AP Top 25 risers and fallers: Oklahoma slides 15 points

The AP Top 25 poll saw multiple teams enter the rankings this week, as the Big Ten and Pac-12 entered the conversation.

However, many other teams rose and fell in the rankings, and we are here to look at who had the biggest swings in their rankings among squads that have actually taken snaps

Let’s jump into this week’s risers and fallers.

Rising: Mississippi State

Last week's ranking: Unranked. This week: 16th.

The Bulldogs entered their game with LSU as 16.5-point underdogs, but didn't matter to Mike Leach. His air raid offense was once a dangerous attack at Kentucky in the 1990s with Tim Couch at the helm, and it was successful at Texas Tech and Washington State.

But Couch never came close to the SEC-record 623 passing yards the offense put up against the Tigers, as K.J. Costello became a household name by leading Mississippi State to a 44-34 upset win.

LSU was missing numerous key players because of injury and COVID opt-outs, but the Tigers still have plenty of talent on the field. That talent was helpless to stop the passing game, as the Bulldogs threw for five touchdowns and made LSU the first defending champion to lose its opening game in more than 20 years.

Next up for Mississippi State is an Arkansas defense that allowed 266 yards passing to Georgia last weekend. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Costello at 1,000 yards for the season before the end of the third quarter.

Falling: Oklahoma

Last week: Third. This week: 18th.

The Sooners fell like a rock this week. That tends to happen when you lose as a four-touchdown favorite to an unranked opponent.

The Sooners blew a three-touchdown lead over the final 17 minutes against Kansas State. The Wildcats scored three touchdowns in the next nine minutes, and kicked a 50-yard field goal with 4:32 remaining to go ahead.

Oklahoma's fate was sealed when freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler threw his third interception of the game with 34 seconds left.

This is the second straight year the Sooners fell to Kansas State as a heavy favorite, and it might have derailed their College Football Playoff hopes before the season even fully got underway.

Rising: Miami

Last week: 12th. This week: 8th.

The Hurricanes make our list yet again this week, as they demolished rival Florida State, 52-10, on Saturday.

D’Eriq King continues to settle in. He threw for 267 yards and a pair of scores, and added another 65 yards on the ground. The Canes outscored the Noles, 24-0, in the second quarter to take a 38-3 lead into the break and cruised in the second half.

Miami had a very balanced attack, rushed for 200 yards and threw for 317 on the day, and they are averaging 43.3 points per game through three contests.

This weekend they will travel to No. 1 Clemson, with the winner likely in the driver’s seat for the ACC title.

Falling: LSU

Last week: Sixth. This week: 20th.

The Tigers have been gutted by injuries, opt-outs, and now by the pirate that is Leach.

LSU’s tight, man defense was torched for more than 600 yards passing against Mississippi State. New defensive coordinator Bo Pelini refused to adjust his coverage scheme, even while opposing wideouts ran free

Thankfully, the Tigers will get a bit of a respite this week against Vanderbilt, a team that gave Texas A&M a decent fight but is unlikely to do the same for a second week.

Whatever the result, LSU must figure things out quickly, or the season might become a very long one down in Baton Rouge.