With the first College Football Playoff rankings coming out this Tuesday, what better time to roll out the first regular-season rankings of the Pool Poll? Of course, this Tuesday is also the return of MACtion during the weekdays, which includes Eastern Michigan making an appearance on ESPN 2 against Toledo.
There have been many surprises in the early season with Michigan State and Wake Forest sitting atop the Big Ten and ACC respectively. Georgia looks unstoppable, while Florida State, Miami (FL), USC, and LSU are all .500 or worse. Here's a quick look at the first conference Power Index, which measures the number of teams in the Top 50 per conference and subtracts those ranked 100-130 or the least successful. This look should give you a pretty good idea why so many teams are abandoning Conference USA.
SEC (+7)
ACC (+4)
Big 12 (+4)
Big Ten (+4)
Mountain West (+3)
Pac 12 (+1)
Independent (Even)
American (Even)
Sun Belt (Even)
MAC (-1)
CUSA (-3)
Here's a look at the Top 25 and a breakdown of what they have left.
1.
Georgia (8-0, 36.9 Average rank of teams they've defeated or WP, 0 Average rank of teams they've lost to or LP)
The Bulldogs are running over anyone that dares get on the same field as them. Aside from their 10-3 win over Clemson to start the season, their next closest game was a 30-13 romp over Kentucky. A 34-7 drubbing of Florida allowed them to win the SEC East already since the SEC has one of the worst setups for scheduling. They play two-straight SEC contests before playing an FCS opponent and Georgia Tech to end the year. The only question is who survives in the crowded SEC West to take them on in December.
Up Next: Missouri (4-4, No. 88)
Toughest Remaining Opponent: Tennessee
2.
Oklahoma (9-0, 63.3 WP, 0 LP)
Unlike Georgia, the Sooners are nothing like a sure thing to make the College Football Playoffs. Oklahoma has 5 wins by just 7 points or fewer and needed a comeback to survive hapless Kansas. It doesn't get easier as their three remaining opponents have all spent time in the Top 25 throughout the season, including in-state rival Oklahoma State to close the year.
Up Next: Bye and then Baylor (7-1, No. 12)
Toughest Remaining Opponent: Oklahoma State
3.
Michigan State (8-0, 68.6 WP, 0 LP)
Kenneth Walker III is a human joystick and this fact was on full display as he ran for 5 touchdowns against 'Big Brother' (I'm not sure why idiots keep antagonizing MSU with this) to bring his season total to 14. Already at nearly 1,200 yards, he's likely headed to New York for the Heisman ceremony if he can repeat this performance against Ohio State and Penn State. Despite their performance against the Wolverines, like Oklahoma, they've certainly had their close calls against Nebraska in overtime, and Indiana in a trap game. The path to Indianapolis is in their hands, but they'll need focus because their final four opponents currently sit in the Top 51 of this poll.
Up Next: Purdue (5-3, No. 50)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Ohio State
4.
Cincinnati (8-0, 79 WP, 0 LP)
The Bearcats are playing with fire when they need to be blowing out their unranked opponents. They suffered a blow when SMU lost to Houston, which negated a potential matchup of undefeated teams in a few weeks. UC has a quality road win against Notre Dame, but the rest of the American has been subpar, which makes the fact that the Bearcats have struggled early in games to build sizeable leads, even more glaring. It'll be interesting to see how the committee treats them.
Up Next: Tulsa (3-5, No. 101)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: SMU
5.
Wake Forest (8-0, 84.1 WP, 0 LP)
Imagine losing Kenneth Walker and still having the season they are having? Well, the Demon Deacons are doing that because they can flat-out score. In their eight games their lowest output has been 35 points, a game they won by 21. It remains to be seen if they can hold on, but for now, they're a pretty nice story in the ACC and the nation, although they haven't been respected by the pollsters, as they just now broke into the Top 10 in the Coaches and AP Poll.
Up Next: North Carolina (4-4, No. 68)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: NCST
6.
UTSA (8-0, 94.8 WP, 0 LP)
The Roadrunners are having their greatest season ever since joining the FBS, already setting a mark for wins in a season. They have also stumbled into the Top 25 by dominating a weak Conference USA. Two of the conference's better teams are left on the schedule, including another surprise within CUSA, the UTEP Miners, who are also eligible for a bowl game this season.
Up Next: UTEP (6-2, No. 35)
7.
Notre Dame (7-1, 59.3 WP, 19 LP)
The Irish have just one loss, coming against Brian Kelly's former squad, Cincinnati. The Bearcats continued success only helps Notre Dame make their case to sneak in, but they'll likely need some help, like an Alabama or Ohio State loss. Notre Dame has struggled, but their neutral-site win over Wisconsin looks better as the Badgers wreak havoc in the Big Ten in the role of spoilers. The weakness of Notre Dame's remaining schedule is not going to help, so they have to win, but they'll need a lot of losing to make it to the Top 4.
Up Next: Navy (2-6, No. 110)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Virginia
8.
Alabama (7-1, 59.7 WP, 48 LP)
One small misstep against Texas A&M hasn't slowed down the Crimson Tide as they'll likely be in the Top 4 when the College Football Playoff committee announces the first week of rankings. That's because they've been playing angry and drubbing middle-of-the-pack SEC teams by a combined score of 101-33 since that loss. If they really want help, they need Arkansas and Auburn to get into the Top 25, so they can drub them too.
Up Next: LSU (4-4, No. 69)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Auburn
9.
Ohio State (7-1, 70 WP, 15 LP)
The Buckeyes misstep against Oregon hasn't slowed them down as they've been taking out their frustrations on the bottom of the Big Ten. They finally got an opportunity against a top-tier Big Ten school and held their own to knock off Penn State. They'll help their cause with wins against Michigan State and Michigan, but should they make it to Indianapolis, Iowa and Wisconsin aren't exactly the elite teams they were thought to be.
Up Next: Nebraska (3-6, No. 108)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Michigan State
10.
Louisiana (7-1, 75.6 WP, 30 LP)
The Ragin' Cajuns came out flat against Texas to start the season, but they've won seven straight to make it back into the Top 25. Louisiana has played down to their competition and hasn't blown anyone out, with the exception of Appalachian State. If they escape without a loss in the regular season, they are on track for a showdown with Coastal Carolina.
Up Next: Georgia State (4-4, No. 73)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Liberty
11.
Michigan (7-1, 76.7 WP, 5 LP)
The Wolverines established a strong running game but did a horrendous job preventing Kenneth Walker from running all over them. Michigan also wasn't helped by losing a ranked matchup with Washington after the Huskies were upset by Montana (FCS). Michigan State was just the beginning of the backloaded schedule that includes Penn State and of course, Ohio State.
Up Next: Indiana (2-6, No. 112)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Ohio State
12.
Baylor (7-1, 80.6 WP, LP 12)
The Bears are scoring points and taking out the top of the Big 12 as they go. The lone exception came against Oklahoma State, but Baylor followed that loss with wins against West Virginia, a ranked BYU, and Texas. They'll have to avoid a trap game against a TCU team that recently fired longtime coach, Gary Patterson.
Up Next: TCU (3-5, No. 97)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Oklahoma
Oklahoma State (7-1, 81 WP, 51 LP)
The Cowboys have played with fire throughout the season and have picked up some tough wins, but they were burned against Iowa State for their only loss. They'll play a pesky West Virginia team next, but have their eyes set on a big finale at Bedlam and Oklahoma.
Up Next: West Virginia (4-4, No. 66)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Oklahoma
14.
Oregon (7-1, 84.7 WP, 64 LP)
I get that the Ducks went on the road and beat Ohio State, but they are struggling against lackluster Pac 12 schools that included an overtime loss to Stanford. They also had to survive Fresno State, Cal, and UCLA. However, the CFP Committee thought they looked like the No. 4 team in the country, so good for them I guess.
Up Next: Washington (4-4, No. 83)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Oregon State
San Diego State (7-1, 88.4 WP, 26 LP)
Tougher than the Pac 12 is the Mountain West, which boasts many quality teams that have caused a lot of pain for their Power 5 counterparts. The Aztecs are 2-0 against the conference but were finally upended by the equally talented Fresno State, which nearly opened with a win against Oregon. SDST has a fairly easy finish, but Nevada could be a tough contest.
Up Next: San Jose State (5-4, No. 61)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Nevada
16.
SMU (7-1, 93.3 WP, 23 LP)
The Mustangs have suffered the same issue as the Bearcats with an underperforming AAC. That's why it's so important to win the rare marquee matchups within the conference, something SMU was unable to do against Houston, who nows controls the path to face Cincinnati in the AAC Championship.
Up Next: Mem (4-4, No. 72)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Cincinnati
17.
Houston (7-1, 93.9 WP, 78 LP)
The Cougars are back to their 2018 form and back in the Top 25. It all comes thanks to a win over SMU last week, which has given them seven straight since their week 1 loss to Texas Tech. Houston just needs to win out and they will get a shot at Cincinnati.
Up Next: South Florida (2-6, No. 111)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Memphis
18.
Coastal Carolina (7-1, 96.9 WP, 50 LP)
The Chanticleers were picked to bulldoze the Sun Belt Conference, but it's been a little more difficult than expected. Perfection came to an end with a trip to Boone, NC. Appalachian State beat the ranked Coastal for their first win over a ranked opponent since they beat Michigan in 2007. The hard part is out of the way in the Sun Belt schedule and they should be able to win out and maybe sneak into a New Year's Six Bowl.
Up Next: Georgia Southern (2-6, No. 117)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: South Alabama
19.
BYU (7-2, 63.1 WP, 52 LP)
The Cougars were riding high until a loss to Boise State that they followed up with another loss to Baylor. That ended BYU's hopes at a New Year's Six bowl game, but they can still get to 10 wins on the year.
Up Next: Idaho State (FCS)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: USC
Fresno State (7-2, 65.3 WP, 60.5 LP)
The Bulldogs nearly pulled off a major upset against Oregon to begin the year but were able to knock off a ranked UCLA squad. Their dream season was upended when they were upset by the Rainbow Warriors of Hawai'i. They have a tough matchup next against an up-and-down Boise State.
Up Next: Boise State (4-4, No. 62)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: San Jose State
Liberty (7-2, 96.1 WP, 72.5 LP)
The Flames had a pretty fairly easy schedule and had some opportunities to play spoiler, but just missed their chance against Syracuse. The big surprise came when they were stunned by Louisiana Monroe for their second loss of the season. They get a spotlight on the program this weekend in the Hugh Freeze Bowl as Freeze takes the Flames to take on his former employer and Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss.
Up Next: Ole Miss (6-2, No. 24)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Ole Miss
22.
Iowa (6-2, 41.8 WP, 55 LP)
The Hawkeyes looked to be a contender with wins over Iowa State and Penn State, but they started to get exposed against the Nittany Lions. That made the blueprint for Purdue and Wisconsin who outscored Iowa 51-14 to send them in a downward spiral. They'll hope to right the ship and get to a quality bowl game and maybe the Big Ten title game.
Up Next: Northwestern (3-5, No. 104)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Minnesota
23.
Texas A&M (6-2, 52.3 WP, 33.5 LP)
Things looked bleak for the Aggies after back-to-back losses to Arkansas and Mississippi State, but they rebounded with the best win of the year. Texas A&M pulled off a stunning upset of Alabama to get back on track. They can work their way up the rankings with wins against Auburn and Ole Miss.
Up Next: Auburn (6-2, No. 25)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Auburn
24.
Ole Miss (6-2, 70 WP, 21 LP)
It's a log jam at the top of the SEC West, but the Rebels have done well with the exception against the state of Alabama. That's because the Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers are responsible for their two losses. The rest of the schedule is tough with three of the final four coming against winning teams.
Up Next: Liberty (7-2, No. 21)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Texas A&M
25.
Aubrun (6-2, 71.3 WP, 3 LP)
The Tigers got a big win over Ole Miss last weekend and will need to survive a gauntlet to finish with 10 wins. They take on Texas A&M this week, but they could play spoiler to their in-state rival and prevent the Crimson Tide from making another playoff.
Up Next: Texas A&M (6-2, No. 23)
Toughest Opponent Remaining: Alabama
Watch List:
26. Kentucky
27. Air Force
28. Minnesota
29. Appalachian State
30. Pitt
31. NCST
32. Northern Illinois
33. Utah State
34. Nevada
35. UTEP
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