CFP Top 10 Ranking Breakdown
(1) UGA: UGA has been #1 all season, and up to this point is the best team in college football. Yup, they’re better than Michigan. UGA has a total of 4 ranked wins so far this season (Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, & Mississippi St). Not only has Georgia been winning these games, they’re doing so handedly and without a Heisman candidate. UGA is the best team from the top down and all around. This weekend they have a tough test against another ranked team in LSU. LSU lost this past weekend, but they have proved that they get up for the bigger games. The SEC Championship game will be electric.
(2) Michigan: Congratulations to Michigan on whomping Ohio State. Two seasons in a row since 1999-2000. Michigan being able to do this without much of Blake Corum is even more impressive. Michigan only has 2 wins over ranked opponents. In both of those games, Michigan scored over 40 points. This offense has a lot of fire power. On the other side of the ball, Michigan has held every opponent under 27 points. In the ranked matchups, Michigan held Penn State to 17, and Ohio State to 23. Michigan got a taste of the playoff last season, they should be gnawing at the bit to get back into the playoff rounds. The last time Michigan won a National Championship was in 1998 when they held their opponents to an average of 9.5 points per game. This 2022 team is holding opponents to an average of 12.6 points per game.
(3) TCU: All season the media has been waiting and waiting and waiting… and waiting to say “I told you so!” about TCU. TCU has not given them the opportunity, and they’re looking to keep that alive through the Big 12 Championship against K State. Some media personalities are on the Horned Frog band wagon. Last time these teams met, Adrian Martinez left the game early for K State. Back up Will Howard lit up the Horned Frogs’ defense. Either QB will pose a serious threat to TCU, and will make for an awesome game. The biggest question this week is: Should TCU fall out of the top 4 if they lose in the Big 12 Championship game? Remember TCU already beat K State this season, and TCU is playing 1 more game than most of the teams ranked outside of the top 4. Should they really fall out of the top 4 if they lose the Big 12 Championship?
(4) USC: Caleb Williams. That’s it. That’s the breakdown. But seriously, this guy is good. USC gets another crack at the Utes in the PAC 12 Championship game this weekend. Last time these two teams matched up, it was in Utah at night. The Trojans couldn’t quite pull it out, getting bested 42-43. This weekend will be different. Allegiant Stadium will be hosting the PAC 12 Championship game, and ever since the loss to Utah, USC has been rolling. USC had to pull off 2 wins against their ranked opponents in the last 2 games of the season, and they did just that. The first was an immediate classic against UCLA, the next was a demolishing of Notre Dame. The Trojans need this one last win to keep themselves in the playoff. Lincoln Riley will have the boys buzzing going into this game.
(5) Ohio State: With Ohio State dropping to 5, the committee is giving them a good shot at getting into the playoff. If any one of the top 4 teams take a loss this weekend, Ohio State will once again be in the top 4. I’m sure that the committee is praying every night to get both Michigan and Ohio State in the playoff. Ohio State played very conservative in their game against Michigan. If OSU can find themselves back in the playoff, Ryan Day is going to have to kick it into high gear and let Stroud and Harrison Jr. cook.
(6) Alabama: A lot of Tennessee fans are upset about this ranking. I would say rightfully so, but without Hendon Hooker… I agree with having Alabama at 6. The committee is giving Alabama the shot to get in if there are 2 losses this weekend by top 4 teams. Truthfully, I’d rather watch this Alabama team over this Tennessee team. And I’ve been riding the Tennessee bandwagon all season. Not a Vol 4 Life, but a Vol 4 Now. The committee made the right decision putting Bama in a spot to get in the playoff. If Hooker was still healthy, I would be irate. Bama would get into the playoff healthy, and who knows what can happen when Bryce Young hits the field.
(7) Tennessee: Very very tough break for Vols and Vol fans. As mentioned in the Alabama breakdown, Tennessee below Alabama in this situation is correct. With Hendon Hooker, the Tennessee Volunteers are better than Alabama, and probably every other team in the country aside from UGA. Vols should still feel good about this season. Josh Heupel made it look cool to play for Tennessee, especially as an offensive player. If The Vols work the transfer portal, and they can manage to keep their firepower and add more through the transfer portal, the Vols can run the SEC.
(8) Penn State: Once again, Penn State is in the top 10, but can’t crack the top 4. Penn State continues to push out higher caliber NFL players, but they can never seem to best Michigan or Ohio State. PSU still has a promising future as a 3 seed in the Big 10 East.
(9) Clemson: Clemson has a long shot of getting into the playoff, surprisingly. Clemson would have to totally route UNC, and there would have to be at least 2 losses in conference championships. In an alternate reality there is a dimension where Alabama and Clemson both make the playoff this season. Here’s to hoping UNC upsets Clemson.
(10) Kansas State: Kansas State has the opportunity to play spoiler this weekend against TCU. If K State can pull off this upset (full breakdown in the TCU section), it’s going to put the committee in a tough position. It would be the the ultimate chaos that we all wish for as college football fans. The Wildcats match up well against the Horned Frogs. This may be the game of the weekend. The Big 12 always beats each other up. This weekend is the last opportunity that a Big 12 opponent has to take down the top dogs… or frogs.
