Post-Week Ten College Football Power Rankings

Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

1. Alabama Crimson Tide -- A 29-0 dismantling of third-ranked LSU on the road erased any doubt that they are the best team in the country. The offense continues to play well but the defense is playing even better with defensive end Quinnen Williams leading the charge.
2. Clemson Tigers -- Much like Alabama, Clemson impressed this past Saturday, pounding Louisville 77-16. Youngsters Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne have the offense rolling, but they'll need even more players to step up if they want a legitimate shot at overthrowing the Crimson Tide.
3. Michigan Wolverines -- Its time to give Michigan the credit they deserve; the Wolverines have dominated three straight ranked opponents, including a 42-7 victory over Penn State this weekend. The defense is at an elite-level, but Shea Patterson's growth at quarterback has been the major reason for their recent tear.
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- Its never easy going on the road to face a sneaky Northwestern team, but ND did just that and came away with an important win. The only significant challenge awaiting them is a matchup with Syracuse, which will pit an explosive offense against Notre Dame's physical defensive front.
5. Georgia Bulldogs -- Georgia avoided an upset against Kentucky on Saturday to clinch the SEC East for the second consecutive year. This team hasn't been very consistent, but they seem to be trending up at the right time, particularly if Jake Fromm can establish some more consistency week to week.
6. Oklahoma Sooners -- Road games in the Big 12 can sometimes get really weird, but the Sooners avoided losing in Lubbock this Saturday, keeping them as the favorite in the conference. They'll have two winnable games before they go on the road against West Virginia, which very well could be a Big 12 Championship Game preview.
7. Washington State Cougars -- Mike Leach has worked some magic with this Washington State team. Despite entering the year having an unproven transfer at quarterback, significant losses at receiver and very little experience defensively, WSU is 8-1 with their lone loss coming by three to USC. They still lack a signature win, but the Cougars are playing undeniably superb football right now.
8. West Virginia Mountaineers -- Will Grier may have forced himself back into the Heisman conversation with a beautiful throw to eventually beat Texas (after the two-point conversion). He also pushed West Virginia back into the Big 12 Title and Playoff hunt, although the defense continues to struggle.
9. LSU Tigers -- This looked like the year LSU was finally going to push Alabama, but instead they walked away on Saturday with their second loss of the year. There is no denying LSU's resume, and the defense is still stocked with talent, but a New Year's Six Bowl is almost certainly the ceiling for this team now.
10. UCF Knights -- The Knights got quite a challenge from Temple in an interesting weekday duel, but they managed to stay flawless. However, they have been hurt by recent losses by Cincinnati and South Florida; if both had managed to stay undefeated longer it would've greatly helped any UCF Playoff hopes.
11. Ohio State Buckeyes -- I'm not ready to rule out Ohio State just yet, considering their astounding talent on both sides of the ball, but there is no denying the team is struggling. The defense in particular has been problematic, and will need reinforcements if the Buckeyes have any hopes of repeating as Big Ten Champ.
12. Kentucky Wildcats -- Kentucky knows they won't be playing for an SEC Title this season, but the schedule is still very favorable down the stretch. If the Wildcats can win out, they have a chance to play in their most important bowl game in some time.
13. Syracuse Orange -- I am tentatively buying into this Syracuse team. They have an explosive offense with veteran leadership everywhere, and their two losses were both close on the road. They still have an outside chance to compete for a New Year's Six Bowl.
14. Mississippi State Bulldogs -- Mississippi State is entering their meeting with Alabama playing great football, coming off a 45-3 dismantling of Louisiana Tech. Their defense continues to play well, but they need Nick Fitzgerald to make some plays if they stand any chance at toppling Alabama.
15. Boston College Eagles -- The Eagles could really throw a wrench into the Playoff situation if they can come up with a home upset of Clemson this Saturday. It obviously won't be easy, but a healthy A.J. Dillon and a stingy defense certainly give them a fighting chance.
16. Florida Gators -- Despite losing by three touchdowns to an okay Missouri team, I still like this Gators team. They still hold an ultra-important win over LSU, and the defense is unquestionably terrific. Now, can they figure out the QB situation? Its looking like Kyle Trask is set to take over, but I bet we continue seeing more of true freshman Emory Jones.
17. Texas Longhorns -- The Longhorns aren't at the level we thought they might be after beating Oklahoma, but their last two losses easily could've gone the other way. They need D-coordinator Todd Orlando to start living up to his luxurious salary and lead a defense that is giving up way too many big plays.
18. Utah State Aggies -- Fresno State may be the lone Mountain West team ranked in the Playoff rankings, but I think Utah State is the real favorite in the conference. They've won eight straight (their only loss on the year is to Michigan State) and the offense has been nearly unstoppable, eclipsing 40 points in seven of their nine games.
19. Michigan State Spartans -- The Spartans certainly won't be playing for a Big Ten Title, but they have recovered nicely from a deflating loss to rival Michigan, by beating Purdue and Maryland in consecutive weeks. The defense has been elite, but MSU has to figure out how to move the ball if they want to take down Ohio State at home this weekend.
20. Penn State Nittany Lions -- They're coming off a 35-point loss, but I still think PSU is a Top 20 team. Trace McSorley has been beat up for a big chunk of the season, and he hasn't had a ton of help on the offensive end. It'll be interesting to see whether the coaching staff turns to longtime backup Tommy Stevens this weekend to give McSorley a much needed break.
21. Fresno State Bulldogs -- If not for a close loss to Minnesota on the road, Fresno State would be undefeated and likely challenging UCF for Group of Five supremacy. Head coach Jeff Tedford has an absolute stud on his hands in QB Marcus McMaryion, who will have to play well this week against a strong Boise State defense.
22. NC State Wolfpack -- Personally, I don't understand NC State being ranked at 14 in the latest Playoff ranking. Granted, they are 6-2, but their best win is probably over Virginia and they were absolutely no competition to the best team in the conference, losing by 34 against Clemson. The good news is that their schedule is a breeze down the stretch, meaning that ten games is a distinct possibility.
23. Iowa State Cyclones -- Oklahoma-West Virginia looks like a near lock as the Big 12 Championship Game, but don't count out Iowa State just yet. The Cyclones are playing terrific at the moment, as Hakeem Butler may one of the most dominant receivers in the entire country and is making NFL scouts flock to Ames.
24. Washington Huskies -- After a depressing 12-10 loss on the road to California, Washington recovered by running past Stanford to improve to 7-3. They aren't going to overtake their in-state rivals in the division, but spoiling any Playoff hopes for Washington State would be just as sweet.
25. Buffalo Bulls -- UCF, Fresno and Utah State may be getting more love from the polls, but Buffalo is quietly 9-1 and could challenge for a NY6 Bowl as well. Senior wide out Anthony Johnson is almost sure to be a pretty high NFL Draft selection this spring, and head coach Lance Leipold will almost certainly be on the radar for a number of Power Five teams looking for replacements.

Others to Consider
Auburn Tigers
Army Black Knights
Iowa Hawkeyes
Utah Utes
UAB Blazers
Wisconsin Badgers

Post-Week Seven College Football Power Rankings

Ian Book & Jafar Armstrong, Notre Dame

1. Alabama Crimson Tide -- Just a reminder of how dominant Alabama has been: they were without Tua Tagovailoa for much of the second quarter and were beat up pretty bad overall and still managed to pound a decent Missouri team 39-10. Until they lose, they are the overwhelming favorite to win it all.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes -- Ohio State's resume has been hurt by recent losses by TCU and Penn State, but they still look like the class of the Big Ten. Dwayne Haskins and these receivers give OSU the best downfield passing game they've had in some time, and the defense should be stout, even without Nick Bosa.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- Although they played pretty sloppy, Notre Dame kept their undefeated record intact by beating Pitt this past Saturday 19-14. The defense continues to be one of the best in the nation, while Ian Book's arrival as starting QB has certainly waked a slumbering offense.
4. Clemson Tigers -- The ACC is the weakest it has been in some time, boding well for a Clemson team with undeniable talent, but still working out some things out. A battle with NC State, a game that will decide the Atlantic Division, looms.
5. LSU Tigers -- The Tigers absolutely dismantled SEC East favorite Georgia this past weekend, only adding to an extremely impressive resume. QB Joe Burrow continues to be the X-factor; despite not having huge stats he has been the guiding force behind a resurgent season.
6. Michigan Wolverines -- UM has looked completely different from the team that was dominated by Notre Dame to begin the season, playing with a ton of confidence and winning the battle in the trenches. They are very much a factor in the brutal Big Ten East and can seriously compete with OSU to win it.
7. Georgia Bulldogs -- Georgia had a rough Saturday against LSU, but their Playoff hopes are not dead. This team still has astounding talent, but they need better quarterback play. Is it now time to switch to highly touted true frosh Justin Fields?
8. UCF Knights -- The reigning "National Champions" look like they could once again run the table, led by one of the country's most explosive offenses. Yet, the remaining schedule lacks any heavyweights, likely ensuring no Playoff berth for the Knights.
9. Texas Longhorns -- I'm still hesitant to say Texas is "back" but they recently beat Oklahoma and have gone on the road and beat a number of strong opponents. Sam Ehlinger has played more under control at quarterback, and there is no denying the defense's abilities.
10. Oklahoma Sooners -- OU's Playoff hopes are not dead yet, as West Virginia's loss to Iowa State keeps them neck and neck with UT for the Big 12 crown. Lincoln Riley is hopeful the defense can take a step forward after firing coordinator Mike Stoops.
11. Oregon Ducks -- The team in the Pac-12 with the best chance of making the Playoff now appears to be Oregon, as they stifled Washington at home last Saturday. Justin Herbert and the offense are rolling on all cylinders, and there isn't much in the conference ready to challenge them.
12. Florida Gators -- Dan Mullen has done a superb job with Florida in his debut season; the Gators are as strong as ever on the defensive side of the ball, but the growth of the offense has been the most important factor in their 6-1 start.
13. NC State Wolfpack -- Sure, NC State has yet to beat anybody very significant, but the Wolfpack look like a bonafide contender in the weak ACC. With veteran QB Ryan Finley at the helm and the defense playing better than most expected, don't rule out an upset victory over Clemson.
14. Kentucky Wildcats -- Fueled by superstar running back Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky has been a great story, rolling to a 5-1 first half. The schedule does pick up over the next month, with two difficult road trips, but the Wildcats are still locked in as SEC East contenders.
15. West Virginia Mountaineers -- Much like many highly-ranked Big 12 opponents, West Virginia was shocked in a night game at Ames, showing some of their deficiencies. It may have killed their Playoff chances, but the Big 12 remains wide open.
16. Penn State Nittany Lions -- A shocking loss to Michigan State at home was a real downer for Penn State, to say the least, but this team should still not be overlooked. Trace McSorley and this offense are going to be playing with real edge down the stretch.
17. Iowa Hawkeyes -- With Wisconsin underperforming, Iowa now looks like they could win the Big Ten West, even though they lost to the Badgers a few weeks ago. Outside of a road trip to Penn State, Iowa should be favored in every single game the rest of the way.
18. Washington Huskies -- UW has been a slight disappointment this year, losing in the non-conference to an Auburn team that isn't very good and losing to Oregon on Saturday. Though, the defense is still playing at an elite level and if the offense can create some big plays, the Huskies can still find a way to win the Pac-12 North.
19. Michigan State Spartans -- The Spartans have been confusing this season. They underperformed in losses to Arizona State and Northwestern, but then went on the road and beat PSU. They have the experience and depth to still be dangerous, and Mark Dantonio's teams always play tough.
20. Texas A&M Aggies -- A&M went on the road and took down South Carolina this weekend, but I'm still not completely sold on this team. The defense has been wonderful under new DC Mike Elko, but the offense is still working on finding consistency.
21. Cincinnati Bearcats -- Quietly, Cincinnati is off to their best start since 2013, jumping to a 6-0 start behind a great ground attack. However, they face a brutal second half schedule that includes UCF, Navy and South Florida. That will decide just what level the program is truly at in Luke Fickell's second season at the helm.
22. Mississippi State Bulldogs -- The Bulldogs are another team struggling to be consistent, but Joe Moorhead still has quite a threatening team in Starkville. Nick Fitzgerald will have to have a big day if they are able to go on the road and stun LSU this upcoming Saturday.
23. Wisconsin Badgers -- Wisconsin looked overwhelmed in their beatdown loss at the hands of Michigan this past Saturday, but they aren't dead yet. Jonathan Taylor still gives them a fighting chance, and coordinator Jim Leonhard should be able to solve some of the defensive woes.
24. Stanford Cardinal -- Stanford is coming off two straight losses, but I still think they are a factor out West. Bryce Love may finally be 100 percent after a bye week and quarterback K.J. Costello should be able to bounce back from a couple weak showings.
25. South Florida Bulls -- Much like Cincinnati, South Florida has beaten up on some weak AAC foes to begin the year 6-0. Former Alabama QB Blake Barnett has been a great story, and he'll need to continue to play well if the Bulls want to lock up the conference.

Others to Consider
USC Trojans
Colorado Buffaloes
Washington State Cougars
Ole Miss Rebels
Appalachian State Mountaineers
Duke Blue Devils

Post-Week Three College Football Power Rankings

Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

1. Alabama Crimson Tide -- There is still plenty of tough SEC opponents to evade en route to another shot at a National Title, but the Tide look nearly unstoppable. This could be the best offense Nick Saban has had since arriving in Tuscaloosca a decade ago.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes -- With balance and depth throughout their lineup, the Buckeyes may be the biggest threat to Alabama in the entire country. New QB Dwayne Haskins has played like a serious Heisman threat, and the return of Urban Meyer on the sideline should only help OSU.
3. Georgia Bulldogs -- Middle Tennessee was no match for Georgia this weekend, as the Bulldogs rolled to a decisive 49-7 victory. A tough road game against Missouri looms, but UGA still looks like the overwhelming favorite in the mediocre SEC East.
4. Clemson Tigers -- The Tigers are the overwhelming favorites in the ACC right now, and a close road win against Texas A&M should boost their resume. With that being said, Clemson does not play a ranked team the rest of the way, with the lone exception being Boston College. That could certainly hurt their Playoff chances down the line.
5. LSU Tigers -- Despite entering the year with serious questions about their offense and the future of the program, LSU is currently the only team in the nation with two Top 10 victories to their name. Four ranked opponents still await, but the Tigers have clearly alerted the conference that they are ready to contend for a conference title.
6. Oklahoma Sooners -- The Sooners have not played the most difficult schedule in college football (their opponents are a combined 2-6) but their offense has still looked lethal. The loss of back Rodney Anderson for the season hurts, but OU is still the favorite in the Big 12.
7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- They aren't blowing out opponents, but Notre Dame has still looked quite strong en route to a 3-0 start. Defensively, new coordinator Clark Lea has possibly even been an improvement over Mike Elko, now with Texas A&M.
8. Stanford Cardinal -- Even though reigning Heisman runner-up Bryce Love has not been up to his usual tricks, the Cardinal still look like quite the Playoff threat. QB K.J. Costello continues to improve, and the defense has been resurgent following a tough 2017.
9. Penn State Nittany Lions -- After a narrow win against Appalachian State to begin the season, the Nittany Lions have not missed a beat, posting totals of 51 and 63 points. A scary late September and early October stretch should decide whether PSU is ready to truly contend for a Big Ten title, or simply a pretender at this point.
10. Auburn Tigers -- Auburn was unable to get the job done at home this Saturday, losing in a thriller to LSU. However, the Tigers still remain a very real threat in the SEC West, with a veteran QB and a defensive front as good as anybody's in the country.
11. Washington Huskies -- After losing their season opener to Auburn, Washington has looked strong the last two weeks. They went into Salt Lake City and overpowered a good Utah team, guided by a defense that has been terrific all year long.
12. West Virginia Mountaineers -- The Mountaineers' game with NC State was cancelled this past week, which may not be a bad thing for WVU, who would've had to go on the road against a strong Wolfpack squad. Opening Big 12 play against Kansas State should be a breeze for WVU, who continues to look superb offensively.
13. Mississippi State Bulldogs -- With Alabama, LSU and Auburn getting most of the attention in the SEC West, Mississippi State has slid into their usual spot as the division's dark horse, but they should not be overlooked. New head coach Joe Moorhead has the offense chugging along, and the defense could be one of the nation's most underrated units.
14. Oklahoma State Cowboys -- This was supposed to be a rebuilding season in Stillwater, but that certainly has not been the case early on. The 'Pokes looked wonderful in a home victory against one of the best Group of Five teams in the entire country, Boise State. They look like they could start the season 9-0 before they hit the bulk of their schedule, which will feature three straight games against ranked opponents.
15. UCF Knights -- The reigning "National Champions" have yet to face a big-time opponent, but that hasn't stopped UCF from impressing. Big-armed QB McKenzie Milton has been absolutely terrific, and the defense appears like they have moved on quickly from their heart and soul, former linebacker Shaquem Griffin.
16. Virginia Tech Hokies -- Virginia Tech's season-opening beatdown of Florida State looked extremely impressive at the time, but the win has soured over time. FSU doesn't look like a threat in the conference whatsoever, meaning VT still is searching for a signature win. Even so, with how weak the ACC Coastal looks, the Hokies should be in a good spot.
17. Wisconsin Badgers -- Despite playing in front of their home crowd, Wisconsin looked flat and unmotivated in a bad loss to BYU. Even so, the Badgers are a tentative favorite in the Big Ten West, thanks to losses by a number of teams in the division, namely Nebraska, Purdue and Northwestern.
18. TCU Horned Frogs -- TCU did come up short this past Saturday against Ohio State, but their performance was actually very impressive, as they competed with Ohio State for nearly the entire 60 minutes. QB Shawn Robinson has the offense rolling, and the Horned Frogs could make the case for the best defense in the Big 12, despite an off-showing against the Buckeyes.
19. Oregon Ducks -- New head coach Mario Cristobal has Oregon off to a hot 3-0 start, but none of their victories have been against Power Five competition, and they looked underwhelming this past weekend against San Jose State. Even so, a battle with Stanford awaits, and a win there would likely assert the Ducks as the favorite in the wide-open Pac-12.
20. Texas A&M Aggies -- A&M was unable to get a signature win over Clemson at home two weekends ago, but the fact the Aggies gave the Tiger such a challenge will actually likely earn them more respect with the Playoff Committee. The question is: can they compete this weekend with Alabama, but actually come out on top?
21. Michigan Wolverines -- The Wolverines have recovered nicely from their loss to Notre Dame on the season's first week, but pounding Western Michigan and SMU isn't going to silence any doubters of UM and Jim Harbaugh. This Saturday's meeting with Nebraska and Scott Frost will really tell us what this Wolverines' squad is actually capable of in 2018.
22. Iowa Hawkeyes -- Quietly, Iowa has been playing superb football to open up 2018 3-0, which included a solid non-conference win over arch rival Iowa State. The defense will have to play well once again this weekend, as the collision with Wisconsin could end up deciding the division.
23. Miami Hurricanes -- Much like Michigan, Miami has done a pretty fine job recovering from a rough performance the first week of the season. The defense has been strong and the offense has its moments, but is veteran QB Malik Rosier really the guy to lead this team to an ACC Title? It is something Mark Richt has to consider as the schedule heats up.
24. Michigan State Spartans -- MSU still remains a factor in the Big Ten despite a non-conference loss on the road to Arizona State, but things will not be easy. The offense, expected to be one of the best in the Mark Dantonio era, has been flat and lacking big plays. Unless that changes, any hopes of returning to Big Ten Title conversations are unrealistic.
25. Missouri Tigers -- With Florida and Tennessee still clearly rebuilding, Missouri looks ready to be Georgia's biggest challenger in the SEC East. QB Drew Lock has picked up right where he left off in 2017, with 11 touchdowns early on. The Tigers have already beat two strong non-conference foes in Wyoming and Purdue.

Others to Consider
Duke Blue Devils
Boise State Broncos
Boston College Eagles
Kentucky Wildcats
Texas Longhorns
BYU Cougars
Colorado Buffaloes
Syracuse Orange