WEST VIRGINIA MAKES ITS MOVE
The more the top eight to 11 teams nationally cement their
claims to dominance, the more everyone else sinks into an indistinguishable
pile of mediocrity.
Separation was on display again in Week 10 as 11 teams went
down in flames among the 25 tabbed for My New Power Rankings a week ago. At the
top, though, all is calm. Or relatively, so -- as calm as can be amid a display
of superiority that makes even the Alabama and Clemson teams of the recent past
raise an eyebrow.
With apologies to Michigan, which flexed its muscle in the
Big House on Saturday against Penn State, Alabama and Clemson look like they're
in a league of their own.
Alas, the College Football Playoff involves four teams, so
plenty of drama remains. It remains even for the front-running duo, which
clinched spots in their respective league title games on Saturday, along with
Georgia, which surely controls its CFP fate along with the top four
Creeping up the rankings, there's West Virginia, which gets
extra credit this week for Coach Dana Holgorsen's giant gamble -- and win -- to
bypass overtime at Texas. Other big jumpers include Michigan State and
Syracuse, thanks to nearby chaos.
1. ALABAMA (9-0,
6-0 SEC)
Week 10 result: Defeated LSU 29-0
What's next: vs. Mississippi State (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
What else do you want to know about the Crimson Tide?
Alabama is the best team in the country, even when Tua
Tagovailoa throws an interception -- as he did Saturday night
in the second quarter on his 179th pass attempt of the year. The sophomore QB
also threw two touchdowns in the first half for the ninth straight game and
played in the fourth quarter for the first time this season. Not that he needed
to, though, as Bama clinched its 12th appearance in the SEC title game.
2. CLEMSON (9-0,
6-0 ACC)
Week 10 result: Defeated Louisville 77-16
What's next: at Boston College (Saturday, TBA)
The Tigers are just toying with opponents. They held the
ball against Louisville for less than 23 minutes, yet rushed for 492 yards, as
three backs topped 100 and a defensive lineman got into the end zone on an
offensive play for the second consecutive week. QB Trevor
Lawrence needed to throw for just 59 yards, and Dabo Swinney's
son, Will, a walk-on receiver, scored his first career TD.
3. NOTRE DAME
(9-0)
Week 10 result: Defeated Northwestern 31-21
What's next: vs. Florida State (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
It's quite a statement about the sport this year when Notre
Dame likely cleared its biggest remaining hurdle to the CFP on Saturday night
in Evanston, even with Florida State and USC still on the schedule. The
Fighting Irish are unbeaten through nine games for the first time since 2012,
when they played Alabama for the national title. QB Book accounted for 399
yards and three touchdowns, including a 23-yarder on the ground with less than
three minutes to play after the Wildcats had cut a 17-point deficit to three.
4. MICHIGAN (8-1,
6-0 BIG TEN)
Week 10 result: Defeated Penn State 42-7
What's next: at Rutgers (Saturday, TBA)
The Wolverines are firing on all cylinders as they head down
the stretch toward a Nov. 24 trip to Ohio State that's set to determine the Big
Ten East champion. Penn State on Saturday offered just another mismatch in this
eighth consecutive win for Michigan. Karan Higdon ran
roughshod over the Nittany Lions, and Don Brown's defense, bolstered by the
return of defensive tackle Rashan Gary,
held PSU to 186 yards. The first Big Ten title since 2004 appears within reach.
5. GEORGIA (8-1,
6-1 SEC)
Week 10 result: Defeated Kentucky 34-17
What's next: vs. Auburn (Saturday, TBA)
Long gone are the concerns of just three weeks ago. The
Bulldogs are headed back to Atlanta next month after securing the SEC East
title in style, their seventh trip to play for a conference crown. D'Andre
Swift and Holyfield combined to rush for 271 yards as
Georgia gained 255 yards before contact on designed run plays, tied for its
second-highest total over the past five years -- trailing only its total last
season against these Wildcats.
6. OKLAHOMA (8-1,
5-1 BIG 12)
Week 10 result: Defeated Texas Tech 51-46
What's next: vs. Oklahoma State (Saturday, TBA)
What else to expect from OU-Tech but 1,153 yards, 97 points
and an onside kick in the final seconds? The Sooners survived again, winning a
fourth straight while scoring more than 50 points. They're the second team in
the AP Poll era, in fact, to score 45 or more in five straight games. And
QB Kyler Murray,
despite tossing two interceptions, threw for 360 yards and rushed for 100.
Also, Trey Sermon rushed
for 206 and score three touchdowns. Bedlam awaits.
7. LSU (7-2, 4-2
SEC)
Week 10 result: Lost to Alabama 29-0
What's next: at Arkansas (Saturday, TBA)
The Tigers forced a punt on Alabama's opening possession,
but little else went their way in this fourth time over the past 25 years that
LSU has been held scoreless at home -- each time by the Crimson Tide. LSU was
outgained on Saturday by 380 yards and held to 12 yards rushing. Joe Burrow threw
for 184 against Alabama's angry defense, but this performance was far short of
the standard needed to topple the king of the SEC West. Still, a 10-win regular
season is within grasp.
8. WEST VIRGINIA
(7-1, 5-1 BIG 12)
Week 10 result: Defeated Texas 42-41
What's next: vs. TCU (Saturday, TBA)
Oh, what a finish for the Mountaineers and QB Will Grier,
who found Gary Jennings
Jr. for a 33-yard touchdown with 16 seconds to play, then scrambled
for a two-point conversion to put WVU on top in Austin for the first time since
midway through the third quarter. David Sills V caught
a pair of touchdowns in a battle that featured eight lead changes as the
Mountaineers took a step toward the Big 12 title game, with TCU, Oklahoma State
and Oklahoma straight ahead on a daunting November schedule.
9. OHIO STATE
(8-1, 5-1 BIG TEN)
Week 10 result: Defeated Nebraska 36-31
What's next: at Michigan State (Saturday, TBA)
The Buckeyes survived a scare by dominating the Cornhuskers
in the third quarter of a game that was otherwise even, at best, for Ohio State
in the wake of its Week 8 loss to Purdue. J.K. Dobbins ran
for 163 yards and three scores as Ohio State enjoyed its best rushing day since
the season opener. Still, the five-point win raised more questions about the
Buckeyes on defense and leaves this team looking more vulnerable in November
than any other coached here by Urban Meyer.
10. UCF (8-0, 5-0
AMERICAN)
Week 10 result: Defeated Temple 52-40
What's next: vs. Navy (Saturday, TBA)
The Knights began the week without a victory over a winning
team. They've got two now after the Thursday night takedown of Temple and a
Friday win by Pitt over Virginia. Critics of the UCF schedule will note
Temple's 670 yards, the most it has gained in nearly five decades as a Division
I program. But there's no denying that UCF, with an FBS-best 21 straight wins,
is a machine on offense, led by QB McKenzie
Milton, who accounted for another four touchdowns.
11. WASHINGTON
STATE (8-1, 5-1 PAC-12)
Week 10 result: Defeated Cal 19-13
What's next: at Colorado (Saturday, TBA)
The Cougars denied Cal in its bid to pull an Apple State
double dip of upsets in consecutive weeks, getting the game winner from Gardner
Minshew to Easop Winston from
10 yards out with 32 seconds to play. WSU and its star QB looked a few steps
off all night. Maybe that's a credit to the Bears -- or maybe it's just the
nature of Pac-12 football this year. Either way, it's still a long road to the
CFP from here for Wazzu.
12. KENTUCKY (7-2,
5-2 SEC)
Week 10 result: Lost to Georgia 34-17
What's next: at Tennessee (Saturday, TBA)
The Wildcats got their coveted shot to make a statement and
fell short against the undisputed top team in the SEC East. Georgia gouged the
Wildcats for 331 rushing yards in Lexington and held UK to just three points on
three consecutive possessions that crossed midfield in the first half. The only
FBS team that hadn't allowed more than 20 points in a game this season,
Kentucky allowed 20 in the second half alone.
13. MISSISSIPPI
STATE (6-3, 3-3 SEC)
Week 10 result: Defeated Louisiana Tech 45-3
What's next: at Alabama (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
Go ahead and look for a better team than the Bulldogs that
has won just half of its league games. You won't, not at the site of Joe
Moorhead's most recent coaching stop or anywhere else. MSU won big in a
trap-game environment against a bowl-eligible Group of 5 foe, as QB Nick
Fitzgerald threw four touchdowns and rushed for 107 yards to
lead an attack that gained 532 yards. It'll be a lot more difficult next week,
but MSU gave Alabama a big scare last year.
14. MICHIGAN STATE
(6-3, 4-2 BIG TEN)
Week 10 result: Defeated Maryland 24-3
What's next: vs. Ohio State (Saturday, TBA)
Quarterback Brian Lewerke returned
for the Spartans and Connor
Heyward rushed for 157 yards and two scores, the first MSU back to
reach 100 yards this season. But the story in College Park involved the
Spartans on defense. They held Maryland to 100 yards, a week after the Terps
put up 712 on Illinois. It was the third-lowest total allowed in 12 years under
Coach Mark Dantonio -- quite a performance as MSU readies to host Ohio State.
15. TEXAS (6-3,
4-2 BIG 12)
Week 10 result: Lost to West Virginia 42-41
What's next: at Texas Tech (Saturday, TBA)
It was a massive blow for the Longhorns, who lost for the
second straight week in classic Big 12 fashion. QB Sam Ehlinger again
accounted for four touchdowns, the first such achievement by a Texas QB since
Colt McCoy in 2009. The Horns were severely short-handed on defense, as Brandon Jones, Davante Davis and Breckyn Hager left
with injuries. Texas is not finished, with big games ahead against Texas Tech
and Iowa State, but it'll need a lot of help.
16. SYRACUSE (7-2,
4-2 ACC)
Week 10 result: Defeated Wake Forest 41-24
What's next: vs. Louisville (Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Jarveon
Howard ran for two touchdowns in the midst of a 28-point burst
for the Orange, who overcame a 10-0 deficit behind the versatile play of
QB Eric Dungey and
an opportunistic defense. Syracuse forced three turnovers and recorded six
sacks in winning its third straight, following losses a month ago by a combined
11 points to Clemson and Pitt that remain as the only blemishes on its record.
17. FLORIDA (6-3,
4-3 SEC)
Week 10 result: Lost to Missouri 38-17
What's next: vs. South Carolina (Saturday, TBA)
It was another flop for Florida against Missouri and
QB Drew Lock,
who completed 24 of 32 throws for 250 yards. The Gators looked flat a week
after their bid to win the SEC East was thwarted by Georgia. Still, this came
as a surprise, as Missouri entered without a league win this season. QB Feleipe
Franks was benched late in the third quarter for Kyle Trask,
who directed a touchdown drive. But Franks appears set to stay in command of
the offense.
18. IOWA STATE
(5-3, 4-2 BIG 12)
Week 10 result: Defeated Kansas 27-3
What's next: vs. Baylor (Saturday, TBA)
One of the nation's most improved teams since September for
the third straight year under Matt Campbell, the Cyclones won their fourth
straight after a 1-3 start. They're unbeaten since true freshman Brock Purdy took
over last month at QB. He threw three touchdowns at Kansas, including strikes
of 83 and 51 yards to 6-foot-6 wideout Hakeem Butler in
the first quarter. Iowa State, which plays at Texas in two weeks, controls its
fate to reach the Big 12 title game.
19. PENN STATE (6-3,
3-3 BIG TEN)
Week 10 result: Lost to Michigan 42-7
What's next: vs. Wisconsin (Saturday, TBA)
That's three losses in six weeks for the Nittany Lions, who
dropped out of contention for a Big Ten title after losing for the sixth time
in six games against ranked teams on the road under James Franklin. Those six
defeats have come by an average of 24.2 points. Trace
McSorley, fighting through injury, completed 5 of 13 passes at
Michigan for 83 yards. Despite avoiding its first shutout since 2001, there was
no silver lining in Ann Arbor.
20. NORTHWESTERN
(5-4, 5-1 BIG TEN)
Week 10 result: Lost to Notre Dame 31-21
What's next: at Iowa (Saturday, TBA)
Nothing gained and really nothing lost for the Wildcats amid
a strange season in which they dropped to 0-3 in nonconference play but firmly
control their path to the Big Ten championship game. Northwestern still hasn't
beaten an AP-ranked top-five team since 1959, losing its 38th straight attempt,
but a trip to face wounded Iowa on the road matters most.
21. PURDUE (5-4,
4-2 BIG TEN)
Week 10 result: Defeated Iowa 38-36
What's next: at Minnesota (Saturday, TBA)
The Boilermakers won their third straight game at home after
three straight losses to open the season. David Blough led
Purdue back in the final four minutes, handing off to Spencer Evans for
the game-winning, 25-yard field goal that keeps Purdue alive -- but in need of
help from Northwestern -- in the Big Ten West race. Terry Wright caught
three touchdown passes as the Boilers became the first unranked conference team
since Illinois to beat three ranked teams.
22. WASHINGTON
(7-3, 5-2 PAC-12)
Week 10 result: Defeated Stanford 27-23
What's next: Open week
Benched at Cal a week ago in a loss, QB Jake Browning led
the Huskies to just their second win in six years over Stanford. Browning threw
for 194 yards and a TD, and Myles Gaskin rushed
for 148. UW held Stanford to 77 yards on the ground and intercepted K.J. Costello three
times, including the game clincher in the end zone by safety Taylor Rapp as
time expired. Maybe Washington is back on track. It can still win the league,
after all.
23. NC STATE (6-2,
3-2 ACC)
Week 10 result: Defeated Florida State 47-28
What's next: vs. Wake Forest (Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Something about consecutive losses to Clemson and Syracuse
made us want to forget the Wolfpack. Don't do it. QB Ryan Finley,
receiver Jakobi Meyers and
the running-back duo of Reggie
Gallaspy II and Ricky Person
Jr. powered NC State to an impressive win. In the process, it pushed
Florida State back below .500 and closer to missing a bowl for the first time
since 1981.
24. UAB (8-1, 6-0
C-USA)
Week 10 result: Defeated UTSA 52-3
What's next: vs. Southern Miss (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET)
The Blazers march on, winning a program-record seventh straight
game to remain unbeaten in league play. Freshman QB Tyler
Johnston III threw three first-half touchdowns in his first
collegiate start. UAB was not ranked in the first CFP poll, and it might have
to win at Texas A&M in two weeks to get noticed by the committee.
25. FRESNO STATE
(8-1, 5-0 MWC)
Week 10 result: Defeated UNLV 48-3
What's next: At Boise State (Friday, 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Wondering if the Bulldogs noticed that Illinois scored 55 on
Minnesota on Saturday, hours before the Mountain West front-runner put a hurt
on UNLV for its seventh straight win. That Week 2 loss to the Gophers separates
Fresno from a perfect record and a decent shot at the Group of 5 spot in a New
Year's Six bowl. It could still happen, but the margin for error is slim, as
Boise and the blue turf beckons.
