The Oregon Ducks, currently perched at No. 2 in the AP Poll, endured a nail‑biting victory over the Boise State Broncos on Saturday, surviving a second close call in three seasons.
Boise State entered the contest as a 24.5‑point underdog yet managed to garner the third‑most votes among teams outside the preseason top 25, underscoring the surprise value of their performance.
Early‑Season AP Poll Dynamics
With only a handful of marquee matchups scheduled for Week 1, analysts expect the Ducks to retain their top‑two position, though a modest slip outside the top five cannot be ruled out.
The upcoming slate features No. 4 Notre Dame hosting Wisconsin and No. 9 Ole Miss taking on Louisville, contests that could ripple through the early rankings, while Week 2 showdowns such as Ohio State versus Texas and Michigan against Oklahoma promise even greater volatility.
Although Michigan’s contentious last‑second win over Western Michigan may cause brief adjustments, the consensus is that major shifts in the poll will likely wait until conference play begins, allowing the early‑season hierarchy to settle.