SPEEDYLEE COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS

(Week 5)

          Every team in the Speedylee Top 10 that played this week, won. #2 Clemson proved why playing in a conference is so much tougher than playing as an independent with its narrow victory over North Carolina. Northwestern tried to prove the same lesson to #8 Wisconsin. There was some shuffling, despite all the wins, as #2 Clemson dropped a spot and #3 LSU moved up one without playing a game. #7 Auburn swapped places with #6 Ohio State. Iowa joined the party at the Big Boys Table, moving into a 10^th place tie with Texas. Remember, for all intents and purposes, nothing outside of the top six really matters at the end of the season.

1.     Georgia (4-0) rested up for a rough second half of the season.

2.     LSU (4-0) cleverly did not play and moved up a spot.

3.     Clemson (5-0) narrowly beat North Carolina, 21-20.

4.     Alabama (5-0) beat Mississippi 59-31.

5.     Oklahoma (4-0) handled Texas Tech, 55-16. The Sooners are pounding on the Final Four door.

6.     Auburn (5-0) beat Mississippi State, 56-23.

7.     Ohio State (5-0) beat Nebraska 48-7.

8.     Wisconsin (4-0) defeated Northwestern 24-15.

9.     Florida (5-0) blanked Towson 38-0.

10.  Texas (3-1) did not play.

 Iowa (4-0) beat Middle Tennessee 48-3.

WATCHLIST: Notre Dame (3-1) beat Virginia 35-20, Utah defeated Washington State 38-13, Michigan (3-1) found someone it could beat and spanked Rutgers 52-0, Army (3-1) did not play.

NOTES: It’s one thing to win a national title. It’s another thing to defend one, as #3 Clemson is learning. … #6 Auburn has probably played the toughest schedule in the country so far this season and still has a tough row to hoe. There is very little difference between the teams in the top six. … The two QBs who played for Alabama in its national championship game victory over Georgia two seasons ago both played very well Saturday. Both are strong contenders for the Heisman Trophy this season and one of them plays for Oklahoma. … Southern Cal’s inconsistency, which can partially be explained by its rash of QB injuries, bit the Trojans this week against Washington. … Slippery Rock improved to 4-0 with its 55-14 victory over Seton Hill.

NEXT WEEK’S KEY GAMES: #6 Auburn vs. #9 Florida, #7 Ohio State vs. unranked Michigan State.

INELIGIBLE: Penn State.

SPEEDYLEE COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS

(Week 4)

          A major shakeup this week. Georgia moved up a spot to #1 after winning a tough game against Notre Dame, replacing Clemson, which also won. Clemson dropped one position. The remaining teams in the top six are the same. The action got started when Utah, formerly #7, lost to unranked Southern Cal on Friday and the Utes dropped to the Watchlist. Wisconsin’s victory over Michigan dropped the Wolverines from the top 10, allowing Michigan to join the Watchlist as well. Florida and Wisconsin moved to the big boy table.

1.     Georgia (4-0) defeated watchlisted Notre Dame, 23-17.

2.     Clemson (4-0) thumped Charlotte, 52-10.

3.     LSU (4-0) beat Vandy, 66-38.

4.     Alabama (4-0) beat Southern Mississippi, 49-7.

5.     Oklahoma (3-0) did not play, a smart move.

6.     Ohio State (4-0), desperate to move up, punished Miami of Ohio, 76-5.

7.     Auburn (4-0) beat Texas A&M, 28-20.

8.     Wisconsin (3-0) beat #8 Michigan 30-23.

9.     Florida (4-0) beat Tennessee, 34-3.

10.  Texas (3-1) beat Oklahoma State, 36-30.

WATCHLIST: Notre Dame (2-1), Utah (3-1), Michigan (2-1), Army (2-1).

NOTES: Wisconsin gave up 14 points against Michigan, the first points the Badgers have allowed this season. Wisconsin’s other victims were South Florida and Central Michigan. … Ohio State scored 42 points in the second quarter of its beat down of Miami. The score was 7-5 at the end of the first period. … Southern Cal’s victory over Utah came after the Trojans lost another starting quarterback to injury, compiled more than 100 yards worth of penalties and rushed for less than 20 yards. … Slippery Rock (3-0) blasted Millersville 49-0. … Games to watch next week: USC (3-1) vs. Washington (2-1), #4 Alabama (4-0) against Mississippi (2-1), Washington State (3-0) against watchlisted Utah (3-1).

HEISMAN WATCH: Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts is the frontrunner for the award and Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa is also part of the conversation. Georgia QB Jake Fromm delivered when he had to against Notre Dame, arguably the stiffest opponent any of the three have faced this season, and should be among the front runners as well.

Not eligible: Penn State.

SPEEDYLEE’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS

(WEEK 3)

The top 10 teams held serve this week and many began conference play. Among the top 10 schools, only Michigan failed to score 31 points and the Wolverines did not play this week. There were no changes among the first 10 but Florida (3-0) is fighting to leave the watchlist and take a place at the big dogs table.

1.     Clemson (3-0) defeated Syracuse 41-6.

2.     Georgia (3-0) beat Arkansas St. 55-0.

3.     LSU (3-0) thumped New Mexico St. 65-14.

4.     Alabama (3-0) beat South Carolina 47-23.

5.     Oklahoma (3-0) beat sinking UCLA 48-14.

6.     Ohio St. (3-0) beat Indiana 51-10.

7.     Utah (3-0) edged Idaho St. 31-0.

8.     Michigan (2-0) did not play.

9.     Auburn (3-0) handled Kent St. 55-16.

10.  Texas (2-1) steamed Rice 48-3.

Teams to watch: Florida (3-0), Notre Dame (2-0), Texas A&M (2-1) and Army (1-1). Slippery Rock (2-0) defeated Shippensburg 54-19.

NOTES: Arizona State’s 10-7 victory over Michigan State ended with abundant controversies. … Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts was abundantly productive against UCLA, rushing for 150 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and passing for 289 yards and three scores. That’s 439 total yards and four TDs. Hurts has had the best start to 2019 of all the presumptive top candidates for the Heisman Trophy. Next week’s games include #2 Georgia vs. watchlisted Notre Dame, #9 Auburn vs. watchlisted Texas A&M, #7 Utah vs. unranked USC, #8 Michigan vs. unranked Wisconsin.

Heisman Watch: Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma.

Not eligible: Penn State.

SPEEDLEE’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS

(WEEK 2)

What a mess! There was a lot of movement in the Top 10 this week. LSU’s huge win over Texas vaulted LSU to third, while Texas dropped to 10^th. Washington dropped out of the top 10. Michigan’s and Auburn’s wins brought those two into the top 10. Florida fell to the watchlist.

1.     Clemson (2-0) beat Texas A&M 24-10. Quality win.

2.     Georgia (2-0) defeated Murray State.

3.     LSU (2-0) beat Texas at Texas.

4.     Alabama (2-0) took care of business against New Mexico State.

5.     Oklahoma (2-0) beat South Dakota State.

6.     Ohio State (2-0) beat Cincinnati.

7.     Utah (2-0) defeated Northern Illinois.

8.     Michigan (2-0) beat Army in OT, a quality win.

9.     Auburn (2-0) defeated Tulane.

10.  Texas (1-1) lost to LSU.

Teams to watch: Florida (2-0), Notre Dame (1-0), Texas A&M (1-1), Army (1-1). … Congrats to the San Diego State Aztecs (2-0) for their first-ever victory over UCLA, 23-14, at the Rose Bowl. The Aztecs had not won in 23 previous meetings. … Slippery Rock (1-0) defeated Wayne State in The Rock’s opener.

Notes: The three SEC teams cannot remain in the top four. Alabama plays LSU in November and the SEC championship game could match ‘Bama, LSU or Auburn against Georgia. Further, Auburn plays at LSU and then hosts Georgia and Alabama. … Ohio State plays Michigan in conference play and Texas plays Oklahoma.

Not eligible: Penn State

SPEEDLEE’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS

(WEEK 1)

          The Top 10 teams held serve in their openers with the exception of Florida. The Gators (1-0) dropped a spot to 10^th despite narrowly beating unranked but determined Miami (0-1). Key games in Week 2: #1 Clemson (1-0) vs Watch-listed Texas A&M (1-0), #8 LSU (1-0) at #6 Texas (1-0) and Watch-listed Army (1-0) against Watch-listed Michigan (1-0). 

The Rankings:

1. Clemson, 1-0 

2.   Georgia, 1-0 

3.   Washington, 1-0 

4.   Alabama, 1-0 

5.   Oklahoma, 1-0 

6.   Texas, 1-0 

7.   Ohio State, 1-0 

8.   LSU, 1-0 

9.   Utah, 1-0 

10.  Florida, 1-0

NOTES: Teams to watch: Auburn (1-0), Michigan (1-0), Notre Dame (0-0), Texas A&M (1-0), Army (1-0) and Oregon (0-1). … Oregon still has a pathway to the Final Four, but the Ducks will have to go undefeated the rest of the way, beat Utah in the Pac 12 title game and hope that Auburn has a great season. … Southern Cal (1-0) beat undervalued Fresno State (0-1) Saturday but lost QB JT Daniels to a leg injury. … Alabama’s 42-3 victory over Duke was tougher than the score indicated. … Utah’s (1-0) 30-12 victory over BYU (0-1) was a rare combination of a rivalry game and a season opener. … Slippery Rock begins its NCAA D-II season this week.

Heisman Watch: Forget it, too early.

Ineligible: Penn State.