Post-Week 9 CFB Top-25
Often times, when it comes to College Football rankings, you can get caught up in the week-to-week results and lose sight of the overall picture. What taking last week off allows me to do is almost start fresh, and really take a second look at each team’s entire resume and the overall postseason picture. One other wrinkle I will throw in here as the season reaches its later stages is highlighting key games each week that will have a substantial impact on both conference races and the playoff race. As we look ahead to Week 10, here is my CFB Top 25:
1) LSU (8–0)
There is no doubt in my mind that LSU has the most impressive resume at this point in the season. Wins over Texas (on the road), Florida and Auburn position the Tigers as the far and away #1 team in the country. After a bye, LSU will face its toughest test yet as they take on Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
2) Ohio State (8–0)
This is probably my most surprising/unexpected ranking. Ultimately, the Buckeyes resume which includes blowout wins over Cincinnati and Wisconsin, both of whom are ranked, is better than that of Alabama. Ohio State should handle Maryland and Rutgers swimmingly in the coming weeks before matchups with Penn State and Michigan.
3) Alabama (8–0)
I am well aware that fans of the Crimson Tide will not take this #3 ranking well and that’s okay. The one quality win Alabama has, came against an unranked Texas A&M team, albeit on the road. This resume, given recent history, allows Alabama to maintain a Top-3 spot but simply is not good enough to warrant being higher. As mentioned, a matchup with LSU two weeks from now could go a long way in changing how we view either squad.
4) Penn State (8–0)
The Nittany Lions kind of slid under the radar for the first half of the season, but as we stand now, if the season ended today, Penn State would belong in the playoff. Wins at Iowa and Michigan State, along with a victory over Michigan allow Penn State to settle in ahead of Clemson. Penn State has a tough stretch ahead as, after a bye, they will head to Minnesota to take on the 13th ranked Golden Gophers before a collision with Ohio State on November 23rd in Columbus.
5) Clemson (8–0)
Yes Clemson won the national championship last year and yes they are 8–0. However, Clemson has played just one true quality opponent in Texas A&M. Overall, Clemson has just not been as impressive as they have needed to be to be in the Top 4. The good news for the Tigers is that LSU and Alabama, as well as Penn State and Ohio State, are scheduled to face off in the final month of the season. These two games will undoubtedly open up a spot for Clemson, assuming they don’t falter themselves.
6) Florida (7–1)
Coming off a bye week, the Gators are 7–1 (with their lone loss coming at LSU) and are well positioned to make a run in the SEC and could potentially sneak into the playoff. Florida’s matchup with Georgia this coming weekend will certainly go a long way in deciding who takes the SEC East.
7) Oregon (7–1)
The Ducks have snuck up on many people so far as they have taken advantage of a mediocre conference and are in the driver’s seat in the Pac-12. With their lone loss coming to Auburn in Week 1, Oregon controls their own destiny and I would not be surprised to see them sneak into the playoff.
8) Georgia (6–1)
Notre Dame’s brutal loss to Michigan does not bode well for Georgia’s resume at this point in the season. However, even with the Bulldogs upset loss to South Carolina, there remains a path to the playoff, as Georgia controls its own destiny. A victory over Florida this coming Saturday would put Georgia in control in the SEC East. Beyond Florida, Auburn presents a chance for a statement win for Georgia, as well as whoever they would face in a potential SEC Championship Game.
9) Utah (7–1)
To me, the Utes are one of, if not the most intriguing team to watch down the stretch. This is a team that, like Oregon, could run the table and with a conference championship, find themselves in the playoff. Utah’s loss to USC could come back to bite them big time and could very well cost them not only a chance to the playoff but also a chance at the Pac-12 championship. As USC holds the tiebreaker over Utah, they cling onto the top spot in the Pac-12 South, with a 4–1 conference record.
10) Oklahoma (7–1)
The score of Oklahoma’s loss to Kansas State may not look too bad but that game was certainly not pretty. The Sooners looked over matched for most of the contest and even with a late rally, that is a crushing loss. Kansas State is a very good football team (check #22) and that’s why Oklahoma doesn’t fall any further but this loss could very well cost the Sooners a chance at the playoff.
11) Auburn (6–2)
While Auburn played LSU tough this past weekend, they ultimately came out on the losing end. Both of the Tigers’ losses have come to Top-10 SEC opponents and that’s why they are the highest ranked two loss team in the nation. This is a team that has little to no shot of making the playoff, but can wreck some serious havoc in the SEC. With Georgia and Alabama remaining on their schedule, Auburn has a chance to make their mark on the playoff landscape.
12) Baylor (7–0)
At this point, just about everyone knows that Baylor is undefeated, however, what has been neglected is the quality of wins this team has. Iowa State, Kansas State and Oklahoma State are all viable opponents who are on the fringe of Top-25 status and Baylor has handled all three of them. The Bears season rests on what they can do when their schedule gets even tougher in November as they travel to TCU before hosting both Oklahoma and Texas.
13) Minnesota (8–0)
It’s hard to evaluate exactly how good this Minnesota team is. The Golden Gophers have feasted on the bottom feeders of the Big Ten, but a tough stretch is ahead as they take on Penn State, Iowa and Wisconsin in the final month of the season. Hosting Penn State provides a huge opportunity for a statement for Minnesota but this is not a game that can completely break their season; those matchups with Iowa and Wisconsin, however, could certainly do so. Minnesota right now is the clear front runner in the Big Ten West, as Iowa and Wisconsin both have two conference losses, but any losses beyond Penn State could prove fatal for Minnesota.
14) Michigan (6–2)
This is a good Michigan team. While this team may not be among the nations elites as expected, there is no denying that this is a Top-15 worthy team. While the Wolverines loss to Wisconsin was ugly, they nearly battled back in hostile Beaver Stadium against Penn State and embarrassed a ranked Notre Dame team this past weekend. This is a team that likely has no path to the College Football Playoff but like Auburn, they can have a say in how the postseason shakes out, as they host Ohio State in the final game of the season.
15) SMU (8–0)
The AAC is currently as competitive as it has ever been, and SMU is at the forefront. The undefeated Mustangs are clinging to a narrow lead in the AAC West with Navy and Memphis right on their tails. SMU will play each of these teams on the road in November, starting with Memphis this coming weekend.
16) Notre Dame (5–2)
I have been a harsh critic of Notre Dame and I will continue to be. However, with losses to a pair of Top-15 teams, it would be doing them a disservice to drop them much lower than this. The Fighting Irish have absolutely no shot of making the playoff at this point.
17) Iowa (6–2)
The Hawkeyes have lost to Penn State and Michigan by a combined 12 points. While they have just one true quality win (Iowa State) this is a very good football team that has a shot to win the Big Ten. Back-to-back matchups with Wisconsin and Minnesota could decide Iowa’s fate in the Big Ten West.
18) Cincinnati (6–1)
Much like SMU, Cincinnati is the front runner in their division in the AAC. UCF is not too far behind but with a head-to-head victory, the Bearcats hold the tiebreaker and control their own destiny. The one key matchup to watch the rest of the way for Cincinnati is their last game of the season as they travel to Memphis.
19) Boise State (6–1)
For much of the season to this point, Boise State was the highest ranked Group of 5 team but the loss of star freshman QB Hank Bachmeier really set the Broncos back. A loss on the road to BYU, however, doesn’t completely kill Boise State’s season as they remain undefeated in conference play.
20) Wisconsin (6–2)
I don’t know what to make of this Wisconsin team. The Badgers looked as dominant as any in the early going, including a 35–14 drubbing of Michigan, but that all ended with a one-point upset loss to Illinois. Looking to bounce back, Wisconsin was completely embarrassed by Ohio State this past weekend. As is true with Minnesota and Iowa, the Big Ten West is still there for the taking.
21) Appalachian State (7–0)
The signature win for App State is a nail biter over UNC, which isn’t all that impressive, but 7–0 is 7–0. The Mountaineers have an interesting matchup with South Carolina coming up after a bye week, and a win there could signal that this team is a legit contender to be the best Group of 5 team in the nation.
22) Kansas State (5–2)
A lot of people want to talk about Oklahoma’s loss to the Wildcats but credit needs to be given to Kansas State for their impressive showing this past weekend. Overall, K-State’s two losses came at the hands of undefeated Baylor and a good Oklahoma State team. Combine that with two quality wins over TCU and Oklahoma and boom, you’ve got a ranked team.
23) Memphis (7–1)
Although they currently sit in third place in the AAC West, Memphis, to me, has to be viewed as the favorite down the stretch. Already with a win over Navy, a win this coming week against SMU could catapult the Tigers to the top of the standings. The biggest thing standing in Memphis’ way, beyond SMU, is a date with Cincinnati the final weekend of the season.
24) Texas (5–3)
Texas is back, folks. A lot of people have entirely discarded the Longhorns this season but that doesn’t change the fact that they will continue to contend in the Big 12 year in and year out in the near future. While Texas’ loss to TCU is a huge blow, their other two defeats came at the hands of a pair of Top-10 teams, in LSU and Oklahoma. Assuming Baylor falls to Oklahoma, a win by Texas over the Bears could lead to a Red River rematch in the Big 12 Championship Game.
25) Navy (6–1)
Many of the AAC frontrunners have gotten their due, but one squad that has been overlooked is Navy. The Midshipmen currently sit in second in the AAC West, behind just SMU. It could be tough sledding ahead for Navy however as they travel to Notre Dame before hosting SMU. That one loss to Memphis earlier in the season may be what stands in the way between Navy and a shot at the AAC crown in 2019.
WEEK 10 GAMES TO WATCH:
#8 Georgia at #6 Florida (3:30 EST)
#9 Utah at Washington (4:00 EST)
#15 SMU at #24 Memphis (7:30 EST)
#7 Oregon at USC (8:00 EST)
