You probably weren’t expecting that headline after Penn State lost its first game of the season on Saturday.
A week ago, I wrote that Penn State rose to #2 in the SRS after blowing out Michigan. Now, this week, Penn State is #1 after losing on Saturday? What happened?
#1 Alabama was idle this week, but Penn State had as good a loss as you can get. The Nittany Lions had an SRS rating of 68.2 last week, and only dropped to 67.6 this week. That’s because Penn State lost by 1 point, on the road, to an Ohio State team that ranks 3rd in the SRS. But the real issue is that Alabama dropped significantly, by 3.5 points from week 8 to 9, despite not playing.
How? Alabama is 8-0 with zero of those wins coming against teams that rank in the top 45 in the SRS. Four of those wins have come against terrible SEC teams that rank outside of the top 70 in the SRS in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Vanderbilt. The other four wins came against Florida State, Fresno State, Texas A&M, and Colorado St.
FSU lost 35-3 to Boston College this weekend, causing the Seminoles to drop from 51.1 to 44.5 in the SRS, a -6.6 point drop.
Fresno State lost 26-16 to a terrible UNLV team, causing west coast FSU to drop from 49.5 to 43.4, a -6.1 SRS point drop.
The Aggies lost 35-14 to Mississippi State, dropping Texas A&M by 3.9 points, from 46.2 to 42.3 in the SRS.
And Colorado State lost at home to Air Force by 17 points; that led to a 4.4 point SRS drop, from 43.4 to 39.0.
A week ago, Alabama’s SOS was 42.6 points; that was a little weak, but overwhelmed by the Crimson Tide’s dominance. Now? The average Alabama opponent has a 39.1 SRS rating, and that 3.5-point drop was enough to move Alabama from #1 to #4 in the SRS. It’s weird for sure to see Alabama drop this far, but look at the big picture: the Crimson Tide haven’t faced an opponent in the top 45 of the SRS, and their three best wins are against #48 Florida State, #50 Fresno State, and #58 Texas A&M.
The full week 9 SRS ratings are below. As always thanks to Dr. Peter R. Wolfe for providing the weekly game logs.
| Rk | Team | Conf | Div | Conf Rk | G | MOV | SOS | SRS | REC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penn State | B10 | B10-East | 1 | 8 | 21.8 | 45.8 | 67.6 | 7-1 |
| 2 | Notre Dame | IND | Ind | 1 | 8 | 21.3 | 46.3 | 67.6 | 7-1 |
| 3 | Ohio State | B10 | B10-East | 2 | 8 | 21.6 | 45.3 | 66.9 | 7-1 |
| 4 | Alabama | SEC | SEC-West | 1 | 8 | 26.3 | 39.1 | 65.3 | 8-0 |
| 5 | Georgia | SEC | SEC-East | 2 | 8 | 23.6 | 41.4 | 64.9 | 8-0 |
| 6 | Clemson | ACC | ACC-Atl | 1 | 8 | 16.7 | 47.1 | 63.8 | 7-1 |
| 7 | Central Florida | Amer | Amer-East | 1 | 7 | 26.6 | 34.9 | 61.5 | 7-0 |
| 8 | Washington | P12 | P12-North | 1 | 8 | 22.4 | 37.9 | 60.3 | 7-1 |
| 9 | Oklahoma St | B12 | B12 | 1 | 8 | 17.4 | 42.1 | 59.6 | 7-1 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | B12 | B12 | 2 | 8 | 15.2 | 43.6 | 58.8 | 7-1 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | B10 | B10-West | 3 | 8 | 19.6 | 39 | 58.5 | 8-0 |
| 12 | Virginia Tech | ACC | ACC-Coas | 2 | 8 | 18.9 | 38.9 | 57.7 | 7-1 |
| 13 | TCU | B12 | B12 | 3 | 8 | 19.3 | 38.1 | 57.3 | 7-1 |
| 14 | Iowa St | B12 | B12 | 4 | 8 | 11.8 | 45.5 | 57.3 | 6-2 |
| 15 | Auburn | SEC | SEC-West | 3 | 8 | 16.8 | 39.5 | 56.2 | 6-2 |
| 16 | Mississippi St | SEC | SEC-West | 4 | 8 | 14.1 | 40.7 | 54.8 | 6-2 |
| 17 | North Carolina St | ACC | ACC-Atl | 3 | 8 | 8 | 45.6 | 53.6 | 6-2 |
| 18 | Miami FL | ACC | ACC-Coas | 4 | 7 | 13.1 | 40.5 | 53.5 | 7-0 |
| 19 | Southern Cal | P12 | P12-South | 2 | 9 | 7.6 | 45.7 | 53.3 | 7-2 |
| 20 | Georgia Tech | ACC | ACC-Coas | 5 | 7 | 7.9 | 45.1 | 52.9 | 4-3 |
| 21 | Michigan | B10 | B10-East | 4 | 8 | 8.1 | 44.7 | 52.9 | 6-2 |
| 22 | Texas | B12 | B12 | 5 | 8 | 7.6 | 44.9 | 52.5 | 4-4 |
| 23 | Stanford | P12 | P12-North | 3 | 8 | 12.3 | 39.6 | 51.9 | 6-2 |
| 24 | Iowa | B10 | B10-West | 5 | 8 | 6.3 | 45.2 | 51.4 | 5-3 |
| 25 | Arizona | P12 | P12-South | 4 | 8 | 12.1 | 38.6 | 50.6 | 6-2 |
| 26 | Michigan St | B10 | B10-East | 6 | 8 | 3.9 | 46.2 | 50.1 | 6-2 |
| 27 | Wake Forest | ACC | ACC-Atl | 6 | 8 | 8.6 | 41.2 | 49.8 | 5-3 |
| 28 | Washington St | P12 | P12-North | 5 | 9 | 9.4 | 40.1 | 49.5 | 7-2 |
| 29 | Texas Tech | B12 | B12 | 6 | 8 | 3.3 | 45.4 | 48.6 | 4-4 |
| 30 | Boston College | ACC | ACC-Atl | 7 | 9 | -0.8 | 49.1 | 48.3 | 5-4 |
| 31 | Northwestern | B10 | B10-West | 7 | 8 | 2.4 | 45.8 | 48.1 | 5-3 |
| 32 | South Florida | Amer | Amer-East | 2 | 8 | 17.4 | 30.4 | 47.8 | 7-1 |
| 33 | Oregon | P12 | P12-North | 6 | 9 | 4.7 | 42.7 | 47.4 | 5-4 |
| 34 | Toledo | MAC | MAC-West | 1 | 8 | 14.1 | 33 | 47.1 | 7-1 |
| 35 | Purdue | B10 | B10-West | 8 | 8 | 2.3 | 44.4 | 46.8 | 3-5 |
| 36 | Navy | Amer | Amer-West | 3 | 7 | 4.6 | 42 | 46.6 | 5-2 |
| 37 | West Virginia | B12 | B12 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 37.6 | 46.6 | 5-3 |
| 38 | LSU | SEC | SEC-West | 5 | 8 | 7.6 | 38.5 | 46.1 | 6-2 |
| 39 | Memphis | Amer | Amer-West | 4 | 8 | 7.3 | 38.8 | 46.1 | 7-1 |
| 40 | Louisville | ACC | ACC-Atl | 8 | 9 | 4.5 | 41.4 | 45.9 | 5-4 |
| 41 | Boise St | MWC | MWC-Mntn | 1 | 8 | 8.9 | 36.9 | 45.7 | 6-2 |
| 42 | San Diego St | MWC | MWC-West | 2 | 9 | 5.8 | 38.9 | 44.7 | 7-2 |
| 43 | UCLA | P12 | P12-South | 7 | 8 | -0.6 | 45.3 | 44.7 | 4-4 |
| 44 | Indiana | B10 | B10-East | 9 | 8 | 0.2 | 44.4 | 44.6 | 3-5 |
| 45 | South Carolina | SEC | SEC-East | 6 | 8 | 5.9 | 38.7 | 44.6 | 6-2 |
| 46 | Syracuse | ACC | ACC-Atl | 9 | 8 | 2.8 | 41.8 | 44.5 | 4-4 |
| 47 | Arizona St | P12 | P12-South | 8 | 8 | -2.4 | 46.9 | 44.5 | 4-4 |
| 48 | Florida St | ACC | ACC-Atl | 10 | 7 | -6.6 | 51.1 | 44.5 | 2-5 |
| 49 | Florida Atlantic | CUSA | CUSA-East | 1 | 8 | 10.5 | 33.3 | 43.8 | 5-3 |
| 50 | Fresno St | MWC | MWC-West | 3 | 8 | 8.8 | 34.7 | 43.4 | 5-3 |
| 51 | SMU | Amer | Amer-West | 5 | 8 | 9.6 | 33.9 | 43.4 | 6-2 |
| 52 | Kansas St | B12 | B12 | 8 | 8 | 4.9 | 38.4 | 43.3 | 4-4 |
| 53 | Maryland | B10 | B10-East | 10 | 8 | -5.8 | 48.7 | 42.9 | 4-4 |
| 54 | Houston | Amer | Amer-West | 6 | 8 | 2.9 | 40 | 42.9 | 5-3 |
| 55 | Minnesota | B10 | B10-West | 11 | 8 | 4.4 | 38.4 | 42.8 | 4-4 |
| 56 | Pittsburgh | ACC | ACC-Coas | 11 | 9 | -3 | 45.7 | 42.7 | 4-5 |
| 57 | California | P12 | P12-North | 9 | 9 | -2.6 | 45.2 | 42.6 | 4-5 |
| 58 | Texas A&M | SEC | SEC-West | 7 | 8 | 1.8 | 40.5 | 42.3 | 5-3 |
| 59 | Northern Illinois | MAC | MAC-West | 2 | 8 | 8.9 | 33.2 | 42.2 | 6-2 |
| 60 | Nebraska | B10 | B10-West | 12 | 8 | -3.4 | 45.5 | 42.2 | 4-4 |
| 61 | Duke | ACC | ACC-Coas | 12 | 9 | 1.2 | 40.4 | 41.6 | 4-5 |
| 62 | Utah | P12 | P12-South | 10 | 8 | 2.2 | 38.3 | 40.5 | 4-4 |
| 63 | Marshall | CUSA | CUSA-East | 2 | 8 | 10.6 | 29.7 | 40.4 | 6-2 |
| 64 | Florida | SEC | SEC-East | 8 | 7 | -4.9 | 45.2 | 40.3 | 3-4 |
| 65 | Ohio U. | MAC | MAC-East | 3 | 8 | 12.1 | 27.5 | 39.6 | 6-2 |
| 66 | Colorado | P12 | P12-South | 11 | 9 | 1.4 | 37.8 | 39.3 | 5-4 |
| 67 | Air Force | MWC | MWC-Mntn | 4 | 8 | 5.1 | 34 | 39.1 | 4-4 |
| 68 | Colorado St | MWC | MWC-Mntn | 5 | 9 | 5.9 | 33.2 | 39 | 6-3 |
| 69 | Virginia | ACC | ACC-Coas | 13 | 8 | 0.9 | 37.6 | 38.5 | 5-3 |
| 70 | Western Michigan | MAC | MAC-West | 4 | 8 | 6.6 | 31.5 | 38.1 | 5-3 |
| 71 | Kentucky | SEC | SEC-East | 9 | 8 | 1.1 | 36.8 | 37.9 | 6-2 |
| 72 | Tennessee | SEC | SEC-East | 10 | 8 | -4.7 | 42.3 | 37.6 | 3-5 |
| 73 | Tulane | Amer | Amer-West | 7 | 8 | -2.1 | 39.6 | 37.5 | 3-5 |
| 74 | Arkansas St | SUN | Sun | 1 | 7 | 15.1 | 22.2 | 37.3 | 5-2 |
| 75 | Army | IND | Ind | 2 | 8 | 7.1 | 30.3 | 37.3 | 6-2 |
| 76 | Rutgers | B10 | B10-East | 13 | 8 | -4.4 | 41.6 | 37.2 | 3-5 |
| 77 | Wyoming | MWC | MWC-Mntn | 6 | 8 | 5.1 | 31.8 | 36.8 | 5-3 |
| 78 | Missouri | SEC | SEC-East | 11 | 8 | -2.4 | 38.9 | 36.5 | 3-5 |
| 79 | Troy | SUN | Sun | 2 | 8 | 8.4 | 27.5 | 35.9 | 6-2 |
| 80 | Mississippi | SEC | SEC-West | 12 | 8 | -4.9 | 40.7 | 35.8 | 3-5 |
| 81 | Eastern Michigan | MAC | MAC-West | 5 | 8 | -1.3 | 37 | 35.7 | 2-6 |
| 82 | Buffalo | MAC | MAC-East | 6 | 9 | 0.2 | 35.1 | 35.3 | 3-6 |
| 83 | Arkansas | SEC | SEC-West | 13 | 8 | -6.9 | 42 | 35.2 | 3-5 |
| 84 | Utah St | MWC | MWC-Mntn | 7 | 9 | -0.8 | 35.9 | 35.1 | 4-5 |
| 85 | North Carolina | ACC | ACC-Coas | 14 | 9 | -12.1 | 46.9 | 34.8 | 1-8 |
| 86 | Vanderbilt | SEC | SEC-East | 14 | 8 | -5.8 | 40.4 | 34.6 | 3-5 |
| 87 | Tulsa | Amer | Amer-West | 8 | 9 | -4.9 | 38.7 | 33.8 | 2-7 |
| 88 | Miami OH | MAC | MAC-East | 7 | 8 | -1 | 34.6 | 33.6 | 3-5 |
| 89 | Akron | MAC | MAC-East | 8 | 9 | -1.6 | 34.9 | 33.4 | 5-4 |
| 90 | Texas-San Antonio | CUSA | CUSA-West | 3 | 7 | 12.7 | 20.3 | 33 | 5-2 |
| 91 | Appalachian St | SUN | Sun | 3 | 8 | 5.5 | 27.3 | 32.8 | 5-3 |
| 92 | Cincinnati | Amer | Amer-East | 9 | 8 | -11.3 | 43.7 | 32.5 | 2-6 |
| 93 | Louisiana Tech | CUSA | CUSA-West | 4 | 8 | 2.8 | 29.3 | 32.1 | 4-4 |
| 94 | Central Michigan | MAC | MAC-West | 9 | 8 | -2 | 33.9 | 31.9 | 4-4 |
| 95 | Temple | Amer | Amer-East | 10 | 8 | -5 | 36.9 | 31.9 | 3-5 |
| 96 | UNLV | MWC | MWC-West | 8 | 8 | -3.8 | 35.7 | 31.9 | 3-5 |
| 97 | North Texas | CUSA | CUSA-West | 5 | 8 | -0.6 | 31.3 | 30.8 | 5-3 |
| 98 | Southern Miss | CUSA | CUSA-West | 6 | 8 | 4.5 | 25.5 | 30 | 5-3 |
| 99 | Nevada | MWC | MWC-West | 9 | 8 | -9.2 | 39 | 29.8 | 1-7 |
| 100 | New Mexico | MWC | MWC-Mntn | 10 | 8 | -5.2 | 34.7 | 29.5 | 3-5 |
| 101 | Florida Int'l | CUSA | CUSA-East | 7 | 7 | -1.4 | 30.8 | 29.4 | 5-2 |
| 102 | Baylor | B12 | B12 | 9 | 8 | -14.6 | 43.9 | 29.3 | 0-8 |
| 103 | Middle Tennessee St | CUSA | CUSA-East | 8 | 8 | -7.3 | 35.7 | 28.4 | 3-5 |
| 104 | New Mexico St | SUN | Sun | 4 | 8 | -2.1 | 30.5 | 28.3 | 3-5 |
| 105 | Illinois | B10 | B10-West | 14 | 8 | -12.3 | 40.3 | 28 | 2-6 |
| 106 | Western Kentucky | CUSA | CUSA-East | 9 | 8 | 3.3 | 23.4 | 26.6 | 5-3 |
| 107 | South Alabama | SUN | Sun | 5 | 8 | -3.3 | 29.6 | 26.3 | 3-5 |
| 108 | Georgia St | SUN | Sun | 6 | 7 | -2.5 | 28.6 | 26.1 | 4-3 |
| 109 | UAB | CUSA | CUSA-West | 10 | 8 | 4.6 | 21.1 | 25.7 | 5-3 |
| 110 | Brigham Young | IND | Ind | 3 | 9 | -11.6 | 36.4 | 24.9 | 2-7 |
| 111 | Hawai`i | MWC | MWC-West | 11 | 8 | -7.8 | 32.4 | 24.6 | 3-5 |
| 112 | Oregon St | P12 | P12-North | 12 | 8 | -18.9 | 43.1 | 24.3 | 1-7 |
| 113 | Massachusetts | IND | Ind | 4 | 8 | -3 | 27.2 | 24.2 | 2-6 |
| 114 | Bowling Green | MAC | MAC-East | 10 | 8 | -15.7 | 39.9 | 24.2 | 1-7 |
| 115 | Kansas | B12 | B12 | 10 | 8 | -18.9 | 42.7 | 23.8 | 1-7 |
| 116 | Louisiana-Monroe | SUN | Sun | 7 | 8 | -1.4 | 24.7 | 23.3 | 3-5 |
| 117 | Idaho | SUN | Sun | 8 | 8 | -6.1 | 29.3 | 23.3 | 3-5 |
| 118 | East Carolina | Amer | Amer-East | 11 | 8 | -19.3 | 42.3 | 23 | 2-6 |
| 119 | Connecticut | Amer | Amer-East | 12 | 8 | -10.9 | 33.2 | 22.3 | 3-5 |
| 120 | Old Dominion | CUSA | CUSA-East | 11 | 8 | -12.9 | 35.1 | 22.2 | 2-6 |
| 121 | Kent St | MAC | MAC-East | 11 | 8 | -18.3 | 39.8 | 21.6 | 2-6 |
| 122 | Louisiana-Lafayette | SUN | Sun | 9 | 7 | -8.8 | 28.1 | 19.3 | 3-4 |
| 123 | Rice | CUSA | CUSA-West | 12 | 8 | -17.8 | 35.3 | 17.6 | 1-7 |
| 124 | UNC-Charlotte | CUSA | CUSA-East | 13 | 8 | -15.4 | 32 | 16.6 | 1-7 |
| 125 | Ball St | MAC | MAC-West | 12 | 8 | -14 | 30.1 | 16.1 | 2-6 |
| 126 | San José St | MWC | MWC-West | 12 | 9 | -20.3 | 35.4 | 15.1 | 1-8 |
| 127 | Georgia Southern | SUN | Sun | 10 | 7 | -20.6 | 35.7 | 15 | 0-7 |
| 128 | Coastal Car. | SUN | Sun | 11 | 8 | -13.5 | 27.6 | 14.1 | 1-7 |
| 129 | UTEP | CUSA | CUSA-West | 14 | 8 | -21.9 | 35.3 | 13.4 | 0-8 |
| 130 | Texas St-San Marcos | SUN | Sun | 12 | 8 | -12.4 | 25 | 12.6 | 2-6 |