Not a huge lot of changes this week which is not too surprising given last week’s top seven all won. Two top-ten teams did lose though and once again the CFP field has shrunk. Still, there is some intrigue left and suddenly there is a case to be made for teams as low as 15th making the final four. Mind you it would need the stars to align for them big time. This weekend will go a long way towards sorting out the SEC, however, it could take a bit longer in the BIG Ten & Pac -12
On The Up
Suddenly LSU have emerged as CFP outsiders, despite having two losses. How? Well, it’s down to who they still have to play or potentially play. That win over Ole Miss was the start of the journey and the next step would be a win over Alabama this week. This would put them in pole position for a place in the SEC Conference Final.
Win that and they would be a two-loss SEC champion which could be enough to put them in. Not guaranteed but stranger things have happened. We are not holding our breath on that one though. Whatever, Brian Kelly will be pleased with his first season in charge.
Welcome To The Rankings
Image: Rosemarie Mosteller/Shutterstock.com
Liberty has finally cracked the top 25 and currently carries the flag for the FBS Independent teams. They are 7-1 and that loss was by one point to the current No.20 Wake Forest. How they rank three places behind them with a better win record is one of the many abnormalities of a poll-based system. The Flames have no Bowl Tie-In for 2022 and they are eligible for a New Year’s Bowl bid. If they end up being the highest-ranked non-power five team, we hope they will be playing in the Cotton Bowl.
The full top 25 is below and now all eyes will be on the initial CFP rankings which are due out tomorrow.
AP Top 25 Rankings Week Ten
1 Georgia 8-0
2 Tennessee 8-0
2 Ohio State 8-0
4 Michigan 8-0
5 Clemson 8-0
6 Alabama 7-1
7 TCU 8-0
8 Oregon 7-1
9 USC 7-1
10 UCLA 7-1
11 Ole Miss 8-1
12 Utah 6-2
13 Kansas State 6-2
14 Illinois 7-1
15 LSU 6-2
16 Penn State 6-2
17 North Carolina 7-1
18 Oklahoma State 6-2
19 Tulane 7-1
20 Wake Forest 6-2
21 NC State 6-2
22 Syracuse 6-2
23 Liberty 7-1
24 Oregon State 6-2
25 UCF 6-2
All Change
In – Liberty, Oregon State & UCF
Out – Kentucky, Cincinnati, & South Carolina
Conference representation
SEC 5
ACC 5
PAC-12 5
Big Ten 4
Big 12 3
AAC 2
Independents 1
You can check week nines rankings here
