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| Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers are sitting pretty after a 23-13 win over ACC rival Florida State. (Photo courtesy AP) |
1) Clemson (9-0)
Previously: 2
Deshaun Watson is the real deal - Part 2. Watson had 297 yards passing, 107 yards rushing, and led Clemson's offense to its fifth straight game with over 500 yards in dethroning Florida State. The Tigers are battled tested (see wins over Notre Dame and FSU). Dabo Swinney's club continues to be the most complete team and has the résumé to back it up.
Deshaun Watson is the real deal - Part 2. Watson had 297 yards passing, 107 yards rushing, and led Clemson's offense to its fifth straight game with over 500 yards in dethroning Florida State. The Tigers are battled tested (see wins over Notre Dame and FSU). Dabo Swinney's club continues to be the most complete team and has the résumé to back it up.
2) Ohio State (9-0)
Previously: 1
Clearly the Buckeyes are a better offensive team when JT Barrett is the quarterback. Cardale Jones possesses many strengths, but Ohio State found its rhythm with Barrett. With Michigan State and Michigan looming, a chance for Ohio State to solidify its Playoff spot is still on the horizon.
3) Baylor (8-0)
Previously: 4
True freshman quarterback Jarrett Stidham proved Baylor can live on after Seth Russell. Stidham threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns in his first start at Kansas State. Now, the Bears get Oklahoma and College GameDay coming to Waco to start a huge three-game stretch.
4) Oklahoma State (9-0)
Previously: NR
Yes, the Cowboys jumped into the Ben Ten Top 4. They did so emphatically, thumping previously undefeated TCU, 49-29. Now that word is out that the Cowboys are for real, can they handle having a target on their back? Up next is a scrappy Iowa State team. Remember 2011 when the Cyclones knocked off unbeaten Okie State, effectively eliminating OSU from the BCS Championship and in turn resulting in an all-SEC title game, which effectively led us to the Playoff. Hmm.
True freshman quarterback Jarrett Stidham proved Baylor can live on after Seth Russell. Stidham threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns in his first start at Kansas State. Now, the Bears get Oklahoma and College GameDay coming to Waco to start a huge three-game stretch.
4) Oklahoma State (9-0)
Previously: NR
Yes, the Cowboys jumped into the Ben Ten Top 4. They did so emphatically, thumping previously undefeated TCU, 49-29. Now that word is out that the Cowboys are for real, can they handle having a target on their back? Up next is a scrappy Iowa State team. Remember 2011 when the Cyclones knocked off unbeaten Okie State, effectively eliminating OSU from the BCS Championship and in turn resulting in an all-SEC title game, which effectively led us to the Playoff. Hmm.
Playoff projection: Clemson vs. Oklahoma State in the Capital One Orange Bowl; Ohio State vs. Baylor in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
*NOTE: The CFB Playoff Committee sends the No. 1 overall seed to its closest destination. Clemson is geographically closer to Miami, Fla., than to Arlington, Texas.
*NOTE: The CFB Playoff Committee sends the No. 1 overall seed to its closest destination. Clemson is geographically closer to Miami, Fla., than to Arlington, Texas.
5) Notre Dame (8-1)
Previously: 7
You have to wonder how high this Irish team would be ranked if it had completed the comeback in Death Valley. That loss to Clemson stings greatly. However, Notre Dame has looked every bit of a playoff contender this season. In comparing losses, the Irish have far and away the "best" loss of any one-loss team. Hence, they land at No. 5.
You have to wonder how high this Irish team would be ranked if it had completed the comeback in Death Valley. That loss to Clemson stings greatly. However, Notre Dame has looked every bit of a playoff contender this season. In comparing losses, the Irish have far and away the "best" loss of any one-loss team. Hence, they land at No. 5.
6) Iowa (9-0)
Previously: 8
Iowa keeps proving doubters wrong (yours truly included). We've been taught that the regular season matters in college football. Welp, the Hawkeyes are undefeated in that regular season with three games to go. They're one of only six teams who can make that claim.
Iowa keeps proving doubters wrong (yours truly included). We've been taught that the regular season matters in college football. Welp, the Hawkeyes are undefeated in that regular season with three games to go. They're one of only six teams who can make that claim.
7) Stanford (8-1)
Previously: 9
Christian McCaffrey is arguably the most complete player in college football. The Cardinal wouldn't be here without him and most certainly should've used him more in Week 1 against Northwestern. Stanford closes the season with big showdowns against Oregon, Cal and Notre Dame, all at home.
Christian McCaffrey is arguably the most complete player in college football. The Cardinal wouldn't be here without him and most certainly should've used him more in Week 1 against Northwestern. Stanford closes the season with big showdowns against Oregon, Cal and Notre Dame, all at home.
8) Alabama (8-1)
Previously: 10
I have an extremely hard time believing reporters who tell me Alabama is playing the best football right now. Really? Two games ago, Alabama trailed four-loss Tennessee at home in the fourth quarter and won by five points. Just because they beat LSU and their name is Alabama and their head coach is Nick Saban, doesn't give the Crimson Tide any lee-way in this poll. Alabama still lost at home to a now three-loss Ole Miss team - who lost to Memphis who lost to Navy. Mississippi State and QB Dak Prescott will give the Tide all it can handle next week, and might knock 'em off ESPN's high and mighty perch.
9) Florida (8-1)
Previously: NR
It was ugly in Gainesville Saturday, but the Gators clinched their first trip to the SEC Championship Game since 2009 with a 9-7 win over Vanderbilt. Florida hardly looks like a Top 10 team, offensively at least. Surprisingly, the Gators now go to Columbia as SEC East champs, but need to avoid a letdown against South Carolina to remain in Playoff contention.
10) LSU (7-1)
Previously: 2
Putting out an APB for Leonard Fournette. Last seen: supposedly on the sidelines or the locker room in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Fournette mustered 31 yards on 19 carries, a far cry from his over 150 yards he'd accumulated each game this season. LSU now faces a tough road ahead with Arkansas, Ole Miss and Texas A&M remaining.
I have an extremely hard time believing reporters who tell me Alabama is playing the best football right now. Really? Two games ago, Alabama trailed four-loss Tennessee at home in the fourth quarter and won by five points. Just because they beat LSU and their name is Alabama and their head coach is Nick Saban, doesn't give the Crimson Tide any lee-way in this poll. Alabama still lost at home to a now three-loss Ole Miss team - who lost to Memphis who lost to Navy. Mississippi State and QB Dak Prescott will give the Tide all it can handle next week, and might knock 'em off ESPN's high and mighty perch.
9) Florida (8-1)
Previously: NR
It was ugly in Gainesville Saturday, but the Gators clinched their first trip to the SEC Championship Game since 2009 with a 9-7 win over Vanderbilt. Florida hardly looks like a Top 10 team, offensively at least. Surprisingly, the Gators now go to Columbia as SEC East champs, but need to avoid a letdown against South Carolina to remain in Playoff contention.
10) LSU (7-1)
Previously: 2
Putting out an APB for Leonard Fournette. Last seen: supposedly on the sidelines or the locker room in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Fournette mustered 31 yards on 19 carries, a far cry from his over 150 yards he'd accumulated each game this season. LSU now faces a tough road ahead with Arkansas, Ole Miss and Texas A&M remaining.
Next three up:
Oklahoma (8-1)
Are the Sooners a fluke loss against Texas away from being ranked in the Top 4? Absolutely. Oklahoma has outscored its opponents 232-50 in four games since the flop in the Cotton Bowl - admittedly against weaker competition (four teams with 11 wins combined). But the Sooners need to just keep winning. They've already seen one Big 12 team falter (see TCU below). If OU continues to win and chaos ahead of them ensues, the Sooner Schooner could be making its way to the Top 4.
TCU (8-1)
That was a tough pill to swallow. TCU was on the verge of breaking into the Top 4 and laid an egg against Oklahoma State. Trevone Boykin threw four interceptions and star receiver Josh Doctson left the game with a wrist injury. Gary Patterson's squad had no answer for the long ball. Now, the Horned Frogs face a huge uphill battle with Oklahoma and Baylor still on the schedule.
North Carolina (8-1)
Surging back from the "left for dead" category, here are the North Carolina Tar Heels. Marquise Williams is locked and loaded at the quarterback position. While he's in the process of re-writing the school's record book, the Heels are busting down the Playoff Committee door screaming, "Take a look at us!" All UNC has done since it laid an egg to open the season is average 43.5 points per game and begun to separate itself from the rest of the ACC Coastal. Keep winning, get to 11-1 and the ACC title game, and North Carolina would have the chance of a lifetime to knock off Clemson. Uh oh...
Dropped out:
TCU (5) and Michigan State (6)
That was a tough pill to swallow. TCU was on the verge of breaking into the Top 4 and laid an egg against Oklahoma State. Trevone Boykin threw four interceptions and star receiver Josh Doctson left the game with a wrist injury. Gary Patterson's squad had no answer for the long ball. Now, the Horned Frogs face a huge uphill battle with Oklahoma and Baylor still on the schedule.
North Carolina (8-1)
Surging back from the "left for dead" category, here are the North Carolina Tar Heels. Marquise Williams is locked and loaded at the quarterback position. While he's in the process of re-writing the school's record book, the Heels are busting down the Playoff Committee door screaming, "Take a look at us!" All UNC has done since it laid an egg to open the season is average 43.5 points per game and begun to separate itself from the rest of the ACC Coastal. Keep winning, get to 11-1 and the ACC title game, and North Carolina would have the chance of a lifetime to knock off Clemson. Uh oh...
Dropped out:
TCU (5) and Michigan State (6)
-BtW
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