College Football – The Bat Flip

College Football Rankings Check: Postseason

After each week of the college football season, a fresh set of rankings drop, highlighting the Top 25 teams in the nation. There are two major polls used in the college football, the AP Poll voted on by members of the media, and the Coaches Poll voted on by, well you can probably figure that one out. Now that we have reached November, the College Football Playoff rankings are out and take over as the top billed ranking in college football for the rest of the season.

Fifteen weeks of college football have now wrapped up and bowl season is officially upon us, kicking off this Friday and running through the new year and into early 2020, ending with the National Championship Game on January 13th. After a hectic championship weekend, the College Football Playoff committee met one final time and delivered us the four teams who will compete for a national title, beginning with two semifinal matchups set for December 28th.

Let’s take a look at how everyone sits heading into the postseason.

College Football Playoff

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There you have it right at the top of this week’s College Football Playoff rankings, the four schools who qualify for the playoffs and will compete for a national title. Louisiana State claims the top spot after winning the SEC and will meet Big 12 champion No. 4 Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl. Coming in at No. 2 is Ohio State, who needed a big time comeback to win the Big Ten over Wisconsin and will now head to Phoenix and take on No. 3 Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl. Both semifinal games will take place on Saturday, December 28th.

The remaining Top 10 sides will not participate in the College Football Playoff, but all six left did qualify for a coveted New Year’s Six bowl game. SEC runner-up Georgia sits at No. 5 and will take on Big 12 runner-up No. 7 Baylor in the Sugar Bowl. Oregon was the biggest gainer of the week, jumping seven spots to No. 6 after thrashing Utah to win the PAC 12. As a reward, the Ducks will head to Pasadena where they will face Big Ten runner-up No. 8 Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.

Florida and Penn State were both off this past weekend, but both sides held steady in the rankings and were rewarded for their strong season with a New Year’s Six contest. The No. 9 Gators are heading to the Orange Bowl to face the ACC runner-up No. 24 Virginia. Penn State slots in at No. 10 and books a trip to Dallas to face American Conference champion No. 17 Memphis in the famed Cotton Bowl Classic.

This week’s biggest loser is undoubtedly Utah, who laid an egg against Oregon in the PAC 12 title game and not only missed out on a potential playoff spot, but fell completely out of the NY6 picture and will settle for the Alamo Bowl against Texas.

As for the rest of the ranked teams, they all head off to various bowl games around the country based on conference tie ins to specific games. Check back later this week for a complete breakdown of every bowl contest to see who is playing where and when this bowl season.

AP Poll

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At this point in the season, the polls all start to mimic each other outside of a few variations here of there. As has been the case since the initial College Football rankings came out a few weeks ago, the AP Poll has the same Top 4 in the same order as the CFP rankings but some teams start to flip positioning further down.

Oregon and Utah were the biggest movers in this week’s AP voting, but the media but both sides a spot lower than their CFP counterparts. Florida has clearly impressed the media this season, sitting in the No. 6 spot as the highest ranked 10-2 team in the nation, one spot behind SEC East counterpart Georgia.

Big Ten sides Wisconsin and Penn State both sit outside the Top 10 in the AP Poll despite both being securely ranked inside the Top 10 by the CFP. American Conference champion Memphis on the other hand sits two spots higher in the AP rankings at No. 15 as compared to No. 17 in the CFP.

In the end, the AP Poll is a good look into how the media views teams that they cover over the course of the season, but in the end, the poll carries little to no weight on how the CFP committee goes about their work.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

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If the AP Poll doesn’t factor into how the CFP committee views teams then the Coaches Poll might as well be floating in zero gravity. Again the four playoff teams remain the same as we see in the CFP rankings, but there is more variation between the two polls the further you go down the rankings.

Bowl Season Schedule

Let’s take a quick peek at this season’s bowl schedule to see who will be playing and when they will playing this bowl season.

Note: Team rankings are based on the College Football Playoff standings.

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Bowl games begin on Friday, December 20th and run through the new year, concluding with the National Championship Game in New Orleans on January 13th. Stay tuned later this week for a complete breakdown of all the bowl games set to come.

Each and every week throughout the college football season we will be checking in with the latest rankings and Top 25 schedule so make sure you are checking back to keep up to date on the latest from the college football world.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 15

A little late on this week’s college football rankings check and little hastily put together. We have arrived at championship week which will determine the four sides that will qualify for the College Football Playoff. It’s a pretty clear path for all four team sitting in playoff positioning after Week 14, but there is still business to be taken care of before the final rankings are released Sunday.

College Football Playoff

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Dropped from rankings: Iowa State 23, Virginia Tech 24

It all comes this, seven teams vying for four spots with two likely already wrapped up. Ohio State and Louisiana State will both participate in their respective conference title games, but already have built a strong enough resume to safely make the field even with a loss.

That leaves two spots up for grabs, currently occupied by defending national champion Clemson and second SEC Championship participant Georgia. For both sides the road is simple, win and they will be in playoff. A loss by either side will put a serious dent in their hopes of making the playoff if not eliminating them altogether.

Should either Clemson or Georgia slip up, Utah and Oklahoma or Baylor will be waiting in the wings to take advantage. Most believe Clemson will easily defeat Virginia to claim the ACC title and a playoff spot, meaning only that No. 4 spot could be up for grabs. Right now Utah sits in prime position to make the leap, provided they defeat Oregon on Friday night. Even if the Utes do win, they will have to do so impressively or risk being vaulted by a potential Big 12 champion Oklahoma.

AP Poll

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Others receiving votes: SMU 50, Oklahoma State 36, Kansas State 36, UCF 6, Virginia Tech 6, Iowa State 5, Arizona State 4, California 3, Washington 2, North Dakota State 1

Dropped from rankings: Oklahoma State 21, Virginia Tech 23

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

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Others receiving votes: SMU 65, Oklahoma State 40, Kansas State 24, Louisiana 21, Indiana 14, Hawai’i 7, UCF 7, Arizona State 6, San Diego State 3, Iowa State 3, Tennessee 3, Virginia Tech 2, Temple 1

Dropped from rankings: Oklahoma State 21, Virginia Tech 23

Top 25 Schedule: Week 15

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 15.

Note: Team rankings are based on the College Football Playoff standings.

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Championship Week action all begins on Friday night in Santa Clara where No. 5 Utah will take on No. 13 Oregon in the PAC-12 title game. Once again, Utah sits in the best position to jump into playoff positioning with a victory.

Action will continue on Saturday with games taking place all day, starting at noon with the Big 12 title game in Dallas between Baylor and Oklahoma. Late afternoon brings an American Conference showdown between Memphis and Cincinnati where the winner with a Cotton Bowl berth on the line. Over in the SEC, No. 2 LSU takes on No. 4 Georgia in a game that could decide the entire playoff field depending on the outcome.

Wrapping up the action on Saturday, No. 1 Ohio State will take on No. 8 Wisconsin in a rematch from earlier in the season where the Buckeyes trounced the Badgers by 31 in Columbus. A victory for Ohio State will cement their spot in the playoff and likely the No. 1 overall seed, while Wisconsin is playing for a spot in the Rose Bowl.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 14

In less than two weeks we will know which four teams will be playing in the College Football Playoff for this season, but there is still a bit a business to take care of before then. Starting this week, a slate for of rivalry games make for an entertaining holiday weekend with much at stake for everyone involved. Let’s take a look at how all the teams stand heading into Week 14.

College Football Playoff

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Dropped from rankings: SMU 25

After two weeks at No. 2, the Ohio State Buckeyes returned to the top spot in the latest College Football Playoff rankings after their victory on Saturday over fellow ranked side the Penn State Nittany Lions. The win secured Ohio State the Big Ten East crown and a spot in the Big Ten Championship game against either No. 8 Minnesota No. 12 Wisconsin.

With Ohio State climbing to No. 1 it means previous top overall side Louisiana State had to drop but it was only a single slot down to No. 2. The Tigers put on an impressive performance against an inferior Arkansas squad to wrap up the SEC West and remain in solid position to make the playoff.

Rounding out the Top 4 are still Clemson and Georgia, both holding steady at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively. At No. 5 sits Alabama, who will still need some help if they hope to make the playoff come December but for now they are doing their part by simply winning games.

Oregon was upset in a shocking fashion by Arizona State on Saturday night, plummeting the Ducks down the rankings to No. 14 and out of the playoff picture. This leaves Utah as the singular PAC-12 playoff hope as the Utes move up one spot to No. 6. Utah still needs a win over Colorado on Saturday night to book a spot in the PAC-12 title game.

Other beneficiaries of Oregon’s undoing are Big 12 sides Oklahoma and Baylor. Both the Sooners and Bears sit in the Top 10 and know they will be facing off in Dallas next week in the Big 12 Championship. Should the winner of that game still only have one loss, they will have a strong playoff case.

As previously mentioned, Penn State fell to Ohio State on Saturday, sending the Nittany Lions down two spots, out of the playoff picture but very much in strong position to qualify for a New Year’s Six bowl game.

After you get past the Top 10, there is no much movement to discuss in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings. American Conference sides Memphis and Cincinnati remain only a spot apart before their big showdown on Friday afternoon. Should Memphis win that game, the Tigers and Bearcats will meet again the following week with a potential New Year’s Six spot on the line.

Southern Methodist was the only side to drop from this week’s rankings, replaced by Virginia Tech who come in at No. 24.

AP Poll

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Others receiving votes: Iowa State 74, Virginia 38, Texas A&M 27, Air Force 22, SMU 9, Arizona State 4, North Dakota State 1, Louisiana 1

Dropped from rankings: SMU 21, Texas A&M 24

No major upsets means no significant shakeup in the polls this week with the Top 5 of the AP Poll all remaining the same from the previous week. Our first moves come at No. 6 where lone PAC-12 playoff hopeful Utah resides, moving up one spot.

Behind the Utes, Oklahoma, Florida, Minnesota, Michigan, and Baylor all jumped either one spot or a pair of spots due to losses by Oregon and Penn State on Saturday. Penn State’s fall was mitigated given its opponent was No. 2 Ohio State, but the Ducks took an eight spot tumble after being shocked by Arizona State. Penn State and Oregon now reside at No. 12 and No. 14 respectively, with Wisconsin occupying the space in between.

Memphis and Cincinnati flip flopped spots after the week that was and remain separated by the slimmest of margins just days before they are set to face-off in what could be the first of two meetings in as many weeks.

Further down the poll, Oklahoma State and Appalachian State took advantage of teams ahead of them dropping games to move up while Virginia Tech did the same and jumped two spots. The Hokies will head into their rivalry game with Virginia as the only non-Clemson ACC team to be ranked.

Dropping from the poll this week was Southern Methodist and Texas A&M, replaced by Navy and Southern California.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

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Others receiving votes: Air Force 74, Iowa State 55, Virginia 32, Texas A&M 26, SMU 18, Louisiana 18, Wake Forest 5, San Diego State 4, Hawai’i 2, Indiana 2, Temple 1

Dropped from rankings: SMU 21, Texas A&M 24, San Diego State 25

This time of year, the polls will start to mimic one another as teams sort themselves out and the contenders separate from the pretenders. That’s the case here when you compare the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. The top nine sides all match up perfectly before the first change comes at No. 10 where the coaches placed Baylor compared to Michigan on the AP side.

Oregon and Penn State were the biggest losers with the coaches as well with the Ducks dropping seven spots and the Nittany Lions and identical three spots compared to the AP voters. Everyone previously below the Ducks and Nittany Lions, from Oklahoma to Michigan, all climbed.

The only other movement after getting past Oregon at No. 13 is Oklahoma State rising two spots to No. 21. Leaving the Coaches Poll this week is the trio of Southern Methodist, Texas A&M, and San Diego State. Three teams going out meant three teams had to go in and the this week’s newly ranked sides are Virginia Tech, Navy, and Southern California.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 14

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 14.

Note: Team rankings are based on the College Football Playoff standings.

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Hopefully your holiday weekend plans have some time blocked out for college football because we have a loaded Top 25 schedule on tap beginning Friday. Southern California is the only Top 25 side without a game this weekend, meaning the remaining 24 ranked sides will all be in action.

This is the annual “Rivalry Week” around college football with some marquee games on the docket, starting in Ann Arbor where No. 1 Ohio State will look to keeps its winning streak intact against No. 13 Michigan. It’s been eight years since the Wolverines knocked off the Buckeyes and the stakes are very high.

Heading down south to the SEC, bitter rivals No. 5 Alabama and No. 15 Auburn go head-to-head in their annual Iron Bowl meeting. Alabama sits just outside the playoff picture but they know this is a must win game if they have any hopes of playing for a national championship.

Memphis plays host to Cincinnati in what might as well be a preview of the American Conference title game next week. Should Memphis prevail, it will set up a rematch with the Bearcats back in Memphis in a week’s time.

Both the Big Ten West and ACC Coastal divisions will be decided in showdowns between bitter rivals this weekend. First on Friday, No. 24 Virginia Tech looks to extend its winning streak to 16 games over in-state rival Virginia with the winner meeting Clemson next week. Then on Saturday, No. 8 Minnesota looks to continue its fairytale season by booking a meeting with Ohio State should the Gophers overcome rival No. 12 Wisconsin.

A slew of traditional state rivalries make up a large chunk of this week’s college football slate. No. 3 Clemson/South Carolina, No. 4 Georgia/Georgia State, No. 7 Oklahoma/No. 21 Oklahoma State, No. 11 Florida/Florida State, and No. 14 Oregon/Oregon State are all games to keep an eye on.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 13

Two more unbeatens fall in Week 12 and cause a bit of a shakeup in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, but the three remaining undefeated sides still hold steady at the top with two weeks of regular season play left. All five major conference remain in contention to have a team in the playoff, but with only four spots up for grabs, someone will be left out in the cold.

College Football Playoff

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Dropped from rankings: Texas 19, Navy 23, Kansas State 24

No change among the top seven teams from last week, with Louisiana State, Ohio State, Clemson, and Georgia currently occupying the four playoff spots. Alabama still sits in the No. 5 spot but knows it needs a lot of help down the stretch if it hopes to make the playoff once again. PAC-12 sides Oregon and Utah sit sixth and seventh respectively, still on track for a showdown in the conference title game in about two and a half weeks.

Penn State bounced back from its to Minnesota with a win over Indiana and jumped up a spot to No. 8 in part because the Golden Gophers fell from the ranks of the unbeaten with a loss against Iowa. Also benefiting from the Gophers misfortune was Oklahoma, who staged an epic comeback over previously unbeaten Baylor to move into the No. 9 slot.

Speaking of Minnesota and Baylor, the two cinderella stories both fell in the rankings after losing, but still remain in decent position to be in the playoff discussion should they run the table. The Gophers currently sit at No. 10 in the latest ranking while the Bears come in at No. 14.

Florida, Michigan, and Auburn all still sit comfortably inside the Top 15 at the moment but have little to no hope of making the playoff come season’s end. The same can be said for two loss Notre Dame at No. 16, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility those sides could make a New Year’s Six bowl game.

In the battle of Group of 5 teams fighting it out for that coveted New Year’s Six spot, American Conference foes Memphis and Cincinnati still sit in the best position to claim the spot and they remain on track for a meeting in the American Conference title game. If they both enter that game 11-1, the winner should safely be into the NY6.

Texas, Navy, and Kansas State all tumbled from the CFP rankings this week, replaced by Iowa State, Southern California, and Southern Methodist.

AP Poll

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Others receiving votes: Indiana 47, Iowa State 31, Virginia 23, Navy 13, Air Force 12, Pittsburgh 9, San Diego State 7, USC 6, Washington 6, Texas 4, Illinois 1, North Dakota State 1

Dropped from rankings: Navy 21, Texas 22, Indiana 24

The three remaining undefeated sides make up the top three spots in the AP Poll, with Louisiana State still holding onto the top spot ahead of Ohio State and Clemson. Georgia rolled over Auburn and jumped Alabama for the No. 4 spot while the Tide will settle in at No. 5 for this week.

This week’s biggest dropper is Minnesota who tumbled four spot to No. 11 after suffering its first loss of the season at the hands of Iowa who were conversely the biggest gainer this week, rising four spots to No. 19.

Utah, Oklahoma, and Florida all benefited from the Golden Gophers loss, each climbing up the standings, and for Florida, back into the Top 10. Sandwiched between those three sides is Penn State who held steady at No. 9 following a victory over Indiana on Saturday.

Baylor joined Minnesota is falling from the ranks of the unbeaten after blowing a big lead and losing to Oklahoma on Saturday night. Even with the loss, the Bears only fell a single spot to No. 13, a slide which let Michigan hop to No. 12.

Further down the poll, Auburn tumbled three spots after losing to Georgia, pushing Wisconsin and Notre Dame slightly upwards to No. 14 and No. 15 respectively. The American Conference pair of Cincinnati and Memphis held steady at No. 17 and No. 18.

Navy, Texas, and Indiana all lost and subsequently fell from the rankings this week. They were replaced by a trio of Appalachian State, Texas A&M, and Virginia Tech.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

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Others receiving votes: Virginia Tech 46, Air Force 43, Indiana 39, Navy 25, Virginia 20, Louisiana Tech 10, Louisiana 8, Pittsburgh 7, USC 3, Wake Forest 2, Temple 1, Kansas State 1

Dropped from rankings: Navy 21, Texas 23, Indiana 25

Wrapping up with a brief look at the Coaches Poll for this week, the Top 6 teams are identical to the AP Poll with the first deviation coming at No. 7 where the coaches placed Oklahoma rather than Utah who come in at No. 8 this week.

Remarkably, after the Oklahoma/Utah switch, the two polls are exact in their rankings from Penn State at No. 9 all the way to Memphis at No. 18 before they place Boise State at No. 19 instead of Iowa who comes in at No. 20 in the Coaches Poll.

Again sticking with the AP Poll, Navy, Texas, and Indiana all dropped from the rankings after losing on Saturday. Where the Coaches diverge from the AP is in which teams replaced the three that left. Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, and San Diego State all jumped into the rankings this week.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 13

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 13.

Note: Team rankings are based on the College Football Playoff standings.

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Only one ranked matchup this week but it will have major playoff implications regardless of result. No. 2 Ohio State, arguably the most impressive team in the country this season, welcomes No. 8 Penn State to Columbus with a spot in the Big Ten title game on the line. That is a noon kickoff and what better way to start your Saturday than with a marquee matchup between two playoff hopefuls.

In total, 23 of the 25 teams currently ranked in the College Football Playoff rankings are in action this weekend meaning an upset anywhere could throw everything into total chaos entering the final week of the regular season. The playoff favorites may not have marquee matchups on the schedule (OSU/PSU excluded), but if they hope to make the playoff, they need to win the games they are supposed to win.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 12

It only took one week but we already have a big shake up in the College Football Playoff rankings. Two Top 4 sides fell in Week 11 meaning two powerhouses left out in the cold last week now jump into the playoff should the season be over today. Last week’s results also provide us a new No. 1 team in the nation but there is still a lot of football left to be played and a lot of chaos left to unfold.

College Football Playoff

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Dropped from rankings: Wake Forest 19, SMU 25

Our first week of play under the College Football Playoff rankings saw a pair of Top 4 sides fall and a new No. 1 side emerge. After being ranked No. 2 in the original CFP rankings last week, Louisiana State jumped into the top spot over Ohio State thanks to their win over former No. 3 side Alabama. In turn, the Tide drop only two spots to Np. 5, keeping them in contention to make the playoff at season’s end.

Penn State was the other Top 4 side to fall on Saturday, dropping their first game of the season to undefeated Minnesota. The Nittany Lions tumbled five spots to No. 9 while the Golden Gophers made the biggest jump in CFP rankings history, up nine spots to No. 8 .

With Alabama and Penn State dropping, Clemson and Georgia reaped the benefits and now round out the new Top 4 behind LSU and Ohio State. Just past the Crimson Tide at No. 6 and No. 7 are PAC-12 sides Oregon and Utah. Both are on a collision course to meet in the PAC-12 title game in December, where the winner will have a strong playoff case.

In the Big 12, Oklahoma and Baylor remain the best playoff hopes for that conference. Both barely survived on Saturday and now will meet in Waco on Saturday that could be a make or break game for either side’s playoff hopes.

If you’re a two loss team you better hope and pray a lot of chaos unfolds over the next two weeks. The CFP committee drew a pretty hard line in the sand again this week, shutting all two loss teams out of the Top 10 and making the climb to a playoff spot nearly impossible when you look at the teams ahead of them.

In the race for the Group of 5 spot in a New Year’s 6 bowl game, Cincinnati and Memphis lead the way at No. 16 and No. 17 respectively. Both remain on course to meet in the American Conference title game where the winner should claim the NY6 spot. If those two sides falter, the door to the NY6 opens for teams like Boise State, Navy, Appalachian State, and even now unranked Southern Methodist.

SMU was one of two teams to drop from the rankings this week, joined by former No. 19 Wake Forest. Replacing the Mustangs and Demon Deacons are Texas as the new No. 19 and Appalachian State at No. 25.

AP Poll

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Others receiving votes: Appalachian State 73, Kansas State 67, Texas A&M 42, Wake Forest 38, Louisiana Tech 25, Virginia 12, San Diego State 7, Virginia Tech 4, Iowa State 4, Washington 3, Pittsburgh 2, Air Force 2, UCF 2, North Dakota State 1, USC 1, Illinois 1

Dropped from rankings: Kansas State 20, Wake Forest 22, San Diego State 24

Louisiana State solidified its spot atop the AP Poll with their victory over Alabama on Saturday night. For the Tide, the damage from the loss was minimized by the voters, only falling two spots to No. 4.

Ohio State and Clemson both climb up but see a drop in first place votes as the media appears to be hedging their bets on LSU being the true No. 1 in the land at the moment. For the first time this season, Alabama falls out of the Top 2 and receives no first place votes.

Minnesota continued its storybook season with a shocking upset victory over former No. 5 Penn State. As a result, the Golden Gophers are the biggest gainer of the week, jumping six spots to No. 7 and into the Top 10 for the first time. Penn State takes a tumble to No. 9, falling four spots. Georgia and Oregon both benefit from the Nittany Lions loss and now sit at No. 5 and No. 6 respectively.

Oklahoma and Baylor both won over the weekend, but in unconvincing fashion. With Minnesota turning some heads, the Sooners and Bears both slid back a spot to make room for the climbing Gophers.

No. 17 through No. 21 features five Group of 5 teams, all battling it out for the G5 slot in a New Year’s 6 bowl game. Cincinnati and Memphis are in the driver’s seat for the time being but Boise State is gaining ground with Southern Methodist and Navy waiting for someone to falter.

Kansas State, Wake Forest, and San Diego State all fell from the rankings this week, replaced by Texas, Indiana, and Oklahoma State. This is the first time Indiana has been ranked in the AP Poll in 25 years.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

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Others receiving votes: Oklahoma State 49, Wake Forest 45, Louisiana Tech 43, Kansas State 38, San Diego State 32, Texas A&M 31, Air Force 25, Virginia Tech 17, Virginia 12, Louisiana 1, UCF 1, Wyoming 1

Dropped from rankings: Wake Forest 20, Kansas State 22, San Diego State 24

Wrapping up our weekly rankings check with the Coaches Poll that tells a similar story to its AP cohort. The top seven sides from LSU at No. 1 to Minnesota at No. 7 are identical with the first change coming at No. 8 where the coaches placed Oklahoma instead Utah.

Minnesota was once again the week’s biggest winner, climbing six spots while its victim from Saturday, Penn State, was this week’s biggest loser, dropping six spots all the way out of the Top 10, now sitting at No. 11.

After Penn State there was not much movement from the previous week until you get into the bottom third of the rankings. The five Group of 5 teams are all clumped together in the exact same positioning as the AP Poll with Notre Dame just ahead of them at No. 16.

Dropping from the Coaches Poll this week were the same three as from the AP poll, replaced by Texas, Appalachian State, and Indiana.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 12

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 12.

Note: Team rankings are based on the College Football Playoff standings.

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It should be noted, that while every matchup cannot be a ranked matchup, any game featuring a CFP contender is a massive game in terms of the College Football Playoff outlook. Whether a side is playing a top tier contender, or a conference doormat, every game matter.

With that said, there are three ranked games this week that will carry significant playoff consequences regardless of the result. First up is newly minted No. 4 Georgia traveling to Auburn to take on the No. 12 Tigers. Auburn has very little hope of making the playoff with two losses already on its docket, but they could make a case for an at-large NY6 slot by upsetting the Bulldogs and spoiling their playoff dreams in the process.

Fresh off their upset over Penn State, No. 8 Minnesota faces their next test, No. 20 Iowa on the road. Kinnick Stadium is a notoriously difficult place to win, so a victory on Saturday not only keep them undefeated, but strengthens their playoff case. It also means the Golden Gophers can lock up the Big Ten West title next week.

Perhaps the biggest ranked matchup of the weekend is No. 10 Oklahoma heading to the road to face No. 13 Baylor in Waco. Both teams survived upsets bids in Week 11 that could have derailed their playoff hopes, but now they face-off in what could be the first of two matchups. Regardless of outcome on Saturday, both Oklahoma and Baylor will remain on track to meet in the Big 12 championship game.

No. 16 Notre Dame and No. 23 Navy meet in the fourth and final ranked matchup on Saturday, but there are little to no playoff implications for either side. Both teams have multiple losses but they could both have an outside shot at a NY6 birth so it’s something to keep an eye on.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 11

For the first time this season, a new ranking joins the chaos. After ten weeks of action the first College Football Playoff rankings were revealed on Tuesday night with a brand new No. 1 team leading the way. With an 8-0 record and a list of impressive beatdown on its resume, Ohio State stakes claim to the top spot.

College Football Playoff

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As a reminder of how these rankings are done, a committee of individuals from the college football world convene every week to rank the Top 25 teams in the nation. There are no points involved like the AP or Coaches polls, just the opinions of the people in the room.

Ohio State is rewarded for its impressive start to the season, taking home the top spot in the first CFP rankings of the season, followed by Louisiana State and Alabama. Those two sides face-off this week in Tuscaloosa so it’s likely we have an immediate change in the Top 4 beginning next week.

The biggest eye opener of the week was Penn State being placed above Clemson in these initial rankings, marking the first time Penn State has ever cracked the Top 4 in the CFP. Penn State plays undefeated No. 17 Minnesota this week with a big showdown looming against Ohio State in two weeks.

Historically, if a school hopes to make the final College Football Playoff, they need to be somewhere in the Top 10 of the initial rankings to have a shot. That’s good news for Georgia, Oregon, Oklahoma, Utah, and Florida.

In 2014, the first year of the College Football Playoff, Ohio State climbed from No. 16 in the initial rankings all the way to winning the national championship. That run from the Buckeyes appears to be more of an outlier at this point.

One downside for a team like Florida is the fact that no two-loss team has ever made the Playoff so they need a lot to fall their way. That holds true for sides like Michigan, Notre Dame, Auburn, and Wisconsin. Not eliminated, but a hard hill to climb.

Baylor is the lowest ranked undefeated side but as long as they keep winning they will keep climbing up the ranks. Same goes for No. 17 Minnesota who could sink or swim depending on their matchup with Penn State.

At this point, it looks like it will come down to Cincinnati and Memphis in the American Conference for the rights to represent the Group of 5 in a New Year’s 6 bowl game.

AP Poll

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Others receiving votes: UCF 52, Texas 37, Indiana 27, Texas A&M 19, Oklahoma State 11, Louisiana Tech 7, Appalachian State 5, Washington 2, Pittsburgh 2, Iowa State 1, Virginia 1, North Dakota State 1

Dropped from rankings: Appalachian State 20

Unlike the old BCS formula, the AP and Coaches Polls don’t have any weight on the outcome of the College Football Playoff rankings. They’re mostly just for show at this point, though it can be fun to look at the difference between these polls and how the teams line up in the CFP.

This week, the Top 5 remained the same in the AP Poll, with the first movement coming with Georgia at No.6 moving up two spots after defeating former No. 6 Florida on Saturday.

Oregon smacked Southern California on the road and holds steady at No. 7. The Ducks victory also benefits No. 8 Utah, giving them control of the PAC 12 South division and setting up a potential CFP qualifier in the conference title game.

Baylor and Minnesota remain undefeated but still outside the Top 10 at the moment. If they keep winning they’ll eventually make it there, but the schedules are only getting tougher from here on out.

Southern Methodist fell from the ranks of the unbeaten after losing to Memphis on Saturday night, setting Memphis and Cincinnati on track for a showdown in the American Conference championship.

Appalachian State was the only team to drop from the AP rankings this week, allowing Navy to sneak into the poll for the first time this season.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

Screen Shot 2019-11-06 at 5.56.39 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Texas 79, Indiana 44, Appalachian State 24, UCF 24, Texas A&M 22, Louisiana Tech 13, Oklahoma State 5, Air Force 4, Virginia 2, Pittsburgh 1, Wyoming 1

Dropped from rankings: Appalachian State 20, Texas 24

Like the AP Poll, the top seven spots are identical, with the first change coming at No. 8 where Oklahoma sits above Utah. Undefeated Baylor also gets slightly more respect from the coaches, cracking the Top 10 at the expense of Florida.

Auburn and Minnesota hold steady with everyone from 14 through 20 all moving up thanks to Southern Methodist losing. The Mustangs loss to Memphis dropped the Mustangs nine spots while elevating the Tigers four. Kansas State was also a beneficiary of the Mustangs loss, rising three spots.

Appalachian State and Texas dropped from the poll, allowing San Diego State and Navy to join the party.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 11

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 11.

Note: Team rankings are based on the College Football Playoff standings.

Eight of the Top 10 teams in the CFP are in action this week, highlighted by the potential season defining showdown between Alabama and Louisiana State in Tuscaloosa. A loss by either side in no way eliminates them from playoff contention, but a win will put them in the driver’s seat going forward.

No. 4 Penn State travels to No. 17 Minnesota for a matchup of undefeated side that will serve as a prove it game for the Golden Gophers while Penn State looks to remain on track for an undefeated showdown with now No. 1 Ohio State in two weeks.

Over in the Big Ten West is the third and final ranked game of the week, pitting No. 13 Wisconsin against No. 18 Iowa. If either the Badgers or the Hawkeyes want a shot at playing for the Big Ten title in Indianapolis, this is a must win game.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 10

After each week of the college football season, a fresh set of rankings drop, highlighting the Top 25 teams in the nation. There are two major polls used in the college football, the AP Poll voted on by members of the media, and the Coaches Poll voted on by, well you can probably figure that one out. In October, the College Football Playoff rankings join the other two and take over as the base rankings for the rest of the season.

After a four week run at No. 1, Alabama falls to No. 2 and gives way to our third No. 1 team of the season. Saturday afternoon’s victory over the Auburn Tigers helped jettison Louisiana State over Alabama and into the number one spot. This all but guarantees a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown on November 9th in Tuscaloosa. This should be confirmed next Tuesday when the first College Football Playoff rankings are revealed.

AP Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-29 at 2.41.03 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Texas 49, Navy 43, UCF 33, Washington 19, Texas A&M 14, USC 11, Louisiana Tech 6, Indiana 4, Oklahoma State 1, Pittsburgh 1, Iowa State 1, North Dakota State 1

Dropped from rankings: Texas 15, Iowa State 23, Arizona State 24

Other than LSU taking the leap over Alabama for the top spot, the rest of the AP Poll Top 5 remained the same with Ohio State and Clemson rounding out the group. Where the most movement came is between slots 5 and 11 with Oklahoma and Auburn taking losses over the weekend.

Oklahoma fell from the ranks of the unbeaten when they were upset by Kansas State while Auburn saw its national title hopes take a major hit, losing to LSU on the road. Both sides fell to No. 10 and No. 11 respectively.

Benefitting from the misfortune of Oklahoma and Auburn are five sides who very much remain in the thick of the playoff chase. Penn State knocked off rival Michigan State in a sloppy East Lansing and replaced Oklahoma at No. 5, their highest ranking of the season.

Oregon and Utah represent the PAC-12’s playoff hopes and both are back in the Top 10 after early season losses. Right now Oregon should be the favorite of the two to make the playoffs until Utah can find a way to take control of the South division.

SEC East rivals Florida and Georgia both sit comfortably in the Top 10 with their annual showdown looming this weekend. This time next week, only one will be left standing with a realistic shot at making the playoffs.

Further down the AP Poll, undefeated Baylor and Minnesota continue to slowly climb the rankings but still have work to do if they hope to be considered for a playoff spot. Michigan rebounded from its loss to Penn State by routing Notre Dame at home to climb five spots. Southern Methodist remains the highest ranked Group of 5 side coming in at No. 15.

Speaking of the Fighting Irish, they are the biggest losers this week, falling eight spots after being thrashed by the Wolverines and likely saw their playoff hopes evaporate. Wisconsin continues its downward spiral, dropping five spots following a brow beating in Columbus.

Leaving the rankings this week were Texas, Iowa State, Arizona State, to be replaced by Kansas State, Memphis, and San Diego State.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-29 at 2.41.28 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: San Diego State 94, Navy 75, UCF 24, Louisiana Tech 22, Indiana 18, Texas A&M 16, Washington 15, Oklahoma State 7, Iowa State 3, UAB 3, Arizona State 3, Air Force 3, Virginia Tech 3, Wyoming 2, Virginia 2

Dropped from rankings: Arizona State 24

AP voters may love what Louisiana State has done this season but the coaches aren’t quite as convinced it seems. They did push the Tigers above Clemson this week, but they still have some work to do before they take over Alabama for the top spot. They will get that opportunity in two weeks.

Oklahoma was not punished quite as harshly for being upset by Kansas State, but did fall enough for Penn State, Florida, Georgia, and Oregon all to climb. The Sooners dropped to ninth place with Utah rounding out the Top 10.

Undefeated sides Baylor, Minnesota, and Southern Methodist are all ranked in the Top 15, while fellow undefeated Appalachian State sits at No. 20.

Michigan rounds out the Top 15 after clobbering Notre Dame, sending the Irish down a week high nine spots, tying them with Texas for biggest drop of the week. AP voters knocked Texas to the realm of the unranked while the coaches were a little more lenient in their assessment of the Longhorns.

Arizona State was the only side dropping from the Coaches Poll altogether this week, with Kansas State sneaking in at No. 25 to replace the Sun Devils.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 10

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 10.

Screen Shot 2019-10-29 at 3.47.49 PM.png — via NCAA

Over 1/3 of the Top 25 is on bye this week but there are still two games on the docket that carry significant postseason consequences.

First up will be the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” between SEC East rivals the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs in Jacksonville. Whoever wins will control the SEC East and be on track for the SEC title game in December and potentially a spot in the College Football Playoff. For the loser, they will likely see any hope of competing for a national championship go up in smoke.

Our other ranked match up takes place in the American Athletic Conference where the Group of 5 New Year’s Six spot could be on the line. Undefeated Southern Methodist travels to Memphis for their latest test. After surviving against Houston, the Mustangs head to road for their biggest game to date.

Another game to keep an eye on is No. 7 Oregon traveling to Los Angeles for a meeting with Southern California. Right now the Ducks represent the PAC-12’s best playoff hope and if Utah hopes to join that conversation, will need the Ducks to win on Saturday night.

NCAA says athletes can get paid; Paving way for ‘NCAA Football’ return

We’ve never been as close to the return of the EA Sports NCAA Football video game franchise than we are at this very moment. On Tuesday afternoon, the NCAA announced they have voted to allow student athletes to profit from their names, images, and likenesses, though the process will be regulated by the NCAA.

NCAA votes to allow student-athletes to profit off name, image and likeness since they don’t really have any other choice https://t.co/LcpIlNC0eO

— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 29, 2019

This announcement comes on the heels of California passing a bill last month that allows college athletes in the state to profit off themselves, a bill that began a movement across the nation that saw several other states begin discussion on enacting similar legislation. It appears the outside pressure from state governments finally pushed the NCAA over edge on this matter they were stringently against for many years.

The nuts and bolts of how this will work at the NCAA level have not been released in detail at this time, but what we do know is this, college athletes will soon be able to profit off themselves for the first time in history.

Per ESPN:

The board members said in a release Tuesday that all changes should make sure student-athletes have the same opportunities to make money as all other students, maintain the priorities of education and the collegiate experience, and ensure that rules are “transparent, focused and enforceable” and do not create a competitive imbalance. The board wants each division to implement new rules by January 2021.

If you look at your calendars, you will notice 2021 is only 14 months away, meaning student athletes could start receiving compensation as soon as next year’s College Football National Championship should things go according to pla.

For video game fans, especially fans of the EA Sports NCAA Football series, this announcement carries a little extra weight. Since the release of NCAA Football 14 in June 2013, the college football world has been without a video game iteration of the sport.

The game series was put on pause following NCAA Football 14 due to the ongoing debate over whether student athletes should be able to profit off their own likeness. That debate may now be coming to an end with the NCAA’s announcement on Tuesday. Opening the door for athletes to profit off their own likeness, could very well open the door to a return of the NCAA Football franchise in the near future.

Every year, EA Sports released its annual NCAA Football game in mid-June, during what is often a dead period for new game releases. The series became one of the company’s most popular products and the thirst for a new version is at an all-time high.

How thirsty have players become for a NCAA Football game? Well let’s just say some creative types may have already mocked up a few potential cover art ideas should EA revive the franchise.

NCAA Football 20 custom cover Penn State #WeAre via @247Sports (h/t @TedHyman247) pic.twitter.com/UvJUXuormj

— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) July 9, 2019

Alternate translation:

You’re going to get the video game back. NCAA Football 2020 EA Sports pic.twitter.com/BnSkDCKwj6

— #RapidReplay (@RapidReplays) October 29, 2019

Since the @NCAA voted unanimously today to allow college athletes to make money from their name, image and likeness, it’s only a matter of time until we get the @EASPORTS NCAA Football franchise back.

Which “NCAA Football 20” limited edition cover are you most excited about? 😎 pic.twitter.com/zgakYgYQQJ

— Kyle Umlang (@kyleumlang) October 29, 2019

Now that the NCAA voted to allow college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness, could NCAA Football make a return? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/mHgDFnQ6XN

— ESPN (@espn) October 29, 2019

The NCAA may allow athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness in the near future.@EASPORTS… let’s make this happen ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/7ILfgwlOr6

— SI Extra Mustard (@SI_ExtraMustard) October 29, 2019

Today’s news generated almost immediate buzz on social media about what it could mean for the series going forward. No one from EA has commented or will likely comment on the matter until all the details are ironed out, but this certainly looks like the closest we’ve been to a new game in years.

It’s long been believed once the NCAA allows athletes to profit off themselves, a return of the NCAA Football franchise could follow. With the NCAA doing their part in the matter, hopefully it’s only a matter of time until EA Sports follows suit.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 9

After each week of the college football season, a fresh set of rankings drop, highlighting the Top 25 teams in the nation. There are two major polls used in the college football, the AP Poll voted on by members of the media, and the Coaches Poll voted on by, well you can probably figure that one out. In October, the College Football Playoff rankings join the other two and take over as the base rankings for the rest of the season.

With fall setting in around the country, college football is kicking into high gear as teams kick off the second half of their seasons. We are still two weeks away from the first College Football Playoff rankings being released, but the AP Poll and Coaches Poll help paint of picture of what to expect when the rankings do release in the first week of November.

AP Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-22 at 6.32.19 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Memphis 87, Virginia 29, San Diego State 17, Pittsburgh 17, Washington 15, Navy 9, Texas A&M 6, Missouri 4, USC 3, UCF 3, Louisiana Tech 2, Tulane 1

Dropped from rankings: Missouri 22, Washington 25

Six undefeated teams make up the top six spots of this week’s AP Poll, with Alabama leading the way but Louisiana State closing on the top spot at a rapid pace. The Crimson tide and the Tigers will meet on November 9th in Tuscaloosa.

Despite thumping Louisville over the weekend, Clemson continues to fall in the AP Poll, sliding down to fourth behind Ohio State. This is no cause for concern for Clemson, if they continue to win and finish the season as ACC champions, the Tigers should have no problem qualifying for the playoffs once again.

Penn State continues its rise up the rankings, sliding in at No. 6 after defeating Michigan at home on Saturday night. They are followed by Florida at No. 7 who rebounded from its to jump two spots after defeating South Carolina.

A trio of teams took a loss on Saturday and paid for it dearly in the AP rankings. Wisconsin fell from the ranks of the unbeatens after a shock upset at the hands of Big Ten foe Illinois and fell seven spots, outside of the Top 10 with a trip to Columbus looming.

Boise State joined the Badgers in the loss column, seeing themselves upset by Brigham Young in Salt Lake City. As a result, the Broncos suffer this week’s biggest drop, falling eight spots and giving up the Group of 5 driver’s seat for the time being. Arizona State suffered its second loss of the season and dropped seven spots to the outskirts of the Top 25.

With the Boise State loss, Southern Methodist now takes over as the highest ranked Group of 5 side, sitting at No. 16 after pummeling Temple. This is the Mustangs highest AP Poll ranking since the mid 1980’s.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-22 at 6.32.43 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Iowa State 83, Virginia 61, San Diego State 45, Navy 24, Pittsburgh 18, Washington 16, Tulane 8, Texas A&M 8, Louisiana Tech 7, UCF 6, Temple 3, Virginia Tech 2, UAB 1, Indiana 1, Utah State 1

Dropped from rankings: Washington 23, Temple 25

Unlike the AP Poll, Clemson remains firmly entrenched at the No. 2 spot according to the Coaches. In fact, the entire Top 5 remained the same from the previous week, with the first change coming at the No. 6 spot with Wisconsin falling and Penn State jumping up to replace them.

With the Badgers dropping seven spots, a host of teams benefitted and moved up in the latest rankings. Oregon and Utah sit at No. 11 and No. 12 respectively, both representing the PAC 12 best hopes of making this year’s College Football Playoff.

Like the AP Poll, Boise State and Arizona State joined the Badgers as this week’s biggest losers, tumbling eight spots and seven spots respectively to the bottom third of the Coaches rankings. Southern Methodist leads all Group of 5 teams at No. 17.

Washington and Temple both took losses this week and fell from the rankings, replaced by Wake Forest and Memphis.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 9

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 9

Screen Shot 2019-10-22 at 7.51.36 PM.png — via NCAA

Three Top 25 matchups highlight this week’s schedule, with an SEC West showdown in Baton Rouge taking top billing. Before they can take on No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Louisiana State will first have to take care of business against No. 9 Auburn in Death Valley. Should they prevail, the Tigers will head to Tuscaloosa for a No. 1 v. No. 2 showdown.

In what should have been a heavyweight match before last week’s results, No. 3 Ohio State welcomes No. 13 Wisconsin to Columbus for what could very well be a Big Ten Championship preview. The Buckeyes are still playing like the best team in college football while the Badgers will be coming off their first loss of the season.

Longtime rivals Notre Dame and Michigan meet in Ann Arbor in a matchup loaded with potential playoff implications. Michigan has likely seen its slim playoff hopes die, but the FIghting Irish still have a shot if they can win out.

Glancing over the other games on the schedule, No. 6 Penn State heads to East Lansing for a rivalry showdown with Michigan State. Alabama, Clemson, and Oklahoma will all look to remain unbeaten against unranked sides. No. 16 Southern Methodist looks to remain in control of its own destiny in a Thursday night showdown with Houston.

College Football Rankings Check: Week 8

After each week of the college football season, a fresh set of rankings drop, highlighting the Top 25 teams in the nation. There are two major polls used in the college football, the AP Poll voted on by members of the media, and the Coaches Poll voted on by, well you can probably figure that one out. In October, the College Football Playoff rankings join the other two and take over as the base rankings for the rest of the season.

We have reached the midway point of the 2019 college football season with most teams hitting the six game mark last weekend. Now the rankings are starting to come more into focus, but there is still a long way to go before anything is decided. There is still three weeks left until the first College Football Playoff rankings are released, but we can already say which teams sit in the driver’s seat, and which still have some work to do.

AP Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-15 at 2.19.10 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Tulane 55, Iowa State 36, Temple 31, Wake Forest 25, California 20, Virginia 8, Memphis 6, USC 4, South Carolina 4, Texas A&M 3, UCF 3, San Diego State 2, Louisiana Tech 1

Dropped from rankings: Wake Forest 19, Virginia 20, Memphis 23, Texas A&M 24

Our first major upset of the season throws a wrench into the Top 10 of the AP rankings. Georgia falls seven spots following their loss to South Carolina and opens the door for Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Notre Dame all to climb.

For the first time, Alabama and Clemson do not occupy the top two spots in the poll, with Louisiana State jumping above Clemson after defeating Florida in Baton Rouge on Saturday night. The Tigers also snag first place votes for the first time this season.

Further down the rankings, Texas tumbles after losing the Red River Showdown to Oklahoma, and Iowa falls six spots following a second straight loss. Baylor and Southern Methodist needed overtime to stay undefeated and were beneficiaries of the Iowa drop, along with Cincinnati.

Leaving the rankings after losing this weekend were Wake Forest, Virginia, Memphis, and Texas A&M. Replacing those sides were Minnesota, Missouri, Appalachian State, and Washington.

For a closer look on how media members voted individually, check the image below.

Coaches Poll

Screen Shot 2019-10-15 at 2.19.21 PM.png — via ESPN

Others receiving votes: Wake Forest 87, Tulane 76, Virginia 35, Memphis 30, California 21, Iowa State 19, San Diego State 18, Navy 17, Texas A&M 14, Louisiana Tech 6, Duke 5, UCF 4, Pittsburgh 3, South Carolina 3

Dropped from rankings: Wake Forest 17, Virginia 19, Memphis 20, Texas A&M 21

Unlike the AP Poll, Alabama and Clemson remain the top two sides while Louisiana State climbs into the No. 3 spot after defeating Florida. Ohio State and Oklahoma hold steady as Wisconsin, Penn State, and Notre Dame all climb two spot after victories of their own on Saturday.

Georgia pays for its inexplicable loss to South Carolina with a seven spot fall while fellow SEC East side Florida has the damage minimized, only falling two spots after losing to LSU. Texas also falls to No. 15 after dropping the Red River Showdown against No. 5 Oklahoma.

Big gainers in this week’s Coaches Poll are one loss Arizona State followed by undefeated sides Baylor, Southern Methodist, and Minnesota. Auburn, Oregon, Boise State, and Utah all climb slightly as others falls.

Joining the rankings this week are Cincinnati, Washington, Appalachian State, and Temple. Falling out were Wake Forest, Virginia, Memphis, and Texas A&M.

Top 25 Schedule: Week 8

Let’s take a quick peek at who the Top 25 teams will be playing in Week 8

Screen Shot 2019-10-15 at 3.00.19 PM.png — via NCAA

Twenty-four of the Top 25 sides are in action this week, with Notre Dame being the only team on bye. This many teams in action could mean a big shakeup in the standings come next week, but given the matchups, we will need some upsets to take place for that to happen.

Even with such a busy Top 25 slate, there are only three ranked matchups on the docket. Of these, the most notable will be the Saturday night showdown in Happy Valley between the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions and the No. 16 Michigan Wolverines. This contest could have serious playoff implications for both the winner and loser.

The PAC-12 is likely on the outside looking in at the playoff picture again this season, but the conference title will still be a season long battle. This week the conference has two ranked matchups that should bring the North and South division picture into better focus.

No. 12 Oregon travels to Seattle to take on No. 25 Washington in a North division showdown, while No. 13 Utah welcomes No. 17 Arizona State in a South division clash in Salt Lake City.

Looking at the unranked matchups quickly, it never hurts to keep an eye on top teams to see how they perform against a lesser opponent. With Georgia falling to South Carolina last week, the chaos of college football is finally upon us and there is no telling when another season altering upset could occur.