JD PicKell: Nothing But Ball Top 10 after crazy Week 6 of College Football

The first major shakeup in a few weeks in the Nothing But Ball Top 10 happened Sunday following a crazy weekend of college football that featured upsets, last-second heroics and long-lasting victories.

After every week of the college football season, On3’s J.D. PicKell selects his Nothing But Ball Top 10, which ranks teams based on what has happened on the field. Analytics and advance statistics don’t matter in this poll. It’s all about the eye test.

Here is the Nothing But Ball Top 10 from PIcKell following Week 6 of the college football season.

1. Georgia

Georgia faced tough battles in its first two SEC games of the year. But the Bulldogs took Kentucky to the cleaners this weekend with a 51-13 victory as they outgained the Wildcats by 425 yards.

“They’re starting to find their footing, dangerous for college football now that Carson Beck is starting to round into final form or getting close to that,” PicKell said. “Everyone was questioning how physical they were last week at the line of scrimmage and can they stop the run. Then they ended up just holding Kentucky to like almost less than two yards a carry this week.”

2. Michigan

Michigan still hasn’t played a high-quality opponent yet but its dominant victories are getting more dominant. This weekend it was a 52-10 win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

“Michigan has just been really dominant,” PicKell said. “I loved J.J. McCarthy and the way that he makes that offense go. I love the way the offense has developed with him as the guy. Michigan is two for me this week after a really, really dominant win over Minnesota.”

3. Florida State

Florida State won by three scores over Virginia Tech this weekend but fell a spot in PicKell’s ranking. However, it has nothing to do with them and is more about the Wolverines.

“I kind of go back and forth,” PicKell said. “You can put Florida State at two, and I would have no issues with that. I think they’re a really complete team as well. We’re gonna see about them a little bit later in the schedule.”

4. Ohio State

Ohio State fell behind early versus an underrated Maryland team but impressed in the second half on its way from turning an upset alert into a controlled victory. The Buckeyes scored 27 points in the final 30 minutes to win.

“Kind of had to put on the nitrous to beat Maryland,” PicKell said. “Maryland is still a good football team and a lot of people would have had them ranked last week. I think Kyle McCord is still someone I’m questioning to see if he can make them a 40-points-a-game kind of offense.”

5. Penn State

Penn State was on a bye this week. The Nittany Lions return with a game versus UMass before going to Columbus, Ohio, to play the Buckeyes in the first of the three Big Ten East battles between Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan.

“Defense is top 10, If not top five,” PicKell said. “Drew Allar and that run game, just probably one of the most complete teams. I’m really excited for October 21. I would put them ahead of Ohio State if we had a better sample size for them on more difficult competition.”

6. Oregon

Oregon is the highest-ranked team from the toughest conference in college football so far this season. The Ducks return from bye next week against the second-highest ranked team in the Pac-12, Washington.

“Very complete, talk about them a lot being great on both lines of scrimmage,” PicKell said. “That’s why I have them as the best team in the Pac-12. Bo Nix also brings a pretty potent element to that offense.”

7. Oklahoma

The best game of the weekend, Oklahoma forced three Quinn Ewers turnovers as Dillon Gabriel outplayed the Texas signal-caller. Gabriel showcased his two-way abilities, including the game-winning touchdown pass with 15 seconds left.

“Oklahoma statement kind of win against Texas,” PicKell said. “Dillon Gabriel is probably the best quarterback in the country we’re not talking about. That defense is worlds improved from last year. It feels like they are closer to the brand of football Brent Venables is wanting them to be and the brand of football that they hired Brett Venables to make Oklahoma into.”

8. Washington

Washington is on a bye this week. The Huskies return for their game at home versus Oregon, which could be the biggest game in recent years for the program. It will also be a major chance for Michael Penix Jr. to earn a Heisman moment.

“They had a bye. Nothing really to say there. Michael Penix is the man,” PicKell said.

9. USC

USC might have been the most perplexing team in college football the past few weeks. But the questions about the defense are starting to turn into answers, and those answers are that the Trojans defense is currently not good enough to win a title. Maybe that changes by the end of the year but until then, fans should be worried in Los Angeles.

“I continue to have concerns about the way that defense plays,” PicKell said. “Caleb Williams played well last night but I mean, as a whole, there’s just very, very clearly, at this point in time, a ceiling to USC. But even so you have the best player in the country. It’s a top-10 team, but I need to see more from them and I need to see them trend the right way and I haven’t seen that from them.”

10. Alabama

Alabama returns to the top 10 this thanks to some losses of team inside the top 10 and its own play. Since the USF game, the Crimson Tide have been playing much better and finding their stride. There might be nothing more frightening than that for the rest of the SEC.

“Alabama really feels like they’re starting to round into shape, played a game against A&M where they didn’t have the run game,” PicKell said. “Jalen Milroe looks like he’s starting to have that light bulb come on for him. Alabama beating A&M on the road, feel like they’re a team that’s going to be trending upward and you just won’t want to play them in November.”

With another high-profile matchup this weekend between Oregon and Washington, there should be another major shakeup in the rankings next week.