What a difference a week makes.

Michigan opened the Kyle Whittingham Era last week needing some game-clock malpractice and a Hail Mary to survive against Western Michigan.

Seven days later, the Wolverines put together a nasty defensive effort, overcome a host of costly penalties and roll to a 17-10 win over No. 11 Oklahoma in the Big House.

Remember when Whittingham unintentionally made a stir by questioning QB Bryce Underwood’s status as the starter last week? Well, he made sure to clear the air after Underwood — mostly with his feet — helped Michigan beat OU.

“Bryce is our quarterback,” he said.

The victory ushers the Wolverines into our Top 10 (there aren’t many big power conference wins so early in the season!). A few programs entered Week 2 of our rankings, including Texas A&M, which spanked Arizona State, and of course Texas, which rallied to beat Ohio State. Meanwhile, Oregon’s stunning loss at Oklahoma State sent the Ducks out of the rankings.

Before getting to the Top 10, a reminder: This is a Judgement-Free Zone! When ranking teams, we do NOT consider any preseason polls or any past season results. What happened in the past is, firmly, in the past.

This system normally rewards teams with tougher early-season opponents, but it also makes for an unusual group in the first few weeks. By mid-season, our Top 10 may not be much different than many others.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian celebrates his team's win over Ohio State on Saturday. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)AP Photo/Stephen Spillman1. Texas Longhorns

This week: beat Ohio State 24-23

Next week: vs. UTSA

Arch Manning redeemed last year’s ugly season opener at Ohio State by helping lead an epic, 20-point fourth-quarter comeback against the top-ranked Buckeyes. He told ESPN afterward that he had “nightmares” about last year’s 14-7 loss in Columbus. He only threw for 196 yards but engineered some game-changing plays during the Longhorns’ 21-point final quarter. The Longhorns’ ceiling this season is … well, perhaps there is no ceiling. If you can storm back against the top-ranked team in the country in the fourth quarter, you can win it all.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

This week: lost to Texas 24-23

Next week: vs. Kent State

Yes, OK. The Buckeyes lost and blew a 20-point fourth-quarter lead in doing so, but let’s be honest: They controlled much of that game in a hostile, hot environment in Austin. Unlike most programs, they scheduled tough and they get rewarded for such (despite Matt Patricia’s defense collapsing late). There are plenty of positives to draw from this, including Julian Sayin’s incredible first half and 278 yards passing. But Ohio State has work to do in the running game, which flopped. You know who’s still good? Jeremiah Smith and his 164 yards receiving!

3. Miami Hurricanes

This week: beat Florida A&M 77-7

Next week: at Wake Forest (Friday)

QB Darian Mensah’s season-opening start is remarkable, even considering Miami’s competition (at Stanford and Florida A&M): 41 of 45, 653 yards, eight touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Hurricanes land in the Top 10 because of their power conference road victory in Palo Alto. Hey, it’s early enough in the season that few programs have such a win. Receiver Malachi Toney has legitimate Heisman Trophy chances, too. He caught 12 passes against Stanford for more than 200 yards and added 96 yards against the Rattlers.

4. LSU Tigers

This week: beat Louisiana Tech 45-14

Next week: at Ole Miss

Do you smell that? LSU stunk it up early against the in-state Bulldogs before scoring three late touchdowns to make it look better. Sam Leavitt threw three first-half interceptions — one of them returned for a touchdown — and the Tigers struggled to run the football (something they did so well a week ago against Clemson). It was an unexpected dud of a performance and doesn't bode well for next week’s Return of Lane game in Oxford. The Tigers still have one of the more impressive wins of the year against Clemson and remain firmly in our rankings.

Bear Bachmeier and the BYU Cougars got the job done against Arizona on Saturday. (Aaron Baker/Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty Images5. BYU Cougars

This week: beat Arizona 28-17

Next week: at Colorado State

In a battle of two programs that many believe will challenge Texas Tech for the Big 12 title, the Cougars defense swallowed the Wildcats and electric QB Noah Fifita. He threw for just 230 yards and a pick and was sacked three times. BYU QB Bear Bachmeier did enough with three passing TDs on 16-of-26 throwing and LJ Martin ground out 96 yards rushing for Kalani Sitake’s crew. Does Sitake have his best team yet? The Cougs look real, but it’s early. A trip to Colorado State next week could be tricky. Circle this one on the calendar: Oct. 17 against Notre Dame.

6. Texas A&M Aggies

This week: beat Arizona State 48-20

Next week: vs. Kentucky

You may see 48 points and think the Aggies just rolled offensively, but this was about A&M’s defense. They forced four turnovers, including three that resulted in touchdowns. Two of those were interceptions returned for scores, including one from 261-pound defensive end Marco Jones. His pick 6 in the fourth quarter gave the Aggies an 18-point lead. Arizona State hung around and, to be honest, won the line of scrimmage battle much of the game. They even outgained the Aggies by more than 100 yards. But the turnovers were costly.

7. Tennessee Volunteers

This week: beat Georgia Tech 45-24

Next week: vs. Kennesaw State

RB DeSean Bishop gobbled up 153 yards on 21 carries — a whopping 7.3 yards a carry mark _ and the Vols defense scored on an interception return in a drubbing in Atlanta. UT’s true freshman QB Faizon Brandon wasn’t perfect, but he did more than enough as a rookie on the road. In fact, the Vols delivered an epic rushing attack, eclipsing the 300-yard mark in a running-over of the Ramblin’ Wreck. In two weeks, Texas comes to Knoxville for what is sure to be an epic showdown.

8. Virginia Cavaliers

This week: beat Norfolk State 59-3

Next week: vs. West Virginia

Tony Elliott seems to have another solid team a year after the Cavs won 11 games and competed in the ACC championship game. QB Beau Pribula, the former Missouri and Penn State quarterback, has thrown more touchdowns (5) than incompletions (4) through the first two games of the season. Coordinator John Rudzinski’s defense has started the year with quite a bang. NC State and Norfolk State — UVA’s first two opponents — had 24 drives. The Cavs have allowed a single touchdown and it came during garbage time in a blowout of the Wolfpack.

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

This week: beat Rice 52-0

Next week: vs. Michigan State

A neutral-site power league victory (Wisconsin last week) keeps the Irish barely in the Top 10. QB CJ Carr threw as many touchdowns (4) as incompletions against Rice and the Irish’s defense scored on a scoop-and-score. We still haven’t seen the Irish tested and we might not for a bit. They may not play a ranked team for another month when they travel out West to BYU. But the real challenge comes Nov. 7 when Miami comes to town.

10. Michigan Wolverines

This week: beat Oklahoma 17-10

Next week: vs. UTEP

Things aren’t all rosy in Ann Arbor just because the Wolverines are 2-0. We know the clock snafu against Western Michigan counts as a loss in many peoples’ minds, and Saturday against Oklahoma was anything but convincing. Whittingham’s team has plenty to iron out on offense, but the defense has allowed one touchdown in two games and that’s pretty salty. Michigan’s first two opponents were both held under 300 yards of offense.