Texas.

Reality check: The Tigers were serious about unleashing a more wide-open offense. If it plays even half as well outside of Death Valley, LSU could be a legitimate threat to Alabama instead of the pretender it has been for most of the last seven seasons.

Ranked: Just right.

No. 7 Michigan (1-0)

Next: vs. Army.

Reality check: The Wolverines' unveiling of a new offense seemed purposefully perplexing at times last week. Mess around with Army and you risk getting stuck in a clock-rolling, one-score game in the fourth quarter.

Ranked: Too high.

No. 8 Notre Dame (1-0)

Next: vs. New Mexico.

Reality check: Maybe the Irish were caught off guard by a Louisville team with a new coaching staff, but that run defense needs to get a whole lot better before Notre Dame visits Georgia on Sept. 21.

Ranked: Too high.

No. 9 Texas (1-0)

Next: vs. No. 6 LSU.

Reality check: The Longhorns' demolition of Louisiana Tech was a low-key impressive performance. The running back shortage in Austin is problematic.

Ranked? Too low.

No. 10 Auburn (1-0)

Next: vs. Tulane.

Reality check: The Tigers stole one with freshman quarterback Bo Nix. It could be the start of something big on The Plains. Or the best it gets this season. Either is possible with Auburn.

Ranked? Too low.

No. 11 Florida (1-0)

Next: vs. UT-Martin.

Reality check: The Gators didn't do much to quiet those who believe their preseason ranking is a bit much (raises hand). But they beat a real team to open the season, which is more than most of the ranked teams can say.

Ranked? Too low.

No. 12 Texas A&M (1-0)

Next: at No. 1 Clemson.

Reality check: We would hope all the Aggies believe they will beat Clemson, not just offensive lineman Jared Hocker, who called the upset.

Ranked? Just right.

No. 13 Washington (1-0)

Next: vs. California.

Reality check: The Cal secondary, led by S Jaylinn Hawkins, should help determine how seriously we should take QB Jacob Eason's eye-popping debut for the Huskies.

Ranked? Just right.

No. 14 Utah (1-0)

Next: vs. Northern Illinois.

Reality check: 220-pound Zack Moss makes the short list of most unpleasant people to tackle in college football.

Ranked? Just right.

No. 15 Penn State (1-0)

Next: vs. Buffalo.

Reality check: The Nittany Lions scored 79 points against Idaho, which may or may not be a big deal.

Ranked? Just right.

No. 16 Oregon (0-1)

Next: vs. Nevada.

Reality check: Save your hot takes about QB Justin Herbert until we see him play with someone resembling an NFL-caliber wide receiver.

Ranked? Just right.

No. 17 Wisconsin (1-0)

Next: vs. Central Michigan.

Reality check: Beware opposing defenses: The Badgers are now throwing passes to RB Jonathan Taylor. He had his first two scoring receptions against South Florida.

Ranked? Too high.

No. 18 UCF (1-0)

Next: at FAU.

Reality check: Is it asking too much of Brandon Wimbush to complete more than 52% of his passes against Florida A&M? That quarterback competition might not be closed in Orlando.

Ranked? Too high.

No. 19 Michigan State (1-0)

Next: vs. Western Michigan.

Reality check: The Spartans needed seven scoring plays to reach 28 points in their opener and only one came from the offense. Doesn't seem like much has changed from last year.

Ranked? Too high.

No. 20 Iowa (1-0)

Next: vs. Rutgers.

Reality check: If the Hawkeyes can handle Rutgers, it should set up the first meeting with rival Iowa State where both teams are ranked. That's 63 games, dating to 1899.

Ranked? Too low.

No. 21 Syracuse (1-0)

Next: at Maryland.

Reality check: With Clemson looming, the Orange need to take care of business on the road for a second straight week to set up what would be the most hyped game at the Dome since Donovan McNabb was playing quarterback for the 'Cuse.

Ranked? Just right.

No. 22 Washington State (1-0)

Next: vs. Northern Colorado.

Reality check: Introducing, Anthony Gordon. The new Cougars starting quarterback can be found right near the top of college football's leaderboard in touchdown passes (five), yards (420) and passer rating (230.8). The beat goes on for Mike Leach.

Ranked? Just right.

No. 23 Stanford (1-0)

Next: at Southern California.

Reality check: Beat Northwestern, but both QB KJ Costello and LT Walker Little were injured. The Cardinal have no leeway in the schedule over the next three weeks with USC, No. 18 UCF and No. 16 Oregon.

Ranked? Too high.

No. 24 Boise State (1-0)

Next: vs. Marshall.

Reality check: Felt like the good ol' days for the Broncos, traveling across the country to take down a traditional power.

Ranked? Too low.

No. 25 (tie) Iowa State (1-0)

Next: vs. No. 20 Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 14.

Reality check: You say the Cyclones looked nothing like a ranked team, but we say struggling to beat Northern Iowa in overtime is the perfect way for Iowa State to start a season with great expectations. Weird stuff happens in Ames, man.

Ranked? Just right.

No. 25 (tie) Nebraska (1-0)

Next: at Colorado.

Reality check: The Huskers did not look like a team poised for a breakout, which many voters are banking on.

Ranked? Too high.

Instead of Nebraska, how about Oklahoma State.