New Years' Six Bowls Graphic by the College Football Playoff
Week 7 CFB Top 25 Rankings
I moved more teams around than I usually do. Some teams even won and still went down in the rankings because they have glaring issues that still haven’t been addressed. Like USC’s defense, and Ohio State’s running game. I could argue that Texas and Alabama are ahead of Ohio State and USC, and likely will finish ahead of them in the rankings when the season is complete, but that’s not how things stand right now.
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 (6-0) (Last Week #1. Ranked #2 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
Again, the wolverines do what is expected. They blow out a team they should blow out. That’s no easy feat considering the parody in the top ten of college football this season. There isn’t really a weak portion to this team. They’re the best team Jim Harbaugh has ever had in Ann Arbor. Next week they return home to face Indiana.
2. Georgia (6-0) (Last Week #2. Ranked #1 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
Georgia and Michigan are interchangeable in the top two right now. The Bulldogs, season is looking a lot like last year. They may struggle with a team they shouldn’t (like Auburn last week) but then blow the doors off of a team that should give them a good game. Like they did Kentucky. Carson Beck had his best game and Brock Bowers is a legitimate Heisman candidate. Next for Georgia is a layup against Vanderbilt.
3. Oklahoma (6-0) (Last Week #11. Ranked #5 and #7 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Winning the Red River Rivalry is always special. The last-minute heroics by Dillon Gabriel make it extra sweet for Oklahoma. Especially after that blowout last year. Gabriel’s announced his Heisman candidacy but the Sooners will likely meet the Longhorns again in December.
4. Penn State (5-0) (Last Week #5. Ranked #6 and #5 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Penn State was idle this week but near the top in the log jam that is the top ten this year. Next week they get maybe their easiest game of the year against UMass.
5. Florida State (5-0) (Last Week #3. Ranked #4 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
FSU’s 39-17 win over Virginia Tech was good, but the luster from their early season win over LSU is starting to wear off a bit. They may be a little bit of a victim of recency bias having dropped a little here but they still control their own destiny and are the clear leaders of the ACC.
6. Oregon (5-0) (Last Week #7. Ranked #8 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Ducks were idle this week before their big match-up with their border rival the Washington Huskies.
7. Washington (5-0) (Last Week #9. Ranked #7 and #6 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Dawgs from Seattle were idle as well ahead of their top ten matchup with the Oregon Ducks on October 14th.
8. Ohio State (5-0) (Last Week #6. Ranked #3 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Buckeyes keep banging their head against a brick wall in the running game and keep needing second-half heroics from Kyle McCord and Marvin Harrison Jr. Maryland is a couple of interceptions away from taking the Buckeyes to their limit once again. It doesn’t help that their best win that was on the final play of the game got crushed just down the Ohio River in Louisville.
9. North Carolina (5-0) (Last Week #10. Ranked #12 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
Carolina crushed the Syracuse Orange. With 443 yards and four total touchdowns, Drake Maye reminded the nation why he’s a Heisman candidate when he’s playing his best and he sure did against Syracuse. Next up is a showdown between undefeateds as they take on Miami.
10. Louisville (6-0) (Last Week #12. Ranked #14 and #15 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
I was an exception but I thought earlier than most that this Louisville team was for real. I’d seen what Jeff Brohm had done at Purdue and thought he’d have success at his native Louisville and undefeated and bowl eligible after the first weekend in October is pretty successful.
11. USC (6-0) (Last Week # 7. Ranked #10 and #9 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
I’m not a believer in USC. Starting out down 17-0 to Arizona doesn’t instill confidence. Arizona took them to triple overtime. If they do that against Oregon, Washington, Utah, UCLA, or Notre Dame they will lose. They travel to Notre Dame next week to take on the Irish.
12. Liberty (5-0) (Last Week #19. Unranked in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
5-0 is 5-0. There are only SO MANY teams left still undefeated and the Liberty Flames in the first year of Jamey Chadwell, (From Campbell County, Tennessee just like my old man) are one of them.
13. Air Force (5-0) (Last Week #20. Unranked in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
Up next for the Falcons; their neighbor to the north and red hot Wyoming Cowboys.
14. James Madison (5-0) Last Week #22. Unranked in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Dukes had a bye week and up next for them is 4-1 Georgia Southern.
15. Texas (5-1) (Last Week #5. Ranked #9 and #11 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Everything is still obtainable for Texas. From being the best in the state, winning the Big 12, Ewers for Heisman, all the way to the national championship. Despite a heartbreaking loss in a great rivalry game they still control their own destiny. That’s a good place to be for Texas.
16. Alabama (5-1) (Last Week #23. Ranked #11 and #10 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
It often seems to be an ugly one for the Tide when they play Texas A&M and this was no exception. Like the Buckeyes, Bama had trouble running the ball and their first year starting quarterback had to power them to a win against an underrated opponent.
17. Kansas (5-1) (Last Week Unranked. Ranked #23 and #24 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Kansas bounced back from their loss to Texas with a win over UCF and are now 5-1. They travel to a rebounding Oklahoma State next week as the Jayhawks seek to be bowl eligible only half way through October.
18. Oregon State (5-1) (Last Week #25. Ranked #15 and #14 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Beavers have bounced back well from their loss to Washington State and are currently in the lead of the log jam of one-loss Pac-12 teams. Up next they face UCLA who just knocked off the same Washington State team that Oregon State fell to.
19. Utah (4-1) (Last Week Unranked. Ranked #16 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Utes were idle this week and take on the Cal Bears next week.
20. UCLA (4-1) (Last Week Unranked. Ranked #18 and #23 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Bruins had a big win against Washington State and travel to Oregon State next week in the loaded final year of the Pac-12.
21. Washington State (5-1) (Last Week #13. Ranked #19 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
WSU lost their first game of the season against UCLA and will look to rebound at home against Arizona.
22. Wyoming (5-1) (Last Week Unranked. Unranked in bothe the AP and Coaches Polls)
They snapped Fresno State’s 14-game winning streak and are the leading Group of Five team with their only loss being to Texas. Next up is the next best G5 team, Air Force.
23. Ole Miss (5-1) (Last Week Unranked. Ranked #13 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
They’re bouncing back well from their loss to Alabama but still remain a game and a half behind the Tide in the SEC West.
24. Iowa (5-1) (Last Week Unranked. Unranked in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
Iowa is quietly 5-1 and got their win today with the return of their running back Kaleb Johnson. They’re the current favorites in the Wild Big Ten West.
25. West Virginia (4-1) Last Week Unranked. Unranked in both the AP and Coaches Polls)
West Virginia was idle but looks to extend their winning streak to five games when they take on Houston on Thursday night.
Games of the Week
The Red River Shootout: Oklahoma vs. Texas
This one didn’t disappoint! And the best part is we very likely will see part two in December! Dillon Gabriel and Quinn Ewers had a great duel that saw Gabriel and the Sooners come out on top and claim the golden hat.
Georgia Tech at Miami
This one had an ending like you wouldn’t believe. The Hurricanes could have taken a knee and let the clock run down. They run it instead. The ball is torn away from the tailback. Georgia Tech scores the go-ahead touchdown with only two seconds left! A crazy ending for sure.
Rose Bowl (Semi-Final) – Michigan vs. Oklahoma
Sugar Bowl (Semi-Final) – Georgia vs. Florida State
Cotton Bowl – Oregon vs. Texas
Orange Bowl – Alabama vs. Penn State
Fiesta Bowl – Ohio State vs. Washington
Peach Bowl – Louisville vs. Wyoming
National Championship
On the Radar:
Group of Five Contenders:
Tulane
Memphis
Fresno State
Leader of the MAC (Ohio, Toledo, Miami (OH))
One-loss Teams Who Will be Back:
Tennessee
Missouri
Maryland
Duke
BYU (I still hope)
