Each week, the Sports' editorial team selects its Top 25 FBS college football teams for the Student Media Poll.
The SMP is a nationwide poll featuring 97 student journalists from schools nationwide.
The Post Sports will break down its ballots each week. Here are the top five, those dropped from the Top 25 and those added.
Robert Keegan III, sports editor
Top Five
Texas
Ohio State
Georgia
Alabama
Tennessee
Who I dropped: Nebraska, Kansas State, Syracuse, Texas A&M
Nebraska, Kansas State and Syracuse all lost over the weekend, leaving them without a top 25 spot. Syracuse likely had the worst of the three losses, losing to Stanford on its home turf in New York.
Kansas State falls the furthest for me after being a top 20 team last week. The Wildcats were beyond outplayed on the road against a BYU team I don’t believe to actually be very good.
Texas A&M is the only team that falls out of my top 25 despite getting the win over the weekend. The Aggies continue to struggle on their home turf at Kyle Field, almost losing a close one against Bowling Green.
Who I added: SMU, Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan
It was a dramatic week of college football, which led to some pretty major shuffling of everyone's top 25. We saw quite a few ranked losses on Friday and Saturday, leaving the door open for a couple of schools that have had good starts to the year to join the top 25.
Illinois had one of the better wins over the weekend, taking down previously ranked opponent Nebraska. It took overtime for Illinois to get the win, but it came out on top in what was one of the best games of the weekend.
Michigan didn’t have the prettiest win of the weekend, but it did have the most impressive. I was one of many who thought Michigan didn’t stand a chance against USC to open Big Ten play, but I was wrong. The Wolverines are finally beginning to look like the team that won the national championship last season.
Logan Adams, sports editor
Top Five
Texas
Ohio State
Georgia
Alabama
Tennessee
Who I dropped: Nebraska, Memphis
Nebraska was just on the wrong end of an experienced and hungry Illinois team who fought until the very end, making huge, clutch plays, even forcing a 3rd and 42 for true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola to finish off overtime.
Memphis, who was an addition to my top 25 just last week, gave up 56 points to Navy, who only needed 14 passing attempts to score 21 points in two separate quarters. Although the Tigers scored 44 points of their own, a defensive performance like that is worthy of a boot out the back of the top 25.
Who I added: Iowa State, Illinois
After a flip-floppy week at the bottom of the poll, I really didn’t know where to go with the two teams I had to replace. Ultimately, I turned to two teams that just narrowly missed the cut. Iowa State had a dominant game against a reasonably competent Arizona State team, utilizing its full offensive depth as nine receivers were at the end of catches and eight rushers recorded at least four carries.
Illinois has been dominant throughout the start of its season, taking care of business against a Nebraska team in overtime that has been playing relatively great and non-dramatic football to start the year. The Fighting Illini have dominated the rest of their schedule this far, and have been overdue for a spot on my list.
Charlie Fadel, sports staff writer
Top Five
Texas
Georgia
Ohio State
Alabama
Tennessee
Who I dropped: Nebraska, Northern Illinois
The Cornhuskers could find their way back into the top 25, but this week they have to be dropped after a brutal overtime loss for the Husker faithful. Nebraska as a program is still showing great signs of improvement under Matt Rhule and Dylan Raiola, and it should be back in the polls eventually.
As for the Huskies, the Cinderella story ended fairly quickly after the new media darlings of college football lost their first game since shocking the Fighting Irish in Week Two, losing to Buffalo in overtime as well. This loss spells the doom of playoff hopes for both the Huskies and the entire Mid-American Conference.
Who I added: BYU, Illinois
Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, was rocking Saturday night, and rightfully so as the crowd in Provo was treated to a 38-9 beatdown of No. 23 Kansas State. The Wildcats outgained the Cougars in this matchup, but turnovers and a back-breaking 93-yard punt return touchdown is what ultimately sunk Kansas State. BYU will face another tough test against Baylor this week in Waco, Texas, but it will certainly have some needed confidence after the statement win this past weekend.
Illinois showed some signs of being a very good football team early this season, but Friday night was the coming-out party for Bret Bielema and his team. Illinois walked into a sea of red in Lincoln, Nebraska, and walked out with a gritty overtime win. Quarterback Luke Altmyer had a great game, throwing for 215 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime.
