1. Georgia (10-0)
No change here. Georgia continues to impress and prove that they’re the nation’s best team. I think their chance of repeating is very high since no one has played as well as they have this whole season, especially on defense.
2. Ohio State (10-0)
While Georgia still holds the crown, there are about one or two teams with a legit shot at knocking them off. Ohio State is one of those teams. Even without their best wideout and one of the nation’s top players in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, they haven’t skipped a beat. The game against Michigan next weekend will determine if they stay in the top two or not.
3. Michigan (10-0)
A chance to go to the playoff runs through Columbus, Ohio. Next weekend, Michigan plays at Ohio State, and the winner is a virtual lock to make the CFP. While I do think Michigan has looked sharper than Ohio State this season, my gut tells me that Ohio State is better. I also believe the Buckeyes have a better chance to beat Georgia than Michigan. Michigan’s offense has steamrolled teams with its powerful rushing attack, which could be their ticket to the promised land.
4. TCU (10-0)
TCU is a Cinderella story like none other. This entire season, their offense has been elite, but their defense has been questioned. The Horned Frogs’ defense silenced the doubters on Saturday by holding Texas with Quinn Ewers and Bijan Robinson to just ten points. They also held them to 199 total offensive yards and 29 rushing yards.
5. Tennessee (9-1)
It looked for a moment like Missouri had Tennessee’s number. Then, Tennessee woke up and rolled them. There’s still a possibility the Vols make the playoff but, without a chance to play in the SEC Championship, their chances become slim. Tennessee has been electric this year outside of the Georgia game, but there is an argument to be made that they are one of the nation’s four best teams. I’m not making the argument; hicks in orange are making it.
6. LSU (8-2)
Watching LSU be good this season has caused me to have mixed feelings. I despise seeing Brian Kelly have success, but I loved watching them knock off Alabama. They’ve secured their spot in the SEC Championship and could become an agent of chaos. If they could pull off a win over Georgia in the SEC title game, then the playoff picture would be distorted beyond belief and, because I’m a sicko, I’m rooting for it.
7. USC (9-1)
The Pac-12 is looking at USC with wide eyes right now. The Trojans are the Pac-12’s only hope of making the College Football Playoff, and they still don’t have an easy route. With games against UCLA, Notre Dame, and then the Pac-12 championship, they’re not out of the clear. If they do win out though, I don’t see why they shouldn’t be in the playoff.
8. Clemson (9-1)
Clemson is in a weird spot because I feel like however their season ends up, they don’t have a real chance at making the CFP. Notre Dame killed their spirit and destroyed their public image in primetime on national television. I think they’ve still go a strong shot at winning the ACC, but it’s more than likely they’ll be playing in an NY6 bowl.
9. Alabama (8-2)
It’s an amazing year because Alabama isn’t in the SEC Championship game. They did just win an impressive game against a tough Ole Miss team but, at this point, the Tide is just fighting for an NY6 Bowl.
10. North Carolina (9-1)
I’m going to be a martyr here, but UNC deserves to be a top-ten team and has a LEGITIMATE SHOT at making the playoff. If LSU plays the agent of chaos, the Big Ten implodes, and UNC wins the ACC, then they should 100% be in. They dropped one game early on to a solid Notre Dame team that’s been bullying the ACC this year and they have a Heisman candidate at QB.
11. Washington (8-2)
Outside of the top ten, we’ll see a lot of teams having weird seasons and Washington is one of them. They’re 8-2 with wins over Michigan State, Stanford, and Oregon, but have lost to Arizona State and UCLA. A lot of it depends on how Michael Penix Jr. plays and when he’s on, the Huskies roll over opponents.
12. Penn State (8-2)
When you look at the Big Ten, there are tiers of teams. Ohio State and Michigan are institutions, and Penn State is way below them. While they could finish the year 10-2 and win a bowl game, if you’re Coach Franklin, you have to feel like this season was a failure because you couldn’t pull off wins over the two top dogs.
13. Utah (8-2)
Last week, I thought that Utah could play spoiler to Oregon this weekend, but Washington already took care of the Ducks. Unlike Oregon, I felt like Utah’s week one loss to Florida completely diminished their confidence this season. Many people, including myself, thought they’d be a playoff contender and they haven’t lived up to the hype.
14. Oregon (8-2)
Oregon losing was like the Thanos snap on their season. They had a good resume with one loss to Georgia and a few solid wins; then, Michael Penix Jr. ended their playoff hopes. Oregon is still a very good team that could play for the Pac-12 title, but the Ducks’ magic ran out too soon.
15. Ole Miss (8-2)
I’m in awe of Ole Miss this season because they’ve played all great games, with the lone exception being the loss to LSU. Even in their loss to Alabama, I thought they played well. It just seems like that one throttling from Brian Kelly’s squad hurt this team’s morale for the rest of the year.
16. UCF (8-2)
Seeing UCF in the top twenty hurts me. Ever since their self-proclaimed national title, I’ve had a strong disdain for the program as a whole. I’ve enjoyed watching Tulane this year and, when UCF came out and beat them in impressive fashion, I felt like Jesse Pinkman ready to burn Walts’s house down.
17. Cincinnati (8-2)
When the year started and Arkansas beat Cincinnati, I thought that’d be the last we’d see of the Bearcats. I was wrong. They have slowly and quietly accumulated an 8-2 record and could finish out the year 10-2 with wins over Temple and Tulane.
18. UCLA (8-2)
The loss to Arizona was a real dagger in the heart of UCLA’s season. I still think that Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Chip Kelly are threats offensively, but the defense is breaking down as the season goes on. It’s unfortunate to see because the Bruins have been so fun to watch this year. Now, they can be like LSU and play agent of chaos and destroy the Pac-12’s playoff hopes by beating USC.
19. Notre Dame (7-3)
I can’t figure Notre Dame out. They’ll go out and beat Syracuse, Clemson, and North Carolina by two or more touchdowns, then they’ll get taken down to the wire by Navy. Nevertheless, a win is a win and this week’s keeps the Irish in the top twenty.
20. Coastal Carolina (9-1)
Coastal is a WAGON. Their futuristic triple-option offensive is giving everyone they play issues and they’re on the fast track to win the Sun Belt. The Chants weren’t ranked last week and should have been, but now they’re getting the respect they deserve. ROLL CHANTS.
21. Florida State (7-3)
Much like Notre Dame, Florida State is a tough team to gauge. One week they beat Wake Forest and LSU, the next they’re losing to NC State. What is easy to gauge about this team is that they are pretty fun to watch. I think we see them finish the season 9-3 with wins over Louisiana and Florida.
22. Kansas State (7-3)
Kansas State has experienced ups and downs this season with wins over Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, but losses to TCU, Tulane, and Texas. They’re deserving of a Top 25 spot, but I don’t see them breaking into the top twenty by the time the season comes to an end.
23. Oklahoma State (7-3)
While I like Oklahoma State more, I can’t put them above Kansas State because they got slaughtered by the Wildcats earlier this season. They do baffle me because they’ll play TCU and Texas close but get blown out by Kansas State. This year has been whacky beyond belief and I’m truly all for it.
24. Tulane (8-2)
I’ve loved Tulane this year and watching them get thrashed by UCFs run attack on Saturday was devastating. It truly hurt. They’ve looked so impressive this season beating Memphis, Houston, and Kansas State but, as of right now, UCF and Cincinnati have stolen back the throne from the Green Wave.
25. Troy (8-2)
Coastal Carolina isn’t the only Fun Belt team making my Top 25 this week. They’ve got company from the 8-2 Troy Trojans. After starting the year off 1-2, they’ve rattled off seven straight wins that all have been awfully close. It looks like they’ll match up with the Chants in the Sun Belt Championship game to see who takes the crown.
