By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports
November 27, 2023
Rivalry games can always offer up the unexpected. Georgia, Washington, Florida State, and Alabama all faced stiff tests against their archrivals, and all came away with tight wins.
In all four cases, the games were a lot closer than expected.
Michigan knocked off Ohio State in another close one between rivals. The Wolverines essentially won a play-in game to the playoffs. The Buckeyes will now be relegated to a NY6 bowl game.
The Playoff will be set at this time next week as all that remains are the conference championship games.
And with that here is my prediction of what the top four will look like on December 3rd:
1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Oregon
4. Florida State.
But for my rankings today—enjoy.
1. Georgia Bulldogs 12-0 (Last week 1)
Last Week: Won at Georgia Tech 31-23
Georgia extended its school-record win streak to 29 straight games, the longest active streak in the nation, and a new SEC record for consecutive wins.
The Dawgs have 39 straight regular season wins. The Bulldogs are now 45-1 in their last 46 games played.
Georgia has only run 51 offensive plays this season while tied or trailing.
Next Week: vs Alabama in SEC Championship Game
2. Michigan Wolverines 12-0 (3)
Last Week: Beat Ohio State 30-24
Michigan has won 24 consecutive Big Ten games, the longest active conference win streak in the nation, and the longest conference win streak in Michigan history.
JJ McCarthy is now 24-1 in his career as a starter for the Maize and Blue.
The biggest hurdle of the season has been cleared and a trip to Indianapolis and a date with Iowa should be a mere formality.
Michigan will be in the Playoff and the true test for Michigan will begin in that game.
Next Week: vs Iowa in Big Ten Championship Game
3. Washington Huskies 12-0 (5)
Last Week: Beat Washington State 24-21
Washington has now won 19 straight games, the second-longest streak in the nation. The Huskies are 12-0 for just the second time ever, the other was their 12-0 1991 National Championship season.
Again, rivalry games are tricky and UW found themselves in a battle during the Apple Cup. The tight finale does nothing to erase a dominant regular season.
The Huskies have trailed for just 95 minutes and 38 seconds this season.
Kalen DeBoer is now 23-2 at UW, with a 14-0 mark at home. Michael Penix is 35-7 in his career as a starter.
Next Week: vs Oregon in Pac-12 Championship Game
4. Florida State Seminoles 12-0 (4)
Last Week: Won at Florida 24-15
The first complete game without Jordan Travis did not go quite like FSU would have liked it to go.
Tate Rodemaker completed less than 50% of his passes for just 134 yards of offense. The offense looked much less crisp with the backup QB.
It is a rivalry game, and the Gators were playing for a bowl bid, so obviously UF was playing above their level a bit as well.
If the Noles can get past Louisville next week they should punch their ticket in the Playoff.
Next Week: at Florida
5. Oregon Ducks 11-1 (6)
Last Week: Beat Oregon State 31-7
The Ducks wrapped up their fourth 11-win season in history with their win over Oregon State on Friday night.UO also punched its ticket to Vegas and a rematch with Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
That one will be a de facto Playoff game with the winner finishing in the CFP Top 4.
Bo Nix created another three TDs in the game with two passing and one on the ground, giving him 43 total on the year.
Next Week: vs Washington in Pac-12 Championship Game
6. Ohio State Buckeyes 11-1 (2)
Last Week: Lost to Michigan 30-24
Ohio State lost for the third straight season to Michigan. Ryan Day is now 39-3 in Big Ten games with all three losses coming at the hands of Michigan.
Two interceptions were the difference in the game to decide the Big Ten. The Buckeyes had two turnovers resulting in seven points for Michigan. OSU did not create a takeaway.
Next Week: Off
7. Texas Longhorns 11-1 (7)
Last Week: Beat Texas Tech 57-7
The Longhorns have opened 11-1 to start a season for the first time since opening 13-0 in 2009. It is also the first 11-win season for UT since that ’09 season.
Texas built a lead for the first time in the last three weeks, and they did not let their opponent climb back in it in the final quarter.
The Longhorns compiled 528 yards of offense while limiting the Red Raiders to 198.
Texas will head to the Big 12 Championship. They will need a win there and some help from Louisville to get to the Playoff.
Next Week: vs Oklahoma State Big 12 Championship Game
8. Alabama Crimson Tide 11-1 (8)
Last Week: Won at Auburn 27-24
Rivalry games, right? Alabama faced a 4th-and-goal from the 31 and came up with the miracle TD to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Alabama has won at least 11 games in a season for the 13th consecutive season, an SEC record.
I said at the start of the season that this would be a team that improves as the season progresses and the Tide look very dangerous heading into the SEC title game.
They have a chance to create havoc in Atlanta next week.
Next Week: vs Georgia SEC Championship Game
9. Missouri Tigers 10-2 (12)
Last Week: Won 48-14 at Arkansas
For the seventh time in Mizzou history, the Tigers have won double-digit games in a single season.
Missouri has yet to trail a game at halftime this season, the first time they have accomplished that since 1998.
Mizzou averaged 6.0 yards per run against Arkansas as they ran for a season-high 258 yards.
Next Week: Off
10. Penn State Nittany Lions 10-2 (9)
Last Week: Won at Michigan State 42-0
The theme in Happy Valley is Penn State did not have to face a Top 10 team and they were able to win comfortably.
Penn State produced 10 20-plus yard plays on offense and held Michigan State to minus 35 rushing yards. It was a dominant performance against an overmatched opponent.
This was the third shutout of the season for the Nittany Lions, the first time they have posted as many since 1978.
Next Week: Off
11. Ole Miss Rebels 10-2 (13)
Last Week: Won 17-7 at Mississippi State
The Rebels have posted back-to-back 10-win seasons and collected 10 wins in the regular season for just the second time ever.
The 17-7 Egg Bowl win saw Quinshon Judkins go over the 1,000-yard mark on the ground and become the third Rebel to ever have multiple 1,000-yard seasons.
The Rebels’ only losses this season were on the road to Georgia and Alabama.
Next Week: Off
12. Oklahoma Sooners 10-2 (10)
Last Week: Beat TCU 69-45
Oklahoma polished off an unbeaten season at home.
The Sooners scored at least 50 points for the fourth time this season in Norman. Dillon Gabriel threw for 400 yards and three touchdowns in the offensive explosion.
The defense did not have the stellar performance they would have wanted heading into the postseason.
Next Week: Off
13. LSU Tigers 9-3 (15)
Last Week: Beat Texas A&M 42-30
The Tigers won their ninth game of the season and will now get ready for a bowl game.
Jayden Daniels padded his stats a little bit more against the Aggies as he had another 355 yards of total offense and four TDS. In the last three games, he has accounted for over 1,400 yards of offense.
Daniels is the first player in FBS history with over 12,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in his career.
Is it enough for the Heisman? We will see. Some of his competitors have another game next weekend to showcase themselves.
Next Week: Off
14. Arizona Wildcats 9-3 (16)
Last Week: Won at Arizona State 59-23
The Wildcats are rolling. Their 36-point win was their largest road win ever in the Territorial Cup.Noah Fifita threw for an Arizona-record 527 yards in the win.
The Cats have now won six consecutive games for the first time since 1998. They are poised to be a factor in the new-look Big 12 next season.
Next Week: Off
15. Louisville Cardinals 10-2 (11)
Last Week: Lost to Kentucky 38-31
Rivalry games can get tricky.
The Cardinals will still have a chance to win an ACC title against Florida State next week but they’ll play in that game coming off of a loss. The Cards committed three turnovers that led to 10 points for Kentucky.
Now attention turns to spoiling things for the Seminoles.
Next Week: vs Florida State ACC Championship Game
16. Oregon State Beavers 8-4 (14)
Last Week: Lost at Oregon 31-7
The Beavers have now lost two in a row having closed the regular season with losses to Washington and Oregon.
OSU had no answers for the Ducks and averaged just 2.2 yards per carry.
Oregon State will await their bowl matchup.
Next Week: Off
17. Utah Utes 8-4 (17)
Last Week: Beat Colorado 23-17
Utah was only able to muster 61 yards passing but did run the ball for over 200 yards against the lowly Buffs. The Utes topped 200 yards on the ground for the sixth time this season.
Utah will miss out on a 10- win season but has a chance to build momentum heading into next year with a bowl victory.
This game was a mirror of the Utes season with just not enough production in the passing game all year.
Next Week: Off
18. Tulane Green Wave 11-1 (18)
Last week: Beat UTSA 26-16
Tulane secured the home field for the AAC title game next week against SMU. This is the third time the Green Wave have been 11-1 or better since 1893.
Michael Pratt threw two TDs in the win and has now thrown a TD pass in 44 of his 45 career games and has thrown multiple TDs in 31 of those games.
The Green Wave are now 23-3 since the start of 2022 trailing only Georgia (27) and Michigan (24) for the most wins during that span.
Next Week: vs SMU in AAC Championship Game
19. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9-3 (19)
Last Week: Won at Stanford 56-23
Notre Dame ran all over Stanford to close out the regular season.
Audric Estimé rushed for a career-high 238 yards and four TDs, posting the 17th 200-yard rushing performance in school history.
The Irish defense did not play their best game, allowing 359 yards in the win.
Next Week: Off
20. Oklahoma State Cowboys 9-3 (20)
Last Week: Beat BYU 40-34
The Cowboys needed an 18-point comeback to knock off BYU and get to the Big 12 title game.
Ollie Gordon is the nation’s leading rusher and the All-American most people have not heard much about. He totaled five TDs against the Cougars and over 100 yards on the ground for the ninth straight game.
If the Cowboys can avoid turning the ball over they can give Texas a battle in the conference title game.
Next Week: vs Texas in Big 12 Championship Game
21. Liberty Flames 12-0 (21)
Last Week: Won at UTEP 42-28
Liberty completed their first unbeaten regular season ever.
The Flames ran for 441 yards in the win, it was the fifth time they have run for over 300 in the last six games.
Liberty has now gone over 200 yards on the ground in seven consecutive games and 11 times this season.
Next Week: vs New Mexico State in C-USA Championship Game
22. Toledo 11-1 (22)
Last Week: Won at Central Michigan 32-17
Toledo has won 11 games in a season for the first time since 2017 and the sixth time ever.
In the MAC Championship game, the Rockets can collect their 12th win in a single season for the first time since 1971.
The Rockets’ 11-game win streak is their longest since that 1971 season and is the sixth longest in the nation currently.
Next Week: vs Miami (OH) in MAC Championship Game
23. Iowa Hawkeyes 10-2 (23)
Last Week: Won at Nebraska 13-10
The Hawkeyes just keep on winning. The offense is garbage but the defense is legitimate and elite.
The Big Ten Championship Game next week might prove to be too much for the Hawkeyes. Nothing has come real easy or been pretty, but would Iowa have it any other way?
Say what you want about them but the wins keep on coming.
Next Week: vs Michigan in Big Ten Championship Game
24. NC State Wolfpack 9-3 (NR)
Last Week: Beat North Carolina 39-20
NC State has won five straight ACC games for the first time in 50 years. The Wolfpack are the quietest 9-3 team in history.
The 39 points NCSU scored against UNC was their most against the Tar Heels since 2008.
Kevin Concepcion had a season-high 131 receiving yards as the Pack put up 504 yards of offense.
Next Week: Off
25. Tennessee Volunteers 8-4 (NR)
Last Week: Beat Vanderbilt 48-24
The Vols put up 617 yards off offense on Vanderbilt in the win over their in-state rivals.
This was the seventh time in the Josh Heupel-era that UT has put up more than 600 yards in a game.
This one was not as close as the final score indicates as the Vols ran out to a 45-10 win before some late scores.
Next Week: Off
Dropped Out: UNLV & Kansas State
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