College Football Rankings: Projected Playoff Top 25 for Week 10
College Football Rankings: Projected Playoff Top 25 for Week 10
How will the initial College Football Playoff Top 25 look when it's unveiled on Tuesday? Let's look at all the possibilities.
We've finally arrived. The AP Top 25 becomes irrelevant with the release of the first College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday. A panel of experts will determine the rankings. Perhaps the panel of experts will make the correct decisions, but as always, they will leave some teams out, teams that believe they should be included.
The noon slate wasn't great because the biggest game of the afternoon was Kansas versus Oklahoma. The Jayhawks pushed the Sooners to their limits, and this game was decided in the final seconds. Penn State struggled against Indiana in their noon game, possibly because of their loss to Ohio State last week.
Despite Florida's hopes, Georgia thoroughly dominated the game in Jacksonville without Brock Bowers.
One of the most surprising moments of the day was when Kansas secured an upset victory over Oklahoma in Lawrence, although Jalon Daniels was sidelined. The Sooners were slated to be in the top four for the playoffs on Tuesday, but with the loss to Kansas, they’re now they're predicted to be ranked outside the top 10.
With another eventful week behind us, it is certain that the first playoff rankings will spark some controversy.
How will the initial College Football Playoff Top 25 look when it's unveiled on Tuesday?
No. 25 North Carolina Tar Heels
Lost 45-42 at Georgia Tech
North Carolina played the late game on Saturday night. They went to Atlanta to face an improving Georgia Tech team. But for the second straight game, the Tar Heels fell short. I believe the committee will have a brief discussion about leaving them out completely. Mack Brown’s team has been a top-15-worthy team all year, but these last two weeks have been catastrophic.
No. 24 Liberty Flames
Won 42-29 at Western Kentucky
I suspect that the playoff committee will finally acknowledge the undefeated Liberty team after their eighth consecutive win against Western Kentucky. This team has captured the hearts of the nation and is arguably the strongest non-Power Five team. It’s about time this team gets some reverence.
No. 23 James Madison Dukes
Won 30-27 vs. Old Dominion
James Madison had a scare on Saturday night against Old Dominion, which has been fairly troublesome this season. The Dukes held on to prevail, undefeated. It’s time to start really taking this 8-0 team from the Sun Belt conference, seriously.
No. 22 Kansas State Wildcats
Won 41-0 vs. Houston
Despite some losses, Kansas State is now 6-2 and eligible for a bowl game after a big win over Houston. If a bowl berth before the calendar turns to November is considered disappointing, I am sure there are dozens of Power Five teams that would love to have a Kansas State disappointing season.
No. 21 Kansas Jayhawks
Won 38-33 vs. No. 6 Oklahoma
Yes, Kansas will be a top-25 playoff team this week. You read that right. Why? Despite missing Jalon Daniels, the Jayhawks still won 38-33 against the Oklahoma Sooners. Lance Leipold has transformed the team into a formidable contender, and they have what it takes to secure a place in the top 25 of the initial playoff rankings.
No. 20 UCLA Bruins
Won 28-16 vs. Colorado
On Saturday night, UCLA went head-to-head with a struggling Colorado team and secured a convincing victory. The Bruins stopped the Buffaloes' offense, constantly pressuring and sacking the quarterback seven times. Look for Chip Kelly's team to earn acknowledgment from the committee, establishing themselves as a contender just outside the top 20.
No. 19 Air Force Falcons
Won 30-13 at Colorado State
The Air Force football team has quietly flown under the radar this season, but they had a challenging away game in Week 9 against Colorado State. Although the Rams haven't been great this season, they have caused trouble for teams like Colorado State. At halftime, the Falcons found themselves in a deadlock, but they had a chance to break away in the third quarter. Continuing their pursuit of a New Year's Six bowl, the team notched an impressive road win.
No. 18 Tennessee Volunteers
Won 33-27 at Kentucky
Tennessee bounced back from a loss to Alabama by beating Kentucky on the road. Although this game will prove the Volunteers' worth to the committee for the playoff rankings, it won't have a major impact on their position in the AP Poll.
No. 17 Utah Utes
Lost 35-6 vs. No. 8 Oregon
Utah has secured a stable position by claiming victories over USC and UCLA, resulting in an impressive 6-2 record, with their only defeats coming from Oregon and Oregon State. Despite the team's poor performance against the Ducks on Saturday, the profile itself is expected to create a more favorable impression. The challenging aspect of the competition will be considered by the committee when they assess the conflicts.
No. 16 Oregon State Beavers
Lost 27-24 at Arizona
Oregon State went to Arizona on Saturday night and experienced an unforeseen loss to the improved Wildcats. Jonathan Smith’s team was on the fringe of breaking into the top 10, but a loss to Arizona after holding a 17-13 lead in the fourth quarter will drop the Beavers down to No. 16.
No. 15 Missouri Tigers
This week: Bye
Missouri has been one of the biggest revelations this season, sitting at 7-1 after a week 9 bye. The Tigers’ only loss was to LSU, and in that contest, it was a late-game collapse that ruined the potential substantial win. Missouri's journey after that loss has been nothing short of remarkable. They first proved their mettle by defeating No. 24 Kentucky with a convincing 17-point win and then solidified their dominance by overpowering South Carolina, securing victory with three touchdowns. Without a doubt, this team is the real deal.
No. 14 LSU Tigers
This week: Bye
LSU may improve their playoff ranking when they play Alabama next week, but their ranking might not increase much this week because of their bye. Furthermore, it's intricate to display an abundance of love for a team that has suffered two defeats prior to November. Despite the odds, Jayden Daniels may will his team into the top 10 next week.
No. 13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Won 58-7 vs. Pitt
Notre Dame has been impressive in their recent performances, climbing the rankings with dominant wins against Pitt and USC. The Irish, initially ranked No. 14 in the AP Top 25, are poised to make a move towards the top 10, according to the playoff committee. This team, with only two losses, stands out as the best two-loss team in America.
No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels
Won 33-7 vs. Vanderbilt
In Week 9, Ole Miss triumphed over Vanderbilt, leaving them with a much-needed boost of confidence. Unfortunately, this statement falls short of providing the committee with meaningful insights. Based on my assessment, Lane Kiffin and the Rebels are expected to fall within the 10-15 ranking range.
No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners
Lost 38-33 at Kansas
We’re going to see Oklahoma take quite the tumble in the first playoff rankings after losing at Kansas this week. The Sooners have been playing with fire for a couple of weeks, and it finally came back to burn them in Week 9 with a shootout loss against the Jayhawks. Don't forget that a victory against Texas will provide a solid foundation for Oklahoma's future success.
No. 10 Louisville Cardinals
Won 23-0 vs No. 20 Duke
It's important to note that the AP Top 25 and the playoff rankings are completely unrelated. Louisville's impressive performance against a ranked team could lead to them being ranked in the top 10 this week. The Cardinals showed their superiority by beating Notre Dame earlier this season, and they carried that momentum into their dominant win against Duke.
With Riley Leonard back at the helm for Duke, the hopes of reigniting their offense were high. However, Louisville had other plans, shutting them down completely in a dominant 23-0 shutout.
No. 9 Penn State Nittany Lions
Won 33-24 vs. Indiana
Should Penn State be included in the top 10 rankings this week? Despite their poor performance against Indiana in Happy Valley, the committee is unlikely to penalize the Nittany Lions.
I was taken aback by the Nittany Lions' uninspiring performance against Indiana, especially considering their close game against Ohio State the previous week. Was there a bit of a hangover from that emotional loss to the Buckeyes? It sure seemed like it.
This typically impenetrable defense allowed a surprising 24 points and approximately 350 total yards to one of the lowest-ranked offenses in the Big Ten.
With a crucial period ahead, the Nittany Lions must find their stride again.
No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide
This Week: Bye
Alabama has won six consecutive games and has been improving each week since their loss to Texas, so they should be in the top 10 of the first playoff rankings.
Over the last month, the Crimson Tide has been on a winning streak, triumphing over tough competitors such as Mississippi State and Texas A&M. This shows their strength as a team.
I see Alabama getting a spot or two rise in the playoff rankings contrasted to the Week 10 AP Top 25.
No. 7 Texas Longhorns
Won 35-6 vs. BYU
We're projecting the Longhorns to surge past the Oklahoma team they were defeated by earlier this season, although not all ballots will agree because of the strong emphasis some voters place on the head-to-head outcome. On Saturday's 35-6 win against BYU, the Texas defense stole the show, leaving a lasting impression.
Texas is heating up just in time, but next week's matchup against the surging Kansas State Wildcats is weighing heavily.
No. 6 Washington Huskies
Won 42-33 at Stanford
The committee will need to make some adjustments in how they rank the Huskies against other undefeated teams after a major upset scare by Stanford. Still, in the end, Washington's 42-33 victory and their head-to-head win over Oregon will ensure they remain in the top five.
I am eagerly awaiting the actions of the committee regarding Washington, as it will undoubtedly be interesting. However, the performance at Stanford on Saturday was far from ideal.
No. 5 Oregon Ducks
W 35-6 at No. 13 Utah
Bo Nix played exceptionally well, giving Oregon the advantage against Utah. The Ducks defense also garnered headlines in the 35-6 win, as it’s the first game since 2018 that Utah has not scored a touchdown.
Despite being ranked eighth in the AP Top 25 heading into Week 9, I believe the Ducks will receive significant recognition from the playoff committee. It's important to keep in mind that this team is on the cusp of being undefeated, with a potential game-winning touchdown at Washington.
Oregon was predicted to defeat the Utes efficiently, especially after Kyle Whittingham announced that Cam Rising would be out for the rest of the year. Still, no one expected their dominance to this extent.
No. 4 Florida State Seminoles
Won 41-16 at Wake Forest
The Seminoles had no problem with Wake Forest, completely dominating the game from beginning to end and securing a 25-point victory on the road. By winning, Florida State showed they are a legitimate playoff contender, not just a pretender after eight games. With an impressive 8-0 record, the Seminoles are a lock for a top-four spot in the playoff rankings.
Jordan Travis had an impressive performance, throwing for 359 yards and three touchdowns.
No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes
Won 24-10 at Wisconsin
On Saturday night, the Badgers hosted Ohio State in a college football showdown. The atmosphere was electric, but the Buckeyes showed no signs of being fazed. In fact, they took a commanding 10-0 lead, effortlessly moving the ball down the field.
With a combination of stellar defense, the offensive prowess of Marvin Harrison Jr., and a formidable ground game, the Buckeyes triumphed over the Badgers, leaving town with their perfect record intact after a 24-10 win.
Still unbeaten, however, the Buckeyes stayed alive in the playoff hunt with a win over former coach Luke Fickell, and they should be in that top four on Tuesday.
No. 2 Michigan Wolverines
This week: Bye
Michigan probably needs this bye week more than any team in the nation to regroup and refocus. The Wolverines are facing media scrutiny during their undefeated season after a major investigation into the program.
Michigan has made consecutive playoff appearances and appears ready to secure a third one this season, especially after their dominant 49-0 victory over rival Michigan State in East Lansing. The talent of this team is simply outstanding, leaving no doubt about their abilities.
Will the Wolverines face consequences from the playoff committee because of the sign-stealing drama? I highly question its veracity. If anything, they may nudge them down a single spot and elevate Ohio State. However, without further evidence emerging, there is no way to support this assertion.
No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs
W 43-20 vs. Florida
Georgia is a force to be reckoned with, and it proved that with a 43-20 win over rival Florida in the largest outdoor cocktail party on Saturday. Being the first team on the outside of the AP Top 25 this past week, the Gators' win was a testament to their strength. The game was even more lopsided, but a late touchdown by Florida added a deceptive sense of competitiveness.
The Georgia team, led by Kirby Smart in 2023, may not have the same level of dominance as the previous two national champions, but their balance is highly commendable.
The team's defense is solid, their passing game is impeccable, they excel at running the ball, and their weaknesses are few and far between. It was truly remarkable to witness the offense score an astonishing 43 points, despite the absence of their top player Brock Bowers.
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