College Football Top 10 Ranking: SEC Chaos Shakes Things Up

It’s a new era in college football.

The College football playoff The committee is releasing rankings now, but they won’t be final given the new seeding rules for the 12-team field. But the rankings are still fun and people still get to fight over them. They still matter.

So every weekend, after the dust settles from the games, I release my top 10. Three days later, we’ll see if the CFP committee agrees or disagrees.

1. Oregon (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten)

Oregon found itself on the ropes in Wisconsin last weekend, but the Ducks escaped with a close win over the Badgers. This week, Oregon had a bye week, but its signature win over Ohio State became even more impressive. While it’s fair to question whether this Oregon team is bulletproof after its lackluster performance against Wisconsin, it’s probably just not rational to expect a team to run through the Big Ten without any close calls. Oregon is a lock to make the Playoff and it looks like we’ll get a rematch with the Buckeyes in Indianapolis.
Last week’s ranking: 1

2. Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten)

Ohio State has now beaten two top-five teams since losing by one point on the road at Oregon earlier this season. While people will take more from Indiana than Ohio State after the Buckeyes’ 38-15 win over the Hoosiers, make no mistake: Ryan Day’s team might be the best team in college football. Ohio State still has a lot to prove because it has fallen short on the big stage in the past, but this roster may be the last of a dying breed in terms of having so many good players on the same team. Looks like we’re getting Oregon-Ohio State Part 2. It’s going to be a banger.
Last week’s ranking: 2

3. Texas (10-1, 6-1 SEC)

Texas spent the entire offseason hearing how it wouldn’t be able to survive the SEC schedule. While the Longhorns have undeniably been the favored route, they have beaten every SEC opponent outside of Georgia. Texas has a huge game at Texas A&M next week that will decide a lot of SEC and national title races, but the Longhorns are 10-1 and feel like they can compete with anyone in college football.
Last week’s ranking: 5

4. Penn State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten)

Penn State hit the road for Minnesota on Saturday and were in real danger of losing. But the Nittany Lions got the ball back late in the fourth quarter with a one-point lead, used a fake punt to extend the drive and eventually iced the clock. The only blemish on Penn State’s resume is a home loss to Ohio State. Although the Nittany Lions are outsiders looking into the Big Ten title race, they are firmly in the College Football Playoff with a win over Maryland next weekend.
Last week’s ranking: 4

5. Georgia (9-2, 6-2 SEC)

Since going on the road and getting blown out at Ole Miss, Georgia has responded with two wins. One win was significant (a win over Tennessee) and the other was its blowout of UMass on Saturday. The Bulldogs have been done with SEC play since last weekend, so now they wait to see how the conference race plays out. If Georgia beats Georgia Tech next weekend, it will finish 10-2 and punch its ticket to the College Football Playoff.
Last week’s ranking: 8

6. Tennessee (9-2, 5-2 SEC)

Tennessee may have been the biggest advantage for Indiana and Ole Miss, who lost Saturday. The Volunteers upset UTEP on Saturday, but results in other games helped put them back in the College Football Playoff picture. Tennessee has a difficult game at Vanderbilt next weekend. If the Volunteers win, they will finish 10-2 on the season and likely have a good enough resume to make the 12-team playoff field.
Last week’s ranking: 10

7. Notre Dame (10-1)

Notre Dame played an undefeated Army team Saturday at Yankee Stadium, and it treated the Black Knights the same way it did Navy earlier in the year. Notre Dame proved it is too big, strong, fast and athletic to get caught in a close game with these triple service academy teams, even when they are legitimately very good. People might not take Notre Dame seriously because of the loss at Northern Illinois earlier this year, but it will 100 percent be in the College Football Playoff if it beats USC next week.
Last week’s ranking: 9

8. SMU (10-1, 7-0 ACC)

SMU beat Virginia 33-7 on Saturday. It was the Mustangs’ eighth straight win since losing to BYU in the nonconference. The Mustangs have earned a berth in the ACC Championship in their first year in the power conference. While the ACC may no longer be a one-bid league after Saturday’s debacle, SMU’s resume is still better than Miami’s, which is why it got the nod as the higher-ranked team. But whoever wins the ACC is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs.
Last week’s ranking: 9

9. Indiana (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten)

Indiana came into the weekend with something to prove as it traveled to Columbus to take on Ohio State. However, the Hoosiers lost 38-15. As a result, it also lost in the court of public opinion as it relates to whether they are worthy of a trip to the Playoff. It’s undeniably a tough look to lose by 23 when you’re facing the only elite team on your schedule, but Indiana still deserves credit for starting 10-0. The loss to Ohio State doesn’t negate the fact that the Hoosiers are a very good team. Beating Ohio State isn’t the standard for who gets into the 12-team field. With Ole Miss losing, the Hoosiers still have a shot.
Last week’s ranking: 3

10. Miami (10-1, 6-1 ACC)

It’s only been a few weeks since Miami’s loss to Georgia Tech, but the Hurricanes are still just a one-loss team after beating Wake Forest on Saturday. There may not have been a bigger advantage to all of Saturday’s results than Miami, which may now have two paths into the College Football Playoff. If Miami loses to SMU in the ACC title game, it’s not a foregone conclusion that it would be left out as a two-loss team any longer. With Cam Ward and that offense, Miami still has a chance to make it this postseason.
Last week’s ranking: NO