Bob Asmussen of The New-Gazette has voted in the Associated Press Top 25 college football poll since 2009. Here are his thoughts after the release of Monday's poll:
WHO'S UP
Illinois. What do you know? The rest of the voters much have followed my lead (I'm kidding). Or Illinois coach Bret Bielema convinced them his team was poll worthy (possible). The best news for Illinois is that by being ranked, it is now part of the national conversation. When the scores scroll across the bottom of the screen, recruits and fans will see "Illinois" listed. That's a line every college football program wants to be on. The next two weeks are testers for Illinois, with trips to both Nebraska and No. 10 Penn State. The Nittany Lions have a gimme this week against Kent State and will be 3-0 when the Illini arrive on Sept. 28. Get past Nebraska and Penn State and Illinois will likely be 6-0 when Michigan comes to town for the Red Grange game. I'm giving Illinois the Oct. 12 matchup with struggling Purdue.
WHO'S DOWN
Georgia. Didn't see this one coming. Bulldogs actually looked human during Saturday's trip to Kentucky, rallying for a one-point win. So the team some suggested might be one of the best in recent years appears to have flaws.Could be all the talent Georgia has lost to the NFL. Yes, Kirby Smart is recruiting at a high level, but it takes time to get everybody ready to go and not every five-star prospect pans out. Plus, Georgia is getting everyone's best shot. Young guys don't always rise to the moment. The pressure is a burden on players who have much more on their plate today than players did say 20 years ago. Kentucky has especially been a pain for Kentucky this decade, holding the Bulldogs to 20 points or less three times. Weird. The best news for Georgia is it has the week off to regroup. The worrisome news is that a trip to Alabama comes next.
WHO I'M WATCHING
No. 11 Southern California at No. 18 Michigan (2:30 p.m., Saturday, CBS). I hesitate to put a Big Ten game in this space after telling you to watch Alabama-Wisconsin last week). Maybe Michigan, which bounced back from a lopsided loss to Texas with a win against Arkansas State. This is not the dominant national champion team from a year ago. New coach Sherrone Moore is finding and Michigan will finish with a good record. Lincoln Riley and the Trojans are making waves in their first Big Ten season. If you tell me Southern Cal will play for the conference title, I won't argue. Losing Caleb Williams to the NFL wasn't devastating because Riley had another guy ready to go. The changes on defense are working, making Southern Cal a more balanced team. I like its chance to make the College Football Playoff.