1. Georgia Bulldogs 11-0 (Last week 1)

Last Week: Won at Kentucky 16-6

The Bulldogs were held to just three first-half possessions this season and three field goals. The Georgia defense shut down the Wildcats and the running game took over on offense.

On the day, the Dawgs were 4-for-5 in the Red Zone, but three trips ended in FGs.

I think I wrote something about Leaving some points off the board last week how that could catch up to you.

Next Week: vs Georgia Tech

2. Michigan Wolverines 11-0 (2)

Last week: Beat Illinois 19-17

Blake Corum topped 100-yards rushing for the eighth straight game, the longest streak for a Wolverine since 2007.

Corum did exit the game with a dinged-up knee. His health against Ohio State will be huge.

In their last five games, Michigan has outscored opponents 117-3 in the second half. JJ McCarthy is now 10-0 in his career as a starter, matching Dennis Franklin in 1972 for the most consecutive wins to open a career in UM history.

It took 11 games, but Michigan finally allowed a third-quarter TD.

Next Week: At Ohio State

3. Ohio State Buckeyes 11-0 (3)

Last Week: Won at Maryland 43-30

Ohio State found themselves trailing at the half, opened things up in the third quarter only to get outscored in the fourth. It was not the Buckeyes’ best performance, but again they came away with a win.

The Buckeyes have scored at least 20 points in 72 straight games, the longest streak in FBS history.

The Bucks registered five sacks against the Terps.

Next Week: vs Michigan

4. TCU Horned Frogs 11-0 (4)

Last Week: Won at Baylor 29-28

And with the win, Sonny Dykes is now the first head coach in TCU and Big 12 history to open his tenure 11-0.

The last time any Big 12 team opened 11-0 was Texas in 2009.

Max Duggan threw for at least 300 yards for the fifth time this season.

Next Week: vs Iowa State

5. USC Trojans 10-1 (5)

Last Week: Won at UCLA 48-45

At 10-1, Lincoln Riley is off to the best start to a coaching career at USC since John Robinson also opened the 1976 season 10-1.

Caleb Williams threw for 470 yards adding 33 more on the ground for a career-high 503 yards of offense.

The Trojans have a clear path to the playoffs thanks to their wins and the Tennessee loss to South Carolina.

Next Week: vs Notre Dame

6. LSU Tigers 9-2 (7)

Last Week: Beat UAB 41-10

Jayden Daniels had himself a day against the Blazers throwing for 297 yards and a TD with just seven incompletions. The Arizona State transfer added another 111 yards and a TD on the ground.

Should LSU win out and USC falter ahead of them, the committee will have to make a decision between the two sets of Tigers—the ones from the Bayou or the ones from Clemson.

Next Week: At Texas A&M

7. Clemson Tigers 10-1 (9)

Last Week: Beat Miami 40-10

The win over the Hurricanes was their 40th consecutive home win, the longest streak in ACC history, and tied for the eighth-longest streak in FBS history.

The Tigers have won four in a row over Miami outscoring the Canes 178-30 during the win streak.

Next Week: vs South Carolina

8. Oregon Ducks 9-2 (12)

Last Week: Beat Utah 20-17

A win over Oregon State will send the Ducks to the Pac-12 Championship.

The UO defense forced three turnovers against Utah, giving the Ducks nine takeaways in the last four games.

Next Week: At Oregon State

9. Alabama Crimson Tide 9-2 (10)

Last Week: Beat Austin Peay 34-0

The shutout was the second of the season for the Tide after an earlier blanking of Utah State.

The tide ran for 263 yards in this one.

Next Week: vs Auburn

10. Tennessee Volunteers 9-2 (6)

Last Week: Lost at South Carolina 63-38

Making the loss even worse, Tennessee Heisman hopeful, Hendon Hooker left the game with an ACL injury in the fourth quarter and is out for the rest of the season.

Tennessee allowed 606 yards to South Carolina and 7.97 yards per play.

Next Week: At Vanderbilt

11. Penn State Nittany Lions 9-2 (13)

Last Week: Won at Rutgers 55-10

The Nittany Lions have held their last three opponents to an average of 62.3 yards rushing per game.

Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen are the first freshman duo in Big Ten history to each rush for at least 700 yards in the same season.

Next Week: vs Michigan State

12. Utah Utes 8-3 (8)

Last Week: Lost at Oregon 20-17

Cameron Rising threw three interceptions and the offense never got on track.

The Utes should get a chance to right themselves against Colorado this week.

Next Week: At Colorado

13. Washington Huskies 9-2 (16)

Last Week: Beat Colorado 54-7

The Buffs were no match for UW in Seattle as the Huskies used a balanced attack with 295 yards through the air and 287 on the ground.

Washington forced a pair of Colorado turnovers and held the Buffaloes to 123 passing yards.

The Huskies can still reach the Pac-12 Championship game but will need to win the Apple Cup and have help from Oregon State against Oregon.

Next Week: At Washington State

14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 8-3 (17)

Last Week: Beat Boston College 44-0

The Irish have polished off their “ACC” regular season unbeaten and are now 28-0 in regular season ACC games since 2018.

Michael Mayer has at least one reception in 35 straight games.

Next Week: At USC

15. Kansas State Wildcats 8-3 (19)

Last Week: Won at West Virginia 48-31

K-State has now won at least eight games in three of head coach Chris Klieman’s four seasons at the helm, with the 2020 COVID-shortened season the only one they did not reach that threshold.

Next Week: vs Kansas

16. North Carolina Tar Heels 9-2 (11)

Last Week: Lost to Georgia Tech 21-17

Drake Maye struggled, the defense did not come up with stops when they had to, and Mack Brown made a few questionable decisions.

It was easily the Heels’ worst outing of the season and probably knocks them out of any hope of a NY6 Bowl unless they pull the upset over Clemson in the ACC Championship.

Next Week: vs NC State

17. Oregon State Beavers 8-3 (20)

Last Week: Won at Arizona State 31-10

The Beavers collected their first win in Tempe since 2009. OSU has held each of their last five opponents to single digits in the first half.

The Beavs will welcome Oregon to Reser Stadium, where OSU has won 10 of their last 11.

Next Week: vs Oregon

18. UCLA Bruins 8-3 (14)

Last Week: Lost to USC 48-45

He also fumbled once and was picked off three times.

The Bruins find themselves in the midst of a two-game losing streak and will head to Berkeley looking to get right.

Next Week: At California

19. Florida State Seminoles 8-3 (21)

Last Week: Beat Louisiana 49-17 

The Seminoles have now won four in a row by a margin of 43.3-9.8. Jordan Travis has completed 30 of his last 37 pass attempts for the Noles.

Next Week: vs Florida

20. Mississippi Rebels 8-3 (15)

Last Week: Lost at Arkansas 42-27

But after three quarters the Rebels were down 42-6.  A bright spot for Ole Miss in this one was Quinshon Judkins breaking the single season rushing record for the program.

The true freshman has 1,352 yards on the ground for the season breaking Kayo Dottley’s mark of 1,312 rushing yards that had stood since 1949.

Next Week: vs Mississippi State

21. Tulane Green Wave 9-2 (22)

Last Week: Beat SMU 59-24

With three touchdown passes, Michael Pratt moved passed J.P. Losman for third all-time at Tulane with 61 career touchdown passes.

Pratt has a TD pass in 31 of his 32 career games.

Next Week: At Cincinnati

22. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 9-1 (23)

Last Week: Game canceled

CCU is 31-4 since the start of the 2020 season.

Coastal already has the Sun Belt East wrapped up and will play on December 3rd for the conference title.

Next Week: At James Madison

23. Cincinnati Bearcats 9-2 (NR)

Last Week: Won at Temple 23-3

Josh Whyle surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards, joining Brent Celek (2003-06) and Josiah Deguara (2015-19) as the only Beacat tight ends to do so.

The Bearcats’ 32-game home win streak will get tested this week when Tulane visits Nippert Stadium.

Next Week: vs Tulane

24. UT-San Antonio Roadrunners 9-2 (25)

Last Week: Won at Rice 41-7

UTSA has now gone 19-3 in their last 22 conference games and 24-5 in their last 29 played overall, and has scored 20+ points in 29 straight games.

UTSA forced eight fumbles and held Rice to just five yards rushing.

Next Week: vs UTEP

25. Central Florida Knights 8-3 (18)

Last Week: Lost to Navy 17-14

The Knights did not allow a passing yard, as Navy only attempted one pass on the day and it was incomplete.

UCF still has a leg up on getting to the AAC Championship game with wins over both Tulane and Cincinnati and one of them will get their second conference loss next week when they meet.

Next Week: At South Florida

Dropped Out: Oklahoma State

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