Wasserman's College Football Top 10 Ranking: Ohio State tumbles, Arizona State enters

It’s a new era of college football. 

The College Football Playoff committee is releasing rankings now, but they aren’t going to be the end-all, be-all given the new seeding rules of the 12-team field. But the rankings are still fun and people are still going to fight over them. They still matter. 

So, every weekend, after the dust settles from the games, I release my top 10. Three days later, we’ll see if the CFP committee agrees or disagrees.

1. Oregon (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten)

Oregon is the only team in a power conference to finish the season undefeated. It had a tough nonconference test against Boise State, had to beat Ohio State at home, travel all over the country and beat rival Washington on Saturday. The Ducks accomplished all of that. In a season where people like to say there are no super teams, Oregon has been the closest thing to one. It heads into a Big Ten Championship Game matchup with Penn State next Saturday. Regardless of what happens, the Ducks are going to be in the College Football Playoff.
Last week’s rank: 1

2. Texas (11-1, 7-1 SEC)

Texas has spent the majority of the past month hearing about its weak schedule and how it got blown out at home by Georgia in its only tough game of the season. The Longhorns went into College Station on Saturday and beat rival Texas A&M handily in front of a rowdy crowd that has been waiting more than a decade for this game. People won’t view the A&M win as a legitimizing victory, but Texas played its SEC schedule better than anyone in the conference and gets to play for a league title next weekend. Texas, at the moment, seems like one of the favorites to win this whole thing in what has been an odd and confusing season of college football.
Last week’s rank: 3

3. Penn State (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten)

Penn State played in one game this year in which it was an underdog. That was a loss at home to Ohio State. But the Nittany Lions won all of the games they were supposed to win this year — including a blowout of Maryland on Saturday — which is something James Franklin has done very well during his time as the Nittany Lions head coach. That got Penn State to 11 wins. And because Ohio State lost a stunner to Michigan on Saturday, Penn State is punching its ticket to Indianapolis to face Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game. Penn State’s season isn’t only a success because the CFP expanded. It has a chance to win the conference.
Last week’s rank: 4

4. Georgia (10-2, 6-2 SEC)

It was a long Friday night for Georgia. It seemed as if the Bulldogs had a one-way ticket to being beaten on their home field by Georgia Tech. Georgia clawed back from a 17-0 deficit and survived a thrilling 8-overtime game to outlast Georgia Tech and finish the regular season with a win. Georgia came into the weekend having clinched a spot in the SEC title game. It has had moments of looking elite and moments of looking shaky. Kirby Smart, though, will head into the postseason with a dangerous football team that could make a run.
Last week’s rank: 5

5. Notre Dame (11-1) 

Notre Dame‘s season could have been defined by its upset loss to Northern Illinois early in the season. However, the Irish responded to that embarrassment by rattling off 10 consecutive wins to finish the season, including an easy win at USC on Saturday. Though there are plenty of people who refuse to take Notre Dame seriously because it lost to a MAC team, the Irish are really good and playing well. Quarterback Riley Leonard has found his rhythm, running back
Last week’s rank: 7

6. Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 SEC)

Tennessee found itself down by two touchdowns early against Vanderbilt on Saturday. Nightmare scenarios had to be flashing in Volunteers fans’ minds. But Tennessee settled down, took control of the game and wound up beating the Commodores fairly comfortably in Nashville. Tennessee won’t play in the SEC Championship Game, but with 10 wins and a win over Alabama on its resume, the Volunteers are going to comfortably be in the Playoff.
Last week’s rank: 6

7. Ohio State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten)

Ohio State suffered through the unthinkable on Saturday, losing to rival Michigan at home despite being a 20-point favorite. That has called into question whether Ryan Day has the temperament for the Ohio State job. But unlike last year or in the 1990s, losing to Michigan doesn’t end the Buckeyes’ season. Ohio State will still firmly be in the College Football Playoff field with wins over Penn State and Indiana on its resume. Can the Buckeyes, who are deep and talented, make a run in January? It seems less likely now than it did heading into the weekend.
Last week’s rank: 2

8. SMU (11-1, 8-0 ACC) 

SMU finished its first season in the ACC undefeated in conference play in the regular season. The Mustangs, backed by quarterback Kevin Jennings, beat up on Cal at home to punch their ticket to the ACC Championship Game against Clemson next weekend. Though SMU has won 9 straight games since losing a close one to BYU early in the season, it hasn’t gotten the respect it deserves from the College Football Playoff Committee. Against the Tigers in Charlotte next weekend, SMU has a chance to show the world how good it is.
Last week’s rank: 8

9. Indiana (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) 

Indiana was embarrassed at Ohio State last weekend, and that called into question the Hoosiers’ candidacy for the College Football Playoff. But given chaos has completely broken out in this sport and Indiana responded to the humbling loss to the Buckeyes with a blowout win over Purdue, it seems very clear the Hoosiers are going to make it into the 12-team field. You can poke holes in Indiana’s resume, but it’s a really good football team that may sneak up on someone in the Playoff.
Last week’s rank: 9

10. Arizona State (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) 

If you were expecting one of the three-loss SEC teams in this spot, think again. You’ve got the wrong guy. Though it seems like all but a certainty that Alabama or Ole Miss or even South Carolina end up making the 12-team field, are any of those teams playing better than the Sun Devils right now? Maybe you think they’d win a hypothetical matchup, but that’s no certainty this year. Arizona State just blew out Arizona 49-7 to punch its ticket to the Big 12 Championship Game. The Sun Devils have no won 5 straight games, including wins over Kansas State and BYU. It’s time to start rewarding these teams.
Last week’s rank: NR