The College Football Playoff begins this Friday with the first round. You can check out the full bracket here, but four teams—Oregon, Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona—have a bye week, while the higher seeds get to host the matchups this weekend. So these power rankings factor in the teams with byes and the matchups in the first round.

 

1. Oregon Ducks (13-0)

The lone unbeaten in college football this season, Oregon impressively won the Big Ten title in their first year in the conference. Dan Lanning has built a powerhouse in Eugene, as the Ducks can both overpower you and simply beat you with speed and athleticism.

 

2. Georgia Bulldogs (11-2)

Georgia lost to Alabama and Ole Miss but beat Texas twice en route to an SEC Championship. The status of quarterback Carson Beck, who injured his elbow at the end of the first half in the SEC title game, is one of the biggest questions surrounding the CFP.

 

3. Texas Longhorns (11-2)

The Longhorns’ only two losses were to the Bulldogs. While many have pointed out that Texas hasn’t come through in as big of challenges as some other squads during the fall, they did beat Oklahoma and Florida by 31+ points each and took care of Texas A&M at College Station—and they played much better with their second crack at the Dawgs.

 

4. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2)

An opening round matchup with Tennessee will be a major test for the Buckeyes, but they’re situated as the No. 8 seed and get to play at home—which is undoubtedly a major benefit and plays into the -7 spread. Another disappointment in The Game left a bad taste in the mouth of the Buckeyes, but they have a talented roster that can certainly go on a run.

 

5. Penn State Nittany Lions (11-2)

There’s a lot of talk about how James Franklin struggled to win big games, but Penn State showed good fight in battling versus Oregon in the Big Ten Championship. The Nittany Lions must take care of business for a home contest with SMU, but things could set up nicely for them to get to the semifinals, as they might be favored over Boise State for a Fiesta Bowl showdown.

 

6. Boise State Broncos (12-1)

Heisman runner-up (in the closest vote since 2009) Ashton Jeanty is a difference-making running back that can hit the home run as well as pace things offensively—hopefully helping keep Boise State in every game, no matter the matchup. The Broncos were up on Oregon at halftime back in early September and ultimately lost by just three, and they should be confident they can give anyone a problem.

 

7. Arizona State Sun Devils (11-2)

Arizona State won six consecutive games including a convincing Big 12 title game victory to not only make the College Football Playoff but secure a first-round bye—which is a key factor in their ranking here. Kenny Dillingham has some extra time to prepare for the Clemson/Texas winner as likely underdogs.

 

8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1)

Notre Dame’s lone blemish during the regular season was a stunning loss to Northern Illinois, and they were able to get a home first round game against Indiana. Quarterback Riley Leonard will make plays with his legs as the Fighting Irish look to survive and advance, but the Sugar Bowl against Georgia awaits if they win on Friday night.

 

9. Indiana Hoosiers (11-1)

The bottom four in the power rankings consist of the four (relatively big) underdogs this weekend—though hopefully we see an upset or two in the first-ever 12-team CFP. Indiana’s only loss this year was to Ohio State, and Curt Cignetti was Coach of the Year. If the Hoosiers can protect quarterback Kurtis Rourke, don’t count out an upset to kick things off.

 

10. Tennessee Volunteers (10-2)

We might not see SEC schools as touchdown underdogs in the CFP often, but it speaks to the upside Ohio State has and the game location in Columbus. Inconsistency has been an issue for the Vols’ offense in 2024, but the defense has carried a heavy load and can help keep things close and put late-game pressure on OSU.

 

11. Clemson Tigers (10-3)

This No. 11 ranking for Clemson is for a couple of big reasons. One, they are the only three-loss team in the CFP; and two, it’s a tough draw to have to go on the road to face Texas despite winning a conference championship. But Dabo Swinney has obviously shown an ability to win big games. An upset on Saturday would put the Tigers in the Peach Bowl versus Arizona State.

 

12. SMU Tigers (11-2)

Because Clemson was an automatic bid as a conference champion, SMU was basically the last team into the College Football Playoff. That said, they’ve come a long way from a 1987 “death penalty” to make the first expanded playoff—and a win over Penn State would set up a fun battle with Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Kevin Jennings is a dynamic player that’s shown he can catch fire at quarterback to make the Mustangs tough to stop.

Below is the complete College Football Playoff and bowl game schedule in the first year of the 12-team playoff format. [Note: College Football Playoff games are in italics.]

 

Saturday, Dec. 14

 

Celebration Bowl
South Carolina State vs. Jackson State
12:00 PM ET | ABC

 

Salute to Veterans Bowl
South Alabama vs. Western Michigan
9:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Tuesday, Dec. 17

 

Frisco Bowl
No. 25 Memphis vs. West Virginia
9:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Wednesday, Dec. 18

 

Boca Raton Bowl
James Madison vs. Western Kentucky
5:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

LA Bowl
No. 24 UNLV vs. Cal
9:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Thursday, Dec. 19

 

New Orleans Bowl
Sam Houston vs. Georgia Southern
7:00 PM ET | ESPN2

 

Friday, Dec. 20

 

Cure Bowl
Ohio vs. Jacksonville State
12:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Gasparilla Bowl
Florida vs. Tulane
3:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

College Football Playoff – First Round
#10 seed Indiana at #7 seed Notre Dame
8:00 PM ET | ABC/ESPN

 

Saturday, Dec. 21

 

College Football Playoff – First Round
#11 seed SMU at #6 seed Penn State
12:00 PM ET | TNT/MAX

 

College Football Playoff – First Round
#12 seed Clemson at #5 seed Texas
4:00 PM ET | TNT/MAX

 

College Football Playoff – First Round
#9 seed Tennessee at #8 seed Ohio State
8:00 PM ET | ABC/ESPN

 

Monday, Dec. 23

 

Myrtle Beach Bowl
Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA
11:00 AM ET | ESPN

 

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
2:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Tuesday, Dec. 24

 

Hawai’i Bowl
South Florida vs. San Jose State
8:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Thursday, Dec. 26

 

GameAbove Sports Bowl
Pittsburgh vs. Toledo
2:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Rate Bowl
Rutgers vs. Kansas State
5:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

68 Ventures Bowl
Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green
9:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Friday, Dec. 27

 

Armed Forces Bowl
Navy vs. Oklahoma
12:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Birmingham Bowl
Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt
3:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Liberty Bowl
Arkansas vs. Texas Tech
7:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Holiday Bowl
No. 21 Syracuse vs. Washington State
8:00 PM ET | FOX

 

Las Vegas Bowl
USC vs. Texas A&M
10:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Saturday, Dec. 28

 

Fenway Bowl
UConn vs. North Carolina
11:00 AM ET | ESPN

 

Pinstripe Bowl
Boston College vs. Nebraska
12:00 PM ET | ABC

 

New Mexico Bowl
TCU vs. Louisiana
2:15 PM ET | ESPN

 

Pop-Tarts Bowl
No. 13 Miami vs. No. 18 Iowa State
3:30 PM ET | ABC

 

Arizona Bowl
Colorado State vs. Miami (Ohio)
4:30 PM ET | CW

 

Military Bowl
NC State vs. East Carolina
5:45 PM ET | ESPN

 

Alamo Bowl
No. 17 BYU vs. No. 23 Colorado
7:30 PM ET | ABC

 

Independence Bowl
No. 22 Army vs. Marshall
9:15 PM ET | ESPN

 

Monday, Dec. 30

 

Music City Bowl
No. 19 Missouri vs. Iowa
2:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Tuesday, Dec. 31

 

ReliaQuest Bowl
No. 11 Alabama vs. Michigan
12 PM ET | ESPN

 

Sun Bowl
Louisville vs. Washington
2:00 PM ET | CBS

 

Citrus Bowl
No. 15 South Carolina vs. No. 20 Illinois
3:00 PM ET | ABC

 

Texas Bowl
LSU vs. Baylor
3:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

College Football Playoff – Quarterfinal (Fiesta Bowl)
TBD vs. #3 Boise State
7:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Wednesday, Jan. 1

 

College Football Playoff – Quarterfinal (Peach Bowl)
TBD vs. #4 seed Arizona State
1:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

College Football Playoff – Quarterfinal (Rose Bowl)
TBD vs. #1 seed Oregon
5:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

College Football Playoff – Quarterfinal (Sugar Bowl)
TBD vs. #2 seed Georgia
8:45 PM ET | ESPN

 

Thursday, Jan. 2

 

Gator Bowl
No. 14 Ole Miss vs. Duke
7:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Friday, Jan. 3

 

First Responder Bowl
North Texas vs. Texas State
4:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech
7:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Saturday, Jan. 4

 

Bahamas Bowl
Liberty vs. Buffalo
11:00 AM ET | ESPN2

 

Thursday, Jan. 9

 

College Football Playoff – Semifinal (Orange Bowl)

TBD vs. TBD
7:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Friday, Jan. 10

 

College Football Playoff – Semifinal (Cotton Bowl)

TBD vs. TBD
7:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Monday, Jan. 20

 

College Football Playoff – National Championship

TBD vs. TBD
7:30 PM ET | ESPN

Championship Week in the books and the Heisman race has concluded, with the 2024 Heisman Trophy finalists to be announced tonight. These three players are likely to be on most ballots as the top three—with heavy debate over the star who should take home the prestigious honor.

 

1. Ashton Jeanty | Boise State RB | Junior | Last week: 1

The odds shifted slightly toward Ashton Jeanty, giving him somewhat of a realistic shot to win (given how accurate Vegas can be), after he went off again for 209 rushing yards and yet another long touchdown run in Boise State’s Mountain West Championship win against UNLV. Jeanty is at an insane 2,497 rushing yards, which is the second-most in college football history behind Barry Sanders’ all-time mark when not including bowl yards. It’s not like Jeanty was doing this against scrubs, and it must be noted that he had 25 carries for 192 yards and three touchdowns in a three-point loss to the No. 1 team in the country and only unbeaten (Oregon). The dynamic running back has been a major difference-maker on a team that’s earned a conference title and College Football Playoff berth that includes a first-round bye.

 

Season stats:

344 CAR | 2,497 RUSH YDS | 29 RUSH TD | 7.3 AVG

20 REC | 116 REC YDS | 1 REC TD | 5.8 AVG

 

2. Travis Hunter | Colorado WR/CB | Junior | Last week: 2

While stat-sheet stuffer is a term that can be aptly applied to two-way sensation Travis Hunter, do not be mistaken: The Colorado star is much more than just someone that’s “out there” on both sides of the ball. The Heisman debate has gotten pretty ridiculous, as Hunter is undoubtedly a star-level player on both offense and defense and would be a worthy Heisman winner for his skill, his performance, and what he stands for as a leader for the Buffaloes.

 

Season stats:

92 REC | 1,152 REC YDS | 14 REC TD | 12.5 AVG

2 CAR | 5 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD | 2.5 AVG

32 TKL | 1 TFL | 1 FF | 4 INT | 11 PD

 

3. Dillon Gabriel | Oregon QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 3

300 total yards and four touchdowns tosses in a Big Ten title game for Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel likely secured him as a top-three choice on just about every Heisman ballot. Gabriel seamlessly took the reins with the Ducks after transferring from Oklahoma, putting up 35 total touchdowns while operating a loaded and deadly offense. There are a few honorable mentions below, but it would be a stunner if Gabriel was not invited to New York as a Heisman finalist.

 

Season stats:

73.2% | 3,558 PASS YDS | 28 PASS TD | 6 INT

63 CAR | 192 RUSH YDS | 7 RUSH TD | 3.0 AVG

 

Honorable Mention

Alabama QB Jalen Milroe

Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders

Miami QB Cam Ward

Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo

The final College Football Playoff rankings will be revealed on Sunday after conference champions are crowned by Saturday night.

 

1. Oregon Ducks (12-0) | Last week: 1

Oregon is trying to go “wire-to-wire” in the No. 1 spot, and the Big Ten Championship will be a battle versus Penn State rather than a rematch versus Ohio State. Still, the Ducks will try to have the offensive balance they had in the October win over the Buckeyes, and it was great to see wide receiver Tez Johnson back last week.

 

2. Texas Longhorns (11-1) | Last week: 3 (+1)

Quinn Ewers wasn’t at his best on Saturday night in a 17-7 win over Texas A&M, but it was a difficult road environment—and Texas is rarely positioned in that they can bring in a top-tier quarterback like Arch Manning to change things up. If the offensive line doesn’t show better against Georgia than they did in the first meeting, Manning could see early action in the SEC Championship Game.

 

3. Penn State Nittany Lions (11-1) | Last week: 4 (+1)

Penn State probably didn’t expect to be playing for a conference title this weekend, but they now have a chance to potentially earn the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff with a win. Similar to Oregon, the Nittany Lions have a very balanced offense that includes multiple impact players, so Saturday should be a tremendous game.

 

4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1) | Last week: 5 (+1)

The argument to have Notre Dame lower than this has some merit considering their loss to Northern Illinois earlier this season, and they won’t be threatened by a loss this week as an independent. Looking ahead, defensive end RJ Oben emerging in the playoffs would be huge for the Fighting Irish.

 

5. Georgia Bulldogs (10-2) | Last week: 6 (+1)

Again, the Bulldogs dominated the first matchup against Texas despite three interceptions from Carson Beck—and star pass rusher Jalon Walker (3.0 sacks) led the way up front on defense. We’ll see if Georgia is drained a bit from the eight-overtime thriller against Georgia Tech last Friday night, though.

 

6. Tennessee Volunteers (10-2) | Last week: 7 (+1)

Tennessee fell behind 17-7 in the first quarter last week against Vanderbilt, but Nico Iamaleava tossed four touchdowns in an eventual 36-23 victory to make a final playoff statement. Also, the defense limited quarterback Diego Pavia to 149 total yards in the win, and they’re positioned to earn an at-large bid.

 

7. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2) | Last week: 2 (-5)

The placement of Ohio State by the committee in tonight’s rankings will be intriguing, but they have a controversial one-point loss to Oregon (on the road) and the 13-10 defeat against Michigan (who has their number right now) on their resume. Perhaps the latest loss to the Wolverines will have the Buckeyes more committed to running the ball moving forward.

 

8. Indiana Hoosiers (11-1) | Last week: 9 (+1)

Some will make the case that Indiana should move down the rankings after Ohio State lost their second game, but the Hoosiers bounced back as well as anyone could have hoped—handling a 1-11 Purdue team, 66-0; and Kurtis Rourke threw for 349 yards and six touchdowns with much more time than he had against the Buckeyes.

 

9. Boise State Broncos (11-1) | Last week: 10 (+1)

Boise State has a legitimate chance to earn a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff depending on how things play out this weekend—but the first order of business is obviously beating UNLV on Friday night. Superstar running back Ashton Jeanty handled 37 touches last week and will surely be fed again with their season on the line.

 

10. SMU Mustangs (11-1) | Last week: NR

The Mustangs beating Clemson in the ACC Championship Game might be enough to have them leap Boise State and get a bye—but the debate will really get crazy if SMU loses a close game to create a larger grouping among the non-conference champions. Either way, the 12-team playoff only seems to have created more chaos in college football.

Ashton Jeanty or Travis Hunter at the top of the Heisman race ahead of conference championship weekend?

 

1. Ashton Jeanty | Boise State RB | Junior | Last week: 1

The level of play for Boise State star Ashton Jeanty has not declined despite handling massive workloads all year. He’s coming off a 37-carry, 226-yard, one-touchdown performance in a 34-18 win over Oregon State, with the Broncos now set to face UNLV in the Mountain West Championship this Friday night—so he has one more opportunity to impress the voters.

 

Season stats:

312 CAR | 2,288 RUSH YDS | 28 RUSH TD | 7.3 AVG

18 REC | 102 REC YDS | 1 REC TD | 5.7 AVG

 

2. Travis Hunter | Colorado WR/CB | Junior | Last week: 2

However, Travis Hunter has become the overwhelming Heisman favorite after three touchdown catches and an interception in a blowout victory over Oklahoma State—and that seems unlikely to change with one game left for Jeanty. While it should arguably remain open, Hunter certainly played like the Heisman all year with 15 touchdowns on offense and top-tier play (including four interceptions, 11 pass deflections, and a clutch forced fumble) on defense.

 

Season stats:

92 REC | 1,152 REC YDS | 14 REC TD | 12.5 AVG

2 CAR | 5 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD | 2.5 AVG

32 TKL | 1 TFL | 1 FF | 4 INT | 11 PD

 

3. Dillon Gabriel | Oregon QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 4 (+1)

The question after what should be a clear top two is what happens with the Heisman finalists. Oregon is the only unbeaten team in the nation, and Dillon Gabriel has been the steady hand leading the way throughout the season. He’s probably safe to make it to New York and would undoubtedly lock it up if the Ducks win the Big Ten this weekend.

 

Season stats:

73.5% | 3,275 PASS YDS | 24 PASS TD | 6 INT

57 CAR | 175 RUSH YDS | 7 RUSH TD | 3.1 AVG

 

4. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Junior (RS) | Last week: 5 (+1)

The next two spots in particular can be flipped, and you can include Miami quarterback Cam Ward in the mix, too. But Jalen Milroe again ran for three touchdowns in the Iron Bowl, putting Alabama in position for a potential College Football Playoff berth.

 

Season stats:

65.9% | 2,652 PASS YDS | 15 PASS TD | 10 INT

152 CAR | 719 RUSH YDS | 20 RUSH TD | 4.7 AVG

 

5. Shedeur Sanders | Colorado QB | Senior | Last week: NR

Shedeur Sanders went out in Boulder the right way, throwing for 438 yards and five touchdowns while making a very compelling case to be a Heisman finalist. Shedeur totaled 39 touchdowns this season, and the Buffaloes surpassed the low outside expectations of many. Sanders was a huge part of that.

 

Season stats:

74.2% | 3,926 PASS YDS | 35 PASS TD | 8 INT

91 CAR | -16 RUSH YDS | 4 RUSH TD | -0.2 AVG

SEC upsets headline a crazy week of college football action, and there is one more chance to make a statement (and/or avoid defeat) in the regular season.

 

1. Oregon Ducks (11-0) | Last week: 1

Oregon comes off the bye and will face Washington in what is essentially a win-and-in game this weekend. If they take care of business, they’ll enter the Big Ten Championship Game at 12-0; but an upset to the Huskies could add to the add chaos.

 

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1) | Last week: 2

Special teams and defense led the way for the Buckeyes in a 38-15 win over the Hoosiers, and star safety Caleb Downs’ 79-yard punt return touchdown opened things up in the second quarter. Now, they’ll need to snap a three-game losing streak to Michigan—and the Wolverines are suddenly rolling.

 

3. Texas Longhorns (10-1) | Last week: 3

Kentucky gave the Longhorns some trouble on Saturday night despite an eventual 31-14 win, but the continued emphasis on the running game paid off with Quintrevion Wisner (26 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown) and Jaydon Blue (15 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown) leading the victory. The regular season ends in a danger spot versus a Texas A&M squad coming off an upset loss.

 

4. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-1) | Last week: 5 (+1)

Minnesota made it far too close for comfort, but the strong playoff case for Penn State benefitted in a big way over the weekend with a win combined with a bunch of upsets behind them. If the Nittany Lions take care of business versus Maryland on Saturday, we’ll see them in the College Football Playoff.

 

5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1) | Last week: 6 (+1)

The 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois in September obviously remains a blemish on the resume, but Notre Dame is in a similar spot to Penn State in that they just need to take care of business this weekend. However, the trip to take on USC at the Coliseum won’t be easy.

 

6. Georgia Bulldogs (9-2) | Last week: 9 (+3)

Quarterback Carson Beck carried the momentum of the win over Tennessee into an eventual 59-21 win over UMass—and freshman running back Nate Frazier also went off with 21 carries for 136 yards and three touchdowns. The string of SEC upsets allowed the Bulldogs to suddenly sneak into the conference title game, and they’ll face the winner of Texas-Texas A&M.

 

7. Tennessee Volunteers (9-2) | Last week: 10 (+3)

Tennessee was probably the winner of the weekend with the logjam in the SEC sorting itself out—but an upset-seeking Vanderbilt team will give them a fight to conclude the regular season. We’d expect a fresher Dylan Sampson for that matchup after just 11 carries versus UTEP.

 

8. Miami Hurricanes (10-1) | Last week: NR

Quarterback Cam Ward didn’t have his most prolific game in the 42-14 win over Wake Forest, but the outing showed Miami has a very well-rounded roster. Assuming the Hurricanes can take care of business versus Syracuse, a battle against SMU awaits in the ACC Championship Game.

 

9. Indiana Hoosiers (10-1) | Last week: 4 (-5)

The placement of Indiana by the committee will be very interesting to track over the next two weeks, but they are another team that benefitted from upsets on Saturday night. Unfortunately, pass protection couldn’t hold up in the loss to Ohio State, and the Hoosiers will need to figure that out.

 

10. Boise State Broncos (10-1) | Last week: NR

Boise State needed a late touchdown to defeat Wyoming, but superstar runner Ashton Jeanty stayed hot with 19 carries for 169 yards and a touchdown. Look for the Broncos to play through Jeanty for a Black Friday showdown against Oregon State.

The debate between Ashton Jeanty and Travis Hunter atop the Heisman race is getting heated, but the odds continue to shift heavily in one direction.

 

1. Ashton Jeanty | Boise State RB | Junior | Last week: 1

Ashton Jeanty promptly broke another long touchdown run on his way to 169 rushing yards in Boise State’s 17-13 win at Wyoming, pushing the Broncos to 10-1. The star running back already hit the 2,000 rushing yardage mark on the year, and he’d have a strong case for the Heisman if his season ended today—but he has two more games to continue making his case, which should be a better one than the oddsmakers are currently giving him.

 

Season stats:

275 CAR | 2,062 RUSH YDS | 27 RUSH TD | 7.5 AVG

18 REC | 102 REC YDS | 1 REC TD | 5.7 AVG

 

2. Travis Hunter | Colorado WR/CB | Junior | Last week: 3 (+1)

The odds continue to favor Colorado superstar Travis Hunter, who became an even heavier favorite after catching two touchdowns in the Buffaloes’ loss at Kansas on Saturday evening. Hunter hit 1,000 yards receiving and is up to 12 touchdowns while paired with his top-tier defense on the other side of the ball.

 

Season stats:

82 REC | 1,036 REC YDS | 11 REC TD | 12.6 AVG

2 CAR | 5 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD | 2.5 AVG

31 TKL | 1 TFL | 1 FF | 3 INT | 9 PD

 

3. Cam Ward | Miami QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 4 (+1)

As has been the case at minimum in every game this season, Cam Ward was solid in Miami’s blowout win over Wake Forest. He totaled three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) while throwing for 280 yards with one interception. With Syracuse up this Saturday, the Heisman, ACC, and College Football Playoff hopes all remain alive for Ward.

 

Season stats:

67.2% | 3,774 PASS YDS | 34 PASS TD | 7 INT

53 CAR | 177 RUSH YDS | 4 RUSH TD | 3.3 AVG

 

4. Dillon Gabriel | Oregon QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 5 (+1)

Oregon had off last week, but Dillon Gabriel rises one spot in the Heisman watch. He faces Washington this weekend, and a win would give him a prime opportunity to make a stellar final case for the Heisman as a leader of an unbeaten team in the Big Ten Championship Game.

 

Season stats:

73.8% | 3,066 PASS YDS | 22 PASS TD | 6 INT

54 CAR | 155 RUSH YDS | 6 RUSH TD | 2.9 AVG

 

5. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Junior (RS) | Last week: 2 (-3)

No doubt, the stunning blowout loss at Oklahoma which included three interceptions by Jalen Milroe does major harm to the star quarterback’s Heisman candidacy—though his excellent year as a dual threat with 32 total touchdowns so far should not be forgotten. The question now is probably whether Milroe gets an invite to New York as a finalist or not.

 

Season stats:

65.0% | 2,396 PASS YDS | 15 PASS TD | 9 INT

135 CAR | 615 RUSH YDS | 17 RUSH TD | 4.6 AVG

The Big Ten and SEC dominate the college football power rankings as the playoff race heats up with two weeks left in the regular season.

 

1. Oregon Ducks (11-0) | Last week: 1

Oregon was given a major scare last week in Wisconsin, but they were able to escape with a 16-13 win to remain atop the rankings. Debate would have really heated up if the Ducks fell, and Dan Lanning’s squad should be focused in a couple of weeks when Washington visits Eugene.

 

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (9-1) | Last week: 2

The Buckeyes turned it on with four consecutive touchdown drives after a slow start against Northwestern, and this weekend will be a massive battle versus undefeated Indiana. Ohio State getting pressure on quarterback Kurtis Rourke with JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer off the edge is crucial.

 

3. Texas Longhorns (9-1) | Last week: 3

Texas went back to Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner as their main options in the backfield last week, and Steve Sarkisian will hope the balance pays dividends over the final two weeks. The Longhorns just can’t look ahead to their trip to College Station with Kentucky proving they can play spoiler by upsetting Ole Miss and nearly beating Georgia this year.

 

4. Indiana Hoosiers (10-0) | Last week: 5 (+1)

As stated last week and alluded to previously, pass protection is key for Indiana to pull off a road win over Ohio State—and the Hoosiers should benefit from Michigan giving them a battle two weeks ago (their only game decided by single-digits this season). On the other side of the ball, Indiana needs to find a way to generate pressure after not recording a sack versus the Wolverines.

 

5. Penn State Nittany Lions (9-1) | Last week: 6 (+1)

Penn State has rolled with a 35-6 win over Washington and a 49-10 win over Purdue since losing to the Buckeyes—and James Franklin must like where they’re at with the 12-team playoff. The Nittany Lions need to be wary of a battle-tested Minnesota team coming off a bye week, though.

 

6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-1) | Last week: 7 (+1)

Notre Dame cooled off a then-undefeated Navy to close out October—but 9-0 Army is arguably the bigger test. Stopping Jeremiyah Love and the running game should be the priority for the Black Knights to upset the Fighting Irish and make a serious case for the College Football Playoff.

 

7. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-2) | Last week: 9 (+2)

The stacking of the two-loss SEC teams might be the most controversial topic over the next couple of weeks, but Alabama—with losses to Tennessee and Vanderbilt and wins over Georgia and South Carolina—is who we believe to be the best of the bunch. Of course, having perhaps the best player in college football (Jalen Milroe) bolsters that belief.

 

8. Ole Miss Rebels (8-2) | Last week: 10 (+2)

A 28-10 win over Georgia before the bye has Ole Miss staying right behind the Crimson Tide—and their losses have each come by three points versus Kentucky and LSU. This week, the Rebels will be taking on a determined Florida team that is fresh off an upset win over LSU.

 

9. Georgia Bulldogs (8-2) | Last week: NR

Things appeared bleak for the Bulldogs after going down 10-0 versus Tennessee last Saturday night, but quarterback Carson Beck flipped a switch and didn’t look back—throwing for 347 yards and two touchdowns (with zero interceptions) in the eventual 31-17 win. Georgia will stay at home for matchups versus UMass and Georgia Tech to finish off the month.

 

10. Tennessee Volunteers (8-2) | Last week: 4 (-6)

Tennessee probably didn’t run the ball enough with Dylan Sampson (19 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown) in the loss to Georgia, and the defense allowed 20+ points for the first time all year. Unfortunately for them, star defender James Pearce Jr. couldn’t get to Carson Beck despite heating up with 5.0 sacks over the previous five games.

Is this becoming a three-man race for the Heisman with a few weeks to go? Or can others in the mix make a move in crunch time?

 

1. Ashton Jeanty | Boise State RB | Junior | Last week: 1

Despite the oddsmakers saying otherwise, Ashton Jeanty remains in the No. 1 spot in this Heisman watch. The superstar runner toted the rock 32 times for 159 yards and three touchdowns to help Boise State separate from San Diego State. He’s performed every week, and he’s at 2,001 total yards on the season for a 9-1 team.

 

Season stats:

256 CAR | 1,893 RUSH YDS | 26 RUSH TD | 7.4 AVG

17 REC | 98 REC YDS | 1 REC TD | 5.8 AVG

 

2. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Junior (RS) | Last week: 2

Jalen Milroe should be getting a lot more Heisman buzz. He became the fifth player in SEC history to hit 15 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing touchdowns in a season, bringing him up to 32 touchdowns though ten games—and potentially on path for another SEC Championship if they win the next two games (with some strength-of-schedule things going their way) and/or the College Football Playoff.

 

Season stats:

67.5% | 2,232 PASS YDS | 15 PASS TD | 6 INT

120 CAR | 608 RUSH YDS | 17 RUSH TD | 5.1 AVG

 

3. Travis Hunter | Colorado WR/CB | Junior | Last week: 4 (+1)

As awesome as Travis Hunter is, it’s somewhat surprising that he’s shot up to become the heavy favorite in the Heisman Trophy race. That said, he’s forming a clear top three as we approach the end of the regular season. The two-way star had a nice interception off a deflected pass down the field, made a tremendous highlight grab, and ran for his first touchdown of the year in Colorado’s latest victory. He did give up a deep ball touchdown at corner versus Utah, but it happens—and sometimes the quarterback just makes a great throw in tight coverage.

 

Season stats:

74 REC | 911 REC YDS | 9 REC TD | 12.3 AVG

2 CAR | 5 YDS | 1 RUSH TD | 2.5 AVG

24 TKL | 1 TFL | 1 FF | 3 INT | 8 PD

 

4. Cam Ward | Miami QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 5 (+1)

Cam Ward had off last week after losing their first game of the season, and he and the Hurricanes are likely to come out firing in their return to action versus Wake Forest this Saturday at noon.

 

Season stats:

66.8% | 3,494 PASS YDS | 32 PASS TD | 6 INT

50 CAR | 182 RUSH YDS | 3 TD | 3.6 AVG

 

5. Dillon Gabriel | Oregon QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 3 (-2)

Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders are among the players that should remain in the mix for a trip to New York, but Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel stays in the top five despite a subpar outing in a 16-13 win at Wisconsin. He’ll have one more opportunity during the regular season when the Ducks host Washington ahead of the Big Ten title game.

 

Season stats:

73.8% | 3,066 PASS YDS | 22 PASS TD | 6 INT

54 CAR | 155 RUSH YDS | 6 RUSH TD | 2.9 AVG

Miami lost their first game of the season and Georgia falls from the top 10 in our updated college football power rankings.

 

1. Oregon Ducks (10-0) | Last week: 1

Oregon cruised to a 38-19 win over Maryland last week, and quarterback Dillon Gabriel broke the NCAA record for total carer touchdowns (179) in the process. If they can avoid a slip up against Wisconsin and Washington to finish off November, the Ducks should lock up a playoff berth no matter what happens in the Big Ten Championship Game.

 

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-1) | Last week: 2

The Buckeyes dominated defensively in a 45-0 shutout win over an overmatched Purdue team on Saturday, and Will Howard was extremely efficient (21/26 for 260 yards and three touchdowns). After taking on Northwestern this weekend, a likely top-five battle between Ohio State and Indiana will headline November 23 action.

 

3. Texas Longhorns (8-1) | Last week: 4 (+1)

Texas had no problems with Florida coming out of a bye week, and calls to get the running backs more involved paid off as Jaydon Blue went for 60+ yards both on the ground and through the air while freshman Jerrick Gibson was back to being a factor with 16 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown. The Longhorns finish off the regular season with matchups against Arkansas, Kentucky, and Texas A&M.

 

4. Tennessee Volunteers (8-1) | Last week: 6 (+2)

Defense continues to be the story for Tennessee, and now they will try to keep yet another opponent under 20 points for a trip to Athens versus a struggling Georgia offense. On the other side of the ball, running back Dylan Sampson (30 carries for 149 yards and one touchdown last week) trying to set the tone versus a determined defense will be an entertaining battle.

 

5. Indiana Hoosiers (10-0) | Last week: 7 (+2)

Indiana survived versus Michigan with a 20-15 victory on Saturday, and they’ll get a chance to recharge with a bye before the massive showdown against Ohio State in a couple of weeks. Pass protection will need to be better to keep quarterback Kurtis Rourke upright in a hostile road environment.

 

6. Penn State Nittany Lions (8-1) | Last week: 8 (+2)

Penn State rebounded nicely from their loss against Ohio State by jumping out to a 28-0 halftime lead against Washington—and the Nittany Lions are probably lamenting the loss to the Buckeyes not being played at night. Still, their path to a playoff spot appears clear if they can take care of business versus Purdue, Minnesota, and Maryland to close out the regular season.

 

7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-1) | Last week: 9 (+2)

This is around the area where the two-loss teams like Alabama can make a case for moving up further, but Notre Dame has a road win over Texas A&M on their resume, and they just destroyed Florida State, 52-3. A defensive line led by Rylie Mills (3.0 sacks last week) gives the Fighting Irish a chance to beat anyone.

 

8. BYU Cougars (9-0) | Last week: 10 (+2)

BYU defeated Utah with a field goal in the final seconds to remain undefeated, and they will be tested this weekend versus a Kansas squad that just knocked off Iowa State thanks to a well-rounded offensive attack powered by quarterback Jalon Daniels (365 total yards and three total touchdowns) and running back Devin Neal (20 touches for 138 yards and two touchdowns). The Pac-12 is wide open, but BYU is at the top.

 

9. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-2) | Last week: NR

Jalen Milroe showed he’s arguably the best quarterback in college football by taking over in Death Valley on Saturday night—leading Alabama to a 42-13 win against LSU. Opponents will not want to face the Crimson Tide if they can get into the College Football Playoff.

 

10. Ole Miss Rebels (8-2) | Last week: NR

Ole Miss deserves a ton of credit for overcoming an interception by Jaxson Dart on the first possession that led to a 7-0 deficit, and backup Austin Simmons leading a touchdown drive to make it 7-7 before Dart returned from an ankle injury shouldn’t go overlooked. The losses for Lane Kiffin’s squad this year have been 20-17 versus Kentucky and 29-26 versus LSU (in overtime).

While Ashton Jeanty continues to pace the group, the Heisman race is really heating up in the middle of November.

 

1. Ashton Jeanty | Boise State RB | Junior | Last week: 1

Fresh of his fourth 200-yard rushing game of the season while leading Boise State to another win, Ashton Jeanty remains at the top spot in the Heisman watch. Jeanty has done his part every single time he steps on the field, and the Broncos’ one loss was by three points versus the current No. 1 team in the country (Oregon) on the road.

 

Season stats:

224 CAR | 1,734 RUSH YDS | 23 RUSH TD | 7.7 AVG

16 REC | 93 REC YDS | 1 REC TD | 5.8 AVG

 

2. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Junior (RS) | Last week: 5 (+3)

After he ran for four touchdowns on them last year, you know the LSU defense was gearing up to slow down Jalen Milroe on the ground on Saturday night. It didn’t matter, as the dynamic quarterback had a repeat performance, rushing 12 times for 185 yards and four touchdowns to blow out the Tigers at Death Valley. Milroe also took what the defense gave him as a passer, and he has the Tide in playoff position.

 

Season stats:

67.4% | 2,046 PASS YDS | 13 PASS TD | 6 INT

114 CAR | 565 RUSH YDS | 16 RUSH TD | 5.0 AVG

 

3. Dillon Gabriel | Oregon QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 3

A case can be made for Dillon Gabriel at No. 1 with the way he’s commanding the Ducks offense despite the injuries at wide receiver. He went 23/34 for 183 yards and three touchdowns in a 39-18 win versus Maryland, setting the all-time mark in career total touchdowns by an FBS player in the process.

 

Season stats:

74.1% | 2,848 PASS YDS | 22 PASS TD | 5 INT

43 CAR | 148 RUSH YDS | 6 RUSH TD | 3.4 AVG

 

4. Travis Hunter | Colorado WR/CB | Junior | Last week: 4

Travis Hunter caught nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown—taking a screen pass to the house while showing off his effortless athleticism in evading would-be tacklers—as Colorado improved to 7-2. Hunter didn’t make a mark defensively in the scorebook, but his ability to consistently play 100 snaps in games is extraordinary.

 

Season stats:

66 REC | 856 REC YDS | 9 REC TD | 12.4 AVG

21 TKL | 1 TFL | 1 FF | 2 INT | 7 PD

 

5. Cam Ward | Miami QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 2 (-3)

This top five (and others, such as Shedeur Sanders) could vary in order, but Cam Ward drops to No. 5 after Miami’s first loss of the year to Georgia Tech. Ward delivered a beautiful deep ball to Xavier Restrepo getting the Hurricanes back in the game, but the carefree nature of his play might have finally hurt him with the costly strip sack at the end of the game. The Miami star remains squarely in the Heisman picture, though.

 

Season stats:

66.8% | 3,494 PASS YDS | 32 PASS TD | 6 INT

50 CAR | 182 RUSH YDS | 3 TD | 3.6 AVG

The first College Football Playoff rankings of the season release tonight, and our updated power rankings include rising unbeatens.

 

1. Oregon Ducks (9-0) | Last week: 1

A shoulder injury to star wide receiver Tez Johnson is a huge blow to the Ducks if it leads to a long-term absence, but they were powered by four rushing touchdowns in the 38-17 win over Michigan—and Traeshon Holden stepped up with six receptions for 149 yards. If Oregon can avoid an upset versus Maryland, Wisconsin, and Washington this month, they’ll be the clear No. 1 team in the nation ahead of conference championship week.

 

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-1) | Last week: 3 (+1)

Ohio State was dominant on defense in the road win over Penn State, and the rushing attack was able to ice the game following a goal-line stand as the makeshift offensive line gelled late. The only loss for the Buckeyes came in Eugene against No. 1-ranked Oregon for what was a controversial finish.

 

3. Georgia Bulldogs (7-1) | Last week: 2 (-1)

Carson Beck struggling (eight interceptions over the past three games) has Georgia looking very vulnerable, and he’ll need to get on track in a hurry with Ole Miss and Tennessee up next on the schedule. Defensively, we’ll see what Kirby Smart has in store for Lane Kiffin’s offense after Jaxson Dart threw for 515 yards and six touchdowns last week.

 

4. Texas Longhorns (7-1) | Last week: 4

Texas is coming off a bye week to recharge, and they’ll be challenged with four SEC games this month (vs. Florida, at Arkansas, vs. Kentucky, at Texas A&M); we’d like to see more of a focus on playing through the running backs to make things easier on Quinn Ewers.

 

5. Miami Hurricanes (9-0) | Last week: 6 (+1)

Duke gave the Hurricanes a battle on Saturday afternoon, but Cam Ward ended up being too much to handle as he threw for five touchdowns for the second time this season. Considering they have often needed some late magic to pull out a win, Miami can’t overlook a Georgia Tech team that is 3-0 at home this weekend.

 

6. Tennessee Volunteers (7-1) | Last week: 7 (+1)

Dylan Sampson continued a very underrated season with 27 carries for 142 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Kentucky, and it was yet another game where the Volunteers held their opponent to fewer than 20 points—which has been the case all year. After hosting Mississippi State on Saturday night, Tennessee will travel to Athens for a monster showdown versus Georgia.

 

7. Indiana Hoosiers (9-0) | Last week: 9 (+2)

Indiana proved they could play from behind with a 47-10 win after trailing 10-0 at the end of the first quarter versus Michigan State, and Kurtis Rourke returned from thumb surgery to throw for 263 yards and four touchdowns. The Hoosiers being eight-point favorites versus the defending champion Michigan Wolverines speaks to the job Curt Cignetti has done.

 

8. Penn State Nittany Lions (7-1) | Last week: 5 (-3)

The placement of Penn State in the initial CFP rankings will be intriguing, but they remain in very good shape for a playoff spot following the 20-13 loss to Ohio State. The question will continue to be if James Franklin can beat top competition, and there might not be a chance to prove it with Minnesota (6-3) being the only potential ranked opponent the rest of the way.

 

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-1) | Last week: 10 (+1)

Notre Dame benefitted from Clemson and Texas A&M both falling during the bye week, and the biggest test left for them will be a currently undefeated Army coming to South Bend on November 23.

 

10. BYU Cougars (8-0) | Last week: NR

BYU is also in a better spot coming out of the bye, as they are the final unbeaten in the Big 12 after Iowa State’s loss to Texas Tech. In a wide-open conference, the Cougars have a relatively easy schedule—but this weekend won’t be easy against a proud Utah team that has lost four games in a row.

Two of the top five were off from action, and there are no changes in the order to our Heisman watch this week.

 

1. Ashton Jeanty | Boise State RB | Junior | Last week: 1

Ashton Jeanty handled 32 touches for 180 total yards and two rushing touchdowns as Boise State blew out San Diego State on Friday night, pushing the Broncos to 7-1. Jeanty’s numbers—including hitting 1,500 rushing yards and the 20-touchdowm mark—would be garner Heisman finalist consideration for a full season, and he’s only played eight games so far.

 

Season stats:

190 CAR | 1,525 RUSH YDS | 20 RUSH TD | 8.0 AVG

14 REC | 81 REC YDS | 1 REC TD | 5.8 AVG

 

2. Cam Ward | Miami QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 2

Again doing his damage through the air, Cam Ward threw for 400 yards and five touchdowns (one interception) in Miami’s 53-31 win over Duke. Ward and the Hurricanes really took off in the second half, with 36 points after being down at halftime.

 

Season stats:

67.1% | 3,146 PASS YDS | 29 PASS TD | 6 INT

45 CAR | 187 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 4.2 AVG

 

3. Dillon Gabriel | Oregon QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 3

With Oregon basically a lock to be ranked as the No. 1 team in the initial College Football Playoff rankings releasing tomorrow night, we’ll see if that gives Dillon Gabriel a boost as a leader of the top-ranked team in the nation. He’s coming off another solid outing versus Michigan, with 294 passing yards and 23 rushing yards, with a touchdown each through the air and on the ground.

 

Season stats:

74.8% | 2,665 PASS YDS | 19 PASS TD | 5 INT

39 CAR | 120 RUSH YDS | 6 RUSH TD | 3.1 AVG

 

4. Travis Hunter | Colorado WR/CB | Junior | Last week: 4

Colorado had a bye week, but Travis Hunter made an appearance on Big Noon Kickoffand shared that he watches at least 10 hours of film per week on his own. He’s the total package and will be fun to watch throughout October for a Colorado squad in the CFP mix.

 

Season stats:

60 REC | 757 REC YDS | 8 REC TD | 12.6 AVG

21 TKL | 1 TFL | 1 FF | 2 INT | 7 PD

 

5. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Junior (RS) | Last week: 5

It might take some slip-ups in front of him, but Jalen Milroe’s realistic Heisman candidacy might naturally hinge on what happens this Saturday night at LSU. Both he and the Tigers defense had a week off to prepare for the matchup.

 

Season stats:

67.5% | 1,937 PASS YDS | 13 PASS TD | 6 INT

102 CAR | 380 RUSH YDS | 12 RUSH TD | 3.7 AVG

We are just a week away from the first College Football Playoff rankings of 2024. Where do teams stand for the final power rankings of October.

 

1. Oregon Ducks (8-0) | Last week: 1

Being the No. 1 team in the nation was not too heavy of a burden for the Ducks in their first test, with an overwhelming 35-3 first half versus No. 20 Illinois. Oregon probably could have made it a bit worse than their eventual 38-9 margin of victory during which they racked up 527 yards of offense compared to the Fighting Illini’s 293.

 

2. Georgia Bulldogs (6-1) | Last week: 2

With five games left on their regular season schedule, Georgia is well rested for three straight SEC matchups—vs. Florida, at Ole Miss, and vs. Tennessee. Kirby Smart had his guys locked in at Texas a couple of Saturdays ago, and you can expect that intensity to continue.

 

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1) | Last week: 3

Nebraska made it a fight in Columbus, but Ohio State survived despite giving up the lead in the fourth quarter and going just 1/10 on third downs on the afternoon. Ryan Day and Chip Kelly will certainly want to get the run game on track, setting up more favorable positions for the offense after Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson combined for just 54 rushing yards on 20 carries last week.

 

4. Texas Longhorns (7-1) | Last week: 4

Vanderbilt would not go away, with the Longhorns needing to recover an onside kick to secure the road SEC victory. Receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. starred for Texas, catching six passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns from Quinn Ewers, who completed 18 consecutive passes in the win.

 

5. Penn State Nittany Lions (7-0) | Last week: 5

Jaylen Reed’s pick-six sparked a dominant final stretch for Penn State to get a road win against Wisconsin, and backup quarterback Beau Pribula did an outstanding job both through the air and on the ground in relief of Drew Allar. Ahead of a highly anticipated showdown with Ohio State, Allar’s health will be a big storyline to track.

 

6. Miami Hurricanes (8-0) | Last week: 6

A 36-14 win versus Florida State says a lot about where the one-win Seminoles are this season—but it’s also a phenomenal sign for Miami to beat a longtime rival the way they did. Running back Damien Martinez led the way with 15 carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns, and Heisman hopeful quarterback Cam Ward caught a touchdown late.

 

7. Tennessee Volunteers (6-1) | Last week: 7

The Vols had the week off to prepare for a Kentucky squad that’s 3-5 and has historically been dominated by Tennessee in the series. The Wildcats turned two of the past three matchups into shootout losses, but the last matchup in Knoxville went very well for the Vols (44-6).

 

8. Clemson Tigers (6-1) | Last week: 8

November will be a challenge for Clemson, with matchups against Louisville (5-3), Virginia Tech (5-3), and Pittsburgh (7-0) ending their regular season conference slate. Following a bye, the Tigers get to begin the stretch at home when they host the Cardinals.

 

9. Indiana Hoosiers (8-0) | Last week: 10 (+1)

Indiana scored a touchdown in each quarter of their 31-17 win against Washington. They are the first team in two decades to not trail in any of their first eight games in a season. If the Hoosiers win this Saturday at East Lansing, they better be in the top ten of the initial College Football Playoff rankings.

 

10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-1) | Last week: NR

A few teams could have been included in the latest top ten, including Texas A&M after defeating LSU behind a tremendous spark from redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed. But Notre Dame is on a six-game winning streak, owns a win over A&M, and had a very convincing victory at Navy—51-14, while forcing six turnovers (Navy had just two turnovers entering the game).

The top three remains the same while the No. 4 and No. 5 spots are flipped in our final Heisman rankings for October.

 

1. Ashton Jeanty | Boise State RB | Junior | Last week: 1

It took a massive workload of 33 carries, but Ashton Jeanty put up 128 rushing yards including the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter of Boise State’s big road win over UNLV. Not only does Jeanty’s Heisman push continue, but he’s a huge reason the Broncos have a path to the College Football Playoff.

 

Season stats:

159 CAR | 1,376 RUSH YDS | 18 RUSH TD | 8.7 AVG

12 REC | 50 REC YDS | 1 REC TD | 4.2 AVG

 

2. Cam Ward | Miami QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 2

Cam Ward didn’t have to do a ton through the air, going 22/35 for 208 yards with no touchdowns (and no interceptions) as Miami coasted against one-win rival Florida State. Ward did catch a touchdown on a trick play, though, smoothly adding another stat line late in the fourth quarter.

 

Season stats:

68.0% | 2,746 PASS YDS | 24 PASS TD | 5 INT

42 CAR | 186 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 4.4 AVG

1 REC | 7 REC YDS | 1 REC TD | 7.0 AVG

 

3. Dillon Gabriel | Oregon QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 3

Dillon Gabriel added another four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) as Oregon blew out Illinois, 38-9, in a ranked matchup in Eugene. Gabriel helped Tez Johnson hit over 100 receiving yards and connected with three other players for his three touchdown tosses.

 

Season stats:

76.2% | 2,371 PASS YDS | 18 PASS TD | 5 INT

36 CAR | 97 RUSH YDS | 5 RUSH TD | 2.7 AVG

 

4. Travis Hunter | Colorado WR/CB | Junior | Last week: 5 (+1)

As Colorado continues to fly past the preseason expectations of many in the media, Travis Hunter is obviously a critical part of it and had another monster game versus Cincinnati. The two-way star caught nine passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns while playing all but three snaps in the game.

 

Season stats:

60 REC | 757 REC YDS | 8 REC TD | 12.6 AVG

21 TKL | 1 TFL | 1 FF | 2 INT | 7 PD

 

5. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Junior (RS) | Last week: 4 (-1)

As was the case with Miami, Alabama dominated a conference opponent and didn’t need a ton through the air from their quarterback. But it was another solid outing for Jalen Milroe, who threw for 215 yards while adding 11 carries for 50 yards and a nifty touchdown on the ground. Of course, the Heisman is a one-season award, but Milroe became the first player in program history with 25+ passing touchdowns and 25+ rushing touchdowns.

 

Season stats:

67.5% | 1,937 PASS YDS | 13 PASS TD | 6 INT

102 CAR | 380 RUSH YDS | 12 RUSH TD | 3.7 AVG

Another exciting week of college football action shakes up the power rankings as teams climb and unbeatens fall.

 

1. Oregon Ducks (7-0) | Last week: 2 (+1)

Oregon already has a thrilling win over Ohio State to make them the clear top team in the nation right now, and a huge showdown versus No. 20 Illinois this weekend will be their final regular season matchup versus an opponent that is currently ranked. It’ll be interesting to see if wide receiver Traeshon Holden is back on the field after a team-imposed suspension last week following the spitting incident versus the Buckeyes that resulted in an ejection.

 

2. Georgia Bulldogs (6-1) | Last week: 5 (+3)

Georgia was locked in on Saturday night to knock Texas from the No. 1 spot in the rankings, and they could easily be undefeated right now if not for falling behind 28-0 versus Alabama last month. Kirby Smart’s squad has a bye to gear up for SEC showdowns against Florida, No. 18 Ole Miss, and No. 7 Tennessee to begin November.

 

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1) | Last week: 3

Expect an angry Ohio State team this Saturday after two weeks to reflect on the disappointing and controversial loss to Oregon—though Nebraska could have their own edge after being blown out by Indiana. If the Buckeyes get the win, all eyes will be on the likely top-five matchup versus Penn State on November 2.

 

4. Texas Longhorns (6-1) | Last week: 1 (-3)

We wouldn’t put any stock into unfounded rumors about star quarterback Quinn Ewers opting out of the rest of the season to prepare for the 2025 NFL Draft—and this weekend will be a great bounce-back opportunity versus the newly ranked Vanderbilt Commodores. Finding a way to get wide receiver Isaiah Bond the ball more down the field and/or in space (three receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown over the past two weeks) is key.

 

5. Penn State Nittany Lions (6-0) | Last week: 6 (+1)

The Nittany Lions were able to recharge with a bye following the draining overtime win over USC, but they can’t overlook Wisconsin ahead of the massive battle against Ohio State.

 

6. Miami Hurricanes (7-0) | Last week: 7 (+1)

Cam Ward has continued to light it up for the Hurricanes, and he took over in the 52-45 victory over Louisville with 319 yards and four touchdowns through the air. This week, Miami has a tremendous opportunity to regain the upper hand in their rivalry with Florida State (who is now 1-6, including 1-5 in ACC play).

 

7. Tennessee Volunteers (6-1) | Last week: 10 (+3)

Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava hasn’t been as sharp as he was to begin the season, but standout running back Dylan Sampson has led the way offensively—including 26 carries for 139 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Alabama. Also, the defense deserves a ton of credit for how they’ve played all season by holding every opponent below 20 points.

 

8. Clemson Tigers (6-1) | Last week: 8

Virginia was hanging with Clemson last week in the first half, but the Tigers exploded in the third quarter and never looked back with 539 total yards. Since the blowout loss to Georgia in the opener, Clemson has flown under the radar as a contender due with ideal balance and improved play from quarterback Cade Klubnik.

 

9. LSU Tigers (6-1) | Last week: 9

LSU is another squad that has been rolling since losing their first game, but a primetime matchup versus No. 14 Texas A&M at College Station will be their toughest test yet. After that, the Tigers have a bye before a highly anticipated game against a dangerous Alabama team that has already lost twice.

 

10. Indiana Hoosiers (7-0) | Last week: NR

The Hoosiers forced their way into the top ten after a dominant 56-7 win over Nebraska last weekend, and head coach Curt Cignetti has backed up his words when originally hired and asked about his plans for the program: “It’s pretty simple. I win. Google me.” But quarterback Kurtis Rourke is now out indefinitely with a thumb injury, which is huge news.

The top three in the current Heisman picture is arguably becoming clearer as November approaches.

 

1. Ashton Jeanty | Boise State RB | Junior | Last week: 1

Because Ashton Jeanty had the week off, now is a great time to note that the current Heisman favorite wasn’t even on the board according to the oddsmakers this preseason, then went to +7500 after the season opener. This week in a highly anticipated conference matchup with 6-1 UNLV, Jeanty can further strengthen his candidacy.

 

Season stats:

126 CAR | 1,248 RUSH YDS | 17 RUSH TD | 9.9 AVG

9 REC | 39 REC YDS | 1 REC TD | 4.3 AVG

 

2. Cam Ward | Miami QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 2

It’s surprising that Cam Ward still lags in the Heisman odds outside the top two. He has the Hurricanes at 7-0 after a shootout victory at Louisville, and he became the first quarterback in program history to throw for 300+ yards in seven consecutive games. Next up, Ward gets a taste of the rivalry with Florida State.

 

Season stats:

68.7% | 2,538 PASS YDS | 24 PASS TD | 5 INT

35 CAR | 190 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 5.4 AVG

 

3. Dillon Gabriel | Oregon QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 4 (+1)

Oregon handled Purdue in their 35-0 win on Friday night, and Dillon Gabriel was an efficient 21/25 for 290 yards and two touchdowns (one interception). This Saturday afternoon, Gabriel will take on an Illinois squad that’s only lost to Penn State this season.

 

Season stats:

77.0% | 2,098 PASS YDS | 15 PASS TD | 4 INT

33 CAR | 92 RUSH YDS | 4 RUSH TD | 2.8 AVG

 

4. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Junior (RS) | Last week: 3 (-1)

Jalen Milroe obviously didn’t have his best game, including an interception when trying to make something happen on a potential game-tying drive at Tennessee. But he should not be counted out of the Heisman race with five games left on the regular season schedule and the Tide still having a lot available to accomplish in front of them.

 

Season stats:

68.4 % | 1,722 PASS YDS | 13 PASS TD | 6 INT

91 CAR | 330 RUSH YDS | 11 RUSH TD | 3.6 AVG

 

5. Travis Hunter | Colorado WR/CB | Junior | Last week: 5

Offensively, Travis Hunter caught just a couple of passes in Colorado’s blowout win at Arizona, and he didn’t play in the second half while resting his shoulder injury. A ton is put on Hunter when he’s on the field, and the ultra-talented Heisman candidate more than welcomes it.

 

Season stats:

51 REC | 604 REC YDS | 6 REC TD | 11.8 AVG

19 TKL | 1 TFL | 1 FF | 2 INT | 3 PD

An exciting week of college football action is followed up by two more huge clashes in the SEC this weekend that could again shake up the power rankings.

 

1. Texas Longhorns (6-0) | Last week: 1

Star quarterback Quinn Ewers struggled early in his return to the lineup for the Red River Rivalry, but the Longhorns eventually got rolling on their way to a 34-3 victory. Now, they host a powerhouse Georgia team that already has a loss in the biggest game of the regular season for Texas.

 

2. Oregon Ducks (6-0) | Last week: 3 (+1)

Oregon escaped with a home win over Ohio State in a down-to-the-wire thriller, and head coach Dan Lanning—while he hasn’t commented—seemed to have purposely made a very crafty move with an illegal substitution to drain the clock for the Buckeyes in the final seconds. Following a Friday night showdown versus Purdue this week, Oregon will take on Illinois and Michigan.

 

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1) | Last week: 2 (-1)

Losing a top-five matchup in a hostile road environment with a chance to win at the end shouldn’t cause Ohio State to fall down the rankings—but there is no denying the defense needs to be better than it was last Saturday night. We’ll see if top cornerback Denzel Burke can rebuild his confidence after a rough outing for him personally.

 

4. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1) | Last week: 4

Jalen Milroe was pressured and uncharacteristically threw a couple of interceptions last week, and the Crimson Tide barely escaped with a win after South Carolina recovered a late onside kick. Both sides of the ball need to tighten things up over the next three weeks versus No. 11 Tennessee, No. 19 Missouri, and No. 8 LSU.

 

5. Georgia Bulldogs (5-1) | Last week: 5

It was a surprise to see Carson Beck air it out 48 times last week, but the Bulldogs will probably want to have more balance this week with the trio of Trevor Etienne, Branson Robinson, and Nate Frazier for the primetime showdown against Texas. The only two road games this season for Georgia were the 13-12 win over Kentucky and the 41-34 loss to Alabama.

 

6. Penn State Nittany Lions (6-0) | Last week: 7 (+1)

Penn State overcame a 20-6 road deficit to beat USC in overtime on Saturday, and it’s a great sign that they found a way to win on the road despite three interceptions for Drew Allar. Wisconsin won’t be an easy opponent this weekend with blowouts over Purdue (52-6) and Rutgers (42-7) so far in October.

 

7. Miami Hurricanes (6-0) | Last week: 6 (-1)

The Hurricanes come out of the bye with the ACC looking stronger than anticipated, as Pittsburgh joins them at 6-0—while Clemson, SMU, Syracuse, and Duke all sit at 5-1.

 

8. Clemson Tigers (5-1) | Last week: NR

The 34-3 loss to Georgia in the opener remains a negative mark on the resume, but Clemson’s offense has been extremely balanced to match a very talented defense. If the Tigers continue stacking together wins, they have a good chance of winning the ACC and being one of the top seeds in the College Football Playoff.

 

9. LSU Tigers (5-1) | Last week: NR

LSU also began the season with a loss (27-20 to USC), but they’ve gone 5-0 since—with the overtime win over Ole Miss last week getting them back into the top ten. A letdown against Arkansas can’t happen with No. 14 Texas A&M and No. 7 Alabama up after that.

 

10. Tennessee Volunteers (5-1) | Last week: 8 (-2)

The expanded playoff field might make “style points” more important when the committee begins stacking teams with two or three losses, so Tennessee’s play in recent weeks with the high-flying offense being limited to 20.7 points per game is a concern for them—especially with games against Alabama (this week) and Georgia still to come.

Where does Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel land in our latest Heisman rankings after leading the Ducks to a huge win against the Buckeyes?

 

1. Ashton Jeanty | Boise State RB | Junior | Last week: 1

Becoming the first player in 20 seasons to hit 200+ yards four times in the first six games of a season, Ashton Jeanty continues to perform as one of the best players in the country making a very real case for the Heisman as a running back. The 20-year-old handled 34 touches for 231 yards and two touchdowns in the 28-7 victory over Hawaii.

 

Season stats:

126 CAR | 1,248 RUSH YDS | 17 RUSH TD | 9.9 AVG

9 REC | 39 REC YDS | 1 REC TD | 4.3 AVG

 

2. Cam Ward | Miami QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 2

Cam Ward’s Hurricanes had off over the weekend, but he has a couple of interesting matchups coming up with Louisville on the road and Florida State at home the next two Saturdays.

 

Season stats:

69.2% | 2,219 PASS YDS | 20 PASS TD | 5 INT

28 CAR | 161 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 5.8 AVG

 

3. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Junior (RS) | Last week: 3

While Jalen Milroe had a relatively down game for his standards, particularly as a passer (209 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions), he did what it took to help the Tide get a tough win over South Carolina. The run game for Alabama was stifled, but Milroe grinded out 36 yards (on 18 attempts, including the four sacks he took in the first half) and a couple of scores on the ground in the win.

 

Season stats:

72.7% | 1,483 PASS YDS | 12 PASS TD | 4 INT

77 CAR | 319 RUSH YDS | 11 RUSH TD | 4.1 AVG

 

4. Dillon Gabriel | Oregon QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 5 (+1)

Dillon Gabriel came through all night—and especially late—in a back-and-forth game with Ohio State. He was 23/34 for 341 yards and two touchdowns as a passer, adding four carries for 32 yards and a key 27-yard fourth quarter touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Gabriel only used his legs when he needed to, making it an effective and timely weapon.

 

Season stats:

76.1% | 1,790 PASS YDS | 13 PASS TD | 3 INT

28 CAR | 103 RUSH YDS | 4 RUSH TD | 3.7 AVG

 

5. Travis Hunter | Colorado WR/CB | Junior | Last week: 4 (-1)

In a 31-28 loss to Kansas State, Travis Hunter unfortunately had to leave the game after a shoulder injury apparently sustained on a reception during the second quarter. This obviously can throw a potential wrench in the two-way star’s Heisman candidacy, but hopefully he’s feeling OK. The Buffs return to action this Saturday at Arizona.

 

Season stats:

49 REC | 587 REC YDS | 6 REC TD | 12.0 AVG

17 TKL | 1 TFL | 1 FF | 2 INT | 3 PD

With most having this upcoming Saturday circled on the calendar, last week was filled with shocking upsets to shake up the college football power rankings.

 

1. Texas Longhorns (5-0) | Last week: 2 (+1)

The debate about the top team right now seems to be down to Texas or Ohio State, and the Longhorns—coming out of a bye—have a tremendous opportunity to prove themselves as the favorites in the SEC with games against No. 18 Oklahoma and No. 5 Georgia over the next two weeks.

 

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0) | Last week: 3 (+1)

A top-five clash with the Buckeyes traveling to take on Oregon headlines the college football action this weekend, and it’ll be the first big test of the revamped infrastructure under Ryan Day with Chip Kelly controlling the offense. Senior quarterback Will Howard taking care of the ball will be key if Ohio State wants to escape Eugene with a win.

 

3. Oregon Ducks (5-0) | Last week: 6 (+3)

Oregon hasn’t been at their best thus far in 2024, but they’ve still won by at least 21 points in each of the past three games with Jordan James and the running game being the focus. If they can move the ball on the ground and slow down Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, the Ducks have a good shot of knocking off the Buckeyes.

 

4. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1) | Last week: 1 (-3)

The Crimson Tide fell to Vanderbilt in a prototypical letdown game after the thrilling victory over Georgia, but Diego Pavia and the Commodores are legitimate to soften the blow of the loss. Jalen Milroe and Alabama will look to get back on track as SEC play continues versus South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, and LSU over the next month.

 

5. Georgia Bulldogs (4-1) | Last week: 4 (-1)

Georgia took care of business with Auburn coming to town last week, and Trevor Etienne was great with 22 touches for 124 total yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, standout wide receiver Colbie Young was arrested on charges of battery and assault—making him the seventh player for the Bulldogs to be arrested this year.

 

6. Miami Hurricanes (6-0) | Last week: 8 (+2)

A case could be made for Miami ranking as a top-five team with an undefeated record, but they’ve needed big comebacks over Virginia Tech and California over the past two weeks—and the officiating had been in question. Still, Cam Ward is playing as well as any quarterback in the nation, and the path is clear for them to finish the regular season without a loss.

 

7. Penn State Nittany Lions (5-0) | Last week: 9 (+2)

Penn State is also unbeaten through the first week of October, so James Franklin’s squad needs to keep focus for road matchups against a desperate USC team and Wisconsin before hosting Ohio State to begin November. Having star running back Nicholas Singleton back after an undisclosed injury kept him out last week will certainly help.

 

8. Tennessee Volunteers (4-1) | Last week: 5 (-3)

Too many drives stalling cost the Volunteers in their 19-14 loss to Arkansas, and they probably should have fed Dylan Sampson (22 carries for 140 yards and two touchdowns) more as their best offensive player. In general, the growing pains for redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava are to be expected.

 

9. Ole Miss Rebels (5-1) | Last week: NR

Ole Miss jumps back into the top ten with a nice bounce back from their 20-17 loss to Kentucky—but Jaxson Dart and the passing attack hasn’t been as prolific in recent games; they’ll need to be at their best for a matchup against LSU in Baton Rouge on Saturday night.

 

10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1) | Last week: NR

The loss to North Illinois is an obvious blemish on the resume for Notre Dame, but they beat then-No. 15 Louisville to end September and began the year with a win over a surging Texas A&M team that is back up to No. 15 in the AP Poll. We’ll see if quarterback Riley Leonard (150.0 passing yards per game) doing much of his damage on the ground (six touchdowns over the past three outings) is enough for the Fighting Irish to make noise if they can get into the playoffs.

A historic season by Ashton Jeanty vaults him to the top of the Heisman race after one week of October action.

 

1. Ashton Jeanty | Boise State RB | Junior | Last week: 4 (+3)

 

The remarkable season for Jeanty continued with touchdown runs of 63 and 75 yards on his way to another three-touchdown performance, and the superstar runner is averaging 206.2 rushing yards per game. To put in perspective how crazy the numbers have been, Jeanty entered Saturday averaging 10.3 yards per carry—and the mark went up to 10.9 yards per carry after Boise State’s 62-30 win.

 

Season stats:

95 CAR | 1,031 RUSH YDS | 16 RUSH TD | 10.9 AVG

6 REC | 19 REC YDS | 3.2 AVG

 

 

2. Cam Ward | Miami QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 3 (+1)

 

Ward engineered another comeback with Miami down 38-18 in an eventual 39-38 victory against California late on Saturday night, and he will have a very strong case for the Heisman if the Canes keep winning. So far this season, Ward has thrown for yardage totals of 304, 346, 404, 343, and 437 with an NCAA-best 20 touchdown passes.

 

Season stats:

69.2% | 2,219 PASS YDS | 20 PASS TD | 5 INT

28 CAR | 161 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 5.8 AVG

 

 

3. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Junior (RS) | Last week: 1 (-2)

 

Alabama was shocked by Vanderbilt coming off their draining victory over Georgia, but Milroe played well with the defense of the Crimson Tide being the bigger issue. Prior to the loss, Milroe had multiple passing and rushing touchdowns in four consecutive games to begin the season.

 

Season stats:

73.4% | 1,274 PASS YDS | 11 PASS TD | 2 INT

59 CAR | 283 RUSH YDS | 9 RUSH TD | 4.8 AVG

 

4. Travis Hunter | Colorado WR/CB | Junior | Last week: 2 (-2)

 

Colorado had a bye last week, and Hunter probably needed the break more than anyone considering what he does for his squad on both sides of the ball. This weekend, he’ll look to help lead Colorado versus a rested Kansas State team with playoff aspirations.

 

Season stats:

46 REC | 561 REC YDS | 6 REC TD | 12.2 AVG

16 TKL | 1 TFL | 1 FF | 2 INT | 3 PD

 

5. Dillon Gabriel | Oregon QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 5

 

The final spot in the Heisman rankings could go to a few players, especially after Gabriel struggled early last week with a couple of interceptions versus Michigan State. Still, the Ducks are undefeated and now enter their biggest game of the regular season with Ohio State coming to Eugene for a primetime showdown—so Gabriel could have a Heisman performance or moment.

 

Season stats:

77.8% | 1,449 PASS YDS | 11 PASS TD | 3 INT

24 CAR | 71 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 3.0 AVG

Alabama, Texas, or Ohio State atop the latest college football power rankings?

 

1. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0) | Last week: 4 (+3)

While the matchup came in Tuscaloosa and was ultimately a close battle, Alabama showed a lot with the way they came out to build a 28-0 lead over Georgia. Quarterback Jalen Milroe is arguably the best player in the country right now, and Bama is nearly impossible to stop when he’s on with his ability to use his legs and throw the ball down the field with accuracy.

 

2. Texas Longhorns (5-0) | Last week: 2

A second consecutive start for Arch Manning at quarterback included Texas’ first-ever SEC win—so that’s a good trivia question answer to keep in mind. Manning was great, going 26/31 for 324 yards and two touchdowns while also adding 33 yards and another score on the ground. The Longhorns racked up 522 yards in the 35-13 win against Mississippi State.

 

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0) | Last week: 3

The Ohio State defense felt they were better than they showed early versus Marshall a couple of Saturdays ago, and they had a strong showing at Michigan State, forcing three turnovers while allowing just seven points to the Big Ten rival. The Buckeyes are a big favorite when hosting Iowa this Saturday afternoon.

 

4. Georgia Bulldogs (3-1) | Last week: 1 (-3)

And as Alabama rises to No. 1, the Dawgs deserve a ton of credit for the way they battled back to not only make it a game but to put the Tide on the ropes. A non-pass-interference call on the late deep shot could have provided a different result, but overall Georgia has obvious championship DNA.

 

5. Tennessee Volunteers (4-0) | Last week: 6 (+1)

Tennessee moves up to No. 5 despite having the week off, as Ole Miss drops following their loss. The Rebels are a good warning sign that nothing can be taken for granted in the SEC. The Vols go to Arkansas this weekend.

 

6. Oregon Ducks (4-0) | Last week: 7 (+1)

Receiver Tez Johnson starred with 11 receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns—one on a deep ball—as Oregon beat UCLA on the road, 34-13. Following a slow start by their standards, the Ducks have had a much better past two games. Their first Big Ten win is accomplished, but it came versus a former Pac-12 foe. Next up is Michigan State.

 

7. Missouri Tigers (4-0) | Last week: 8 (+1)

After the bye week, Missouri must go to College Station to face a Texas A&M team that’s won four straight since their opening season loss to Notre Dame.

 

8. Miami Hurricanes (5-0) | Last week: 9 (+1)

Miami stayed alive as an unbeaten in controversial fashion on Friday night, with a Hail Mary attempt by Virginia Tech that many felt should not have been overturned and ruled incomplete. Still, the 10-point comeback from the Hurricanes—in a game they racked up 508 yards of offense—was impressive. Getting off the field on third downs (9/14 allowed versus the Hokies) is an area to improve.

 

9. Penn State Nittany Lions (4-0) | Last week: 10 (+1)

In a battle of conference unbeatens, Penn State was excellent on defense while topping Illinois, 21-7. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen both hit 100+ total yards with a touchdown each in the victory, and Allen’s score late in the fourth quarter basically iced the game for the Nittany Lions.

 

10. Michigan Wolverines (4-1) | Last week: NR

Clemson deserves a shoutout here for the way the offense has picked it up in a major way since the season opening loss to Georgia. However, Michigan is back in the top ten despite allowing 21 fourth-quarter points in the comeback effort by Minnesota. The Wolverines feel limited offensively, but they’ll look to win close games behind Kalel Mullings, Donovan Edwards, and the ground game.