College Football Playoff Projections: Unafraid Top 10 after Week 4
After a chaotic Week 4 of college football action, let’s take a look at our Unafraid Top 10 rankings heading into Week 5.
Week 4 in college football was absolute chaos. There were so many good quality games this weekend. Teams in the Week 3 top 10 were pushed to the brink which made for an entertaining day of college football. There are three new teams in the Unafraid College Football Playoff Top 10. Before we get started let me read you the #Unafraid College Football Playoff Top 10 fine print:
If you are a real College Football fan, the #Unafraid Top 10 is for you. Our Top 10 is accurate and decided exclusively by accomplishment rather than potential like most well known polls. Future schedules and games are not accounted for. The only things that matter are the results.
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The #Unafraid Top 10 does what the College Football Playoff Committee has neglected to do. Teams that play and beat tough competition are rewarded. Teams that schedule poor competition are Top 10 road kill.
I have been extremely critical of the Huskies. I have them as the No. 1 most overrated team in the nation this year. However, I must give credit where credit is due. Before beating Colorado, Washington had played no one. The truth is still the truth though. Jake Browning does not play well against good defenses. He will ultimately be the difference in an undefeated season and a 3 loss season.
Washington Huskies fans are going to kick and scream about being ranked behind the Cougars. They are going to say, “but we are ranked No. 7 in the AP poll”. The #Unafraid College Football Playoff poll doesn’t care about that. Washington State has a better resume so far. Luke Falk led the Cougars to a 45-7 destruction of Nevada in Week 4. The schedule only gets tougher from here.
The Georgia Bulldogs were incredibly impressive Saturday. They roughed up Mississippi State 31-3. Last week, Mississippi State entered the #Unafraid College Football Playoff Top 10 last week after defeating LSU. So what have we learned? Georgia is much better than LSU and Mississippi State. This is a team with potential to shoot up the rankings.
The madness that is college football season officially started today. Until about six minutes to go in the game, the Sooners were in a dog fight with Baylor. Yes, in a dog fight with 0-3, lost to Liberty, UTSA and Duke — Baylor. Baker Mayfield and the offense had a good performance with over 625 yards. Oklahoma withstood adversity and won 49-41. That’s a win in the #Unafraid College Football Playoff poll.
The cardiac cats are still alive. It took every second of the 60 minutes of the game for Penn State to come away with the victory. In the end, the Nittany Lions star shined bright. Saquon Barkley ran like a man possessed. He piled up over 300 all purpose yards and make multiple plays down the stretch. It the Nittany Lions continue to play tough they will make good on my national championship prediction.
I keep calling the Wolverines overrated, and they just keep winning. Michigan will eventually show its true colors, but until then Michigan just keeps winning ugly football games. Jim Harbaugh’s team is already limited offensively with Wilton Speight at quarterback, but he was injured in the 28-10 win against Purdue. Now, the Wolverines will need their bye week to figure out their quarterback situation.
TCU did the unthinkable and knocked off Oklahoma State 44-31. Oklahoma State has a Heisman favorite Mason Rudolph and one of the best offenses in the nation. The Horned Frogs defense absolutely kept them in check. The game was really won in the trenches. TCU’s offensive line dominated, and allowed the rushing attack to pile up 238 yards. The Horned Frogs stepped up and showed they are a real contender.
Just when you think this is the week the USC will be upset, the Trojans find a way to be at their best in the 4th quarter. USC knocked off an undefeated Cal team 30-20. One word defines the Trojans, turnovers. Sam Darnold and the offense give it away a couple times per game, and the defense creates a few more. If USC hopes to make it through its tough schedule unscathed, it better protect the football.
You could get arrested in some states for what Alabama did to Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt fans were chanting’ “We want Bama!” after their win last week. Alabama players and their coaches must have heard about that because they took Vandy behind woodshed and whooped them 59-0. Alabama looked unstoppable Saturday, but we will see if the same team shows up next week.
Kelly Bryant was not good passing the ball Saturday. He finished the day with no touchdowns and two interceptions. It didn’t end up hurting the Tigers because their defense continued to be stout. Clemson was extremely successful rushing the football. The mark of a great team is when they can dominate despite not playing their best football offensively.