TOP 25 NCAA COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS – WEEK 5

Hello ladies and gentlemen! Welcome back to another edition of Rahl Reviews Top 25 NCAA Rankings! Oklahoma suffered their first loss to Kansas State, who was led by former Husker Adrian Martinez! Clemson outdueled Wake Forest in a shootout between two talented ACC teams. Texas A&M faced a strong hog rush from Arkansas but weathered the storm to out-duel the higher ranked SEC team. Speaking of SEC, Tennessee remained supreme as they also held off a tough SEC opponent in Florida at home. USC survived a pesky Oregon State Beavers squad in the PAC-12. Texas unfortunately couldn’t keep up their winning ways as they lost to Texas Tech on the road in a tragic game that saw them exit the top 25. The same can be said for Miami (FL) as they lost at home to a subpar MTSU squad.

1. Georgia

39-22 win over Kent State at home, and props to Kent State as they showed a lot of heart and fight in this game on every snap. They may not have the talent to keep up with Georgia but they sure were not lacking the effort to win. Georgia relied on the run game and grounded out another victory. They travel to Missouri in an SEC clash that opens with Georgia –28 favorites.

2. Alabama 

55-3 beatdown at home against Vanderbilt which was classic Alabama showing who top dog in the SEC is. Bryce Young padded the stats for his possible Heisman campaign, same as Will Anderson Jr who had 3 TFL with 2.5 sacks. They will have a tougher test on the road at 20th ranked Arkansas and their formidable offense. Alabama –17.5.

3. Ohio State 

52-21 comfortable win at home against Wisconsin that was a CJ Stroud clinic as he threw for 5 TDs. Wisconsin was never in the fight as the Ohio State offense developed more cohesion in this big win. Buckeyes welcome Rutgers into their home in what should be another lopsided victory for Ohio State, who open at -40.5.

4. Michigan 

34-27 slim victory over Maryland who struggled late to make it a close game. J.J. McCarthy showed why he was the starter with his consistent play and cool demeanor, but Blake Corum was the workhorse with 30 carries for 243 yards and 2 tugs. They will have an interesting matchup next week on the road at Iowa with a –10.5 line.

5. Clemson 

51-45 victory over 21st ranked Wake Forest in a huge offensive showing. DJ Uiagalelei played one of his best games as he threw for 371 yards and 5 TDs. Let’s see what he can do in another tough test at home against 10th ranked NC State in a huge ACC clash that has Clemson opening as –6.5 favorites.

6. USC

 17-14 road win against PAC-12 rival Oregon State as the Trojans edged their way into a huge victory. It should be an easy win as they welcome struggling Arizona State into Southern Cal as they open as –26 favorites.

7. Kentucky 

31-23 win against Northern Illinois as Will Levis threw for 303 yards and 4 TDs. They will travel to 14th ranked Ole Miss in a huge SEC clash that has the Wildcats as +6.5 dogs.

8. Tennessee 

38-33 victory over SEC rival and 20th ranked foe in Florida. Hendon Hooker is still perfect with 0 interceptions and looks to be the real deal that the Volunteers need to take them to the playoffs. They will enjoy a nice bye week after the huge win.

9. Oklahoma St

Coming off an early bye week, they will have their toughest test so far as they travel to 16th ranked Baylor, led by their electric QB Spencer Sanders. Cowboys are +2.5 underdogs in this Big 12 showdown.

10. NC State 

41-10 win over UConn as Devin Leary dominated at home. They will travel to 5th ranked Clemson in a huge ACC clash that has playoff football implications.

11. Penn State 

33-14 home win against Central Michigan as Penn State tries to carry this offensive momentum into the rest of the season. They will welcome a struggling Northwestern who usually give the Nittany Lions a tough game. Penn State opens as –26.5 favorites.

12. Utah 

34-13 road win vs Arizona State as Cameron Rising led the Utes to another victory. They will have a tougher test next week when they welcome PAC-12 foe Oregon State who just lost a close game to USC.

13. Oregon 

44-41 win against the Washington State Cougars in an offensive showdown that saw Bo Nix shift the Ducks into the win column after a 29-point 4th quarter showing. The Ducks open as –16.5 favorites in a PAC-12 showdown at home vs the Stanford Cardinals.

14. Ole Miss 

35-27 home win against Tulsa who had a lot of offensive fight in them. The Rebels will welcome 7th ranked Kentucky in a massive SEC clash between two talented teams who have suspect defenses with Ole Miss as –6.5 favorites.

15. Washington 

40-22 home win against Stanford. Penix has been electric in his first year as a Huskie and will continue this hot streak at UCLA in a PAC-12 road test as they open as the favorites at –3.

16. Baylor 

31-24 Big 12 win over Iowa State that is a huge boost for the Bears. They will welcome 9th ranked Oklahoma State as –2.5 favorites in their second Big 12 test.

17. Texas A&M 

23-21 win vs 10th ranked Arkansas in a huge SEC clash that saw the Aggies victorious. They travel to Mississippi State in a huge SEC road test as the Aggies try to climb the rankings again since that App State loss.

18. Oklahoma 

41-34 loss to Kansas State as Adrian Martinez had the game of his life, leading the Wildcats over Dillon Gabriel’s Sooners. They will try for redemption when they travel to a tough TCU team that should make for a solid Big 12 matchup.

19. BYU 

38-24 win over a pesky Wyoming squad. The Cougars will welcome Utah State who they are expected to not only defeat, but dominate, with a –24 line.

20. Arkansas 

23-21 close defeat against SEC rival and 23rd ranked Texas A&M. The Hogs hope to rally as they welcome SEC alpha dog Alabama with Arkansas +17.5 underdogs.

21. Minnesota 

34-7 beatdown of Big 10 rival Michigan State. The Gophers will try to stay ranked and undefeated as they welcome another Big 10 opponent in Purdue. Minnesota enters the game as –12 favorites.

22. Wake Forest 

51-45 close defeat to ACC rival and 5th ranked Clemson. They will still face a tough test in Florida State as they travel to their 23rd ranked ACC rival as +6.5 underdogs.

23. Florida State 

44-14 smackdown of ACC opponent Boston College as they showed real skill in front of a home crowd. They will have a tough test in ACC rival and 22nd ranked Wake Forest as they welcome them into their home as –6.5 favorites.

24. Pittsburgh 

45-24 big home win against Rhode Island which was expected. They will have a slightly tougher test in ACC foe Georgia Tech as the Panthers open as –23.5 favorites.

25. Kansas St 

41-34 massive win against 6th ranked Oklahoma as Adrian Martinez had the game of his life. The Wildcats hope to carry the momentum at home against Texas Tech as they open as –8 favorites.