Georgia flexes all over a top 10 opponent, enough to take over the top spot.
This Week: W; 38-0 (4) ARK
Up Next: @17 Auburn (4-1) 3:30 ET/2:30 CT CBS
Trend: +1
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0)
Alabama loses the top spot to Georgia. It’s not about what Bama didn’t do; they continue to be impressive. It’s just the simple fact that Georgia has built the overwhelmingly best resume with their smacking of Arkansas.
This Week: 42-21 (11) MISS
Up Next: @Texas A&M (3-2) 8:00 ET/7:00 CT CBS
Trend: -1
3. Iowa Hawkeyes (5-0)
Iowa embarrasses Taulia Tagavailoa and the Terrapins in College Park, takes up the #3 spot leading up to the huge Big Ten matchup with Penn State to take the driver’s seat in the Big Ten.
This Week: W; 51-14 @19 UMD
Up Next: 5 Penn State (5-0) 4:00 ET/3:00 CT FOX
Trend: +2
4. Cincinnati Bearcats (4-0)
Cincy gets the signature win they needed. If they win out in the American Athletic Conference schedule, they will likely become the first Group of Five school to make the CFP.
This Week: W; 24-13 @9 ND
Up Next: Temple (3-2) FRI 7:00 ET ESPN
Trend: +2
5. Penn State Nittany Lions (5-0)
Penn State cruises over the Hoosiers, taking revenge from last season. Now they face one of two Big Ten powerhouses that they have to take on on the road this season (Iowa, Ohio State). A win in Iowa City would put the Lions in the driver seat in the conference until the Halloween Eve matchup with the Buckeyes.
This Week: W; 24-0 IND
Up Next: @3 Iowa (5-0) 4:00 ET/3:00 CT FOX
Trend: +2
6. Kentucky Wildcats (5-0)
Kentucky has officially arrived with home win over a very talented Gator team. The AP may not be sold on the Wildcats yet, but as long they stay undefeated, I will have them in the top 10.
This Week: W; 20-13 (8) FLA
Up Next: LSU (3-2) 7:30 ET SECN
Trend: +15
7. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-1)
The Buckeyes finally look like themselves again. This thumping of the Scarlet Knights in New Jersey was impressive. I’d expect them to do it again at home against Maryland.
This Week: W; 52-13 @RUTG
Up Next: Maryland (4-1) 12:00 ET FOX
Trend: +3
8. Oklahoma Sooners (5-0)
The Sooners survive again. But will they make it through the Red River Rivalry? I would definitely put them on upset alert against the ‘Horns.
The Cowboys come out victorious in Big 12 battles of undefeateds in back-to-back weeks. They have earned a spot in the top 10, and a week off.
This Week: W; 24-14 (13) BAY
Up Next: Idle
Trend: +11
10. Oregon Ducks (4-1)
Oregon has to be punished in the rankings for the bad loss. This is by far the most embarrassing loss that anyone in the top 25 has suffered. The cannibal conference strikes again. Already, no undefeated teams remain.
This Week: L; 24-31 @STAN (OT)
Up Next: Idle
Trend: -7
11. BYU Cougars (5-0)
This is the most BYU has won by the entire season. This team loves to grind out dubs.
This Week: W; 34-20 @USU
Up Next: Boise State (2-3) 3:30 ET/1:30 MT
Trend: +3
12. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (5-0)
Coastal goes beast mode again. This will likely be a trend all season and I would expect them in the top 10 soon.
This Week: W; 59-6 ULM
Up Next: @Arkansas St. (1-4) THU 7:30 ET/6:30 CT ESPNU
Trend: +3
13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1)
Notre Dame takes a tough home loss to Cincy and has to go Blacksburg to try to bounce back. I would have the Irish on upset alert here. Ask the ’14 Buckeyes, Lane Stadium is not a friendly place to play.
This Week: L; 13-24 (6) Cincy
Up Next: @Virginia Tech (3-1) 7:30 ET ABC
Trend: -4
14. Ole Miss Rebels (3-1)
The Rebels suffer their first loss against the returning national champs. Not going to punish them heavily for that. Huge opportunity this week at home against the Hogs. A win would probably propel them back up a few spots.
This Week: L; 21-42 @1 BAMA
Up Next: 15 Arkansas (4-1) 12:00 ET/11:00 CT ESPN
Trend -3
15. Arkansas Razorbacks (4-1)
Are the Hogs who we thought they were? Not sure at this point. But we’re going to find out on Saturday in Oxford. One thing is for certain: Georgia is legit.
This Week: L; 0-38 @2 Georgia
Up Next: @14 Ole Miss (3-1) 12:00 ET/11:00 CT ESPN
Trend: -11
16. Florida Gators (3-2)
I still think Florida is very good. They will have more opportunities to prove themselves.
This Week: L; 13-20 @21 UK
Up Next: Vanderbilt (2-3) 12:00 ET SECN
Trend: -8
17. Auburn Tigers (4-1)
Last week was not pretty when Auburn was nearly taken out by Georgia State. But they bounced back nicely in the comeback in Death Valley. I decided that if I was gonna keep Mississippi, Arkansas, and Florida all in the top 16 following losses, I should give one-loss Auburn some respect as well. Their lone loss was a tight one in Happy Valley against Penn State. And Bo Nix is absolutely electric.
This Week: W; 24-19 @LSU
Up Next: 2 Georgia (5-0) 3:30 ET/2:30 CT CBS
Trend: NR
18. Michigan Wolverines (5-0)
I’m still not impressed with Michigan. Wisconsin has shown themselves to be pretty bad this year. But look out this week. I’ve got Michigan on upset alert as they head to Lincoln to take on a Cornhusker team that is coming off a 56-7 rout over Pat Fitzgerald’s Northwestern team.
This Week: W; 38-17 @WISC
Up Next: @Nebraska (3-3) 7:30 ET/6:30 CT ABC
Trend: -1
19. Michigan State Spartans (5-0)
Like Michigan, I am still not sold on Sparty. They’re in a division with Penn State and Ohio State who are both very strong. And let’s not forget about Indiana. I think Rutgers on the road could be a challenge for MSU. This game is just two weeks after the Scarlet Knights nearly took out the Wolverines in the Big House.
This Week: W; 48-31 WKU
Up Next: @Rutgers (3-2) 12:00 ET BTN
Trend: -1
20. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-0)
Alright Demon Deacons, you have now done enough to jump into my rankings with your undefeated record. But we have seen Wake Forest get off to hot starts and crumble late in the season in recent years. Syracuse on the road may not be an easy win this week. They still have to go through the likes of Army, Duke, UNC, NC State, Clemson, and Boston College. That is a hell of a tough stretch.
This Week: W; 37-34 LOU
Up Next: @Syracuse (3-2) 3:30 ET ESPN2
Trend: NR
21. NC State Wolfpack (4-1)
It is the win over Clemson last week that propels the Wolfpack to #21. That one TD win over Louisiana Tech scares me a bit. That is not a result that an ACC title team usually carries on their resume. It’s going to be very interesting to see who emerges from a very tightly-contested ACC. NC state has a week to go over film and fix things from the LT game to get ready for Boston College.
This Week: W; 34-27 LT
Up Next: Idle
Trend: NR
22. SMU Mustangs (5-0)
Undefeated SMU has finally done enough to peak their heads into the top 25. That was a nice win over USF. Although I really don’t see them as a threat to Cincy, they are the biggest threat to the Bearcats’ hopes of an undefeated season and playoff berth. The Mustangs shouldn’t have much struggle with the Midshipmen in Annapolis this week, but you never know.
This Week: W; 41-17 USF
Up Next: @Navy (1-3) 3:30 ET CBSSN
Trend: NR
23. Baylor Bears (4-1)
Baylor drops their first game, but remains in the picture in the Big 12. A loss to West Virginia this week would take them out of that picture, and it is highly possible that the Mountaineers could come into Waco and take out the Bears.
This Week: L; 14-24 @20 OKST
Trend: -10
Up Next: West Virginia (2-3) 12:00 ET/11:00 CT FS1
24. Texas Longhorns (4-1)
The Longhorns survived a battle in Fort Worth this week. Now they return to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to rock out the Red River Rivalry in the Cotton Bowl. This should be a barnburner, and I think I like the Longhorns.
A nice win over a ranked Pac-12 opponent puts Arizona State back in the top 25. The Sun Devils are right at the top of the Pac-12 championship conversation, with their lone loss coming to undefeated Brigham Young.
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