Wasserman's College Football Top 10 Ranking: Tennessee moves up after road win
It’s a new era of college football.
When the College Football Playoff committee starts releasing rankings later this season, 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 after every weekend, after the dust settles from the games, I’m going to unveil my updated top 10. Here is the latest edition:
1. Texas (4-0)
Quarterback Quinn Ewers missed the game because of abdomen strain he suffered, but that didn’t matter for Texas. With Arch Manning at the helm, the Longhorns blew an overmatched Louisiana-Monroe off the field. In his first-career start, Manning completed 15-of-29 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Texas has its first SEC game at home against Mississippi State next weekend before the Red River Rivalry on Oct. 12.
Last week’s rank: 1
2. Georgia (3-0)
Georgia didn’t have a game Saturday as it used the week to prepare for a date in Tuscaloosa with Alabama next weekend. Though the last we saw of the Bulldogs was an almost-loss to Kentucky last weekend, the blowout of Clemson in the season-opener looks a lot better after the Tigers destroyed N.C. State on Saturday. There are some concerns with Georgia’s offense, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t the last team opposing coaches would want to play.
Last week’s rank: 2
3. Tennessee (4-0)
Tennessee aced its first major test of the season Saturday night when it went into Norman, Okla., and handed it to the Sooners. Though Oklahoma’s defense did a really good job of containing the Volunteers’ offense, Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold had three inopportune turnovers before being benched. Nico Iamaleava is the real deal and Tennessee looks like a legitimate national title contender. If you’re not a believer, take solace in the fact the Volunteers still have to play Alabama and Georgia this year.
Last week’s rank: 4
4. Ohio State (3-0)
It may be frustrating for Ohio State fans to see their Buckeyes falling down these rankings week after week. But take solace in the fact Ohio State isn’t falling because it isn’t an elite-level team that should be considered the favorite to win the national title. It is falling because other teams are racking up quality wins while Ohio State blowouts overmatched opponents. The Buckeyes didn’t play the sharpest game against Marshall in a 49-14 win, but it still won by 35. Between running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson and receivers Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith — among others — it seems impossible for anyone to stop Ohio State this year.
Last week’s rank: 3
5. Alabama (3-0)
Like Georgia, Alabama didn’t play Saturday. All eyes are on the big-time matchup with Georgia next weekend. The last we saw of Alabama was a blowout at Wisconsin a week ago, a game in which quarterback Jalen Milroe looked really sharp. Either Alabama or Georgia are going to fall out of the top-five next week after what is one of the matchups of the year.
Last week’s rank: 5
6. Oregon (3-0)
Oregon also had an open week this weekend. Though the Ducks have had an up-and-down season so far, they have won their clunkers and looked sharp in their most recent win over Oregon State. Oregon is one of two favorites to win the Big Ten, but there is a little doubt in people’s minds that the Ducks are up to the task. Well, they play Ohio State on Oct. 12. We’ll see soon.
Last week’s rank: 6
7. Miami (4-0)
The Hurricanes were only beating South Florida by seven at halftime. The final score was 50-15. Quarterback Cam Ward kept his Heisman campaign alive, throwing for more than 400 yards and three touchdowns. He also added in sweet lateral to move the chains that’ll make highlight reels. The entire world is waiting for Miami to slip up, but week after week, it looks like the best team in the ACC.
Last week’s rank: 7
8. Ole Miss (4-0)
Ole Miss has yet to play an opponent with a pulse, but the Rebels have won in blowout fashion in all four of their games this year. This roster is good enough to compete for big things in the SEC and it has a pretty long runway before a four-game stretch against LSU, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Georgia that begins on Oct. 12.
Last week’s rank: 8
9. Utah (4-0)
The Utes came into the season as the favorite to win the Big 12, but it has flown under the radar outside of yet another injury to quarterback Cam Rising. Rising missed another game Saturday in what was Utah’s first real test of the season and it didn’t matter. Utah went on the road and beat Oklahoma State, 22-19, behind Isaac Wilson. Utah hopes to get Rising back, but this game is going to help determine who wins this conference and the Utes got it done without its starting quarterback. That means something.
Last week’s rank: NR
10. Missouri (4-0)
Missouri came dangerously close to losing to Vanderbilt on Saturday, so it had to slide a little bit, right? But it’s hard in college football to win comfortably every week and Mizzou survived after the Commodores missed a manageable field goal in overtime. The Tigers have one of the more manageable schedules in the SEC this year and have a month to tighten some things up before heading to Tuscaloosa.
Last week’s rank: 9