1. Michigan State (4-0)
Last week: 1
Last game: Beat Central Michigan, 30-10
Next up: Saturday vs. Purdue
Another Directional Michigan win for the Spartans, who are trying to complete their set so they can show them off to their friends and trade them all for Pokemon cards.
2. Ole Miss (4-0)
Last week: 2
Last game: Beat Vanderbilt, 27-16
Next up: Saturday at Florida
That Vanderbilt defense isn’t half bad, honestly. And there was sure to be a bit of a deflated feeling after getting so up for that Alabama game the week before. It’s a two-score win over a conference opponent, and the Rebs can turn their attention to Florida, which is another big test to see if Ole Miss really is the Playoff contender we think they are.
3. Notre Dame (4-0)
Last week: 3
Last game: Beat Massachusetts, 62-27
Next up: Saturday at Clemson
Here it is for the Fighting Irish. Another chance to add to their already impressive early-season resumé, and a shot at a big road win over a pretty impressive team. Notre Dame has handled every test in its path so far, but it’s not even October, and #FinalNDestination is a real problem. Otherwise, they’re going to have to pull players from Holy Cross College, and oh wait, that’s the plot of Rudy. Shoot, I’m sorry. That’s $.25 in the bad reference jar.
4. UCLA (4-0)
Last week: 4
Last game: Beat Arizona, 56-30
Next up: Saturday vs. Arizona State
The Myles Jack news is a killer, and it’s bad for everyone (not just Bruins fans), but it seems as though the elite talent and depth UCLA has built up is starting to make a difference. The Bruins had no problem at all with Arizona and looked like another level of team. Freshman Josh Rosen had a good game, we’ve talked about Paul Perkins before, and the defense has enough speed to give teams fits.
5. Ohio State (4-0)
Last week: 5
Last game: Beat Western Michigan, 38-12
Next up: Saturday at Indiana
I’m starting to think this whole quarterback controversy is an elaborate troll job and Andy Kaufman is going to suit up for the Buckeyes, take his helmet off, and yell “THE PRESTIGE” when Ohio State plays Michigan.
6. Baylor (3-0)
Last week: 7
Last game: Beat Rice, 70-17
Next up: Saturday vs. Texas Tech (at Jerry World)
The Bears get their first chance to separate themselves from TCU a little bit by playing Texas Tech the week after the Horned Frogs needed some Trevone Boykin magic to pull out the win in Lubbock. Make it look easy, and the Bears get the slight edge in this fun season-long (or is it two seasons now?) comparison between the two programs who swear they aren’t a rivalry. Struggle, or drop it, and the Frogs pull ahead in a big way.
7. TCU (4-0)
Last week: 6
Last game: Beat Texas Tech, 55-52
Next up: Saturday vs. Texas
First thing’s first, Josh Doctson demands your attention. The senior has 593 yards and six touchdowns through just four games, which puts him on the fun and always wonderful pace of 2372 yards and 24 touchdowns over a 12-game season. Also, TCU and UCLA are going to sit in some sort of support group circle with Notre Dame pretty soon where everyone cries on each other’s shoulders over injuries. Maybe they can do a weird college football ride sharing service and lend players to areas of need.
8. Georgia (3-0)
Last week: 8
Last game: Beat Southern, 48-6
Next up: Saturday vs. Alabama
The Dawgs are going to have 600 credentialed media, which is neat. They’re also slight favorites, which is maybe not as neat. Georgia has a bit of a reputation as being a dropper like Chandler Bing when the pressure’s on, and they might not necessarily want all that spotlight (it can be blinding). We spend most of the first month-plus of the season saying we don’t know anything, but we might know something if Georgia can look impressive at home.
9. Clemson (3-0)
Last week: 10
Last game: Beat Louisville, 20-17
Next up: Saturday vs. Notre Dame
Saturday night. GameDay in town. If there’s ever a time for the Tigers’ offense to get it right and show the world what they can do (and what they’ve been holding back through the first few weeks of the season), it’s now.
10. Utah (4-0)
Last week: 17
Last game: Beat Oregon, 62-20
Next up: Oct. 10 vs. Cal
Utah’s dismantlement of Oregon was about as impressive of a win as we’ve seen through the early goings. They did it in all three phases of the game, and Tom Hackett almost finally destroyed the robot rebellion in the process.
11. Alabama (3-1)
Last week: 11
Last game: Beat Louisiana-Monroe, 34-0
Next up: Saturday at Georgia
If Alabama wins, expect a whole bunch of “The Tide can still play their way into the Playoff” stories.
If Alabama loses, expect another round of “The Alabama dynasty is over; is Nick Saban’s time in Tuscaloosa finally running out” stories.
12. LSU (3-0)
Last week: 12
Last game: Beat Syracuse, 34-24
Next up: Saturday vs. Eastern Michigan
No word yet on whether or not LSU did, in fact, drink Syracuse dry like the bugs from Starship Troopers, but everyone came away unscathed and Leonard Fournette did Leonard Fournette things.
13. Oklahoma (3-0)
Last week: 13
Last game: Beat Tulsa, 58-32
Next up: Saturday vs. West Virginia
If TCU-Texas Tech was our first Big 12 shootout of the year, this week’s game between Oklahoma and West Virginia could match that – and then some. I hope you like points. I know I do.
14. Florida State (3-0)
Last week: 15
Last game: Beat Boston College, 14-0
Next up: Saturday vs. Wake Forest
The ‘Noles had a bye week before their vaunted date against Wake Forest, and this is as good a time as any to see what Everett Golson can really do. Keeping him in the garage and driving him around the block once in awhile when the weather is really nice isn’t the reason you went all the way to South Bend to pick him up. Take him on the highway, and let the wind flow through your wispy wonderful hair, Jimbo.
15. Texas A&M (4-0)
Last week: 14
Last game: Beat Arkansas, 28-21
Next up: Saturday vs. Mississippi State
The Aggies did what better teams are supposed to do; they found a way to win over Arkansas. Burn the tape, and look ahead to a sneakily scrappy Mississippi State team that can hit some home runs on you.
16. Northwestern (4-0)
Last week: 18
Last game: Beat Ball State, 24-19
Next up: Saturday vs. Minnesota
Somehow, the Wildcats managed to avoid the upset at the hands of Ball State after all that national media attention from Uproxx Sports last week. The main thing is the main thing, and the main thing is Northwestern drowning out all the noise and focusing on the future. Taking it one game at a time, one play at a time, and visualizing that goal.
17. Stanford (3-1)
Last week: 20
Last game: Beat Oregon State, 42-24
Next up: Saturday vs. Arizona
This one could be trouble for the Cardinal, or it could signify that we really do need to take them seriously as a Pac-12 contender. I do like the idea of Stanford having a great season, but only losing to teams named the Wildcats over the course of the year. Everybody has a kryptonite.
18. USC (3-1)
Last week: 21
Last game: Beat Arizona State, 42-14
Next up: Oct. 8 vs. Washington
The Trojans took care of business and did what they needed to do against Arizona State. They get a bunch of time off to watch Cody Kessler’s five touchdown passes against the Sun Devils, and Kessler can play Call of Duty with his friends Adoree and JuJu. What a time to be alive.
19. West Virginia (3-0)
Last week: 22
Last game: Beat Maryland, 45-6
Next up: Saturday at Oklahoma
Usually when you take a 38-0 lead into halftime, you win the game. West Virginia helped to prove that theorem against Maryland in Week 4. The Mountaineers had more than 600 yards of offense, which is pretty good, I think, but what do I know?
20. Wisconsin (3-1)
Last week: NR
Last game: Beat Hawaii, 28-0
Next up: Saturday vs. Iowa
The Big Ten’s dominance of Hawaii continues in impressive fashion. You may have the Midwest in weather, but the Midwest can completely crush your island-living ways by running the dang ball.
21. Toledo (3-0)
Last week: 24
Last game: Beat Arkansas State, 37-7
Next up: Saturday at Ball State
It’s been 10 years since Toledo started a season 3-0. The coach back then? “Toledo Tom” Amstutz!
22. Oklahoma State (4-0)
Last week: NR
Last game: Beat Texas, 30-27
Next up: Saturday vs. Kansas State
You’re getting a lot of fun jokes about Walt Anderson being “generally pleased” with the officiating in the Oklahoma State vs. Texas game. And officiating aside, the Cowboys have to be generally pleased with their 4-0 start, although 5-0 (and a win over always-pesky Kansas State) would be even better. Would that make it relatively pleased?
23. California (4-0)
Last week: NR
Last game: Beat Washington, 30-24
Next up: Saturday vs. Washington State
Cal has a winnable game against Washington State this week, and then the fun starts. Their next three: at Utah, at UCLA, vs. USC. Time to grow up fast, Baby Bears!
24. Michigan (3-1)
Last week: NR
Last game: Beat BYU, 31-0
Next up: Saturday at Maryland
I had this to say about Michigan on Saturday:
https://twitter.com/martinrickman/status/647821994671611904
Harbaugh is a good football coach. I think we already knew that, though, didn’t we?
25. Temple (3-0)
Last week: 25
Last game: Beat Massachusetts, 25-23
Next up: Thursday at Charlotte
I’m so so so so so so so so so upset I’m not in town for this so I could see Temple live and in person against the mighty 49ers. Next time.
Next Five: Iowa, Mississippi State, Houston, Florida, Animal ER Vets
