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