Ohio State drops in our rankings after a shocking loss, but the Big Ten remains represented in the top five with the rise of Michigan.
This Week’s Voters: Geoff Magliocchetti, Justin Weiss
1) Alabama (8-0)
- Last Week: W 58-21 @ Tennessee
- Top Performer: QB Tua Tagovailoa (19-29, 306 yards, 4 TD)
- This Week: Idle (Next game: 11/3 @ LSU)
- The Crimson Tide, perhaps mercifully, have a bye this week, and somehow they’re still favored by 28.
2) Clemson (7-0)
- Last Week: W 41-7 vs. #North Carolina State
- Top Performer: QB Trevor Lawrence (26-39, 308 yards, 1 TD)
- This Week: Saturday @ Florida State (12:00 p.m., ABC)
Lawrence faced his first true test since taking over the Tigers’ starting duties and passed with flying colors, but could a potential trap game loom ahead in Tallahassee?
3) LSU (7-1)
- Last Week: W 19-3 vs. Mississippi State
- Top Performer: S Grant Delpit (10 tackles, 2 INT, 1 sack)
- This Week: Idle (Next game: 11/3 vs. Alabama)
With wins against four ranked teams under their belts, no team in the nation may be armed with more confidence than the Tigers, and that’ll be huge going into a highly anticipated showdown with the Tide.
4) Notre Dame (7-0)
- Last Week: Idle
- Top Performer: N/A
- This Week: Saturday vs Navy (@ San Diego, CA) (8:00 p.m., CBS)
Hopefully the Irish enjoyed their week off at home because their College Football Playoff trek features only one more game in South Bend, the others being either road or neutral site games.
5. Michigan (7-1)
- Last Week: W 21-7 @ Michigan State
- Top Performer: QB Shea Patterson (14-25, 212 yards, 2 TD)
- This Week: Idle (Next game: 11/3 vs. Penn State)
With great power, a.k.a. the driver’s seat in the Big Ten after surviving storms and chippiness against the Spartans, comes great responsibility, as the Wolverines have almost no excuse not to at least win their division.
6) Georgia (6-1)
- Last Week: Idle
- Top Performer: N/A
- This Week: Saturday vs. #11 Florida (@ Jacksonville, FL) (3:30 p.m., CBS)
The Bulldogs are another team that better have enjoyed their time off, as the annual showdown with the Gators is the middle part of a brutal three-game stretch that could very well keep them out of a return trip to the CFP (they visit Lexington next week).
7) Ohio State (7-1)
- Last Week: L 49-20 @ Purdue
- Top Performer: QB Dwayne Haskins (49-73, 470 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT)
- This Week: Idle (Next game: 11/3 vs. Nebraska)
Awe-inspiring as the resurgence of the Boilermakers was in primetime, the Buckeyes were the necessary victim, outplayed all night by a conference also-ran, and now have two weeks to stew on it.
8) Texas (6-1)
- Last Week: Idle
- Top Performer: N/A
- This Week: Saturday @ Oklahoma State (8:00 p.m., ABC)
The Big 12’s active best hope for a playoff spot is headed into ABC’s primetime showcase against an unranked host…which sounds suspiciously like Ohio State’s situation last week…
9) UCF (7-0)
- Last Week: W 37-10 @ East Carolina
- Top Performer: QB Darriel Mack Jr. (12-20, 69 yards, 22 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD)
- This Week: Idle (Next game: 11/1 vs. Temple)
If the Golden Knights are able to keep this crazy win streak going, the play of Mack, who stepped in for an injured McKenzie Milton, will be talked about for a long time in Orlando.
10) Oklahoma (6-1)
- Last Week: W 52-27 @ TCU
- Top Performer: RB Kennedy Brooks (18 carries, 166 yards, 1 TD)
- This Week: Saturday vs. Kansas State (3:30 p.m., Fox)
Back in the win column after the Texas heartbreaker, the Sooners can set up a potential rematch in the conference title game if they handle a manageable remaining stretch.
11) Florida (6-1)
- Last Week: Idle
- Top Performer: N/A
- This Week: Saturday vs. #6 Georgia (@ Jacksonville, FL) (3:30 p.m., CBS)
This difficult stretch of football, at least by Gainesville standards, used to have the advantage of owning the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, but the Gators are seeking revenge after a 42-7 shellacking last season.
[membership level="0"] [/membership]12) Washington State (6-1)
- Last Week: W 34-20 vs. #21 Oregon
- Top Performer: QB Gardner Minshew (39-51, 323 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT)
- This Week: Saturday @ 20 Stanford (7:00 p.m., PAC-12 Networks)
Perhaps the conference’s last hope in reaching the CFP, the Cougars have reached the top of the standings, but now comes the hard part: staying there.
13) Wisconsin (5-2)
- Last Week: W 49-20 vs. Illinois
- Top Performer: S Evan Bondoc (5 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT)
- This Week: Saturday @ Northwestern (12:00 p.m., Fox)
On paper, it’s for the right to be defeated by Michigan or Ohio State, but Saturday’s visit against the Wildcats will determine the leader of the Big Ten West, so there’s plenty on the line.
14) Kentucky (6-1)
- Last Week: W 14-7 vs. Vanderbilt
- Top Performer: RB Benny Snell Jr. (32 carries, 169 yards, 1 TD)
- This Week: Saturday @ Missouri (4:00 p.m., SEC Network)
The Wildcats’ improbable SEC title chase is back on after a big win, as is Snell’s Heisman chase after taking part in another strong offensive effort.
15) Texas A&M (5-2)
- Last Week: Idle
- Top Performer: N/A
- This Week: Saturday @ Mississippi State (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Whether it’s a defense ahead of schedule or good old-fashioned SEC bias, the Aggies surprisingly remain in the CFP hunt, even with two losses.
16) South Florida (7-0)
- Last Week: W 38-30 vs. Connecticut
- Top Performer: RB Johnny Ford (7 carries, 164 yards, 3 TD)
- This Week: Saturday @ Houston (3:30 p.m., ABC)
The latest hero in keeping the Bulls’ ridiculous undefeated streak alive is the freshman Ford, who helped them overcome another slow start.
17) Iowa (6-1)
- Last Week: W 23-0 vs. Maryland
- Top Performer: RB Ivory Kelly-Martin (24 carries, 98 yards)
- This Week: Saturday @ #18 Penn State (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
A hidden weapon in the Hawkeyes’ repertoire has to be their defense, which has held opponents to single-digits in three games thus far this season.
18) Penn State (5-2)
- Last Week: W 33-28 @ Indiana
- Top Performer: DE Yetur Gross-Matos (10 tackles, 2 sacks)
- This Week: Saturday vs. #17 Iowa (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
Despite a win on the road, the Nittany Lions are still on shaky ground, but they can right their ship with a win over a ranked opponent this week.
19) West Virginia (5-1)
- Last Week: Idle
- Top Performer: N/A
- This Week: Thursday vs. Baylor (7:00 p.m., FS1)
Two weeks after the distressing loss to Iowa State, the Mountaineers have a prime opportunity to impress voters still partial to the Big 12 with a national appearance this week.
20) Stanford (5-2)
- Last Week: W 20-13 @ Arizona State
- Top Performer: QB KJ Costello (22-29, 231 yards, 1 TD)
- This Week: Saturday @ Washington State (7:00 p.m., PAC-12 Networks)
Even with Bryce Love continuing to struggle, the Cardinal still have a chance to return to the top of the PAC-12 with matchups against both big Washington schools over the next two weeks.
21) Oregon (5-2)
- Last Week: L 34-20 @ #12 Washington State
- Top Performer: CB Deommodore Lenior (5 tackles, 2 INT)
- This Week: Saturday @ Arizona (10:30 p.m., ESPN)
It’s been a struggle for Justin Herbert lately, as he’s been forced below the 300-yard mark for three consecutive games, but he has a chance to recover against the reeling Wildcats.
22) Washington (6-2)
- Last Week: W 27-13 vs. Colorado
- Top Performer: LB Ben Burr-Kirven (15 tackles, 1 INT)
- This Week: Saturday @ California (6:30 p.m., FS1)
The Huskies picked up a strong win on Saturday without Myles Gaskin, and now enter a crucial four-game stretch that could be the difference between playing in a New Year’s bowl or playing in a post-Christmas December game.
23) North Carolina State (5-1)
- Last Week: L 41-7 @ #2 Clemson
- Top Performer: CB Nick McCloud (10 tackles, 2 pass deflections)
- This Week: Saturday @ Syracuse (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
The Wolfpack faltered in a huge visit to the national stage, but they have a manageable remaining slate to potentially finish with one loss.
24) Fresno State (6-1)
- Last Week: W 38-7 @ New Mexico
- Top Performer: WR KeeSean Johnson (8 receptions, 149 yards, 2 TD)
- This Week: Saturday vs. Hawaii (10:30 p.m., ESPN2)
The Bulldogs are the latest contender to emerge from the Group of Five, currently undefeated in Mountain West play thanks to a strong offense.
25) Utah State (6-1)
- Last Week: W 24-16 @ Wyoming
- Top Performer: RB Darwin Thompson (17 carries, 109 yards, 2 TD)
- This Week: Saturday vs. New Mexico (4:00 p.m., Facebook Watch)
Right behind them in the Mountain West are the Aggies, who very well could be undefeated right now had they held on during an opening week thriller against Michigan State.
Also Received Votes: Utah, Buffalo
