OXFORD — Well, if you’re a top-10 team, be on the lookout. Because it seems no one is safe anymore.
Then-No. 4 Miami suffered its first hiccup of the season at the hands of Georgia Tech, and Ole Miss finally got its signature win under head coach Lane Kiffin with a dominant performance over then-No. 2 Georgia. BYU was almost a victim as well, though the Cougars were able to get a one-point win over rival Utah.
We’re almost at the finish line of the regular season, and the College Football Playoff rankings have started dropping every Tuesday. But I have a job to do, and I take it seriously. So, here was my top 25 this week:.
- Oregon
- Ohio State
- Texas
- Penn State
- Tennessee
- Indiana
- BYU
- Miami
- Notre Dame
- Alabama
- Ole Miss
- Georgia
- SMU
- Boise State
- Texas A&M
- Army
- Washington State
- Colorado
- Clemson
- LSU
- Iowa State
- Kansas State
- South Carolina
- Missouri
- Louisville
The top 10
Losses by Georgia and Miami sent shockwaves through the top 10 this week, moving teams like Penn State and Indiana (!?) up in the poll. I didn’t drop Miami as far as the rest of voters did following their close loss at Georgia Tech. It was the Hurricanes’ first loss of the season, and it was close. Yes, they had been flying close to the sun, but it’s just one loss. Georgia, on the other hand, fell out of the top 10 for me because it was the Bulldogs’ second loss and, if we are being honest, Saturday wasn’t a particularly close game. Georgia has some things to work out if it wants to beat Tennessee next week and make a playoff run. Ole Miss ended up at No. 10, and I had the Rebels at 11. I was really, really close to putting them up there, but ultimately the loss against Kentucky still stuck with me, right or wrong. But the Rebels are in a good place for a stretch run.
The rest
Georgia dropped out of the top 10 for what seems like the first time in a decade. SMU and Boise State are neck and neck for me, as is Texas A&M, who was idle this week after losing to South Carolina last weekend. Washington State beat Utah State by three touchdowns, and Colorado came back at Texas Tech and won by 14 points. The Buffaloes are in good position to make a run for the Big 12 crown with BYU. Clemson bounced back from its loss to Louisville and beat Virginia Tech on the road. Pittsburgh fell at home to Virginia, so I dropped them out of the top 25 entirely. Army keeps winning and is all the way up to No. 16 for me now. Iowa State fell for the second week in a row, and I was very close to dropping them out of the top 25 as well. But ultimately the Cyclones’ win against Iowa sticks out for me still, though they’re on thin ice right now. Anyone dropping Iowa State out is well within their rights, though.
South Carolina is rolling again, the Gamecocks’ latest victim being Vanderbilt. They’re going to be a tough out the rest of the season and have earned their spot in the top 25 despite three losses. Missouri almost lost to Oklahoma but was able to pull it off. I rounded out my top 25 with Louisville, who was idle this week. The win against Clemson last week was a big one, and I think the Cardinals are still good despite three losses.
Michael Katz covers Ole Miss athletics for the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.
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