Only one spot is changed in our power rankings ahead of rivalry week, but the stakes are getting higher with just a couple of weeks to go until the College Football Playoff selections are made.
1. Georgia Bulldogs (11-0) | Last week: 1
Tennessee was no match for the Bulldogs last weekend, and the confidence of quarterback Carson Beck continues to soar after an efficient 298 passing yards and three scores. The status of Ladd McConkey (ankle) will be key when Georgia faces Alabama in the SEC Championship.
2. Michigan Wolverines (11-0) | Last week: 2
After escaping last week in Maryland with a 31-24 victory, Michigan is favored in “The Game” for the first time in five years—but quarterback J.J. McCarthy needs to play better than he did against the Terrapins to get back into the CFB Playoff. We’ll see if Donovan Edwards can take over for the second year in a row (216 rushing yards and two touchdowns in last season’s meeting).
3. Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0) | Last week: 3
Michigan is trying to use the Jim Harbaugh suspension as added motivation for the biggest game of the year, but Ohio State also gets to play the chip-on-the-shoulder card after a 45-23 loss to the Wolverines last November. The turnover battle will likely be crucial on Saturday.
4. Florida State Seminoles (11-0) | Last week: 4
Jordan Travis is unfortunately done for his college career after a gruesome leg injury, and the debates that could potentially spawn from the situation are very interesting. All the Seminoles can do is take care of business this week against Florida—in Gainesville—and then in the ACC title game versus Louisville.
5. Oregon Ducks (10-1) | Last week: 5
Bo Nix continued lighting it up last week with six passing touchdowns in the first half, and the Ducks will benefit from taking on rival Oregon State at home on Friday night. If they come away with a win, Oregon will get another shot at Washington—with the rematch coming at a neutral site.
6. Washington Huskies (11-0) | Last week: 6
The Huskies narrowly held on last Saturday night with a 22-20 victory over the Beavers, and Michael Penix Jr. only completed 13-of-28 passes with somewhat of a slump—for his standards—since the win against Oregon. Will he snap out of it this weekend against Washington State to come in hot for the Pac-12 Championship showdown?
7. Texas Longhorns (10-1) | Last week: 7
Texas had another showing that was closer than they would have liked last week with Iowa State making it a one-possession game in the fourth quarter, and they shouldn’t overlook a Texas Tech squad that’s won three in a row on Friday night. Last year, the Red Raiders won an overtime thriller, 37-34.
8. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1) | Last week: 8
Auburn falling by 21 points last week to New Mexico State might have been them looking ahead to the Iron Bowl—and Nick Saban is surely telling his team how dangerous Hugh Freeze’s squad can be. As long as they come away with the victory, the Crimson Tide should benefit from the road environment before playing in front of a Georgia-slanted crowd in two weeks.
9. Louisville Cardinals (10-1) | Last week: 9
A close win over Miami clinched an ACC Championship berth for Louisville, and now they need to avoid a bump in the road with quarterback Devin Leary and Kentucky coming to town. If they do, the Cardinals will hope for a couple of upsets to boost their outside chances of a CFB Playoff appearance.
10. Missouri Tigers (9-2) | Last week: NR
The No. 10 spot is up for debate, but Missouri’s two losses have come versus LSU (with a lead late in the fourth quarter) and a powerhouse Georgia team (by nine points). A New Year’s Six Bowl will be clinched for the Tigers with a win this week against Arkansas.