CFB Power Rankings – Week 5

/ Kolton McKinnies
  1. Georgia (4-0)
    • The Dawgs continue to roll, and a 28-point win over UAB isn’t going to be anything to write home about. This week they’re heading to Auburn in what should be at least a step up in competition. The Tigers haven’t looked great this year, but at least it’s a step up in competition for Georgia. They can’t just sleep walk through this, although they are a 14.5 point favorite.
  2. Michigan (4-0)
    • Similar to Georgia the Wolverines continue to sail through the early part of the season. A 31-7 win over Rutgers, again, isn’t anything to write home about and this week a trip to Nebraska is more of the same. I don’t think Nebraska will score a TD this week, maybe not even a point. Michigan by a billion (17 point spread)
  3. Florida St (4-0)
    • The Seminoles look like a homerun to get to the playoff at this point as they’re undefeated with their 2 toughest tests in LSU and @ Clemson already in the barn. It’s hard to imagine they win those games but somehow drop games like Duke/Miami at home or even @ Florida. I think we’re looking at a 12-0 FSU team that’s skating into the playoff.
  4. Penn St (4-0)
    • The Nittany Lions just put everyone on alert in their 31-0 drubbing of Iowa. Look, I know it’s Iowa, but to just demolish them like that was very impressive. Drew Allar is the dude and this is the year for James Franklin if there ever was one. They get an awful Northwestern team this weekend, then a bye and UMass. That sets up 6-0 heading to Columbus in mid-October where they’ll have a legit chance to knock off the Buckeyes. We’ll have to wait until then for the true judgement.
  5. Texas (4-0)
    • I think Quinn Ewers is the guy and now the Longhorns have the guys in the trenches that can compete with the big programs. With the Big 12 being a bit down this year, Texas looks very likely to make the Playoff, with really the biggest test being Oklahoma at home next weekend. They get Kansas at home this weekend, which should be another W. The game I’m circling besides the Red River is @ TCU in mid-November. If there’s a slip up that could be it.
  6. Ohio St (4-0)
    • Well the Buckeyes did it, and while it wasn’t pretty and you could certainly argue ND lost the game more than Ohio St won it, a win is a win. They went on the road and pulled out a W against a very good team, and showed their defense can hold up a little better this year. ND still had 3 trips to FG range that amounted in 0 points, but again, a win is a win. McCord and the offense are still not what we’ve seen in the past, and I think that will catch up to them eventually.
  7. Washington (4-0)
    • I bumped Washington up but these 3 upper tier Pac-12 teams are just so hard to judge right now. They all are electric offensively, it’s just hard to nail down which defense is the best of the bunch. Penix has been nails thus far but going to Arizona represents a challenge they haven’t seen this year. De Laura is a legit QB so we’ll get a little better feel on this Husky defense, but the tests will continue to grow down the road.
  8. Oregon (4-0)
    • The Ducks shut up Colorado with a 42-6 drubbing, and they look like a legit Playoff contender. They have to go to Washington and Utah, and as I’ve been saying if they can pick one of those off and defend their home field that’s the path to the playoff. The fact is if a Pac-12 team is going to get in they have to win a road game against a top-15 team. Stanford this weekend should be another big win, but Washington is looming out there in Week 7.
  9. USC (4-0)
    • The Trojan’s defense is probably the worst of the top teams in the Pac-12 and that’s why I’m not a believer in their playoff hopes. They have to go to Notre Dame and Oregon and also have to play Utah who they’ve struggled with. I can easily see 2 losses, despite having the sure-fire no. 1 pick in Caleb Williams. The offense is electric, but I just don’t think this defense can hold up against the big boys. They go to Colorado and the zoo that is Boulder this weekend, but honestly they shouldn’t be too worried as 21.5 point favorites.
  10. Notre Dame (4-1)
    • Well my prediction fell flat, hand up, I was wrong. It was brutal to watch this ND offense get into plus territory 3 different times and wind up with 0 points. A missed FG and 2 4th down failures cost them. Many will talk about the last drive where they didn’t run to force Ohio St to use their last TO, or the final plays with only 10 on the field, but those decisions to go instead of get points also loomed large. They shot themselves in the foot time after time, and it cost them. I think the Irish are still in the hunt for a playoff spot, they just have to run the table, which isn’t out of the question.
  11. Utah (4-0)
    • This Utah defense is one of the best in the Country, but they have to get Rising back and it has to be this week. Going to Oregon St after they lost a tough game is a horrible spot, and to do that with your backup QB is a recipe for disaster. They’ve survived thus far, but they have to have him to win this week. This is one of those tough road games you have to win if you want to be in contention in this Conference. +3.5 looks real nice if Rising is playing, as this defense is elite.
  12. LSU (3-1)
    • The Tigers didn’t really show up this weekend but the offense was able to carry them to a tough 34-31 win over Arkansas. The defense was again disappointing, and it’s hard to tell if it’s a bigger problem or they just don’t show up sometimes. Daniels and this offense are electric, but if they want to run the table in the SEC West and contend with Georgia, they have to figure this defense out and do it quickly. They have another test this weekend as they head to Ole Miss to face another great offense.
  13. Oklahoma (4-0)
    • Everything is shaping up for an absolutely massive Red River Shootout in Week 6, as the Sooners continue to take care of business. The defense looks much improved and Gabriel is playing well. After last season’s disastrous defense, I didn’t have much hope but so far I’ve been pleasantly surprised. I think they can give Texas all they can handle, and they don’t have much to worry about this weekend with Iowa St.
  14. Duke (4-0)
    • Well Duke has a chance to legitimize themselves as National contenders if they can knock off Notre Dame this weekend. This defense is legit, Riley Leonard and this offense is legit, but getting Notre Dame off of that tough loss is horrible timing. I think the Irish come out angry and that’s going to be tough for Duke to overcome. I expect a close game but Duke to lose. That doesn’t mean the Blue Devils are out of the ACC conversation by any means though, and I can legitimately see a 10-2 year.
  15. Miami (FL) (4-0)
    • The team nobody is really talking about is Miami, but I think if anyone in the ACC can knock off the Seminoles it’s Miami. Tyler Van Dyke is playing as well as anyone in the Country and frankly the schedule isn’t that tough. They have to go to UNC and FSU, but other than those they’re all pretty easy wins. Win 1 of those road games and the Hurricanes are suddenly playoff contenders? It’s not out of the question.
  16. Alabama (3-1)
    • This Alabama team looks more like the teams of old, strong defense and they have to run the ball to score. Milroe can be effective if he’s used as a running threat and then some orchestrated deep balls. He throws a beautiful deep ball, he just can’t read defenses or work through progressions. Run the ball, play action with some deep shots and they can beat most teams. I don’t think we see Bama in the Playoff, but 10-2 is out there, especially with this schedule. They get to beat up on Mississippi St this weekend before heading to Texas A&M, a very dangerous one.
  17. Washington St (4-0)
    • Wazzu now has 2 pretty impressive home wins over Wisconsin and Oregon St. They have a tough schedule with trips to UCLA, Oregon and Washington left, but the fact 9-3 is on the table is a testament to Cam Ward and this offense. They are electric and were underrated, and pose a dangerous threat to these top teams looking to sneak into the Playoff.
  18. UNC (4-0)
    • So far so good for the Tar Heels but I have less confidence in them than Duke/Miami. Drake Maye and the offense is electric, but the defense is bad. It’s better than last season, but still not great. There are some fun matchups on the docket, but a bye this week keeps them safe from upset 1 more week. They have home tilts with Syracuse and Miami after the bye, so it’s about to get real.
  19. Syracuse (4-0)
    • The most underrated team in the Country is this Syracuse squad, as they’ve absolutely dominated everyone they’ve played. Garrett Schrader is playing really well, and they’ll have a ton of eyeballs on them this weekend to show out against Clemson. As 6.5 point home dogs I’m all over the spread, but it’s still a tough W for them to pull off. I think they can win outright, because this Clemson team is just not what we’re used to, and with 2 losses they certainly could be already thinking next year. Orange ML hit it.
  20. Ole Miss (3-1)
    • The Rebels are just never good enough to beat elite teams, rinse and repeat. They can move the ball and outscore average and below teams but struggle with good teams like Bama and LSU. They just lost to Bama and now get LSU this weekend, so another loss should be on the docket. They could end up as a 7-win team, with a trip to Georgia still out there and games against Tx A&M and Arkansas. Stock trending down in my opinion, but the offensive ability keeps them at 20.
  21. Oregon St (3-1)
    • The Beavers were in a shootout and couldn’t quite hang with Wazzu. It’s hard to punish them much, but the defense giving up 38 makes me lose a little faith. If Cam rising is back I can easily see them dropping a 2nd game in a row. DJ just wasn’t good enough, despite a dominant O-line he just isn’t elite. They ran the ball well, but Utah is no joke and their defense can shut down Oregon St. Now, if they get Nate Johnson and not Rising, they could steal a very important one Friday night.
  22. Florida (3-1)
    • A tough trip to Kentucky is on the docket, but this Florida team really has a chance to cement themselves as the 2nd best team in the East. I’m not confident they will go to Kentucky and win, but the Wildcats haven’t exactly looked like world beaters. I’m on Kentucky -1.5, but I wouldn’t be shocked if the Gators pulled it off. I just can’t trust Mertz on the road, and Stoops is a great coach. Tough one for Florida, but if they are a top-25 team this is one they should nab.
  23. Mizzou (4-0)
    • I still don’t know that I fully believe in Mizzou but they’re 4-0 with a huge W over K-State. They had a clear let down spot game after the big win and they took care of business against Memphis too, so they clearly deserve to be here. Again, going to Vandy is one you have to have if you’re a top-25 team, but the Mizzou of old could lose this one. Upset alert no doubt.
  24. Kansas (4-0)
    • Kansas has been really impressive this year, but a trip to Austin Texas is not what you want. They aren’t good enough defensively to beat this Texas team, but you hope they hang around and score with Texas if they really are a top-25 team. If they get blown out they will drop from these rankings, but I think Daniels and this offense can put up some points and hang around.
  25. Wisconsin (3-1)
    • So the road loss to Wazzu is suddenly looking much better as time is moving on, and a road demolishing of Purdue has given me the confidence back in the Badgers. I had them as the West champs in preseason, but questioned it after that early loss. No more, this running attack is elite and the defense has a ton of playmakers on it. I’m not saying they’re going to beat Ohio St in Madison at the end of October, but that’s going to be a fun one.

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