If USC and TCU had won this week, I was not going to skip a ranking and instead write about what a 12 team playoff would have looked like, but since those two decided to make my life more difficult, another week of rankings is here! I am going to mention teams wins over ranked opponents (these are my rankings, not the AP or CFP). I will also note wins against unranked teams, who may have been ranked before or after the game.
- Georgia (13-0)–#1–W 50-30 #11 LSU–The Bulldogs crushed the Tigers. I feel like they stopped playing defense after the third quarter.
Ranked Wins: 3
Borderline Ranked Wins: 2 - Michigan (13-0)–#2–W 43-22 #22 Purdue–The Wolverines running game just wears teams down. It will be interesting to see how they stack up against Georgia (if they play each other).
Ranked Wins: 3
BRW: 3 - TCU (12-1)–#3–L 31-28 OT #10 Kansas State–The committee got it right by keeping TCU in the top four. I cannot justify taking them out for losing5 to a team they beat once, and they lost in OT by going for the win.
Ranked Wins: 5
BRW: 1 - Ohio State (11-1)–#5–OFF–The Buckeyes move into the top four.
Ranked Wins: 2
BRW: 3 - Alabama (10-2)–#6–OFF–I am sorry, but being the fourth-best SEC team by conference record does not get you into the playoffs. I could see if they were second in their division behind an undefeated conference champ (like Ohio State). Also, stop scheduling that FCS game in the final weeks of the season. You cannot brag about playing well at the end of the year when your next to last game was Austin Peay.
Ranked Wins: 3
BRW: 2 - Penn State (10-2)–#7–OFF–My argument for Penn State being ranked this high still stands. They are a very good team, and they have gotten better all year. I am glad they are playing Utah in the Rose Bowl (I think the Nittany Lions defense would handle USC similarly to the way the Utes did).
Ranked Wins: 0
BRW: 5 - Tennessee (10-2)–#9–OFF–If Hooker were healthy, I would probably have the Vols at #5.
Ranked Wins: 3
BRW: 2 - Utah (10-3)–#15–W 47-24 #4 USC–A very up-and-down season for the Utes.
Ranked Wins: 3
BRW: 2 - Kansas State (10-3)–#10–W 31-28 #3 TCU–The Wildcats were the team in my Top 25 the least.
Ranked Wins: 3
BRW: 2 - USC (11-2)–#4–L 47-24 #15 Utah
Ranked Wins: 2
BRW: 3 - Clemson (11-2)–#12–W 39-10 UNC–The ACC was over ranked all year. I am just as guilty as the AP & Coaches polls. I had Pitt, Miami, Wake Forest, Louisville, and Syracuse all ranked at different points in the season.
Ranked Wins: 3
BRW: 4 - Washington (10-2)–#8–OFF–Meh, one of their ranked wins was against Michigan State when we thought they were good.
Ranked Wins: 2
BRW: 2 - Florida State (9-3)–#13–OFF
Ranked Wins: 0
BRW: 5 - Oregon (9-3)–#14–OFF
Ranked Wins: 3
BRW: 1 - Tulane (11-2)–#20–W 45-28 UCF–The Green Wave beat Kansas State, Cincinnati, and everyone else in the AAC. How did they lose to Southern Miss? I mean, I get losing to UCF, then avenging that loss, but Southern Miss…
Ranked Wins: 1
BRW: 3 - LSU (9-4)–#11–L 50-30 #1 Georgia
Ranked Wins: 2
BRW: 3 - Oregon State (9-3)–#16–OFF
Ranked Wins: 2
BRW: 2 - South Carolina (8-4)–#17–OFF
Ranked Wins: 3
BRW: 1 - Texas (8-4)–#18–OFF
Ranked Wins: 1
BRW: 3 - Troy (11-2)–#25–W 45-26 Coastal Carolina
Ranked Wins: 0
BRW: 1 - UTSA (11-2)–#23–W 48-27 North Texas
Ranked Wins: 0
BRW: 0 - UCLA (9-3)–#18–OFF
Ranked Wins: 2
BRW: 0 - Notre Dame (8-4)–#21–OFF
Ranked Wins: 3
BRW: 1 - Mississippi State (8-4)–HM–OFF
Ranked Wins: 1
BRW: 2 - South Alabama (10-2)–HM–OFF
Ranked Wins: 0
BRW: 0
Honorable Mention
James Madison (8-3)–HM–OFF–1 big win against a ranked opponent
Cincinnati (9-3)–NR–OFF
Ole Miss (8-4)–NR–OFF–1 win against UK who was ranked
NC State (8-4)–NR–OFF–3 ranked wins…but ACC ranked wins, do they count?
Purdue (8-5)–#22–L 43-22 #2 Michigan–No ranked wins, but 3 BRWs
Watch List
Toledo (8-5)–NR–W 17-7 Ohio–MAC CHAMPS! I hope they destroy Liberty
Fresno State (9-4)–NR–W 28-16 #24 Boise State–MWC Champs, they are playing well at the right time
UCF (9-4)–HM–L 45-28 #20 Tulane
Coastal Carolina (9-3)–NR–L 45-26 #25 Troy
Ohio (9-4)–NR–L 17-7 Toledo
It is now bowl season, which means you will be getting my Bowl Predictions in a few days. Definitely the best betting guide out there. You do not want to miss it!
