We’re in the second week with College Football Playoff rankings — and it’s another week of a handful of ranked vs. ranked games that will shake up the top 25.
More top-10 shakeups ahead?
Last week’s results meant a new No. 1 (Georgia), a two-loss team now at No. 3 (Alabama), Notre Dame jumping six spots into the top 5 and SEVEN three-loss teams finding a spot in the CFP rankings.
This week, No. 7 Miami must regroup after dropping from the top spot against Duke, last year’s ACC champ. No. 8 Tennessee is thinking SEC title appearance, but the Vols have to travel to Texas A&M. Meanwhile, top-ranked Georgia gets a test from No. 22 Missouri in its first game back at the top. No. 9 Indiana fell five spots on a bye week — and now has to play No. 18 USC.
Finally, two top-10 teams get major road tests against ranked foes. No. 6 Texas must deal with a likely desperate No. 21 LSU in Death Valley and unbeaten No. 2 Utah travels to face Noah Fifita and No. 23 Arizona in a game moved to 10:30 p.m. because the FAA flight disruptions on Friday.
CFP ramifications
Earlier this week, the CFP announced the playoff field will expand to 24 beginning next season. So this means this season is the last time we’ll get a 12-team bracket.
As a reminder, the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC champs will all receive automatic bids. The highest-ranked team (doesn’t need to be a conference champion) from the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 and Sun Belt will also get in automatically. Right now, that team is No. 24 Boise State, which is serving as the host of ESPN’s “College GameDay” today. It’s the first time the Broncos have hosted the show since 2010 — also against Oregon State. This year’s game will feature the nation’s leading rusher (Boise State’s Dylan Riley has 1,241 yards) and receiver (Oregon State’s Jesse Legree with 1,209 yards). Oregon State QB Braden Atkinson, the top passer in the nation, is out due to injury.
Record watch
Though most eyes will be centered on FBS and the CFP picture, it could be a record-breaking day in DII. Ferris State, which has won four of the last five DII national championships, would break the DII record for consecutive wins if the Bulldogs top Roosevelt today. That would be the 41st win in a row. Last week, Ferris State tied the mark of 40 from Grand Valley State from 2005-07.
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