‘Bama is clearly on top with Clemson a close #2. Judgment games are on tap this week for Ohio State, Fresno State, and Utah.
1. Alabama [9-0]
The Tide flexed its muscles against LSU last week, shutting out the Tigers 29-0. It was Tua’s worst performance this season–25/42 for 295 yards. Go figure!
2. Clemson [9-0]
Clemson is really the only team I see beating Alabama. Dominant by any measure, the Tigers dropped 77 on woeful Louisville last week. They have an FBS-leading 86% chance of making The Playoff.
3. Notre Dame [9-0]
I’m not liking the vibe I’m getting from this Irish team. It’s the same feeling that I had about the 2012 squad. Is this team really good enough to make The Playoff?
4. Michigan [8-1] (+1)
If it weren’t for that head-to-head loss to Notre Dame, the Wolverines could easily place 2nd behind ‘Bama. Michigan has the nation’s best defense overall and its offense is playing very well at just the right time.
5. Georgia [8-1] (+1)
This is the Georgia team we were waiting to see. Dominance was shown with a 34-17 thumping road win at Kentucky in a game where UGA had 331 yards rushing (!!!).
6. Oklahoma [8-1] (+1)
The Sooners avoided a road upset from a pretty good Texas Tech squad. The Kyler Murray show continues. He leads the nation in passing efficiency and places 2nd in points responsible for.
7. West Virginia [7-1] (+2)
The Mountaineers are finally playing like the team we were waiting to see. The signature road victory at Texas means WVU controls its own destiny in the Big XII race.
8. Washington State [8-1] (+4)
It might’ve not been pretty, but the ‘Cougs got revenge on a Cal team that beat them last year. WSU is now one of only nine teams that has a chance of making The Playoff. QB Gardner Minshew (and his mustache) is beginning to get the Heisman attention he deserves.
9. LSU [7-2] (-5)
While the ‘Bama loss was ugly, the Tigers’ resume is still great–especially now that Georgia is a lock for Atlanta. Now two tune-up games precede a road test against A&M. That game will likely decide if LSU will play in New Year’s Six bowl game.
10. Central Florida [8-0] (-2)
This isn’t the same UCF team it was a year ago. UCF is struggling against teams that last year’s squad would have beaten by thirty. It’s not a strong schedule, either. That’s why they’ll be left out of The Playoff.
11. Ohio State [8-1]
What is going on with these Buckeyes? Beating 2-6 Nebraska by five points wasn’t impressive. Worse yet, it’s possible OSU could drop two, or even all three, of its remaining games. Michigan State is first up.
12. Kentucky [7-2] (-3)
The Wildcats lost their chance for a first SEC Championship game appearance. Still, though, a major bowl game isn’t out of the question. Josh Allen and his top-10 scoring defense keep UK in any game.
13. Fresno State [8-1] (+4)
There was a time when I couldn’t understand why Fresno State had such a high FPI. Now I know! The Bulldogs are Top-25 team in offensive efficiency and rank #10 in defensive efficiency. But can this team get out of Boise with a win?
14. Utah State [8-1] (+4)
I like to think of USU as Fresno State’s polar opposite. These teams are in different divisions and win in different ways, but they both win big. The Aggies are #2 in scoring offense and #3 in scoring margin.
15. Boston College [7-2] (+6)
The Eagles are a well-balanced team overall, but I think they’ll still have trouble this Saturday when they host Clemson. Sophomore tailback AJ Dillon is 4th in the country in rushing YPG.
16. Syracuse [7-2] (NR)
Perhaps that close game against Clemson wasn’t a fluke after all. Eric Dungey and the Orange’s 8th-best scoring offense are gashing defenses. That means the game in two weeks v. Notre Dame has gone from potential yawner to game to watch.
17. Mississippi State [6-3] (+7)
In the past two games, MSU got what it had been looking for–Nick Fitzgerald’s mojo is back. His rejuvenation complements a defense might be the SEC’s best.
18. Iowa State [5-3] (+7)
2018 is a continuation of what we saw last year out of the Cyclones (2017 upsets over OU and TCU). The 2018 version is on a roll with Brock Purdy under center. And ISU leads the conference (9th in the FBS) in defensive efficiency.
19. Texas [6-3] (-3)
The Longhorns last-second loss to WVU doesn’t bode well for the future–not with games v. Texas Tech and ISU on the horizon. That drum-beating win over OU seems like ancient history now.
20. Florida [6-3] (-7)
The Missouri loss was (let’s put it this way) flat-out inexcusable. But UF still has two wins over ranked SEC foes and reaching 10 wins is still very doable.
21. Washington [6-3] (NR)
The Huskies not only return to my rankings, they also remain alive in the Pac-12 North race. The Apple Cup game against cross-state rival WSI should decide who goes to Santa Clara. Don’t count out the Huskies. They rank 9th in scoring defense.
22. Michigan State [6-3] (NR)
MSU is playing its best ball at just the right time. With the nation’s best rushing defense and 5th-best in defensive efficiency, these Spartans can still make some noise.
23. Penn State [6-3] (-9)
Major bowl hopes have been erased by losses to OSU, MSU and, now, that a pitiful game against Michigan. The goal now is 10 wins.
24. Utah [6-3] (-9)
Last week’s performance against Arizona State was not what you’d expect from a team that’s supposed to be great defensively. Worse yet, the loss now puts winning the division in doubt. This team now needs to bounce back against Oregon.
25. NC State [6-2] (NR)
The Wolfpack has a solid win over Boston College and all the remaining games look manageable. I like NC State’s offense–9th in passing offense with Ryan Finley 12th in completion percentage.
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Others Receiving Votes: UAB, Northwestern, Cincinnati, Wisconsin, Purdue, Auburn, Iowa.
