We are coming down to just four weeks left before the end of the regular season in college football. In this week's article, I talk about where I thought the College Football Playoff Committee should rank these teams and preview this exciting slate of college football.
1. Oregon Ducks
Dan Lanning and the Ducks marched into Ann Arbor, Michigan, dominating the Wolverines. The Ducks didn’t trail for a second in this game and continued to prove just how dominant they are in college football. The Ducks hold the pole position to play in Indianapolis in just a couple of weeks as they attempt to become Big Ten Champions for the first time in history. The Ducks host the Maryland Terrapins in an in conference matchup.
Key Matchup
Jordan James vs. Maryland DL
2. Georgia
Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs need help. As a senior, Carson Beck has seen two national championships as a backup and has started in consecutive seasons. However, the Bulldogs have yet to be consistent at the quarterback position. Throughout the past three games, Beck has tossed eight interceptions. This play could show that this talented Georgia football team is susceptible to an upset as the year progresses. Beck’s play is crucial to the efficiency and longevity of the Georgia Bulldogs this season and desperately needs a change. The Bulldogs travel to Oxford, Mississippi to take on the incredibly hungry Ole Miss Rebels.
Key Matchup
Georgia DBs vs. Jaxson Dart
3. Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes keep on winning. Cam Ward continues to impress and show his physical prowess, which is incomparable to any other FBS quarterback. The Hurricanes and this offense are dominant and lead the nation in total yards per game with 556.9 and points per game with 47.4. Ultimately, the Hurricanes will go as far as their defense is willing to take them. I see the defense as a glaring red flag that has only held back this stellar offense. This week, the Hurricanes travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in what will be an exciting ACC matchup, considering last year's late-game theatrics.
Key Matchup
Xavier Restrepo vs. Georgia Tech DBs
4. BYU Cougars
Jake Retzlaff and Kalani Sitake have done an incredible job of putting BYU in the spotlight. The Cougars have a phenomenal resume and, like Oregon in the Big Ten, are the favorites to be one of two teams in the conference championship in four weeks. This week could be a trap game for the Cougars as they head to Salt Lake City, Utah, to take on their cross-state rivals, the Utah Utes.
Key Matchup
LJ Martin vs. Utah DL
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
College football fans everywhere lined up and watched the Buckeyes storm into Happy Valley and dominate the Nittany Lions. If you watched the game, you might need clarification about why I said dominate, considering the score was 20-13. The Buckeyes' offensive line was stellar against a very good Penn State defense. Dare I say to all Buckeye fans that the offensive line on Saturday looked more like the 2023 Michigan offensive line than anything fans in Columbus have seen since 2019? Additionally, Will Howard had two turnovers, including a pick-six on his first pass attempt. The Buckeyes still control their own destiny in the Big Ten and host the Purdue Boilermakers this weekend.
Key Matchup
Ohio State OL vs. Purdue DL
6. Texas Longhorns
The Texas Longhorns, in their last time out, squeaked out a ranked win over Vanderbilt. The Longhorns have the potential to be one of the favorites to win the College Football Playoff. However, the roster has been plagued by injuries, especially recently, as star cornerback Andrew Mukuba and star receiver Isaiah Bond are both listed as questionable for this week's matchup. The Longhorns desperately need to be healthy because their end-of-season matchup with Texas A&M most likely sees the winner playing for the SEC title. The Longhorns host the Florida Gators in an interconference matchup on Saturday.
Key Matchup
Ryan Wingo vs. Florida DB
7. Indiana Hoosiers
Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers have proved all naysayers wrong so far this season. In fact, the Hoosiers have the chance this week to go 10-0 for the first time in program history. The Hoosiers have the second-most efficient offense in the country and the seventh-most efficient defense. The Hoosiers have yet to win by less than 14 points and have proved to be dominant in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers have been disrespected in every major poll and look forward to welcoming the reigning national champions, the Michigan Wolverines.
Key Matchup
Indiana DL vs. Kalel Mullings
8. Tennessee Volunteers
The Volunteers have life and momentum in the SEC. Don’t look now, but this team will be dangerous if the Volunteer offense can resemble their past games at all with Nico Iamaleava at the helm. James Pearce Jr., Arion Carter, and Boo Carter are all forces to be reckoned with on one of the nation's best defenses. Josh Heupel’s squad can’t overlook this Mississippi State squad that comes to town this week, as on the other side waiting is the Georgia Bulldogs.
Key Matchup
Dylan Sampson vs. Mississippi State DL
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Fighting Irish have been stellar since their early season loss at home to Northern Illinois. Marcus Freeman and the Irish have continued momentum and built on it every single game. The Irish have no room for error as the season wanes into its last four games. The Irish host the Florida State Seminoles this week under the lights in legendary Notre Dame Stadium.
Key Matchup
Riley Leonard vs. Florida State LB’s
10. Penn State Nittany Lions
James Franklin can’t get over the top-five team hump. Franklin now falls to 1-13 in his tenure against nationally ranked top-five programs. On Saturday, the Nittany Lions actually coached themselves out of their contest against Ohio State. Tyler Warren was the only offensive player who actually kept Penn State in the game against the Buckeyes, and he wasn’t utilized in the red zone in the fourth quarter. The Nittany Lions need a bounce-back win at home against Washington this week.
Key Matchup
Tyler Warren vs. Washington LB’s
11. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Alabama Crimson Tide are not mathematically eliminated from the College Football Playoff. However, after losses to Vanderbilt and Tennesee, there is now no more room for error for Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide. The Crimson Tide travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to take on the LSU Tigers in what could be a potential decider for a bid to this year’s College Football Playoff.
Key Matchup
Ryan Williams vs. LSU DB’s
12. Boise State Broncos
In the eyes of the College Football Playoff Committee, the Boise State Broncos are the best group of five squads in the sport. That partially goes back to the stellar play of Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty has had a historic year and not only catapults himself into the Heisman conversation but puts the Broncos on the brink of a College Football Playoff berth. The Broncos host the Nevada Wolfpack this Saturday and can inch closer to a Mountain West Championship berth.
Key Matchup
Ashton Jeanty vs. Everyone
Bubble
SMU Mustangs
Rhett Lashlee has done an incredible job bringing his Mustangs team into a brand new conference in the ACC and outperforming all of the expectations that were set for him and his program. The Mustangs have only been beaten by one team, BYU, by three points. Don’t sleep on the Mustangs in the ACC; they will return to action next week when they host Boston College.
Key Matchup
IDLE
Texas A&M Aggies
Mike Elko and the 12th Man’s hype train was met by a brick wall on Saturday night. The Aggies visited Columbia, South Carolina, and were met with angry Raheim Sanders and Joshua Simon, who combined for four touchdowns in a South Carolina win. The season isn’t over for the Aggies, and winning out, especially playing Texas, can be the difference for this team. The Aggies will return to action next week when they host New Mexico State.
Key Matchup
IDLE
Army Black Knights
Army is in the same category as Indiana and BYU, which is the incredibly disrespected category. I don’t understand why the College Football Playoff committee is punishing Jeff Monken’s squad. This team has won every game on its schedule. Army is the only team on this list that can genuinely contend with Boise State for the group of five at large bid. They return to action on Saturday on the road at North Texas.
Key Matchup
Bryson Daily vs. North Texas DL
Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State’s loss to Texas Tech slams the breaks on the hype train out of Ames, Iowa. However, the Cyclones are a heavily disciplined and solid team that can compare to any other team in the Big 12. If the Cyclones can hold their position in the Big 12 conference, they could see themselves playing for a conference championship in four weeks. If they want that to be the case, they need to take care of business against Kansas in Lawrence.
Key Matchup
Iowa State DL vs. Devin Neal
LSU Tigers
This week might be the biggest game at LSU in the Brian Kelly era. If the Tigers beat the Alabama Crimson Tide, they can possibly fight their way back into the College Football Playoff race. The Tigers will need a big game from their gunslinger, Garrett Nussmeier if they want to shock the Crimson Tide. All we know is that the losing coach and team will face lots of scrutiny from the media and their own fan base.
Key Matchup
Kyren Lacy vs. Alabama DB’s
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