NCAA College Football Power Rankings - 2024 Week 10

October 31, 2024

Mike's NCAA college football power rankings for the top 25 NCAA college football teams before Week 10 of the 2024 season. Which teams are the best contenders for the expanded playoff?

A few teams were tested this week and a few other ranked teams got destroyed by higher-ranked teams. That will cause some shakeups lower in the rankings, but the top will remain largely unchanged. That will be the case this week and next week when more than a third of the top 25 teams are enjoying a bye week.

These rankings will vary from the AP ones because I don't go off speculation. I go by what happened on the field only. They have stabilized as the season goes on, but I don't get in the habit of ranking two-loss teams at this point unless they deserve it.

The SEC is hard to rank because of everyone beating up on each other during conference play. The Big Ten (18)? That remains to be seen. Ohio State and Penn State both got tested before their showdown next week.

(25) Missouri (6-2) ⇓4

Last week: L 0-34 at (12) Alabama

The Missouri offense is in trouble. The Cody Schrader role hasn't been filled and it's a giant problem.

(24) Illinois (6-2) ⇓4

Last week: L 9-38 at (1) Oregon

Yeah, they got smoked, but it was on the road to the top-ranked team. The Illini should still be ranked for now.

(23) Colorado (6-2) (NR)

Last week: W 34-23 vs. Cincinnati

We can see the growth in Colorado this year. This team has learned a lot since Nebraska throttled them in September. That's why Deion Sanders is a successful coach.

(22) Army (7-0) ⇑2

Last week: Bye

Bryson Daily runs with all the grace of an armored tank. Oh ... he can throw, too.

Bryson Daily is the REAL deal. Should be in the Heisman race. Period. pic.twitter.com/zMz1WO63OA

— College Football Alerts  (@CFBAlerts_) October 20, 2024

(21) Washington State (7-1) ⇑1

Last week: W 29-26 at San Diego State

The Cougars needed a fast and furious fourth to win this one.

(20) Ole Miss (6-2) (NR)

Last week: W 26-14 vs. Oklahoma

Beating the Sooners is only beating a name right now. The loss to Kentucky is more of an issue than it was at the time.

(19) LSU (6-2) ⇓5

Last week: L 23-38 at (13) Texas A&M

It was a road loss to a ranked team, but it was also a game that LSU was in control of. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier only completed half of his passes. The Aggies might have just broken LSU.

(18) SMU (7-1) ⇔

Last week: W 28-27 at (25) Duke (OT)

SMU dude got on it. pic.twitter.com/5iEVGfjcEM

— Raffles (@NoleBhoy) October 27, 2024

Give that man a game ball! The Mustangs turned it over six times and still won. That is the only time that has happened in modern football history aside from Marshall in 2011. Congratulations, I guess...

(17) Boise State (6-1) ⇑2

Last week: W 29-24 at UNLV

Boise took care of their last major hurdle on the schedule, and their only loss was to Oregon. Will they be the first non-power playoff team? On a side note, don't nitpick. Notre Dame IS a power school. They get the benefit of the doubt that teams like Boise can only dream of.

(16) Kansas State (7-1) ⇓3

Last week: W 29-27 vs. Kansas

I know it's a rivalry game, but Kansas is 2-6 and probably should have won the game. On one hand, the Wildcats played poorly and still beat a rival. On the other, they struggled against a team that won't make a bowl at home. I'm not impressed.

(15) Pittsburgh (7-0) ⇑2

Last week: W 41-13 vs. Syracuse

PITT JUST GOT ITS 3RD PICK 6 OF THE NIGHT?

WHAT IS GOING ON?!pic.twitter.com/G1ILkyrECe

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) October 25, 2024

Forget about Pitt's average offensive stats. They didn't need them in this game. Let the defense be the story. Quarterback Eli Holstein will have another chance to take over soon enough.

(14) Indiana (8-0) ⇑1

Last week: W 31-17 vs. Washington

This was a two-score win with a backup quarterback, but the game didn't feel that close. It felt like Indiana still dominated. Tayven Jackson played very well in relief of Kurtis Rourke. The end of the season is going to be massive for the Hoosiers.

(13) Notre Dame (7-1) ⇑3

Last week: W 51-14 vs. (23) Navy

The demolition of the Middies was impressive. If it looks like Notre Dame is consciously beating the tar out of opponents, they are. They know what this is. The Irish can't get an automatic bid to the playoff and their one loss is guaranteed to be the worst of any one-loss team. They need to leave nothing to doubt against the few good teams they have left on the schedule.

This isn't all Notre Dame's fault. Scheduling USC and Florida State in the same season is usually a good idea. You don't expect them to be a combined 5-12 when you're scheduling this game several years out. Look for the Irish to make a statement against Army as well. It's their only chance at the playoffs.

(12) Clemson (6-1) ⇓1

Last week: W 48-31 vs. Virginia

Clemson's only loss being to Georgia will carry it through a cupcake ACC schedule that doesn't include Miami or Notre Dame.

(11) Alabama (6-2) ⇑1

Last week: W 34-0 vs. (21) Missouri

Yes, Missouri quarterback Brady Cook leaving the game let this get out of hand, but it just expedited the process. Missouri wasn't moving the ball with Cook in there. The only difference was that Cook wasn't turning it over. This was a statement game by the Alabama defense.

(10) Ohio State (6-1) ⇓1

Last week: W 21-17 vs. Nebraska

Nebraska had several chances to win this game. Was Ohio State looking ahead? Buckeyes fans better hope so...

(9) Texas A&M (7-1) ⇑3

Last week: W 38-23 vs. (14) LSU

Marcel Reed since entering the game:

12 Plays
105 Yards
3 Touchdowns

Flipped the script in College Station. pic.twitter.com/QnEs2ZmLMw

— StatMuse Football (@statmusefb) October 27, 2024

The switch to Reed doesn't feel like some kind of gimmick from Mike Elko. This felt like something looming for the last couple of weeks with the offense struggling under Conner Weigman.

I'm not sure that Jimbo Fisher would have made this move. Most coaches don't even when they should. Reed adds another dimension to this offense, and he saved the season for the Aggies. A loss to LSU would have doomed them.

(8) Tennessee (6-1) ⇔

Last week: Bye

There's still cigar smoke in the Knoxville air.

(7) Iowa State (7-0) ⇔

Last week: Bye

The upcoming schedule takes a hit with Utah and Kansas going in the tank. In other news, Farmageddon (The Iowa State - Kansas State football rivalry) is going to be a monster this year!

(6) Miami (FL) (8-0) ⇔

Last week: W 36-14 vs. Florida State

The Hurricanes are the champs of the Power Four teams in Florida...and they did it without a monster game from quarterback Cam Ward. That speaks volumes about where Miami is as a team right now. They never hit that point with Tyler Van Dyke...or any quarterback since Ken Dorsey for that matter.

Earl you’re doing the Cam Ward Zombieland celly wrong. ?? pic.twitter.com/RUu79QDdhF

— AbeGaeta (@GaetaAbe) October 28, 2024

(5) Texas (7-1) ⇓1

Last week: W 27-24 at Vanderbilt

The Longhorns let Vandy back into this game and it nearly cost them. Right now, Texas's signature wins are against average Michigan and Oklahoma teams. Those are looking worse and worse.

(4) Penn State (7-0) ⇑1

Last week: W 28-13 at Wisconsin

Penn State took care of business in a more hostile environment than Texas played in. And they're still undefeated, so...

(3) Georgia (6-1) ⇔

Last week: Bye

BURP! The Dawgs had a bye leading into the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. It started early this year.

(2) BYU (8-0) ⇔

Last week: W 37-24 at Central Florida

How disrespected are the Cougs? Forget for a minute that the AP has them outside the top 10 despite a road win against SMU (their only loss) and blew out Kansas State (their only loss). They were road dogs to a 3-4 UCF team in Vegas. I'll give you the respect that you've earned, BYU.

(1) Oregon (8-0) ⇔

Last week: W 38-9 vs (20) Illinois

“Oregon isn’t ready for real Big 10 football” pic.twitter.com/T44rHWlSHa

— Geaux Ducks (@GeauxDuck) October 26, 2024

Oregon's offense was out of sync against Idaho and not a lot better against Boise State. They have improved a lot in the last two months. They are a well-oiled machine right now running over vaunted old-school Big Ten (18) defenses. What's the excuse now? Maybe we need to stop making up reasons for why Oregon can't win a title and talk about why they can.

Others Receiving Votes

• Arkansas
• Arizona State
• Navy
• Vanderbilt
• Duke
• Memphis

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