It's that time of year, again! The heart of the college football season is upon us and it is about to get crazy! It's time to recap and set up the back half of the season!Top 4 - If the Playoff Started Today!
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
- No one has tested the Tide to this point. In fact, they really haven't played anyone of note. However, they have absolutely destroyed everything in their past. This weekend represents The Third Saturday in October and it is going to get ugly. The Tennessee Volunteers travel to Tuscaloosa for what looks like a beat down of epic proportions. The Tide will be tested, a little, because it's a rivalry game and all the Vols have to play for is their pride. Nick Saban has his team positioned to make yet another appearance in the College Football Playoff. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is quietly having a stellar season and deserves to be in the Heisman Trophy conversation. Maybe his Heisman breakout comes this weekend when he puts up video game numbers.
2. Georgia Bulldogs
- The SEC leaves a lot to be desired this year, but one thing is for sure and it's that the Dawgs are for real! They get this week off before heading to Jacksonville, FL for their annual rivalry game with the Florida Gators. Freshman quarterback Jake Fromm has proven that he is up to the task and has replaced Jacob Eason, who was injured earlier in the season. Kirby Smart is in his second year as the head coach at his alma mater and it looks like they will be set up pretty for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, only one team can make the CFP from the SEC, in my opinion, because it will come down to Alabama and Georgia for the SEC title game. The committee will have a hard time putting in a team that lost in their most recent game. So, Georgia needs to take care of business until they head to Atlanta to face Alabama and then put together an A-plus effort to supplant the Crimson Tide from the CFP.
3. Penn State Nittany Lions
- Well, James Franklin's boys start their season this weekend in a Happy Valley White Out against the Michigan Wolverines. They will move up to number two with a win and down outside the top eight with a loss. They then have to head to Ohio State and Michigan State in subsequent weeks. The Nittany Lions are defending Big Ten champions, but were left out of the CFP in favor of the Buckeyes last year because of two inexplicable losses to Pittsburgh and Michigan. They can slip once because of their back half schedule, but they'll have to rely on some help to get into the Big Ten Championship Game if that is the case. They have a dynamic duo on offense with Trace Mcsorley at quarterback and Saquon Barkley at running back. Both of those guys have a chance to make some Heisman moments in the next three weeks! If they do, then Penn State will be right where they want to be heading into Thanksgiving.
4. Clemson Tigers
- SHOCKER! The Clemson hater still has the Purple People Eaters in the CFP despite losing last week! I believe that was a fluke and they have to lose again for me to remove them from consideration. Hopefully, that loss comes on November 4th in Raleigh, NC! Playing on the road, at night, in a basketball arena and on a Friday night constitutes the "trappiest of trap games." Well, the Syracuse Orange caught the Tigers by the tail and stole a victory last week. The Orange seem to be on the rise, but will probably lose their head coach Dino Babers to a big time program in the coming months. Clemson has battled some injuries and welcome the bye week before they have to take on the fighting Paul Johnsons, also known as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. If you have to play the triple option, then you would like to have an extra week of preparation. If the Tigers take care of business and the NC State Wolfpack beats Notre Dame, then they will square off in a CFP elimination game just days after the first CFP rankings come out.
Next 4 - Control Their Own Destiny (Kinda)
5. TCU Horned Frogs
- Win out in the regular season and beat either Oklahoma or Oklahoma State again!
6. Southern California Trojans
- Beat Notre Dame this weekend and don't lose again!
7. Oklahoma
- Beat TCU, twice, and take care of Oklahoma State in Bedlam.
8. Ohio State
- You have the best (if there is such a thing) loss in the country, so just win out!
Still In The Conversation
9. Wisconsin - Has to go undefeated due to weak non-conference.
10. NC State - A lot left to prove, but the schedule to do it.
11. Michigan - Offensively offensive
12. Oklahoma State - Has to win out and win out convincingly.
Heisman Hopefuls
1. Bryce Love - Stanford
2. Saquon Barkley - Penn State
3. Baker Mayfield - Oklahoma
4. Jalen Hurts - Alabama
5. Bradley Chubb - NC State
Coach of the Year
1. Bill Clark - UAB
2. Dave Doeren - NC State
3. Gary Patterson - TCU
4. Will Muschamp - South Carolina
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