The College Football Playoff projected rankings became much more obvious after a few top 10 teams earned their first loss on the season. Let’s see who’s in.
Down goes No. 6 Wisconsin. The Badgers lost 21-24 against the BYU Cougars. Many people gave Wisconsin the benefit of the doubt early in the season. However, a home loss against BYU is going to dramatically lower the Badgers’ stock.
Although, Week 3 was rough for the Big Ten as a whole. According to FOX research, the Big Ten lost seven non-conference games against unranked opponents for the first time since the inception of the AP Poll, 82 years ago.
Down goes No. 7 Auburn. However, this loss was a little bit more understandable. The Auburn Tigers faced No. 12 LSU at home. After a couple of questionable pass interference calls on the final drive, LSU kicker, Cole Tracy drained a 42 yard field goal on the last play of the game to put LSU on top, 22-21. Both teams played well and highlighted their defensive strength. However, Auburn loses its claim to be ranked in the top four while LSU’s becomes much stronger.
No. 5 Oklahoma won against Iowa State, 34-24. While Oklahoma quarterback, Kyler Murray, looked darn good, the Oklahoma defense was much less impressive. Iowa State scored only three points in their first game against Iowa, yet was able to put up 24 against a team that is looking to make the College Football Playoff.
Oklahoma has yet to demonstrate its defense will be able to stop a good offense, and therefore, remains just outside the top four projection.
4. Clemson: Thank goodness for Trevor Lawrence
As unfortunate as it is, Clemson will be okay with the chance Kelly Bryant is not 100 percent for future games. The Clemson Tigers’ starting quarterback, Bryant, was injured in the second quarter of the game in which it was described that he simply had the wind knocked out of him. Bryant re-entered the game briefly before leaving permanently.
Post game, head coach Dabo Swinny informed the media that doctors conducted an EKG test on Bryant’s heart and said that he should be fine. The good news for the Tigers is that they have an incredibly talented backup, true freshman Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence filled in during the Week 3 game against Georgia Southern without issue.
After a slow start for the Tigers, where the game was scoreless after the first quarter, Clemson finally got the ball rolling. When it was all said and done, the score read Clemson 38, Georgia Southern 7. However, with the injury to Bryant, the slow start, and the multiple turnovers by the Tigers, Clemson drops to number four.
With Clemson’s difficulty of the schedule remaining very low for the rest of the season, the Tigers will need to win big in all games, or hope one of the three teams ahead of them loses, in order to move up in the rankings. Next week, the Tigers face a 1-2 Georgia Tech team.
3. Ohio State: Sloppy wins are still wins
Normally, a sloppy win hurts a team in the College Football Playoff rankings. This week that’s not necessarily the case. No. 4 Ohio State took on No. 15 TCU in the AdvoCare Showdown at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
In the Buckeyes’ first major test of the season, the offense was still able to maintain its explosiveness. Ohio State scored 40 points on a good TCU defense. Buckeye quarterback, Dwayne Haskins, completed 24-of-38 passing attempts for 344 yards and two touchdowns.
The Ohio State defense also came to play, forcing two interceptions and had one fumble recovery. Winning the turnover battle was what allowed the Buckeyes to come out on top, 40-28.
In Week 4, Urban Meyer returns to college football. One of the best coaches to every be on the sideline will only improve the quality of play by Ohio State. The team will be better prepared and more focused now that Urban Meyer is back in charge. The Buckeyes still have a tough Big Ten schedule to get through, despite the abysmal performance of the conference as a whole this weekend.
Next week, Ohio State hosts Tulane, giving Meyer a nice warmup game before traveling to Penn State in Week 5.
2. Georgia: Bulldogs’ easy victory
From start to finish, the Georgia Bulldogs were in complete command of this week’s game against Middle Tennessee State. Kirby Smart was able to continue to develop his team and build depth at every position in the 49-7 home win.
Nine different players recorded a carry, eight different players caught a pass, and 28 different players recorded a tackle on defense. This depth is going to be incredibly valuable late in the season when starters are limited or completely out of games due to injuries.
Furthermore, both Jake Fromm and Justin Fields looked comfortable and capable. Although Fromm should remain the starter for the time being, Fields demonstrated his mobility and the value of a dual-threat quarterback.
D’Andre Swift only had four carries for 12 yards, which makes us question whether he has dropped in the depth chart for the Bulldogs or if Smart is simply saving his legs for later in the season. My money is on the latter, since Swift’s talent level greatly exceeds that of his fellow Georgia running backs.
Georgia remains at a comfortable number two in the rankings. Next week, the Bulldogs get on the road to face Missouri, where there secondary will be tested by one of the most talented quarterbacks in all of college football, Drew Lock.
1. Alabama: Another blowout win
Although the Crimson Tide got off to a slow immediate start, there was never really any doubt on what the end result would look like. It gave up a big touchdown pass from Ole Miss quarterback, Jordan Ta’amu that went for 75 yards but the Crimson Tide quickly responded and scored on their next possession.
However, on their second drive, Alabama fumbled and gave Ole Miss the ball inside Tide territory. From that point on, Alabama looked to be back to normal.
Alabama defeated the Ole Miss rebels, 62-7. The game got so out of hand, ESPN switched over to a different game before the SEC matchup had ended. Alabama has out-scored its opponents 170-28 on the young season.
The Crimson Tide remain No. 1 in the rankings for now but hosts a hungry Texas A&M team next week. The Aggies gave Clemson a run for their money in Week 2 and will be looking to do the same to Alabama.
Where the rest of college football appears slightly volatile, Alabama looks steadily strong.