2021 Final Rankings 100-85: USC, Florida State and Texas Enjoy Bowl Season From Home

 The 2021 regular season ended with Army and Navy, but it ended a long time ago for these 16 schools that aren't going to a bowl game. This list is full of programs with recent success, but in 2021, it was tougher sledding. USC, Florida State, Texas, and TCU all found themselves on the outside looking in. Here's a full look at those just on the cusp of winning.

100. 

USC (4-8, 93.3 WP, 51.5 LP)

Last Year Rank: 13

Preseason Rank: 12

Prediction: 10-2

Clay Helton's spot in the hot seat was avoided when the Trojans went 5-1 in 2020 and had high expectations in a wide-open Pac 12, but just two games in, he found himself getting his resume ready. The Trojans were thumped by Stanford and Helton was out (now the head coach of Georgia Southern). It got worse as they were pummeled by rivals Notre Dame and UCLA before dropping a game at home to BYU. USC got a win though as they lured Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma and even got some of his top recruits to join him.

99. Bowling Green (4-8, 90.8 WP, 76.1 LP)

LYR: 125

PR: 127

Prediction: 3-9

It could only go up from 2020 when the Falcons failed to win a game, and they even barely exceeded my expectations. They certainly surprised the Golden Gophers as they went to Minnesota to claim the MAC's annual win over a Big Ten school. The year ended with a win, so hopefully, they can build on that momentum going into next year.

98. Texas State (4-8, 77 WP, 68.1 LP)

LYR: 114

PR: 121

Prediction: 4-8

Not only was my prediction right, but I also fulfilled my destiny of watching the Bobcats lose in Ypsilanti earlier this Fall. Texas State played it close all season, with seven of their contests coming down to within one score. The most embarrassing loss of the year came at home when they dropped a shootout against Incarnate Word (FCS).

97. Louisiana Monroe (4-8, 67.3 WP, 65.4 LP)

LYR: 126

PR: 128

Prediction: 1-11

The Warhawks were the pits in 2020 as they failed to win a single game. My one-win prediction looked solid early on as they narrowly escaped Deion Sanders' Jackson State squad (FCS), but ULM started to put things together under veteran coach (first year in Monroe) Terry Bowden. They won four of five and were in prime position for a bowl appearance. However, they lost to Texas State and Arkansas State to essentially end their season. They nearly came back from the dead with close calls against tougher in-state opponents LSU and Louisiana, but in the end, they finished short, but look strong going into 2022.

96. South Alabama (5-7, 116 WP, 62.6 LP)

LYR: 90

PR: 113

Prediction: 3-9

The Jaguars got off to a start that had them primed to go bowling at 5-3. They would close the season out with losses to Troy, Appalachian State, Tennessee, and an overtime thriller against Coastal Carolina to keep them home in December.

95. Charlotte (5-7, 110.8 WP, 99.3 LP)

LYR: 94

PR: 115

Prediction: 5-7

The 49ers made me look good by matching their prediction and then proving that Conference USA was wide open for anyone to take. It started with a stunner over Duke that set up a 4-2 start and then eventually a 5-4 mark, needing just one win in the final three games. Instead, they got waxed by Louisiana Tech, Marshall, and Old Dominion and finished the season on the outside looking in.

94. San Jose State (5-7, 110.6 WP, 37.9 LP)

LYR: 8

PR: 27

Prediction: 10-2

As right as I was about Charlotte, I missed the boat on the Spartans. San Jose State made big strides in 2020 but was desperate for one more win in 2021. That opportunity nearly came against Nevada, but the Wolfpack crushed the Spartans' rebellion. Their tough road continued with two of the conference's best, Fresno State and Utah State, and lost by a combined score of 88-26.

93. Troy (5-7, 96.4 WP, 42.1 LP)

LYR: 72

PR: 92

Prediction: 5-7

Even I knew it was going to be a tough year in the Sun Belt for the Trojans to get bowl eligible, but they certainly had their chances. Unfortunately for Chip Lindsey, the men of Troy lost their last three games by 79, and Lindsey lost his job. Former Kentucky Defensive Coordinator Jon Sumrall takes over as the new head coach with the expectations to restore Troy as a power in the soon-to-be-growing Sun Belt Conference.

92. Rutgers (5-7, 95.8 WP, 47.7 LP)

LYR: 92

PR: 83

Prediction: 6-6

The Scarlet Knights had an up and down season as they started 3-0 and nearly got a win over Michigan. Then they scored just 33 points in their next three games and were sitting at 3-4. Rutgers won two of their next three games but lost their final two by a combined score of 68-16.

91. Cal (5-7, 93.8 WP, 73.9 LP)

LYR: 107

PR: 87

Prediction: 6-6

The Bears were so close all season with five of their losses coming by seven points or less. The biggest setback came when Cal was struck with a COVID outbreak that saw them lose to a winless Arizona team. They did have to make up one game because of the virus and went out with an exclamation win over the slumping USC Trojans.

90.

Florida Atlantic (5-7, 77.6 WP, 66.7 LP)

LYR: 54

PR: 73

Prediction: 7-5

Well, I thought the Owls would turn out another bowl performance in 2021, but they couldn't win any of their final four games to clinch a bowl spot. In fact, the finale was a must-win for both FAU and Middle Tennessee State, but it was the Blue Raiders who earned a win and a trip to the Bahamas, while the Owls were left stuck in Boca Raton.

89. TCU (5-7, 77 WP, 39.6 LP)

LYR: 47

PR: 30

Prediction: 9-3

I did not have Gary Patterson failing to make it through the season anywhere in my prediction for the Horned Frogs but in 2022 it'll be the first time since 1999 that he won't be roaming the sidelines. TCU was fading in a Big 12 that is about to go through some major changes and the administration is looking for a fresh start in Sonny Dykes, who had success just in the Dallas-Forth Worth area at SMU. The Horned Frogs could've made it into a bowl, but were blown out by Iowa State to end the season.

88. Syracuse (5-7, 70.2 WP, 53.3 LP)

LYR: 119

PR: 111

Prediction: 4-8

A different bounce against either Clemson or Wake Forest and Syracuse would've been bowling in a low-end ACC tie-in, but instead, they are resigned to moping around upstate New York. To make matters worse, they were outscored 113-34 in their final three chances to get the coveted sixth win.

87. Florida State (5-7, 61.4 WP, 57.3 LP)

LYR: 96

PR: 76

Prediction: 7-5

The Mike Norvell era in Tallahassee might be short-lived. So far, the Seminoles are just 8-13 under his guidance and one of those losses came against Jacksonville State (FCS). They had a chance to become bowl eligible in the final week against rival Florida, but a botched onside kick was a microcosm of the Seminoles' failures and the Gators eeked out a 24-21 win.

86. Illinois (5-7, 56 WP, 57.6 LP)

LYR: 110

PR: 97

Prediction: 4-8

All things considered, 5-7 isn't terrible when the Illini started 2-5, including a loss to UTSA, which isn't as shocking after the Roadrunners went 12-1 and won Conference USA. They won three of the final five, including two against bowl-bound teams in Penn State and Minnesota. The win over the Nittany Lions was a 9 overtime defensive thriller, the most in FBS history.

85.

Texas (5-7, 55 WP, 46.4 LP)

LYR: 30

PR: 24

Prediction: 8-4

The Longhorns entered the Red River Shootout 4-1 and took a 41-30 lead into the fourth quarter, while essentially costing Heisman hopeful Spencer Rattler (transferred to South Carolina at the end of the season) his job. Then the legend of Caleb Williams was born and it was "Horns Down" from there. The Sooners scored 25 in the fourth quarter to win 55-48. The season spiraled out of control from there with losses to Oklahoma State, Baylor, Iowa State, and West Virginia. But without question, the worst loss came in overtime against Kansas, who hadn't won a Big 12 game in years, let alone on the road. The Jayhawks blew a late lead but won it in overtime when they went for two after they answered a Longhorns' touchdown. The Steve Sarkisian era avoided complete embarrassment with a win over Kansas State to close out the season.

So Long, and Thanks for All the Losses: FIU is the King of the Bottom 30

 The regular season has come to an end, and for teams on this list, it couldn't have happened sooner. After all the yards and points allowed, the FIU Panthers claim the uncoveted #130 spot on the Pool Poll. The Bottom 30 is a benchmark that I use to identify the weakest parts of a conference. The more teams in the Bottom 30, the weaker the conference. 

A lot of the teams are repeat offenders, but there is hope for next year. Northern Illinois went from #124 to winning the MAC West, while Baylor was #111 last season before they made an appearance in the Big 12 Championship. Michigan State, Oregon State, and Arkansas all improved from the Bottom 30 to move into the Top 50 and a bowl appearance this year.

Here's the worst of the worst for the 2021 College Football season:

130. Florida International (1-11, 131 WP, 91.4 LP)

Last Year Ranking: 128

Preseason Rank: 124

Prediction: 4-8

For the second straight season, the Panthers are the bottom of the bottom. Butch Davis found his job posted on the school's website before he was actually dismissed. This sort of dysfunction has me scratching my head as to why I thought they could win 4 games this year. FIU lost 5 games by 30 points or more and their lone win came against Long Island University (FCS) in Week 1. As of this moment, the Panthers have yet to find a new head ball coach for the 2022 season.

129. UConn (1-11, 131 WP, 62.5 LP)

LYR: Did not play due to COVID

PR: 130

Prediction: 3-9

After losing a very winnable game against Holy Cross (FCS), Randy Edsall decided to resign/retire/get the heck out of Storrs. The Huskies nearly beat Vanderbilt and Wyoming before finally holding off Yale (FCS) in a 21-15 nail biter. Jim Mora Jr. was hired to lead a UConn squad that has won just 3 games in the last two seasons.

128. UMass (1-11, 128 WP, 79.8 LP)

LYR: 120

PR: 126

Prediction: 3-9

The Minutemen had several chances to make my prediction a reality. They checked off one box with a win over UConn, but then stunningly lost back-to-back games to FCS schools. A matchup between one-win teams in the final week still saw UMass on the short end. Also on the short end was Walt Bell, who won just 3 games in three years before he was fired and replaced by former Minutemen head coach, Don Brown.

127. Arizona (1-11, 100 WP, 61.4 LP)

LYR: 123

PR: 109

Prediction: 3-9

It took a visit from a COVID-stricken Cal squad before Arizona finally got their first win since 2019, but there were other chances. The Wildcats were within a score in three of their contests, including the shocking 21-19 loss to Nothern Arizona (FCS). Jedd Fisch can only improve in his second season.

126. New Mexico State (2-10, 129 WP, 66 LP)

LYR: 69

PR: 103

Prediction: 2-10

I did it! I finally got one right! The Aggies closed out the season with a win over Umass to send Doug Martin out a winner, something he would've probably enjoyed before he found out his contract wasn't getting renewed.

125. Vanderbilt (2-10, 126 WP, 61.3 LP)

LYR: 127

PR: 117

Prediction: 3-9

Clark Lea must have heard that I predicted 3 wins because the Commodores got blown out in week 1 by East Tennessee State (FCS). They did get wins over Colorado State and UConn, and nearly stunned Arkansas.

124. Tulane (2-10, 124.5 WP, 44.3 LP)

LYR: 60

PR: 75

Prediction: 4-8

The Green Wave looked like a threat in Week 1 as they challenged Oklahoma, but then it turns out that the Sooners weren't actually as good as everyone thought. Tulane earned its wins against Morgan State (FCS) and USF, while 5 of their losses were by one score.

123. Akron (2-10, 109 WP, 86 LP)

LYR: 116

PR: 123

Prediction: 2-10

Hey, look, a spot-on prediction! The Zips were bad, but not bad enough to lose to Bryant (FCS) and Bowling Green. Tom Arth won't be there to see if things get better as the Zips have moved on in search of someone to at least get them to a bowl game. That man was recently named to be Joe Moorhead.

122. Indiana (2-10, 106 WP, 32.1 LP)

LYR: 19

PR: 13

Prediction: 9-3

I, like a lot of people, thought Indiana had taken the next step in their program's history, but instead, the Hoosiers laid an egg. That egg was an 0-9 Big Ten record including eight straight conference losses to close out the season. Their lone wins came against Idaho (FCS) and Western Kentucky, but even that was a struggle. Tom Allen took a pay cut and some of his assistants won't be back for next season.

121.  Arkansas State (2-10, 105.5 WP, 62.1 LP)

LYR: 89

PR: 99

Prediction: 4-8

The Red Wolves could have easily met my four win prediction had they won a couple of their 5 one-score losses this season, including a two-point loss to Texas State to close the season. The Butch Jones era got off to a bumpy start, but they showed promise in spots this season. Look for a much better outcome in 2022.

120. Kansas (2-10, 104 WP, 51.8 LP)

LYR: 121

PR: 119

Prediction: 1-11

The first team on this list to exceed my expectations thanks to a two-point conversion in overtime that stunned Texas. It was especially shocking since the Jayhawks had never won in Austin, and hadn't won a Big 12 road game since 2008. The other win came narrowly against South Dakota (FCS) to open the season. Lance Leipold came over from Buffalo in April after Les Miles was fired for misconduct allegations.

119. South Florida (2-10, 104 WP, 46.7 LP)

LYR: 118

PR: 120

Prediction: 1-11

The Bulls barely exceeded my expectations after they beat a fledgling Temple Owls team to go with a win over Florida A&M (FCS). USF had three one-score losses, but at least Jeff Scott can say he doubled his win totals from last season.

118. UNLV (2-10, 99 WP, 54.3 LP)

LYR: 122

PR: 122

Prediction: 2-10

While I had the Rebels getting two wins, including New Mexico, I wasn't so sure about their win over Hawai'i. UNLV was competitive as they lead San Diego State and Utah State before losing. Both games were by less than one score and were among the six similar losses the Rebels suffered in 2021.

117. Southern Miss (3-9, 124.3 WP, 69.9 LP)

LYR: 101

PR: 107

Prediction: 6-6

Conference USA is always difficult to guess who is going to be good and who's not. The many problems that faced the Golden Eagles stemmed from a lack of quarterback. Whether it was do to injury, or poor performance, Will Hall couldn't get anyone under center with any consistency. He developed an ingenious plan to get the most out of his top playmaker, Frank Gore Jr., and used his star running back as his QB. Gore ran and even threw for enough touchdowns to pick up back-to-back wins to end the season. Their other win came against Grambling (FCS), but only one of their losses were by less than 10 points.

116. Georgia Southern (3-9, 116.3 WP, 48.3 LP)

LYR: 44

PR: 79

Prediction: 7-5

The Eagles got off to a 1-3 start which could have been forgivable, had their not been a video of a player shotgunning a beer while standing on top of a moving bus. That got Chad Lunsford fired and Georgia Southern struggled to a 2-6 record the rest of the way. Clay Helton takes over the reins after he was fired by USC around the same time as Lunsford.

115. Duke (3-9, 113.3 WP, 61.1 LP)

LYR: 113

PR: 100

Prediction: 4-8

Had they not lost to Charlotte in the home opener, the four-win prediction would've been spot on. Either way, I don't think a fourth win would've salvaged David Cutcliffe's job after they began the year 3-1. Defense was a major problem as the Blue Devils allowed at least 31 points in nine of their contests.

114. Northwestern (3-9, 111.3 WP, 58.6 LP)

LYR: 17

PR: 23

Prediction: 10-2

Like Indiana, my expectations for Northwestern were doomed from the start. The Wildcats weren't even close either. 7 of their contests were lost by more than 10 points. I don't think Pat Fitzgerald is in the hot seat, but the Wildcats will definitely look to improve in 2022.

113. Louisiana Tech (3-9, 104.7 WP, 65.1 LP)

LYR: 58

PR: 67

Prediction: 8-4

Conference USA strikes again in my predictions, because who knows what to expect. Skip Holtz is out as the head coach in Ruston, and Sonny Cumbie is in to breathe some life into the offense. La Tech missed a field goal and a chance to upset Mississippi State in Week 1, but then they barely survived Southeastern Louisiana (FCS) in Week 2. The Bulldogs finished the season losing seven of their last eight.

112. New Mexico (3-9, 98 WP, 50.4 LP)

LYR: 105

PR: 116

Prediction: 4-8

The Lobos started off 2-0, but then seven of their next nine came against bowl-eligible teams. The biggest problem for New Mexico is that they lost the one matchup against the lone team with a losing record during that stretch, UNLV. Danny Gonzales has got to be feeling some heat in his seat, so getting off to a great start in 2022.

111. Nebraska (3-9, 94.7 WP, 34 LP)

LYR: 85

PR: 70

Prediction: 5-7

There was no better three-win team in college than the Cornhuskers. Arguably the toughest schedule in the Big Ten as they had to face all the top dogs from the West, but also Michigan, Ohio State, and Michigan State were there three teams from the East. Scott Frost's expression throughout the season was consistent, a look of complete disbelief and disappointment. All nine losses by Nebraska saw them with a chance to tie or win the game in the fourth quarter, only to blow those opportunities. Surprisingly, Frost was extended with the hopes that he can return them to his playing days. Hey, it finally worked for Jim Harbaugh this season, so why not Frost in 2022?

110. Colorado State (89.3 WP, 73 LP)

LYR: 108

PR: 108

Prediction: 3-9

Unlike Frost, Steve Addazio will be brushing off his resume after just two years in Colorado Springs. The Rams lost their final six games after starting the year 3-3, with wins over Toledo, New Mexico, and San Jose State. They nearly earned a Power 5 win with a victory over Vanderbilt, but it came up short in the fourth quarter.

109. Temple (3-9, 86 WP, 68.2 LP)

LYR: 117

PR: 114

Prediction: 5-7

After three seasons in Philadelphia, Rod Carey is out of a job as he could not translate his success at Northern Illinois to success at Temple. The Owls actually jumped out to a 3-2 record with wins over Memphis, Wagner (FCS), and Akron, but they would drop their last seven contests, all lost by more than 20 points.

108. Georgia Tech (3-9, 81.3 WP, 56 LP)

LYR: 103

PR: 93

Prediction: 3-9

The former head coach at Temple, Geoff Collins, did not get fired, but a great number of his staff did, so the pressure will be on in 2022. The Yellow Jackets had an up and down first half of the season as they opened with a loss to Northern Illinois, then nearly defeated Clemson. After the smoke cleared, they were 3-3 and had a chance to play spoiler in the ACC. Instead, they lost six straight including their final two to Notre Dame and Georgia by a combined score of 100-0.

107. Ohio (3-9, 79.7 WP, 106.9 LP)

LYR: 43

PR: 62

Prediction: 5-7

Frank Solich retired just before the season started, so Tim Albin had little time to adjust his staff and get the Bobcats ready for the season. That proved difficult as they dropped seven of their first eight, including an embarrassing loss to Duquesne (FCS) in overtime. They briefly reentered the MAC East discussion with wins over teams with winning records in Miami (OH) and Eastern Michigan. Unfortunately, the Bobcats dropped their final two and couldn't sneak into the MAC Championship.

106. Stanford (3-9, 32 WP, 52.8 LP)

LYR:  38

PR: 33

Prediction: 7-5

David Shaw's teams are usually a competitive bunch and that showed in their win over a Top 10 team in Oregon. They also added wins over Vanderbilt and USC to start the year 3-2. Then they fell off losing seven straight and the final four by 126 points.

105. Navy (3-8, 86.7 WP, 40.6 LP)

LYR: 102

PR: 106

Prediction: 2-10

The Midshipmen exceeded my expectations, barely, but they technically aren't done yet. Navy can right the ship next Saturday with a win against Army to notch their fourth win. They'll look to avenge a 15-0 loss last year at the hands of the Knights. 

104. Buffalo (4-8, 116 WP, 67.6 LP)

LYR: 11

PR:  45

Prediction: 9-3

The Bulls might have been as good as predicted, but Lance Leipold left in April to take the job in Kansas. Maurice Linguist took over and watched as his team went just 1-4 down the stretch. 

103. Washington (4-8, 104.3 WP, 57.1 LP)

LYR: 25

PR: 19

Prediction: 9-3

Like Indiana and Northwestern before them, the Huskies had great preseason expectations in 2021 after big years in 2020. Instead, they laid an egg right off the bat with a 13-7 loss to Montana (FCS) that knocked them out of the Top 25. Michigan throttled them at the Big House before they won four straight against Cal, Arkansas State, Arizona, and Stanford. Then Jimmy Lake was fired for personal misconduct and the Huskies fell apart all the way.  They dropped their last four that included a 40-13 beatdown by rival Washington State to end their season. They were able to lure away a hot coach in Kalen DeBoer, who led a strong Fresno State the past two seasons.

102. Rice (4-8, 99.8 WP, 75.9 LP)

LYR: 79

PR: 101

Prediction: 3-9

The Owls picked up a win over Louisiana Teach to end the year and salvage another disappointing season in Houston. Wins in their two overtime games would've made Rice bowl eligible, but those tough losses have them on the sideline.

101. Colorado (4-8, 99.5 WP, 64.1 LP)

LYR: 40

PR: 38

Prediction: 6-6

The Buffs had a weird season as they nearly upset Texas A&M, but then followed with three straight blowout losses. They righted the ship briefly with a win over Arizona, but more losing followed. Their best win came in a double-overtime thriller against Oregon State.

Pool Poll: Michigan and Oklahoma State finally knock off rivals, while North Texas ends UTSA's perfect season.

Only two remain in the undefeated ranks of college football (Georiga/Cincinnati), and Michigan threw its hat into the conversation for the College Football Playoffs for the first time this season after their dominating victory over the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor.

Rivalry week lived up to the hype as Mike Gundy finally defeated Lincoln Riley at Bedlam, and Auburn gave everything they had without their starting quarterback against Alabama. That game ended in a four-overtime thriller that saw the Crimson Tide rally from a 10-0 hole to win 24-22. Minnesota spoiled Wisconsin's dream of making it to the Big Ten Championship with a victory that also snatched Paul Bunyan's Axe from the Badgers. The biggest blow outside the Power 5 came when North Texas shellacked UTSA to end their perfect season and the Mean Green now qualify for a bowl game.

There are currently 84 teams that have qualified for the 82 spots for bowl games. That won't change going into next week because both Cal and USC lost this weekend, making them ineligible despite playing each other next week. Hawai'i is one of those teams that qualified at 6-7, but a rule allows them to be bowl eligible and they very well could claim a spot in the Hawai'i Bowl depending on how things play out. East Carolina is the first team to accept a bowl bid as they will appear in the Military Bowl. With all those bowl teams out there and the conference championships coming up, let's take a look at the Conference Power Index (Top 50 schools - Bottom 30 schools, bold denotes teams in conference championship).

SEC: +6 (Top 50: Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Mississippi State; Bottom 30: Vanderbilt)

Big Ten +5 (T50: Michigan, Iowa, Ohio St, Michigan St, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Purdue, Penn St; B30: Nebraska, Northwestern, Indiana)

ACC: +3 (T50: Pitt, Wake Forest, Clemson, NCST, Miami; B30: Georgia Tech, Duke)

Big 12: +3 (T50: Oklahoma St, Oklahoma, Baylor, Kansas St; B30: Kansas)

Mountain West: +3 (San Diego St, Fresno St, Air Force, Utah St, Nevada, Boise St; B30: Colorado St, New Mexico, UNLV)

Pac 12: +1 (T50: Oregon, Utah, UCLA, Arizona St, Oregon St; B30: Colorado, Washington, Stanford, Arizona)

Sun Belt: +1 (T50: Louisiana, Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina; B30: Georgia Southern, Arkansas State)

American: 0 (T50: Cincinnati, Houston, SMU, UCF; B30: Navy, Temple, USF, Tulane)

CUSA: -1 (T50: UTSA, UAB, Western Kentucky; B30: Rice, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, FIU)

MAC: -2 (T50: Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Kent St (No. 56), B30: Bowling Green, Buffalo, Ohio, Akron)

Top 25:

1. Georgia (12-0, 56.9 WP, 0 LP)

Last Week: 1

The Bulldogs took care of business in Atlanta against Georgia Tech, and will stay in Atlanta, but move indoors to take on Alabama for the SEC Championship game. Even with a loss to the Crimson Tide, it seems almost a sure bet that Georgia is headed to the CFP.

Up Next: Alabam (11-1, No. 3)

2. Cincinnati (12-0, 76.4 WP, 0 LP)

LW: 2

The Bearcats took care of ECU and now set up a showdown for the American Athletic Conference Championship with Houston. The good news for Cincinnati is that the Cougars come into the game as a ranked opponent, which is the first that Cincinnati has faced since Notre Dame. A win all but guarantees a spot in the CFP for UC, but a loss likely spells doom on a magical run.

Up Next: Houston (11-1, No. 10)

3. Alabama (11-1, 63.6 WP, 48 LP)

LW: 6

The Crimson Tide nearly sealed their fate with a loss in the Iron Bowl, but they rallied and stayed alive in the CFP conversation. It'll be interesting to see if they lose to Georgia what will happen to them since their lone loss is to a Texas A&M team that now has 4 losses this season.

Up Next: Georgia (12-0, No. 1)

4. Michigan (11-1, 69.5 WP, 5 LP)

LW: 9

Jim Harbaugh can finally erase the zeroes off his ledger when it comes to wins over Ohio State and appearances in the Big Ten Championship. A win over Iowa would also mean the Wolverines' first-ever appearance in the CFP. The Hawkeyes will need an answer for Hasan Haskins, who scored 5 times on the ground against the Buckeyes.

Up Next: Iowa (10-2, No. 11)

5. Oklahoma St (11-1, 70 WP, 51 LP)

LW: 10

The Cowboys rallied to knock off the Sooners and avoided a rematch with their in-state rivals in the Big 12 Championship. They'll take on a Baylor team that they defeated 24-14 earlier this season. Oklahoma State will need a lot of help to make the CFP because the committee doesn't seem to respect the quality of wins in the Big 12.

Up Next: Baylor (10-2, No. 16)

6. Notre Dame (11-1, 70.4 WP, 19 LP)

LW: 7

Speaking of teams the committee doesn't respect, the Fighting Irish keep winning big, but the quality of their opponents is rather lacking thanks to a subpar Pac 12 and ACC schedule. 8 of their wins came against teams that finished .500 or worse.

Up Next: New Year's Six Bowl Game

7. Louisiana (11-1, 73.1 WP, 30 LP)

LW: 8

The Ragin' Cajuns haven't lost since Week 1 at Texas, but have played with fire throughout the season, including a 21-16 escape in the Battle of the Bayou. They'll face Appalachian St in the Sun Belt Championship, a team they walloped 41-13 earlier in the season.

Up Next: App St (10-2, No. 21)

8. San Diego State (11-1, 80.7 WP, 26 LP)

LW: 11

The Aztecs used their defense to swarm Boise State and secure their spot in the Mountain West Championship. That win knocked out the Broncos and then a win by Utah State over New Mexico placed the Aggies in the Championship ahead of Air Force. The Aggies and Aztecs did not meet during the regular season.

Up Next: Utah State (9-3, No. 29)

9. UTSA (11-1, 87.3 WP, 88 LP)

LW: 3

The Roadrunners suffered a beatdown at the hands of North Texas as they finally fell off the tightrope they had been walking in CUSA play. They still earn their first appearance in the championship game and will face a high-scoring offense in Western Kentucky that hasn't scored less than 31 points this season. The two faced each other in a high-scoring affair that saw the Roadrunners win 52-46.

Up Next: WKU (8-4, No. 43)

10. Houston (11-1, 96.5 WP, 78 LP)

LW: 12

The Cougars lone blemish came in week one against Texas Tech, but they've been rolling ever since. A throttling of UConn ensured that Houston would head into their matchup with Cincinnati as a ranked opponent.

Up Next: Cincinnati (12-0, No. 2)

11. Iowa (10-2, 58.9 WP, 55 LP)

LW: 13

The Hawkeyes nearly fell into the trap that Nebraska has been setting for all their Big Ten opponents this year, but like they did against Michigan and Ohio State, the Cornhuskers failed to finish off Iowa. A loss by Wisconsin allowed them to sneak into the Big Ten Championship.

Up Next: Michigan (11-1, No. 4)

12. Ole Miss (10-2, 61.8 WP, 21 LP)

LW: 14

The Rebels won the Egg Bowl, but have to sit and watch Alabama play in the SEC Championship yet again. Ole Miss has a chance to play in perhaps the Sugar Bowl or the Peach Bowl.

Up Next: Bowl Game

13. Oklahoma (10-2, 61.9 WP, 15.5 LP)

LW: 4

The hits keep coming as Lincoln Riley not only lost to OKST for the first time but is now headed out west to fill the vacancy at USC. Rumors have Kliff Kingsbury leaving the NFL to take the job, but the fact is, the Sooners are out of the Big 12 Championship and out a head coach.

Up Next: Despair

14. Ohio State (10-2, 63.9 WP, 12 LP)

LW: 5

The Buckeyes are in disbelief after having the rear ends handed to them by the ground game of Michigan. Ryan Day lost to a Big Ten opponent for the first time in his career, but it seems like the Buckeyes aren't completely out of the conversation for the CFP, imagine a Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, and Ohio State final to settle the old debate about which conference is better.

Up Next: Learning that removing the letter M from words is idiotic.

15. Michigan State (10-2, 65.5 WP, 29 LP)

LW: 16

The Spartans are stunned after watching Ohio State not score at will like they did against Sparty. Instead, they used what little players they had not battling the flu, to hold off Penn State. MSU will now await whatever bowl game welcomes them.

Up Next: Bowl Game

16. Baylor (10-2, 66.2 WP, 54.5 LP)

LW: 15

The Bears held off a late field goal from Texas Tech to edge out the Red Raiders and make their way into the Big 12 Championship. They'll look to avenge their loss to Oklahoma State and hope for a New Year's Six bowl.

Up Next: Bowl Game

17. Pitt (10-2, 76.3 WP, 90.5 LP)

LW: 17

The Panthers avoided any issues with Syracuse and are now focused on winning the ACC for the first time and their first conference title since they won the Big East in 2010. It'll be a battle of the QBs as Kenny Pickett battles Sam Hartman in a potentially high-scoring affair.

Up Next: Wake Forest (10-2, No. 18)

18. Wake Forest (10-2, 76.5 WP, 52 LP)

LW: 19

The Demon Deacons tried to blow their shot at the ACC Championship by losing twice in their last four games, but they won enough to make it. They are playing for their first ACC title since 2006.

Up Next: Pitt (10-2, No. 17)

19. Oregon (10-2, 77.5 WP, 48.5 LP)

LW: 20

The Ducks took care of the Beavers to earn their spot in the Pac 12 Championship, but Oregon must avenge an embarrassing loss to Utah. The Utes pounded Oregon 38-7 just two weeks ago. The winner likely earns a trip to the Rose Bowl.

Up Next: Utah (9-3, No. 25)

20. BYU (10-2, 78.2 WP, 52 LP)

LW: 19

The Cougars needed a late rally to defeat USC and keep the Trojans from becoming bowl eligible. BYU is likely set for an appearance in the Independence Bowl.

Up Next: Bowl Game

21. Appalachian State (10-2, 85.3, 47 LP)

LW: 21

The Mountaineers took care of Georgia Southern in their rivalry game and look to earn a victory over a Louisiana team that is in search of a new coach after having theirs poached by a Power 5 school, something App State is very familiar with the last 5 years.

Up Next: Louisiana (11-1, No. 7)

22. Coastal Carolina (10-2, 98.8 WP, 67 LP)

LW: 22

The Chanticleers needed overtime to thwart an upset by South Alabama and kept the Jaguars from becoming bowl eligible. Coastal will be headed to a bowl game, perhaps the Lending Tree Bowl?

Up Next: Bowl Game

23. Fresno State (9-3, 72.4 WP, 61 LP)

LW: 25

The Bulldogs will reflect on what might have been and will instead watch the Mountain West Championship from the comforts of their own homes. Fresno State might get a trip back to Hawai'i where they can relive the nightmare game they played against the Rainbow Warriors that kept them from the title game.

Up Next: Bowl Game

24. Clemson Tigers (9-3, 76.4 WP, 34.3 LP)

LW: 28

It's been a while, but Clemson is back in the Top 25 with a beatdown of South Carolina, 30-0. The Tigers finally saw their CFP run come crashing down, first with a loss to Georgia, and then defeats at NCST and Pitt led them to rely on Wake Forest to lose in order to make the ACC Championship, but the Deacons refused and so Dabo and the boys will watch old game film and prepare for their bowl.

Up Next: Bowl Game

25. Utah (9-3, 76.8 WP, 24.7 LP)

LW: 26

The Utes cruised past Colorado and now look to destroy Oregon once again. A win for Utah might mean a Rose Bowl appearance against either Michigan State or Ohio State.

Up Next: Oregon (10-2, No. 19)

Dropped Out: Texas A&M, Wisconsin

Waiting List: NCST, Air Force, Kentucky, Utah State, Army, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, UCLA

Bonus:

MAC Championship

Northern Illinois (8-4, No. 38 vs Kent State 7-5, No. 56)

The Huskies look to avenge an earlier loss to the Golden Flashes when they converge on Motown this Friday.

The Top 25 and the Rivalry Matchups That Will Play a Part in the College Football Playoff Selection

 It's finally here, rivalry week, and what better way to celebrate than a marquee matchup in the best rivalry game out there, The Game. Michigan and Ohio State didn't drop their focus this week as they each posted over 50 points in their wins to set up a Top 6 matchup for a shot at the Big Ten title. Equally important is "Bedlam" which features a Top 10 matchup between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State with Big 12 title implications on the line. After a stunning loss to Utah, Oregon now has to knock off in-state rival Oregon St to win their share of the Pac-12, lest the Beavers snatch it away from them.

Perhaps the most surprising rivalry game with small implications is Florida against Florida State, with both teams needing a win to become bowl eligible. 72 teams have achieved bowl eligibility and there are just 10 spots left with 22 teams vying to make it in. Miami (OH) and Kent State face off to decide who wins the MAC East and plays Northern Illinois in Detroit, while Western Kentucky and Marshall square off for a chance to claim their spot in the Conference USA Championship game against UTSA. 

The Mountain West is all kinds of fun with Air Force, Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State all competing for their spot in the MW Championship. The toughest path will belong to the  Broncos and Aztecs who face each other this Friday.

Heading into the last week of the season, here's a look at the Power Index for each conference:

SEC: +6 (Top 50-Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Kentucky; Bottom 30-Vanderbilt)

Big Ten: +5 (T50-Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn State, Purdue, Minnesota; B30-Nebraska, Northwestern, Indiana)

Big 12: +3 (T50-Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Kansas State; B30-Kansas)

ACC: +2 (T50-Pitt, Wake Forest, Clemson, NCST; B30-Georgia Tech, Duke)

MWC: +2 (T50-San Diego St, Air Force, Boise St, Utah St, Fresno St; B30-New Mexico, UNLV, Colorado St)

American: +1 (T50-Cincinnati, Houston, SMU, UCF, ECU; B30-Temple, Navy, USF, Tulane)

PAC 12: +1 (T50-Oregon, Utah, UCLA, Arizona St, Oregon St; B30-Washington, Arizona, Stanford)

Sun Belt: 0 (T50-Lousiana, Appalachian St, Coastal Carolina; B30-Texas St, Georgia Southern, Arkansas St)

MAC: -1 (T50-Northern Illinois, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan; B30-Buffalo, Ohio, BGSU, Akron)

Conference USA: -2 (T50-UTSA, UAB; B30-Rice, La Tech, Southern Miss, FIU)

Top 25:

Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate (UGA leads 68-41-5, won last 3)

1. Georgia (11-0, 52.5 WP, 0 LP)

This rivalry is merely standing in the way of the Bulldogs' true desires, a shot at Alabama to win the SEC Championship, and then take care of business for their first National Championship in the College Football Playoff era.

Up Next: Georgia Tech (3-8, No. 105)

2. Cincinnati (11-0, 79.1 WP, 0 LP)

The Bearcats finally did what they needed to, and did it against one of the better teams in the American in SMU. Now they have to avoid a potential trap by a respectable ECU team that is bowl eligible for the first time since 2014. UC will take on Houston in the American Championship game and hope it's enough to get them into the CFP.

Up Next: East Carolina (7-4, No. 47)

3. UTSA (11-0, 87.3 WP, 0 LP)

A whacky play at the end of the game gave UTSA the go-ahead score to remain undefeated with a win over UAB. The Roadrunners get in-state rival North Texas, who has won four straight and are trying to become bowl eligible with a win. At the least UTSA has a spot in the Conference USA title game and will face the winner of the Marshall/Western Kentucky game.

Up Next: North Texas (5-6, No. 88)

Bedlam (Oklahoma leads 90-18-7, and have won last 6)

4. Oklahoma (10-1, 61.9 WP, 21 LP)

The Sooners have dominated this series in the past, but the Cowboys could give them fits as both are trying to get into the Big 12 Championship, and perhaps the CFP. Oklahoma edged out Iowa State on Saturday to continue to be the lead dog in the Big 12.

Up Next: Oklahoma State (10-1, No. 10)

The Game (Michigan leads 58-51-6, OSU has won last 8)

5. Ohio State (10-1, 63.9 WP, 15 LP)

This has been a lopsided rivalry the last decade-plus, and the Buckeyes put out a statement in their 56-7 drubbing of No. 7 Michigan State. Ohio State is clicking now that Garrett Wilson is back to give Brutus and the gang a bevy of skill players. A win over TTUN puts OSU in the Big Ten Championship game, likely against Wisconsin or Iowa, before setting their sights on the CFP.

Up Next: Michigan (10-1, No. 9)

Iron Bowl (Bama leads 47-37-1, teams have split last 4 meetings)

6. Alabama (10-1, 64.3 WP, 48 LP)

Perhaps the evenest rivalry discussed so far, the Crimson Tide fought their way to win over the surprise of the SEC, Arkansas, but Auburn killed some of the hype by losing three straight heading into the contest. Alabama has bigger fish to fry in Georgia and the CFP, but they'll have to keep on their toes or risk not being invited at all.

Up Next: Auburn (6-5, No. 57)

7. Notre Dame (10-1, 67.2 WP, 19 LP)

The Fighting Irish rely on their Power 5 schedule mates to be good enough that it makes them look better when they win. Unfortunately, USC, Georgia Tech, and now Stanford are all on their way to losing seasons, and with no conference championship to play in, the Irish could be on the outside looking in, especially since their lone loss is to Cincinnati, who is also trying to make it as an outside hopeful.

Up Next: Stanford (3-8, No. 102)

Battle on the Bayou (Louisiana leads 30-25 and has won last 3)

8. Louisana (10-1, 70.6 WP, 30 LP)

The Ragin's Cajuns will take on their pesky in-state rivals, who are fresh off giving LSU more than they wanted in their paycheck game. Louisiana goes to the Sun Belt Championship no matter the outcome, but the bigger question will be if Billy Napier becomes yet another coach plucked away from Lafayette.

Up Next: Louisiana Monroe (4-7, No. 98)

9. Michigan (10-1, 75.9 WP, 5 LP)

The Wolverines answered the OSU beatdown of MSU, with an impressive win over the less stellar competition in Maryland. If Blake Corum can play then it might make things interesting, but the defense will have to find a way to make the Buckeyes play like they did against Nebraska and not like the high-powered offense that smacked around Sparty. A win would give the Wolverines their first-ever appearance in the Big Ten Championship, but can Jim Harbaugh finally get it done?

Up Next: TOSU (10-1, No. 5)

10. Oklahoma St (10-1, 76.6 WP, 51 LP)

The Cowboys need to snap this losing skid to Boomer Sooner if they want a chance to keep playing in games that aren't sponsored by Valero. Mike Gundy is feeling the Harbaugh blues against Lincoln Riley who owns his mulleted counterpart.

Up Next: Oklahoma (10-1, No. 4)

11. San Diego St (10-1, 85.3 WP, 26 LP)

The last coach on this list to beat Ohio State was Brady Hoke, who is now trying to lead his Aztecs to an appearance in the Mountain West Championship, but they'll have to defeat a rising Boise State squad that has won four straight and five of their last six. However it goes, it will likely be close, as the Aztecs have won 6 games by 7 points or less, including a 3 overtime thriller against Utah.

Up Next: Boise State (7-4, No. 35)

12. Houston (10-1, 93.3 WP, 78 LP)

The Cougars are on a collision course with Cincinnati to upend the Bearcats dreams of a National Title after winning 10 straight. It should be 11 straight as Houston welcomes the hapless UConn Huskies in a game that sounds more interesting on the hardwood. Dana Holgorsen has done a miracle turnaround after two years ago when players were quitting the team.

Up Next: UConn (1-10, No. 129)

The Heroes Game (Nebraska leads 29-19-3, Iowa has won last 6)

13. Iowa (9-2, 53.3 WP, 55 LP)

The Hawkeyes and Cornhuskers had played plenty of times before Nebraska joined the Big Ten, but within the last decade, they've begun to call it The Heroes Game. It should be interesting as Nebraska has been so close in so many games against Top 25 opponents this season and Iowa is all over the place when it comes to playing consistently. The defense should thrive as Adrian Martinez is turnover prone which could lead to seven straight in the series and a trip to Indianapolis, depending on the outcome of Minnesota/Wisconsin.

Up Next: Nebraska (3-8, No. 109)

Egg Bowl (Ole Miss leads 63-48-6, Mississippi State has won 3 of the last 5)

14. Ole Miss (9-2, 64.7 WP, 21 LP)

Forget Lions and Bears, this is the Thanksgiving showdown I'm most excited about. This is the rivalry that gave us the dog peeing celebration that cost Ole Miss the game after they missed the game-tying extra point when it was pushed back 15 yards in 2019 (see picture above). Now mix in Mike Leach and Lane Kiffin and you've got more flavor than the pumpkin pie you'll be eating. If you like points, then stay tuned to watch Will Rogers and Matt Corral sling the pigskin around.

Up Next: Mississippi State (7-4, No. 36)

15. Baylor (9-2, 66.1 WP, 54.5 LP)

The Bears have a shot to get into the Big 12 Championship with a win over Texas Tech, but they'll need to have Oklahoma State win since the Cowboys hold the tiebreaker over them, while Baylor holds the tiebreaker over the Sooners. A win could get them into a New Year's Day bowl game, which would be a nice finish for a team that won just two games last year.

Up Next: Texas Tech (6-5, No. 67)

16. Michigan St (9-2, 68.6 WP, 29 LP)

Sparty was flat-out embarrassed on Saturday in Columbus. They'll get little time to rest as Penn State looks to salvage their season and maybe get into a slightly better bowl game at the expense of MSU. 

Up Next: Penn State (7-4, No. 38)

17. Pitt (9-2, 76.2 WP, 90.5 LP)

Hard to believe that this team lost earlier in the season to Western Michigan, but the Panthers are ready to roll in the ACC Championship game against Wake Forest, Clemson, or NCST, but they'll have to square off with Syracuse first. Kenny Pickett has a chance to eclipse the 4,000 yards passing mark and potentially 40 touchdowns, which might get him an invite to New York.

Up Next: Syracuse (5-6, No. 77)

18. BYU (9-2, 76.4 WP, 52 LP)

The Cougars have a chance to keep USC from going bowling before going to their own random bowl game. That's pretty much all they've got going on.

Up Next: USC (4-6, No. 94)

19. Wake Forest (9-2, 77.4 WP, 52 LP)

Despite being routed by Clemson, the Demon Deacons still have a chance to play Pitt in the ACC Championship. All they have to do is win over Boston College, or else watch NCST or Clemson go to Charlotte instead. Sam Hartman can certainly sling it and a win could perhaps get him to New York on an outside chance.

Up Next: Boston College (6-5, No. 68)

The game formerly known as Civil War (Oregon leads 66-48-10, Oregon State won the last meeting)

20. Oregon (9-2, 81.8 WP, 48.5 LP)

The Ducks had their playoff hopes crushed by Utah and now have to fight to keep their Pac 12 title hopes alive. If you like colorful uniforms, this is the rivalry for you. The Beavers and Ducks play in Nike's backyard and are treated to a wide variety of unis. Oregon is trying to avoid losing back-to-back games to Oregon State for the first time since 2006-07. A win gives them a rematch against Utah in the Pac 12 Championship.

Up Next: Oregon State (7-4, No. 39)

21. Appalachian St (9-2, 82 WP, 47 LP)

The Mountaineers punched their ticket to the Sun Belt Championship against Louisiana and this weekend's game against Georgia Southern should just be a formality. However, it turns out this is a rivalry called "Deeper than Hate," so there could be an upset brewing. The Mountaineers lead the series 19-15-1.

Up Next: Georgia Southern (3-8, No. 115)

22. Coastal Carolina (9-2, 99.7 WP, 67 LP)

Another strong season for the Chanticleers comes to a close as they'll try for ten wins against a South Alabama team that has lost four of its last five. 

Up Next: South Alabama (5-6, No. 91)

23. Texas A&M (8-3, 58.8 WP, 29 LP)

The Aggies can put the dagger in the Ed Orgeron lame-duck coaching staff that's been roaming the sidelines in Baton Rouge. A nine-win season is probably a bit disappointing for Texas A&M considering they went 0-2 against the state of Mississippi. Rumors have Jimbo Fisher linked to LSU, but why mess a good thing and it's not like he'd avoid Alabama.

Up Next: LSU (5-6, No. 88)

Paul Bunyan's Axe (Wisconsin leads 44-25-3 and have won 16 of last 17)

24. Wisconsin (8-3, 69.1 WP, 18.7 LP)

Perhaps my favorite trophy of rivalry week, Paul Bunyan's Axe will carry extra weight for the Badgers who will try and win their way into a spot in the Big Ten Championship against either Ohio State or Michigan. Minnesota is no pushover like they've been in the rivalries history, and the Gophers won the axe in 2019. What makes this rivalry even better, is that both schools play outside, up north, in late November. I'd like to see the Iron Bowl match that.

Up Next: Minnesota (7-4, No. 43)

25. Fresno St (8-3, 70.4 WP, 61 LP)

The Bulldogs have some big wins this season, but they'll need a win over San Jose State and a loss by San Diego State to Boise State, to get a shot at the Mountain West title. Fresno State won the head-to-head with the Aztecs, but a stunning loss to the Rainbow Warriors on the islands paired with a loss at home against the Broncos has led to Fresno State relying on help.

Up Next: San Jose State (5-6, No. 89)

Waiting List:

Utah, Air Force, Clemson, NCST, Northern Illinois, Kentucky, SMU, Utah State, Army, Boise St

Saturday Shakeup: Chaos Reigns as Number of Unbeatens shrinks to 4

 Only four teams remain unblemished after Wake Forest and Michigan State were upset on Saturday. On a positive note though, every team in the FBS will leave with a win as Arizona beat a COVID devastated Cal squad, and UNLV blitzed New Mexico to snap the two longest losing streaks in the nation. Kansas, Arkansas State, and FIU are tied for the longest skid at 8 games, all after winning their season opener against an FCS opponent.

The back end of the Pool Poll was equally chaotic as 3 teams exited (Liberty, Fresno State, and Auburn) and 3 fresh faces entered the Top 25 (App State, NCST, and Pitt). On a personal note, making an appearance in the Top 50 is my beloved Eastern Michigan Eagles, who can reach the 7 win mark with a Tuesday night win over the boys from Athens (the Hocking variety, not the National Champion variety). Quick Lane Bowl here we come!

Here's a quick conference Power Index breakdown (Teams in the Top 50 - Teams Ranked 100-130)

SEC (+6)

Big Ten (+5)

ACC (+4)

Big 12 (+4)

MWC (+2)

Sun Belt (+1)

Independent (+1)

Pac 12 (Even)

AAC (-1)

MAC (-1)

CUSA (-1)

Top 25:

1. 

Georgia (9-0, 42.6 WP, 0 LP)

    The Bulldogs posted their 8th straight win by 14 points or more. Tennessee is the bumpiest speed bump left to bulldoze before cupcake Charleston Southern (FCS) and Georgia Tech.

LW: 1

Up Next: Tennessee (5-4, No. 63)

2. 

Oklahoma (9-0, 63.3 WP, 0 LP)

The Sooners still had to rally and change quarterbacks midway through their bye week, but in the end, they remain one of the final four undefeated teams. It's a bit of a murder's row, Big 12 edition, as the Cyclones, Bears, and Cowboys have all resided in the Top 25 and even the Top 10 at some point this season.

LW: 2

Up Next: Iowa State (6-3, No. 41)

3. 

Cincinnati (9-0, 81.4 WP, 0 LP)

    Even a visit from College Gameday couldn't change the formula in Cincinnati. A should-be cupcake game + double-digit lead + need a big play to hold on for a win. A goal-line stand was in order against Tulsa as the Golden Hurricane fumbled into the endzone on fourth and goal to preserve a 28-20 victory. USF gave Houston all they could handle, so next week could be another week of unimpressive wins.

LW: 4

Up Next: USF (2-7, No. 115)

4. 

UTSA (9-0, 88.1 WP, 0 LP)

    The Roadrunners just keep winning, a fact that meant nothing to the selection committee as they were left out in the cold. This week's win over UTEP was their most impressive and UAB seems to be the only school standing in their way of going undefeated in the regular season.

LW: 6

Up Next: Southern Miss (1-8, No. 129)

5. 

Alabama (8-1, 60.9 WP, 48 LP)

    The Crimson Tide were on upset alert, but LSU couldn't come through in the clutch to allow Alabama to escape at home 20-14. They'll get some time to recoup with a glorified bye week as the SEC's last season schedule is brought into the spotlight once more.

LW: 8

Up Next: New Mexico State (1-8, No. 128)

6. 

Notre Dame (8-1, 65.6 WP, 19 LP)

    The Fighting Irish seemed like they were going to struggle like everyone else had on Saturday, but instead, they rebounded and punished a struggling Navy squad, 34-6. Notre Dame is getting no help from the remainder of their schedule, as their future opponents hold a record of 12-15 combined.

LW: 7

Up Next: Virginia (6-3, No. 43)

7. 

Michigan State (8-1, 68.6 WP, 50 LP)

The Spartans and Hawkeyes can both lament the sneakiness of Purdue, who struck early and often against Michigan State to beat their second Top 5 opponent in the last month. Sometimes emotional wins can be followed by big letdowns, but Sparty will have to pick themselves up as their final 3 opponents boast a combined record of 19-8.

LW: 3

Up Next: Maryland (5-4, No.68)

8. 

Ohio State (8-1, 74.8 WP, 15 LP)

    A lackluster win in Lincoln means next week's showdown against Top 5 kryptonite Purdue is all the more interesting. If Sparty thinks their schedule is tough, then they should look at the Buckeyes, who boast the toughest 3 games left in the country, with their final 3 opponents holding a 22-5 record combined.

LW: 9

Up Next: Purdue (6-3, No.34)

9.

Lousiana (8-1, 75.3 WP, 30 LP)

    The Ragin' Cajuns punched their ticket to the Sun Belt Championship but needed some late magic to fend off Georgia State, who gave Auburn trouble earlier this season. Louisiana will have to focus on Troy and not get caught looking to their Top 50 matchup against Liberty in two weeks.

LW: 10

Up Next: Troy (5-4, No.67)

10. 

Oklahoma State (8-1, 79.1 WP, 51 LP)

    The Cowboys fell behind 3-0 against West Virginia but rattled off the final 24 points to cruise to victory while moving into second place in the Big 12. Two more wins and we could be treated to two-straight games of Bedlam.

LW: 13

Up Next: TCU (4-5, No.79)

11. 

Michigan (8-1, 81.1 WP, 5 LP)

    The Wolverines did what they needed to against Indiana, but the Hoosiers weren't a quality enough opponent to move up in the rankings. Luckily, they'll get some help if they win their next three, which all come against teams with winning records.

LW: 11

Up Next: Penn State (6-3, No.32)

12. 

Wake Forest (8-1, 84.1 WP, 68 LP)

 The Demon Deacons held a two-score lead in the fourth quarter, but for the second year in a row, the Tar Heels erased a deficit and handed Wake Forest their first loss of the season. They enter the hardest part of their season with NCST and Clemson coming in the next few weeks.

LW: 5

Up Next: NCST (7-2, No.24)

13. 

Oregon (8-1, 84.5 WP, 64 LP)

 The Ducks escaped Seattle with a win thanks to an unfortunate safety near the end of the game for Washington that put Oregon up 10 with under two minutes to play. The Ducks were somehow placed at No. 4 in the first rankings of the CFP, but they'll need to avoid a trap game against Washington State before they take care of business against a Utes' team that has won 5 of their last 6.

LW: 14

Up Next: Washington State (5-4, No.60)

14. 

San Diego State (8-1, 88.8 WP, 26 LP)

 The Aztecs struggled on the big island but were able to sneak out a win over the Rainbow Warriors. San Diego State is a hard team to figure out, but they'll need to gather that magic from their Utah game with a tough Nevada squad lurking on the horizon.

LW: 15

Up Next: Nevada (7-2, No. 26)

15. 

Houston (8-1, 96 WP, 78 LP)

 The Cougars are fortunate to have escaped Tampa with a win thanks to a tough fight from the Bulls. There's no one stopping Houston from advancing to the American Championship game, except the Cougars themselves.

LW: 17

Up Next: Temple (3-6, No. 100)

16. 

Coastal Carolina (8-1, 99.4 WP, 50 LP)

The Chanticleers were dealt a major blow with quarterback Grayson McCall suffering an injury last week against Troy, but it didn't stop them from steamrolling Georgia Southern. They'll need to watch the Louisiana game film to see what not to do in the first half against Georgia State.

LW: 18

Up Next: Georgia State (4-5, No.84)

17. 

BYU (8-2, 71.6 WP, 52 LP)

 The Cougars played essentially a full-speed practice against Idaho State (FCS) this weekend before going into an actual bye next week. It won't get much tougher against the hapless Georgia Southern Eagles. They'll finish with USC before heading to whatever pre-New Year's Eve bowl game they get into.

LW: 19

Up Next: Bye

18. 

Texas A&M (7-2, 48.4 WP, 33.5 LP)

The Aggies could probably beat the other 17 teams in front of them on this list when they are playing their best football. Texas A&M will get one last shot at a ranked opponent when they face Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss before coasting into Prairie View A&M (FCS) next week.

LW: 23

Up Next: Ole Miss (7-2, No.20)

19. 

Iowa (7-2, 50.7 WP, 55 LP)

It wasn't pretty, but the Hawkeyes got the job done against Northwestern. Minnesota lies ahead next week to begin a trio of mysterious opponents as Iowa finishes with the pesky Illinois and Nebraska.

LW: 22

Up Next: Minnesota (6-3, No.38)

20. 

Ole Miss (7-2, 63 WP, 21 LP)

The Rebels' Twitter account had some fun at the expense of former head coach, and current Liberty coach, Hugh Freeze, but it was immediately deleted after their 27-14 win over the Flames. Lane Kiffin will have to stir the pot against Texas A&M and maybe throw them off their very locked in-game.

LW: 24

Up Next: Texas A&M (7-2, No.18)

21. 

Baylor (7-2, 80.6 WP, 54.5 LP)

The Bears became the first team to lose to a TCU team not coached by Gary Patterson since 2000. The Horned Frogs stunned Baylor and sent them packing from Ft. Worth with a loss in a trap game. Perhaps Baylor was looking ahead for their big showdown against the Big 12 leaders, Oklahoma.

LW: 12

Up Next: Oklahoma (9-0, No. 2)

22. 

 Pitt (7-2, 83.1 WP, 90.5 LP)

The Kenny Pickett for Heisman campaign resumed in Durham as the Panthers' QB accounted for nearly 500 yards and 4 touchdowns. On the year he's thrown 26 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions. They'll be plenty of sports to score when they take on UNC next week.

LW: 30

Up Next: UNC (5-4, No.53)

23. 

 Appalachian State (7-2, 83.7 WP, 47 LP)

The Mountaineers easily dispatched of Butch Jones and his pesky Red Wolves to hand Arkansas State their 8th straight loss. The boys from Boone control their own destiny and are ready to avenge their lone Sun Belt loss so far this season if they were to play Louisiana in the conference title game.

LW: 29

Up Next: South Alabama (5-4, No.75)

24. 

NCST (7-2, 83.7 WP, 59 LP)

The Wolfpack get a chance to put themselves in a position to advance to the ACC title game. It starts with a showdown next week against Wake Forest before taking on the conference thorns Syracuse and UNC. 

LW: 31

Up Next: Wake Forest (8-1, No. 12)

25. 

SMU (7-2, 93.3 WP, 49.5 LP)

The Mustangs were handed their second-straight loss when they were edged by Memphis, 28-25. It won't get easier with UCF and Cincinnati due up next.

LW: 16

Up Next:  UCF (6-3, No.42)

Dropped Out: Fresno State, Liberty, Auburn

On the outside looking in:

26. Nevada

27. Utah State

28. Fresno State

29. Liberty

30. Wisconsin

31. Arkansas

32. Penn State

33. Auburn

34. Purdue

35. Kentucky