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.