College Football Power Rankings: Ohio State, TCU Survive Road Tests
By Reed Wallach
Several unbeaten teams hit the road this week in hopes of bolstering their College Football Playoff candidacy and left even closer to the top four.
The College Football Playoff Rankings will be released on Tuesday night and teams such as Ohio State and TCU made a compelling case to the committee as to why they deserve to be in the top four, both winning on the road. Can the Horned Frogs continue to run the table through a competitive Big 12 and make a push for a CFP berth?
Let's rank the top 25 based on National Championship odds:
2022 College Football Power Rankings
1. Ohio State (+220)
The Buckeyes won at Penn State, 44-31, behind a complete effort on both sides of the ball. This was the toughest road test for the Buckeyes, who will be double digit favorites in every remaining game this season.
Next Week: @ Northwestern
2. Georgia (+190)
The Bulldogs held serve in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, hanging 42 on a listless Florida defense. Now comes the real test for Georgia. They host a Tennessee Vols team that will be the best offense they face all season with Heisman Trophy favorite Hendon Hooker leading the unit.
The Bulldogs are double digit favorites in the game, hinting that they are still rated as the best team in the country, but the margin for error is slim. The winner of next weekends game will control their own destiny to the No. 1 seed in the CFP.
Next Week: Tennessee
3. Clemson (+1600)
BYE
Next Week: @ Notre Dame
4. Tennessee (+1200)
There has been no let up from this Tennessee offense, who destroyed Kentucky in Knoxville, 44-6 for a final tune up for the big game in Georgia next week. Hooker has emerged as the Heisman Trophy favorite as the Vols have the most impressive resume to date and Hooker's numbers compare nicely to C.J. Stroud of Ohio State.
Next Week: @ Georgia
5. Alabama (+300)
BYE
Next Week: @ LSU
6. Michigan (+1600)
Michigan's defense overwhelmed Michigan State in Ann Arbor, a 29-7 win for the Wolverines. The Spartans averaged less than five yards per play while Michigan ran for 276 yards in the win.
Next Week: @ Rutgers
7. TCU (+8000)
The Horned Frogs continued to find ways to win, holding off West Virginia's second half comeback bid with timely defense and a late score that capped off the 41-31 victory.
TCU has one of the strongest resumes in the country, and I'm fascinated to see how the committee factors in their record with the fact that they had to rally late in games to win. Max Duggan continues to put up massive numbers at quarterback, passing for 341 yards in the win.
Next Week: Texas Tech
8. Oregon (+4000)
The Ducks didn't have any letdown against a lowly Cal team on Saturday, winning 42-24 behind Bo Nix's 412 passing yards and six combined touchdowns.
Next Week: @ Colorado
9. USC (+6000)
USC broke the 40-point barrier for the sixth time in eight games this season, beating Arizona 45-37 keeping them well in the hunt for a PAC-12 Championship game appearance.
Next Week: Cal
10. Ole Miss (+10000)
Ole Miss bounced back after a double digit loss to LSU, holding off Texas A&M 31-28 as small road favorites.
Next Week: BYE
11. UCLA (+20000)
UCLA had little issue with Stanford on Saturday, winning 38-13 while outgaining the Cardinal 523-270 on the game.
Next Week: @ Arizona State
12. North Carolina (+8000)
Quietly, North Carolina has pulled away in the race for the ACC Coastal after pulling away from Pitt in the second half, 42-24. Drake Maye combined for over 400 total yards and had five TD passes in the win as the Tar Heels are 7-1 on the year.
Next Week: @ Virginia
13. Kansas State (+50000)
There were questions about if K-State would have starting quarterback Adrian Martinez under center, but it didn't matter as Will Howard filled in nicely, leading to a 48-0 romp of Oklahoma State, keeping their Big 12 title hopes alive.
A win next week against Texas would go a long way towards K-State punching their ticket to the title game.
Next Week: Texas
14. Utah (+30000)
Cam Rising was a late scratch for the Utes game in Pullman last week against Washington State, but backup Bryson Barnes stepped in and led the Utes to a 21-17 victory.
Next Week: Arizona
15. Illinois (+20000)
Illinois swarmed the Nebraska offense that fell apart after quarterback Casey Thompson left the game with a hand injury, winning 26-9 on the road, moving to 7-1 on the season and in firm control of the Big Ten West.
Next Week: Michigan State
16. Penn State (N/A)
Sean Clifford had four turnovers in the team's 44-31 loss to Ohio State, eliminating the Nittany Lions from any Big Ten or New Years Six Bowl aspirations.
Next Week: @ Indiana
17. Texas (N/A)
BYE
Next Week: @ Kansas State
18. Oklahoma State (N/A)
The Cowboys looked gassed from the jump against a physical Kansas State team, losing 48-0 in Manhattan, Kansas. After a thrilling past few games against the likes of Baylor, TCU and Texas, Spencer Sanders and co. couldn't hold up their end of the bargain.
19. LSU (N/A)
BYE
Next Week: Alabama
20. Wake Forest (N/A)
Nothing went Wake's way in Louisville on Saturday, turning the ball over eight times in the 48-21 loss. A second loss in ACC play is going to be a blow to any sort of outside hopes of making the ACC Championship game for the second straight season.
Next Week: @ North Carolina State
21. Tulane (N/A)
BYE
Next Week: @ Tulsa
22. UCF (N/A)
John Rhys Plumlee left the UCF's game against Cincinnati with a concussion in the first half, but Mikey Keene was able to lead a touchdown drive in the final two minutes to win the game for the Knights. JRP's status is something to monitor moving forward as UCF is firmly in the AAC Championship mix.
Next Week: @ Memphis
23. Baylor (N/A)
The Bears have had some late game variance go against them this season, but they left little doubt in Lubbock, Texas on Saturday night, destroying Texas Tech 45-17.
Next Week: @ Oklahoma
24. Oklahoma (N/A)
The Sooners are starting to round into form, now winners of two straight with Dillon Gabriel back from his concussion. While it was a gritty effort against a stout Iowa State defense, only averaging 4.5 yards per play in the 27-13 win, going on the road and getting a victory is huge for a team trying to buiuld some momentum in the back half of the season. OU might be an undervalued group moving forward.
Next Week: Baylor
25. Boise State (N/A)
The Broncos continue to play the best ball in the Mountain West after moving to Taylen Green at quarterback and bringing back former coach Dirk Koetter to run the offense. Boise throttled Colorado State 49-10 at home.
Next Week: BYU
Game and futures odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.