1. Michigan (12-0)
For the first time in my rankings, we have a shakeup at number one. My reasoning behind this is because in the past four weeks, Michigan has looked more complete than Georgia, and this past Saturday only solidified that. The Wolverines romped the Buckeyes in Columbus by 22 points with their best player in a limited role.
2. Georgia (12-0)
Yes, I understand that Georgia is undefeated, but the past few weeks hasn’t made me really feel like they’re the nation’s best team. I think their issue is that they play down to opponents, so when the playoffs roll around they won’t have an issue. I just can’t get past them beating Kentucky by ten and Georgia Tech scaring them early on.
3. TCU (12-0)
Maybe we’re living in a simulation. One of the nation’s three best teams started the year off unranked, lost their starting QB, and they are completely hypnotizing the college football world with a purple toad. It’s no secret that I love it and I think the rest of the nation (excluding Alabama, Tennessee, and Ohio State fans) love it. A win in the Big 12 Championship seals their ticket to the playoffs.
4. USC (11-1)
I hate to do it, but I have to give USC props. In most years, Notre Dame has been USC’s kryptonite, but not this year. Caleb Williams has solidified himself as the Heisman front runner above CJ Stroud and he has one more task to complete: he needs to beat Utah, something he failed to do once this season already.
5. Ohio State (11-1)
Despite the fact that Ohio State was trounced by over twenty points on Saturday, they still have a shot at the playoffs. They’ve looked like a top four team all season, but couldn’t get the job done against their rivals up north and that could be the demise of Ryan Day and Ohio States National Championship hopes.
6. Alabama (10-2)
I hate this. I really do hate this. There is now a legitimate shot that Alabama makes the playoffs and it hurts me deep down in my gut. The Crimson Tide is hoping that all hell breaks loose where Michigan, TCU, and USC all lose. I don’t see all of that happening, but you never know.
7. Penn State (10-2)
Every time I’ve done these rankings, I’ve had Penn State outside the top ten. It feels weird, but I just think at this point of the season, they’re in a better spot than Tennessee. Their only two losses are to two top five squads and they’ve won every game by an average margin of 25.1 points.
8. Tennessee (10-2)
Do you guys remember Tennessee? Ever since they lost to Georgia, it feels like their will to live went with it. The South Carolina loss was even worse, but I still think they’re a top ten team. A NY6 bowl game should be in their future, but their miracle season came to an end weeks ago.
9. Washington (10-2)
The Michael Penix Jr. experiment in Washington has been an awfully fun one. He’s led the Huskies to wins over Oregon, Oregon State, and Michigan State this year. What Washington has done is become the grim reaper for fellow Pac-12 teams. It’s been truly joyous to experience.
10. LSU (9-3)
LSU, WHAT HAPPENED? With two losses and a win over Georgia, they could have made the playoffs. Now, they’re just playing to dismantle the SEC. I did derive pleasure seeing Brian Kelly look like an absolute dunce on the sideline frowning like a baby.
11. Utah (9-3)
Much like how LSU can destroy Georgia’s playoff hopes, Utah can destroy USC’s. At the start of the season, I thought they’d be a lock for the playoffs and I couldn’t have been more wrong. They do get a great opportunity to go 2-0 vs USC this season and that’s a nice thing to hang your hat on.
12. Clemson (10-2)
I’m crying tears of joy. I prayed on Clemson’s downfall for years and their demise is happening right before my eyes. While 10-2 isn’t exactly a downfall, they did lose to my Irish and Spencer Rattler dominated them on Frank Howard Field. For me, that’s enough to constitute a downfall of a team that’s made the playoffs three of the last four years.
13. Florida State (9-3)
CHOP, CHOP, CHOP! The Seminoles have experienced a rollercoaster season beating LSU and Florida and losing to Clemson and Wake Forest. Their play against their instate rival Gators is enough to make them a true top 15 team and boy have they been a ball to watch.
14. Kansas State (9-3)
The entire Big 12 is looking at Kansas State right now. I imagine some teams are rooting for the Wildcats to take TCU out of playoff contention, but others are cheering for TCU to represent the conference on the biggest stage possible. With Deuce Vaughn in the backfield, any game can be broken wide open.
15. Oregon State (9-3)
I’m genuinely happy for Oregon State. The past decade they’ve lived in the shadows of Oregon, but this win means so much. In my eyes, they’ve solidified themselves as a top 15 team and they also made it so Oregon can’t play for a Pac-12 title.
16. Oregon (9-3)
Maybe DJ Johnson took the term “Civil War” too literally. Punching a fan is a bad look, and it’s an even worse look when you lose to a team you’d beaten in eight of the last ten matchups. Oregon has had a truly odd year because prior to this game, they had good losses. Losing to Georgia and Washington isn’t bad. But the loss to Oregon State stings on many levels. The biggest being that they wont be able to play for a Pac-12 title.
17. Notre Dame (8-4)
While losing to USC always hurts, I have to tip my cap to Coach Freeman and Drew Pyne. After losing to Marshall and Ohio State, they could have easily folded. After starting 0-2, they went 8-2 beating UNC, Clemson, Syracuse, and BYU. Drew Pyne stepped in for the injured Tyler Buchner and played his balls off. It wasn’t the season I expected from Notre Dame, but it was a fun one.
18. UCLA (9-3)
For a solid nine to ten weeks, I was on the DTR train. Then, he played tremendously sloppy against USC and I had to bail. He’s a hell of a player, but he tried to do too much. UCLA was a lot like UNC in the second half of the season where the expectations were so high, but they flopped miserably.
19. Tulane (10-2)
Redemption. Tulane gets a shot at redemption this weekend. After letting UCF run a muck all over them a few weeks prior, Tulane throttled SMU and squeaked out a tight win over Cincinnati. Now, they have another shot at the team that rushed for 336 yards against them. I’m riding the Green Wave in the AAC Championship.
20. South Carolina (8-4)
Yeah, the video of Spencer Rattler smoking a cigar was cringe, but he deserves to celebrate however he pleases after wins against Tennessee and Clemson. Shane Beamer has led a great turn around this season in South Carolina. After starting the season 1-2, the Gamecocks rattled off a 7-2 record. Bravo, South Carolina. Bravo.
21. UCF (9-3)
Ever since UCF claimed a natty a few years ago, I’ve despised them. I’d love nothing more than for Tulane to kick the ever living shit out of them. I must acknowledge though that UCF has a lethal rushing attack, one of the best in the nation. This year’s AAC Championship might be the most exciting G5 title game.
22. UTSA (10-2)
The Roadrunners have had yet again another quiet, yet dominant season. They have the best record in the C-USA by three games and are lining up another championship run. When you look at this team, there is nothing unlikeable about the Roadrunners. They are a G5 team with an explosive offense and dominant defense.
23. Troy (10-2)
The Troy Trojans don’t blow teams out in impressive fashion, but they do the most important thing: they win games. After starting the season 1-2, they rattled off nine straight wins and are hosting the Sun Belt Championship game against Coastal Carolina. With Grayson McCall (most likely) sidelined, the Trojans have a great shot at taking home the Sun Belt title.
24. Texas (8-4)
Texas has been stuck in limbo this entire season where it looks as if they’re one of the nation’s best teams one week and then one of the worst the next. Quinn Ewers has been a very streaky player, but when he’s on, he’s on. I’d say that they’re probably the third best four loss team in the country behind Notre Dame and South Carolina.
25. North Carolina (9-3)
Talk about an absolute let down. Two weeks ago I was singing the praises of UNC and saying they could make the playoffs. Now, I barely have them ranked after losing to Georgia Tech and NC State. Drake Maye is still a baller, but UNC proved that teams that aren’t well rounded can’t come up big in crunch time.
