Graphic by the College Football Playoff
The rankings get shook up after a week of upsets. Vanderbilt upset Alabama, Arkansas upset Tennessee, Texas A&M upset Missouri, Washington upset Michigan, and Minnesota upset USC. Only A&M over Missouri was one ranked team beating another.
1. Ohio State (5-0) (Last Week #1) (Ranked #2 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The pieces are set for Ohio State-Oregon in Eugene next week. A top-three matchup for me and a top-five matchup nationally, this may be a preview of the Big Ten Championship in December in Indianapolis. The key matchup in that one will be the Buckeye defense against the Oregon rushing attack. The next most important factor will be for Ohio State to not turn the ball over on the road.
2. Texas (5-0) (Last Week #2) (Ranked #1 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Longhorns had this week off. They will use it to try and get Quinn Ewers healthy and if not prepare young Arch Manning for Oklahoma. Oklahoma improved in their win over Auburn, and no matter the records and rankings the Red River Shootout is always a competitive, special rivalry game.
3. Oregon (5-0) (Last Week #4) (Ranked #3 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Oregon once again had an underwhelming game (at least to begin with) but once again got another win. I think they were looking ahead to Ohio State coming to town next week. If they run the ball against the Buckeyes like they did against the Spartans they have a great shot at pulling off the upset. If they throw the ball against that Buckeye secondary like they did against the Spartans they will lose.
4. Penn State (5-0) (Last Week #5) (Ranked #4 and #5 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
It was a tight start against UCLA but Penn State pulled away behind the running of Kaytron Allen, a swarming defense, and Drew Allar who was solid in the passing game. Next week the Nittany Lions take on the other SoCal B1G team, USC, in Los Angeles.
5. Miami (6-0) (Last Week #8) (Ranked #6 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
By the skin of their teeth the Hurricanes escaped the West Coast with a win. Cameron Ward’s Heisman hopes and Miami’s postseason hopes are still alive. It came down to the final seconds but Miami pulled out a one-point win. These close wins by Miami this year are games they lost in the past so from a mental standpoint alone they’re a different program that has turned a corner.
6. Iowa State (5-0) (Last Week #9) (Ranked #11 and #13 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Cyclones are quietly the best team in the Big 12 right now. I can’t say I would have called BYU and ISU being at the top of the Big 12 after the first weekend of October. Behind sophomore sensation Rocco Becht, the Cyclones are the lead contender for the Big 12’s College Football Playoff berth. They travel country roads to West Virginia to try and get to 6-0.
7. BYU (5-0) (Last Week #10) (Ranked #14 and #15 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
BYU had the week off after their 5-0 start with big wins over SMU, K-State, and Baylor. Next, they welcome Arizona to Provo. The Wildcats upset BYU’s rival to the north this past week and are always dangerous with Noah Fifita.
8. Indiana (6-0) (Last Week #11) (Ranked #18 and #20 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
I didn’t suspect that in the first year of the 18-team Big Ten the Indiana Hoosiers would be the first team of the conference to become bowl eligible. Cignetti is walking the walk since he came in talking the talk. They have scored 40+ in five of their six wins. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke has 1,750 yards passing and 18 total touchdowns for the Hoosiers.
9. Pittsburgh (5-0) (Last Week #12) (#22 and #24 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Pitt is a different animal with Eli Holstein at quarterback. He was their difference-maker in their 34-24 win over North Carolina. He had 381 yards and three touchdowns passing, with 76 yards and a touchdown on the ground. They welcome Cal to the Steel City next week.
10. Liberty (4-0) (Last Week #14) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
After their game last week was canceled because of the hurricane, the Flames don’t play on Saturday but they’re next back in action on a Tuesday night, October 8th against FIU.
11. Army (5-0) (Last Week #16) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Quarterback Bryson Daly is going to get some love in this week’s Heisman watch. His great play running and passing the ball is a big reason Army is 5-0 and 4-0 in the American Athletic Conference. Being only one of four remaining undefeated Group of 5 teams has Army as a contender for that G5 playoff berth.
12. Navy (5-0) (Last Week #17) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Right there with their Army brethren and Bryson Daly are the Midshipmen and Ohio’s own Blake Horvath. They beat rival Air Force soundly today. Army and Navy are both 5-0 for the first time since 1945. Horvath and Daly would be getting much more love for their great individual seasons if the Heisman race wasn’t so unusually crowded in 2024.
13. Notre Dame (4-1) (Last Week #20) (Ranked #11 and #12 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The rollercoaster that is the 2024 Notre Dame team had the week off. And yet still had a win of sorts. Thanks to Vanderbilt they don’t own having suffered the worst upset of the season now. And should be highly favored to be 11-1 when Selection Sunday is here. Next, they welcome West Coast rival Stanford to South Bend on October 12th.
14. Texas A&M (5-1) (Last Week Unranked) (Ranked #15 and #14 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
15. Kansas State (4-1) (Last Week #21) (Ranked #18 and #19 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
K-State had the week off after their bounce-back win over Oklahoma State. Up next for the Wildcats, they travel to Boulder, Colorado to take on Coach Prime’s Buffaloes.
16. Boise State (4-1) (Last Week #22) (Ranked #17 and #22 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Ashton Jeanty is a cheat code and the Heisman leader. Jeanty has the lead right because he’s on pace to break Barry Sanders records. The last time a player won the Heisman at a school not currently in the Power 4 is Roger Staubach of Navy in 1963. The Broncos may just ride with Jeanty to the Heisman and the College Football playoffs.
17. SMU (5-1) (Last Week #23) (Ranked #25 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Mustangs had a battle in Kentucky against Louisville. They needed every bit of an outstanding game from Kevin Jennings to come away with the 34-27 win. Next week the Pony Express gets to rest with a week off before going to the West Coast to play Stanford.
18. Ole Miss (5-1) (Last Week Ranked #24) (Ranked #9 and #8 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Ole Miss got back on track with a win over South Carolina. They held the SC offense that last week put 52 on Akron to only a field goal. They needed a defensive statement as next they travel to Baton Rouge to play the high-powered LSU offense in the Magnolia Bowl.
19. Syracuse (4-1) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Orange won a wild one in Las Vegas beating UNLV 44-41 in overtime. Led by big games from LeQuint Allen and Kyle McCord, Syracuse trailed by a touchdown with less than a minute to go before tying the game and winning on an Allen touchdown run in overtime.
20. Washington State (4-1) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Cougars had the week off before they got Fresno State in their Mount Pac-West 12 play. They played the toughest stretch of their schedule and won three out of four. John Mateer and the Cougs offense can’t be taken lightly.
21. Texas Tech (5-1) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
One of Washington State’s Power Five wins was over Texas Tech. Tech has won four straight since that stumble and have found their footing on offense and defense. Next they host Baylor in the Texas Shootout. It’s an incredibly balanced rivalry that Baylor leads 41-40-1, a who single game. Tech has a week off before they try and tie the series.
22. Illinois (4-1) (Last Week Unranked) (Ranked #23 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Illini had the week off and will be hosting Purdue and Michigan in Champaigne in back-to-back weeks.
23. Nebraska (5-1) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Nebraska handed Rutgers their first loss of the season in a defensive battle. They get a bye before a pair of tough back-to-back road games against Indiana and then Ohio State.
24. Colorado (4-1) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
CU had the week off and will host K-State on October 12th in a Big 12 night game. With both teams having one-loss neither can afford a second in their conference title pursuits.
25. Arizona State (4-1) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Sun Devils last four games have been decided by one possession or less. This Friday they take on an old foe from their Pac-12 days as they host the Utes of Utah.
Game of the Week
Upset of the Week
College Football Playoff Projections
- Ohio State
- Texas
- Iowa State
- Miami
- Oregon
- Penn State
- BYU
- Notre Dame
- Georgia
- Texas A&M
- Pittsburgh
- Liberty
First Round
5. Oregon vs. 12. Liberty
Friday, December 20th, 2024 – Eugene, Oregon
6. Penn State vs. 11. Pittsburgh
Saturday, December 21st, 2024 – State College, Pennsylvania
7. BYU vs. 10. Texas A&M
Saturday, December 21st, 2024 – Provo, Utah
8. Notre Dame vs. 9. Georgia
Saturday, December 21st, 2024 – South Bend, Indiana
Quarterfinals
1. Ohio State vs. 8. Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl
Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 – Pasadena, California
2. Texas vs. 7. BYU in the Sugar Bowl
Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 – New Orleans, Louisiana
3. Iowa State vs. 6. Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl
Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 – Phoenix, Arizona
4. Miami vs. 5. Oregon in the Peach Bowl
Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 – Atlanta, Georgia
Semifinals
1. Ohio State vs. 5. Oregon in the Cotton Bowl
Friday, January 10th, 2025 – Dallas, Texas
2. Texas vs. 6. Penn State in the Orange Bowl
Thursday, January 9th, 2025 – Miami, Florida
Championship
Monday, January 20th, 2025 – Atlanta, Georgia
