Just when I think I know something about college football, we have another Saturday that flips the sport on its head. Go figure. But that’s why we love it, right?
Texas had been dominant all season, looking like the nation’s best team by a fairly wide margin. Then Kirby Smart’s Georgia team marched into Austin, Texas and put the Longhorns in their place with an emphatic win. There are no unbeaten teams left in the SEC, but three left in the Big Ten and two each in the Big 12, ACC and AAC. With five or six games left for teams in the regular season, we’re nearing the most important stretch of the season. The room for error is getting smaller for everyone; heck, Alabama already has two losses. There are plenty of teams fighting for the 12-team College Football Playoff, and it should be a wild ride toward the finish line.
Here is how I ranked teams this week in the AP top 25, and here is a link to the actual poll.
- Oregon
- Georgia
- Penn State
- Ohio State
- Texas
- Miami
- LSU
- Iowa State
- Tennessee
- Clemson
- Notre Dame
- Indiana
- BYU
- Texas A&M
- Boise State
- Alabama
- Kansas State
- Ole Miss
- Illinois
- Missouri
- Pittsburgh
- SMU
- Army
- Navy
- Vanderbilt
The top 10
With Texas losing its first game of the season, Oregon moves into the top spot. The Ducks have been flying high the last few weeks and have established themselves as the best team in a very, very good Big Ten. I went back and forth on whether to have unbeaten Penn State or Georgia at No. 2 and ultimately went with the Bulldogs. That win over previous No. 1 Texas has to count for something, and the Nittany Lions haven’t secured a marquee win like that. Ohio State is safely at No. 4, and the Longhorns take a bit of a fall to No. 5 after losing at home to the Bulldogs.
Miami keeps pulling off tight-rope victories and is undefeated behind star quarterback Cam Ward. LSU is quietly making its case as a playoff team, the Tigers’ latest win coming at always-hostile Arkansas. Iowa State remains unbeaten as well and lands at No. 8 for me, followed by Tennessee and Clemson. I opted for the Volunteers ahead of the Tigers because, quite frankly, their win over Alabama this weekend is better than any wins Clemson currently has.
The rest
Two teams from the state of Indiana land at No. 11 and No. 12 — Notre Dame and Indiana, respectively. The Hoosiers thoroughly dismantled Nebraska, are undefeated and are (rightfully) hosting College GameDay this coming weekend. BYU is the second unbeaten Big 12 team; unfortunately Iowa State and the Cougars don’t play in the regular season, but they could meet in the Big 12 title game. Texas A&M has somewhat quietly emerged as an SEC contender and is at No. 14 for me. Boise State is next and then … Alabama. When was the last time anyone had the Crimson Tide this far down in a top 25? Kansas State and Ole Miss are at No. 17 and No. 18, followed by Illinois — who just took down a ranked Michigan team — and Missouri, who rallied late to defeat Auburn. Two ACC teams are No. 21 and No. 22 — Pitt and SMU — followed by Army and Navy, respectively. Rounding out the top 25 is Vanderbilt, who didn’t look great in its win against Ball State but has impressive wins over Virginia Tech, Alabama and Kentucky. The Commodores are one of college football’s great stories in 2024. I debated whether to put Vanderbilt or Washington State at No. 25 but ultimately chose the Commodores because of their quality victories.
Michael Katz covers Ole Miss Athletics for the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.
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