New Years' Six Bowls Graphic by the College Football Playoff
Week 6 CFB Top 25 Rankings
The rankings are if the season ended today. But the bowl projections are how I think the future will shake out the rest of the season. In my rankings, wins, and losses count. I will try my best to be consistent about this and never rank a team with two losses above a team with one loss, unless head-to-head results say otherwise.
These rankings are how well a team is playing and how well they have played. Things like being undefeated count and will count all year. Plenty of one-loss teams who are top ten in talent and where they will finish aren’t here. There are certainly teams ranked that would lose to them, but those teams at the moment are having better seasons by having won all their games.
1. Michigan (5-0) (Last Week #1. Ranked #2 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
I was afraid of this with this team, once they get past their slow starts, watch out. Well, they didn’t start slow as they crushed Nebraska today. While it is true their toughest games are ahead of them, so is their best play. While McCarthy and Corum aren’t putting up the stats like many thought, Roman Wilson is playing as the best receiver in the Big Ten right now.
2. Georgia (5-0) (Last Week #2. Ranked #1 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
They had a tough test at Jordan-Hare but Georgia leaned on Brock Bowers and got it done. I think this says more about Auburn being further a long than expected than about Georgia being behind. Like Michigan though, their toughest games are still in front of them and they’ll need to play better to win them. Especially against Kentucky next week.
3. Florida State (4-0) (Last Week #3. Ranked #5 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
The idle Seminoles stay where they were last week and look forward to hosting Virginia Tech to open October.  
4. Penn State (5-0) (Last Week #4. Ranked #6 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
Despite having a few too many slow starts on offense this season including against Northwestern, Penn State is an elite football team. Their defense is leading the way and if their offense starts to get going earlier in games, watch out for James Franklin’s team. I also think their win over West Virginia is aging well.
5. Texas (5-0) (Last Week #5. Ranked #3 and #4 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
There’s a theme here with many of these top teams. Michigan, Georgia, Penn State, and Texas all have a tendency to start slow and then steam roll their opponents. Texas beat a solid Kansas squad by grinding them under. The Longhorns offense is powerful with both the pass and the run, and that’s dangerous for teams playing Texas.
6. Ohio State (4-0) (Last Week #6. Ranked #4 and # in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Ohio State was idle and like Georgia get a sneaky division opponent who is 5-0 and dangerous next week in Maryland.
7. Oregon (5-0) (Last Week #8. Ranked #8 and #9 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
They jumped USC because of how both teams played against Colorado. USC let the Buffaloes hang around all game, the Ducks had crushed them by halftime. Oregon, USC, and Washington’s rankings right now are moot because they’ll all play each other and get this sorted out on the field. As of now I like the Ducks as a more complete team.
8. USC (5-0) (Last Week #7. Ranked #9 and #7 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Trojans can score a lot of points, but unfortunately, give up a lot of points too. They gave up 41 points and 564 yards to a team Oregon held to six points and 199 yards. That’s why I have the Ducks jumping the Trojans. For now.
9. Washington (5-0) (Last Week #9. Ranked #7 and #8 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Though the win over Arizona was tighter than anyone expected they still won behind the left arm of Michael Penix and his continued Heisman candidacy. The Huskies will have a week off before a match up with their rival the Oregon Ducks.
10. North Carolina (4-0) (Last Week #11. Ranked #14 and #13 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Tar Heels were idle and will face Syracuse next week.
11. Oklahoma (5-0) (Last Week #12. Ranked #12 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
Oklahoma got caught looking ahead to Texas… And they still put up 50 and won by 30 points. The Red River Shootout next week is going to be a 50/50 game and so much fun! I know it’s a rivalry almost always played at noon, but some of these nooners need to be played under the lights.
12. Louisville (5-0) (Last Week #15. Ranked #25 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
Louisville won a game they should have lost. After a lousy first half they bounced back with a second that was enough to get them to 5-0 and their best start since 2013.
13. Washington State (4-0) (Last Week #16. Ranked #13 and #14 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Washington State was idle this week and will travel to UCLA next week to battle the Bruins.
14. Maryland (5-0) (Last Week #17. Unranked in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
I don’t do this much, but I’m making a prediction. Maryland will upset, either Ohio State, Penn State, or Michigan. With Taulia Tagovailoa they have a chance and it wouldn’t be a surprise to me if they got one of the Big Ten’s big three.
15. Missouri (5-0) (Last Week #18. Ranked #21 and #22 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Tigers are 5-0 after beating Vandy and will welcome LSU to town next. The Baton Rouge Tigers are wounded, being at 3-2 (1-1) and this Battle of Tigers will be a tough one.
16. Miami (4-0) (Last Week #19. Ranked #17 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
Miam was idle this week and will take on Georgia Tech next Saturday.
17. Kentucky (5-0) (Last Week #21. Ranked #20 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
Ray Davis must have tired shoulders from carrying Kentucky on his back and tired feet from running all over the Gators. The Wildcats are 5-0 behind his 26 carries for 280 yards and four total touchdowns against Florida.
18. Fresno State (5-0) (Last Week #22. Ranked #24 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Bulldogs are leading Group of 5 team this season and have the second longest winning streak in the nation behind only Georgia. They beat Nevada but have a stiffer test next with traveling to the mountains to face Wyoming.
19. Liberty (4-0) (Last Week #23. Unranked in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
Liberty was idle this week and will play Sam Houston State on Saturday.
20. Air Force (5-0) (Last Week #24. Unranked in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
What else can you say about Air Force other than that they run the dang ball! They have a week off before locking horns with Wyoming, another Mountain West team with a love for the ground attack and tough football too. I’m looking forward to that one!
21. Marshall (4-0) (Last Week #25. Unranked in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
The leaders of the Sun Belt get their biggest test next when they battle N.C. State. Unlike Virginia Tech, they have to go on the road to this ACC foe who’s only loss was to Notre Dame.
22. James Madison (5-0) (Last Week Unranked. Unranked in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Dukes are 5-0 after 8-3 last year and the rules that when an FCS team jumps to the FBS they are ineligible for the postseason for two years is another stupid. It’s another reason why the NCAA is in need of a massive overhaul.
23. Alabama (4-1) (Last Week Unranked. Ranked #11 and #10 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Bama hasn’t been winning pretty, but that’s never been a requirement of a Nick Saban team. They travel to College Station and Kyle Field to take on Texas A&M in a must-win game for both teams.
24. Notre Dame (4-1) (Last Week Unranked. Ranked #10 and #11 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Irish did to Duke, what Ohio State did to Notre Dame. Controlled the first half, and withstood a tough rally, only to win in the closing seconds of the game. Things don’t get any easier for the Irish as they head south across the Ohio River to play a 5-0 Louisville.
25. Oregon State (4-1) (Last Week Unranked. Ranked #15 and #16 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Oregon State had one of the best wins of the weekend. No one else beat a team as highly ranked as the Utah team the Beaves defeated. Up next for them, a road trip to Berkley to take on Cal.
Games of the Week
Ole Miss vs. LSU
Colorado vs. USC
And this insane play from UCF vs. Baylor.
Rose Bowl (Semi-Final) – Michigan vs. Texas
Sugar Bowl (Semi-Final) – Georgia vs. Florida State
Cotton Bowl – Washington vs. Notre Dame
Orange Bowl – Alabama vs. Penn State
Fiesta Bowl – USC vs. Fresno State
Peach Bowl – Ohio State vs. Oklahoma
National Championship – Georgia over Michigan
On the Radar:
Group of Five Contenders:
Tulane
Wyoming
Texas State
Memphis
One-loss Teams Who Will be Back:
Ole Miss
West Virginia
Kansas
Tennessee
Kansas State
Texas A&M
UCLA
Duke
Utah
BYU (I hope)
