TOP 25 NCAA COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS – WEEK 6
Well, well, well, here we are again after another week of college football! There were plenty of highly ranked clashes that also featured conference rivals coming to blows, along with some ranked teams losing and dropping out of the Top 25. It’s funny seeing Old Dominion with an interceptions leader and a receiving yards leader. We can slowly see the top of the food chain separate themselves from others as they continue to boost their game.
Quality teams like Oklahoma State and Tennessee will need some big dogs to lose if they have any hope of getting into the top 4. I still can’t believe that Kansas is not only ranked, but undefeated, which is very impressive for this long-time struggling Jayhawks football program. LSU finally joined the top 25 as they have been absent for a long time, extending into last season as well. Paul Chryst is out at Wisconsin – and I don’t see him being the only coach fired this season.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Edging out Georgia for the #1 spot after a huge road win of 49-26 vs 20th ranked Arkansas in a quality SEC clash. The Tide hope to keep the momentum rolling, although it might be without star QB Bryce Young as he injured his shoulder halfway vs the Hogs. They open as -24 favorites vs Jimbo Fisher’s Texas A&M crew, which should be entertaining because of the NIL stuff said by Saban towards Jimbo in the offseason.
2. Georgia Bulldogs
26-22 victory over a tough Missouri team that gave everything they could to the Bulldogs, but it just wasn’t enough. They welcome Auburn this week, as 30-point favorites in the SEC matchup.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes
Destroyed Rutgers 49-10 as this offense is finding its rhythm nicely behind CJ Stroud. They travel to Big 12 rival Michigan State who they are expected to beat easily with a 27-point spread.
4. Michigan Wolverines
Hard fought 27-14 victory over Iowa as Blake Corum rushed for 133 yards on 29 attempts with 1 TD. They travel to a struggling Indiana team and open as -22 favorites vs the Hoosiers.
5. Clemson Tigers
Big 30-20 win vs 10th ranked NC State as Clemson relied on the ground game for the victory, tallying 145 yards vs the Wolfpacks 45. They travel to ACC foe Boston College as 21-point favorites.
6. USC Trojans
Big showcase win vs Arizona State, 42-25, as they laid the beatdown on the Herm Edwards-less Sun Devils. They open as -13 favorites vs the Washington State Cougars. With how well Caleb Williams is playing, I think he can still be considered in the Heisman conversation.
7. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Massive victory over Big 12 rival and 16th ranked Baylor 36-25. Spencer Sanders has been dynamite for the Cowboys and might be one of the best college football quarterbacks in the game right now. They open as 9.5-point favorites vs Texas Tech, which should be an easy win for the Cowboys.
8. Tennessee Volunteers
Enjoyed a nice bye week and will come back into the play on the road at 25th ranked LSU in a highly anticipated SEC clash. Vols open at -3 and I can see Hendon Hooker really taking control of this game.
9. Ole Miss Rebels
Huge 22-19 victory over 7th ranked Kentucky saw the Rebels jump up the rankings handsomely. They will try to carry this momentum on the road to Vanderbilt as they open as 17-point favorites.
10. Penn State Nittany Lions
Narrow 17-7 victory over that pesky Northwestern team. They will enjoy a nice bye week and get some rest.
11. Utah Utes
42-16 stomping as Cameron Rising threw for 3 tugs in this comfortable win. They will travel to a tougher opponent in 18th ranked UCLA as the Utes open as 3.5-point favorites.
12. Oregon Ducks
A 45-27 victory over the Stanford Cardinal saw Oregon move up the rankings one slot. They will travel to Arizona as 13-point favorites and hope to keep the heat and continue to move up the rankings after a brutal defeat vs Georgia in Week 1.
13. Kentucky Wildcats
Tough loss to SEC foe and 14th ranked Ole Miss, as the Wildcats fell 22-19. Will Levis still looked strong and hopes to continue his dominant campaign as they welcome South Carolina. The Wildcats are 10-point favorites in this matchup.
14. NC State Wolfpack
Dropped to 14th after a tough loss vs 5th ranked Clemson by a score of 30-20. The Wolfpack hope to rally at home vs a solid Florida State team. With NC State favored by only 3.5, this should be a great ACC clash as Florida State tries to rebound after a tough loss to Wake Forest.
15. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
31-21 victory over ACC foe and 23rd ranked Florida State. Wake Forest had a nice bump due to this impressive road win, along with other mid-level teams falling out. Sam Hartman has been critical for this team’s success and hopes to carry the torch to another win at home vs Army in a game that has them set as 17-point favorites.
16. BYU Cougars
A 38-26 win over Utah State, who put up a lot more fight than most would have expected. The Cougars travel to Notre Dame as 3.5-point underdogs in a clash between two of the best independent teams in the nation.
17. TCU Horned Frogs
55-24 demolition of 18th ranked Oklahoma, as Duggan sliced the Sooners defense up. The Horned Frogs have an interesting game next week as they travel to 19th ranked Kansas in a rare ranked matchup between these two often forgotten Big 12 teams – especially in Kansas’ case. TCU opens as open as touchdown favorite.
18. UCLA Bruins
40-32 upset win over Washington as the Bruins appear in the Top 25 for the first time this season. Chip Kelly’s Bruins will welcome 11th ranked Utah in a huge PAC-12 matchup that has the Utes as 3.5-point favorites.
19. Kansas Jayhawks
Narrow 14-11 victory over Iowa State. Kansas is on the rise and earns a Top 25 ranking for what seems like the first time since I’ve been alive. They welcome the 17th ranked TCU Horned Frogs for a game that has Kansas set as 7-point underdogs.
20. Kansas State Wildcats
37-28 win over Texas Tech as the “Adrian Martinez Show” enters primetime for another chance to show off his Playmaking to the nation. They open at -2 on the road to Iowa State.
21. Washington Huskies
40-32 defeat to PAC-12 foe UCLA. The Huskies hope to rally behind Michael Penix, who is one of the best college football quarterbacks in the game. They can rally easily with a nice road win against a weak Arizona State which has the Huskies at -14.
22. Syracuse Orange
Easy 59-0 win over Wagner that has the Syracuse squad ranked for the first time in a long time. It seems like this team is pretty solid. They can enjoy the ranking and relax as they enter a bye week.
23. Mississippi State Bulldogs
42-24 smackdown of SEC foe and 17th ranked Texas A&M. Huge win for the Bulldogs, and Rogers was electric as he was flawless throwing that football. They will carry the steam against Arkansas in a home matchup that has Mississippi State as 9.5-point favorites.
24. Cincinnati Bearcats
31-21 victory over Tulsa which proved to be closer than the Bearcats wanted. They now welcome in a weak South Florida team in for a game in which they are expected to win big as 27-point favorites.
25. LSU Tigers
21-17 victory over Auburn that has the Tigers ranked for the first time under new head coach Brian Kelly. They have a tough task ahead of them as they welcome 8th ranked Tennessee in a huge SEC clash that has the Tigers as 3-point underdogs.