When I set out to design these rankings over the summer, I was: a) looking for a distraction from the monotony of board studying b) tired of listening to the committee and then the sports media circuit of bloviating ass clowns’ response to the committee and c) trying to lend some concrete evidence to my own views on how to rank college football teams. I accomplished the first. I think I’ve accomplished the second. Still unclear if the third has been accomplished, but to make things clearer, hopefully, for all of you I will be including a spot at the bottom where I put my current playoff field with seeding. As always, feedback and debate encouraged.
1. Alabama (7-2) (Power: 2, Resume: 2, Last Week: 2)
All seven of Alabama’s wins are by double digits. Three of those are on the road. Two against ranked teams, and the other against a team that likely stays ranked if Kamario Taylor doesn’t go down. The merits of all of that compared with the demerits of the two losses can be argued, but that 5th ranking wasn’t as ridiculous as people made it out to be.
2. Miami (8-1) (Power: 1, Resume: 8, Last Week: 1)
Miami had built a massive lead in the “power” portion of the rankings going into this week, so I’m not surprised that they stay number one in power after a close loss. However, Notre Dame diced them up for a good portion of the game, which should be concerning for the ‘Canes heading towards the playoffs.
3. Notre Dame (8-1) (Power: 4, Resume: 5, Last Week: 4)
Levi and I failed to address the biggest travesty of the initial CFP rankings on last week’s “Spread Offense” episode: Notre Dame being ranked 11th. Fortunately, the Irish provided proof of concept.
4. Georgia (8-1) (Power: 3, Resume: 6, Last Week: 6)
They still sit behind the top three because that Auburn loss is worse than anything the teams above them have done. That game aside, they have been the best team in the country. The problem is you don’t get to put that game aside…
5. Texas (7-2) (Power: 7, Resume: 4, Last Week: 5)
Will Arch turn things around this November like he did last year? By the time he did it last year, the Horns were firmly out of the playoff discussion. This year, an Arch turnaround could set them up for a playoff run.
6. Utah (9-0) (Power: 8, Resume: 1, Last Week: 8)
Devon Dampier should be at the top of people’s Heisman ballots. Utah beat BYU because Dampier was better than Bear Bachmeier. Those teams were otherwise indistinguishable.
7. Wake Forest (8-1) (Power: 6, Resume: 15, Last Week: 9)
The Demon Deacons will likely be awarded the 2026 Rodney Dangerfield Award.
8. LSU (6-3) (Power: 5, Resume: 20, Last Week: 3)
The good news for LSU: there are enough opportunities left on the schedule that getting into the playoff at 9-3 is feasible. The bad news: the schedule isn’t letting up and the margin for error is now zero.
9. UCLA (9-0) (Power: 13, Resume: 3, Last Week: 10)
I keep waiting for UCLA to have a letdown game or show clear signs of missing Nico Iamaleava…at this point the Bruins might just keep me waiting.
10. Tennessee (7-2) (Power: 11, Resume: 16, Last Week: 16)
Huge win for the Vols who are trying to keep playoff hopes alive. If they win out, I think they are in. They can’t afford to get to 9-3 with a head-to-head loss to Texas and Alabama unlikely to lose again (frantically knocking on wood).
11. Ole Miss (6-3) (Power: 12, Resume: 13, Last Week: 7)
That was probably a knockout blow for the Rebels’ playoff hopes.
12. Indiana (8-1) (Power: 16, Resume: 9, Last Week: 12)
A bye week means no change for the Hoosiers. They will probably make the playoffs, but I wouldn’t consider them a “contender.”
13. Houston (7-2) (Power: 15, Resume: 10, Last Week: 13)
It may look like they only beat Cincinnati by seven, which technically they did, but they controlled that game. This team is good, but came up short in two that really mattered.
14. Oregon (6-3) (Power: 14, Resume: 14, Last Week: 20)
It’s been a bizarre season for my preseason natty pick. Dan Lanning has one valid excuse for why this team underachieved (the Dante Moore injury), but the coordinator situations and Dylan Raiola’s future need to be addressed.
15. Ohio State (6-3) (Power: 9, Resume: 24, Last Week: 11)
Julian Sayin’s injury derailed this team, but it’s also fair to point out that his presence doesn’t change this defense giving up 41 points to an anemic Oregon offense. Ryan Day deserves a fair amount of blame for letting one injury create a let down for both sides of the ball.
16. BYU (7-2) (Power: 17, Resume: 11, Last Week: 14)
Bear Bachmeier deserves a ton of credit. His toughness sets the tone for this team. He also gets to shoulder the lion’s share of the blame for losing The Holy War. BYU matched up fine with Utah up front, but Bear’s mistakes, especially the goal line interception and the overthrow pick at the end of the first half, were game-altering plays.
17. Oklahoma State (6-3) (Power 10, Resume: 27, Last Week: 21)
This team is such a roller coaster ride…in the best possible way.
18. Iowa (7-2) (Power: 20, Resume: 18, Last Week: 22)
Has Captain Kirk turned over a new leaf? This Iowa team has multiple double-digit wins over decent teams. I guess old dogs can learn new tricks.
19. Kentucky (7-2) (Power: 30, Resume: 7, Last Week: 15)
Kentucky has been a great story, but the problem is their resume is basically the inverse of Alabama’s: lots of close wins and two blowout losses. The committee has proven time and time again that blowout losses weigh heavily in their decisions, even if they “don’t incent margin of victory”…yeah right.
20. South Carolina (6-3) (Power: 19, Resume: 22, Last Week: 23)
Shane Beamer looked like a lame duck coach a month ago. Now, I’m not so sure.
21. Texas Tech (8-1) (Power: 32, Resume: 12, Last Week: 19)
Another great example of a team who has won a lot of games, beaten some good teams, but does not look all that impressive doing it.
22. Louisville (6-3) (Power: 18, Resume: 36, Last Week: 25)
All three losses have been by three points…the problem is one of them was to NC State.
23. USC (7-2) (Power: 39, Resume: 17, Last Week: 24)
The back door is wide open for Lincoln Riley and company to slide into the playoff conversation…if they can take down Indiana and UCLA.
24. Boise State (8-1) (Power: 35, Resume 19, Last Week: NR)
These rankings could be accused of having P4 bias…but truthfully it’s just been a down year for Group of Six teams. Boise State failed it’s only real test of the year, and then the team they failed that test against ended up being disappointing.
25. Missouri (6-3) (Power: 23, Resume: 26, Last Week: 18)
Missouri seems like the great divide of the SEC. Every team above them/who has beaten them is good. Every team below them is mediocre or worse.
First Five Out: Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida, Baylor, Duke
The Dropouts: Florida
My Playoff Field:
1. Notre Dame
2. Georgia
3. Miami
4. Utah
5. UCLA
6. Alabama
7. Texas
8. Indiana
9. Wake Forest
10. Tennessee
11. BYU
12. Boise State
First Two Out: Ole Miss, Texas Tech
Cover Photo Courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics
