Games are still being played as I type this, but all contenders for the Top 25 have finished their games, and most games that determine division races have completed. Since I will be very busy on Sunday, I am completing this column now.
Top 25 [Last week's position]
1. Georgia Bulldogs (11-0) [1]
2. Cincinnati Bearcats (11-0) [2] : Impressive win against SMU. That should help them in their case for the playoffs.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1) [3] : They smothered Michigan State
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1) [4] : A close win over Arkansas won't help them
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1) [5]
6. Michigan Wolverines (10-1) [7] : Talk about adding importance to the Ohio State-Michigan game!
7. Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-1) [9] : Their dominance over Texas Tech makes Bedlam even more interesting
8. Oklahoma Sooners (10-1) [11]
9. UTSA Roadrunners (11-0) [10]
10. Baylor Bears (9-2) [13]
11. Houston Cougars (10-1) [14]
12. Michigan State Spartans (9-2) [6]
13. Iowa Hawkeyes (9-2) [17]
14. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (9-2) [18]
15. Texas A&M Aggies (8-3) [15]
16. Wisconsin Badgers (8-3) [21]
17. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (10-1) [20]
18. NC State Wolfpack (8-3) [19]
19. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (9-2) [12]
20. Pitt Panthers (9-2) [23]
21. Utah Utes (8-3) [26] : They beat Oregon and killed their playoff hopes
22. Ole Miss Rebels (9-2) [22]
23. Oregon Ducks (9-2) [8]
24. Penn State Nittany Lions (7-4) [24]
25. San Diego State Aztecs (10-1) [25]
On the Edge: Appalachian State Mountaineers (9-2), Air Force Falcons (8-3), Clemson Tigers (8-3), Iowa State Cyclones (6-5), BYU Cougars (9-2), Marshall Thundering Herd (7-4), Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-4)
Dropped off: SMU Mustangs [#16]
Big Ten Report
Once again, the games concluded much as expected, although Ohio State was far more dominant than expected, and Michigan's offense just ran wild.
Unbeaten Teams and Playoff Contenders
Oregon is gone, which confirms Cincinnati even before the SEC Championship Game. Michigan State drops out, moving up Notre Dame and Oklahoma State. Now the Cowboys have a strong argument for playoff consideration, but I don't think they will surpass Notre Dame unless they dominate Oklahoma in the Bedlam game. With the loser of Michigan and Ohio State dropping out, that puts Notre Dame in the "on-deck" Number Five position, ready to move up when Alabama loses the SEC Championship Game.
Conference and Division Races
American Athletic : HOUSTON and CINCINNATI will play each other in the championship game.
ACC Atlantic : This one gets interesting. If Wake Forest wins, they win the division. If Wake loses AND both Clemson and NC State win, then there is a 3-way tie, which will depend upon their final ranking. That might boost NC State into the title game.
ACC Coastal : PITT has won the division
Big XII : The winner of Bedlam wins the regular season title. Their opponent in the Championship Game depends upon the winner of Bedlam. If Oklahoma loses and Baylor wins, then the Cowboys play Baylor. If Baylor loses or if Oklahoma wins, then Oklahoma and Oklahoma State play a rematch.
Big Ten East : The winner of Michigan - Ohio State wins the division
Big Ten West : If Wisconsin wins, they win the division. If the Badgers lose and Iowa wins, the Hawkeyes win the division. If both Wisconsin and Iowa lose, Minnesota wins.
Conference USA East : The winner of Western Kentucky - Marshall wins the division
Conference USA West : UTSA has clinched
MAC East : The winner of Miami Ohio - Kent State wins the division
MAC West : NORTHERN ILLINOIS has clinched
Mountain West Mountain : We have a 3-way tie coming into the last week. If only one of the three teams win (and none of them play each other), then that team wins the division. Since head-to-head is even, Boise needs both Utah State and Air Force to lose for them to have a chance. If both Utah State and Air Force win, then the Aggies go since they beat Air Force.
Mountain West West : If the Aztecs win OR if Fresno State loses, the Aztecs win the division. If they lose and the Bulldogs win, then the title belongs to Fresno State.
Pac-12 North : If Washington State loses, the winner of the Oregon Civil War wins the division. If Oregon wins, they win the division. If both Oregon State and Washington State win, then we have a three-way tie, and, believe it or not, the Cougars would go due to a better record against divisional teams. Thus, the only chance the Beavers have is to get help from Washington.
Pac-12 South : UTAH has clinched
SEC Championship Game : GEORGIA v ALABAMA
Sun Belt East : The winner of Appalachian State - Georgia State wins the division
Sun Belt West : LOUISIANA already won
Upset Report
At this point, there have been very few. Three were very impactful, and all were blowouts: Wake Forest lost big and fell big in the rankings, Oregon lost their shot at the playoffs, and Utah State's chances to win their division took a hit. The fourth upset, also a game that wasn't even close, was Tulane's defeat of South Florida.
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