Week 9 of the college football season showed why teams cannot be written off after week one, especially in this new landscape of the 12-team playoff. Texas A&M is currently the only team undefeated in SEC play after beating LSU, and many people did not believe in the Aggies after their week one loss to Notre Dame. Outside of their slip-up to NIU, which caused many people to write off Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish looked like a top team in the country following a dominant ranked win over Navy. But these losses are causing some serious uproar and debate over where certain teams are ranked.
Filling out the bottom of my rankings was tough this week, with teams like Missouri and Illinois suffering big losses. Many people were outraged over those two schools remaining in the AP poll, with many people wanting Vanderbilt in after they played Texas close. But to me, head-to-head matchups must matter, and Missouri beat Vanderbilt in their matchup earlier this season. I considered Memphis to be one of my last teams in, but their lone loss this year had come to Navy, so I gave the Midshipmen the edge. But on the other side of the coin, I do not think comparing performances against common opponents tells the whole story.
After seeing the way Indiana handled Nebraska the week prior, but then Ohio State struggled with Nebraska this past weekend, some people were calling for the Hoosiers to jump the Buckeyes. Same thing with BYU and Iowa State after the Cyclones just snuck by UCF at home, but the Cougars handled UCF easily on the road this past week. While, at times, it seems easy to rank teams based on one week’s performance, I try to take into account the whole resume. That being said, let’s get into my full Week 10 College Football Top 25 Rankings.
1. Oregon Ducks
Oregon took care of business with a 38-9 win over Illinois in a ranked matchup. Noah Whittingham scored two touchdowns for the Ducks, one rushing and one receiving. Tez Johnson and Justius Lowe caught Dillion Gabriel’s two other touchdown passes. Gabriel threw for 291 yards on top of his four total touchdowns, three passing and another rushing. Oregon heads to the Big House to take on Michigan this weekend.
2. Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia was on bye this past weekend before taking on Florida in Jacksonville on Saturday. The Bulldogs have won three straight after their loss at Alabama and look to keep it rolling, as they are currently tied for second place in the SEC.
3. Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State overcame a halftime deficit to take down Wisconsin 28-13 at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday night. Beau Pribula had to lead the Nittany Lions in the second half, throwing for 98 yards and a touchdown after Drew Allar suffered a leg injury at the end of the first half. Jaylen Reed’s interception return for a touchdown gave the Nittany Lions a 14-10 lead in the 3rd quarter, and Kaytron Allen played a big role in keeping that lead, rushing for a touchdown in the 4th quarter and 86 yards total. Penn State hosts Ohio State in a matchup of two top-five teams at noon on Saturday.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes had to rally late to knock off Nebraska 21-17 at home on Saturday. Ohio State scored two long touchdowns in the first half, with Will Howard connecting with Carnell Tate for a 40-yard touchdown pass and Jeremiah Smith from 60 yards out to give the Buckeyes a 14-3 lead. But 14 unanswered points from the Cornhuskers made it a 17-14 game with ten minutes to play. But the Buckeyes responded with a 75-yard drive capped off by a Quinshon Judkins receiving touchdown, and Jordan Hancock picked off Dylan Riola on Nebraska’s final drive to seal the win. Ohio State heads to Happy Valley to take on Penn State next.
5. Miami Hurricanes
Miami beat their rivals Florida State 36-14, behind Damien Martinez rushing for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Cam Ward threw for 208 yards, and despite not throwing a touchdown, he caught one on a trick play from Elijah Arroyo in the 4th quarter to run salt in the Seminoles’ wounds. The Hurricanes look to keep their undefeated season going next weekend, welcoming Duke to town.
6. Texas Longhorns
Texas staved off a late rally from Vanderbilt to win 27-24 in Nashville on Saturday. DeAndre Moore Jr led the Longhorns with 97 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Quinn Ewers threw for three touchdowns and 288 yards but also two interceptions. One of the interceptions led to a Vanderbilt touchdown to make it a one-score game, but two Brent Auburn field goals allowed the Longhorns to keep the lead. Texas is off this upcoming weekend before hosting Florida the following weekend.
7. Clemson Tigers
Clemson was on bye this past weekend before hosting Louisville in an ACC matchup on Saturday night. The Tigers have won six straight and are one of four teams undefeated in ACC play.
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame rolled over previously undefeated Navy 51-14 on Saturday. Notre Dame forced an interception and seven fumbles, five of which they recovered, one being for a touchdown by Jaylen Sneed. Offensively, the Irish were led by Jeremiyah Love, who rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns, and Riley Leonard, throwing for two touchdowns. The Fighting Irish are on bye this week before welcoming a disappointing Florida State team to town in two weeks.
9. Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M scored 31 points in the second half to beat LSU 38-23 and give the Aggies sole possession of first place in the SEC. The Aggies rushed for 245 yards, led by Amari Daniels rushing for 91 yards, Le’Veon Moss with 83 yards and two touchdowns, Marcel Reed going for 62 rushing yards and three touchdowns on top of his 70 yards passing. A&M had three interceptions, including two by BJ Mayes. Texas A&M heads to Columbia to take on South Carolina next Saturday.
10. Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee was on bye this past weekend before welcoming Kentucky to Knoxville on Saturday. The Volunteers need to avoid a potential letdown spot before heading to Athens to take on Georgia in two weeks.
11. Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are 8-0 for the first time since 1967 following a 31-17 win over Washington. The Bloomington crowd was riled up with College Gameday in town for the first time and every fan receiving a Marlboro-themed “Cignetti” towel. D’Angelo Ponds got the crowd even more riled up after intercepting a Washington screen pass and taking it 67 yards to the house, his first of two interceptions on the day. Justice Ellison led the Hoosiers offensively with 123 yards rushing and a touchdown. Indiana heads to East Lancing to take on Michigan State on Saturday afternoon.
12. BYU Cougars
BYU got off to a hot start, going up 17-0 before going on to win 37-24 over UCF. Jake Retzlaff threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns, as well as rushing for another. The Cougars rushed for 255 total yards, with LJ Martin leading the way with 101 yards and a touchdown. BYU is on bye this weekend before heading on the road to take on Utah in “The Holy War” the following week.
13. Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State hosts Texas Tech on Saturday following being on a bye this past weekend. The Cyclones are still undefeated following their comeback win against UCF two weeks ago and cannot afford a slip-up if they want to win the Big 12 and make the CFP.
14. Boise State Broncos
Boise State picked up a big win in the race for the Mountain West title, taking down UNLV on the road 29-24. Ashton Jeanty was held to only one touchdown to go along with his 128 rushing yards, but it was a crucial one coming on a 4th & Goal in the 4th quarter to give the Broncos the lead for good. Maddux Madsen also had a rushing touchdown with his 209 yards passing and passing touchdown. Boise State has another Friday night contest this week hosting San Diego State.
15. Kansas State Wildcats
It took Kansas State making two fourth-quarter field goals, including the winner, with less than two minutes to play to knock off Kansas for the 16th straight time 29-27. Avery Johnson led the Wildcats, throwing for 253 yards, two touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown. DJ Giddens was the leader in the ground game rushing for 102 yards. The Wildcats head on the road to take on Houston on Saturday afternoon.
16. Pitt Panthers
Pitt had a dominant win over Syracuse 41-13 on Thursday. The Panthers picked off Kyle McCord five times, with Kyle Louis, Rasheem Biles, and Braylan Lovelace all taking their picks to the house. Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein threw for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Pitt heads on the road to take on SMU in a battle of two teams undefeated in ACC play.
17. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama bounced back from their loss to Tennessee by shutting out Missouri to win 34-0 on Saturday. Drew Pyne was picked off three times by the Crimson Tide in relief of injured Brady Cook. Alabama dominated on the ground, rushing for 271 yards, led by 79 yards and a touchdown from Justice Haynes, and 48 yards and two touchdowns from Jam Miller. The Crimson Tide are on bye this weekend before taking on LSU in a must-win game to have any chance to make the CFP the following weekend.
18. LSU Tigers
LSU fell 38-23 on the road to Texas A&M on Saturday despite leading 17-7 at halftime. Garrett Nussmeier threw for 405 yards and two touchdowns but had three costly interceptions in the second half. The special teams’ miscues also cost the Tigers a fumbled snap on a field goal attempt that would have made it a one-point game, leading to all the momentum swinging in Texas A&M’s favor. LSU is on bye next week before hosting Alabama in an SEC and CFP elimination game in two weeks.
19. Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss scored 16 unanswered points in the second half to take down Oklahoma 26-14. Jaxon Dart led the Rebels, throwing for 311 yards and a touchdown to Caden Prieskorn. JJ Pegues had a rushing touchdown and had 2 of Ole Miss’ 9 sacks of Jaxon Arnold defensively. The Rebels head to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas at noon on Saturday.
20. SMU Mustangs
SMU went on the road and took down Duke in Overtime 28-27. The Mustangs overcame six turnovers offensively by having their defense and special teams step up, blocking the game-winning field goal attempt at the end of regulation and stopping Duke’s two-point conversion attempt in Overtime. Brashad Smith rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns, including the eventual game-winner. Roderick Daniels Jr had 153 yards receiving, including an 81-yard touchdown. SMU has this weekend off before hosting Boston College in two weeks.
21. Army Black Knights
Army was on bye this past weekend before taking on Air Force in the battle of the Commander in Chief trophy on Saturday.
22. Washington Cougars
Washington State scored two touchdowns to come from behind and beat San Diego State 29-26. John Mateer was responsible for all four Cougars touchdowns, rushing for two and passing for two, hooking up with Cooper Mathers and Carlos Hernandez. Washington State is on bye this weekend before hosting future PAC-12 opponent Utah State in two weeks.
23. Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado cracks the rankings for the first time in the Deion Sanders era after beating Cincinnati 34-23. Shedeur Sanders threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another. Travis Hunter caught both touchdown passes with 153 receiving yards to go with his four pass deflections defensively. Colorado goes into their bye tied for third place in the Big 12 before heading to Lubbock in two weeks to take on Texas Tech.
24. Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois fell 38-9 on the road to Oregon. The Illini never led in the game and were outgained 527-293 in total yards. Luke Altmeyer threw for only 161 yards and two interceptions in the loss. Illinois looks to get back on track at home against Minnesota this weekend.
25. Navy Midshipmen
Navy suffered their first loss of the season, falling 51-14 to Notre Dame. The Midshipmen were outgained 466-312 in total yards and turned the ball over six times. Blake Horvath rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown in the loss. Navy looks to keep their undefeated record in conference play alive next weekend heading to Houston to take on Rice.
Next Four Teams:
Missouri Tigers: Loss 34-0 at Alabama last week, This Week: Bye
Memphis Tigers: Win 33-28 vs. Charlotte last week, This Week: at UTSA
Vanderbilt Commodores: Loss 27-24 vs. Texas last week, This Week: at Auburn
Tulane Green Wave: 45-37 win at North Texas last week, This Week: Thursday at Charlotte