College Football Power Rankings: Michigan State enters top five as Baylor, Auburn make key gains

Georgia
Florida steamrolled Georgia final 12 months. Georgia clinched the SEC East and returned the steamrolling this time. The victory marked the eighth straight recreation the Dawgs have allowed lower than 14 factors. That final occurred in 1971. Within the house of 12 performs, Georgia scored three touchdowns on turnovers. That adequate revenge for you? — 8-0
2

Cincinnati
Not a very good day heading into the primary CFP Rankings. SMU, the one ranked crew left on the schedule, misplaced to Houston. Then Tulane was aggressive in opposition to Cincinnati deep into the second half. Desmond Ridder has sacked for a security and threw an interception. The Bearcats should sweat that and whether or not their coach Luke Fickell could have taken one other job by the top of the season. — 8-0
3

Alabama
Bye. November reign begins for Bama. The Crimson Tide are 26-4 within the month since 2013. Three of these losses are to Auburn. (Thanks Gus!) One is to LSU. Prepare for the ultimate regular-season laps at house this month in opposition to LSU, New Mexico State and Arkansas. After which there’s the Iron Bowl. Bryan Harsin will get his SEC big-game baptism … or does he? — 7-1
4

Oklahoma
Off to their first 9-0 begin since 2004, the Sooners look down on Oklahoma State and Baylor as their chief Large 12 challengers after beating Texas Tech. Since turning into OU’s offensive coordinator, Lincoln Riley has overseen an offense that has scored not less than 49 factors every day out in his seven conferences in opposition to his alma mater. In these video games, the Sooners are averaging 56.9 factors. Caleb Williams continued his unlikely Heisman Trophy run with six landing passes. The child is averaging two per recreation in his seven video games this season. — 9-0
5

Michigan State
Kenneth Walker III is the very best participant in faculty soccer after operating for 5 touchdowns in opposition to Michigan. One other conclusion: Michigan State is perhaps the very best Large Ten crew. We’ll discover out because the Spartans attempt to get via November with the Large Ten’s worst go protection. Mel Tucker is the turnaround king of school, not solely dabbling within the switch portal however inside the recreation. The Spartans had been trailing by 16 halfway via the third quarter earlier than rallying. 3 8-0
6

Oregon
Loads to unpack right here heading into Tuesday. The Geese solely loss to Stanford seems to be worse now that the Cardinal misplaced to Washington. It actually would not assist the trigger UCLA was additionally routed by Utah. However nonetheless, there’s that win over Ohio State which seems to be higher by the day. The Geese prolonged their house profitable streak to 17 straight video games with a straightforward win over Colorado. 1 7-1
7

Ohio State
Whereas we rejoice Michigan State and debate the CFP Rankings, bear in mind Ryan Day is 20-0 within the Large Ten. That is value contemplating after a closer-than-expected win over Penn State. TreyVeon Henderson began sluggish then busted out for a 68-yard run. Jerron Cage, all 305 kilos of him, scored a big-man landing. Penn State masking +18 was a straightforward wager. Sean Clifford was wholesome and prepared, however the loss means Penn State is all however out of the Large Ten race. 1 7-1
8

Oklahoma State
No sneaking up by Kansas this time. The Cowboys rebounded from the Iowa State loss by thumping the Jayhawks. “I simply thought it was an ideal chemistry second for our crew,” stated QB Spencer Sanders. If by “chemistry second” Sanders meant learning for a biology class, then sure. However we did not be taught a darn factor from this recreation. The 52-point margin tied for Kansas’ worst loss this season. 3 7-1
9

Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons are 8-0 for the primary time after beating Duke in one of many extra full efforts of the season. Sam Hartman accounted for 5 touchdowns. Now the heavy lifting begins: North Carolina, NC State, Clemson and Boston Faculty. It will likely be fascinating to see the place the Demon Deacons land within the CFP rankings. Dave Clawson has performed all of it after shedding Walker to MSU. 3 8-0
10

Notre Dame
Cincinnati’s greatest good friend dominated a North Carolina leaking oil. It was entertaining as Kyren Williams ran 199 yards, 91 on a spectacular cutback TD run. The groups mixed to attain on eight straight possessions. So, yeah, enjoyable. Notre Dame prolonged an ongoing streak beating its thirty eighth consecutive unranked opponent to guide the nation. Cincy just about wants Notre Dame to win out to assist its resume. 3 7-1
11

Baylor
Did Texas blow one other one, or is Baylor means higher than we thought? We noticed just a little little bit of each within the Bears’ win. In Yr 2, Dave Aranda has grow to be a Nice Plains Mel Tucker (learn: turnaround king) of the Large 12. Baylor turned the third straight crew to beat a double-digit deficit in beating Texas. 9 7-1
12

Michigan
Too many errors. An excessive amount of Walker. A crew that had dedicated solely 4 turnovers all season (greatest amongst Energy 5), dedicated its fifth on the worst time. Freshman QB J.J. McCarthy put it on the bottom within the fourth quarter permitting Michigan State its game-winning drive. The place do the Wolverines go from right here? This was the Spartans’ first win over a crew with a profitable document, and it harm Michigan dangerous. “It sucks from the highest down,” offensive lineman Andrew Vastardis stated. 3 7-1
13

Auburn
Possibly Harsin is already full baptized within the church of the SEC. The Tigers got here from out of the Energy Rankings to the sting of the highest 10. Guess who instantly controls their destiny within the SEC West? The Tigers received “good” Bo Nix taking part in at house in opposition to a prime 10 crew. In beating each Arkansas and Ole Miss from the West, the Tigers can see the Iron Bowl from right here. Earlier than that, one other West showdown this week at Texas A&M. The Tigers have by no means misplaced in Faculty Station (4-0). NR 6-2
14

Ole Miss
No popcorn. No water bottles thrown from the stands. Only a contrite Lane Kiffin watching his crew drop out of the highest 10. Auburn flexed on the Rebels, piling up virtually 500 yards. Matt Corral threw solely his second interception of the season and noticed his streak finish after 19 consecutive video games with not less than one landing go. 4 6-2
15

Iowa
Does defensive coordinator Phil Parker have any ideas for offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz? Nearly as good because the Hawkeyes protection has been, the offense has not been complementary. Ferentz’s group stunk it up once more in a 27-7 loss at Wisconsin. Within the final eight quarters, the Hawkeyes have scored 14 factors, averaging 213.5 yards per recreation and three.6 yards per play. Wisconsin continues to manage its personal future within the Large Ten West. 8 6-2
16

Kentucky
The Wildcats’ New Yr’s Six possibilities took a blow following a two-touchdown loss to Mississippi State. Kentucky turned it over 4 instances, and the Bulldogs’ Will Rogers was almost flawless, setting an SEC accuracy document (36 of 39). Coming off Georgia, this was not encouraging. The Wildcats scored one offensive landing. Mark Stoops stays a darkhorse candidate at LSU. 2 6-2
17

Pittsburgh
The loss at Miami was a story of two quarterbacks. Nearly nobody anticipated freshman Tyler Van Dyke to be essentially the most celebrated on Saturday. The Miami QB threw for 426 yards and three touchdowns in an upset of the Panthers. Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett was truly higher, throwing for a school-record 519 yards. 2 6-2
18

Texas A&M
Bye. time to relaxation with a brutal November schedule. Meaning there will probably be reshuffling within the SEC West for certain. The Aggies play Auburn and Ole Miss within the subsequent two weeks. LSU wraps up the common season in 4 weeks. If Jimbo Fisher wins out, he could have posted his first 10-win season since 2016 (at Florida State). 1 6-2
19

Fresno State
Now we have a brand new favourite within the Mountain West. The Bulldogs (7-2) set themselves up because the MWC crew to beat after dominating San Diego State. Fresno received off to a 20-0 lead and by no means appeared again. The Bulldogs have now crushed two ranked groups this season (UCLA). That is one lower than Georgia. “The physicality we introduced off the bat set the tone,” coach Kalen DeBoer stated. Jake Haener had his sixth 400-yard passing recreation this season. NR 7-2
20

BYU
This appeared like BYU we grew up with. The Cougars posted 734 yards and 66 factors in opposition to Virginia. Tyler Allgeier had a career-best 266 yards dashing. “It felt like an old-school kind of recreation,” coach Kalani Sitake stated. Virginia’s Brennan Armstrong continues to be the very best QB you do not know. Armstrong threw 4 extra TDs, giving him 27 for the season. 2 7-2
21

Houston
Marcus Jones received the sport with a kickoff return for a landing within the ultimate seconds. How does SMU permit that to occur? The Mustangs advert simply tied the sport with a subject objective within the ultimate minute. Jones now has 4 return touchdowns (two every through punt and kickoff) to guide the nation. Dana Holgorsen might have began the season on the new seat. Proper now, he is simply sizzling. NR 7-1
22

SMU
Let Jones inform it about returning that kick, “I did not suppose he was going to kick it to me at first.” With 30 seconds left after tying the sport, coach Sonny Dykes stated he did not wish to give SMU good subject place by squibbing it. The Houston loss ruined an undefeated season. For the second not less than, SMU misplaced management of the American. In any tie with Houston, the Cougars would prevail due to the head-to-head. 6 7-1
23

UTSA
The Roadrunners ought to benefit from the ultimate days of coach Jeff Traylor. The one factor extra unwise at Texas Tech than firing Matt Wells after a 5-3 document could be not hiring Traylor who has Texas roots and a blossoming profession in entrance of him. UTEP’s loss to FAU took the shine off an enormous Convention USA matchup with UTSA. 2 8-0
24

Coastal Carolina
The kings of taking part in on faculty nights simply received performed taking part in three consecutive weeknight video games. The Chats got here via it 2-1 after an in depth Thursday win in opposition to Troy. They are going to want assist in the Solar Belt East as Appalachian State holds the tiebreaker. That Wednesday night time loss on Oct. 20 is the distinction within the season. 1 7-1
25

NC State
The ACC remains to be vast open, and the Wolfpack are able to profitable it. Devin Leary led an explosive fourth quarter throwing three of his 4 TD passes to beat Louisville. NC State stays 1.5 video games behind Wake within the Atlantic with roadies at Florida State and Wake Forest arising. NR 6-2