TCU Returns to the AP Poll

In the latest edition of polls that don’t matter, the Frogs saw their return to the AP Top 25 for the first time in two weeks, checking in at number 21. They also rose two spots in the Coaches’ Poll, to no. 19 overall.

The Frogs are one of three Big 12 teams to make the AP Top 25, supplanting Texas, who dropped to 22, and staying behind Baylor, who rose from 16 to 13 after defeating Oklahoma State at home.

For TCU, who started the season in the top 15 only to drop completely out after losing to Arkansas in double OT two weeks ago, the re-entry comes right before a much anticipated matchup with preseason conference title favorite Oklahoma. In their never ending quest to ruin everyone else’s season, the Sooners will come to Fort Worth unranked and with two losses, making Saturday’s game a nearly no-win situation.

Meanwhile, a West Virginia team that has two Power Five wins and owns a 3-0 start can’t break through into either poll, but make the “receiving votes” category for both. The only opponent to beat the Frogs this season, Arkansas, drops to 20th in the AP this week after getting blown out by A&M and is down to 22nd in the Coaches’ Poll. In other Texas school news, Houston remains the highest ranked team in the state (6th in AP, 7th in Coaches’) and the Aggies break into the top ten for the first time this year, at 9th and 10th respectively. Wisconsin was the other big mover over the weekend, as they rode the strength of a beat down of Michigan State in East Lansing to eighth place in both.

The Frogs will need to validate their return to the ranks this Saturday against unranked Oklahoma, or risk falling back out for the second time in the young season. Even more at stake is their quest for a conference title, and the winner of this game will have the inside track at that - for the time being.

You can see the entirety of the AP Poll here.