It's rivalry week and boy are there some really great matchups! Even though all four undefeated teams were lackluster in their wins over unranked opponents it doesn't diminish the fact that all eyes will be on Columbus, Ohio (Ohio's second capital, originally Chillicothe). Yes, Michigan and Ohio State will trade their annual barbs, but this year for the first time in a long time, it's the Wolverine fans that have been jawing the loudest after their massive win in 2021. The Buckeyes have certainly not forgotten and this year it's on their turf. Slightly concerning for Michigan fans is that Blake Corum was absent from the second half of their win over Illinois, while C.J. Stroud was noticeably limping in the Buckeyes' win over Maryland.
The Game isn't the only rivalry with high stakes. Georgia rolls into Clean, Old Fashioned Hate with a Georgia Tech team that just upset North Carolina on the road. The Yellow Jackets are also playing for a bowl bid, while Georgia looks to remain undefeated and all but clinch a spot in the playoffs. The Iron Bowl will carry as much significance as Central vs Eastern considering that the Crimson Tide like the Eagles can only earn a share of the West title, but have lost the tiebreaker to LSU and Toledo respectively. The Palmetto Bowl just became a lot more interesting after South Carolina dismantled Tennessee and now has Clemson in its sights. Finally, who would've thought that Notre Dame would be playing a significant game after week 2? Well, they get a chance to play spoiler and retain the Jeweled Shillelagh against USC, who is hoping to sneak into the playoffs.
This week saw a lot of crazy action with 8 ranked teams going down and several more who were on the ropes. This weekend was certainly a prime example of looking ahead and not paying attention to the lesser team on the other sideline. This tomfoolery allowed Kansas State and Florida State to join the rankings and also welcomes two new teams into the top ten. The ACC (Clemson/UNC), SEC (Georgia/LSU), and the Mountain West (Boise St/Fresno St) have their conference match-ups set, but that means there are still seven conferences that will be decided on Saturday or Tuesday if you're the MAC. There are so many tiebreakers to analyze a breakdown, especially in the Big Ten West where somehow 5 teams are still mathematically alive, while the East has just one scenario.
In bottom-tier news, the Charlotte 49ers (3-9) became the first team to officially finish their season but did end on a high note with a win over Louisiana Tech and hired a guy named Biff to be their new head coach. These teams are bottom-tier, so let's now take a look at the Top 25 for this week.
1. TCU (11-0, 52.1 WP, 0 LP)
Last Week (Rank-1): A heart-racing win that required the field goal unit to get set with a running clock to kick a game-winning field goal against Baylor.
Up Next: Iowa State (4-7)
Rivalry or No?: Not in the way that other games will be. The Horned Frogs are locked into the Big 12 title and await either Kansas State or Texas. Still the Cyclones could play the spoiler in the Frogs' dream season.
2. Georgia (11-0, 63.8, 0)
Last Week (2): A slog against Kentucky, but a 16-6 win.
Up Next: Clean, Old Fashioned Hate with Georgia Tech (5-6)
Rivalry?: Yes, although the Bulldogs own a 69-41-5 record in the series and haven't lost since 2017. The Yellow Jackets have something to fight for with a bowl bid on the line as they try to salvage a nightmare season that already saw them fire their head coach.
3. Ohio State (11-0, 65.2, 0)
Last Week (3): Trailed at the half to Maryland, but then Maryland played like Maryland and Ohio State looked better on the scoreboard than they actually played.
Up Next: The Wolverines of Michigan (11-0, 4)
Rivalry? I get it, Michigan has to win in Columbus if they want to really start barking. The Buckeyes Must hurdle the Wolverines once again in shades of 2006, which TOSU hopes goes exactly the same way as it did in the "Game of the Century." Both teams will have to find ways to win without key players lost due to injuries and it will likely come down to consistency in the offense and of course, turnovers. Maybe it'll snow so much they have to Move the game to Detroit.
4. Michigan (11-0, 66.1, 0)
Last Week (4): Raised my heart rate in a last-second victory over Illinois. Seriously, I can't have Philly and Michigan lose their undefeated status in the same week.
Up Next: Brutus, the guy in the cowboy hat, the other dumb-looking guy with the buckeye necklace, and the rest of the Scarlet and Gray (11-0, 3)
Rivalry? The Wolverines are still clinging to that 59-51-6 lead they built up in the early and late 1900s. The 21st Century has been awfully unkind to the sharpest-dressed team in college football. But right now there's a chance to start a winning streak, it has happened before.
5. Clemson (10-1, 58.6, 39)
Last Week(5): Dismantling of Miami (FL), 40-10
Up Next: South Carolina (7-4)
Rivalry? I wish these guys would go away because nobody wants them to be this close to the playoffs. Overall, the Palmetto Bowl favors Clemson overwhelmingly, but the Gamecocks did drop 63 on the No.5 Volunteers. The Tigers' playoff bid took a big blow when UNC was stunned, thus diminishing the ACC Championship.
6. USC (10-1, 77.4, 47)
Last Week(8): Rallied to win the Battle of L.A. with UCLA
Up Next: Notre Dame (8-3, 20)
Rivalry? The Jewelled Shillagleh will be up for grabs and the Trojans look to win it for the first time since 2016. USC already punched their ticket to the PAC-12 Championship and can add to their resume with a win in this game to try and make a surprise appearance in the playoffs.
Last Week: Did not play as they were scheduled to play Virginia, but the game was canceled after three Virginia players were murdered last Sunday by a former teammate.
Up Next: James Madison (7-3)
Rivalry? Not yet, but it could be very soon. James Madison has made the transition to FBS with ease and can disrupt a smooth finish for the Chanticleers. Coastal has already earned its spot in the Sun Belt Championship and awaits fellow Pool Poll members Troy or South Alabama.
8. LSU (9-2, 48.1, 28.5)
Last Week (11): 41-10 cake walk over UAB
Up Next: Texas A&M (4-7)
Rivalry? They've played 61 times and it favors the Tigers, but it's starting to bring out some of the best games of the year. Arguably the most exciting game was in 2018 when the two teams combined for 146 points in seven overtimes, a game the Tigers seemed to have won in regulation. At least that's what I thought when I turned it off and then checked back in overtime number 3. With all these losses piling up for teams that are ahead of them, a win against Georgia in the SEC Championship could get a two-loss LSU into the playoffs.
9. Alabama (9-2, 51, 3)
Last Week(10): Paycheck win over Austin Peay (FCS)
Up Next: Auburn (4-7)
Rivalry? Regionally, there are those that would claim this to be the greatest rivalry in sports. What it does have is that both teams have been competitive in this series despite Alabama being a juggernaut in college football. The Tide lead the series by nine games and should make it three-straight, but if they lose to a 4-7 Tigers team or it's respectable then don't be surprised.
10. Penn State (9-2, 56.1, 6.5)
Last Week (12): 55-10 beatdown of Rutgers
Up Next: Michigan State (5-6)
Rivalry? You know, there's a trophy for everything, and these two play for the Land Grant Trophy. The cool thing is that this trophy is evenly distributed with Green and Blue. Sparty leads by a razor-thin 18-17-1 margin, but this year has not been their year and the Nittany Lions have punished anyone that's not currently playing for a college football playoff spot.
The Rest of the Best:
11. Tennessee (9-2, 57.2, 31)
Last Week (6): 63-38 annihilation at the hands of South Carolina
Up Next: Vanderbilt (5-6)
Rivalry? A very lopsided one where the Vols have more than double the wins of their in-state conference mate, but Hendon Hooker is done for the year and Vanderbilt has dropped Kentucky and Florida in back-to-back weeks.
12. Oregon (9-2, 65.2, 10.5)
Last Week (14): 20-17 win over Utah to inch closer to Pac-12 title game.
Up Next: Oregon State (8-3, 28)
Rivalry? Formerly, known as the Civil War, the Ducks own a comfortable lead in the series, but the Beavers are no pushovers like they have been in past seasons.
13. Washington (9-2, 71.1, 70)
Last Week (13): 54-7 roughing up of Colorado
Up Next: Washington State (7-4)
Rivalry? The Apple Cup is another one of those lopsided in-state matchups with the Huskies easily running away with the series. A win and some losses around them could bring the Huskies to a date with the Pac-12 Championship and maybe the Rose Bowl.
14. Troy (9-2, 76.3, 36)
Last Week (16): 34-16 clipping of the Warhawks
Up Next: Arkansas State (3-8)
Rivalry? No, but it is a must-win if they'd like to play Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Championship. They currently sit in a tie for first with South Alabama but own the tiebreaker over the Jags.
15. North Carolina (9-2, 77.7, 88.5)
Last Week (7): 21-17 stunning defeat by Georgia Tech
Up Next: NCST (7-4)
Rivalry? It's all Tar Heels in this matchup, but there is disappointment in the air as both teams were beaten last week. That knocked NCST out of the rankings and North Carolina out of the playoff picture.
16. Tulane (9-2, 83.1, 69)
Last Week (20): 59-24 rout of SMU
Up Next: Cincinnati (9-2, 18)
Rivalry? No, however, this is a defacto semi-final for the AAC Championship. The winner is in, but the loser needs UCF to lose as the Golden Knights handed losses to Cincinnati and Tulane.
17. UTSA (9-2, 84.9, 45.5)
Last Week (21): 51-7 cooking of Rice
Up Next: UTEP (5-6)
Rivalry? No, but mostly because UTSA has only been around in the FBS since 2011. In fact, the only rival listed for them is Texas State. The Roadrunners have raced their way to the CUSA Championship and await either North Texas or Western Kentucky.
18. Cincinnati (9-2, 92.1, 28.5)
Last Week (22): 23-3 plucking of Temple
Up Next: Tulane (9-2, 16)
Rivalry? No, but see above. I had a Senior ask me if they should convince their parents to drive them down on Friday afternoon to go see this game. Of course, I'll only be glancing at this game because the Michigan MAC Trophy is up for grabs at the same time.
19. South Alabam (9-2, 92.8, 41)
Last Week (24): 27-20 upending of Southern Miss
Up Next: Old Dominion (3-8)
Rivalry? It is not. Both teams have just joined the FBS level in the last 8 years, while Old Dominion is in its first year in the Sun Belt. The Jaguars live on the edge and this game will be no exception.
20. Notre Dame (8-3, 44.5, 62.7)
Last Week (25): 44-0 Catholic on Catholic crime against Boston College
Up Next: The Men of Troy...no, not No. 14, No. 6 (USC, 10-1)
Rivalry? See USC, but the Irish are glad to be playing meaningful football. Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart are not welcome in South Bend.
21. Kansas State (8-3, 51.3, 33)
Last Week (26): 48-31 win over West Virginia
Up Next: Kansas (6-5)
Rivalry? Believe it or not, the Jayhawks actually own a 64-50-5 record over the Wildcats. KSU has been in control recently though, winning 13-straight heading into this one. The Wildcats can earn a date with TCU in the Big 12 Championship with a win and a Texas loss.
22. UCF (8-3, 72.3, 93)
Last Week (15): 17-14 sinking by Navy
Up Next: USF (1-10)
Rivalry? The War on I-4 might be on its last legs as UCF heads for the Big 12, but overall the series has been tight. The Knights lead the series 7-6 and need a win to earn a spot in the AAC Championship against the winner of Tulane and Cincinnati.
23. Ole Miss (8-3, 76.4, 36.3)
Last Week (17): 42-27 dismantling at the hands of Arkansas
Up Next: Mississippi State (7-4)
Rivalry? The Egg Bowl is becoming a Thanksgiving tradition and even though it has been dominated by the Rebels, it still should be entertaining. Ole Miss is falling fast after being in the Top 10 two weeks ago to nearly out of the rankings.
24. Florida State (8-3, 80, 20)
Last Week (30): 49-17 sizzling of the Ragin' Cajuns
Up Next: Florida (6-5)
Rivalry? If it was the late 90s this would be must-watch TV, but it's not so it's mid-tier TV. The Seminoles have rebounded from early season woes, but the Gators have continued to stumble and could be .500 after this game. Overall, the Gators lead the series 37-26-2.
25. UCLA (8-3, 82.1, 46.7)
Last Week (18): A heartbreaking 48-45 loss to USC
Up Next: Cal (4-7)
Rivalry? This is the 93rd meeting of the Bear Bowl that has been dominated by UCLA. They could be ripe for the picking as they have now lost three of their last five.
Dropped Out: Liberty, Utah
Waiting List: Utah, Liberty, Oregon State, Boise State, Ohio, Air Force, James Madison, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Texas, Mississippi State, Iowa, Purdue, Wake Forest, and Houston
Gone But Certainly Forgotten (Newest members of the no bowling club):
Georgia State, Arizona, West Virginia, Iowa State, Louisiana Monroe, UNLV, Rutgers, Kent State, Central Michigan, and FIU
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