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Wow. Let’s all catch our breaths. This weekend of college football, on paper, was boring. However, in practice? It was upset city. Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Michigan, and USC all fell. Let’s take a look at what the TYB rankings look like after this crazy week, with a jam-packed week of big games on the horizon.
By Ryan Galloway | October 6, 2024
Photo by George Walker IV/Associated Press
Top 10
1. Texas Longhorns (5-0, Previous: 1st)
Texas was idle this week. Alabama lost to Vanderbilt. I don’t want to say I told you so, but I told you so.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0, Previous: 3rd)
The Buckeyes defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes (3-2) at home this week 35-7. This isn’t unimpressive, as QB Will Howard had a day against Iowa’s stout defense. He had as many touchdowns as he did incomplete passes – four. RB Quinshon Judkins also had a nice afternoon on the ground with 78 yards on 13 attempts. This is best team the Buckeyes have faced to date, which isn’t terribly impressive considering Iowa’s miserable defense.
3. Georgia Bulldogs (4-1, Previous: 5th)
Georgia thoroughly dominated the Auburn Tigers (2-4) at home this week. Auburn is bad. Georgia still played well overall, with RB Trevor Etienne and QB Carson Beck both turning in nice performances. Georgia moving up to 3rd has barely anything to do with Georgia and a lot to do with Alabama and Tennessee losing ahead of them.
4. Oregon Ducks (5-0, Previous: 6th)
Oregon killed Michigan State (3-3) Friday night 31-10. It really wasn’t close. Dillon Gabriel turned in a nice performance, despite two interceptions that didn’t amount to much for the Spartans. RB Jordan James was the big star of the day, rushing for 166 yards and a touchdown in the victory. Oregon is starting to put it together as a competent team. The offense hasn’t performed as we’re accustomed to, but I think that is a consequence of transplanting a quarterback to fill Bo Nix’s shoes. Oregon gets Ohio State next week is (on paper) a game-of-the-year candidate.
5. Miami Hurricanes (6-0, Previous: 7th)
Sigh. Miami continues to win games. Good teams find a way to win, but the past two weeks (against unranked opponents) the Canes were essentially gifted wins by questionable at-best calls by the referee. Yeah, Cam Ward is phenomenal (437 yards and 2 TDs), but Miami is essentially two calls away from being 4-2 and unranked. They’re off next week and then will hit the road to play Louisville (3-2).
6. Penn State (5-0, Previous: 9th)
The Nittany Lions took down the lowly UCLA Bruins (1-4) at home this week. Nothing remarkable to report other than Penn State keeps winning. That’s a lot more than several teams can say after yesterday. Shout out to WR Liam Clifford for 107 yards on 3 catches. UCLA is really bad, and similarly to their friends over at USC, they’re finding the transition to the Big Ten to be quite challenging.
Photo by Jed Jacobson/Associated Press
7. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1, Previous: 2nd)
Yikes. Alabama lost to Vanderbilt (3-2). And this wasn’t Vanderbilt winning on a lucky play, or an Alabama injury, or something wild happening. The Commodores came out and played ball with Bama, and they won. QB Diego Pavia might have won the hearts of everyone in the nation with his performance, turning in 252 yards and 2 TDs on 16/20 passing. He was impressive. Alabama is staying in the top 10 after that performance for two reasons. First, they have the win over Georgia. Second, a lot of top ranked teams lost so there is a forgiving amount of room for them to slide into.
8. Ole Miss Rebels (5-1, Previous: 12th)
There’s the Rebel we were used to seeing. Ole Miss went on the road to South Carolina (3-2) and stifled them. The offense wasn’t the most electric in the world – QB Jaxson Dart didn’t even throw a touchdown. But that. Rebel defense gave LaNorris Sellers trouble and the Gamecock offense couldn’t get going. They walk away with only three points on the day.
9. LSU Tigers (4-1, Previous: 13th)
LSU was idle this week but remember what I said about a lot of teams losing. They’ll face Ole Miss next week.
10. BYU Cougars (5-0, Previous: 15th)
Seriously. Remember what I said about a lot of teams losing. I really didn’t want to put Notre Dame here, and BYU has been very impressive this year. They’ve surprisingly positioned themselves at the front of the pack in the Big 12 this year. The Cougars are solid.
Photo by BYU Photo
Remaining 11-25
11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1, Previous: 14th)
12. Tennessee Volunteers (4-1, Previous: 4th)
13. Iowa State Cyclones (5-0, Previous: 17th)
14. Clemson Tigers (4-1, Previous: 16th)
15. Boise State Broncos (4-1, Previous: 21st)
16. Indiana Hoosiers (5-0, Previous: 25th)
17. Utah Utes (3-1, Previous: 18th)
18. Oklahoma Sooners (3-1, Previous: 19th)
19. Kansas State Wildcats (4-1, Previous: 22nd)
20. SMU Mustangs (5-1, Previous: NR)
21. Illinois Fighting Illini (4-1, Previous: 24th)
22. Pittsburgh Panthers (5-0, Previous: NR)
23. Texas A&M Aggies (5-1, Previous: NR)
24. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1, Previous: NR)
25. Michigan Wolverines (4-2, Previous: 10th)