The Game will feature a pair of top-five teams as the Big Ten looks to shake itself out over the final two weeks
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Be happy Cincinnati. Be very happy. A College Football Playoff berth is within sight. Not saying it’s going to happen for sure, but it’s heckuva lot closer than it was earlier this month. Remember when the CFP Selection Committee had put up an artificial barrier to the top four? No more. Oregon’s loss has possibly opened up a spot for the Bearcats, who actually drop two spots this week in the Power Rankings but remain in the top four.
Big picture: Cincinnati needs to win out and root for Georgia to go undefeated. Assuming the Big Ten (Ohio State or Michigan) is going to be represented in the playoff, that would leave two spots. An undefeated Cincy then would be in competition with — at best — a Notre Dame that finishes 11-1 and a one-loss conference champion from the Big 12 (Oklahoma or Oklahoma State). Historically, the committee has been elusive in decisions like that. If you thought Gary Barta was elusive before, check out his comments Tuesday night.
What a long, strange trip it’s been. And it’s not over yet through 12 weeks. Welcome to the penultimate Power Rankings of the 2021 college football season.
Biggest Movers
|
Rk |
Teams |
Chg |
Rcrd |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Georgia |
Kirby Smart cleared his bench late in the first quarter against Charleston Southern. All that stands between the Bulldogs and a playoff berth is a win over Georgia Tech. It might be a good idea to start punching up some Ohio State film. The Buckeyes look like the best challenger to the throne. | — | 11-0 |
| 2 |
 Ohio State |
Some clarity in the Big Ten now that there are only two playoff contenders. The Buckeyes go to Ann Arbor, Michigan, having won eight straight, 15 out of 16 and 17 out of the last 19 in the series. C.J. Stroud, Chris Olave and the defense are peaking. A win clinches the Big Ten East and a berth in the conference title game for the fifth year in a row. | 3 | 10-1 |
| 3 |
 Alabama |
Stroud was the Heisman Trophy favorite for a few hours until Bryce Young said, “Hold my beer.” Five passing touchdowns and a school-record 559 yards by Young makes it a two-man Stiff Arm race down the stretch. The close game against Arkansas probably makes it less likely a two-loss Crimson Tide somehow hang on for a playoff spot. | — | 10-1 |
| 4 |
 Cincinnati |
It was a good day to be a Bearcat. A convincing win over SMU combined with Oregon’s convincing loss means we can legitimately talk about a Group of Five team playing for a national championship in the BCS era (since 1998). How do the Bearcats win by 34 and drop in the Power Rankings? Simple, Ohio State and Alabama were better. | 2 | 11-0 |
| 5 |
 Michigan |
Jim Harbaugh is on the precipice of his greatest win at Michigan. There was a nice tune-up Saturday in a whacking of Maryland. Four quarterbacks threw passes, eight players carried the ball and 14 players caught a pass against Maryland. It won’t be quite that easy against Ohio State. Recipe for an upset: Get Hassan Haskins going on the ground. Good luck with that. Ask Kenny Walker III. | 2 | 10-1 |
| 6 |
 Oklahoma State |
Suddenly, the Cowboys are a CFP player after a stifling performance against Texas Tech. OSU punched its Big 12 Championship Game ticket with a 23-0 win over Texas Tech that was so surgical, the Red Raiders didn’t surpass 100 yards in total offense until 5 minutes were left. Texas Tech was shut out for the first time at home since 1987. | — | 10-1 |
| 7 |
 Oklahoma |
The season of living dangerously continues as OU wins its sixth game by a touchdown or less (over Iowa State). Bedlam is here with a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game at stake, sort of. Oklahoma State can afford to lose, and it would own the tiebreaker against Baylor. Oklahoma cannot afford to lose because it would lose the tiebreaker to Baylor. That’s assuming Baylor beats Texas Tech. | 2 | 10-1 |
| 8 |
 Notre Dame |
During the week, Brian Kelly told his staff he would be back next season. The question: Did USC make the call that made Kelly’s decision possible? Can you imagine the Notre Dame coach going to USC? Not now. With an easy win over Georgia Tech, the Fighting Irish raise their hands to the committee just in case there is chaos above. | 2 | 10-1 |
| 9 |
 Baylor |
Dave Aranda remains a candidate for LSU, USC as well as Big 12 coach of the year. Redshirt freshman Blake Shapen completed 16 of 21 passes after Gerry Bohanon hurt his hamstring to help beat Kansas State. An Oklahoma State win next week coupled with a Baylor win over Texas Tech puts the Bears in the Big 12 Championship Game. | 2 | 9-2 |
| 10 |
 Oregon |
Don’t say you were surprised by the Rout by the Wasatch. Utah has won 18 of its last 19 at home, winning by an average of more than three scores. The Ducks can still play for the Pac-12 title but the Pac-12 is out of the playoff race. The 28-point halftime deficit was the largest ever for a CFP top-five team. | 6 | 9-2 |
| 11 |
 Michigan State |
It’s never good when the opposition has two touchdowns before the first media timeout. That was the case at Ohio State. At some point, Michigan State must announce Mel Tucker’s new contract. It would distract from missing out on the playoff and getting boat-raced by the Buckeyes. | 3 | 9-2 |
| 12 |
 Ole Miss |
With excellence comes speculation. Lane Kiffin’s next job will be (a) at Florida, (b) at Miami or (c) in the NFL. Hey, if you’re going to speculate, swing a big stick. Regarding Miami, Kiffin has a home in nearby Boca Raton. There’s nothing wrong with being the mayor of Oxford. The Rebels remain in contention for a New Year’s Six bowl after beating Vanderbilt. | — | 9-2 |
| 13 |
 Pittsburgh |
The schedule says the Panthers have to play at Syracuse this week, but they’ve already clinched a spot in the ACC Championship Game. Pitt’s Kenny Pickett is one of five finalists for the Unitas Award (best quarterback) and may be the best of the bunch after throwing for 340 yards and four touchdowns against Virginia. | 2 | 9-2 |
| 14 |
 Iowa |
Amazingly, the Hawkeyes have a shot at the Big Ten West after a closer-than-expected win over Illinois. An Iowa win against Nebraska, paired with Wisconsin loss at Minnesota, puts the Hawkeyes in. Kirk Ferentz has won at least nine for the third time in four seasons. | — | 9-2 |
| 15 |
 BYU |
The Paulson Stadium crowd apparently threw more burritos and their team scored points. “We were getting hit by burritos on the sideline,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said following his team’s 34-17 win at Georgia Southern. “It was pretty hostile.” Don’t ask me why the fans of a Sun Belt team in Georgia are throwing Mexican food at BYU. | 1 | 9-2 |
| 16 |
 Wake Forest |
That deescalated quickly. The Demon Deacons have surrendered a combined 148 points in the last three games, lost twice and let Clemson get back in the ACC Atlantic race. The Tigers got their first win over a ranked opponent in four tries this season. A chance for a seventh straight ACC title remains. | 3 | 9-2 |
| 17 |
 UTSA |
There are three teams at 11-0 in America. UTSA is one of them after Frank Harris threw the game-winning touchdown pass against UAB with 3 seconds left. The Roadrunners were outgained by almost 100 yards. A perfect regular season awaits with a trip North Texas next week. | — | 11-0 |
| 18 |
 Utah |
The most complete Utes win in years puts them in the Pac-12 Championship Game for the third time in four years. Will the Ducks be there for the rematch? TBD. The Utes were 10 for 12 on third down, 4 for 4 in the red zone and 100% convincing. The 31-point victory margin was the second-largest in a series that started in 1933. | 7 | 8-3 |
| 19 |
 Houston |
Clayton Tune sounds more Broadway than bomb threat, but the no-name who replaced D’Eriq King a couple of years ago has become elite. The Cougars have won 10 in a row and are steaming toward the AAC Championship Game. On Friday, tune threw for 267 yards and ran for 55 more in a bludgeoning of Memphis. | 1 | 10-1 |
| 20 |
 Texas A&M |
Jimbo Fisher will be wanting another extension soon. If Mel Tucker can get $95 million after going 16-14, Fisher is underpaid after going 34-13 at Texas A&M. Speaking of big checks, the Aggies handed Prairie View one to come play, beat it by 49 and made sure the Panthers got safely to the bus. Time to pay attention again in the season finale at LSU. | 1 | 8-3 |
| 21 |
 Wisconsin |
Braelon Allen remembers being inspired in fifth grade watching Melvin Gordon run for 408 yards against Nebraska. Allen grew up and showed out, running for 228 yards and three touchdowns against the Cornhuskers. The Big Ten Championship Game awaits if the Badgers win at Minnesota. | 1 | 8-3 |
| 22 |
 Louisiana |
Only a season-opening loss to Texas — what?! — has kept the Ragin’ Cajuns from a perfect season. Liberty went down for Louisiana’s 10th consecutive win. The Billy Napier Watch continues. Is this the last season for one of the hottest coaches in the country? | — | 10-1 |
| 23 |
 San Diego State |
After Oregon, the Aztecs might be the best story on the West Coast. The 10-1 start is the best for the program since 1969. That team was guided by one Don Coryell who was running the Air Raid when Mike Leach was 8. Google him, kids. Brady Hoke’s bunch went into Saturday as one of only five teams to have won 10 games already. | — | 10-1 |
| 24 |
 NC State |
After beating Syracuse the Wolfpack are in line for the ACC Championship Game. They must beat North Carolina this week and hope Wake loses to Boston College. Dave Doeren has been sneaky good as NC State’s coach. Another win means at least nine for third time since 2017. | — | 8-3 |
| 25 |
 Clemson |
Look who’s back! It only took the Tigers 11 games, but after a rout of Wake Forest a seventh consecutive ACC title is a possibility. This perilous season might finally convince coordinators Tony Elliott and Brent Venables that it’s time to take head coaching jobs somewhere. | NR | 8-3 |
Out: Arkansas
