Minnesota and Baylor are no longer undefeated but Alabama had the biggest loss of the week, in a win, with Tua Tagovailoa’s season-ending injury that will have a big effect on the new College Football Playoff rankings.
It was another wild Saturday in college football, despite a lack of upset-minded action for most of the top 10 entering the week. However, certain events that occurred this week for a certain team makes the top 10 College Football Playoff rankings tough to figure out.
The big games of the week delivered once again. Earlier on Saturday, the undefeated Minnesota Golden Gophers traveled to Kinnick Stadium to play Iowa, a place where ranked teams don’t fare well in November. The trend continued, with the Hawkeyes upsetting the Gophers 23-19. This loss will push Minnesota out of the top 10.
The Baylor Bears are also undefeated no more. Despite a 28-3 lead (expect the jokes and memes to commence) early, the Bears couldn’t hang on, as the Oklahoma Sooners roared back and won on a late field goal, 34-31.
The biggest news, however, is the season-ending injury to Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He has a dislocated hip and a posterior wall fracture, similar to the injury Bo Jackson suffered in the NFL. His injury will likely end Alabama’s hopes for a sixth straight playoff appearance.
Let’s take a look at how the top 10 might look come Tuesday evening.
1. LSU Tigers
The Tigers weren’t perfect in their 58-37 win over Ole Miss fresh off their biggest win of the decade over the Crimson Tide. However, the offense still looked great with Burrow at the helm (489 yards passing, five touchdowns) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushing for 172 yards. This Tigers team is just different and continues to pile up quality wins. No one will want to face this offense in the playoff.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
It was a little surprising to see the Buckeyes allow 21 points to Rutgers, but the game was over pretty quick in Piscataway, New Jersey this week. Justin Fields threw four touchdowns and J.K. Dobbins ran for a pair as the Buckeyes put up 56 points on the road. Ohio State has been perhaps the most complete team, but now they face Penn State and Michigan in the next two weeks, by far their biggest tests. It will be good to have Chase Young back.
3. Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers look better every week down the stretch this season, and it continued against Wake Forest Saturday. They dominated the Demon Deacons 52-3 with Trevor Lawrence leading the way (21/27, 272 yards, four TDs) and a defense coming up with two picks. Their strength of schedule will keep them firmly in third, but they are all but guaranteed to go undefeated.
4. Georgia Bulldogs
A lot of people thought that Auburn could be a trap game for the Bulldogs, but they came out on top, 21-14. Jake Fromm was pretty pedestrian in this one, throwing for just 110 yards on 13-of-29 passing, but D’Andre Swift was the difference, gaining 106 yards on 17 carries. The Bulldogs defense also made life difficult for freshman Bo Nix.
5. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks are still perfect in the Pac 12, downing lowly Arizona in a Pac-12 after dark blowout. They move up a spot because of Alabama’s uncertainty and are in a prime spot to make the playoff with Georgia playing LSU in the SEC title game.
6. Oklahoma Sooners
A huge win for the Oklahoma Sooners this week gets them back up near the playoff cutoff line. Winning in Waco against undefeated Baylor should carry some weight, especially without wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
7. Alabama Crimson Tide
The loss of Tua Tagovailoa really hurts Alabama’s playoff chances. They beat Mississippi State 38-7, but with Mac Jones at quarterback, it’s not unreasonable to think they could lose to Auburn in two weeks. It’s also not unreasonable to think they win by 21 either.
8. Utah Utes
Utah continues to win, but they drop a couple of spots. I don’t think this team is as good as Oklahoma or Oregon, even after their 49-3 win over UCLA. This team just isn’t as balanced, and I think they will lose to the Ducks in the Pac-12 title game.
9. Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State hung on at home against the surprisingly good Indiana Hoosiers 34-27. Next week is make or break for this team as they travel to Columbus to play Ohio State. Win that game, and their playoff path is set.
10. Florida Gators
The 10 spot is a difficult one, but since both Minnesota and Baylor dropped games this week, it’s hard to put either of them at this spot. The Gators don’t really have a shot at the playoff, but they are the best team of those competing for this spot right now.
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