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Mike's NCAA college football power rankings for the top 25 NCAA college football teams before Week 7 of the 2024 season. Which teams are the best contenders for the expanded playoff?
If you thought Week 5 was entertaining ... Week 6 was 2018-level carnage. No. 1 goes down. Another top-5 team lost to another unranked team. That chaos will seep into the rankings. I have no idea what to do with Alabama now...
These rankings will vary greatly from the AP ones early in the season because I don't go off speculation. I go by what happened on the field only. They will stabilize as the season goes on, but it might take a bit to get there.
I understand that teams can only beat who is scheduled. These are going to look a little strange through September and maybe even into October, but I hope it serves to highlight wins that others may not have noticed.
(25) Utah (4-1) (NR)
Last week: Bye
Oh, what to do with Utah? The win in Stillwater no longer looks that good. It didn't stand a chance against Arizona. Cameron Rising is back, so I'll put it back in for now, but this ranking is tentative.
(24) LSU (4-1) (NR)
Last week: Bye
The Tigers get back in because of a win over a solid South Carolina team in Columbia. Destroying a solid South Alabama team isn't a bad look, either.
(23) Washington State (4-1) (NR)
Last week: Bye
Losing to Boise isn't a bad thing. The Cougars beat a Texas Tech team that is better than everyone thought and won the Apple Cup against the Washington team that just beat Michigan.
(22) Kansas State (4-1) (NR)
Last week: W 42-20 vs. Oklahoma State
I'm not sure what beating Oklahoma State means now, but the Wildcats stomped the Arizona team that beat Utah and their only loss is to BYU. That's still a solid resumé.
(21) Colorado (4-1) ⇑4
Last week: Bye
This offense is special. Will Sheppard is like the fourth receiver on the depth chart and he does this.
This throw from Shedeur Sanders is wild, and the ball tracking from Will Sheppard is incredible.
Sanders makes at least one jaw-dropping deep ball placement throw a game pic.twitter.com/2yo665vFhS
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) September 28, 2024
I still have major questions about the Colorado defense, but the Ralphies are tied with BYU for the Big 12 (14) lead. That's not nothing...
(20) Missouri (4-1) ⇓10
Last week: L 10-41 at Texas A&M
I'm giving Missouri credit for surviving Vanderbilt and beating a solid Boston College team ... even though both of those games were in CoMo.
(19) Illinois (4-1) (NR)
Last week: Bye
The Illini got back in with a loss to Penn State that they kept competitive. A big win in Lincoln keeps them ahead of some SEC teams that gorged on cupcakes early.
(18) Oklahoma (4-1) ⇔
Last week: Resting so it can get stomped by Texas
At this point, I'm just hoping that Oklahoma doesn't get blown out. Not that I think the Sooners have a bad team. Texas is just that good...
(17) Indiana (6-0) ⇑3
Last week: W 41-24 at Northwestern
Indiana is 6-0 for the second time in school history. That should count for something even if it has a Stay-Puft schedule right now.
(16) Notre Dame (4-1) (NR)
Last week: Bye
A true road win at Texas A&M is tarnished by a loss to Northern Illinois (who lost to Buffalo, who lost to UConn). A win over a solid Louisville team gets it back into the rankings. That win in Aggieland is looking better and better.
(15) SMU (5-1) (NR)
Last week: W 34-27 at Louisville
Yes, SMU jumps the Irish. Overall, the schedule is a touch tougher and the Mustangs won in Louisville. The loss to BYU (in a close one) is better than the loss to NIU.
(14) Boise State (4-1) ⇔
Last week: W 62-30 vs. Utah State
The pollsters (me) aren't impressed with the demolition of Utah State. I am still impressed by Ashton Jeanty, though.
According to @OptaAnalystUS data, Ashton Jeanty has had 30 carries vs. an 8-man-plus defensive box .
He is averaging 8.9 yards on those carries. Lmao. There is just nothing you can do. EIGHT POINT NINE
I collected more insane Jeanty data for this post:https://t.co/GaF3Zw6ibF
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) October 9, 2024
When Ashton Jeanty is invited to the Heisman ceremony, he should simply grab the trophy and run off with it regardless of whose name they call. It’s not like anyone will be able to stop him.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 9, 2024
(13) Tennessee (4-1) ⇓10
Last week: L 14-19 at Arkansas
When it comes down to it, this is a game that Tennessee could have won. The Arkansas defense played a great game all the way around. I'm not taking anything away from that. I'm just saying that Tennessee had several chances to take the game back and it failed.
🎥: Arkansas Defense Vs #4 Tennessee
Interesting Note:
This was the 1st time under Josh Heupel that the Vols Offense had been held under a 100 YD in a Half(they had just 51 YD & *0 PTs in the 1st Half)*Also the 1st time in Josh Heupel’s Career as a HC that he had been held… pic.twitter.com/90THvIwnMr
— Rabid Razorback Fans (@Rabid_Razorback) October 9, 2024
You may not be able to put lipstick on a pig and help its appearance, but you can certainly put a defense on it and improve everything.
(12) Clemson (4-1) ⇑3
Last week: W 29-13 at Florida State
Is a win in Tallahassee still important even though everyone is doing it? Maybe not, but Clemson's loss is to Georgia, so it keeps moving up.
(11) Texas A&M (5-1) ⇑13
Last week: W 41-10 vs. (10) Missouri
A win in the Swamp is a good look. Bowling Green and Arkansas wins with a backup quarterback are good (especially considering the Hogs just toppled Tennessee). Obliterating Missouri moves A&M up the list quickly.
This might be the luckiest bounce I’ve ever seen on a punt from Texas A&M
I guess when it’s your day, it’s your day.#Missouri on the one.#Aggies pic.twitter.com/Dot6kXYa7u— Hoody (@theshanehood27) October 5, 2024
There were a lot of complaints about the officiating in this game as well and there should have been. Pass interference was not called on Missouri's first drive when Luther Burden III was held. A phantom penalty negated a Missouri touchdown on the next drive. Both plays seriously altered the momentum of the game. The officials didn't even throw out an A&M player for pushing an official.
They do want to make college football into the NFL. I saw the worst call of the last decade happen at the end of last season and there have been at least two that are on par or top that this year. We are not even halfway through 2024. I think my complaints are the same as many college football fans. Some consistency would be nice...
(10) Pittsburgh (5-0) ⇑3
Last week: W 34-24 at North Carolina
This was a better win since North Carolina is playing marginally better. The fact is that if Pitt doesn't win out, it has no chance. Its non-conference schedule will hold it back. We all know that an Alabama team that lost to Vandy would still get in over a Pitt team that lost to Clemson.
(9) Alabama (4-1) ⇓8
Last week: L 35-40 at Vanderbilt
The last two teams to never trail in a game against Alabama, leading start to finish:
2024 Vanderbilt ⚓️
2019 LSU 🐯 pic.twitter.com/pJT54h7cYt— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) October 9, 2024
There isn't much that I can say that wasn't said in some way on social media. Maybe I will let that be my analysis here. I'll be back shortly!
The last time Vanderbilt beat Alabama, BYU was undefeated and went on to win the national championship.
This time, BYU is undefeated and... pic.twitter.com/1p7mlv5AJH
— Casey Lundquist (@casey_lundquist) October 6, 2024
Vanderbilt has just beaten #1 Alabama. The were 0-60 all time against top 5 opponents. Vanderbilt dominated the majority of this game. Huge win for the Commodores!!! #Bama #Vandy #SEC
— Casey A. Unger (@Caunger11) October 5, 2024
What a time to be a Commodore! ⚓️⬇️
Watch Commodore Nation’s reaction to @VandyFootball's historic win over #1 Alabama. #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/GQ5CDZ8EZf
— Vanderbilt University (@VanderbiltU) October 6, 2024
RIP, Vanderbilt goalpost. pic.twitter.com/oEkHmWDGG2
— Chris Lee (@chrislee70) October 6, 2024
A police helicopter followed Vanderbilt fans as they carried goalposts from FirstBank Stadium and tossed them into the river after the university's football team beat No. 1 Alabama. pic.twitter.com/2ExaLoQLjh
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) October 9, 2024
Down goes 'Bama! EarthCam captured Vanderbilt students celebrating their historic upset over top-ranked Alabama in Nashville on Saturday night moments before the goalpost was thrown in the Cumberland River! 🏈 pic.twitter.com/9tSjO5wQil
— EarthCam (@EarthCam) October 7, 2024
Watch full 2 minutes of absolute Vanderbilt glory of the goalposts arriving to Downtown Nashville and dumped into the Cumberland River!The goalposts are in the Cumberland River!
Historic victory: Vandy 40 - #1 Alabama 35.
ANCHOR DOWN!@VandyFootball pic.twitter.com/di4iYWdU0z
— Patrick Ilabaca (@patrickilabaca) October 6, 2024
This is why the NFL will never hold a candle to college football. Despite all of this, more carnage in college football allowed Bama to stay in the top 10. The win over Georgia is still the best win for a one-loss team.
(8) Miami (FL) (6-0) ⇔
Last week: W 39-38 at California
Another game, another controversial win in a game that Miami should have lost. I used to think the Hurricanes were the class of the ACC. Now I'm not sure. They can't survive if they keep winning like this.
Targeting…If the player leaves their feet to launch at an opponent
If the player leads with their helmet to attack with forcible contact the head or neck area of an opposing player
If the player makes forcible contact with the crown of the helmet#MiamiVsCal pic.twitter.com/g0LZw3eNp3
— Roscoe (@RoscoeReport) October 6, 2024
This is a tough one. That said, the quarterback in this situation is not a defenseless player. The Miami player may have led with the helmet but made contact with the shoulder. Did he leave his feet? Just barely, but yes. This is not helmet-to-helmet contact, so I am okay with it. The targeting rule has evolved a lot since its inception.
The more egregious call was Miami not being called for an ineligible man downfield on the final touchdown. I think those calls are dumb anyway, but the referees LOVE them. The center was in the end zone and the ball was snapped from the 5-yard line.
Season saving touchdown from Miami?! pic.twitter.com/8svPrz5KXY
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) October 6, 2024
(7) Georgia (5-1) ⇔
Last week: W 31-13 vs. Auburn
I am well aware that Georgia lost to Alabama. It also has a win over Clemson and in Lexington. And ... I wasn't going to go here, but ... it didn't lose to a team that had never defeated a top-5 team.
(6) Oregon (5-0) ⇑5
Last week: W 31-10 vs. Michigan State
The Boise State win is the only thing keeping the Ducks afloat. UCLA and Michigan State are two of the worst teams in the Big Ten (18).
(5) Ohio State (5-0) ⇑16
Last week: W 35-7 vs. Iowa
If we're going to reward the Cyclones for winning in Ames, we need to reward the Buckeyes for stomping Iowa in Columbus. Fair is fair.
(4) Penn State (3-0) ⇑2
Last week: W 27-11 vs. UCLA
Wins over Illinois and West Virginia are solid. Bowling Green is in the upper tier of the MAC. Penn State is getting by with a solid schedule, but it hasn't been tested yet.
(3) Iowa State (5-0) ⇑2
Last week: W 43-21 vs. Baylor
It's getting tight at the back of the top five. There's not much separation between the wins of Penn State, Oregon, and Ohio State. The Cyclones did pull away from Baylor, though. That's something, right?
(2) BYU (5-0) ⇑2
Last week: Bye
Well it's a Bye week for BYU, just like Sione Moa said "bye" to all seven Kansas St defenders who tried to tackle him on this runpic.twitter.com/Y2PGOqF5Ig
— James (@Jamesjimmyjimm) October 5, 2024
Who has the best win among undefeated teams aside from Texas? It has to be BYU's throttling of Kansas State. That win over SMU is looking better and better. The gap is not as large as you may think, but it will be if Texas handles Oklahoma in Dallas.
(1) Texas (5-0) ⇑1
Last week: Resting so it can beat the hell out of Oklahoma at the state fair.
The road win at the Big House looks less impressive by the week, but the first and third teams in my rankings both lost.
Others Receiving Votes
- Army
- Navy
- Notre Dame
- Kentucky
- Texas Tech
- Mississippi
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