While tomorrow is Election Day in America, the College Football Playoff committee will also have some critical decisions to make. While this week’s rankings will not ultimately decide the teams that make the Playoff, what the Committee does this week will go a long way toward deciphering what exactly they value in a team (hint, hint: strength of schedule).
And while the Committee certainly isn’t listening to me on this one, I’ll chip in my two cents anyway. We’ll try to make this a weekly staple until the reveal of the four teams in the College Football Playoff. Let’s start at number ten.
10. Western Michigan Broncos (9-0)
Let’s confront this fact head-on: Western Michigan is an odd choice at number ten. The Broncos have played a weak schedule and haven’t looked overwhelming in some of their games. However, I’m willing to cut the Broncos some slack because they’ve beaten all of the teams they have played. Let’s face it: the committee values strength of schedule above basically everything else in its evaluations. But shouldn’t there also be a value on winning? Winning is what the Broncos have done, which is why I’m happy to put them at number ten on November 7th. And no, that’s not a misprint.p
9. Auburn Tigers (7-2)
Let’s face it: there are teams in this realm with better wins than Auburn’s. However, it’s also important to look at their two losses, which came to Clemson and Texas A&M, both of whom were ranked in the top four of last week’s rankings. Granted, they didn’t look overly impressive in last week’s 23-16 win over Vanderbilt, but a fairly easy next two games (at Georgia, Alabama A&M) should have them in position to play spoiler against Alabama in the Iron Bowl on November 26th. A rushing attack centered around Kamryn Pettway (who is questionable for this week’s game) and one of the best defenses in the country have Auburn sliding into the top ten this week.
8. Penn State Nittany Lions (7-2)
Penn State is a team that I have come around on over the course of this season. After getting pummeled 49-10 by Michigan on September 24, the team has won its last five games, including a 24-21 home victory over Ohio State. An offense spearheaded by Trace McSorley has been one of the most consistent in the country and has come on as of late. This is a different team than the one that got destroyed in Ann Arbor in week four. Message to the rest of college football: beware of Penn State.
7. Wisconsin Badgers (7-2)
Wisconsin is another team that has evolved since the beginning of the season; the Badgers, though, have fared far better and more consistently in their schedule than Penn State has. The Badgers have had quarterback issues all year long, waffling between Bart Houston and Alex Hornibrook. The Badger offense, though, revolves around running back Corey Clement, who rushed for over 100 yards in last week’s win over Northwestern. Wisconsin’s two losses have come against Michigan and Ohio State and their remaining schedule (Illinois, at Purdue, Minnesota) is rather easy. The Badgers should run the table and likely will end up in the Orange Bowl.
6. Louisville Cardinals (8-1)
The Louisville Cardinals are a good team that has been carried all year long by human cheat code quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson continued his heroics last week, throwing for seven touchdowns in a blowout victory against Boston College. The Cards don’t have any more difficult tests on the schedule, as Houston has self-imploded (you’re welcome) and Wake Forest and Kentucky will both be coming to Louisville. The Cardinals probably need help to make the Playoff, but they’re having an amazing season nonetheless. That is all thanks to Lamar Jackson.
5. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-1)
Ohio State had the most impressive performance of week ten, defeating Nebraska 62-3 at home. J.T. Barrett is a legitimate Heisman contender who leads one of the most talented offenses in the country. If Ohio State wins out, which would include a victory against Michigan, they would likely make the Playoff. Even at five, the Buckeyes still control their own destiny. Two road tests lie between them and a date with the Wolverines in Columbus to close out the regular season.
4. Washington Huskies (9-0)
While the Huskies may be jumped by the Buckeyes in the real rankings tomorrow, I am putting Washington over Ohio State because of the value I place on winning. While Washington has not played an overly difficult schedule, they have won all of their games, and have won all but two of those games in convincing fashion. Jake Browning has spearheaded the second-best scoring offense in the country to a 9-0 record this year, and the Huskies’ remaining games are against USC, Arizona State, and Washington State. If Washington wins out, they’re in my playoff. Let’s be honest: all they’ve done is win. There’s something to be said for that.
3. Clemson Tigers (9-0)
Clemson has been tested nearly all season long and was a missed field goal away from losing to NC State on October 15. However, they’ve come out of these trials unscathed, with close wins against Auburn, Troy, Louisville, NC State, and Florida State. Granted, the health of quarterback DeShaun Watson will be key for the Tigers going forward. But Dabo Swinney’s team will do things the way they always have: by bringing their own guts and pulling out close games when they have to.
2. Michigan Wolverines (9-0)
I rate Michigan above Clemson because I subjectively believe that they are just a tick better than the Tigers. Honestly, the choice between two and three is kind of splitting hairs, but the Wolverines have blasted through their schedule with only two close calls (a week nine win at Michigan State and a 14-7 slugfest against Wisconsin on October 1st). Tack onto that an impressive 45-28 win over Colorado in week three and you get the picture of a team with a complete resume. That’s what the Wolverines have, and that’s why I put them just above Clemson.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-0)
Duh. Alabama is in a class of its own in these rankings, as they can win any game in any fashion. I truly believe that they are significantly better than everyone else in college football right now, and the Tide have the talent on both sides of the ball to back that up. Barring a trip-up in the Iron Bowl or in the SEC title game, the Tide will be rolling into the College Football Playoff as the nation’s best team. And it isn’t that close.
Let me know what I got right and wrong in the comments section!