College Football Power Rankings: Alabama vs. Texas A&M now a top-four matchup
The Crimson Tide and Aggies square off Saturday in the SEC on CBS Game of the Week
By
Dennis Dodd
•
1 min read
Ignore everything you've seen in the first half. Or try to.
We're midway through the season and the preseason College Football Playoff favorites have company.
Sure, Alabama is scorching the field. Ohio State is keeping pace. Clemson is a tick behind but seems in line for a repeat CFP appearance.
But Washington has emerged as the Pac-12 favorite. Texas A&M is off to its best start in 22 years (as long as that lasts with Alabama up next). Louisville still needs some help after losing to Clemson. Michigan will eventually test itself against Ohio State.
Meanwhile, these are my playoff dark horses:
Oklahoma (4-2): Win the rest and the Sooners are an upset away in the ACC or Pac-12 championship games from being in the discussion.
Florida State (5-2): The Noles seem to be getting it together. They still need loads of help in the Atlantic Division but still get Clemson and North Carolina in the second half. A win over Florida in the finale would boost their chances before a possible ACC title game.
West Virginia (5-0), Baylor (6-0): Either one would have to win out. Two words: Why not in the wacky Big 12? The Mountaineers are playing quality defense. The Bears' schedule is backloaded with Texas, TCU, Oklahoma and West Virginia.
Utah (6-1): Playing in the deepest conference in the country, the Utes can both beat and lose to anyone. Watch the Oct. 29 game at home against Washington. It might be a Pac-12 title game preview and a barometer on whether Utah can win the conference championship.
Biggest Movers
11
West Virginia
11
Tennessee
Rk | Teams | Chg | Rcrd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | The whispers are starting to grow: Is this Nick Saban's best defense? Perhaps. There have been 14 takeways (on pace for the most since 2012). Only 11 touchdowns allowed in seven games. No. 1 in sacks for the second straight season. By my count, there are at least four pros on the starting unit. | -- | 10-3 |
| 2 |  | Only two starters were left from the last time the Buckeyes met Wisconsin -- that historic 59-0 win in the 2014 Big Ten title game. The stakes were almost as big in Saturday's 30-23 overtime over the Badgers. "I've never felt anything like I did tonight," Urban Meyer said. | -- | 12-1 |
| 3 |  | Bye. Here's what the Huskies have left to clinch a playoff spot: Oregon State, at Utah, at Cal, USC, Arizona State, at Washington State ... Pac-12 title game. | -- | 8-4 |
| 4 |  | Bye. The Aggies come to Tuscaloosa with Kevin Sumlin's best team. Trevor Knight deserves Heisman Trophy mentions. John Chavis' defense is much improved. There are three pros in the secondary. Need we say more? | -- | 11-1 |
| 5 |  | The Tigers had no business staring down a loss that rode on the foot of the NC State kicker. The offense just isn't as potent as last season. It's no longer a hiccup; it's a concern. | -- | 7-5 |
| 6 |  | The ACC is feisty. Duke put up an admirable fight suggesting the Cardinals might be vulnerable. Thirty total touchdowns for Lamar Jackson at the halfway point. | -- | 8-4 |
| 7 |  | Bye. The last time I had milk with my steak, my mom was cutting up my food for me. Now it's the drink of choice for the Michigan head coach. | -- | 9-3 |
| 8 |  | Husker Nation is going nuts because of a win over Indiana. Nebraska deserves every bit of it. The Huskers are 6-0 for the first time since 2001. That year they played for the national championship. You don't suppose ...? Naaaah. | 2 | 7-5 |
| 9 |  | The Big 12 word for bye is "Kansas." The Bears rolled through their "off" week with a 49-7 win over the Jayhawks. | 1 | 5-7 |
| 10 |  | Tailback Dalvin Cook reaches the halfway point with All-American numbers -- 900 yards rushing, 356 receiving, eight total touchdowns. Seminoles survive a rock fight with Wake Forest, 17-6. | 1 | 5-7 |
| 11 |  | The Broncos trailed Saturday night for the first time all season. Sorry, Houston, you've been lapped as the Group of Five New Year's Six bowl favorite. | 5 | 9-4 |
| 12 |  | Tony Gibson's defense held Texas Tech to its lowest total (17 points) in almost two years. At the halfway point, Dana Holgorsen might be the Big 12's coach of the year. | 11 | 4-8 |
| 13 |  | Something doesn't feel right. The Cougars' defense is vulnerable. Houston barely survived Tulsa, a heavy underdog. Group of Five rivals Boise State, Navy, San Diego State and Western Michigan are playing better. | -- | 9-3 |
| 14 |  | The Badgers' defense played up to its reputation. Unfortunately, reputation couldn't stop J.T. Barrett. Paul Chryst is 3-1 this season against top 10 teams. | 2 | 4-8 |
| 15 |  | Joe Mixon did everything after an early injury to Samaje Perine. By early, I mean a touchdown pass by a Sooner running back for the first time in 43 years. There's no reason the Sooners can't win out. The early-season blahs are gone. | 2 | 10-2 |
| 16 |  | In one of the weirdest stories of season, tailback Joe Williams came out of "retirement" to lead the Utes over Oregon State. Williams left the team after two games due to mounting injuries. Feeling better, he returned to practice last week and ran for 179 yards. His status going forward is unknown. | 2 | 10-2 |
| 17 |  | Buffs now control their own destiny in the Pac-12 South after a 40-16 win over Arizona State. "No excuses. They kicked our tail," Sun Devils coach Todd Graham said. | NR | 3-9 |
| 18 |  | The Gators' cornerbacks actually compete against each other for interceptions. It was a tie Saturday against Missouri. Quincy Wilson and Jalen Tabor each had pick sixes. | 2 | 4-8 |
| 19 |  | Austin Allen (229 yards, three touchdowns) deserves a medal for playing behind that offensive line. Still, a win is a win and the Hogs have won three straight against Ole Miss. Allen leads the SEC in touchdown passes and passing yards. | NR | 2-10 |
| 20 |  | The Vols played gamely against Alabama but they are who they are -- a two-loss that suddenly doesn't control the SEC East. At least six starters were out. | 11 | 8-4 |
| 21 |  | Bye. Don't you have to be west of the Mississippi to be in the west? Navy and Memphis square off this week for the AAC West Division lead. | -- | 9-2 |
| 22 |  | Bye. Auburn head-to-head against Alabama every day. Saturday was a day for all Tigers to bang their heads against the wall. Bama continues to roll. | -- | 5-7 |
| 23 |  | Donnell Pumphrey is the nation's leading rusher at the halfway point with 1,111 yards. That puts him on pace to have the fifth-highest season rushing total in history. | NR | 9-3 |
| 24 |  | Everyone in the ACC Coastal has at least two losses. The Heels (5-2 overall) are the best off at 3-1 in the division, controlling their own destiny. | NR | 4-8 |
| 25 |  | Fourth straight game of at least 40 points against Akron. Fifth straight game of at least 34 points. After winning the MAC, will the Broncos be able to keep P.J. Fleck? | -- | 9-4 |
