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This week of college football was headlined by Texas A&M hosting LSU, Alabama bullying Mizzou, and Texas righting the ship in a sloppy win at Vanderbilt. We’re doing our best to not overreact, but let’s look at who rose and fell in this week’s TYB Top 25.
By Ryan Galloway | October 28, 2024
Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard
Top 10
1. Georgia (6-1, Previous: 5th)
Georgia was idle this week, but I had them at one after beating Texas. If the Georgia team we saw in Austin keeps showing up to the games, it will be difficult to find a better team than the Bulldogs.
2. Oregon Ducks (8-0, Previous: 2nd)
Oregon looked dominant in their win over Illinois this week. Illinois has been a very respectable team with QB Luke Atlmyer leading the way. This blowout proved Oregon to be levels above the majority of the field, and I expect Oregon to continue their winning ways.
3. Penn State Nittany Lions (7-0, Previous: 4th)
Penn State has been winning consistently on both sides of the ball. Time will tell if they’re legit, or if they’re another James Franklin team that will make noise just to fall short to big brothers Ohio State and Michigan. We find out this week as they face the Buckeyes.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0, Previous: 4th)
Ohio State survived a scare at home against Nebraska. The Huskers came to play, but Ohio State just didn’t look convincing on either side of the ball. The Buckeyes looked like equals to the clearly lesser competition, and I would be alarmed.
5. Texas Longhorns (7-1, Previous: 1st)
Texas survived a scare on the road at Vanderbilt. I could write a multi-page article about the Longhorns and where their competence went, but that’s for another day. This offense better figure it out though. QB Quinn Ewers has played mediocre, and even scared, since coming back from injury, but Steve Sarkisian’s offensive play calling has been suspect at best. This conservative offense will not see the Horns winning much with the sneakily difficult schedule ahead and into the postseason.
6. Miami Hurricanes (8-0, Previous: 6th)
Miami beat up on the lowly Florida State Seminoles this week. No notes. QB Cam Ward is awesome and has bailed The Canes out of a lot of tough spots. I think Ward makes this Miami team a lot better than they otherwise would be, because the rest of the team hasn’t looked spectacular.
7. Texas A&M Aggies (7-1, Previous: 21st)
I wasn’t sold on the Aggies and I’m still not. However, I will concede a top 10 spot to them after their dismantling of LSU this week. It wasn’t even that impressive. They spammed read option with speedy backup QB Marcel Reed, and the Tigers never adjusted. My biggest takeaway from this game was how bad Brian Kelly is. Could never win the big one at Notre Dame and has consistently underperformed despite superior talent since arriving in Baton Rouge.
Photo by Aggie Football
8. Tennessee Volunteers (6-1, Previous: 11th)
Tennessee was idle this week.
9. BYU Cougars (8-0, Previous: 9th)
Oh boy, the Cougs are 8-0. They’re looking like the clear favorites in the Big 12. I’m very high on BYU, and I think they’re going to find themselves in the College Football Playoff come December. Now, what they do once they get there is another conversation, but let’s enjoy seeing a new team toward the top of the CFB world.
10. Indiana Hoosiers (8-0, Previous: 15th)
So, they haven’t really played that great of teams yet, but as with BYU, this is fun. Curt Cignetti is a great head coach and what he has been able to do in year one at Indiana is awesome. They deserve a top-ten nod, and I’m giving it to them.
Ben Fitzsimons/The Indiana Daily Student
Remaining 11-25
11. Clemson Tigers (6-1, Previous: 13th)
12. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-1, Previous: 12th)
13. Iowa State Cyclones (7-0, Previous: 10th)
14. Boise State Broncos (6-1, Previous: 14th)
15. LSU Tigers (6-2, Previous: 7th)
16. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-2, Previous: 8th)
17. Kansas State Wildcats (7-1, Previous: 16th)
18. Ole Miss Rebels (6-2, Previous: 17th)
19. SMU Mustangs (7-1, Previous: 18th)
20. Pittsburgh Panthers (7-0, Previous: 19th)
21. Army Black Knights (7-0, Previous: 23rd)
22. Illinois Fighting Illini (6-2, Previous 21st)
23. Colorado Buffaloes (6-2, Previous: NR)
24. Washington State Cougars (7-1, Previous: NR)
25. Vanderbilt Commodores (5-3, Previous: NR)