For now, there’s a shift of power out West.
Utah announced itself as a playoff contender. UCLA held serve at Arizona. Cal is 4-0 for the first time in eight years. Don’t know what to think about USC, but winning at Arizona State is never bad.
The Pac-12 bears watching with six teams in this week’s Power Rankings. That’s downright SEC-esque.
The top four remain the same -- Michigan State. Ohio State, LSU and Ole Miss. For now, if the College Football Playoff was chosen today, it’s Big Ten vs. SEC. But don’t discount the Pac-12, even with Oregon out of the running.
| RANK | TEAM |
 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Michigan State (Last week -- 1): Since every crappy nonconference game matters, it's best to call the Spartans' effort against Central Michigan "sluggish." While Connor Cook only threw for 143 yards, Michigan State scored at least 30 for a 12th consecutive game. |
| 2 |  |
Ohio State (2): Instead of the sky falling, everything falls into place for the Buckeyes. Cardale Jones threw for 288 yards, and the defense scored for the third straight game. The Buckeyes open Big Ten play this week at Indiana. |
| 3 |  |
LSU (3): Had it not been for the flags against Syracuse, Samaje Perine would have been nervous. As it was, Leonard Fournette (244 yards) threatened Alley Broussard's single-game rushing record for the second consecutive week. If you haven't caught on, Oklahoma's Perine owns the all-time single-game rushing record. |
| 4 |  |
Ole Miss (4): Spunky Vanderbilt hung on until the fourth quarter. The Rebels remain one of the most complete teams in the country. Robert Nkemdiche scored again. |
| 5 |  |
UCLA (6): In the first post-Myles Jack game, Arizona ran for 353 yards. That number was completely forgotten, though, as the Wildcats got run out of their own building 56-30. |
| 6 |  |
Utah (18): Kyle Whittingham can't tell his next recruiting class he'll be their coach as seniors. (His contract runs through 2018.) That's about to change in a big way. Who has accomplished more than the Utes, which have beaten Michigan and won at Oregon? |
| 7 |  |
Notre Dame (5): Late in the second quarter, UMass was outgaining the Irish. Sufficiently awakened, Notre Dame scored 60 for the first time since 1996 and remained undefeated (5-0) in games played when the Pope is in the United States. The only thing missing was a Papal blessing. |
| 8 |  |
TCU (7): When the Frogs get done partying, they need to consider this: Gary Patterson's defense has allowed 1,178 yards over the last two games. In 2008, his top-ranked defense allowed 2,831 yards all season. Trevone Boykin will need a lot of career days going forward. |
| 9 |  |
Baylor (8): Another stat-padding game for Briles' Bears, though I think we all expected more out of Rice. Seth Russell threw for six touchdowns. The defense had 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. |
| 10 |  |
Georgia (10): Southern qualifies as a directional school only because there's no Northern, Eastern or Western. Nick Chubb solidifies his Heisman credentials with 131 yards. Alabama is next. Don't blink, Dawgs. |
| 11 |  |
Florida State (11): Bye. Not exactly shouts of "We Want Wake" in Tally, but that's who's next. The Demon Deacons much improved defensively, allowing less than 300 yards per game. |
| 12 |  |
Alabama (12): Eight years later, Nick Saban made up for an embarrassing, humiliating loss by embarrassing and humiliating Louisiana-Monroe. With Georgia this week, does Bama start to become everyone's get-well game? |
| 13 |  |
Clemson (13): Bye. Waiting for a huge one at home against Notre Dame. The teams have met twice but not since 1979. Deshaun Watson, this is your moment. |
| 14 |  |
Oklahoma (15): Bye. Did community service by loaning Texas Tech some walk-ons to play defense. Just kidding. West Virginia next. |
| 15 |  |
Northwestern (20): Clayton Thorson threw three touchdown passes against Ball State. The Wildcats' win over Stanford is looking better each week. |
| 16 |  |
Stanford (16): We'll ask once again: Where was this against Northwestern? Kevin Hogan looked like a master game manager, and the offense continued to purr in an 18-point win at Oregon State. First Pac-12 team to 2-0. |
| 17 |  |
Texas A&M (19): Arkansas did everything possible to lose to TAMU. Then it did. The Hogs blew a eight-point fourth-quarter lead, then the Aggies won it overtime. Bret Bielema did not kick Kevin Sumlin's ass. In fact, BB had his heart ripped out, 28-21. |
| 18 |  |
USC (22): How do you explain the Trojans? They give up 41 points at home, then smoke Arizona State on the road. Don't give up on Sark yet. Fifteen passing touchdowns by Cody Kessler ties him for the national lead. |
| 19 |  |
Mississippi State (23): Just like a certain prognosticator (cough, cough -- me) told you last week, Dak Prescott needed 50 touches. He got 47. That same prognosticator told you the Dawgs would win. Who is this guy? |
| 20 |  |
Miami (24): Bye -- in the middle of a brutal stretch. At Cincinnati on Thursday followed by Florida State, Virginia Tech and Clemson. |
| 21 |  |
Michigan (NR): The first shutout of the Jim Harbaugh era (31-0) was also the first by Michigan over a nonconference opponent since Notre Dame in 2007. That Utah loss doesn't look so bad anymore. The BYU win gives the Wolverines momentum heading into the Big Ten. |
| 22 |  |
Oklahoma State (NR): Don't know whether to give Oklahoma State credit or blame Texas. In the first game the Cowboys played against a living, breathing opponent, it had a win handed to them by the 'Horns. Oklahoma State becomes the first team ever to win in Austin four times in a row. |
| 23 |  |
Oregon (9): Don't blame Jeff Lockie; Marcus Mariota couldn't have prevented that disaster against Utah. An all-time meltdown results in the most points Oregon has ever given up at home (62). The Ducks are no longer a playoff factor. |
| 24 |  |
Florida (NR): Tennessee may never beat Florida. Seriously. Saturday's 28-27 decision makes it 11 in a row for the Gators. Six times this year, teams have blown a double-digit lead fourth-quarter lead; the Vols have done it twice. |
| 25 |  |
California (NR): A third of the way through the season, Jared Goff may be the Pac-12's best player. The junior calmly threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns against Washington. The Bears' defense grabbed five turnovers. |
