If you’ve followed along with Power Rankings to this point, you’ve noticed a trend. And that trend is that I can’t really make up my mind about who the best team in the country is. It isn’t that I’m doing it to be obnoxious, or even that it has anything to do with me being bad at making decisions (although I am bad at making decisions). It’s more that I think a lot of teams are good, and from week to week little tiny tweaks or performances resonate with me.
Obviously this will all get sorted out in time. Teams are going to lose, and the best teams are going to stand alone. I really don’t believe we’ll have a situation like last year where a couple of teams with strong cases get left out. This year has already seen a good deal of cannibalization among the better teams, and we’re going to be left with the teams who deserve it most.
The week before Florida State lost to Georgia Tech, I talked to a few Seminoles players, and the conversation naturally shifted to rankings. One quote from defensive back Lamarcus Brutus was especially telling.
“It’s cool flying under the radar and not being watched every second of every day,” Brutus said, “but we just have to not pay attention to it. We’re not the ones who make the rankings. There’s nothing we can do about it anyway but win.”
And that’s the bottom line in all of this. Winning is the only thing these teams can control. You can’t control what people think of you, or what the teams you play on your schedule do. And the only way to “worry about winning” is by playing your game. Worry too much, and you forget to play, which is what Jimbo Fisher said after the ‘Noles last-second loss to the Yellow Jackets. Be yourself, and things tend to sort themselves out. Huh, sounds a lot like life, too.
Here are this week’s power rankings.
1. Clemson (7-0)
Last week: 2
Last game: Beat Miami, 58-0
Next up: Saturday at N.C. State
Now Dabo Swinney will disagree because he wanted perfection in this game, but there wasn’t much Clemson did wrong against Miami on Saturday. This was as close to a perfect game as you could play, and although tempers flared up here and there with the Hurricanes getting chippy, the Tigers held the shutout, kept everybody healthy and got to play a ton of young guys. There might not be a more complete team in the country than Clemson right now, and I’m sure you disagree, so you can tell me I’m wrong in the comments and I’ll respectfully entertain your opinion.
2. Ohio State (8-0)
Last week: 5
Last game: Beat Rutgers, 49-7
Next up: Nov. 7 vs. Minnesota
A brief note about the Ohio State defense: If the Buckeyes are making the Playoff again with a chance to defend their title, it’s going to be because of this unit. While last year, the offense got most of the attention and the defense was starkly underrated, this year the defense has taken another step forward. This has allowed the offense to go through its identity crisis, and while the offense is buying a motorcycle and taking up archery, the defense is at home staying true to itself. It’s comforting, and it’s a big part of the reason why the Buckeyes are getting better as the year goes on and slowly starting to find themselves.
3. LSU (7-0)
Last week: 6
Last game: Beat Western Kentucky, 48-20
Next up: Nov. 7 at Alabama
The defense held a potent Western Kentucky attack to 20 points, and Brandon Harris had one of his better games as a starter as LSU stayed undefeated. This is good news. More good news is that the Tigers get a bye week to prepare for Alabama, and they’ll need every second of it before they head to Tuscaloosa in a game that very well could end up deciding which team in the SEC has the inside track at making the College Football Playoff.
4. TCU (7-0)
Last week: 4
Last game: Beat Iowa State, 45-21
Next up: Oct. 29 vs. West Virginia
TCU is chilling in the four spot after its bye week. Even frogs that shoot blood out of their eyes need to sleep sometimes.
5. Baylor (7-0)
Last week: 3
Last game: Beat Iowa State, 45-27
Next up: Nov. 5 at Kansas State
Injuries are going to rob us of one of the best QB-WR pairings in the country in Seth Russell and Corey Coleman, as Russell is now out for the year with a neck injury that will require surgery. Baylor now gets to play next man up, which worked so well for Ohio State last season, and that man is freshman Jarrett Stidham.
Here’s what Briles had to say about the youngster:
“We have confidence in Jarrett,” coach Art Briles said. “He shows maturity beyond his years. He doesn’t act like a freshman or perform like a freshman. He’s a guy that instinctively, athletically is ready to play.”
He’s had some success in limited time, but this is a whole new ballgame. Good thing the Bears have a little bit of time to give him starter’s reps before a Thursday night game in the other Manhattan.
6. Michigan State (7-0)
Last week: 7
Last game: Beat Indiana, 52-26
Next up: Nov. 7 at Nebraska
Through three quarters, the Spartans looked to be in trouble and were leading Indiana, 28-26. Then they rattled off 24 straight points in the fourth quarter to put it away. This is a great sign for Michigan State, which has struggled to put teams away until the very end (and we emphasize very end) most of this season. Could the Michigan game have really re-energized and given confidence to this group? Or is it more a matter of Indiana falling apart down the stretch once again (as it so often has this year)?
7. Alabama (7-1)
Last week: 8
Last game: Beat Tennessee, 19-14
Next up: Nov. 7 vs. LSU
It was a nail-biter, but the Tide pulled out another win over the Volunteers, who were left collectively looking like this:
When you see bae flirting with another guy at the bar: pic.twitter.com/5t6fT89Wbw
— UPROXX Sports (@UPROXXSports) October 24, 2015
Now is Alabama’s chance to vault back up in the Power Rankings (and in the eyes of the committee). Beat LSU next week, and it could be smooth sailing to the Playoff. Lose to the Tigers, and there’s going to be a whole lot of talk about whether Nick Saban is sticking around T-Town (to go with hundreds of unnecessary columns about how he “doesn’t have it anymore” or whatever).
8. Notre Dame (6-1)
Last week: 10
Last game: Beat USC, 41-31
Next up: Oct. 31 at Temple
I’m pretty sure the Fighting Irish did not think their game against Temple would draw GameDay, but this might be a good thing for Notre Dame, who is coming off a bye and needs a little extra motivation. The loss to Clemson was early enough (with Notre Dame banged up) and on the road, and with the schedule Notre Dame plays – just enough quality teams, but not too many elite teams in a row – there’s still an outside chance the Irish could get their way in the Playoff with a little luck (see what I did there?). But a loss to Temple would all but eviscerate those odds.
9. Stanford (6-1)
Last week: 11
Last game: Beat Washington, 31-14
Next up: Saturday at Washington State
The other potential choice for GameDay, Washington State is sneakily 5-2 and an even more important 3-1 in the Pac-12 standings. Stanford’s going to do its best to stop that strong passing game, and continue to feed Christian McCaffrey (who had 300 all-purpose yards against Washington) early and often.
10. Oklahoma State (7-0)
Last week: 12
Last game: Beat Kansas, 58-10
Next up: Saturday at Texas Tech
Regardless of what you think about the Pokes, to be undefeated this far into the season is not luck. This is a well-balanced team that seems to believe in itself more and more as the year goes on. They’ll get a test against Texas Tech in Lubbock this weekend. Make it out of there unscathed and the real fun starts – three of Oklahoma State’s final four games are against TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma.
11. Iowa (7-0)
Last week: 13
Last game: Beat Northwestern, 40-10
Next up: Oct. 31 vs. Maryland
With each passing week, Iowa’s odds of entering the Top 10 increase. Of course this is year one of the UPROXX Sports Power Rankings, so we have no benchmark of comparison. But the last time Iowa was in the Top 10 in the AP Poll before this week? Sept. 12, 2010. Only ’90s kids will remember that.
12. Utah (6-1)
Last week: 2
Last game: Lost to USC, 42-24
Next up: Saturday vs. Oregon State
USC was going to beat a team like Utah at some point. The Trojans were just too talented to skate by and play three quarters of good football every week without finally doing it. Now we’ll see if Utah can bounce back. The Utes had a storybook first half of the season, beating Michigan, Utah State, Oregon, California and Arizona State, and they can still win the Pac-12 if they keep it together. That resume might just be enough – especially if Stanford keeps winning and Utah can beat the Cardinal at Levi’s Stadium.
13. Florida (6-1)
Last week: 14
Last game: Lost to LSU, 35-28
Next up: Oct. 31 vs. Georgia (In Jacksonville)
Florida has had plenty of time to think about the loss to LSU. Now it’s the Cocktail Party, so everyone can celebrate good times come on. The Gators wrap up the SEC East with a win over Georgia, although it’s a rivalry game and in rivalry games weird stuff is prone to happening because teams want it so gosh darned badly.
14. Oklahoma (6-1)
Last week: 15
Last game: Beat Texas Tech, 63-27
Next up: Saturday at Kansas
The Sooners have officially (seemingly) put the Red River disaster behind them, and the offense is looking pretty dang great. Oklahoma has put up 118 points in the two games following the loss in Dallas. Something tells me the Sooners will score a few more against the hapless Jayhawks in Lawrence this weekend.
15. Memphis (7-0)
Last week: 16
Last game: Beat Tulsa, 66-42
Next up: Saturday vs. Tulane
Memphis scored, and kept scoring, and kept scoring against Tulsa in those delightful chrome helmets on Friday night. It was fun for everyone except the bloggers who just wanted the game to end so they could enjoy a few hours of respite before the Saturday chaos. Why won’t anyone ever think of the bloggers?
16. Florida State (6-1)
Last week: 9
Last game: Lost to Georgia Tech, 22-16
Next up: Saturday vs. Syracuse
Let’s go to Bud Elliott one more time to explain the Seminoles’ loss:
“Everyone will focus on the blocked kick, but that wasn’t what lost them the game. Florida State’s chance to win came in the first 20 minutes. They blew that chance due to terrible red zone execution and decision making.”
It’s still worth watching the blocked kick one more time, though.
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17. Michigan (5-2)
Last week: 17
Last game: Lost to Michigan State, 27-23
Next up: Oct. 31 at Minnesota
Hopefully the Wolverines have gotten all their aggression out following the loss to Michigan State. I suggest therapy or yoga, or at least proper diet and plenty of sleep (and don’t forget hydrating). Things are going to be okay. Jim Harbaugh is still a really good coach, and this is one of the better defenses in the country. Michigan has plenty of time to mess up lots of other teams’ seasons.
18. Toledo (7-0)
Last week: 19
Last game: Beat UMass, 51-35
Next up: Nov. 3 vs. NIU
The Rockets stumbled out of the gate against UMass but managed to not only compose themselves and win, but they still covered. Their reward for that recovery and composure? Dropping a spot in the AP Poll. I won’t have it. Toledo moves up a spot in my power rankings because that’s just the kind of guy I am.
19. Duke (6-1)
Last week: 20
Last game: Beat Virginia Tech, 45-43 (4OT)
Next up: Saturday vs. Miami
The Blue Devils kept their Coastal hopes alive after a riveting four overtime win over Virginia Tech on Saturday. Fun was had by all. Okay, maybe not by all. It seems like Virginia Tech fans are a little sad. I wish there was a way for both teams to win sometimes. That’d be nice. That’s a world I want to someday live in.
20. Houston (7-0)
Last week: 22
Last game: Beat UCF, 59-10
Next up: Saturday vs. Vanderbilt
After one quarter, this game was tied 7-7. Then the Cougars outscored the Knights 52-3 the rest of the way. That’s not very nice. But it did keep Houston undefeated and add some style points to a tremendous first seven games for the Cougars, who can add an SEC win this weekend if they beat Vanderbilt. They also have that game against Memphis in a couple weeks looming large. I am currently accepting donations for a plane ticket out there so I can spend time with Houston all week and maybe watch the game with Bun B.
21. Temple (7-0)
Last week: 23
Last game: Beat UCF, 24-14
Next up: Saturday vs. Notre Dame
I was really impressed with Temple’s ability to go into East Carolina, stay focused and grab a win last Thursday. Lots of factors were up against them: road game, ECU’s offense, a Thursday night (things always get weird on Thursdays), and that Notre Dame game sitting in the back of the Owls’ minds. But as we all know, owls can turn their heads all the way around and stuff so they can see everything in front and behind them. Very useful skill when you’re playing football.
22. UNC (6-1)
Last week: 24
Last game: Beat Virginia, 26-13
Next up: Thursday at Pittsburgh
As Coastal Division games go, this one is big. Pittsburgh and UNC have both overachieved to this point in the season (although the Tar Heels would really like back that loss to South Carolina the first week of the season right now), and a win here would clear a path to take on Duke for Coastal Domination and a chance to play either Clemson or Florida State probably. I know you typically avoid ACC games on Thursday nights, but I implore you, watch this one!
23. Ole Miss (6-2)
Last week: NR
Last game: Beat Texas A&M, 23-3
Next up: Saturday at Auburn
Heck of a bounce-back effort by the Rebels to dominate the Aggies on Saturday. The Memphis loss still looks really bad, but Ole Miss technically controls its own destiny right now with a win over Alabama and LSU still to come. The last four are pretty tough – Auburn, Arkansas, LSU and Mississippi State – but Ole Miss gets Arkansas and LSU in Oxford, which should help a bit. Can the Rebs find enough duct tape down the stretch to play their way into Atlanta for a chance at an SEC title?
24. Pittsburgh (6-1)
Last week: NR
Last game: Beat Syracuse, 23-20
Next up: Thursday vs. UNC
So Pitt didn’t exactly look amazing against Syracuse. That’s okay. A win is a win is a win. And another win, this time on Thursday night over North Carolina, would move the Panthers to 7-1 and 5-0 in ACC play. That’s not something we can ignore. Pat Narduzzi lost his all-world running back James Conner early on this season, and he’s found a way to make things work and improve the defense (which is what he’s known for anyway) in the process. While I still think Jim McElwain has the inside track for Coach of the Year honors, Narduzzi is making a really strong case.
25. UCLA (5-2)
Last week: NR
Last game: Beat California, 40-24
Next up: Saturday at Colorado
Josh Rosen’s Pac-12 baptism by fire has seen its share of struggles, but he’s making it out alive and looking good in the process. The freshman phenom had 399 yards and three touchdowns against the Bears, and UCLA – despite all those injuries – could still find a way to win the South if it can win out. That’d mean beating Utah along the way, which is easier said than done. But if that happens, a lot of the credit is likely going to go to Rosen and his continued development.
Next Five: Mississippi State, Wisconsin, USC, Appalachian State, Seat Warmers In Your Car When The Weather Starts To Get A Lot Colder In The Mornings
