College Football Power Rankings: Playoff committee has it easy this week
Western Michigan and Auburn had big weeks, moving way up in the rankings
By
Dennis Dodd
•
1 min read
The College Football Playoff Selection Committee has it easy this week.
There are only five unbeaten teams left. Four of them are from major conferences. Everything else is details as the rankings debut Tuesday.
If you have any disagreement with the top four teams in the Power Rankings, then you're either a Western Michigan fan or Lamar Jackson.
Unbeaten Alabama, Clemson, Washington and Michigan all have a clear path to the playoff with November looming. If the playoff committee doesn't have those four at the top in some kind of order Tuesday, something is wrong.
The Big 12 (is all but) out of it. There is no serious Group of Five contender unless you count Western Michigan's P.J. Fleck in contention for several jobs.
It is the First Four's playoff berths to lose.
Reviewing their remaining schedules:
- Alabama still has two ranked teams to go -- LSU and Auburn.
- Clemson plays only two teams with winning records -- Wake Forest and Syracuse.
- Washington has rejuvenated Southern California and Washington State among its final four games.
- Michigan is looking like the class of the Big Ten. Ohio State will have something to say about that on Nov. 26.
Meanwhile, kick back and enjoy what should be an easy decision for the CFP committee this week.
Biggest Movers
15
Western Michigan
7
West Virginia
Rk | Teams | Chg | Rcrd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | This is what qualifies as news during a bye week: A washed up actor (Tom Arnold) -- out of nowhere -- alleges that Nick Saban seriously considered the New York Giants job. At least it wasn't a distraction. The Tide are on to actually preparing for LSU. | -- | 11-4 |
| 2 |  | We saw the best and worst of Deshaun Watson. Two crippling interceptions -- total misreads, bad judgment -- let to a pair of FSU touchdowns. But when the Tigers really, really needed him, Watson completed 6-of-9 passes for 117 yards and the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. | -- | 7-6 |
| 3 |  | I thought Washington's schedule was weak until I saw Michigan's. But, hey, unbeaten is unbeaten. The Huskies survived a spirited challenge at Utah, 31-24. That does nothing more than keep pace with Washington State in the Pac-12 North. | -- | 9-4 |
| 4 |  | Jabrill Peppers answered Spartan Stadium's derisive chants by playing (at least) 10 positions. That's not counting "tailback" in the victory formation after a nine-point win over Michigan State. Peppers celebrated with a backflip at the whistle, which is better than flipping off the crowd. | 1 | 9-4 |
| 5 |  | It was almost as if the Cardinals threw their helmets on the field and expected to win at Virginia. They slogged around until Lamar Jackson accounted for his 38th touchdown of the season -- with 13 seconds left. If the Cardinals are a serious playoff contender as a second-place team in their division, the effort has to improve. | 1 | 9-4 |
| 6 |  | It's a malaise the Buckeyes have entered into. Lose to Penn State? Mess around with Northwestern? Perhaps the Bucks aren't who we thought they were. | -- | 12-2 |
| 7 |  | Best two-loss team in the country? The Badgers have now played four top-10 teams this season, going 2-2. No disgrace in that. Badgers can control the Big Ten West this week if they win at Northwestern and if Nebraska loses at Ohio State. | 6 | 4-8 |
| 8 |  | Aggies' designated SEC nonconference November patsy comes early. New Mexico State goes down 52-10. Back to real life this week at Mississippi State. | -- | 11-2 |
| 9 |  | Not to go all analytics on you, but Gus Malzahn's power running game has posted 22 runs of at least 12 yards in its last three SEC games. The Tigers continue to roll with their fifth win in a row. | 10 | 5-7 |
| 10 |  | Yes, the Broncos have made perhaps the highest leap of any team this season in the Power Rankings. It is well deserved. The Broncos are now the favorite to clinch the New Year's Six Group of Five automatic spot in the Cotton Bowl. Row the bowl? | 15 | 10-4 |
| 11 |  | Sooners get through the Kansas scrimmage without any major injuries. Wait, what? That counted? Apparently OU beat KU 56-3 in a game that applies in the Big 12 standings. Best news: Sooners now officially are the Big 12's best hope to reach the playoff as its highest-ranked team. Just don't hold your breath. | 3 | 10-3 |
| 12 |  | It sure looked like the planets were aligning when Wisconsin's Andrew Endicott missed an extra point in overtime. But the plucky Huskers couldn't punch it in on their possession. They'll settle for keeping the lead in the Big Ten West. | 5 | 7-6 |
| 13 |  | Broncos endured one of their more shocking losses in their recent history. They lost to Wyoming on a game-winning safety. The Cowboys suddenly control the Mountain West Mountain Division. | 4 | 9-5 |
| 14 |  | Coupled with Tennessee's loss to South Carolina, Florida's 24-10 win over Georgia means the Gators have a puncher's chance to repeat in the SEC East. Fun fact: Florida is one of seven teams not to trail at halftime this season. Two of them are from the SEC. (Ole Miss the other.) | 3 | 4-8 |
| 15 |  | Trot this one out at your next cocktail party: Only 16 percent of Penn State's first downs have come on third-down plays. Otherwise, James Franklin believes he has fully turned around the program. He might be right after a laugher against Purdue. | 3 | 7-6 |
| 16 |  | Bye. While sitting on the couch, the Buffs take the outright lead in the Pac-12 because of Utah's loss. UCLA next on Thursday. | -- | 3-9 |
| 17 |  | Bye. Not exactly the Game of the Century, but beating Bama this week can make just about everything better. The Tigers could suddenly be a serious contender in the SEC West. Ed Orgeron could be a serious contender for the coaching vacancy. LSU seriously wants to end a five-game losing streak to the Tide. | 3 | 7-6 |
| 18 |  | Too much Oklahoma State. The Mountaineers' unbeaten magic runs out with a 37-20 loss at Stillwater. The 37 points were the most given up by Tony Gibson's defense in the regular season in more than a year. | 7 | 4-8 |
| 19 |  | 1. The Big 12 faced the unsavory prospect of having a school and program embroiled in scandal chasing a playoff spot. Texas' 35-34 win was probably best for everyone, all but ending the Bears' playoff chase. | 7 | 5-7 |
| 20 |  | 1. If I'm Kyle Whittingham, I'm on the phone Sunday with the Pac-12 officiating supervisor. Replays seemed to indicate at least two blocks in the back sprung Washington's Dante Pettis for the game-winning punt return. | 5 | 11-2 |
| 21 |  | It's now a virtual head-to-head competition to see who gets Heisman Trophy invite/Doak Walker Award (best running back). Is it Aztecs' Donnell Pumphrey (223 yards vs Utah State) or Florida State's Dalvin Cook (four touchdowns vs Clemson)? | 2 | 9-4 |
| 22 |  | Bye. While rumors swirl about Larry Fedora's future, the Tar Heels prep for a manageable November -- Georgia Tech, Duke, The Citadel, NC State. That schedule suggests only the second back-to-back double-digit win season in UNC history is looming. | 2 | 4-8 |
| 23 |  | 1. The Hokies survive the only team this season to score at least 36 points in seven straight games (Pittsburgh). Virginia Tech remains in control of ACC Coastal at 6-2, 4-1. | NR | 3-9 |
| 24 |  | Anyone paying attention to what's going on in Pullman? The Fighting Leaches have won five straight after beating Oregon State. They're tied with Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma, Clemson and Washington for best conference record in the country (5-0). | NR | 7-6 |
| 25 |  | In his third season, Craig Bohl has made the Cowboys relevant. Wyoming (6-2) beat its first ranked opponent since 2002 and second-highest ranked team ever (No. 13 Boise). Things were so wild in Laramie Bohl says he may have sprained an ankle in the postseason celebration. It figures Wyoming is on this high. It plays at the highest elevation in FBS, 7,215 feet. | NR | 4-8 |
