College Football Playoff Rankings Report: Edition #2

Welcome to the second edition of the College Football Playoff Rankings Report! Other than Texas Tech’s statement victory over BYU, there was not much movement within the top of the poll. However, this week featured huge shakeups in the ACC, with Miami reclaiming the projected spot after Virginia and Louisville suffered shocking second losses, and Georgia Tech slotting in right behind the Hurricanes.

1. Ohio State (9-0) kept rolling as it held on to the top spot in the second CFP rankings. Julian Sayin threw for 303 yards, finding Jeremiah Smith for a 35-yard touchdown pass to break open the game, as the Buckeyes cruised past Purdue 34-10. Ohio State is a 32.5-point favorite as it hosts UCLA for a rare Saturday night home game in November.

2. Indiana (10-0) survived quite the scare from Penn State after trailing in the fourth quarter with an incredible catch in the back of the end zone by Omar Cooper Jr. that capped off an excellent two-minute drive led by Fernando Mendoza. The Hoosiers maintained their #2 ranking despite the close call from the unranked Nittany Lions and will conclude the season with Wisconsin and Purdue.

3. Texas A&M (9-0) ran over a Missouri team that was down to its third-string quarterback, freshman Matt Zollers, winning comfortably in Columbia 38-17. Marcel Reed went an efficient 20-29 for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Reuben Owens II rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. The Aggies certainly had a case to move up a spot, but the committee kept them in the third spot.

4. Alabama (8-1) survived a slugfest against LSU, 20-9, after taking a 17-3 lead at the half. Ty Simpson was inefficient, going 21-35, but finished with 277 yards and a touchdown. The defense held strong, not allowing LSU to find the end zone, and the Tide kept rolling with Oklahoma visiting Tuscaloosa this Saturday.

5. Georgia (8-1) handled Mississippi State 41-21, which was relying on backup quarterback Kamario Taylor with Blake Shapen out with an injury. Gunnar Stockton threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns while Nate Frazier rushed for 181 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Georgia went up 38-7 in this SEC game against their fellow Bulldogs before Mississippi State made it look more respectable, and held on to the fifth spot with the Red Raiders breathing down their neck.

6. Texas Tech (9-1) made a national statement as they knocked BYU from the ranks of the unbeaten during the highly anticipated showdown in Lubbock. Behren Morton and Cameron Dickey had solid games for the offense, while the defense made life difficult for Bear Bachmeier. The Red Raiders jumped Ole Miss in the rankings following their 29-7 romp over their fellow Big 12 contender.

7. Ole Miss (9-1) fell one spot, being surpassed by Texas Tech even after shutting out The Citadel 49-0. Trinidad Chambliss faced little resistance as he went 29-33 for 333 yards and three touchdowns, while The Citadel’s Cobey Thompkins was held to just 23 yards. The Rebels will resume SEC play by hosting Florida this weekend before traveling to Mississippi State for this year’s Egg Bowl.

8. Oregon (8-1) moved up a spot after surviving an Iowa-esque win at Kinnick Stadium over the Hawkeyes, 18-16. A safety off a botched punt by Iowa proved to be the difference as Noah Whittington rushed for 118 yards on 17 carries. Iowa rallied from an eight-point deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but Dante Moore set up Atticus Sappington for the game-winning field goal to keep Oregon in the field.

9. Notre Dame (7-2) moved up a spot as it dispatched Navy’s faint hopes of making the CFP for the second-straight year. The Midshipmen’s triple option offense was no match for CJ Carr’s three-touchdown performance, which was coupled with a 94-yard, two-touchdown performance from Jeremiyah Love. The Fighting Irish will look to take down another fringe contender when they visit Pittsburgh, which is flying under the radar with an identical 7-2 record.

10. Texas (7-2) moved into the top ten and the final playoff spot during its bye week, as it was one of the biggest beneficiaries of Texas Tech’s drubbing of BYU. The Lone Star state currently has three teams projected in the field, but the Longhorns face a stiff test at #5 Georgia this Saturday and conclude the season by hosting the Aggies.

11. Oklahoma (7-2) moved into the first spot out of a playoff bid during its second bye week. The Sooners are last coming off a 33-27 win in Knoxville over Tennessee, but a victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium over the Crimson Tide would jolt them into the field.

12. BYU (8-1) is the reason so many other teams moved up a spot, as the Cougars’ 29-7 loss dented their resume and slid them from seventh to twelfth. The Cougars will need to win out to finish the regular season, and either win the Big 12 Championship or receive some help to get into the CFP.

13. Utah (7-2) slots in one spot behind their biggest rival, as they have continued the trend of following up a loss against a contending team with two wins over lower or unranked competition. The Utes have a favorable schedule, but will need to win out and receive some help to get into the Big 12 Championship.

14. Vanderbilt (8-2) bounced back from a failed comeback against Texas with an overtime win over a feisty Auburn team, despite their losing record. Diego Pavia threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 112 yards and a ground score, while Tre Richardson had three receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown. The Commodores will need to defeat Kentucky and Tennessee to have a shot at the playoff with ten wins, as the SEC Championship looks unlikely with so many teams ahead of them.

15. Miami (FL) (7-2) is the projected eleven seed and ACC champion after Virginia and Louisville took stunning losses on Saturday. The Hurricanes looked left for dead after their second loss at SMU, but a strong finish to the season could see them make the postseason after all.

16. Georgia Tech (8-1) jumped a spot on its second bye week as the Yellow Jackets look to turn the page on their first loss of the season to NC State. A trip to lowly Boston College will be welcoming, as Georgia Tech finishes off the season by hosting Pittsburgh and in-state rival Georgia.

17. USC (7-2) moved up two spots after handling Northwestern 38-17 behind strong offensive performances all around, with Jayden Maiava throwing for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns, while King Miller and Makai Lemon were each well over 100 yards. The Trojans next host a feisty Iowa team before heading north to Oregon as they look to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

18. Michigan (7-2) moved up three spots on its second bye week, with the Wolverines last coming off a too-close-for-comfort 21-16 win over Purdue. Michigan clashes with Northwestern at Wrigley Field before traveling to College Park and ending the season with “The Game,” as they will also need to win out for a realistic path to a playoff berth.

19. Virginia (8-2) was stunned 16-9 by Wake Forest, its first loss since Week 2 to NC State. Starting quarterback Chandler Morris was knocked out of the game with a concussion, but the Cavaliers fell five spots in the CFP poll after slotting in as the #11 seed and projected ACC representative for the CFP. UVA will look to get to ten wins and an ACC Championship Game berth when it visits Duke and hosts Virginia Tech to end the season.

20. Louisville (7-2) is in the same boat as Virginia, dropping five spots after suffering its second loss of the season, with California taking down the Cardinals 30-27 in overtime. The Ville will have to win out over Clemson, SMU, and Kentucky to stay alive for an ACC Championship ticket and playoff bid, as five different ACC teams are 7-2 or better at the moment.

21. Iowa (6-3) dropped a heartbreaker to Oregon 18-16, with an early safety and last-second field goal lifting the Ducks over the Hawkeyes. Although Iowa’s small path to the CFP looks destroyed, they only dropped one spot and will have an opportunity to spring another ranked upset when they look to slow down USC’s high-flying offense at the LA Memorial Coliseum this Saturday.

22. Pittsburgh (7-2) moved up a couple of spots on its latter bye week, but the Panthers are gearing up for a heavyweight fight against Notre Dame at Acrisure Field this Saturday. If Pitt can survive that, they will have to defeat Georgia Tech on the road and Miami at home to get to the ACC Championship Game and have a real shot at a playoff berth.

23. Tennessee (6-3) moved up two spots on its second bye as well, sitting at #23 despite its three losses and uninspiring resume. The Volunteers get New Mexico State this Saturday before visiting the Swamp and hosting the Commodores to end the season.

24. South Florida (7-2) is the first Group of Five team to be ranked this season and is the projected #12 seed following Memphis’ 38-32 loss to Tulane. Despite North Texas and AP #24 James Madison being 8-1, USF has the strongest resume, with a 63-36 win over UNT as well as wins over Florida and Boise State. The Bulls have a strong chance at getting to ten wins and stamping their ticket by winning the American Conference.

25. Cincinnati (7-2) made its CFP rankings debut this week despite getting thrashed by Utah two Saturdays ago. The Bearcats have had a resurgent season, but will have to defeat Arizona, BYU, and TCU to make a case for a playoff spot, with a win over the Cougars likely putting them in the Big 12 Championship game against Texas Tech.

First-Round Byes

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Projected First-Round Matchups

No. 12 USF Bulls vs. No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs
No. 11 Miami Hurricanes vs. No. 6 Texas Tech Red Raiders
No. 10 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels
No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. No. 8 Oregon Ducks

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