Looking at the CFB AP Top-10: A Lull in the Party
Looking at the CFB AP Top-10: A Lull in the Party
When you’re in the middle of a party, do you ever feel like you need to just step away for a few minutes and gather your thoughts? Maybe you go sit in the room with a movie playing, maybe you go sip punch in the corner while others are trying to win a ping-pong tournament. Either way, you just need a minute to re-group before you recommence the celebration. That’s sort of what we’re looking at this week in the Top 10.
Last week was a great week for college football, with three top-15 matchups and even an upset of a Top-10 team to go with it. There were upsets (sorry, Oklahoma), top teams dominating (whoah, Ohio State) and even our top-ranked team this week winning by three over a conference opponent (tough loss, Auburn). It was a fun week by almost any measure, and the sort that makes College Football so intriguing.
But now it’s time to go get some lemonade. FOUR of our top-5 teams are on bye, and Clemson, the only team in that group that’s playing, is facing off against Wofford. I don’t have anything against Wofford, but let’s just say that the game shouldn’t be that interesting. Three of the teams with the week off are preparing to play an important game next week (Alabama plays LSU while Penn State plays undefeated Minnesota), but this week leaves little to get excited about.
The good news? Just because it gets quiet for a few minutes doesn’t mean the party is over. There is still the Georgia-Florida game, our lone Top-10 matchup this week. For now, though, enjoy your lemonade. It will be your turn at the ping-pong table soon.
LSU
AP Poll Ranking: 1
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Week Six Result: 23-20 win vs. #11 Auburn
Change: +1
LSU won the biggest game of the week, topping Auburn by only three points. What’s interesting is that, despite the close final score, the Tigers actually statistically dominated Auburn. The total yardage was heavily in LSU’s favor, at 508-287, Joe Burrow outgained Bo Nix 353 yards to 141, and LSU even outgained Auburn on the ground by 50 yards. Auburn is not a bad team, and could have a chance to beat Alabama at the end of the year. But they overperformed in this game, and it shouldn’t have been as close as it was. Next week is Alabama-LSU, and since both teams go into bye weeks this week, the game already promises to be epic.
Alabama
AP Poll Ranking: 2
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
Week Six Result: 48-7 win vs. Arkansas
Change: -1
Alabama has a bye week, so they’ve already held up their end of the bargain. The one thing that could throw everything off, however, is their quarterback’s health. Will Tua Tagavailoa be back next week? If he is, how effective will he be? All questions that could drastically change this game.
Ohio State
AP Poll Ranking: 3
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
Week Six Result: 38-7 win vs. #19 Wisconsin
Change: N/A
The Buckeyes handled the team that was supposed to be their biggest challenge to date, scoring 28 unanswered points in the second half to turn an interesting game into a rout. Jonathan Taylor, who had only 57 yards from scrimmage, is supposed to be the top back in the country; what about JK Dobbins? The junior buckeye had 221 total rushing and receiving yards, two touchdowns, and a 9.6 yards-per-touch rate. He has been a vital weapon for an offense that has ranked in the top-10 for yards/game, yards/play, points/game, rushing yards/play and rushing yards/game.
Clemson
AP Poll Ranking: 4
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
Week Six Result: 59-7 win vs. Boston College
Change: N/A
I’m not sure why, but every time I get to the point where I have to write about Clemson I get really bored. Maybe it’s because they are in the middle of a stretch of eight games against unranked opponents. Maybe it’s because my attention span runs out right around now anyways. One of the many mysteries of life.
Penn State
AP Poll Ranking: 5
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Week Six Result: 28-7 win vs. Michigan State
Change: +1
Penn State plays #13 Minnesota next week. A loss to ruin their matchup against the Buckeyes would be...disappointing, to say the least. The Nittany Lions have now beaten two Top-20 teams and Michigan State, this will be another test before things really get interesting in Columbus. Please, Penn State. Don’t lose. Please.
Florida
AP Poll Ranking: 6
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
Week Six Result: No Game
Change: +1
This week is the week of reckoning: the Gators head to Jacksonville to play Georgia in a top-10 clash that will leave one team eliminated from the playoff chase and one team squarely back in the hunt. I’m not a huge believer in Florida, but they have a chance to really prove that they’re for real with a victory on Saturday.
Oregon
AP Poll Ranking: 7
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
Week Six Result: 37-35 win vs. Washington State
Change: +4
Remember when Oregon lost to Auburn to start the season and everybody assumed they were out of the playoff hunt? Well apparently nobody told the Ducks. They’ve gone undefeated since then, and with four weeks to go there are no ranked teams left on their schedule. With all the talk about multiple teams from each conference, the Pac-12 could still crash the party. This team just needs to keep winning.
Georgia
AP Poll Ranking: 8
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
Week Six Result: No Game
Change: +2
You know I realized while writing this article that this is the second SEC Top-10 matchup of the week and the third in two weeks. I’m not sure whether that points to bias or excellence, but it sure does make for entertaining football. Georgia’s loss to South Carolina hurt, but if they win out they’re in. It’s just that simple.
Utah
AP Poll Ranking: 9
Last Week’s Ranking: 12
Week Six Result: 35-0 win vs. California
Change: +3
One interesting trend: Utah and Oregon both made significant jumps into the Top-10 this week. The Pac-12 is going to create a really interesting situation in the playoff selection if we’re not careful. The main thing hurting Utah is their lack of ranked opponents, as their defense is in the Top 10 in points/game allowed, yards/game allowed and yards/play. It will be interesting if they get any attention if they win the Pac-12.
Oklahoma
AP Poll Ranking: 10
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
Week Six Result: 41-48 loss to #22 Kansas State
Change: -5
With Oklahoma’s loss, the Big 12 arguably becomes the Power 5 conference most in danger of not having a team in the playoff, which is crazy. The loss to Kansas St. is hardly a death sentence, as their only loss is now to a ranked team. But they have to win out, and maybe get a little help before they jump a one-loss non-conference champion like, say, Alabama or LSU. Sooner fans have reason to worry, but not necessarily panic...yet.
All statistics, injury reports, poll information, and scheduling is according to sports-reference.com
-Alexander Spieldenner
Instagram: @alex_spieldenner
Twitter: @aspieldenner