Graphic by the College Football Playoff
My top 11 teams didn’t move, but 12 through 25 saw lots of changes in where teams are ranked this week! There were some great battles in the Big 12 and the SEC as more teams fell from the ranks of the undefeated.
1. Georgia (3-0) (Last Week #1) (Ranked #2 and #1 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Dawgs had a bye week before they travel to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama on September 28th.
2. Ohio State (3-0) (Last Week #2) (Ranked #3 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
A 49-14 victory and your coach calls it a “mixed bag” and everyone else in the program from the most casual of fans to the starting quarterback would agree with that assessment. That is likely the perception nationally as well. Still, Ohio State won big and is on to Big Ten play, and are seeing their massively talented roster pay off.
3. Texas (3-0) (Last Week #3) (Ranked #1 and #2 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Quinn Ewers sat out healing up his injury from the UTSA game so it was Arch Manning’s first start at Texas. Manning had over 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns. With reeling 1-3 Mississippi State coming to town Texas may just let Arch Manning start again and make sure Quinn Ewers is healthy. He should be more than ready with a bye on October 5th before the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma on the 12th.
4. Oregon (3-0) (Last Week #4) (Ranked #8 and #7 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Ducks had the week off before they start Big Ten play for the first time. First, they travel to the Rose Bowl against familiar foe UCLA. Then the game they have circled, they welcome Ohio State to a Big Ten game on the west coast in the Autzen Zoo.
5. Alabama (3-0) (Last Week #5) (Ranked #4 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Crimson Tide had a bye week before they host Georgia in a first and huge test of the Kalen DeBoer Era.
6. Ole Miss (4-0) (Last Week #6) (Ranked #6 and #5 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Another game of Ole Miss outscoring their opponent by over 30 points. I’ve said this a lot this weekend, but Jaxson Dart is another guy making his name known in the Heisman race. Dart and Lane Kiffin will face a solid test of their offense when they play against a tough Kentucky defense this weekend.
7. Penn State (3-0) (Last Week #7) (Ranked #9 and #8 in the AP and #9 in the Coaches Polls)
PSU overcame a slow start like their Buckeye brethren to win their game with ease. They won by the lopsided score of 56-0 against hapless Kent State. Their non-conference slate is finished and next week they get a resurgent Illinois to try an avenge their 9 OT home loss from 2021 to the Illini.
8. Utah (4-0) (Last Week #8) (Ranked #10 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Utes went on the road and wore down a very game Oklahoma State. This is a win that will age well for the Utes. Without Cam Rising, Isaac Wilson overcame two interceptions to lead Utah to a 22-19 win over Oklahoma State. We could see a rematch of this game in December in the Big 12 Championship.
9. Tennessee (4-0) (Last Week #9) (Ranked #5 and #6 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Vols win over Oklahoma is a great win for them. I know the Sooners are struggling on offense but Tennessee got in a defensive slugfest on the road against a ranked SEC opponent and came out on top. That’s something that hadn’t happened just yet under Josh Heupel. This could be a win almost as important as their upsetting Alabama in 2022. They have another road trip next as they visit Arkansas.
10. Missouri (4-0) (Last Week #10) (Ranked #11 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Mizzou weathered a tough storm from Diego Pavia and Vanderbilt. The Commodores took the Tigers to double overtime and were a missed field goal away from a third. The Tigers next head to Texas to take the Aggies of A&M.
11. Miami (4-0) (Last Week #11) (Ranked #7 and #9 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Like with Alabama, USF gave Miami a good game early (Alex Golesh a coaching name to remember) but there was just too much of Cam Ward and the Hurricane offense. Mario Cristobal and his Heisman candidate quarterback get rival Virginia Tech at home next week before leaving Florida for the first time in October to go to the West Coast to take on a Cal.
12. Louisville (3-0) (Last Week #16) (Ranked #15 and #17 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Cards defeated Georgia Tech 31-19 behind a solid game from Tyler Shough. A good early test for Louisville as the difficulty gets stronger next week as they travel to South Bend to take on Notre Dame.
13. Iowa State (3-0) (Last Week #18) (Ranked #18 and #19 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
ISU put a hurting on a team that had just given the cheaters from Ann Arbor a tough one last week. The Cyclones beat the Arkansas State Red Wolves 52-7. Next is a desperate 1-3 Houston on the road.
14. Illinois (4-0) (Last Week #19) (Ranked #19 and #21 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Illini now have two ranked wins over Nebraska and Kansas. The Wild Big Ten West lives! That was one of those games that was par for the course in the Big Ten West and typical of Brett Bielema. Luke Altmyer and Illinois have grit.
15. BYU (4-0) (Last Week #21) (Ranked #22 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
That was a signature win for BYU over K-State. BYU found their identity. They rely on their defense to set the tone and an offense that capitalizes on what that defense gives them. Just as importantly, their gunslinger quarterback Jake Retzlaff had a turnover-free game and seems to have turned a corner.
16. Washington State (4-0) (Last Week #23) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Mountain Pac-West 12 is fun conference for football! Their conference alignment antics aside they’re elevating their play this year. They are the leader for the playoff berth for the Group of 5, and rightly so. And right now the leader of this crazy conference yet non-conference is Washington State behind John Mateer. I don’t think WSU can get that G5 slot though because it’s reserved for a conference champion. All they can do is go undefeated and hope it’s enough to finish in the top 12.
17. Indiana (4-0) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Hoosiers are different under Curt Cignetti. They’re outscoring their opponents 202-37. They’re winning by an average of over 50 to just under 10. That’s not something the Big Ten is used to. It’ll be interesting to see how they play as they host Maryland next week and as this season continues.
18. Pittsburgh (4-0) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Pitt has beaten two Big 12 teams and rivals already in this early season and has blown out their other two opponents. Alabama transfer Eli Holstein and new offensive coordinator Kade Bell are making a huge difference for the Panthers.
19. Rutgers (3-0) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
A surprise team to be sure, Rutger is off to a good start in their first season with no divisions in the Big Ten. Next up for the Scarlet Knights is a home game against Washington. Their schedule is favorable this year in that they don’t play Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, or Penn State.
20. Liberty (4-0) (Last Week #20) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
After a delay that had their east coast game ending after 2:00 AM, the Flames came back and beat East Carolina 35-24. Jamey Chadwell and Kaidon Salter’s playoff hopes are still alive and they’re my G5 team in the projections below.
21. Duke (4-0) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Texas transfer Maalik Murphy has the Blue Devils at 4-0 heading into their rivalry game with North Carolina. The score to this game could look like one of their basketball games before all is said and done.
22. UCF (3-0) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Gus Malzahn’s Knights are 3-0 and are ready to welcome Coach Prime and Colorado to Orlando in a game that looks to be another Big 12 shootout. KJ Jefferson, Shedeur Sanders, and Travis Hunter will bring the fireworks.
23. UNLV (3-0) (Last Week #25) (Unranked and #23 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The shine of their wins over Kansas and Houston have worn of a tiny bit since both of those teams are 1-3. But UNLV is the last team in the Mountain Pac-West 12 that can win a conference championship. It’s a shame that Washington State and UNLV don’t play this year.
24. Army (3-0) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
They and their rival are the only two unbeaten teams left in the American Athletic Conference. At the rate they’re going they could play each other in the AAC Championship game on December 6th before they play their rivalry game on December 14th!
25. Navy (3-0) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The teams from America’s Game, Army-Navy, are leading the American Athletic Conference. Each is 3-0 and more importantly 2-0 in the conference. Navy blew Memphis out of the water 56-44.
Game of the Week
College Football Playoff Projections
- Georgia
- Ohio State
- Utah
- Miami
- Texas
- Oregon
- Alabama
- Penn State
- Tennessee
- Ole Miss
- Missouri
- Liberty
First Round
5. Texas vs. 12. Liberty
Saturday, December 21st, 2024 – Austin, Texas
6. Oregon vs. 11. Missouri
Friday, December 20th, 2024 – Eugene, Oregon
7. Alabama vs. 10. Ole Miss
Saturday, December 21st, 2024 – Tuscaloosa, Alabama
8. Penn State vs. 9. Tennessee
Saturday, December 21st, 2024 – State College Pennsylvania
Quarterfinals
1. Georgia vs. 8. Penn State in the Peach Bowl
Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 – Atlanta, Georgia
2. Ohio State vs. 7. Alabama in the Rose Bowl
Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 – Pasadena, California
3. Utah vs. 6. Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl
Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 – Phoenix, Arizona
4. Miami vs. 5. Texas in the Sugar Bowl
Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 – New Orleans, Louisiana
Semifinals
1. Georgia vs. 5. Texas in the Orange Bowl
Thursday, January 9th, 2025 – Miami, Florida
2. Ohio State vs. 6. Oregon in the Cotton Bowl
Friday, January 10th, 2025 – Dallas, Texas
Championship
Monday, January 20th, 2025 – Atlanta, Georgia
