1. Georgia Bulldogs
This week: beat Alabama 20-17
Next week: vs. Auburn
Kirby Smart got his first regular season win over Alabama in a decade in Tuscaloosa. It’s tough to believe, but the former Tide assistant was 0-7 in regular season matchups (he did win a national title and SEC championship game against Bama). QB Gunner Stockton threw for 248 yards and the Bulldogs ran right over the Tide for 206 yards on the ground in a dominant showing on the line of scrimmage.
2. Miami Hurricanes
This week: Off
Next week: vs. Florida State
During ESPN’s popular pregame show, “College GameDay,” analysts Kirk Herbstreit and Nick Saban answered an important question: Who has the best team in college football right now? Their answer, they both agreed, was none other than the Hurricanes. After a week off, Miami hosts reeling Florida State. Aside from Notre Dame in South Bend on Nov. 7, UM might not play another ranked opponent in the regular season. That light schedule doesn’t mean the Canes aren’t real. QB Darian Mensah has almost more touchdowns (15) than incompletions (19)!
3. Ohio State Buckeyes
This week: beat Maryland 45-16
Next week: at Indiana
The Terrapins didn’t stand a chance against the Buckeyes. Maryland had one drive of more than 22 yards and needed an interception return for a touchdown just to eclipse the 10-point mark. WR Jeremiah Smith had a down game. He only had 93 yards on four catches and, oh yeah, caught two touchdown passes as well. QB Julian Sayin finished a game with at least three touchdowns for a third straight week.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
This week: lost to Georgia 20-17
Next week: at Tennessee
This was a tough one. In the second half, the Crimson Tide had an interception overturned on video review (did it hit the ground?) and they didn’t get the benefit of a pass interference penalty in the end zone on a late game drive (let’s be honest, it was pass interference). Alabama isn’t out of the playoff race, though. Far from it, in fact. But next week’s game in Knoxville now looms as a near postseason elimination game.
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
This week: beat Stanford 58-7
Next week: at BYU
RB Jonaz Walton scored on 40- and 97-yard runs and Notre Dame’s defense held the Cardinal to just 202 yards of offense and stopped them on nine of 11 third-down attempts. It’s time to look forward to next week. The Irish face their first ranked opponent of the season with a game at BYU. The Cougars will be hosting ESPN’s “College GameDay.” Buckle up for a weeklong buildup. Is Notre Dame real? We’ll find out soon enough.
6. Texas Longhorns
This week: lost to Oklahoma 27-24
Next week: vs. Florida
Get ready for more talk about the woes of Texas’ offense and QB Arch Manning. He threw two costly second-half interceptions. OU’s game-winning field goal came after Manning’s last pick with 19 seconds left. Despite a 150-yard advantage in total yards, the Horns stumbled to a stinging loss to their archrival and they plummeted in our rankings. But don’t forget that Steve Sarkisian’s program still gets points for the win over Ohio State.
7. Indiana Hoosiers
This week: beat Nebraska 20-17
Next week: at Ohio State
Thank goodness the Hoosiers have Nick Marsh. The former Michigan State receiver scored on 75- and 44-yard passes from Josh Hoover in the final quarter to overcome an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. Marsh’s game-winning reception came on a nifty play design that originated from Kansas coach Lance Leipold, according to Indiana coach Curt Cignetti. The score helped Indiana extend its nation-leading winning streak of 22 games — the second-longest for any Big Ten team. The longest belongs to Ohio State at 23 (2013-14). The Hoosiers host the Buckeyes next week.
More college football news
- ‘We preach emotional maturity:’ Kalen DeBoer says he ‘would have never expected’ Dijon Lee’s late personal foul in loss to Georgia
- Georgia deserves credit for gutsy win over Alabama, but Crimson Tide QB Keelon Russell has us hoping for a rematch
- Misery Index: Mike Elko’s bizarre rant about Texas A&M fans couldn’t come at a worse time
8. UCLA Bruins
This week: beat Oregon 17-15
Next week: vs. Wisconsin
First-year coach Bob Chesney and the Bruins are 5-0 after the victory in Eugene. UCLA’s defense forced seven — seven! — Oregon turnovers. What was most surprising of all is that Chesney’s team did it with backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach, who replaced injured starter Nico Iamaleava in the second half. The Bruins return to LA for three straight home games against Wisconsin, Michigan State and Nevada. An 8-0 record is not out of the question!
9. Tennessee Volunteers
This week: beat Arkansas 24-17
Next week: vs. Alabama
This trip to Fayetteville wasn’t so pretty. The Hogs, in fact, led 14-10 in the third quarter and tied the game with about 7 minutes left. Replacing benched starter Faizon Brandon, George MacIntyre threw for 247 yards but it was the Tennessee ground game that won it at the very end. DeSean Bishop ripped off a 59-yard run on UT’s first play of what was a five-play, 94-yard, game-winning touchdown drive.
10. Missouri Tigers
This week: beat Texas A&M 27-6
Next week: at Ole Miss
After a loss at Mississippi State, Eli Drinkwitz’s team has won two straight at home in bludgeon fashion, outscoring A&M and Florida 72-23 in back-to-back weeks. Drinkwitz is doing wonders with former Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons, who had some key runs on Saturday, and RB Jamal Roberts had another big day. He’s eclipsed 200 yards in consecutive weeks as he continues to replace Ahmad Hardy, who is still recovering from a gunshot wound.
