Graphic by the College Football Playoff
Texas’s loss leaves only ten undefeated teams left in all of college football and the ripple was felt across the ranked teams of the top 25.
1. Oregon (7-0) (Last Week #2) (Ranked #1 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Ducks had a slight big game hangover, but not enough to bite them. They learned from Alabama and their debacle against Vandy. The Ducks defense dominated as they beat 1-6 Purdue 35-0. Oregon hosts 6-1 Illinois on the 26th in what will be a ranked matchup for the Ducks and the Illini.
2. Penn State (6-0) (Last Week #3) (Ranked #3 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Penn State has a bye week after their victory over USC last week. They next travel to Madison to take on Wisconsin in a potential trap game before they welcome Ohio State to Happy Valley on November 2nd.
3. Miami (6-0) (Last Week #4) (Ranked #6 and #5 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
It was a back-and-forth battle against the Cards but the Hurricanes prevailed. Miami beat Louisville 52-45 to go to 7-0. Cam Ward had another good outing as he continued his push for the Heisman trophy. Next week The U will host reeling rival, Florida State.
4. Iowa State (6-0) (Last Week #5) (Ranked #10 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
ISU weathered a fierce storm from UCF. Their and BYU’s wins were similar. Both late game comebacks against 3-3 Big 12 teams that were running the ball at will. The Cyclones took the 38-35 final lead with less than a minute to go. Rocco Becht was spectacular in the air and on the ground for Iowa State in the win.
5. BYU (7-0) (Last Week #6) (Ranked #11 and #12 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Another immortal BYU finish. BYU is answering the bell and rising to the occasion. They’re exceeding expectations. Their culture matches that of their coach; love your team, love your family and never give up. Out of necessity, they have to take it one game at a time. They don’t think about winning the Big 12 or making the playoffs, they think about the team in front of them. UCF is the next foe BYU will attempt to vanquish.
6. Indiana (7-0) (Last Week #7) (Ranked #13 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Kurtis Rourke, and the Indiana Hoosiers are for real. I knew they could beat Nebraska but I didn’t expect them to blow them out like they did. After their 56-7 victory over the Cornhuskers the Hoosiers are averaging over 48 points per game and haven’t scored fewer than 31 points all year and haven’t scored fewer than 41 points since their week one opener. Next week the Hoosiers welcome Washington to Bloomington to wrap up October.
7. Pittsburgh (6-0) (Last Week #8) (Ranked #19 and #20 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Panthers had this Saturday off. Next, they’ll battle rival Syracuse on Thursday Night. It should be a good game between top 25 teams.
8. Army (7-0) (Last Week #10) (Ranked #23 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Bryson Daily set the Army single-season record for rushing touchdowns in their win over East Carolina. He has BLANK STATS this year. If Army continues to contend for the AAC Championship Daily should be a Heisman finalist. Ashton Jeanty, Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Dillon Gabriel are the only players currently ahead of him in the Heisman race.
9. Navy (6-0) (Last Week #11) (Ranked #24 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Navy had a brilliant win as they stay undefeated before their top 11 matchup with Notre Dame next week in New York. The Irish might be the only team left that can stop Navy or Army before they clash in back-to-back weeks, beginning in the AAC Championship Game.
10. Liberty (5-0) (Last Week #9) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Flames were off this Saturday as they prepare for two straight Wednesday night games. Liberty will visit Kennesaw State before they host Jacksonville State. Army’s dominance with their star quarterback and Navy’s going to 6-0 is why I had the Black Knights and Midshipmen jump the Flames this week.
11. Notre Dame (6-1) (Last Week #12) (Ranked #12 and #11 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Irish were in Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech this week. The Yellow Jackets were without starting quarterback Haynes King and Notre Dame defeated them soundly. The 31-13 score is what Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame should have done against 5-3 Georgia Tech. Next, they will host the undefeated, 6-0 Navy in a neutral site game at the home of the New York Jets and Giants just outside of the Big Apple.
12. Texas A&M (6-1) (Last Week #13) (Ranked #14 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Winners of six in a row, the Aggies are one of the best one-loss teams in the nation. I have them only behind the team they lost among the teams with one defeat. Texas A&M fans have to be thrilled with Mike Elko’s first season. Next they face rival LSU in a matchup of ranked 6-1 teams.
13. Kansas State (6-1) (Last Week #14) (Ranked #16 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Wildcats have won their third straight since falling to undefeated BYU in Provo. They beat Oklahoma State by three touchdowns, beat 5-2 Colorado, and beat West Virginia 45-18. Next, they get their big rivalry game with the team from Lawrence the Kansas Jayhawks. K-State is still fighting for the Big 12 crown.
14. Boise State (5-1) (Last Week #15) (Ranked #17 and #19 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Broncos and Heisman leader Ashton Jeanty had this Saturday off. On the 26th, they’ll travel to Las Vegas to take on UNLV who they are tied with for first place in the Mountain West.
15. SMU (6-1) (Last Week #16) (Ranked #22 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
SMU is quietly one of the best one-loss teams in the country. They lost to undefeated and top-five BYU in a defensive battle and have had a fantastic offense everywhere else since.
16. Tennessee (6-1) (Last Week #24) (Ranked #7 and #8 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
That’s 2 out of 3 for the Vols against Bama. I can tell you as someone with lots of cousins in East Tennessee that they are nearly ready to build Josh Heupel a statue. With Oklahoma slumping Vols fans better enjoy him while he lasts in Knoxville. Dylan Sampson can carry Tennessee far. The Vols have October 26th off before they host their third straight rivalry game when they welcome Kentucky to Rocky Top.
17. Georgia (6-1) (Unranked Last Week) (Ranked # 2 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Dawgs upset of Texas is huge but it’s still difficult to measure how good this team is because how fast their loss to Alabama has aged poorly. But, for the last five seasons, when they aren’t playing a team named Alabama for anything other than the national title itself they are the class of college football. They beat a pretty darn good Texas team and did it led by their dominating defense.
18. Texas (6-1) (Last Week #1) (Ranked #5 and #6 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Texas took one on the chin, but they should win out and get another crack at Georgia this time in the Dawgs backyard of Atlanta for the SEC Championship. The Longhorns may need to use the mobility of Quinn Ewers or Arch Manning to try and slow that Georgia defense if they get to lock horns with them again.
19. Ohio State (5-1) (Last Week #23) (Ranked #4 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Buckeyes had a bye this week so they sat at home and got to stew in another big game loss. Us Ohio State fans are hoping the loss will ignite a fire under them like quarterback Will Howard has said. Ohio State welcomes Nebraska to the Horseshoe to close October before going to Penn State on November 2nd.
20. Illinois (6-1) (Last Week Ranked #20) (Ranked #20 and #21 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
After beating the bums from Ann Arbor, Illinois will travel to the West Coast. They’ll take on the #2 Oregon Ducks. The Illini will be upset-minded and are a team built to do just that. Their good running game will look to aid the defense by keeping the great Oregon offense on the sideline. A win by Illinois would shake up not only the Big Ten but all of college football. If they could do what the Buckeyes couldn’t against Oregon, they’ll shoot up the rankings.
21. LSU (6-1) (Last Week #25) (Ranked #8 and #7 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Tigers beat rival Arkansas in the Battle for the Boot, winning their second straight rivalry game like the Vols. They like the Vols, will play their third straight rival when they go to Texas A&M. Brian Kelly and his former team Notre Dame both now are in the lead for the most head-scratching losses amongst the one-loss teams. How did LSU lose to USC and How did Notre Dame lose to NIU?
22. Washington State (6-1) (Last Week Ranked #18) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The squabbling between the Pac-2 and the Mountain West has hurt all the teams involved. Their inability to have a successful merger before this season has hurt no one more than Wazzou. Washington State has a great team, and very easily could finish this season 11-1 and yet be left out of the college football playoff. Even if they were a Mountain West team they’d have a rematch with Boise State to play for. Now even if they don’t lose again they’ll likely be on the outside looking in. It’s why I dropped them from #18 to #22.
23. Syracuse (5-1) (Last Week Ranked #17) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Orange have the week off before they face rival Pitt in the Steel City on a Thursday Night game on the 24th. Despite being #17 last week, there are just too many good one-loss teams playing better for me to keep them there.
24. Missouri (6-1) (Unranked Last Week) (Ranked #21 and #17 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Mizzou survived a scare from hapless Auburn on their home turf. The Tigers beat the other Tigers 21-17. Missouri now has the tall task of going to Tuscaloosa to take on an Alabama team that is very talented and desperate for a win.
25. Duke (6-1) (Unranked Last Week) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Blue Devils had a historic win on Friday as they beat Florida State for the first time in program history. Manny Diaz and Duke snapped a 22-game losing streak against the Seminoles. Next Saturday, they’ll take on SMU as the two teams fight to stay atop the ACC standings with Miami and Clemson.
26. Clemson (6-1)
27. Memphis (6-1)
28. Louisiana (6-1)
29. UNLV (6-1)
30. Louisiana-Monroe (5-1)
Game of the Week
College Football Playoff and Record Projections
- Oregon 13-0
- Georgia 12-1
- Miami 13-0
- Iowa State 13-0
- Notre Dame 11-1
- Ohio State 11-2
- Texas 11-2
- BYU 12-1
- Penn State 11-1
- Boise State 12-1
- Texas A&M 10-2
- Indiana 11-1
First Round
5. Notre Dame (11-1) vs. 12. Indiana (11-1)
Saturday, December 21st, 2024 – South Bend, Indiana
6. Ohio State (11-2) vs. 11. Texas A&M (10-2)
Saturday, December 21st, 2024 – Columbus, Ohio
7. Texas (11-2) vs. 10. Boise State (12-1)
Saturday, December 21st, 2024 – Austin, Texas
8. BYU (12-1) vs. 9. Penn State (11-1)
Friday, December 20th, 2024 – Provo, Utah
Quarterfinals
1. Oregon (13-0) vs. 8. BYU (13-1) in the Rose Bowl
Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 – Pasadena, California
2. Georgia (12-1) vs. 7. Texas (12-2) in the Sugar Bowl
Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 – New Orleans, Louisiana
3. Miami (13-0) vs. 6. Ohio State (12-2) in the Peach Bowl
Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 – Atlanta, Georgia
4. Iowa State (13-0) vs. 5. Notre Dame (12-1) in the Fiesta Bowl
Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 – Phoenix, Arizona
Semifinals
1. Oregon (14-0) vs. 5. Notre Dame (13-1) in the Cotton Bowl
Friday, January 10th, 2025 – Dallas, Texas
2. Georgia (13-1) vs. 6. Ohio State (13-2) in the Orange Bowl
Thursday, January 9th, 2025 – Miami, Florida
Championship
Monday, January 20th, 2025 – Atlanta, Georgia
