For the third time in as many weeks there is a new No. 1 in our still-early College Football Playoff projections.
Texas had been steamrolling its opponents but the Longhorns were beaten by Georgia in relatively easy fashion. So the Bulldogs jump up to the No. 2 spot right behind new No. 1 Oregon, which isn’t having much trouble transitioning from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten.
Penn State, Ohio State and Boise State all were off.
There is one addition: Notre Dame, which is back in after that unexpected loss to Northern Illinois in the second game of the season. Notre Dame replaces Alabama which lost to Tennessee.
BYU is still our Big 12 representative in the top four. The Cougars needed last-second heroics in disposing of Oklahoma State while the other Big 12 candidate, Iowa State, had an equally difficult time in getting past Central Florida.
Our top four teams are Oregon, Georgia, Miami and BYU. The top four conference champions earn first-round byes. There has to be a Group of 5 school. Right now Boise State is looking like that team. This is what our 12-team field would look like if the season ended today.
1. Oregon (7-0, 4-0)
There was no hangover from the big win over Ohio State last week as the Ducks were on cruise control once again. This time the victim was Purdue, which fell 35-0 to Oregon on Friday. It marked the Ducks’ first road shutout since 1992. The contributors were many, but Dillon Gabriel was 21 of 25 for 290 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Meanwhile, the defense held Purdue to a 4-for-15 on third and fourth downs.
Last week: 2. Next: vs. Illinois on Saturday.
2. Georgia (6-1, 4-1)
Georgia has won three straight games since its 41-34 loss to Alabama, this time dominating from start to finish in a 30-15 win over No. 1 Texas. It marked the 100th career win for Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who has coached 117 games over nine seasons. The defense set the tone for the Bulldogs with seven sacks, also forcing four turnovers that Georgia turned into 17 points.
Last week: 7. Next: vs. Florida on Nov. 2 (in Jacksonville).
3. Miami (7-0, 3-0)
The Hurricanes surrendered 45 points and 448 yards but registered a 52-45 win over Louisville. Ajay Allen scored on a 2-yard run with 11:17 to go to snap a tie at 38 and Miami hung on from there. Cam Ward completed 21 of 32 pass attempts for 319 yards to break the Miami record for consecutive 300-yard games most recently held by Tyler Van Dyke in 2021. He is four away from the school’s all-time record of 11, a mark shared by Van Dyke and Brad Kaaya.
Last week: 3. Next: vs. Florida State on Saturday.
4. BYU (7-0, 4-0)
Darius Lassiter scored on a 35-yard pass from Jake Retzlaff with 10 seconds left to boost the Cougars past Oklahoma State on Friday night. Retzlaff threw for 218 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 81 yards and another score. Lassiter had a career-high 129 yards on six catches, topping 100 receiving yards for the second time in three games.
Last week: 4. Next: at Central Florida on Saturday.
5. Penn State (6-0, 3-0)
The Nittany Lions, a 33-30 overtime winner last week against USC, were off. Last week: 5. Next: at Wisconsin on Saturday.
6. Texas (6-1, 2-1)
The Longhorns had been dominant this season but found out just how tough life in the SEC can be, losing to perennial conference power Georgia 30-15. They were dominated and trailed 23-0 before they first scored. The Texas offense managed just 285 yards, plagued by four turnovers (three fumbles). Last week: 1. Next: at Vanderbilt on Saturday.
7. Ohio State (5-1, 2-1)
The Buckeyes last played a week ago, losing that drama-filled game against Oregon. They had an off week to work on the flaws. Last week: 6. Next: vs. Nebraska on Saturday.
8. Clemson (6-1, 5-0)
Cade Klubnik and the Tigers roll on, this time a 48-31 win over Virginia for their sixth straight win after a season-opening loss to Georgia. The game was even at 10 midway through the second half but then Clemson rattled off the next 28 points, going up 38-10 on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Klubnik to Olsen Patt-Henry with 1:30 left in the third quarter. Last week: 9. Next: vs. Louisville on Nov. 2.
9. Boise State (5-1, 2-0)
Ashton Jeanty & company had the week off to brace for first-place showdown next week. Last week: 10. Next: at UNLV on Friday.
10. LSU (6-1, 3-0)
Caden Durham ran for 101 yards and three touchdowns and Damian Ramos made a career-best four field goals as the Tigers manhandled Arkansas 34-10. LSU continued its dominance in the Battle for the Golden Boot series, securing its eighth win in the past nine meetings. LSU has won five consecutive games in Fayetteville dating to 2016.
Last week: 11. Next: At Texas A&M on Saturday.
11. Tennessee (6-1, 3-1)
Chris Brazzell made a diving 16-yard touchdown catch with 5:52 left to give Tennessee a 21-17 lead over Alabama and the Volunteers added a field goal late for some insurance. Tennessee had three turnovers in the first half but was fortunate to be trailing only 7-0. It ended up with 214 yards rushing, with Dylan Sampson running for 139 of that.
Last week: 12 Next: vs. Kentucky on Nov. 2.
12. Notre Dame (6-1)
The Fighting Irish turned back Georgia Tech 31-13. That marked their fifth straight win since the slip-up against Northern Illinois. Down 7-0, Notre Dame scored 31 unanswered points, with Adon Shuler’s 36-yard interception return capping off that decisive run. Last week: Not ranked. Next: at Navy on Saturday.
Dropped out: Alabama (5-2, 2-2, lost to Tennessee 24-17)
Bubble watch: Indiana (7-0, 4-0, defeated Nebraska 56-7), Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0, defeated Mississippi State 34-24), Iowa State (7-0, 4-0, defeated Central Florida 38-35), Kansas State (6-1, 3-1, defeated West Virginia 45-18).
What the bracket would look like:
No. 12 Notre Dame vs. No. 5 Penn State
No. 9 Boise State vs. No. 8 Clemson
No. 11 Tennessee vs. No. 6 Texas
No. 10 LSU No. 7 Ohio State
That would give us quarterfinals
No. 12 Notre Dame-No. 5 Penn State winner vs. No. 4 BYU
No. 9 Boise State-No. 8 Clemson winner vs. No. 1 Oregon
No. 11 Tennessee-No. 6 Texas- winner vs. No. 3 Miami
No. 10 LSU-No. 7 Ohio State winner vs. No. 2 Georgia
