Post-Week Eleven College Football Playoff Power Rankings

Travis Entienne and Christian Wilkins, Clemson

The Four

1 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-0, 7-0 SEC)
Alabama got quite the challenge this Saturday, as 16th-ranked Mississippi State played some of their best football of the season, matching the Tide for the vast majority of their matchup. However, the Tide were able to pull away late and avoid a stunning upset. The victory kept Alabama flawless, and with Georgia losing to Auburn, likely means the Crimson Tide should rise to No. 1 in the new set of Playoff rankings set to come out on Tuesday. It should be a pretty relaxed week for the Tide this week as they meet FCS foe Mercer, but it should be an opportunity to figure some things out prior to a Iron Bowl battle that has huge SEC and Playoff implications. A victory there would likely lock in 'Bama into yet another Playoff bid, no matter what happens in the SEC Championship.

2 Miami Hurricanes (9-0, 6-0 ACC)
It is probably safe to say that "The U" is officially back following the Hurricanes dominant showing against Notre Dame in primetime on Saturday. Prior to the win over ND, Miami had been undefeated but their resume paled in comparison to many other serious Playoff contenders. Beating the Irish, who have one impressive resume themselves, certainly changed that, especially the way they did it. Miami came out with a chip on their shoulder and looked locked in from the moment the first quarter started. The key going forward is for them to keep their focus the rest of the regular season and not get caught looking ahead to the ACC Championship or beyond. Neither Virginia nor Pittsburgh are serious threats but both could be trap games, and then the 'Canes finish their season with what will be back-to-back games against Clemson, one in the regular season finale and another in that ACC Championship. If they are able to run the table, the 'Canes have a serious case for No. 1 in the country but even if they lose, they could still realistically get into the four-team field.

3 Clemson Tigers (9-1, 7-1 ACC)
Before the season began, Clemson-Florida State was not only supposed to decide the ACC race, but likely the Playoff chase. That was not the case in reality, as Clemson entered the game against 3-5 Florida State simply trying to not come in overconfident. The Seminoles were able to make it pretty competitive, but Clemson still rolled to their ninth win of the year. At this point, Clemson still has the best resume of any one-loss team in the country, even though Virginia Tech losing this weekend did hurt them. What really helps the Tigers is their early-season win over Auburn, which now looks like a huge victory, considering the way Auburn dismantled Georgia. However, because that one loss was to Syracuse, Clemson really has no room for error. Any loss, even to Miami, likely would eliminate their chances of making the Playoff and defending their National Championship.

4 Oklahoma Sooners (9-1, 6-1 Big 12)
It was a big weekend in the Big 12, with Oklahoma and TCU squaring off to become the prohibitive Big 12 favorite, and Oklahoma State-Iowa State meeting in essentially a Big 12 Championship elimination game. The Sooners managed to get the job done, rolling past the Horned Frogs behind the big play of Baker Mayfield and company. The victory not only puts Oklahoma in the drivers seat in the conference, but also pushes them into a good place in the Playoff chase. Oklahoma's non-conference win over Ohio State on the road is still incredibly impressive, and a resume that includes beating Oklahoma State and TCU is not bad either. What has also seriously helped the Sooners' hopes is the fact that Iowa State has put together a good season. When the Sooners lost to the Cyclones, it was threatening to be a bad loss, but the Cyclones play has made it look a lot better, which should only help OU going forward.

Next Four Out

5 Georgia Bulldogs (9-1, 6-1 SEC)
It obviously wasn't a great weekend for Georgia, who were pounded by Auburn 40-17 then saw their most impressive win of the year, Notre Dame, get beat even worse by Miami. With that being said, UGA's Playoff hopes are not dead. They will end the regular season with Kentucky and rival Georgia Tech, two dangerous, but beatable teams, before the SEC Championship. No matter whether it is Auburn or Alabama that they meet, a win there would likely guarantee a Playoff berth. Beating 'Bama might look better just because of what the Tide have done all season long, but getting vengeance against Auburn would be extremely satisfying and give this team a ton of momentum. Either way, Georgia will now definitely have to run the table to get into the Playoff, which makes them difficult, but not impossible.

6 Wisconsin Badgers (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten)
For the first time this season, Wisconsin came out and beat a team that was ranked when they played, as they ran past Iowa at home. It wasn't exactly a signature win, but it certainly strengthened Wisconsin's resume, which is much weaker than most in the Playoff hunt. What would really help the Badgers going forward is not only for them to keep winning, of course, but some of the teams they have beaten to keep rolling. Florida Atlantic and Northwestern are two teams that they beat that have played very well down the stretch. FAU looks like they might win the Conference USA and Northwestern is quietly 7-3 and now ranked. Wisconsin's biggest game of the year is on this Saturday, when they meet Michigan. These Wolverines aren't the 2016 edition, but they have looked reinvigorated with Brandon Peters at quarterback. Handling the Wolverines and winning the Big Ten Championship would have to get Wisconsin into the Playoff, especially with some of the chaos that ensued this weekend.

7 Auburn Tigers (8-2, 6-1 SEC)
If there is one remaining wild card in the Playoff race, it has to be Auburn, who cause some serious craziness depending on how they finish up the season. The Tigers obviously beat Georgia this week, and now has two more opportunities to prove themselves to the Committee. If they are able to beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl and then beat Georgia once more in the SEC Championship, it'd be awfully hard to leave them out, even with their two losses. That is definitely easier said than done, but the way that QB Jarrett Stidham and this defense is currently playing, Auburn is incredibly scary and a team that could do serious damage.

8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-2)
Before this Saturday, Notre Dame was one of the hottest teams in the country, and a team that looked like a near Playoff lock. The Hurricanes were able to throw a serious wrench into that, and now the Irish will have to find a way to regroup. They will end the season with meetings with Navy and Stanford, who present interesting challenges. Neither is ranked currently, but the two have some of the best rushing offenses in the nation, and Stanford has stud running back Bryce Love, who is trying to make a last-ditch effort to overcome Mayfield and Saquon Barkley to win the Heisman. Beating those two may be enough to impress the Committee slightly, but Notre Dame will still probably need some chaos in front of them to have any shot at the Playoff now.

Others in the Mix
Ohio State Buckeyes
UCF Knights
Oklahoma State Cowboys
USC Trojans
Penn State Nittany Lions

Post-Week Eight College Football Playoff Power Rankings

Jalen Hurts, Alabama

The Four

1 Alabama Crimson Tide (8-0, 5-0 SEC)
As expected, Alabama had no issues this past weekend, punishing the struggling Tennessee Volunteers 45-7 in front of their home crowd. It wasn't much of a resume-boosting win for the Tide, but gave them plenty of momentum as they head into their bye week, right before their battle against LSU. The meeting with the Tigers very well could be the toughest remaining opponent for Alabama before their Iron Bowl matchup with Auburn, and then likely an SEC Championship Game meeting with Georgia. This team still has plenty to work on, including fixing a mediocre passing attack, and on special teams, but it is looking like 'Bama once again has a very good chance at running the table before they head into postseason play.


2 Penn State Nittany Lions (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten)
Outside of a tough road win over Iowa, Penn State's Playoff resume really paled in comparison to most of the other serious contenders up until this Saturday. The Nittany Lions were able to get vengeance against Michigan after losing 49-10 to them last year (a loss that ended their Playoff hopes), pounding the Wolverines 42-13. Penn State's offense continues to give defenses fits, as Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley are a big play waiting to happen. On the other side of the ball, it is still unclear just how good PSU is, but the numbers speak for themselves. Up next for the Nittany Lions: a huge game against Ohio State in Columbus. The Buckeyes will be eager to get revenge after losing to Penn State last season, but the Nittany Lions know a victory there should put them on a clear track to a second straight conference title.

3 Georgia Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0 SEC)
Even though Georgia was on a bye this weekend, it was a great day for the Bulldogs. That is because UGA's signature victory, Notre Dame, who they beat in a thriller, beat USC to give them a real signature win. Notre Dame looking better in turn makes Georgia look better, who needs all the help they can get, considering they play in the notoriously weak SEC East. The Bulldogs get Florida this next weekend in their annual rivalry game that could be interesting but beyond that it looks like pretty smooth sailing for Georgia, before their likely SEC Championship Game berth.

4 TCU Horned Frogs (7-0, 4-0 Big 12)
Things went as planned for TCU over this weekend as well, as the Horned Frogs dominated Kansas 43-0 to stay undefeated. Not only did TCU look potent once more offensively, their defense was absolutely terrific, holding Kansas to a meager 21 yards of total offense. The continued success of that defense is a major advantage for TCU, particularly considering they play in the Big 12, a league that is well-known for it's big-time offenses. A road matchup against Iowa State in Ames could be a tough one for the Horned Frogs. The Cyclones are much-improved this season, have already beaten Oklahoma and have a history of stunning undefeated teams (see Oklahoma State, 2011).

Next Four Out

5 Wisconsin Badgers (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten)
The Badgers just keep on rolling, running past Maryland 38-13 on Saturday to stay flawless overall and in Big Ten play. It might have added another win to Wisconsin's total, but it didn't exactly increase their Playoff odds. The Badgers still lack a true signature victory to impress the Playoff Committee, and it is hard to see when they are going to get one. Their toughest remaining opponent prior to the Big Ten Championship Game is against Michigan, which may be a tough battle, but doesn't really qualify as a huge win. It is looking more and more like Wisconsin should run the table, but it is hard to know what the Committee will think of a team without a very impressive resume.

6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-1)
Not a lot was expected of Notre Dame following a 4-8 2016, but there is no denying this team has been a notable surprise. The offense has been absolutely lethal on the ground and defensively, new coordinator Mike Elko has worked wonders. This past weekend really gave ND the signature win they needed, by blowing out USC, who still has a good chance to win the Pac-12. That plus a non-conference victory over Michigan State and plenty of remaining opportunities to even further impress the Committee (Stanford, NC State and Miami all await) gives the Irish a very good shot to make the Playoff, particularly if they can run the table.

7 Clemson Tigers 6-1 (4-1 ACC)
Clemson had a week off to ponder what went wrong in the team's stunning loss to unranked Syracuse, which could be a huge blessing. It may help quarterback Kelly Bryant get healthy once more, and also prepare the team for a tough end-of-the-year stretch, which includes facing a tough triple-option attack in Georgia Tech, a dangerous NC State squad and a bitter rival in South Carolina. What also helps the Tigers is the fact that Syracuse went out and gave undefeated Miami a very tough game on Saturday, making that loss look a lot better. The loss still won't look great in front of the Committee but if Clemson can still run the table and win the ACC, it's hard to imagine a team with such a solid resume missing out on the four-team field.

8 Ohio State Buckeyes 6-1 (4-0 Big Ten)
This Ohio State team is looking more and more like the 2013-2014 Buckeyes, and that should strike fear into the rest of the country. That team lost a non-conference game early on (like the Buckeyes did this year against Oklahoma) before playing like mad the rest of the season and using a great second half of the season to find their way into the Playoff. However, Ohio State still has yet to get a signature win on the year. They've absolutely pounded lesser competition in the conference, but this week against Penn State could give the team the big win they desperately need. A win there, in front of the home crowd in Columbus, makes OSU not only the favorite in the Big Ten East, but also likely puts them in the forefront of the Playoff race.

Others in the Mix
Miami Hurricanes
Oklahoma Sooners
Washington Huskies
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Virginia Tech Hokies
Washington State Cougars
Michigan State Spartans
South Florida Bulls
UCF Knights
Stanford Cardinal

Post-Week Six College Football Playoff Power Rankings

Jake Fromm, Georgia

The Four

1 Clemson Tigers (6-0, 4-0 ACC)
For the first time in 2017, a new team takes over the No.1 spot in the Playoff power rankings. Clemson overtakes Alabama here not because the Tide are playing bad, but because to this point in the season, Clemson has a much stronger resume. The Tigers went out and beat Auburn in the non-conference and followed it up with two quality road victories over Louisville and Virginia Tech. Their path to the Playoff is very clear; with Florida State struggling, likely the only ranked team they will see before the ACC Championship would be NC State. The fact Kelly Bryant was beat up this past week is relatively concerning, but the Tigers still look like a team that should be able to run the table. If that is the case, there will be absolutely no doubt that Clemson deserves their third straight Playoff berth.

2 Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0, 3-0 SEC)
For the first time since the opening week of the season, Alabama was tested, but was still able to come out with a 27-19 win over Texas A&M. The victory wasn't super impressive, but the Aggies aren't a bad football team, and they played some of their best football they've played all year. The Tide still look like the team we expected them to be: a solid, not great offense, but a punishing defense with depth everywhere. The good news for Alabama is that while they may be here at the No. 2 spot right now, they have a very good chance to still end up being the top seed by the time the Playoff Committee makes their decision. They play a suddenly-dangerous Auburn team still and Georgia looks like it could be a huge victory if they do indeed meet in the SEC Championship Game.

3 Georgia Bulldogs 6-0 (3-0 SEC)
We are only halfway through the season and plenty is still likely to happen, but so far, Georgia may be the most surprising team of the 2017 season. Sure, expectations are always high in Athens and this team was considered the SEC East favorite by many during the pre-season, but the way the Bulldogs have played with their starting QB injured has been astounding. Their most impressive win to date is certainly their victory over Notre Dame (which is looking better and better as the weeks go by) but their other wins are just as impressive, because they have looked utterly dominant. True frosh QB Jake Fromm has run the offense with impressive composure, and defensively, Georgia is as good as anyone. Like I said, it's still early in the season but UGA looks like they have a decent shot at running the table before they likely meet 'Bama in the SEC Championship, which will have huge Playoff implications.

4 Penn State Nittany Lions 6-0 (3-0 Big Ten)
Penn State continues to roll through the early portion of their schedule without any issues, as they ran past Northwestern 31-7 this weekend. As usual, the Nittany Lions' offense was the difference, as dynamic QB Trace McSorley was wonderful through the air, and running back Saquon Barkley continues to strengthen his Heisman campaign. However, things get very difficult for Penn State over the next couple weeks. After a bye this next week, the Nittany Lions go on a stretch where they meet Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State, with OSU and MSU both on the road. That will really give us an indication of whether this team is truly the Big Ten's best team, or just a pretender.

Next Four Out

5 TCU Horned Frogs 5-0 (2-0 Big 12)
With Oklahoma choking at home against Iowa State this past weekend, TCU takes over as the clear-cut Big 12 favorite. The Horned Frogs bring a solid resume to the table, as they've opened up conference play with consecutive Top 25 victories, over Oklahoma State and West Virginia. The win over WVU wasn't very pretty, but QB Kenny Hill continues to play terrific football and while the defense still is prone to letting up the big play, it is still likely the best in the conference. The schedule lightens up significantly for TCU over the next few weeks, with their next three being Kansas State, Kansas and Iowa State. As long as TCU is able to avoid a trap game, they should be in very good Playoff position by the time they meet the meat of their schedule, in early November.

6 Washington Huskies 6-0 (3-0 Pac-12)
With USC losing, the Pac-12 is likely to fall to either Washington school. The Huskies are a slight favorite at the moment, as they continue to pour it on, albeit against meager competition. Washington hasn't had a close game so far in 2017 but on the flip side, they have the weakest resume of any major Playoff contender. Their most impressive win to this point is still Colorado, but the Buffaloes have lost three straight and their defense was absolutely shredded by Arizona this past Saturday. That weak resume hurts UW right now, but they still have more than enough time to make up for it. Wins against Stanford and Washington State should be enough to convince the Committee this team deserves a second straight Playoff bid.

7 Wisconsin Badgers 5-0 (2-0 Big Ten)
After a pretty slow start, Wisconsin poured it on to beat Nebraska handily this week, improving the Badgers to 5-0. The win doesn't exactly boost Wisconsin's resume considering how much Nebraska has struggled this year, but it gave the Badgers important momentum as they enter the bulk of conference play. The really good news for Wisconsin is that their remaining regular season slate is very easy. Their toughest remaining opponent is Michigan, who has struggled with serious offensive issues all season long. Beyond that, Wisconsin has enough defensively to be able to roll past the rest of their conference slate and likely clinch another Big Ten West title.

8 Washington State Cougars 6-0 (3-0 Pac-12)
He may be incredibly unorthodox, but there is no denying Mike Leach has done a special coaching job in Pullman. The Cougars, once a Pac-12 cellar dweller, have developed into quite the threat in the Pac-12 and now look like a legit Playoff threat six weeks into 2017. Quarterback Luke Falk has led Leach's Air Raid system wonderfully, but what has been even more impressive has been Washington State's defense. Once among the conference's worst, it has played with terrific energy and confidence so far this season and absolutely shut down Oregon on Saturday. The Cougars' schedule is interesting going forward; it is relatively easy before a three-game stretch to end the year that is certainly precarious: against Stanford, Utah and on the road against Washington.

Others in the Mix
Miami Hurricanes
Auburn Tigers
Ohio State Buckeyes
USC Trojans
Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma State Cowboys
South Florida Bulls
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan Wolverines
NC State Wolfpack
UCF Knights
Virginia Tech Hokies

Post-Week Four College Football Playoff Power Rankings

Kenny Hill, TCU

The Four 

1 Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0, 1-0 SEC)
After beating Kansas State in Week 3, Vanderbilt defensive linemen Nifae Lealao proclaimed "Alabama, you're next". Turns out it wasn't a great idea to call out the nation's top team, as the Commodores were absolutely pummeled by 'Bama, 59-0, and out-gained yardage-wise by nearly 600 yards. The victory gave Alabama their first conference victory of the 2017 campaign, and with LSU, Auburn and Mississippi State all not playing very well, there is no doubt they are the SEC West favorite. Up next for the Tide: a meeting with Ole Miss, who has been the only SEC team over the past few seasons to really give the Tide consistent problems. However, this is not the same Rebels team it was the past three seasons, and 'Bama seems to be playing with a chip on their shoulder, which should strike fear into every single team in the country.

2 Clemson Tigers 4-0 (1-0 ACC)
It was not very surprising to see Clemson have somewhat of a hangover this past week, after the huge victory they had on the road against Louisville. The Tigers started things off very slow against Boston College before really turning on the jets, coming away with a 34-7 win in their respective conference opener. The Eagles aren't a great football team, but the Tigers' defense was still dominant, and the offense showed it could make plays even as their QB Kelly Bryant struggled (two INTs), as young running back Travis Etienne added 113 yards and two touchdowns. Clemson has another big game next week, as they must go on the road once again and beat a conference foe, this time 13th-ranked Virginia Tech. A win there, and you could definitely make the case Clemson has the best resume in college football, and should be the country's No. 1 team.

3 Penn State Nittany Lions 4-0 (1-0 Big Ten)
Going into Kinnick Stadium for a night game is one of the toughest things to do in college football, and Penn State nearly became the latest victim this Saturday. The Nittany Lions got all they could handle from the Hawkeyes before coming out on top, 21-19, in the final seconds. Running back Saquon Barkley put on an absolute show, with 211 rushing yards and 94 receiving yards while providing fans with plenty of highlight-reel plays. It certainly was quite the challenge for the Nittany Lions but Iowa is still a resume-boosting win and the win strengthens their resume. Only more reassuring for Penn State is the fact that their Big Ten East counterparts continue to underperform. Ohio State still has one loss, Michigan continues to underwhelm, Maryland lost to UCF and Michigan State was pounded by Notre Dame.

4 Oklahoma Sooners 4-0 (1-0 Big 12)
While most of the rest of the teams in the serious Playoff hunt came out with big wins (with the exception of Oklahoma State), the Sooners didn't exactly wow this past week. They were given quite the challenge by Baylor, who came into this game winless and had lost to Liberty and UTSA. Baker Mayfield and back Abdul Adams kept the offense humming along as usual, but the defense had it's worst performance of the year, allowing over 450 yards to Zach Smith and the Bears. Considering pass defense has been a serious Achilles Heel of the team over the past few seasons, it certainly was scary for Sooners' fans to see the team struggle once more. The good news is that Oklahoma will have some time to figure it out. Their next two opponents, Iowa State and Kansas State, aren't great passing teams and should be a good opportunity to test things out before their meeting with Texas Tech.

Next Four Out

5 USC Trojans 4-0 (2-0 Pac-12)
The Trojans won this weekend to remain flawless and claim their second Pac-12 win, but it was far from an impressive victory. Cal looks like a much better team than last year's 5-7 edition, but the Golden Bears seemed to really outplay USC in the battle, before the Trojans were able to turn it on. Sam Darnold played okay, but now has seven interceptions on the year (he had nine all of last year) and running back Ronald Jones II has struggled to stay healthy. On the other side of the ball, 'SC also has had issues stopping the pass, so there is work to be done. Even so, the Trojans are now 4-0 and until they falter they have to be viewed as the favorite in the conference.

6 Washington Huskies 4-0 (1-0 Pac-12)
For the first time in 2017, Washington took on a viable football team and they came out and blew out Colorado, winning by nearly four scores. The Buffaloes aren't the Pac-12 title contender they were last season, but they still come in 3-0, and Washington looked very good. The defense still has some things it needs to figure out and losing cornerback Byron Murphy certainly strings. But, the offense is still one of the nation's most dynamic, with quarterback Jake Browning leading the way, and Myles Gaskin also playing wonderful (had over 200 yards in this one). It was a very reassuring victory for UW, who had looked a little bit sloppy early on. Up next: a road meeting against Oregon State, who has had a rough '17.

7 Georgia Bulldogs 4-0 (1-0 SEC)
Simply stating that Georgia's 31-3 win over Mississippi State was impressive is somewhat of an understatement. Georgia came out and absolutely shredded a team coming off a 30-point win over LSU, with a true freshman QB starting just his third game. Despite his immense youth, Jake Fromm has looked calm and collected, and could be an improvement over the injured Jacob Eason. The Bulldogs' ground game is absolutely wonderful, and defensively, they look like they have a unit that can go head to head with anyone in the country, including Alabama. With no other team in the SEC East looking like serious threats to the 'Dawgs, UGA has to be viewed as the clear-cut favorite in the division.

8 TCU Horned Frogs 4-0 (1-0 Big 12)
Following an uneven 2016 in which they went 6-7, TCU has looked greatly improved so far this season and asserted themselves as a serious Big 12 title threat by beating Oklahoma State on the road. Second-year starter Kenny Hill has looked like a revelation so far in '17, cutting down on turnovers and making the right decisions. He is aided by underrated back Darius Anderson and big-play receiver KaVontae Turpin, giving TCU one of the nation's most explosive units. On the other side of the ball, defensive-minded Gary Patterson continues to work magic, shutting down Heisman threats Mason Rudolph and James Washington Jr. Unfortunately, things don't get any easier for the Horned Frogs these next couple weeks, as they go up against West Virginia and Kansas State, two quality Big 12 teams.

Others in the Mix
Wisconsin Badgers
Michigan Wolverines
Virginia Tech Hokies
Ohio State Buckeyes
Miami Hurricanes
Washington State Cougars
Florida Gators
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Auburn Tigers
Utah Utes

Post-Week Three College Football Playoff Power Rankings

Kelly Brant, Clemson

The Four

1 Alabama Crimson Tide (3-0, 0-0 SEC)
For the second straight week, Alabama squared off against a Mountain West foe and once again, they had no issues. Sophomore signal-caller Jalen Hurts continues to impress making plays behind the country's best offensive line, and as expected, the Tide are as stout defensively as anybody in the nation. While Clemson and Oklahoma have had two straight weeks of big wins, Alabama still appears to be the best team in the country, until someone comes out and beats them. They are as balanced and well-rounded as any 'Bama we've seen under Nick Saban, and their resume will look strong as long as Florida State remains relevant. Their next battle will be on the road against Vanderbilt, which shouldn't be a super tough test, but will be a nice little introduction to the speed and physicality of SEC football.

2 Clemson Tigers (3-0, 1-0 ACC)
Remember when Clemson was supposed to take a big step back as they moved on from Deshaun Watson, Wayne Gallman, Mike Williams and the rest of their core from last year's National Championship team? So far, that certainly hasn't been the case. The Tigers pounded Louisville this past week to improve to 3-0, giving them their second straight win over a ranked team. What was even more impressive about the win is that they looked firmly dominant going on the road, and quarterback Kelly Bryant and the offense looked absolutely superb. It is still super early obviously but Clemson looks like a full-fledged Playoff threat. If they continue to play the way they have, they have a legitimate shot at meeting Alabama in the National Championship for what would be a third straight season.

3 Oklahoma Sooners 3-0 (0-0 Big 12)
One week removed from a huge road win over Ohio State, Oklahoma came out slow out of the gate against Tulane before turning on the jets, coming away with a 56-14 victory. Quarterback Baker Mayfield continues to absolutely shred opposing defenses, and the rest of the offense has played terrific. It has also been a huge relief to the Sooners' faithful that the defense has looked much improved. The unit has been a huge problem over the past few seasons in Norman, but it has been extremely stingy over the first three weeks, and could be a huge advantage in the pass-happy Big 12. The Sooners will begin their Big 12 slate this week on the road, but going up against the 0-3 Baylor Bears, who have already lost to Liberty and UTSA, shouldn't be too worrying.

4 USC Trojans 3-0 (0-0 Pac-12)
Over a decade after Vince Young led Texas on their wild National Title run over the Trojans, USC got their vengeance, taking down the Longhorns in a thriller, 27-24. It wasn't a very dominant victory over a Texas team that hasn't looked very good early on this season and was missing their starting QB, but 'SC adds another quality win to their resume. The fact that Stanford lost this weekend to San Diego State hurts them a bit, but the Trojans still appear to the team to beat in the Pac-12, particularly with UCLA getting upset this week. They go up against a sneaky Cal team this Saturday, but as long as Sam Darnold is leading the way and the defense continues to be solid, the Trojans should keep on chugging along.

Next Four Out

5 Penn State Nittany Lions 3-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Another week, another dominant showing by Penn State, who absolutely dismantled Georgia State 56-0 this past weekend. The offense is certainly one of the nation's most explosive, with Trace McSorley leading the always-dangerous aerial attack, Saquon Barkley running the ball, and receives DaeSean Hamilton and Mike Gesicki opening things up. The defense hasn't faced a super tough test, but looks as good as ever over the first three weeks of the year. What hurts Penn State's resume is the fact that Pitt was blown by Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Panthers, who PSU beat comfortably, looked like they would be a resume-booster but their blowout loss to the Cowboys likely indicates it could be a rebuilding year, which leaves the Nittany Lions still searching for that signature win.

6 Oklahoma State Cowboys 3-0 (0-0 Big 12)
Oklahoma State absolutely throttled their first two opponents of the season, but their play on Saturday was even more impressive. Behind the huge arm of Mason Rudolph and the abundant weapons they have at receiver, the Cowboys ran past Pittsburgh, 59-21, a viable ACC program. It wasn't really a signature win for the Cowboys, but it kept up their momentum, and this team looks very dangerous. They'll hope to continue that hot streak going up against 16th-ranked TCU, who is certainly the toughest team they've faced so far in 2017. A win there, and you could certainly make the case Oklahoma State, and not their in-state rivals, are the team to beat in a suddenly competitive Big 12 race.

7 Washington Huskies 3-0 (0-0 Pac-12)
Three weeks into the season, it is hard to know what type of team Washington is. The Huskies look great on paper, with star QB Jake Browning, running back Myles Gaskin and wide out Dante Pettis leading the way, but they haven't faced any real competition. Their toughest opponent so far this season has probably been Rutgers, who lost to Eastern Michigan and is clearly a bottom-tier Big Ten team. However, we will start to understand just how good this year's UW team is this upcoming weekend as they square off against a Colorado team who could still be in Pac-12 South contention.

8 Wisconsin Badgers 3-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Wisconsin is never going to be known as a very explosive team, especially offensively, but they looked very good this past Saturday going up against BYU. The Badgers dropped 40 on the board and threw the ball the best they have in years, as sophomore QB Alex Hornibrook displayed impressive poise and confidence. The ground game looks as dangerous as ever, with freshman Jonathan Taylor and Pitt transfer Chris James leading the way, and defensively, Wisconsin should be as stout as ever, even as they deal with injuries. The Badgers will be on a bye this week before they square off against Northwestern, which could be a tricky conference opener.

Others in the Mix
Michigan Wolverines
Ohio State Buckeyes
Georgia Bulldogs
Virginia Tech Hokies
Florida State Seminoles
Miami Hurricanes
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Kansas State Wildcats
TCU Horned Frogs
Auburn Tigers
Washington State Cougars
Florida Gators
Oregon Ducks

Post-Week Two College Football Playoff Picture

Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

The Four

1 Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0, 0-0 SEC)
As expected, Alabama had no issues with Fresno State, rolling to a 41-10 victory. Sophomore QB Jalen Hurts still is improving as a passer, but he looks as dangerous as ever running the ball, with 154 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 rushes. With him, Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris, the Tide are absolutely scary on the ground, and it's hard to see anybody being able to contain that. Add to that a usually dominant defense, and Alabama looks unsurprisingly, like one of the nation's most complete teams. With that Florida State victory on their resume, the Tide should be in wonderful position going forward in the Playoff picture.

2 Oklahoma Sooners (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)
After losing to Ohio State last season handily Oklahoma came with a vengeance this past week, spanking the Buckeyes on the road. It was a message from a program with a first-year head coach and one sometimes criticized for their inability to win big games. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has looked absolutely wonderful, and may be the Heisman frontrunner after the first two games of the year. However, what has been even more impressive and key to the Sooners' hot start is the play of the defense, which has been terrific. Now through the toughest game of their season, Oklahoma should be favored in every single game they play the rest of the way and have a little bit of breathing room if they are to lose, as a big non-conference victory strengthens their resume in a big way.

3 Clemson Tigers (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Many expected Clemson to struggle as the move on from the Deshaun Watson, but that hasn't really been the case for the Tigers. New QB Kelly Bryant hasn't been absolutely perfect but he has still given this offense plenty of help, and the rest of the offense has been pinpoint. On the other side of the ball, the Tigers are as strong as anybody in the country, especially up front where you could make the case that they have three All-Americans on the defensive line. With a strong non-conference victory over Auburn and the fact that Florida State will likely take a step back without Deondre Francois, Clemson's chances of returning to a third consecutive Playoff seem very, very good.

4 Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
While Penn State didn't beat a Top 25 team like Oklahoma and Clemson, they still certainly helped their Playoff case with a very impressive Week 2. The Nittany Lions ran past in-state rival Pittsburgh, handling the Panthers with ease. The offense, which returns nearly every major component from last year's explosive group, has looked absolutely superb and defensively, they are good enough to compete with everyone. This program once looked to have little direction in the first two seasons of the James Franklin era, but they've played with a certain swagger and energy over the last year and a half. With Ohio State and Michigan both not playing very well, it seems pretty clear that Penn State is the team to beat in the Big Ten East.

Next Four Out

5 USC Trojans (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12)
After a pretty unimpressive opener in which the Trojans came out pretty flat against Western Michigan, USC looked very strong in their conference opener against Stanford. Sam Darnold recovered from a poor Week One to play like the Heisman candidate we were expecting before the season began, while the defense did a superb job containing Bryce Love and Stanford's rush attack. It is still unclear whether this USC team is the Playoff-caliber team many thought they were prior to the season, but they've looked pretty solid. They should have a great chance at running the table before they reach the Pac-12 Championship Game, especially if they can avoid any trap games.

6 Washington Huskies (2-0, 0-0 Pac-12)
Much like last season, Washington has played an incredibly soft non-conference slate having no issues with either Rutgers nor Montana State. QB Jake Browning has engineered a very explosive offense, although the O-Line has been struggling with consistency early on. The key will be an improvement in the secondary, where UW has played well so far, but is still recovering from the loss of three NFL draft selections. If they can get that unit in tip-top shape before they really face the bulk of their conference schedule, which really starts in two weeks with a road trip to Colorado, this team should be as strong as ever.

7 Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)
While their archrival Oklahoma went out and played a tough non-conference game in the season's second week, Oklahoma State has been beating up on some less impressive opponents. That may hurt them later on, but so far, they've looked as good as anybody. As expected, QB Mason Rudoloph and wide out James Washington Jr. have looked absolutely wonderful, and certainly could be considered Heisman candidates. The defense really hasn't faced a very tough opponent, but their play so far should still leave the fans in Stillwater excited about this team's potential. Things do get tougher for Oklahoma State now, as they go on the road to play Pittsburgh and then square off against TCU, in a game that should keep the scoreboard operators very busy.

8 Michigan Wolverines (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Despite the fact QB Wilton Speight and the offense have lacked much rhythm for much of the season's first two weeks, Michigan has started off 2-0 and owns a very quality non-conference win over Florida. Speight will have to pick it up eventually but for the time being, Michigan has to be perfectly fine using their dangerous ground attack and incredibly quick defense to beat down opponents. The defense especially has looked absolutely wonderful, holding Florida to just one single field goal (UF did score two defensive touchdowns). If the Wolverines can keep that pace up on that side of the ball, they will certainly be quite the threat inside the Big Ten.

Others in the Mix
Ohio State Buckeyes
LSU Tigers
Wisconsin Badgers
Louisville Cardinals
Georgia Bulldogs
Florida State Seminoles
Virginia Tech Hokies
Miami Hurricanes
Kansas State Wildcats
TCU Horned Frogs
Washington State Cougars
Tennessee Volunteers