College Football Playoff Rankings 2018: Top 25 projections for Week 10

Northwestern now controls their own fate in the Big Ten West, after the Wildcats peeled off a two-touchdown victory at home in Evanston against No. 20 Wisconsin on early Saturday afternoon. The undermanned Badgers were rendered one-dimensional as they were forced to turn to backup quarterback Jack Coan.

Even with those contingencies, though, Northwestern did exactly what they needed to do against their division rival. Clayton Thorson threw three interceptions, but he kept the course and finished with 167 yards and a touchdown through the air. Thorson added a diving touchdown plunge and a second score on the ground in the resounding win over the Badgers.

Now Northwestern gets ready to host Notre Dame in a game that will serve as a referendum on several levels. Do the Irish deserve their lofty rankings? Can Northwestern vault further up the College Football Playoff list with another big upset in Week 10?