College Football Playoff Rankings: Projected Top 25 After Week 10
Jalen Hurts and Alabama survived their biggest test left before the Iron Bowl. Michigan absolutely obliterated Maryland at home with Ohio State looming. Texas A&M fell in Starkville. What will the College Football Playoff rankings look like after Week 10?
After one week of the College Football Playoff rankings, we already have some madness.
Four of the top 15 teams in the first edition of the CFP rankings lost on Saturday. Granted, some of those teams played other top-15 teams, but Texas A&M is not included with those teams that lost (Florida, LSU, and Nebraska) to top-15 teams. The Aggies fell in Starkville to unranked Mississippi State and basically eliminated themselves from the playoff picture.
As for teams that helped their cause on Saturday, No. 7 Louisville got another humongous day from quarterback Lamar Jackson in a blowout road win over Boston College, while Saquon Barkley ran wild for No. 12 Penn State in a home win over Iowa.
Having said that, what will the College Football Playoff rankings look like for Week 11? Let’s take a look at the top five teams, the first two out and the rest of the top 25 teams in the country.
In the playoff:
1. Alabama – It’s never pretty when Alabama meets LSU, but the Tide pitched a shutout on the road in Death Valley. That’s 21 wins in a row now for the defending champs.
2. Clemson – The Tigers lost Deshaun Watson to a shoulder injury in the first half, but Clemson steamrolled Syracuse at home to stay unbeaten.
3. Michigan – If it wasn’t for Lamar Jackson, Jabrill Peppers would be the Heisman Trophy winner. Michigan’s season still rides on the Ohio State game.
4. Washington – Even though they should’ve been the No. 4 in the first edition in the polls, plus with Texas A&M’s loss on Saturday, the Huskies are going to be right where they should be: in the playoff.
First two out:
5. Ohio State – Since they lost to Penn State two weeks ago, the Buckeyes survived Northwestern and then manhandled Nebraska on Saturday night. Like Michigan, their season and playoff hopes ride on “The Game”.
6. Louisville – They have the Heisman Trophy winner (most likely). Can they make the playoff with some help, too?
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The rest of the field:
7. Wisconsin – The Badgers’ two losses this season: On the road at Michigan and at home in overtime to Ohio State. That’s pretty strong.
8. Auburn – They needed some luck to survive at home against Vanderbilt, but the Tigers are on a crash course with top-ranked Alabama at the end of the season.
9. Penn State – Like Peppers, if it wasn’t for Lamar Jackson, you’d probably be hearing the name Saquon Barkley more in the Heisman Trophy race. The Nittany Lions are back on the map after the Ohio State upset.
10. Oklahoma – It was a tricky game for the Sooners in Ames, but here come the Sooners late again in the season.
11. Texas A&M – Losing to Alabama and then getting upset by Mississippi State basically eliminated the Aggies from the playoff.
12. Colorado – The Buffs are in fact, the stuff. They still have two tough games against Washington State and Utah, but how about the Buffaloes?
13. Utah – New year, same ol’ Utes hanging around higher than many people probably realize.
14. Florida – The Gators are still up front in the SEC East race, but a loss in Fayetteville was the last thing they needed. That, and all of the injuries on the defensive side of the ball.
15. Nebraska – Thank goodness Tommy Armstrong appears like he’s going to be OK. The Cornhuskers got crushed by Ohio State at The Horseshoe, but their QB’s health is more important.
16. Oklahoma State – The Pokes survived Bill Snyder and Manhattan. Bedlam is coming soon, but first: Texas Tech and TCU.
17. LSU – The Tigers’ defense battled hard against Alabama, but a lack of Leonard Fournette production and any offense for that matter was the difference in the loss.
18. Virginia Tech – It wasn’t pretty, but the Hokies survived Duke on Saturday.
19. West Virginia – After losing for the first time this season last week, the Mountaineers bounced back with a win over Kansas.
20. North Carolina – The Tar Heels blew out Georgia Tech at home on Saturday. A rematch with Clemson in the ACC title game could be coming.
21. Florida State – The Seminoles barely got past NC State, but it was a win they needed after last week’s tight loss to Clemson.
22. Western Michigan – This probably won’t happen because Boise State and Washington State won behind them, but the Broncos are unbeaten in the MAC. Row the dang boat towards New Year’s Day, P.J. Fleck.
23. Boise State – Those other Broncos that know how to crash the New Year’s party won again against San Jose State this weekend.
24. Baylor – Can you be any more embarrassing than what you were on Saturday against TCU, Baylor? The Bears barely hang inside the top 25. If they do fall out, it shouldn’t come as a surprise.
25. Washington State – Mike Leach’s bunch beat Arizona, 69-7 (nice). The Apple Cup is going to be lit this year.
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Let the arguing before the actual rankings come out begin.