The Southeastern Conference and Big Ten occupy 64% of this week’s AP Top 25, with 16 ranked teams combined, the most ever by two conferences in one poll.

The third Top 25 of the regular season had a new No. 1 in Texas on Sunday, one of nine SEC teams in the poll. That’s one short of the record 10 the SEC had in the first regular-season poll of 2015. For the second straight week, the SEC has six of the top seven teams.

Meanwhile, the Big Ten matched its best showing in poll history with seven teams.

Nine of the top-10 teams are from the SEC and Big Ten. No. 8 Miami from the ACC is the lone exception.

This was inevitable with the advent of superconferences.

The SEC now has 16 teams and the Big Ten 18, having added perennial powers such as Texas and Oklahoma (SEC) and Oregon and Southern California (Big Ten).

Last season’s final Top 25 gave a glimpse the future. Twelve of the top 15 teams were going to be in the SEC and Big Ten in 2024.

For those in the ACC and Big 12, combined seven teams ranked this week, this is worrisome. It is also early and as conference games crank up, those Big Ten and SEC teams will begin knocking each other off and probably push a few out of the rankings.

But using the Top 25 as playoff projector, the 12-team field would currently have six SEC teams, three Big Ten and one each from the ACC, Big 12 and MAC.

Reality Check is not thrilled with this type of monopoly and is hoping it doesn’t portend what’s coming. But it very well might.

No. 1 Texas (3-0)

Next: vs. Louisiana-Monroe, Saturday.

Reality check: With Arch Manning, no reason to rush QB Quinn Ewers (abdomen) back from injury.

Ranked: The Longhorns are a worthy No. 1. No. 2 Georgia (3-0)

Next: at No. 4 Alabama, Sept. 28.

Reality check: Against Kentucky, it looked like Georgia was in some real danger of losing a regular-season game for the first time since 2020. Red flag? We’ll find out soon.

Ranked: Bulldogs could still be No. 1, but coach Kirby Smart may be happy they’re not. No. 3 Ohio State (2-0)

Next: vs. Marshall, Saturday.

Reality check: This three-game Group of Five nonconference schedule, with an off week, is probably not helping the Buckeyes do much but stay healthy.

Ranked: This is fine. No. 4 Alabama (3-0)

Next: vs. No. 2 Georgia, Sept. 28.

Reality check: QB Jalen Milroe is developing nicely in Kalen DeBoer’s offense, with at least two TD passes and two TD runs in each game.

Ranked: Could be No. 3. Could be No. 1. No. 5 Mississippi (3-0)

Next: vs. Georgia Southern, Saturday.

Reality check: Wake Forest doesn’t want any more to do with the Rebels, paying $1 million to cancel next season’s scheduled game.

Ranked: Little high. No. 6 Tennessee (3-0)

Next: at No. 15 Oklahoma, Saturday.

Reality check: The Vols are passing the eye test in a big way. Yes, it’s just Kent State but that might have been the most-lopsided game matching FBS teams we’ll see in 2024.

Ranked: Too low. No. 7 Missouri (3-0)

Next: vs. Vanderbilt, Saturday.

Reality check: The Tigers defense faced a shut down a good running game against BC.

Ranked: Too high. No. 8 Miami (3-0)

Next: at South Florida, Saturday.

Reality check: The Hurricanes are the other team passing the eye test. So far.

Ranked: Too low. No. 9 Oregon (3-0)

Next: at UCLA, Sept. 28.

Reality check: The Ducks seemed to have found an interior offensive line combination that works.

Ranked: Touch high. No. 10 Penn State (2-0)

Next: vs. Kent State, Saturday.

Reality check: This next MAC test shouldn’t be as hard as the Bowling Green game.

Ranked: Just right. No. 11 USC (2-0)

Next: at No. 18 Michigan, Saturday.

Reality check: In recent years, USC would be a get-right game for a struggling offense. How the Trojans fare against a Michigan team with serious QB issues is worth watching.

Ranked: Little high. No. 12 Utah (3-0)

Next: at No. 14 Oklahoma State, Saturday.

Reality check: Freshman QB Isaac Wilson was more than solid in his first start, but the Utes need Cam Rising healthy.

Ranked: Touch high. No. 13 Kansas State (3-0)

Next: at BYU, Saturday.

Reality check: The Wildcats unleashed QB Avery Johnson as a runner against Arizona with 17 carries for 110 yards. He still needs to be more reliable as a passer.

Ranked: Little low. No. 14 Oklahoma State (3-0)

Next: vs. No. 12 Utah, Saturday.

Reality check: All-America RB Ollie Gordon II is averaging only 3.48 yards per carry. The strategy against the Cowboys seems to be: Make QB Alan Bowman beat you.

Ranked: This is fine. No. 15 Oklahoma (3-0)

Next: vs. No. 6 Tennessee, Saturday.

Reality check: The Sooners are down to 116th in the country in yards per play at 4.86.

Ranked: Too high. No. 16 LSU (2-1)

Next: vs. UCLA, Saturday.

Reality check: There are still a lot of issues on this defense, but the Tigers might have found a solution for the running game in freshman Caden Daniels.

Ranked: Feels high, but who else? No. 17 Notre Dame (2-1)

Next: vs. Miami (Ohio), Saturday.

Reality check: That was almost too easy for the Irish against Purdue. How much of that was the Boilermakers’ incompetence?

Ranked: Again, feels too high but who else? No. 18 Michigan (2-1)

Next: vs. No. 11 USC, Saturday.

Reality check: QB Davis Warren had three INTs against Arkansas State. Coach Sherrone Moore said it wasn’t good enough, and will start junior Alex Orji against USC.

Ranked: Too high. No. 19 Louisville (2-0)

Next: vs. Georgia Tech, Saturday.

Reality check: No team has done less to earn its ranking, but that doesn’t mean the Cardinals aren’t good.

Ranked: Too high. No. 20 Iowa State (2-0)

Next: vs. Arkansas State, Saturday.

Reality check: Case could be made the Cyclones have the best receiver duo in the Big 12 in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.

Ranked: Little low. No. 21 Clemson (1-1)

Next: vs. NC State, Saturday.

Reality check: The more you watch the ACC, the more you realize Clemson should be fine.

Ranked: About right. No. 22 Nebraska (3-0)

Next: vs. No. 24 Illinois, Friday.

Reality check: The Cornhuskers have taken care of business against teams that aren’t very good. That’s progress.

Ranked: Little low. No. 23 Northern Illinois (2-0)

Next: vs. Buffalo, Saturday.

Reality check: The last time multiple teams from Illinois were ranked at the same time was Oct. 6, 2013, when the Huskies were No. 23 and Northwestern was ranked 19th.

Ranked: Too low. No. 24 Illinois (3-0)

Next: at No. 22 Nebraska, Friday.

Reality check: The Illini are plus-8 in turnover margin, which is a good way to get to 3-0.

Ranked: Sure. No. 25 Texas A&M (2-1)

Next: vs. Bowling Green, Saturday.

Reality check: Coach Mike Elko might have a decision to make between redshirt freshman QB Marcel Reed and Conner Weigman — when Weigman is healthy.

Ranked: Probably not.